Changing Inkscape Document Properties Default in Windows

I recently updated my version of Inkscape, and every time I opened a document, it reverted to pixels as the default unit of measurement, with an letter-sized document. I prefer using a 12x12 inch document to coincide with the Cricut mat I use most often, as well as the use of inches as my basic unit of measurement. I had changed the document template once before, but couldn't remember how, and it took me several perusals of different technical posts to finally figure it out on my own, so I am posting this to try and save someone else the trouble.

Here we go: (Inkscape should not be open at this point.)
1. First, find the drive where the Inkscape folder is located: (You can go to 'Start' then choose 'Search' to do this if you don't have a clue. Type 'Inkscape' into the Files & Folders line. A ton of Inkscape files will come up - you are looking for a folder icon. You want to find the version of Inkscape that you use - usually the most recent one. You can find out which one you use by opening Inkscape, choosing 'Help' at the top of the window, then 'About'. Don't forget to close Inkscape).

2. Save a copy of the original Default template file: Open the Inkscape folder, then open 'Share', then 'Templates'. Find the 'Default' (Scalable Vector Graphics File) template (there will be a few others that are Default_something else - ignore these.) Right click on the file, and choose 'copy'. Then left click in a blank space in the folder to deselect the Default file. Right click in the blank area and choose 'Paste' to create a copy of the original Default file. Close the window.

3. Change the Document/Template Properties: Open Inkscape. Go to 'File/Document Properties, under General', choose the default units of your choice (in my case, inches), then under 'Format', go down to 'Custom size', and choose the units you want to use, then change the width and height measurements (in my case, I chose inches and 12x12.) Close the Document Properties menu window. Next go to 'File', and choose 'Save As', and go to the drive where the Inkscape folder is saved on your computer. Open the folder, and select 'Share/Templates'. Select 'Default', and choose 'Save'. It will ask you if you want to overwrite the existing Default file. Choose 'Yes', and then close Inkscape. Reopen Inkscape and your preferred document properties should now open up each time you open Inkscape.

Rose-topped Scalloped Favor Box

I have seen these done with punches, but I wanted a cut file for my Cricut. I made a few changes to the actual flower parts to make it easier to put together. I designed the rose leaves, and added it to the top of my Scalloped Favor Box, which is just the right size for some mints or wrapped chocolates, or even a Tim Bit, which is what my daughter had for her wedding favors.

I love this little rose. it is so real looking. I chalked the edges of some of the petals to give it depth, but it looks just as pretty without doing that. The box is a 1½" cube, and the rose measures 7/8" across and 5/8" high - tiny! It takes about 3-5 minutes to form the flower, using a pencil and some hot glue (I suggest low temp - trust me on this), so this would definitely be doable on a large scale for wedding or shower favor boxes.

The svg for the box with flower is $5.00 USD. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the svg's for both the scalloped Favor Box and the Rose with Leaves, as well as the scut2 file, and a sheet of directions with a picture of the finished rose-topped box. Please use the Donate button to order, and leave a note telling me which file it is that you want.

Thanks for your support - it means so much to me!

Love (that) Bug!

Sideways view of window "glass".

I'm really getting into this car-card thing. Loved doing the 1955 Ford pickup, but this VW Bug topped that. It was so much fun to design. It was requested by someone on the Yahoo SCALHints group. My little sis has a bug, so this card will be going to her for her birthday, although I'll have to put a Gerber daisy in the window in order to make it really hers.  The sentiment could say, "You're not old...you're a classic." Or my personal favorite, "Some things just get better with age. Happy Birthday!" The card fits in a standard A2 envelope with room to spare on the sides. Hope you like it.

The file actually has another piece to it that I decided not to use since I was using a rather busy print. It is the part that the actual engine hood sits on (what do you call it, car people?) I would use it if I were cutting from a solid color paper, and chalk the edges. I did chalk the edges of the engine hood, to give it some definition. My car has an acrylic rear windshield, which I cut on my Cricut. It was part of some packaging for a string of deck lights, and it cut beautifully.

