How to Emboss Vellum with the Cricut
Many have asked how to emboss vellum with the Cricut. You can also create flowers that pop out from the embossed background. Then you can add some lovely petals for a 3D effect to make a gorgeous card. In this tutorial I will share how to make this lovely card using your electronic cutter.
Embossed Popout Daisy Card
Using Electronic Cutters to Emboss Vellum
You don’t have to have a Cricut in order to make this card. The SVG, PVGC, and FCM cutting files for this project are available that can be used in most electronic cutting machines. You can find them in the FREE Resource Library. Download the free cutting files. You can right click on the file link, and select “Save Link As” or “Save Target As”. Save it to your computer. When the download is complete, double click on the downloaded file and select Extract All. Then open your preferred cutting software, and import the cutting file. There is one file that contains all the design pieces. If you are using a Scan N Cut machine, use the FCM file. Those using Pazzles InVue software will use the PVGC file. All others should use the SVG file.
Note: this post may contain affiliate links.
Supplies Needed to Emboss the Vellum Popout Card
Heavy Translucent Vellum Cardstock
Electronic Cutter – Pazzles Vue, Scan N Cut, Cricut Explore or Maker, Silhouette Cameo, or other cutter that uses SVG files.
If you wish to add foiling to your design, you will need foiling tools. I used the We R Memory Makers Foil Quill and silver foil but you may use a metallic pen instead if you don’t have the foil quill. I used the bold tip for this project.
Embossing Mat- Pazzles,or Scan N Cut Embossing Kit, or SNC Embossing Mat
Embossing Stylus –Pazzles Embossing Tool
or Hand Embossing Stylus or Scan N Cut Embossing tool
Dries Clear Adhesive
Low Tack tape
Pearl Stickers
Embossed Vellum Popout Card cutting files from the Free Resource Library
Pop Dots
Limitations to Emboss Vellum With Cricut
Embossing vellum with the Cricut Maker is not as straight forward as it is with other electronic cutters. This is due primarily to the fact that Cricut does not allow any options for adjusting the pressure of tools using the A slot on the Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore cutting head. Cricut Explore does allow use of a special pen holder in the blade holder slot. With that holder in the B slot, the pressure can be adjusted up to the maximum under Custom Settings to 340-350.
Pen Holder for Cricut Explore
While the Cricut Maker boasts of up to 4000 grams of cutting pressure, this pressure is only available in the B slot on the cutting head. And a hand-held embossing stylus is not recognized in the B slot. Maximum pressure is needed to get an excellent embossed effect on vellum cardstock.
The only pressure options on the Cricut Maker head A are the automatic settings for either drawing or scoring. Pressure for drawing on the Cricut Maker is inadequate for embossing. The pressure for scoring is adequate, given the right embossing stylus and mat. The Cricut Scoring tool tip is not broad enough for embossing. It has a tendency to tear through delicate vellum cardstock.
Paper to Use to Emboss
Selecting to best paper to use for embossing with your cutter is very important. Lighter weight papers will emboss more readily on cutters, than cardstock. It can take massive amounts of down pressure to form nicely embossed shapes on cardstock.
What is Translucent Vellum Cardstock?
Vellum is a type of coating that is used on some papers. The type and weight of vellum is very important for this project. While our cutters cannot make a very good embossed impression on most cardstock, one exception is to use translucent vellum cardstock to emboss with your cutter. The cardstock should be translucent enough to be able to see through it. When using translucent vellum cardstock, an embossing tool will create white lines on the Vellum.
Best Weight of Transparent Vellum Cardstock to Use
For the Embossed Popout Daisy Card, you need to use Transparent Vellum Cardstock that is neither too heavy nor too light. The popouts will work better with Vellum that is still. But if the cardstock is too thick, the embossed design will not be the pretty white color you are wanting. If the cardstock is too thin, the design may tear during cutting or removing from the cutting mat. I found that 36# translucent vellum cardstock works best for this project.
Embossing on Legacy Cricut machines
Those using any of the legacy Cricut machines (Original Cricut Personal, original Cricut Expression, Cricut Cake, Create, Cricut Cake Mini) will find that the Pazzles Embossing tool fits perfectly in the blade holder of these older machines. You can emboss on these machines if you have an embossing mat and embossing tool. Unfortunately, the Pazzles Embossing tool is too large to fit in the Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker.
Pazzles Embossing Tool
Cricut has simplified the cutting process by providing automatic settings wherever possible. But this is an example of how automatic settings can limit creativity. Perhaps one day Cricut will add full embossing functionality. Until then, you can use the techniques I have used to make this card.
Embossing Stylus
To emboss, you need to be able to use an embossing stylus. The stylus needs to fit the pen tool holder. In addition, the stylus tip needs to be long enough to extend deep enough through the pen holder to reach the mat.
Testing Hand-Held Embossing Tools
I have tested a number of different hand-held stylus tools. Unfortunately, most of the ones I have collected through the years will not work in the Cricut machines. The length of the tips of most were too short.
I did find one that works in the Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker. This one has a metal tip that is a full 1″ long.
Hand Embossing Tool
I still have to wrap 5 inches of blue painter’s tape around the center of the handle to make it a bit thicker to fit snugly in the pen holder. Place the tool with the larger ball tip down into the A tool holder of the Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker. Other cutters than have pen holders may also use a tool like this for embossing.
Hand Embossing Tool With Tape
The tip of the embossing stylus needs to be quite close to the mat surface, as shown in my photo below.
Embossing Stylus In Cricut Maker
Embossing Mat
In order for an electronic cutter to effectively create embossing designs on vellum, it is essential to have a cushion under the paper on the mat. Too much of a cushion may result in tears in the delicate vellum. And not enough cushion may result in unsatisfactory embossing.
Some cutter companies provide embossing mats that work with their brand of cutters. Other companies do not. Thin craft foam that is .8mm to 1mm thick may serve as an embossing mat in some cutters. Others have found that using faux leather provides an adequate surface for embossing.
With the foam or faux leather options, you will need to apply some adhesive to the top in order for the vellum to adhere to it during embossing and cutting. Too much adhesive may cause the popout petals on the card to tear when removing it from the mat. Too little adhesive may allow the vellum to shift during embossing and cutting. Taping edges of the vellum down without adhesive on the mat does not work due to the intricate detail of this project.
