Visual Designs by Chris

Chris Durnan

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Archives for July 2009

Stick horses and cattle drives..

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So I had to take a picture of my son. not only do we have horses outside my son can ride at any time, but has stick horses in the house (alot less mess that way). My kiddo was watching some PBS show where they were talking about cattle drives and the like and my son says “I could do that with Dad” I said “sure why not”. I look up and He says “this is my serious cowboy look” and of course he can’t hold it and smiles (pic below). But the kicker is I said.. “What do you have in your mouth?” He said “Straw.. like they do on the show”.. I look at the tv. Sure enough there is a man sitting on horseback with a piece of straw in his mouth (Straw from the field hay straw). I vaguely remember he asked me about it and I said “oh that’s straw”. I was working away and I guess he took me literally. I wonder what they will think of my handsome little cowboy with a flexible bend straw hanging out of his mouth on the cattle drive. I, myself, think it is priceless! haha.

Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

Cutter freebies are in the forum.

Tag Swaps

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Well this is my first tag Swap and I signed up for two categories. One was fall and one was summer. I am not sure if I did these right, but they were alot of fun. My hubby saw the top one and said wow. which was kinda cool. I told him I thought I’d make a few more for when we head to families and friends this fall for gathering and we can put them on wine bottles. You can’t see it but there is glitter on the flowers on the bottom. so I think I will make some extras and see that I have some on hand.

And this one is just fun and bright and I thought might be nice on the front of a card. It reads Laughter is the soul of Friendship. And if my friend Lori is reading this. Look closely those are those blue staples you sent me eons ago. That is 4 more used out of 5,000 staples. Woohoo! The pictures don’t do them justice cause they are really pretty, bright and shiney.
Thank you to Tricia for hosting this. It is my first time I have done a tag swap and I found it fun and rewarding to work on a simple piece rather then a large layout.

I hope those who get them like them. I can’t wait to see what everyone else comes up with.

On to life…
This weekend we are home. We have plans for dinner with friends on Saturday night and then bowling on Saturday. I think. My son and I went bowling with some friends during the summer and all the other kids were done and bored and my son just wanted to keep going. I think since the evening will be more of an adult event we will probably take him Saturday. My son is pretty excited. In fact, he saw a bowling alley in Prescott and wanted to go right then and play. Very fun. so this weekend I think will be playing and working and organizing and getting together some things that have been hanging over our heads on the to do list. It is so hot here during the day. that we have to make plans to either hit a pool or do things indoors. Bowling should be nice and cool. I am kinda excited!

A positive is our big truck is ready for me to pick up. The A/C has been broken in it for some time. They say it is fixed. I have heard it before so I hope so!! Woohoo!!

It’s been a good week. I am glad. More swap pics tomorrow for the recipe swap. If you want to do the main dish we are running a six in six out swap. Sarah is hosting it in the forum (thank you Sarah!!) so 6×6 size 6 in and 6 out. Lots of fun.

And this weekend I start working on my quest for homemade gifts. I started looking at my accumulation of materials and my list and I better get started and quick!!!

Have a wonderful wonderful Thursday!
Enjoy!
Chris

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

My cutter file freebies are in the forum.

New files to the QMC.

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If you are a QMC member already, you can download these files today in the Membership areas at the forum or 4shared.

If you are not and would like to join, you can do so HERE.

If you don’t want to join, these will be added to the store next week. You can add our RSS feed to your reader and see the new files when they upload.
I am on a roll and am back to play some more.

Enjoy!

Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

I offer Cutter Freebies in the forum.

Puppy Love

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Are you a member of Chris’s QMC? This darling file is part of the newest quarter. I use a Craft Robo, so I can’t cut chipboard. So, I cut a base set of pages using plain cardstock and then cut two more sets from patterned paper – one of them in a mirror mode and then layered them together. I used my bind it all and instant word book.

I just love this file!
Sussann

Digi-Cutter Files offered in SCUT, GSD, KNK, WPC & AI (SVG) at www.visualdesignsbychris.com

Monday morning ramblings… fishing in Pinetop

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So I have started trying to take a little more of my weekends off. I felt like with school I will miss more and more time with my son and hubby. So if you find it harder to get ahold of me over the weekends or my emails are very short and followed with. SENT BY BLACKBERRY VERIZON. now you know why.

I have lots of thoughts on my mind today and could ramble your morning away, but will try to just keep it curtailed and save some for later in the week.