The designing of this file took quite a while, as you can imagine. The svg file, plus the scut2 file, along with directions for assembly are included in the price of $5.00 USD. Please use the Donate button for ordering, and leave a note in the comments box telling me which file it is that you want. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the svg, the scut2 file, and the instructions for making the card. Thanks you for your interest!

Bold Graphic GRAD card

I just love bold graphics - whether on cards, home decor or fashion. My sweetie and I went to Philadelphia last year as part of our vacation (if you ever go you HAVE to see The Magic Gardens at 1020 South Street. Oh my goodness!!! http://www.phillymagicgardens.org/) We saw the iconic LOVE graphic art at the fountains downtown, and I saw a little girl wearing a T-shirt with the graphic on GMA the other day, and it hit me that I could make a few cool graduation cards pretty quickly with this graphic. Hope you can use it. It fits perfectly on the front of a 5x5" square card, and I have already posted directions for making an envelope to fit this size card, as well as a recipe for homemade envelope glue.

The svg can be downloaded for free here.

Father's Day Briefcase Card

This one was so fun to make. I used a crocodile-look paper, but you could do it in black or brown plain paper or emboss it with a leather or croc-look embossing folder, too. The Briefcase measures 3½" x 2 1/8" closed, and is oh so cute! ; )

The svg is $2.50 USD. Please use the Donate button to order, and leave a note in the 'Purpose' line, telling me which file it is you are ordering. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the svg and the scut2 file. Thanks so much for your interest!

Father's Day Card - 1955 Ford F150

This truck was manufactured the year my hubby was born, so I thought it would make a great Father's Day card for him. We would both love to have one - me for my woodworking/furniture building/concrete garden sculpture making, and him for hauling mulch and plants home from the garden center, as well as building supplies from Home Depot or Lowes for home improvement projects. The card opens at the top, and measures 7¾" x 3¼". The metallic parts are cut from silver paper, though you can't tell it from the photo. Fast and easy to put together; it only takes 4 colors of card stock: the black for the outline/body of the truck, the color of your choice for the chassis, silver or light gray for the metal parts, and white for the sentiment area inside the card.

The svg is $3.50 USD. Please use the Donate button to order, and leave me a note as to which file it is you want. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the svg, the scut2 file, as well as directions on how to make a custom envelope to fit this card from a sheet of 8½" x 11" paper. Thanks a bunch!

Graduation Mortarboard Card

Here's a fun card I designed with a 3D mortarboard, complete with paper tassel. I am so proud of my little baby bug for the job it did cutting this tassel. The thing is like a false eyelash when you take it off the cutting mat. This card is for my niece...thus the school colors on the tassel.It was fun to make and goes together easily. The hat actually stands away from the card about 3/8", so you'll need to hand deliver this one - at the graduation open house! Hope you like it.

The svg is $1.50 USD, which includes both the svg file and the scut2 file, as well as assembly instructions. If you want to order it, please use the "Donate" button. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the files. Please indicate which file it is that you want in the messages box on the Paypal page. Thanks a bunch!

Father's Day Vest Card

 

This was fun to design and make, though I seriously need to go get some manly paper. I had to search a bit to come up with these. I'd love to do a tweedy one with a menswear  shirting stripe and a wild tie. Some baby buttons would be cute for a button-down collar.  You could also place a vest pocket inside with a secret little love note. 

My buttons are a little off center, so I modified the pattern (dressmaker talk for "svg" and/or "scut2") that you can buy for $3.00 US below. Cut the vest outside with the paper face down. I also enlarged the lining so that you can insert the brads for buttons before fastening down the inside lining on that edge, so that the brad points are completely enclosed. There are holes included in the svg for the brad placement. The shirt has tabs at the top for slipping down between the top of the lining and the vest. If you attach the two front edges (where the buttons go) first, you can easily slip the shirt in place and run some tape along the tab to stick it down. The "shirt & tie" flip up for the sentiment area. The pocket handkerchief is one of the leftover points from cutting the vest points out. Send me some pix if you use this!

