Here are my list of websites/forum to visit for some awesome advice on SCAL, Inkscape, and any project made (most with a Cricut). The official cricut forum is quite the stickler for only projects made with their cartridges. IMO, that is just greedy.
SCAL forum:
http://forums.surecutsalot.com/
Inkscape forum (to learn inkscape to use with any cutter):
http://www.inkscapecuttingdesign.com/index.php
and the newest forum from previous cricut forum-board users:
http://www.smartbuygal.com/forum/index.php
That should keep you busy for a while.
And make your head spin...
The website that I used to learn inkscape is this one..
http://susanbluerobot.blogspot.com/2008/06/help-from-start-to-finish.html
it has pictures/step by step/ on how to take a dingbat (font) and modify the image to be able to cut, from beginning to end. You just need the font/dingbat she used... which can be found with a quick google search. And you don't need to install the font, just have it open before you open inkscape.
Any questions on any of this, let me know! I am willing to help or point you in the right direction.