Embossing Mat Testing Results
Pazzles Embossing mat works well with the Pazzles machine. It is a bit too wide to fit Cricut machines. However, the Pazzles embossing mat may be trimmed down to work with Cricut machines.
Bosskut Gazelle made an excellent embossing mat that works with a number of different cutters. It will work with Cricut machines as well, but Bosskut is no longer in business.
I found the Scan N Cut Embossing mat to be a workable solution for How to emboss vellum with Cricut machines. A sticky Cricut mat holds the embossing mat in place. And the top surface of the embossing mat is sticky, and able to hold the vellum in place while the cutter is embossing and cutting.
Scan N Cut embossing mat on a Cricut mat.
When combined with a hand embossing tool, the Scan N Cut mat worked well to emboss vellum with the Cricut machines.
Silhouette users who would like to emboss vellum will need to use the Silhouette Curio cutter. This is because the Cameo and other Silhouette machines do not have adequate pressure for embossing. They also do not have enough clearance between the mat and roller bars to fit an embossing surface between the mat and vellum.
Foiling in Lieu of Embossing
In the event that you do not have an embossing tool and embossing mat that work to Embossing Vellum with your Cricut machine, you may elect to use the Embossed Popout Daisy Card design with a foil quill and foil. The background design of this card foils nicely. This is an option for those using Silhouette cutters as well.
Foiled Cricut Popout with Daisy Card
How to Emboss and Cut the Embossed Popout Daisy Card
If you are using a Pazzles or Scan N Cut machine to emboss and cut the popout daisy card, you will find that all lines in the cutting files are designated as either draw or cut. Choose the Draw lines first and emboss the Draw lines using your embossing tool and mat. Use maximum pressure when embossing. Do test cuts to determine the best settings for cutting.
Do not remove the mat or move the cutting head after the “drawing” is complete. Simply replace the embossing tool with the cutting tool, and select “Cut” to use with the cutting lines. Cutting on the embossing mat will not ruin it it you have set the blade depth appropriately.
How to cut and emboss with the Cricut
The process is a bit different when using Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker. First, import the SVG file into Cricut Design Space. To do that, open Cricut Design Space. Click on Upload, the bottom icon on the left toolbar. Next, click on Upload Image. Browse to the place where you saved the Embossed Vellum Popout Card file on your computer. Click on Save. The design you just uploaded will be visible now. Click on it to select it, and click on Insert Image.
Get the Design Ready in Design Space
Ungroup the design pieces by right clicking on the design, and selecting Ungroup. Next, click on the white emboss portion of the the design, and designate it as “Score” at the top of the page. Select both the score and white cut layers, right click and select Attach. Click on the top score layer and the next group layer on the right toolbar. Right click, and select Attach.
Now click on Make It. Move the entire design in and down 1″ from top and left sides of the virtual mat. This will reduce tearing along the edges of the vellum. Select Continue, and select your machine. Set materials to Vellum. Next, Set tools. Select the Scoring Stylus for the embossing.
Place your vellum on the embossing mat, and load the hand embossing tool in the A tool holder. Load the mat into the Cricut, and press the Go button on the machine when it starts blinking. It will take about 30 minutes to do all of the embossing and cutting on the vellum. Get the paper for the mat and card base ready. Be very careful when lifting the cut design from the mat to prevent the petals from tearing. Finally, you can cut the remaining card pieces.
How to Assemble the Embossed Vellum Popout Card
Embossed Popout Daisy Card
The side that is facing up on the mat is the Debossed side, as the embossing tool has pressed the design down into the vellum. The opposite side is the embossed design. You may use the side that you prefer on your card.
Fold the base card in half. Next, glue the mat to the center of the card front, or use pop dots to raise the mat a bit off of the card base. Add small dots of Dries Clear Adhesive on the back side of the vellum, only on places that are white from the embossing. Let it dry. Gently lift the cut petals up, away from the card, to give dimension.
Add the 3D Daisies
Embossed Popout Daisy Card
If you wish to add 3D daisies to the card, place a daisy piece on a foam mat, and press down firmly in the middle of the daisy to lift the petals. Repeat with the next daisy piece of the same size. Place a dot of glue on the back of one of the daisy layers, and center it over the other daisy layer of the same size. Make sure the petals are opposite the first layer. Add a drop of glue on the center back of each 3D Daisy layer and adhere to the center of one of the popout daisies on the card, again, keeping the petals opposite the bottom layer.
Repeat with all three flowers. Glue a pearl sticker to the center of each of the 3D Daisies on the card. You card is now complete! Add a sentiment of your choice to the inside of the card, and give it to someone special!
How To Emboss Vellum with the Cricut
Be sure to go to the Resource Library to grab the free cutting file for the Embossed Vellum Popup Daisy Card cutting files. If you like this project, please comment, share, and pin!
This resource library is open to everyone for free. All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below.
If you already have your password, enter the resource library here.
Julie
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Best Paper for Cutting
What is the Best Paper for cutting with your electronic cutter? The answer to this question depends on what you want to do with the cut paper. Are you wanting to cut very intricate designs? Are you wanting to make popup cards? Do you want to print on the paper before or after cutting? Are you cutting very thin paper or very thick paper? Do you need to emboss your paper? There are many factors to consider in your paper choices.
Best Paper for Cutting
There is some excellent general information about paper called The Ultimate Guide to Card Stock posted here. And there is excellent information about paper weights here.
No matter which paper you choose to cut, you must do test cuts. Test cuts help you determine the optimal settings on your machine. See this document for test cut suggestions.
Note: Some affiliate links may be used in this post. I am affiliated only with products that I use. When you purchase products using my affiliate links, it does not cost you any more, but I will share some commission. Thanks!
Machine Choice
Not every machine can cut every different type of paper well. For example the Cricut Maker can cut Tissue Paper, Construction Paper and Crepe Paper very well using its rotary cutting wheel.
Rotary Blade Kit for Cricut Maker
But other electronic machines may require special stiffening to be cut these thin papers. And most machines will not cut these very thin and very fragile papers at all.
