Print then Cut cards using Background Papers from Creative Fabrica

 I have been doing lots of Print then Cut projects lately and making mostly Cards.  

I create Card Fronts using usually, my trusty and old & discontinued computer software of Microsoft Digital Image Suite 2006.  It is available to buy on Ebay, it comes on CD installation disks.  That software is no longer supported or made by Microsoft, but I managed to get it installed onto my Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers. I have an earlier post on my blog on the steps I followed to install it.  

It is a program that makes it easy to fill a shape or template with a background.  I then save those filled shapes as images and upload them to Cricut Design Space and use to create cards that my Cricut machine will cut out for me. 

I began a few days ago, searching for unique and different types of background digital papers on CreativeFabrica.com  and found some fun and pretty papers that I thought would be nice to work with for my card fronts.  Using the Print then Cut feature and using the pre-filled shapes or even using the Fill option in Design Space with any uploaded patterns I added to Design Space, makes it easy for me not to have certain physical papers on hand to make cards. 

I do sometimes use  blank cards that I have bought to apply the card fronts to and like using Cricut's own line of Insert Card sets, that come with the blank cards and envelopes and the insert pieces. I don't use the inserts, as I am just using the cards as a base for applying my fronts to.  If I want to make the inside of the card, I will create separate pieces or do a Print then Cut piece using Design Space and print & cut that and apply my card front to that printed compilation.  Also I create cards and intentionally leave blank inside for the recipient or me to hand write inside the card their own personal messages. 

I am sharing on my blog some examples of a few of the cards I have made, and links to some of the resources at Creative Fabrica that I have downloaded and have started using and having fun with . So many options available, and so little time.  

I still continue to use my vast Digital Clipart Collection for usage in my Print then Cut card making and other projects I do with my Cricut Maker machine. But these backgrounds usage have been a nice break from the Clipart PtC cards I usually do.   My cards are simple, just score and fold, no fancy cuts to fold or assemble.

I have printed onto Cricut's white textured cardstock (I cut down 12x12 sheets to 8.5 x 11 to use in my printer) and I've used Recollections Shimmer Cardstock, and Printable Glitter Cardstock. But I recently found an old pack of HP's Brochure Paper Glossy finish inkjet paper, and found that to be the best for printing out the card fronts.  I adhere the fronts with a tape runner to the cardstock I am using for the base.  For the backgrounds I am using - it really gives the colors a pop and I like the glossy look of the paper.  I don't think HP makes these particular sheets of inkjet printers anymore, but other brands sell glossy brochure sheets. 

Here are some examples of the cards I have made in past couple of weeks. 

These I used Cricut Cardstock or the Recollections Shimmer cardstock

For those cards - I used the digital patterns from this set on Creative Fabrica - note I am a Subscriber to Creative Fabrica for $48 a year, so I have access to an unlimited amount of downloads of images, fonts and digital bundles to use in my projects.  I am also an Affiliate of the website. 

Pearls Crystals French Damask Embroidery

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/pearls-crystals-french-damask-embroidery/ref/6395/

See other designs by this designer Visual Gypsy on Creative Fabrica

https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/visual-gypsy/ref/6395

Nice set to use with compilations that use the Pearls Crystals French Damask Embroidery backgrounds >> 

Ivory Lace and Pearls Graphics

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/ivory-lace-and-pearls-graphics/ref/6395  by Digital Curio https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/digital-curio/ref/6395/

Here are images of Cards that I used the Brochure paper on 

The digital papers come in square images, so using them as fill patterns on a rectangle shape of 5.5x4.25 or 4.24x5.5 or as a 5x7, doesn't always look good. So for some of these I left them as a square shape and then added my own filler portions, using my Microsoft software to add shapes or other digital elements to fill in the space.  But there are times when I just fiddled with the filling the entire rectangle with a background so that it was appealing to me . 

These are examples of using the pattern to fill the entire background rectangle

I find it easier using offline software to create my compilations and upload them to Design Space, but I also have many times used the Pattern Upload option on the Computer version of Design Space to upload the digital papers and use the Fill with a Pattern feature of Design Space.  The problem with Design Space though is that the preview of the uploaded patterns is very tiny thumbnails of the pattern. So it is difficult to view and select the pattern I want to use. And then I have to edit the pattern so that it looks good for the images I want it to look like.  So lately I've been doing more Offline than within Design Space.  I will add text to some images and or other clipart sometimes while in Design Space, but again, I also will create those things offline and upload the images to Design Space to have available. 

