FREE cutting file - Accessory Trays

Hiya, over on the Silhouette UK Blog this weekend I have a project to help organise all those invaluable Silhouette bits and pieces that accumulate when you use your machine. I used the Two Compartment Candy Box by Lori Whitlock, added some custom-designed accessory trays, and decorated the outside with panels cut from Silhouette Wood Effect Vinyl. I included a FREE accessory tray file too to keep blades, penholders and sketch pens all in one place.

You can also download the FREE Accessory Trays cut file here. The file is in .GSD format which can be opened with any edition of the Silhouette Studio software. From the Silhouette program select File > Open, then navigate to the downloaded file and click OK.

There are two versions in the file, one is taller than the other. The taller one is for sketch pens, to bring the coloured tops closer to the top. It also has more holes which are a fraction larger. The shorter one accommodates all the blades and is sized to allow the AutoBlade enough headroom, as it is taller than the others.

You can mix and match the holes, just Ungroup each version (select one, right mouse click, select Ungroup) and duplicate or swap the sets of holes.

You can also adjust the size and spacing of the holes.

To adjust the size, duplicate a set of holes, move it to one side and adjust all the circles simultaneously (hold down Shift, Alt, Cmd on a Mac and move one of the corner sizing handles either in or out). If you increase the size, check that they still fit within the square part of the tray. If not, you can adjust the spacing, as shown below.

To adjust the spacing, duplicate as above and ungroup the set of holes (select, right click, Ungroup, then Ungroup again). Using the Drawing Tools, draw a square over the existing dotted lines and then move it over the duplicate set of ungrouped dots.

If you need to make the holes larger than the above method allows (if they overlap the edges) then select one of the holes, open the Transform panel, and adjust the with and height as required (I chose 1" to accommodate a Stickles bottle).

Delete the remaining holes and using the Replicate panel, select the remaining hole and make a row of three.

Then space them evenly within the square by clicking on the Horizontal Spacing in the Transform panel.

Then group and then duplicate the row using column of three in the Replicate panel.

Then space the holes evenly using the vertical option in the Transform panel.

When you are happy with the spacing delete the square, group holes, and move them back to the tray, deleting or moving the original set.

For the ideal storage of Stickles and similar sized bottles, the legs will need to be shorter (even shorter than the short-legged version). You can adjust the height either up or down by using point editing of the points on the end of each leg. I'll save that explanation for another post. If you are in need of it meantime, let me know and I'll expedite it!

I hope you'll find this useful.


Happy New Year!




Designs used:

Simply Crafty SVGs Design Team

Hello, I'm happy to announce that I will be part of the Simply Crafty SVGs Design Team for a further term.  Simply Crafty SVGs designs and sells fabulous 3D digital cutting files for cardmaking and papercrafting.

I'm thrilled to have some lovely new teamies. You can read their bios over at the Simply Crafty SVG Blog. 

Here are some of my favourite projects from the past 6 months.

Handy Storage Drawers

Orchid Box Card

Chalkboard Bird House

Haunted Halloween Castle

Santa Express Box Card

Terrier Pin Cushion

All the project posts contain information on how to recreate these projects, just click on the link below each picture to read more.

I'm SO looking forward to the new term, and can't wait to see the new files that will be released over the coming months.

Handy Storage Solution with the Curvy Drawer Organizer from Simply Crafty SVGs

Hello.  Janet here with a project to help with organising your craft desk or computer area. I've used the SVG file for the Curvy 3-Drawer Organizer to make a practical computer tidy.  It is one of a range of practical curvy organisation cutting files from Simply Crafty SVGs.

Now, I should explain that initially I hadn't intended to stop at just one set of drawers. The curvy range would look great stacked up using the different drawer configurations, and I'd planned an organisation stack to sit beside my computer too (this one fits neatly under the screen - great for storing all my USB memory sticks. However, mid-way in I discovered that I only had a couple of sheets of my favourite heavy weight grey cardstock! I will have to order some more and build the stack later in the year.

This file is a delight to make. The construction is really strong, and cleverly designed to cover up all the tabs and glued parts, for a truly neat finish. It warranted a neat and precise decoration, and I'll show you how I finagled this with 6x6 patterned paper.

This was made using the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software, but can be replicated in other cutting software.


Materials Used:
Grey heavyweight Cardstock
(I used Slate Grey Smooth Card 240gsm from UK supplier, Papermill Direct)
6x6 Patterned Paper (MME A Happy Heart, discontinued)
Beads (for feet)
Beacon 3 in 1 Adhesive
Silhouette Cameo


Files Used:
Simply Crafty SVGs Curvy 3-Drawer Organizer

Other Digital Files: 
Leaf and Flower Border Set by Nic Squirrell (Studio or SVG)
Garden flower by Technique Tuesday (Studio or SVG)



DRAWER ASSEMBLY

The SVG file for the Drawer set includes clear step-by-step instructions in PDF format, so I won't cover that here. I made the whole design slightly bigger so that my rings of USBs would fit easily. My only other deviation was to adhere the decorative panels after I'd assembled the drawers, as I wasn't certain if my initial choice of paper would work (it didn't, as the pattern scale was too big, so I ended up using paper from a 6x6 pad on a project that was slightly too big for it).


DECORATIVE PANELS

The scale of my original pattern was too big, so chose I to use some 6x6 paper, but I only had a sheet and a half. I had to use some careful planning and precise alignment of the paper on the cutting mat (the I only just managed to fit the pieces on) to make the patterns match.

The large piece had to be rotated by 45º to fit on to the paper.

For the smaller pieces I drew a square to represent the 6x6 paper then used the Align tools from the Transform to panel to ensure that they were centred, level and evenly spaced horizontally.  The spaces between the shapes were closer than I'd normally like, but by reducing the cutting force the pieces cut without mishap. NOTE: One of the drawer panels is smaller than the others. I rearranged their order so that the small one sat in the middle, as it would on the finished item, so the pattern would align correctly.

DECORATIVE ELEMENTS

I made an offset of the leaf border and flower together and had to cut the border in two pieces because I had so little of the paper left (the grey stripe was on the reverse of the plaid pattern used for the panels). By releasing the compound path on the flower I was able to select and cut the flower centre from the cream stripe too.

Once the elements were assembled, I adhered the whole piece to the top of the drawers.

DRAWER FEET

I thought the set would look more finished with a set of feet. I used the beads from some broken necklaces and had the choice of two types: disk-shaped, or spherical ones.

It looked nice with the spherical ones, but I realised that the foot of my monitor stand was sloped, so I opted for one pair of the disc-shaped ones at the front, so that the drawers would sit flat when they were positioned on the foot.

Here is the completed project in position. Love it!

I can't wait for my cardstock delivery so that I can make a matching storage stack.

All the files are here. Oh, and there is also a Magazine Style box; a row of these would be great for all my USB cables (why does every camera seem to need a different style of USB)?

I hope you find these files and tips useful in organising your desk or craft room. I love starting the New Year with a tidy desk!


Bye for now,
Janet, DT Member Simply Crafty SVGs


Blog: Crafting Quine 
Instagram: @CraftingQuine



Simply Crafty SVG Files:
Curvy 3-Drawer Organizer