Silhouette machines, such as the Silhouette Cameo can cut lightweight cardstock and text weight papers very well. But these machines are not rated to cut heavier cardstock or heavier media.
Is the Best Paper Made of Hardwood or Softwood?
Every paper mill has its own formula for creating paper. All use hardwood and softwood to make their papers. But the proportions of hard to soft woods used in the papermaking process varies. When you find paper that works extremely well for the projects you like to make, take note of the mill that produces that paper. You might want to consider purchasing your favorite papers in quantities. When you get some papers that do not cut well for the projects you like to make, avoid purchasing papers from the mills that produce them.
For example, I purchase inexpensive paper made by Georgia Pacific for test cutting new designs if they are not too intricate. But when making final project cuts and intricate designs, I prefer to use papers by Neenah or Colormates from Worldwin. These papers seem to be crispier, and cut without shredding. Even very intricate designs cut very cleanly on these papers. Crispy papers have a higher hardwood content that make them cut better on electronic cutting machines.
However, stiff and crispy papers may crack under pressure when using Die Cutter/Embossing machines. In this case, it is important to test small samples for embossing, before you purchase in bulk. You may find that paper that cuts best on the electronic cutter, is not the best paper for using in a pressure embossing machine.
The Best Paper for Light Weight Projects
Tissue Paper
When you want to emboss many, many layers of tissue paper, embossing folders used with Die Cutter/Embossing machines work great. However, tissue paper may rip and tear under a cutting blade in a cutting machine. For this reason, a rotary blade, such as that available for use on the Cricut Maker works best. You can cut some amazing flower petals from tissue paper using the Cricut Maker and rotary blade.
Cricut Maker
Use a light tack mat, or the project may tear when you remove it from the mat. Do not attempt to cut any shape smaller than 3/4″ using the rotary blade. Cut larger simple shapes from tissue paper for best results.
If you are needing straight cuts, a hand-held rotary tool may work for cutting multiple layers at a time. Then you can use scissors to make any necessary curved cuts.
Crepe Paper
Crepe paper comes in a wide variety a weights and attributes. When making crepe paper flowers, getting a quality crepe paper that stretches nicely is important. Crepe paper comes in many weights. You may be able to cut heavy crepe paper, ironed between two layers of freezer paper with a regular blade on your electronic cutter. But I have found that if I want to cut crepe paper on a cutter, Cricut Maker using the Rotary blade is the only machine that will do it well without tearing. Again, do not plan to cut any shapes smaller than 3/4″.
Crepe paper rolls for decorating may not be your best choice for cutting. This type of crepe paper is very thin, and stretches very little.
Construction Paper
Construction paper is very inexpensive. But it is also tears very easily. Its fibers are very loose. Cutting blades rip and tear in the cutting process unless using a rotary cutting blade. Use the rotary blade on the Cricut Maker for simple cuts on construction paper. Otherwise, scissors may cut the best. Construction paper is not always the Best Paper option for use with cutters.
Vellum
Translucent vellum used for crafting is generally a thin, but crispy paper that cuts well with a blade on electronic cutters. It comes in a text weight or as cardstock. The text weight paper is very fragile, so should be handled carefully. Translucent vellum cardstock works extremely well with line embossing on electronic cutters. And it cuts very well, too, without using a special backing or freezer paper.
You can create some lovely parchment type crafts using vellum, an embossing tool, piercing tool and cutting blade on your electronic cutter. If your machine does not have piercing and embossing tools available, it is possible to use hand embossing or piercing tools in a pen holder. The tip of a blade can produce a pierced effect if you don’t have a piercing tool.
Pierced, embossed, and cut Vellum popup butterfly
Scrapbook Paper
Decorative scrapbook papers are fun to use on cards and scrapbook layouts. Most cutters can cut scrapbook paper without a problem. But some scrapbook papers cut better than others. Some scrapbook papers made of layers may split, bunch or tear when cut. If you have papers that give you problems, avoid tiny cuts. Use them for cutting larger shapes. Cutting small welded text with sharp angles can result in lots of tearing. It is better to use nice crispy paper without a white core for intricate cuts and tiny text. If you find a brand that cuts well, stick with that brand for cutting with your machine.
Text Weight Paper
Paper that feeds into printers is usually text weight. 20# text is very light weight printer paper. 24# paper is better than 20# for double sided printing. 37# text weight paper is very nice for print and cut projects that do not need to be stiff. You can use shimmer papers for making lovely 3D flowers. This paper is described as 18 GSM (32/80lb Text) , The key word is “text” – this is NOT cardstock. It feels like quality letterhead paper. It has a smooth, Satiny Metallic finish.
Text Weight Papers can also be sold in heavier weights. Even up to weights that are nearly equivalent to medium weight cardstock. Be sure to read the weight specifications. Is it Text Weight or cover stock? Even more importantly, try some test cuts. Does it cut well for your purposes? If you need to print on it, will it feed through your printer smoothly? It is recommended for use in printers? Heavy cardstock may not work well for cutting around printed images.
Be sure to use a light tack mat when cutting light weight papers. Light weight papers may not come off of a brand new, very sticky mat. At least you should condition a new mat, and do test cuts on heavier paper on a new mat before using it with lightweight paper.
Best Paper for Cardstock Projects
Cardstock is available in weights from medium weight 65# up to very heavy weight 110#. 70#, 80#, 90#, 100# and 105# are also common cardstock weights. You may want to have a variety of weights on hand for different projects.
Medium Weight Cardstock
65# cardstock is the most common medium weight cardstock. It can be used for cards, scrapbook photo mats, stamping embellishments, home decor, gifts and other crafting projects. Some medium weight cardstock cuts well, and others do not cut well on electronic cutters. If you have some medium weight cardstock that does not cut well on your electronic cutter, try using it for embossing on cards and embellishments. It may also be used for making simple shapes or photo mats.
It is easy to assume that your cutter is broken when nothing will cut right. However, “mushy” paper is the culprit for bad cuts more often than not for me. Also, be sure to check the cutter maintenance tips to rule out other causes of poor cuts.
