If you want to know everything there is to know about Cricut Design Studio and how to make the most of it, this guide is for you. Written by Brandi Gore, this guide tells you everything you need to know about using the Design Studio which doesn't come with the program itself. A self-proclaimed tech-savvy gal, Brandi herself admits to troubles with the program when she first got it.

In this manual, she takes all the frustration and confusion out of Cricut Design Studio so that you can get right down to what you really want to do- make your designs. This manual is a 50+ page walk-through of everything you need to know to succeed with Cricut and making your designs.

Even if you don't consider yourself to be very technologically challenged, you can learn to use this program with ease after reading the manual. You can also keep it handy for any time you forget something important or just need a refresher course on certain aspects of using the design software.

You may already know that you won't find the directions you need to create in Design Studio just from the manual that it comes with. This basic manual tells you little more than the basics on the program and it won't help answer your questions about how to do certain thing.

You could spend many frustrated hours trying to figure it out yourself through trial and error or you could take the advice of someone who has already been there and done that for you. This manual will teach you how to:

• weld individual images and letters together to form one cutting
• create shadows for welded words and images
• quickly find the exact shape you need without searching through each cartridge
• position the cutting precisely where you want it on the mat (you can use those scraps of cardstock you've been saving and know for sure that they will line up with the cutting)
• update your Firmware...and why it is vital you do it
• how to manipulate a letter or image to make it the exact shape you need for your project
• use multiple cutting mats and layers in one project
• weld an image inside of a frame

And many more fantastic hints and tips. If you've ever known the frustration of having a great idea and being unable to get the machine to do what it's supposed to so that you can make your design a reality, then you will benefit from this manual.

If you've ever wasted specialty paper cutting something you thought you were doing correctly only to discover it was ruined, you will benefit from this manual.

Cricut Design Studio: The Missing Manual tells you everything you wish you had been told when you purchased the program. It will discuss:

• cartridges and the cartridge library
• quick key icons
• shape properties
• pull down menus
• welding images
• and more

Your confidence with the program can increase after just a few chapters of reading. You can work through the program at your own pace learning as much or as little as you want. Since it's all in writing, you can go back at any time and review things that you may have forgotten.

At this point, the only real downside we can find to the guide is that it is in eBook form so you will have to read it on your computer unless of course, you decide to just print it out so you can have a “real” copy to hold in your hands. However, the good thing about eBooks is that you can get them instantly when you purchase so there's no waiting. If you run into problems at 2 in the morning, you can get help right now.

If all that is not enough, the manual also comes with a great bonus that introduces you to Cricut shortcut keys that will make using the program a real cinch! You will wonder how you ever got along with Cricut Design Studio without this manual. Even if you've had the program for a while, it might be able to help you learn and discover new aspects of the Design Studio that you were not previously aware of.

Brandi has been working in the scrapbook industry for over 10 years and she teaches classes at a local scrapbook store so she knows full well what people want from a program like Cricut. She was also able to recognize what the "œofficial" manual was missing and create one that really helps scrapbookers just like you and me.

To order, just visit The Missing Manual

Scrapbookers often find ideas for their albums in the changing seasons. In the fall, the shapes and colors of the falling leaves, harvest crops and blooming flowers provide lots of great ideas that we can incorporate into our scrapbooks. Here are some ways you can work the season into the various elements of your page.

Colors

Orange is a color that's certainly not hard to find in the fall. It's on pumpkins, falling leaves, and many fall flowers. It's symbolic of Halloween, and is also used in many Thanksgiving decorations. Yellow is also found in lots of fall items. These two colors can work as backgrounds in some layouts, but in most cases they're best reserved for embellishments and borders unless they are muted.

Brown is another fall favorite. It is associated with Thanksgiving turkey, pinecones, and more. Brown makes a good background color, because it will not draw attention away from the photos.

Titles

Incorporating the feel of the season into your pages extends to your page titles as well. Whether your tone is serious or whimsical, you can find inspiration for your page titles in the beauty that surrounds you.

"Leaf" and "leaves" are good words to work into puns for your titles. A page about one special person could be entitled "The Apple of My Eye." Harvest themes and autumn colors can also provide good title ideas.

Embellishments

No scrapbook is complete without embellishments, and there are plenty of great ideas from nature in the fall. The brightly colored leaves are favorites in all types of fall design, and leaf motifs look great in a scrapbook. But as tempting as it may be, it's best not to use real leaves in your pages. They just do not stand up to time very well, even when they are carefully preserved.

Pumpkin and squash die cuts, brads and stickers are perfect for a harvest theme. Items featuring apples, pears and berries are also great as embellishments. For Halloween and Thanksgiving, you can find all sorts of stamps and die cuts to choose from.

Photos

The most important things in any scrapbook are the photos. While using colors, titles and embellishments can create a fall atmosphere for your pages, capturing the season in your photos is the best way to make your scrapbook truly memorable.

Taking pictures outdoors when possible can add a touch of autumn without a great deal of effort. If you're working with kids, get some candid shots of them jumping in the leaf pile. Or get a picture of your little one with the biggest pumpkin from the patch. These are memories that are sure to be cherished for years to come, and that's what scrapbooking is all about.
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One of the most important parts of a scrapbook is your scrapbook cover. This is an opportunity to show your scrapbook theme right on the front and also to add things that may not have fit in the inside décor of the scrapbook. You may spend a great deal of time working on your scrapbook and you want to keep it in good condition for many years to come.

The best way to do this is to create a great cover that will protect all of your special memories for a long time to come. In addition to the cover you will want to follow the proper preservation techniques to keep your scrapbook and its cover in good condition for many years.

When it comes to covers for your scrapbook, there are different types to choose from. For example, you can make a cloth covering for your scrapbook which is a bit like placing it inside a cloth bag that you have specially decorated for the theme of the scrapbook.

You can make this yourself by measuring out cloth in the size to fit your scrapbook and then sewing it together, leaving an opening for your scrapbook to fit inside. You can make flaps that will hold onto the scrapbook cover and hold the sides together.

Another option for your scrapbook cover is a clear plastic cover. These are easy to buy or make and they can fit right over your scrapbook to protect it from dents, dust and more. You won’t have to hem a plastic cover which also makes them quicker and easier to use and they can be decorated on the outside as well if you want.

Here are some additional tips for protecting your scrapbook cover:

• Store your scrapbook sitting up instead of lying down
• Never stack things on top of your scrapbook
• Store your scrapbook in a safe place away from sharp items that can scratch it
• Don’t leave your scrapbook out when it is not in use
• Consider storing your scrapbooks in a fireproof safe so they will always remain in good condition

With these tips you can protect your scrapbook cover to help keep your scrapbook in good condition.
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