Last weekend we went to Prescott for a horse auction. Some of the most beautiful horses I have seen and a real comradery among folks that sell horses. The nicer end horses went for about 14,000. There will people there from Missouri, California, Texas.. etc etc.. You name it. Of course the horses I would have bought went for the big ‘ol boxes and the horses I wasn’t so keen on went for less. There is a difference in the world in horses that people have taken alot of time with and worked with and those who have just been in the stall. But it was fun and we spent the night in Prescott. I love Prescott. The downtown and the setup just reminds me of living in Wisconsin with a little less grass. Just beautiful.

The pictures below are from our previous weekend in Pinetop. Also, beautiful this really was like driving through Wisconsin with the treelined streets. Here is an itty bitty lake that we went to fish at with our in-laws. We went to pinetop because they had a cabin for the month of July and asked us to come. YEAH!! Lots of fun and Dalen got to spend sometime in a new environment with his Grandma and Papa.

This Moment made my FIL just beam. If I could have had the camera up to get that smile. My kiddo hit the water first and through his line in and pulled out the first fish within the first 2 minutes. he was happy happy and his Dad here was pretty proud to. It was cute. after that things were slower, but it was a nice time. I was the perfect pole holder and book reader. I am not a fisherman but it was nice to watch everyone get into it and just relax.

Yes those are Mickey mouse ears on his head. My son wears hats allll the time. His hair is so light he constantly gets a burnt scalp. I rarely have to ask him to grab one anymore. he automatically grabs them off his hook in the house and takes one with when going outside. And I know in 110 weather wearing anything extra is miserable.

here are my inlaws in front of the cabin.

Here is the kiddo getting the itty bitty fish so he can throw it back in.

And here he is digging for worms to catch that first fish.

He thought it was pretty cool to play with the worms. Total boy.
For those working on the cutter file challenge “last minute posts” you have until Friday. Get them in pretty please so we can mark you off the list.
And next… I must go More thoughts on life tomorrow. I have to get some work done..
have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

My cutter file freebies are in the forum. Thank you!

1st day of school pictures. … 30% off sale.

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First Business… All my files are on sale in the store. 30% off. I have uploaded a few files some old some new. So Grab those files you have been looking for!

Next… on to life.. Here are some 1st day of school pictures. And his puppy Freckles. She was not happy she lost her play partner in the mornings.

Here he is getting in line for lineup at school.

I am off to work on files. Enjoy!
Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And my freebie cutter files are posted to the forum.

Beary Sleepy

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Chris has this fantastic Quarterly Membership Club that for a small price gives you access to over 20 files over the 3 months. I have used CD00559 Teddy Bear Sleeping for this layout. This file is only available through the QMC at the moment, but this is a club well worth joining.

This is a photo of one of my former Daycare children at nap time. This little sleeping Bear was just perfect for this photo!

Have a great day wherever you are!

cheers, caz

Digi-Cutter Files offered in SCUT, GSD, KNK, WPC & AI (SVG) at www.visualdesignsbychris.com

New version 2.0 for Sure Cuts A Lot

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No first day of school pics yet today. I have to find my cable to download the pics. I hate that. it is one of the reasons I would consider purchasing one of those cards that auto synch with bluetooth. I am shooting for tomorrow.

***

But news I have today is the new version 2.0 SCAL software. Sure Cuts A Lot software is offered to work with the Cricut and allow you to bypass the need for cartridges. Here is a screenshot. I literally just downloaded it loaded it. It still appears you need to break apart the SVGs for use within the program. There is now a group or ungroup within the program. Also you can select all and move them at once. Here are some screenshots.
Here are some of the tabs that have added features. I will be playing! How exciting.


Whether you choose to use SCUT vs 2.0 or vs 1.0 My files will work. They were created in Vs 1, but will open in Vs 2.0 and you can import that svgs or open the ai files in inkscape.

At first glance … It does appear that if you have files created in in 1.0 you can open them in vs 2.0

And saved as SCUT

However, if you have files created in vs 2.0 saved as SCUT they will not back track.

You can import SVGs but they still do need to be separated SVGs. There is not a break apart.