Cuts before and after cutter maintenance
Heavy Cardstock
Any cardstock above 80# is considered to be heavy weight. 100# cardstock is great for coloring, molding, and shaping for 3D flowers. You will love 110# cardstock for creating heavy duty boxes and 3D paper projects. 100# cardstock is great for making popup cards. You will like using 80#-90# cardstock for making cards, intricate frames, borders, corners, etc . If you prefer cutting heavy cardstock, stay away from the cutters that are limited to cutting medium weight cardstock.
Some heavy cardstocks have polyester fibers in them, which make them strong. But these polyester fibers make them much more difficult to cut cleanly, especially on intricate designs. The polyester fibers also are very hard on blades, dulling them quickly. These textured papers make very nice cards and photo mats. However, they may not be the Best Paper for cutting with your electronic cutter.
Watercolor Paper
Watercolor paper can have different weights and densities. These papers are great for watercolor projects. Cutting watercolor paper into simple shapes may not be problematic. But it might be best to cut only simple, basic shapes from it. Because watercolor paper is not crispy, it may tend to bunch and shred by the blade. You may be able to cut shapes around your watercolor designs if you are careful.
Matboard
Professional quality photo mats are made from 4-ply matboard . Matboard is very stiff, and very difficult for most electronic craft cutters to handle. Some of the cutters that can cut with up to 1000 grams or more of pressure can cut 2-ply matboard up to 2mm thick. The cutting blade must also be able to handle the thickness of the Matboard. Some cutters, such as Scan N Cut, have the pressure rating for cutting heavier materials. But they are limited in the thickness that they can handle. Scan N Cut 2 is rated to cut media no thicker than 1.5mm. Read more about cutting matboard with the Knife Blade on the Cricut Maker here. Pazzles Vue can cut 2 ply matboard up to 2mm thick.
Scan N Cut 2 cuts media only up to 1.5mm thick. The Scan N Cut DX to be released in the Fall of 2018 is boasting a 3mm thickness cutting option. Cricut Maker cuts media up to 2.5mm thick, but would require the optional Knife blade to access the pressure needed for cutting thicker media. Pazzles Vue cuts media up to 2mm thick. Some of the KNK machines will cut Matboard, as does the Silver Bullet line of cutters. Be sure to check your cutter specifications before investing in Matboard to cut.
Chipboard
Chipboard comes in many thicknesses and densities. Some chipboard is made of multiple layers. Some is coated on a single side, while others have a coating on both sides. Most cutters can handle cutting cereal boxes, which is flexible chipboard. Some chipboard is not flexible. That type is most difficult to cut. Some chipboard shreds during multiple cutting passes. There is chipboard available that cuts well without shredding. Here is an excellent article about chipboard. Cricut sells 11″x11″ chipboard made specifically for use with the Cricut Maker. Silhouette sells a chipboard colored cardstock, as regular chipboard cannot be cut on Silhouette machines.
I prefer cutting chipboard that will cut in a single pass. This is because the density of chipboard can cause a cutter to skip steps. If this happens, successive passes would not be in exactly the same location as previous passes. This results in shredding of the chipboard and very poor cuts. If multiple passes are necessary, it is best to start with lower blade extension and cutting pressure, then increase these settings for the next passes. This reduces the possibility of missed cutting steps. If you need thicker chipboard pieces, you might want to try cutting several pieces of .022″ chipboard, and gluing them together to make your project. Do not plan to cut intricate designs from chipboard.
Cricut Maker users may cut chipboard up to 2mm thick with the optional knife blade. The interesting thing about using the chipboard setting in Cricut Design Space, is that chipboard and other thicker, denser materials do not use a cutting pressure any more than 750 grams. The secret to success for this machine is the slow cutting, and many, many passes. The blade needs to have sufficient cutting surface to cut completely through the thickness of the chipboard.
Best Paper Brands for Cutting
I have been using electronic cutting machines since 2004. The brand of paper that I have had consistently excellent cutting results with is Worldwin Papers, I have used most of their papers varying from very light weight to very heavy weight, and all of them cut with excellence on my cutters. Their textured 65# Cutmates line is guaranteed to cut well on any electronic cutter. The selection of colors in the smooth 65# Colormates makes it to be much in demand among cutter users. My personal favorite smooth paper by Worldwin is the 90# Colormates Smooth and Silky. Their colormates line of heavy textured cardstock is also wonderful to cut. I love their metallics as well.
If you cannot find the Worldwin papers you need at Amazon, you can purchase your favorites from The Paper Mill Store.
When I need low cost paper options that I can get quickly locally from Michaels, I purchase Recollections cardstock . Their 65# cardstock generally cuts well, as does their very heavy 110# cardstock.
Paper Brands to Avoid
I avoid papers from Joann. Their Core dinations brand does not always cut well. I save this paper for purposes other than cutting on my electronic cutters. Paper sold at Walmart is inconsistent for cutting purposes. One color in a package may cut OK, while then next color will not cut well at all. These may work for simple shapes, but I stay away from their papers when cutting intricate projects.
Best Paper Hints and Tips
Humidity
Nice paper for cutting may not cut nicely if it has been exposed to humidity. Pressure and blade settings may change with the environment. What cut well this morning may not cut so well at the same settings in the afternoon when the air conditioning is running. Always do test cuts when environmental changes occur.
Storage
Store your paper in Zip lock bags after you have opened its original packaging. Two-gallon zipper bags fit 12″x 12″ papers well for storage. Storing them this way will prevent the papers from collecting excess moisture that can hinder cutting quality. Moist papers get “Mushy” and may tear and bunch during cutting.
Emboss the Cut
If you have some paper that is not cutting well, try using an embossing tool or scoring tool in the machine over all of the cut lines a couple of times at very high pressure. Then cut as you normally would. The embossing tool compresses the paper along the cutting lines so that you can get much better cuts.
Drying with Heat
Some have mentioned drying paper that has soaked up moisture in the oven. If you attempt this trick, be sure to keep an eye on the paper, so that it does start burning. Using a low temperature in a dehydrator for a longer period of time might be safer. Check on the paper at regular intervals. Some prefer to dry out paper using an iron.
Chipboard
After removing chipboard from its packaging, it gets thicker overnight. New chipboard straight from the packaging requires different settings than would be required if the paper sits out overnight. Cricut recommends letting its chipboard sit out of the package for a day before cutting for best results. Chipboard is very absorbent, and sensitive to environmental conditions.