While the software of MS Digital Image Suite, that I use isn't readily available, it is available for sale by previous owners on Ebay. But there are a number of software programs that are used to create compilations that can be saved as images and uploaded to Design Space.   Adobe Photoshop Elements, and online apps, are good alternatives.  Its just that I've been using MS Digital Image for so long, that I am very comfortable with using it and its features.  It does only work with Windows systems, and does require some additional steps to install the program (it comes on CD installation disks) to a Windows 10 or 11 system.  

Here are a few links to resources for some beautiful digital patterns that have an embossed or embroidery type patterns in them.  I imagine that many of these were created using AI to make them dimensional. And if looking at some close up you can see some errors or funny / odd outcomes of the AI generated images.  A few I didn't notice until I printed them and then had to discard the print. But others are beautiful and different enough that I had to figure out a way to create with them for my card fronts. 

Wildflower Embroidery Digital Papers - ( 100+ patterns ) https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/wildflower-embroidery-digital-papers/ref/6395

3D Flowers Embroidery View Backgrounds a https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-flowers-embroidery-view-backgrounds-a/ref/6395/

Embroidery Sunflower Background https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/embroidery-sunflower-background/ref/6395/  by Designer, Rainbow Town - also has beautiful background papers and tumbler and mug wrap graphics https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/rainbowtown/ref/6395/

3D Wool Flowers Embroidery Backgrounds F https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-wool-flowers-embroidery-backgrounds-f/ref/6395/    by designer LaLuna shop

https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/lalunashop/ref/6395/

3D Flowers Embroidery View Backgrounds E

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-flowers-embroidery-view-backgrounds-e/ref/6395/   by designer  LaLuna shop

3D Flowers Embroidery View Backgrounds C  https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-flowers-embroidery-view-backgrounds-c/ref/6395/

3D Sea Beach Embroidery View Backgrounds https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-sea-beach-embroidery-view-backgrounds-2/ref/6395/

Knitting Yarn Fabric Textiles Backgrounds

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/knitting-yarn-fabric-textiles-background/ref/6395/

By Creative RIver https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/creative-river/ref/6395/

3D Embossed Spring Flowers Patterns https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-embossed-spring-flowers-patterns/ref/6395/  by Designer : Creative Store https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/creative-store-18/ 

Embosed Floral Pattern Digital Papers https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/embosed-floral-pattern-digital-papers/ref/6395/ 

3D Butterfly Flower Quilling Backgrounds https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-butterfly-flower-quilling-backgrounds/ref/6395/

3D Sea Ocean Quilling Paper Backgrounds https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-sea-ocean-quilling-paper-backgrounds/ref/6395/ 

3D Tooled Leather Western Background Set

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-tooled-leather-western-background-set/ref/6395/

See other digital designs by the Designer>  Laluna Shop

https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/lalunashop/ref/6395

3D Flower Quilling paper art backgrounds 2

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-flower-quilling-paper-art-backgrounds-2/ref/6395/ 

3D Flower Quilling Paper Art Backgrounds-3 https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-flower-quilling-paper-art-backgrounds-3/ref/6395 

3D Rose Flower Paper Art Backgrounds

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/3d-rose-flower-paper-art-backgrounds/ref/6395/

Digital Premium Embossed Leather Papershttps://www.creativefabrica.com/product/digital-premium-embossed-leather-papers/ref/6395/  by Designer Rock Orange Arts

https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/rockorange-arts/rref/6395/

Embossed Metallic Foil Texture

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/embossed-metallic-foil-texture/ref/6395/  by Designer : sugamiart

https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/sugamiart/ref/6395/

Seamless Chenille Pattern Papers

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/seamless-chenille-pattern-papers/ref/6395/ 

Grunge Crystal Lace Antique Butterflies

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/grunge-crystal-lace-antique-butterflies/ref/6395/

