Word Book on Cricut?

[janthos]

Hi everyone. I am very new to SCAL, and am in the process of making a word book. When i used the CDS trial, it was rather simple b/c i could place a letter on a "new mat", thereby making it easy to print & see how they related (reminds of pf photoshop's "layers", being able to "view" them)
Anyways, has anyone used SCAL to create a book? I know that you can't do different mats, so i was hoping someone could offer suggestions!
Thanks!
Jeannette

[raewyn64]

I did one a few weeks ago.
I started with the first shortest rectangle welded to the letter and then I cut it.
Then I typed the next letter I wanted, made sure it was the same size as the first one, extended the orgiinal rectangle to the new length (which for me was where the first letter had ended) and then welded the new letter to the rectangle and cut that.
And kept going from there.
Hope that helps - just make sure that when you are deciding on the length for the first rectangle that you take into account how many letters you will have so that you can still cut the last one on the mat. I hope that makes sense.
Raewyn

[karriel]

I too made a word book. I knew I wanted it 12 inches in length. I had five letters so I started with 2x5 rectangle with a two inch letter welded onto. Then as the previous post suggested, I saved the first letter (so I could use it again and just change the letter), I added two inches to the rectangle, I welded my second letter that is also two inches etc... So if you know what size you want the final product that may help decide how big to make the first rectangle.

[janthos]

yes, that does help, however, was there a way you saved the file with ALL the letters showing, so that you would have it available for future use? OR did you save each individual letter?

[raewyn64]

I think I saved the whole thing with just the letters scattered around the page - not welded to any shape. Just so I had them allt he same font and size for future use.
If you create the page with all the letters and the first rectangle and then save it then delete off the letters you don't want, cut the first rectangle and letter, close the page but don't save it then reopen it and you will get the original file again with all the letters.
Raewyn

[karriel]

I created a folder called "Love Book" (for example) and saved all the letters individually. You can save two pages per file if your mat size is 12x12. When you cut them out just have two separate papers on your mat so you don't have duplicate papers together in your book. I usually cut one set of letters out of the brown paper bag looking card stock, then another set from patterened paper. For one I cut one brown, one reverse of solid (for the back side of the brown) and one set regular pattern paper.

[wholtorff]

What medium are you using to cut the word books out of? Chipboard? I tried it, using the highest pressure on a level 6 blade setting and using multiple cuts and the thing still screwed it up.

[raewyn64]

I just used cardstock and then cut everything a second time with background paper.
I don't have chipboard here and tried some cardboard from a thin box but I couldn't get it through the rollers so gave up on that.
Raewyn