I changed the tie to a more modern look in the file, as seen in the photos of a card sent to me by a customer, Mindy, a Close to My Heart consultant. Love that dark vest!

The svg is $3.00 USD. Please use the "Donate" button to order, and leave a note in the message box as to which file you're interested in. Thanks so much!

Darth Vader Birthday Card

My son-in-law is a huge Star Wars geek, I mean fan. We celebrated his 30th birthday on Mother's Day, and I gave him this card. I think he was thrilled....He liked what was included with the card, anyway, if not the sentiment.

The svg for the 2-layer face is here.
The svg for the helmet-shaped card is here.

It was kindly brought to my attention that I couldn't sell licensed items such as good old Darth's head - oops! I should have known that, and thanks to Darthkat for letting me know. I hadn't sold any of them anyway, so...it's all good.

Daisy-topped, Scalloped-edge Favor Box

I made these for a friend who was hosting the rehearsal dinner for her son's wedding. The box is a 1½" cube, and can be topped with whatever your little heart desires, or just left plain. I love the little scallops. A friend helped make them, and asked for one in the blue and yellow combo.

The svg is $5.00 USD. Please use the Donate button to purchase, and leave a note about which file it is that you want. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the svg. Thanks a bunch!

Mother's Day Card & Scrollwork Frame

I was playing around with some scroll brushes and came up with this frame or mat. The colors are all off in this photo; the background is a lovely shade of periwinkle - always the first crayon I would choose from my new box of 64 Crayolas. It looks gray in this picture, and my Photoshop is acting up, so I will leave it as is. I used beading tape & tiny glass marbles to "frame" the frame, and 'Mother' is cut 4 times: 3 from regular cardstock, and once form an irridescent pearl paper, using the Beautiful ES font. Below is a picture of the frame.

Someone asked me if I do my designs on layers so that she could close up one of the elements that she didn't want. I really must learn how to work with layers. Sorry to all of you for whom this is causing problems. I know Scrappy Dew has a wonderful tutorial about this on YouTube, which I have watched, but, alas, did not apply myself. I promise to make time to watch it again, and give layers another try.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSbV_2zdtds

The svg for the frame is $1.50 USD. Please use the "Donate" button to order. Leave me a note as to which file it is you want, and when I get notification of funds received from Paypal, I will email the files with instructions to you. Thanks a bunch! 

Lacy Circle Mat

 

Someone requested a lacy circle mat similar to one she had seen done with corner punches. I have no clue how you would go about doing this with a corner punch, but, I tried it with Inkscape.

The svg is $1.50 USD. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the appropriate files. Please use the Donate button to order, and leave a note telling me which file it is that you want. Thanks!

Square Peaked Shaplie & Spiderweb Shaplie

Haven't been doing much inside this week. It has been glorious outside, and I've been working on my garden beds. Hope you can use these Shapelies in your card making & scrapbooking.

Each svg is $1.00 USD. Please use the Donate button to purchase, and leave a note about which file it is that you want, the peaked square or the spider web. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the svg. Thanks a bunch!

16-Scallop Shaplie & Jumbo Scallop Rectangle Shaplie

Here's a 16-scallop nesting mat I made. I'm sure there are some others out there, but I didn't see any at Penny's site, so I made this one. I am in the process of making a card with a pop-up bouquet for Mother's Day, and will be using one of these Shaplies for it. Will post L8R.

I wanted to add this jumbo-scallop. I really like modern designs, and I love cards made with these jumbo scallops. I did a card a while back with one, and said I'd post the Shaplie for the card body, so here it is. Leave a comment if you take it - I want your feedback. Happy Easter! Go to church! ; )

The svg's are each $1.00 USD. Please use the Donate button to purchase, and leave a note about which file it is that you want. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the svg. Thanks a bunch!

Three Poppies with Buds

Each blossom has three pieces for shading and are not attached to the stems, so they can be moved to different ones to vary the design..