Be sure to use a high tack mat and possibly tape the edges of chipboard and other heavy media to the mat to keep it from moving around during cutting .
Best Paper Cutting Settings
Because paper is very environmentally sensitive, the same paper may require very different settings. Those who live in very dry climates will need to use less cutting pressure than those who live in humid environments. For this reason, performing your own test cuts is extremely important. Don’t rely on a published list of settings or presets. Sometimes different colors of paper in the same package can require different settings. What cut well yesterday at certain settings may require different settings today. Be sure to do test cuts at the beginning of each cutting session, and any time you make color changes or environment changes.
Best Paper Conclusion
If you are faithful to do test cuts, you will be more successful cutting any papers you have in your collection. Be sure to keep lots of inexpensive paper that cuts well, on hand for doing project test cuts. Save your expensive paper for the final versions. This will save you lots of frustration.
The paper that is best for you depends on what you like to cut most, and what machine you have. Special tools available for use with your cutter can also make a difference in how they cut.
Here is FREE cutting project that you can use to check how well your paper cuts with each of the tree layers. The hearts layer provides some intricate cutting, while the white layer provides a simple shape to cut. The Brown layer has some intricate inner detail. You can use this project on a card or scrapbook layout.
Best Paper for Cutting
Love Football Border
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Love,
Julie, cuttercrafter.com
Pazzles Inspiration Vue Cutter Review
Pazzles Inspiration Vue may be the electronic cutter you need. It ranks among the top electronic cutters. The Vue is a powerful, but simple to use machine. You can cut many different types of materials with it. And with optional accessories, you can also use the Pazzles Inspiration Vue to cut, draw, engrave, emboss, pierce, and distress many media types. The Pazzles Inspiration Vue is the choice of beginner and well as professional crafters. This article reviews the features of this amazing machine to help you decide if this is a good choice for your crafting needs.
Note: I may have used some affiliate links in this review. I am affiliated only with products that I use. When you purchase products using my affiliate links, it does not cost you any more, and the tiny commission that I get contributes towards the costs for maintaining my blog. Thanks for your support!
What Do You Want to Cut?
Cutting Vinyl with the Pazzles Inspiration Vue
The Pazzles Inspiration Vue cuts vinyl of all types, whether the vinyl is repositionable wall vinyl, permanent outdoor vinyl, heat transfer vinyl, vinyl window cling, Stencil Vinyl, Glitter or Flocked vinyl or other types. It is recommended that you cut your vinyl on either the 12″ mat or the 24″ mat. Reserving a standard cutting blade for cutting vinyl ensures that you will always get smooth cuts with for your vinyl projects.
Split Regal Monogram on a Ceramic Tile
You can make wonderful gift items such as the customized tile above using your Pazzles Inspiration Vue electronic cutter. The design for the shirt below was a special request from my husband. The Pazzles InVue software that ships with the machine, allowed me to create the cutting design from an actual photo of my husband fishing.
Glittered Heat Transfer Vinly project
Cutting Heavy Cardstock with the Pazzles Inspiration Vue
Entry level cutters do not have sufficient cutting pressure to allow users to cut heavy media. The Pazzles Inspiration Vue boasts of up to 1000 grams of down pressure, making it rank among the top home crafting cutters. It can cut media that is up to 2mm thick. So it can cut even tough chipboard. If you love to cut 3D projects from heavier media, you will need a more powerful machine. This machine boasts of three times the cutting pressure of the legacy Cricut machines as well as the Cricut Explore models. And it has about 4 times the cutting pressure of Silhouette and Craft Robo machines. The print and cut embellishments used on this card were all created using the Pazzles Inspiration Vue and its InVue software.
Fall pop-up Card
3D boxes such as the Trailer Gift Box below are much more stable when cut from heavy cardstock.
3D cutting projects
Here is another project that required heavy cardstock. If you love making sturdy 3D projects, you will be happy if you have a cutter that can handle cutting the required heavy media.
Flower Mailbox
Projects like this Snow Globe Box Card last a lot longer on display when its pieces are cut from heavier cardstock. Pazzles Inspiration Vue cuts these so efficiently! The intricate snowflake detail cut beautifully on this machine.
Snow Globe Box Card
Engraving Metal with the Pazzles Inspiration Vue
You can use Pazzles optional Diamond Tip engraving tool to engrave on metal. I recently engraved on a dog tag for our puppy. The tallest letter was .057″ and the smallest letter was .06″ tall. The entire tag was only 1.5″ wide. I was able to fit four rows of text on the back of the tag with our puppy’s name, address and phone number. Here is the front of the tag. (I blurred the phone number.) You can cut thin aluminum metal with the blade.
Engraving On Metal
Cutting and Piercing Delicate Designs in Vellum with the Pazzles Inspiration Vue
You can also cut very fine and delicate media such as vellum. I used Pazzles optional Piercing and Embossing tools on vellum to create this popup butterfly anniversary card.
Pierced, embossed, and cut Vellum popup butterfly
Cutting Fabric with the Pazzles Inspiration Vue
Cutting fabric with this machine is great. I was amazed at how nicely my Vue cut the doily and the flowers out of fabric for this Easter Bonnet. It is good to reserve a blade dedicated to cutting fabric, since paper can dull blades quite quickly.
Fabric Doily Easter Bonnet with Fabric flowers
Cutting Wood with the Pazzles Inspiration Vue
Yes! This machine cuts thin balsa wood or basswood up to 2mm thick. Here is a Captain’s Wheel design that I cut. Covering the back of the piece of wood with blue painter’s tape before cutting keeps the thin wood from splitting during the cut and while lifting from a very sticky mat.
Captain’s Wheel cut from thin wood, with pen writing.
Making 3D Flowers with the Pazzles Inspiration Vue
If you love making 3D paper flowers as I do, you will be happy to know that this machine cuts lots of different types of paper petals for making beautiful flowers. This bouquet includes some vellum flowers, some made from printed scrapbook paper, some from medium weight cardstock, and some from heavy cardstock.
