Create amazing papercrafts with this comprehensive guide for beginners and advanced Cricut™ users. In a clear and accessible way, Cathie Rigby teaches the basics of the Cricut Expression™ machines (both the original and the new Cricut Expression™ 2) and cutting for beginners. For advanced crafters, this book instructs on features such as modes and functions, and teaches how to create with color, texture, and dimension. A cutting guide teaches the perfect settings to cut every type of material. A separate chapter introduces the new features of Cricut Expression™ 2 and explains how it differs from the original Expression machine. More than 50 creative projects inspire ideas for home décor, gifts, parties, cards, and scrapbook layouts. Cathie Rigby has taught Cricut, Design Studio, and Gypsy classes for four years in the Salt Lake City area. She currently teaches at Roberts Arts & Crafts and Hobby Lobby stores and hosts scrapbook retreats and Cricut Cruises.

Explore the unique techniques & ideas for using the Sizzix die-cutting & embossing machines. Create handcrafted & embellished greeting cards, thank you's or invites!

Why the card catalog—a “paper machine” with rearrangeable elements—can be regarded as a precursor of the computer. Today on almost every desk in every office sits a computer. Eighty years ago, desktops were equipped with a nonelectronic data processing machine: a card file. In Paper Machines, Markus Krajewski traces the evolution of this proto-computer of rearrangeable parts (file cards) that became ubiquitous in offices between the world wars. The story begins with Konrad Gessner, a sixteenth-century Swiss polymath who described a new method of processing data: to cut up a sheet of handwritten notes into slips of paper, with one fact or topic per slip, and arrange as desired. In the late eighteenth century, the card catalog became the librarian's answer to the threat of information overload. Then, at the turn of the twentieth century, business adopted the technology of the card catalog as a bookkeeping tool. Krajewski explores this conceptual development and casts the card file as a “universal paper machine” that accomplishes the basic operations of Turing's universal discrete machine: storing, processing, and transferring data. In telling his story, Krajewski takes the reader on a number of illuminating detours, telling us, for example, that the card catalog and the numbered street address emerged at the same time in the same city (Vienna), and that Harvard University's home-grown cataloging system grew out of a librarian's laziness; and that Melvil Dewey (originator of the Dewey Decimal System) helped bring about the technology transfer of card files to business.

The origami introduced in this book is based on simple techniques. Some were previously known by origami artists and some were discovered by the author. Curved-Folding Origami Design shows a way to explore new area of origami composed of curved folds. Each technique is introduced in a step-by-step fashion, followed by some beautiful artwork examples. A commentary explaining the theory behind the technique is placed at the end of each chapter. Features Explains the techniques for designing curved-folding origami in seven chapters Contains many illustrations and photos (over 140 figures), with simple instructions Contains photos of 24 beautiful origami artworks, as well as their crease patterns Some basic theories behind the techniques are introduced

This two volumes constitute the refereed proceedings of the First International Conference on Intelligent Robotics and Applications, ICIRA 2008, held in Wuhan, China, in October 2008. The 265 revised full papers presented were thoroughly reviewed and selected from 552 submissions; they are devoted but not limited to robot motion planning and manipulation; robot control; cognitive robotics; rehabilitation robotics; health care and artificial limb; robot learning; robot vision; human-machine interaction & coordination; mobile robotics; micro/nano mechanical systems; manufacturing automation; multi-axis surface machining; realworld applications.

Paper craft is given a stunning and contemporary look through these easy-to-make projects for home décor. Transform a simple sheet of paper into something extraordinary! Explore the versatility, beauty, and simplicity of paper. From a geometric paper-folded vase to paper petal lights and a unique paper cuckoo clock, you’ll discover 25 projects that use basic materials and easy techniques to create stunning home décor items. Taking inspiration from the shapes and repetition found in architecture and nature, designer and paper-lover Sarah Louise Matthews offers contemporary designs that will add a creative flair to your home or make for wonderful gifts. With clear step-by-step instructions and beautiful photographs, you’ll explore techniques like paper cutting, folding, and engineering to create gorgeous results.