Gab with Gaby

An engineer's creative corner studio.

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Cricut Maker Unboxing

Unboxing, Cricut, Reviews, TutorialGabriela SimsComment

Hi there everyone! I am back with a review and unboxing of the Cricut Maker.  What can I say? I absolutely love it and I have not even had as much time to use it as I would like.  However, I was able to get one a day or two after launch, but due to a packed schedule, I was not able to get this video done until just recently.  In this video I am doing the unboxing, but I am also showing an overview of the Maker and cutting some cotton fabric.  This is a simple but in-depth review, check it out below.

I hope the video offers some clarity on the product and helps anyone who might be on the fence. I forgot to mention it in the video, but I did not use the USB cable because my internet at home is wireless and my computer I used for this is a laptop, so for anyone wondering, it does have a USB port and cord.  That's all for today, but my next few videos will cover the Brightpad and the Easy Press because I was fortunate enough to get them all and I wanted to share any info with you all.  Until next time, happy crafting!

-Gaby

 

Currently...

How toGabriela SimsComment

Hi there everyone! I am sooooo far behind with product reviews and tutorials it's crazy.  I have 2 card kits I need to review, a light pad, several markers, and a cutting machine. Whew! I was so focused on the craft show that I literally fell behind on everything else, except school and work. Now that the show is done, I'm slowly getting back into the groove and I will be updating again. Thank you for sticking with me, happy crafting!

 

-Gaby

It's real in these crafting streets...Design Teams or the Hunger Games?

How to, Crafts, Diy, Quick Quotes, Paper craftingGabriela SimsComment

I'm an avid crafter, there, I said it, or typed it. I do projects for people and I also design, draw, and create for myself and companies. However, wrapped up in all of this is the desire to have my own stamp line and my own designs. The issue is how to get your designs in front of the right people. One thing you need is exposure and unfortunately with so many print craft magazines going out of business and LSS (Local Scrapbooking Stores) going under, a lot of visibility opportunities were lost.  This leaves the obvious choice of the Internet, but even that requires the ability to not only choose the correct platform (blogging or social media), but to drive traffic to your profile/site.  I have been pretty fortunate with a few hundred followers on IG and my site, but that was really some luck and a nice shout out on the Quick Quotes blog.  Without that, I'm not sure what my audience would look like.  This brings up the subject of design teams, I currently belong to one and I'm looking to join 1 or 2 more next year, but even that is an uphill battle.  I personally only apply for design teams I genuinely want to belong to and support.  This is great for keeping your skills sharp and keeping you on task as most DTs have a calendar for your projects.  It's also wonderful to keep you in touch with other like minded creators.  If you've applied for a team or a dozen and you were not selected, please don't give up, it can take a while to find your footing and your style.  Take each application as an opportunity to improve your skills and show what you've learned, you'll be surprised at how quickly you improve. The good thing is that many teams have 6 month memberships so that gives you 2 opportunities per year. I would also suggest going for a team you're passionate about, even if it's one of the major companies because they will see through fake enthusiasm if you don't really enjoy the products.  Last bit of advice is to be yourself in your designs, copying the latest trend won't work and it won't help you stand out from everyone else, offer the team leader something unique, you. That's about all I have for now, but I just wanted to offer a quick pick-me-up to anyone that is struggling with their crafting right now.  It's an extremely competitive space with a lot of talented people, don't get discouraged and remember that the whole point of this is to make things and have fun! Until next time, happy crafting!