Musical Paper Flowers
Cutting Rubber Stamps
You can create your own custom rubber stamp designs using the Pazzles InVue software that ships with the Pazzles inspiration Vue. Then you can cut the rubber using the Pazzles Inspiration Vue. I had an idea for a musical stamp, so I created the design, and let my Pazzles Inspiration Vue machine cut it out for me.
Homemade rubber stamp design.
Cutting Clay, Fondant, Gum Paste and Frosting Papers using the Pazzles Inspiration Vue
You can use Pazzles optional Cake Accessories Kit for cutting clay, fondant, gum paste, and frosting papers. Here is a project I made using thinly rolled Sculpey clay.
Clay Cornucopia Fall Decor
Cutting Scrapbook Page Overlays
Scrapbook pages are fun to make using the Pazzles InVue software and cutting with Pazzles Inspiration Vue. This machine will cut a full 12″ wide border or scrapbook page. It is not limited to an 11.5″ cutting width as some cutters are. Here is a scrapbook calendar page that I created. Notice the detail of the embellishments.
December Calendar page with fancy embellishments and 3D snowflake flower.
Rhinestone Templates
Designing templates for use with rhinestone designs can be done using the Pazzles InVue software that ships with the Pazzles Inspiration Vue cutter. You can turn any design or test into a rhinestone template design. Then you can cut your template out of rubber designed for cutting rhinestone templates using your Vue. Here is my first rhinestone project.
Cutting Around Printed Images
Before I received my Pazzles Inspiration Vue, I was never happy with the cutting around printed images with my other machines. You will love how the Pazzles Inspiration Vue automatically finds the registration marks, and cuts perfectly around printed images that are up to 8.5″ wide. This project would have been extremely difficult to cut and assemble if I had cut each tiny element separately. Instead, I chose a number of appropriate designs from the generous Image library available in the Pazzles Craft Room, and printed the shapes. Then I had my Vue cut around the printed images. It did a great job!
Teacher’s Cascade Card with print and cut Embellishments
You can see more of my Pazzles creations here .
What is your Cutting Skill Level?
If you are a novice cutter user, you will appreciate how easy the Pazzles Inspiration Vue cutter is to learn to use. With the great support offered by Pazzles to its customers through the Pazzles Craft Room, you can learn to start using your Vue to make amazing projects right away. The Pazzles Craft Room has hundreds of projects like the above, ready for you to download, cut, and assemble. The downloaded projects are yours to keep, even after your membership expires. And their Angel policy allows you to use the designs commercially. You can get almost all of the above projects for free as a member of the Pazzles Craft Room.
Ease of Use
The click style blade holder in the Pazzles Inspiration Vue makes setting blade depths easy. The software tells you where to set the blade for the media type that you have selected to cut. The blade holder and blade are the same ones that the Deep Cut blade holder and blades that legacy Cricut machines used. The blades are easy to insert and remove.
The machine automatically loads your mat. The optical reader sets the starting point at the same place every time. The optical reader also makes cutting around printed images so much easier!
More Advanced Users
You will love the flexibility you have in using the Pazzles InVue software. It has all of the basic functions with which you are familiar from other cutting software. But it also has lots of advanced design and editing functions. Some of these advanced features are not available even in the most expensive professional design software programs. Pazzles developed their InVue software with all the advanced design features that its staff and professional users were familiar with, and used to using.
The amazing thing about this software is that it is provided for FREE with the purchase the the Pazzles Inspiration Vue. And it is available for a VERY low price for those who wish to purchase it separately and use as third party software with other cutters. This software, combined with the advanced cutting technology in the machines, means that you most likely will not outgrow its functioning for your crafting purposes.
What is your Price Point?
Some people like to start their cutting adventure with a very inexpensive machine. Then they start saving their money, and plan to purchase a better machine when they outgrow the features of that machine. Others prefer to get the best machine they can get, so that they won’t be outgrowing its features any time soon. Pazzles Inspiration Vue is one of those machines that meets your growing cutting needs, without a need to upgrade to bigger and better machines later on.
Purchase options
There are several shopping options, making your purchase of the Pazzles Inspiration Vue cutter affordable. You can check out those options here. If you wish to purchase the machine outright, you will get the best price by first joining the Pazzles Craft Room for one month. While a member, you will receive a 15% discount on all Pazzles purchases. So you can get a 15% discount on your machine, and all the optional accessories you need. I save on shipping by purchasing all that I think I might need for a year. I like to keep three good mats and three extra blades on hand at all times.
With your outright purchase, you will receive several months of free membership in the Pazzles Craft Room. Be sure to take advantage of that time to view all of the training videos in the video library. These will help you get a great start in using your new machine. Also, be sure to download all of the cutting files and projects that you can get while you are a member. You can download up to 400 files per month, if you are diligent to download 40 files every 70 hours. These are yours to keep. While you are a Pazzles Craft Room Member, all downloads are FREE!
If you find that you love all the new projects that are regularly posted, you may decide that you want to maintain your Pazzles Craft Room membership. I really like all of the wonderful projects that they offer so much that I decided to keep my membership going. The best price for me turned out to be purchasing a machine for $99 with a two year commitment to the Pazzles Craft Room. Another similar option is to purchase a machine for $199 with a one year commitment to the Pazzles Craft Room.
System Requirements
Pazzles Inspiration Vue works on both Windows 7, 8, and 10, and on Mac: OS X 10.9.X & 10.10.X.. It needs a USB2 connection directly to your computer. The InVue software also works on these machines. You will need software to cut to the Vue. You can use Pazzles InVue software or you may use Sure Cuts A Lot. If you have Pazzles Inspiration Studio Pro 1014, you can use it to cut to the Vue. However, that software is no longer available for sale.
You do Not need high speed internet in order to use your Pazzles Inspiration Vue. Connect to the Internet to update your firmware and software one time after receiving your Vue. You can disconnect your Vue from your computer after making a cut. Then you can repeat that exact same cut with the same settings as many times as you like by pressing the Repeat button on the machine. When you need to make a lot of the same project, this is a real handy feature to have.