Embossed Leather Seamless Pattern

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/embossed-leather-seamless-pattern-2/ref/6395/

By Sublimation Avenue https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/sublimation-avenue/ref/6395/

Fancy Embossed Leather Seamless Textures  https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/fancy-embossed-leather-seamless-textures/ref/6395/   by Laura Beth Love https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/laura-beth-love/ref/6395/

Autumn Leaves Tooled Leather Texture by Laura Beth Love

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/autumn-leaves-tooled-leather-texture/ref/6395/

Mermaid Scales - Watercolor Textures

https://www.creativefabrica.com/product/mermaid-scales-watercolor-textures/ref/6395/

By Prawny Clipart Shop https://www.creativefabrica.com/designer/prawny/ref/6395/ 

Have Fun, exploring the many available digital pattern papers on Creative Fabrica (and other sites that sell such items or have available for free) and using your creativity to create beautiful and unique cards for friends and family

New free online tools for Removing backgrounds & vectorizing images

Creative Fabrica.com has  new tools for removing backgrounds from images, and vectorizing images

Easily remove the background from your image with a click. Download a ready-to-use PNG or 

Utilize the Image Vectorizer tool to transform your images into SVGs. (SVG = Scalable Vector Graphic)

Background Remover: 

Here is an example of a photo I took of a Heron on a tree branch in my yard 

and the result of using the Free background removal tool 

I will also try the removal tool on other images, but this is what was just an image I found easily on my computer . 

But for comparison, I used the free version of remove.bg on the same photo 

and got this much better result on this particular photo 

 

I imagine that your own results will vary depending on the images being used with either of these background removal tools.  I have not tried this tool as of 10/20/2023.  

Image Vectorizer tool:

 

Cricut's larger Print then Cut sizes for Explore & Maker users

 Cricut Print then Cut users - there is Good News!!

If you are using the latest Beta version of the Desktop (Computer version) of Beta Design Space v7.27.142, the Print then Cut limitations have increased.

But the limitations and paper sizes to as large as you can actually Print depends on the "Shape" of the printable project you are doing. 

For example on a 8.5 x 11 sheet of printable media that most of us can use in our Inkjet printers, the printable area limitation went from 6.75 x 9.25 inches to 7.44 x 9.94  - BUT you can't print a "rectangle" that size without getting an error message.   If you had a different shape of an image you might be able to fit it within that space, and print without an error message.

See this Angie Holden Video which shows the new size max limitations. 

NEW Cricut Print and Cut Sizes: Make HUGE Projects 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIsQOZlvta4&t=414s

Note: this information is copied & pasted from a YouTube comment on the above video

 "for those who print rectangular shapes (as sticker sheets often are) and are curious as to what the max sizes are this is what I have found to be the max when accounting for the corners (as referenced by Angie in the 14:36 minute block)

8.5x11 paper = 6.823" x 9.323" 

8.5x14 paper = 6.823" x 12.32" 

11x17 paper = 9.32" x 15.32" 

A4 paper = 6.587" x 10.004" 

A3 paper = 10.024" x 14.82" 

While I can't print a Rectangle sized 7.44 x 9.94 inches 

on a Printable piece of media

that is 8.5 x 11, if I have a different shape I am able to print larger

Here is example

My own favorite printer to use most often, an HP Envy can't print Legal sized paper which is sized 8.5 x 14 and the printable area limitation is 7.44 x 12.94. But I do own a Canon Pixma TS9500 wide format printer that I can use, again I can't print a rectangle that size onto legal paper. 

If you do own a Wide Format printer, then you can also take advantage of the larger paper sizes available. 

Unfortunately most printable media currently available for Crafters is sized 8.5 x 11.  

I use the print then Cut feature with my Cricut Maker (and former Explore) the most of any feature. I am able to print onto Printable cardstock, Printable vinyl ( used for stickers), Printable Sticker paper, Printable Iron on transfer sheets, printable Magnet sheets, Printable Cotton sheets, Printable Glitter Cardstock. And except for Cardstock, and Photo Paper, most printable media still is sized 8.5 x 11.  So obtaining other sizes of the various types of Printable materials will be difficult and probably expensive. 

