Sunday, August 26, 2012

Comprehensive overview of Cricut cartridge "Kate's A B C's"

Kate's ABC's might be the "cutest" cartridge out there.  It is full of adorable things: kittens and bows and hats and purses and butterflies and flowers and so many girly things that I couldn't resist buying it!  As soon as I got it home I cut 10 teacups and made note cards.  In this post we will look at:
  • a brief list of themes that this cartridge would work with
  • a Sample view of the cartridge images
  • a look at the font and a PDF reference sheet download
  • a look at all of the phrases offered on the cartridge and a PDF reference sheet download
  • a look at a handbook page with an explanation of all of the Creative Feature Keys
  • a link to the PDF of the handbook
  • a spreadsheet with a list of the cartridge images, words and phrases with their corresponding pages numbers and a link to download the PDF copy.
A Sample view appears on the back of each cartridge box and usually shows a portion of the images that can be cut with the cartridge however Kate's ABC's shows all of the primary images in its Sample.  That the artwork on this cartridge is not limited to sugar and spice and everything nice.  You can embellish a lot of different subjects including:
  • baby
  • garden
  • tea
  • home
  • Easter
  • Mother's Day
  • Love
  • nature
  • girlfriends
  • shopping
  • Get well soon
  • Thank you
  • invitations
  • relaxation
  • birthday
  • summer
  • picnic and more....
In addition to the primary images shown on the sample above, you also get a font and it's shadow.  The font includes both upper and lower case letters, numbers 0-9, punctuation, assorted symbols and 13 icons.

I have a hard time judging how a font will look as a word unless I see the letters next to one another so I created this Font Quick Reference Sheet. You can download a PDF copy of the Kate's ABC's Font Reference Sheet by clicking the link below.  If you would like to share this information on your blog, instead of copy and pasting this info, please paste a link to my site:


This cartridge also includes 26 phrases that coordinate with the letters of the alphabet.  I can't think of how you would use those phrases other than in a alphabet book or in a decor project.  Fortunately there are additional layered phrases like "BFFs," "Playtime" and "Tea Party". Many of the layers include artwork that is designed to create dimension but many images can also be used on their own.   Below are all the phrases that are included on this cartridge with their page numbers.
It used to take me forever to flip through the handbook to find that perfect phase to use in a card or to title a layout but then I created this phrase reference sheet which has made the process a lot easier.  You can download a PDF copy of the Kate's ABC's Phrase Reference Sheet by clicking the link below.  If you would like to share this information on your blog, instead of copy and pasting this info, please paste a link to my site:

 
This is a page out of the handbook.  On the left you see what you can make by pressing the red key on the keypad below.  You use the various Creative Feature keys to build the final image.
 
I have added letters to each of the squares to explain how to build the primary image, the phrase and the font(s).
  • A - this is the primary image plus a copy of the overlay/ virtual keypad highlighting the key the page references in red.
  • B - this is the base of the primary image .  All the other layers will be stacked on top of it so only the bonnet, cats and buggy tires will show through. The example is cut with brown paper but you can use whatever color you would like.  For example, cutting B in white would create a white bonnet, cats and tires.  Cricut will cut B when you select the red key on the key pad.
  • C - this is the grass layer and should be stacked on top of B.  Cricut cuts this when you select the red key and shift
  • D - this layer is cut by selecting the red key and the Layer 1 creative feature button. D cuts the girl's jacket, the bonnet ribbon, the creases on the stroller sun shade and the flowers on the grass and her bonnet. 
  • E - this layer is cut by selecting the red key, the Layer 1 creative feature button and shift. E cuts the stroller, her jacket pocket and the stroller tire rims.
  • F - this layer is cut by selecting the red key and the Layer 2 creative feature button. F cuts the skin of the little girl (face, hands and feet).
  • G - this layer is cut by selecting the red key, the Layer 2 creative feature button and shift. G cuts the girl's hair and the cat's collar. 
  • H -  this layer is cut by selecting the red key and the Phrase creative feature button. H is the base layer.
  • I - this layer is cut by selecting the red key, the Phrase creative feature button and shift. I is placed on top of H to create dimension and add contrast (you would cut this layer with a different colored paper than H).
  • J - this layer is cut by selecting the red key and the Baby Girl Font 1 creative feature button. This is the cartridge font "negative" inside a scalloped square.
  • K - this layer is cut by selecting the red key, the Baby Girl Font 1 creative feature button and shift. This is the shadow of cartridge font "negative" inside a scalloped square and goes under J.
  • L - this layer is cut by selecting the red key and the Baby Girl Font 2 creative feature button. L is the lower case.
  • M - this layer is cut by selecting the red key, the Baby Girl Font 2 creative feature button and shift. M is the upper case.
  • N -  this layer is cut by selecting the red key and the Baby Girl Font 2 Shadow creative feature button.  N is the lower case shadow.
  • O - this layer is cut by selecting the red key, the Baby Girl Font 2 Shadow creative feature button and shift. O is the upper case shadow.
To download a copy of the Kate's ABC's handbook visit the Cricut website here or you can click below:
 

Last but not least, here is a list of all of the images and phrases on this cartridge with their page numbers.  If you find any errors in the spreadsheet, please let me know so I can correct them. If you would like to share this information on your blog, instead of copy and pasting this info, please paste a link to my site. The spreadsheet below is saved as a JPEG but you can download a PDF version of Kate's ABC's here: 
 
 

5 comments:

  1. There are so many cute cuts on this one. Makes me want to have a little girl! Thanks for another great review.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know! This cartridge is packed with awesome images. I have a little girl but she's more of a tomboy so I can't use this cart very much with her photos. I do use it a lot for cards and I also use the isolated images with other projects.

    ReplyDelete
  3. can i get a copy of alll... scribd would not let me download.... jhuanahale24@gmail.com thanks

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nate's ABC's is the boy version of this cartridge. I have both.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I see the greatest contents on your blog and I extremely love reading them.

    girl hair cutting style name

    ReplyDelete