Pazzles Inspiration Vue Specifications
This cutter ships with the machine, USB cable, power cord, and converter box, blade, blade holder, and a print and cut mat. The machine will cut up to 1000 grams of pressure using settings of 1-50. You have 5 speeds from which to choose. The click blade holder has 11 different blade depth settings. Maximum cutting width is 12″. Cutting length is 12″ with the standard mat, and 24″ with the 24″ mat. The machine weighs 11.2 pounds, is 22″ wide x 6.5″ tall x 11″ deep. Its roller bar has two permanent pressure rollers, and four more rollers that are removable when cutting thicker media.
There is an accessory tray on top of the machine as well as three slots for additional tools. A support tray for the mat is built in to the front of the machine. You slide it out when using the machine. Then push it in when done.
Pazzles InVue Software Overvue
Pazzles InVue Software
The InVue software ships without additional cost to you with your purchase of the machine. It has many outstanding features. For that reason, we will touch only on the highlights. The software has special features not only for cutting, but also for drawing, piercing, embossing, engraving, distressing, and converting to rhinestone designs. My favorite tools are the replace with a line, and replace with an arc.
The software will import and export SVG files. It will also import and export WPC files. The image gallery connects to your online account with Pazzles. This allows you to download all new files easily. The software automatically stores these downloaded files in the correct topical file folders on your computer. Downloading files from the online library requires an Internet connection. But once they are saved to your computer, no internet connection is necessary for using them.
Software Pros
There are a variety of welding options in the software. One that is unusual to see is the WYSIWYG weld function. This allows you to arrange design pieces as you wish to see them. Then you use WYSIWYG Weld to get rid of all overlapping lines instantly. It has a nice inline/outline feature. It also has a nice Duplicate feature that lets you fill your page with the selected images.
The software will also convert images to cutting lines. There is a nice Fit text to path feature, which allows you to select any path for the text to follow. I love the Vertical/Horizontal tool, and the corner rounder features as well.
Text
The software will access any fonts installed in your computer’s system fonts folder. It will also access single stroke fonts that you have installed. The software has a very nice text preview window. This allows you to type in text and preview how it looks with any of your installed fonts. I love being able to see the text in different fonts in a large size before I select one. Once you have added your text to the layout, you have many options for spacing and kerning. Thickening fonts is easy in this software. Creating mats for text is also easy. So you can make some lovely word art quickly and easily with this software.
Software Cons
Features that I miss in the Pazzles InVue software are freehand draw, fit object to path, and blackout shape. I miss the scissors cuts we had in Inspiration Studio Pro 2010, and the Create a Font option. This software is missing the word envelopes, simplify paths, and smooth small angle tools.
I go back to Make The Cut to use its better tracing options, its Conical Warp, and Texture Snapshot features. The MTC measuring tool and Lattice functions are some tools that I miss as well. Thin paths, Fuse and Weld and the Tiler functions are also features that I still go back to Make The Cut to use.
I go to Sure Cuts A Lot to make instant Knockout Text. We can do this using InVue software, but it takes a few more steps. Viewing and using alternate glyphs in the private use area of fonts is another feature of Sure Cuts A Lot that I use on occasion. I go to CorelDraw to use the envelope for fitting text to a shape and for creating True Type fonts. CorelDraw and Illustrator have useful batch conversion utilities that come in handy from time to time. Sure Cuts A Lot does a batch convert for Brother FCM files. Pazzles InVue software does not have any batch conversion features.
The nice thing about the Pazzles InVue software is that even if you go to other software to use certain features, you simply export the files as SVG, import into InVue, and you are ready to cut. You get the best of all of the software choices this way.
Conclusion
Now you have an idea of some of the great things that the Pazzles Inspiration Vue can do for you. You need to figure out what your specific needs are. I have 14 different cutters in my collection. Each one has its own special purpose. I select the one that will work the best for the project on which I am working . You need to determine if the Pazzles Inspiration Vue or another machine meets those needs better. Study your options. What do you like to do the most? Get the best machine that you are able to afford that will work the best for your purposes. So the most important thing is for you to use what you have until you can get something better. You won’t really know exactly what you need until you start using what you have!
Free Thankful For You Tag SVG Cutting File
I have created a new cutting file for you using my Pazzles InVue Software, and I cut it on my Pazzles Inspiration Vue cutter. But you can use the FREE SVG cutting file with your own software and cutter. You can get the FREE Thankful For You Tag SVG cutting file in my FREE Resource Library. See the link at the bottom of the page.
Thankful For You Tag
>> HOW TO ENTER THE FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY <<
This resource library is open to everyone for free. All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below.
If you already have your password, enter the resource library here.
Love,
Julie, cuttercrafter.com
Baby Crib Popup Card FREE SVG
A Baby Crib Popup Card FREE SVG file is available for download now in the free Resource Library.
Do you need a nice card for a baby shower or gift? This lovely card is decorated for a girl, but it could just as easily be decorated suitably for a baby boy. The card folds flat for delivery. When it is opened, the crib pops out. There is plenty of room inside for you to write a message and sign the card. You can put a gift card inside as well. The card measures 5.25″ wide by 7″ tall. You can resize the card according to your needs.
Baby Crib Popup Card
Supplies Needed for the Baby Crib Popup Card
Please note: Some supplies may include my affiliate links. I am an affiliate only for products that I use. Your purchase from my links will not cost you any more, but they will help support my blog. Thanks!
Free SVG file for Baby Crib Popup Card
Recollections 110# cardstock for popup card backing
81# text weight Stardream Quartz metallic paper for small Magnolia Flower
81lb Text Green Metallics paper for card mats and Pink Metallics paper for the front sentiment and the crib skirting.
80# white cardstock for Crib
12″ 1/8″ wide white satin ribbon
80lb Text Botanic Green Curious Metallics paper for Small Magnolia Flower leaves.
Small dogwood Flowers – Free SVG cutting files from CutterCrafter.com
Assembly Instructions for the Baby Crib Popup Card
Cutting Instructions for the Baby Crib Popup Card:
Cut out all pieces in your choice of colors. If you wish to resize the card, select all, and resize proportionally so that all pieces fit together well. When importing the SVG file into your cutting software, check the sizing, and resize as necessary. The outside card measures 10.625″ wide by 6.875″ tall. The crib pieces together measure 10.5999″ wide by 3.791″ tall. The sentiment pieces measure 4.973″ wide by 3.182″ tall. The crib skirting piece measures 10″ wide by 1.579″ tall.
