Had a request for more specific directions for downloading those fonts shared the other day.  It can be maddening to attempt the first time! I remember several phone calls to Jen and a few expletives aimed at the screen when I realized how many free fonts were available and how few I could figure out how to load.

Here is the tutorial with graphics of the windows used.  Basically you right click on the font you are downloading and click ‘save target’. You want to have a file set up to save it to of course so you can find it again. I created a ‘font’ file under Windows. You will need to unzip your font file, so you must have an unzipping utility like Winzip installed. It will open a window with a TT(True type) icon once you unzip it. This is where most people get stuck. If you click on this icon you get a lovely sample of your new font and can do absolutely nothing with it. So…. don’t click on it yet <g> Proceed to:

Open your control panel (on the bottom left of the screen hit start, then control panel). Go to Appearance and Themes and then find the Font prompt and open that. Mine is on the top left at this point.  This should pull up a window with all the TT font files already installed on your computer. Drag your new font icon over into this window and release it. It will automatically install. If you go to your word processing program and select a font it should be there ready to go. Do double check the linked tutorial.

Once the world of free fonts is opened to you the newfound options for school work, notebooks and scrapbooks will amaze you. A couple of my favorite font sites are:

Dafont.com  I like the handwriting, script, and school themes.  The serif and sans serif are great for scrapping.

One Scrappy Site

Scrap village

When you see layouts you like in scrapbook mags be sure to check the materials info included. Do a search for the fonts listed and you too can get the same look.  If you are a homeschooler check the school fonts from the first link. (linked in the Adventures in Grocery Shopping post as well) You will save a fortune over the ones available in school supply catalogs. These are perfect for making handwriting practice pages. You can adjust the font size to whatever stage at which your young writer is currently performing.  It is particularly nice to make notebook and copywork pages by starting your text half way down a blank page and printing on cardstock. The child can illustrate the top half and practice the copywork on the bottom. Or he/she can dictate a nature notebook entry which you can print in light gray and he can copy and illustrate that. The list goes on. Enjoy!