The file is $1.50 USD. Please use the "Donate button, and tell me which file it is that you want in the Messages box. I will email you the file upon receipt of payment. Thanks!

Zinnia!

Woke up this morning to MORE SNOW on the ground, even though it was in the 60's two days ago! I'm hoping my budding lilacs, tulips and hyacinths weren't ruined. It is beautiful & sunny outside right now, and the snow is gone, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. 

Can't wait until I can plant some zinnia seeds in my flower beds. I had the most amazing fuschia, orange & chartreuse (my favorite) ones in my garden last year, and they last forever in bouquets. Until then, I had fun making this one. You can't see some of the layers (there's a neon fuschia layer just under the outer yellow layer) or coloration in the pix - I chalked some of the outer petals in fuschia, too, and reversed the paper so that some layers are textured and some not.  I found that stroking the petals on a thick Foamy pad with the cap on the end of my new Quick-Stik (LOVE IT!), worked really well together to get the petals to cup just the right amount. I cut the leaf by hand (gasp!), but will add a leaf to the cut file.

I saw this neat trick on a TV show the other day: The woman was using a hemostat (not what I called it in my misspent youth) to hold a pom-pom to use for chalking, instead of the ubiquitous Q-Tip. The pom-pom is so much nicer, and can be changed out for each color. My pom-pom is huge - I was too lazy to go down to my sewing room to get some small ones, and had these in my stash here in the study. At least with the bigger size, you can flip it around to get two colors out of one pom-pom, as you can see! I also really like using wedge-shaped sponges meant for applying makeup for chalking larger areas.

The svg is here.

Butterfly Favor Boxes

These were one of those late-night brain storm thingies. I needed a quick and easy favor box for a friend's daughter's baby shower, which had the theme of butterflies & flowers. I spent a LONG time working on some fancy flowers & butterflies to put on top of the favor boxes, and then I remembered the file I had downloaded from Heather M's blog earlier in the day. It was a cute little favor box with a round tab at the top for fastening. I incorporated the butterfly into the tab to make this cute little box. It is sized for a Baby Bug, but you can re-size however you want. My finished box is a 1¾" cube - perfect for a hand-full of mints or Easter M&M's! I chalked the white under-wings that formed the clasp of the box, and chalked the edges with a different color. I cut the lacy-winged butterfly in half and glued to the two sides of the clasp.

The svg is $5.00 USD. Please use the Donate button to make your purchase, and leave a note under  "Purpose" on the PayPal page telling me which file it is that you want. Upon notification from Paypal of funds received, I will email you the svg and any related files. Thanks a bunch!

Gerbera Daisy

I made this fun-to-make gerber daisy from the Saru's Flowers font, and the sun design from the Punch Dings dingbat font.They are so real looking - love it! 

The svg is here.

"Adorable" Card

I am certainly in the new baby card mode these days, for sure. I actually do have preggers to give them all to, but I do love making them. For this one I used Plantin, Cuttin' Up, Walk in My Garden (flowers), and Joys of the Season (sprig).

Here's the screen shot and link to download the cut file:

Hello Kitty (Sitting) - svg included at the bottom

I made this for my granddaughter's first birthday party, to put on a gift bag. I used Plantin, Paper Dolls Dress Up (hair bows & whiskers, made from pirate sashes), New Arrival (for the flattened oval face - looked better than an oval from Plantin). and Speaking of Fall (the little megaphones I used for the sleeves). You could cut little triangles by hand to substitute for these. It's hard to see in the photo that it is dimensional: the face is popped, as well as the elements of the bow, and the feet. You'll need to use the Hide Selected Contour feature to hide the inner circles of the flowers used throughout the design...I can't get them to stay hidden after saving the file. Any pointers on that?

 

This screen shot shows the cut file for the black components:

This one shows the white cuts:

And this one the light pink small pieces, the dark pink body, and the little yellow oval nose:

The cut file is here.

I have since converted this into an svg. The file is here.