These are my first observations (if you have additional ones, please send them to me). I will keep using the vs 1.0 to save my SCUT files so more users will be able to use it. For those who do not wish to upgrade.
I have to say $30 is quite a bit cheaper then my adobe upgrades for the added features.
If you want to upload both versions to your computer… Before you install… Create an additional craft edge 2.0 folder within your Program files. Then install the program into the second folder so it doesn’t overwrite your version one. If you can’t see your Program files folder usually on your c drive. you need to turn on the hidden folders view in Windows and while you are there also add the hidden extension tab. so you can have more control over your files and your computer.
If you have some of my tutorials from the forum. I will update which version they are and continue on with making more. Have a wonderful day!
Enjoy!
Chris
Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And our cutter file “freebies” are kept in the forum. We add to them as we can

.

First Day of school…

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First business ..

Hey folks did you get your post into the forum for the Cutter File Challenge? Just wondering. we seem to be short a few after a month to complete. Unfortunate. Not really sure what else to say about it. Accept… Here is the link to where you should post. I hope if you signed up to get the 10 files. You would take the time to complete it. Your help in cleaning up my list on non-completes would be appreciated. If you don’t know if you signed up. Here is the thread you can look at with everyone’s request for the files. Thank you!

If you just want to look at some of the awesome and inspiration submissions! Wow! you should see them and you can by going HERE.

On to life….

So wow. My son had his first day of school yesterday. He is invigorated. My husband went with me to school and walked him to class. My hubby will drop him off and I will pick him up. He came home with his school binder with a note from the teacher about what he would learn that day. What books he would have that week read to him and goals for learning for this week. A list of site words for kindergarten and a homework list. Maybe the newness will wear off, but for now we are excited. Everything is geared for mon-thurs. Thank you teachers for understanding it will be hard to concentrate on a Friday night. So I asked my love if he would consider taking two night a week of reading and I would take the other two. So he said of course. It didn’t surprise me that yes he said he would take two of the four days, but it still made my heart sing. I am a blessed Mom. So while my kiddo and I were working through learning these words and practicing writing his name and reading our 15 minutes. My hubby spent some time looking up a historic event. The Apollo 11 landing. My son spent a few hours last night learning about a major historical event, reading and working on his name. How wonderful life is. How I realized this stretches my brain. The first few words on the Kindergarten site list were a, are, away, and. So I could describe some of these to my sons liking and understanding, but the word Are escaped me… So my son piped up and said YOU ARE 45. My response what??? I am not and he giggled and giggle and said to my husband you ARE 55. So then my husband tickled.. and I said You ARE a DORK. Haha. We giggled and laughed. He got many calls from my sister, my mom, Greg’s mom, my aunt and it just made his day to tell everyone how it went… he talked about his teacher because my Aunt asked and he said. Well she had a blue brown shirt.. and she had shoes that were blue and like you would wear for dancing and to a wedding or something!!! I had to giggle. I told my Aunt yes my husband and my son are shoppers. They see all fashion statements and know what they like. I found it very amusing. And yes.. they were cute shoes… more tomorrow on our pinetop fishing trip and also the pictures. But for now here is Walter Cronkite and his coverage of the Apollo 11 landing 40 years ago yesterday. I hope you take a moment to Enjoy the history.

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/cronkite.html

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html#

And so I thought about today.. what happened today in history .. here are some tidbits.. how might they have affected your life??

http://www.440.com/twtd/archives/jul21.html

Enjoy!
Chris

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And my cutter files freebies are posted in the forum.

Here I am!!!

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Where am I??? I have about 180 flagged emails to reply to from the weekend. My hubby and I took off for the weekend to Pinetop and went fishing with the in-laws and I kept up on the blackberry but my chunky thumbs can only type so quick on those little keys. In any case, I am here I am working my way through. We had tons of fun and will upload pictures from the first day of school and the fishing trip woohoo! So if you are expecting to see my email address in your inbox. It is a coming!! Have a wonderful rest of Monday!
Enjoy!
Chris

PS Dont forget!!! Today is the day for the cutter file challenge so you can participate in the future ones as well. Ginger is checking off the list of those who received the files as quickly as the pictures are uploaded!!! Quick Quick get them in!

Chris Durnan, designer at www.visualdesignsbychris.com
GSD KNK WPC AI SCUT files for your personal digital cutters for use with scrapbooking, cardmaking and other hobbies. Whatever your creative mind can come up with!

My files work on many machines. Some of them are: Klik-n-kut, Pazzle, Wishblade, Silhouette, Cricut, Craft Robo. Some of the software involved with these machines are: Funtime, Scrapbooking, WinPC/Signlab, Inkscape, Create & Cut, Illustrator, KNK Studio, Robomaster, DesignMaster and the list goes on….. Enjoy!

And my cutter file freebies are posted in the forum.