I am going to order some 11 x 17 cardstock to use with my Canon TS9500 printer, and perhaps some 8.5x17 printable sticker paper. 

I hope that Cricut will educate us on how to best fit the maximum amount of images within the new print then cut sizes.

Here is a good article online by Well Crafted Studio,  talking about the larger print then cut sizes (which currently are only available for computer users, using the Beta v7.27.142 version of Design Space.  iPad/iPhone users are still limited to 6.75 x 9.25 inches and 8.5 x 11 sizes of printable media) which provides a hack for using 12x12 cardstock. 

New Cricut Print and Cut Sizes
wellcraftedstudio.com/new-cricut-print-and-cut-sizes/

See too: Hey Lets Make Stuff article > Larger Print Then Cut Sizes

https://heyletsmakestuff.com/larger-cricut-print-then-cut-size/

See too this YouTube Video by Jennifer Maker

Cricut Print Then Cut NOW LARGER - How to Get Access to HUGE Sizes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZf8-5WxImQ

Installing older programs to Windows 10 and 11 computers

 How I installed the older software programs of Microsoft Digital Image 2006 and the PCCrafter Hugbug Deluxe Browser to both my Windows 10 and Windows 11 computers.

Microsoft Digital Image is a discontinued and no longer supported program by Microsoft. It was discontinued in 2007.  It can still be found on Ebay.  

I have found it to be one of the most user friendly photo/graphic editing programs I have ever used. 

But it does lack many of the features and options of more popular programs, like Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, Corels Paintshop Pro, and others.  

But because it's so easy to use, I have always wanted to continue to keep using it as long as I could even as the Windows operating system kept changing. So every time I get a new computer I try installing Digital Image to the new system.  I was fine doing it, up to Windows 8.1.  But then when I got my Windows 10 computer in 2019, I couldn't install it as usual. So after searching on the web, I found a hack that someone posted showing how to get the program to install to Windows 10 and I was successful - Yea!!   And recently I got a Windows 11 computer and I went about following the same steps and I was successful again - double YEA!!!  

Now another very old software program (utility) that I like having on my computers is the Browser that crafters who purchased Clipart collections from a website called PCCrafter used to view their collections of images.  It wasn't a necessary utility to have, but it made it easier to view your collections all in one place and it had a fair search utility to use, for searching for themes and images on it.  PCCrafter went out of business in 2011.  The Browser itself needed to be activated when installing to a new computer. And the way to do it when PCCrafter was in business, was to use our pccrafter's account email and password.  That ability to use that option was discontinued in late 2010, so PCCrafter sent out a new activation code for email and password that could be used after PCCrafter closed and their servers were no longer accessible for activation.   So with each computer I got after 2010, I installed the Browser on each one using that new activation code(s) . Sometimes it took a few tries to get it activated, but I have been successful.   And I was able to install Browser on my new Win 11 and it is working just fine. 

Installing Microsoft Digital Image software to Windows 10 or 11

Steps I followed to successfully install MS Digital Image Suite 2006 to both my Windows 10 and new Windows 11 computers

* First close all running programs and open documents.

* Double click on the Digital Image Suite setup file from your original disk.  

* If the User Account Control prompts you to give permission, just authorize it.

* Select a few options available.  I chose Full Installation.  And the Installation screen should appear to start installing the program

Then a screen should appear after the programs seems to be loaded about halfway :

Where it says

“The Windows Update: Internet Explorer and Internet Tools cannot be installed on this computer. This product does not install on 64-bit platforms.” message, then click OK button to continue.

* You will get the second usual error “Setup has detected that Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 installation was not completed. The installation may have been cancelled, or you may not have enough free space on your disk.”  DO NOT CLICK IT!!!.

Return to your desktop, press the Win+X from your keyboard, click on Shut down or sign out > Sign out. **But DO NOT actually Sign Out of your computer.

* on a Windows 10 or 11 wait for intervention and cannot carry out the operation (it will show you the programs that are still running, which would be your installation attempt of Microsoft Digital Image). Wait a few seconds, click on Cancel button > then OK on any message on your Screen. Now the installation should complete.   

p/s I have 2 disks for the MS Digital Image Suite 2006 program, so when I selected full installation, I was prompted during the installation to insert the 2nd CD to have the full program on my computer. 

Also note when I was installing, the installation screen was stalled at about the half way point, and I had to move the screen to see the error messages or notes about it not being able to install etc. And follow the steps I outlined.   So if you don't see those screens, move the installation screen, if you see the installing screen stuck at loading half way for a long time.  And if you are doing a full installation with 2 cds, then be sure to note when the message comes up to insert CD 2.  

My Windows 11 computer didn't come with a CD/DVD drive, so I have a portable CD/DVD usb drive that I used to hook up with my new Win 11 computer. 

Installing the PCCrafter Deluxe Hugbug Browser on a Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer - this version of the Browser requires Activation. Note: If you have the Free lite version, it doesn't require any activation to install, but it lacks some of the features of the Deluxe version.

You will need the .exe (Application) file for the Browser and you will also need to have all of your PCCrafter files installed to your computer.  What I do with every computer I have owned with PCCrafter files on them, is I save/copy the entire PC HugWare folder that is created when you install your first ever Creatable or HugWare CD to your computer.  Once that initial folder is set up, from then on, every time you installed a new collection, it followed a path to install the images to the separate folders within that main folder of PC HugWare.  Its in that folder that you’d find, Collections > Images > and then the subfolders of Black, Color, Painted and Tiff.  The collections released prior to July 1, 2006, had the bw line art that went into the Black folder, and the muted no shading color images that went into the Color folder, and the jpg format full color images went into the Painted folder.  Beginning in July 2006, PCCrafter no longer released new collections with the b/w line art or the color images. They offered both a JPG collection of the images, or a PNG (transparent background) of the images for the buyer to download.  When the user downloaded the JPG collection, it installed to the Painted folder as usual, the PNG collections installed to the TIFF folder.  The Browser was unable to use the search utility on the TIFF folder, so I and others usually downloaded both the JPGs and the PNGs, so at least we could search using the Browser’s search option on the JPG images we got after mid 2006.  But even that wasn’t working on collections in the Painted folder that were released from about Oct 2009 through all of 2010, when PCCrafter stopped releasing any new collections in Dec 2010.

So if you have all of your image collections on your computer, and are successful in installing and activating the HugBug Deluxe Browser,  the first  thing you do after installation and opening, is click on the Options button and choose Scan for Collections. That action scans your computer, looking for those installed collections, and once it finds them, it sets up a path to that location and when you close the Browser after the scan and reopen, your Collections should show up.

The email and password needed for Activation is

email:m5s7uMMvHQur1TUaOiazR

password:f1PPhYqrwx9ICrwXS4GDK

And I find it easiest to copy and paste those codes into a word document and then copy and paste from the document into the Browser windows

For my most recent activation of the Browser on my new Windows 11, it activated on the first try. On my Windows 10, it took a couple of tries at various times of the day, but eventually it activated. 

Click on photos/screenshots for viewing larger

Installing MS Digital Image 2006 to my Windows 11

 

My Windows 11 computer didn't come with a CD/DVD drive so I had to use a portable usb drive connected to my laptop - I have a USB hub, so I could plug in multiple external drives, flash drives and this drive to transfer or install files and programs from to the new computer.

And I was successful in the Installation 

and the program is working fine

I use Digital Image to make my screenshots with notations

 on them for posting pics of how I do things in various programs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Installing and Activating the PCCrafter Hugbug Deluxe Browser 

using the .exe application file

for the Browser

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have uploaded to my Google Drive,  a zip file of 

the Hugbug Browser .exe file 

(the name of the .exe file 

for the HugBug Deluxe Browser is pchugbugbrowserdeluxer780 ) . 

You are welcome

to download and unzip,  if the drive is accessible via the link

and if you have your PCCrafter collections on your computer or saved to an

external drive and can copy to your computer drive, you can see if you are able

to install it to your computer and activate and then use the option in the Browser of

Scan for Collections, to see if you are successful as I was. 

Ebay search results for Microsoft Digital Image (stick with the 2006 Digital Image Suite or Anniversary Edition, or even the Digital Image Pro 10 version is comparable - older versions may not work.)

post created 9/11/2022

Good Luck and Happy Computing!