The red lines are score lines, set to cut with tiny dashes. If you are importing the design into Cricut Design Space, ungroup all first. If you prefer to use a scoring tool rather cutting dashes, you can import the score line from Shapes, and place those over the dashes. You can then delete the dashes, or hide them on the Layers toolbar. Next, select each piece with its score lines, right click, and select Attach.
In case you need to change the sentiment, or add more cutting text, the font used was GE Curviture.
Folding Instructions for the Baby Crib Popup Card
Make valley folds for the score lines on the outer and inner cards. Make mountain folds on the white crib pieces and the skirting piece. Crease the scored lines using a bone folder or other folding tool.
Shaping and Assembling the Magnolia Flower
See the instructions for shaping and assembling the small Magnolia flower included in the Tips for Cutting Basswood on the Cricut Maker blog post. Scroll down to the paragraph on Decorate Your Cut Basswood Tree. The cutting design for the flower is available in the Free Resource Library.
Glue Crib Pieces
There is a tab on one end of each of the crib piece. Glue the end without the tab over the tabbed end of the other piece. When dry, glue the plain end of the crib over the tabbed end. This will form a 3D box. Press the box flat from side to side to make sure it folds and unfolds easily. The skirting, the piece with the scalloped edge, is next. Glue the plain end over the tabbed end. Place the skirting inside of the crib piece so that the scalloped edge show below the crib rails. The straight edge of the skirting is visible through the crib rails. Glue the skirting at each of the corners formed by the legs. Also, put a dab of glue in a few other places along the bottom crib rail to hold the skirt in position.
Putting the Baby Crib Popup Card Together
Glue the inside mat piece to the inside of the card. Be sure to line up the score lines. Make sure that the card opens and closes easily. Glue the sentiment for the front of the card on to its mat. Glue the mat to the front of the card. Put glue on the back side of the crib. Line up the feet of the crib just inside the bottom of the card. Glue the back side of the crib, with the back left corner snugly in the center fold of the card. Add glue to the left end of the crib piece. Next, close the card, and hold firmly in place. When dry, check to make sure the card opens and closes properly.
Decorate the front of the Card
Add pearl stickers to the ribbon strips. Now glue the ribbon to the top and bottom of the front of the card. Fold three of the butterflies that were cut out of the inner mat piece, and glue just their centers over the butterfly shapes connecting the sentiment on the card front. Next, add a row of 4 pearl stickers to the center of each butterfly. Now, assemble a small magnolia flower, and glue it over the ribbon on the bottom front of the card.
Add Pearl Stickers to the butterflies on the Inside of the Baby Crib Popup card.
Place the pearl stickers across the centers of each of the cut out butterfly shapes on the inside card mat. If desired, use more butterflies with folded wings and pearl centers on the front side of the crib. Add any additional greeting on the inside. Now your card is ready to bless its recipient.
Baby Crib Popup Card
Get the FREE CUT FILES FOR the Baby Crib Popup Card and the Small Magnolia Flower
You can get the SVG cut files for the Baby Crib Popup Card and the Small Magnolia Flower as well as some of my other FREE SVG projects from my FREE Resource Library.
>> HOW TO ENTER THE FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY <<
This resource library is open to everyone for free. All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below.
If you already have your password, enter the resource library here.
Love,
Julie, cuttercrafter.com
How to make and use glitter paper for Patriotic Decorations
Now is a great time to make some patriotic decorations for your Independence Day celebrations.
Patriotic 3D floral centerpiece with DIY Glitter Paper
I saw some lovely glitter paper projects at a Stamp and Scrapbook convention, and I thought you might like to learn how to turn an ordinary piece of patterned paper into a sparkly paper. The glitter paper can then be used to create lovely 3D craft projects. This 3D flower, embellished with DIY glitter paper works perfectly for patriotic decorations for a variety of projects. Vinyl can then be used to add detail to the cut project.
Patriotic celebrations in the US call for Red, White and Blue decorations. Pazzles Craft Room has a nice set of digital papers, and among them are some papers in these colors. Take a look through their digital paper collection when you need some seasonal papers for your projects.
Supplies Needed to Make Glitter Paper
Please note: Some affiliate links may be used in this post. I am affiliated only with products that I use. When you purchase products using my affiliate links, it does not cost you any more, but I will share some commission. Thanks!
White Cardstock- 65# Recollections 8.5”x11”
Pazzles Americana Digital Paper design 8.5”x11”
Scor-Tape 6”x6” sheet double sided adhesive, acid free and heat resistant.
Transparent Micro Fine Glitter
Flower Shaping Tools – Large ball Embossing tool, foam pad
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive Glue
Black Vinyl
Pearl Sticker(s)
Red, White and Blue Ribbons
Tray, coffee filter or folded sheet of printer paper
Optional: Hair Clip, Flowers, Mug, Electric Candle, Card or Scrapbook page as you prefer.
How to Make Glitter Paper
Making Glitter Paper is easy with the correct supplies. First, print the paper you wish to use, or select a piece from your own paper collection. Then cut a selection from the paper that is a bit larger than the project that you wish to cut. Next cut a piece of scor-paper to fit the paper that you cut. Remove the backing from one side of the score tape, and stick it to the paper. Now place paper in a tray, coffee filter, or on a piece of printer paper, folded in half. Remove the protective coating of the adhesive sheet.
Sprinkle Micro fine glitter over the entire surface of the adhesive sheet. Brayer over the glitter to press it into the tape. Rub the glitter paper with your fingers to make it smooth and add bling from the oils in your fingers. Tap off the excessive glitter onto the tray or printer paper. Finally, pour all excess glitter back into the bottle from which it came.
You now have some custom, DIY glitter paper in exactly the right colors for your project.
Cut Your Project Pieces
Perform some test cuts for each part of the project. Cut the flower layers from printed glitter paper on your cutting machine, glitter side up, using the cutting file. The cutting file is FREE for Pazzles Craft Room members. The file is also availabe to purchase in SVG, AI, and WPC formats, if you are not a member.
Create a Vinyl “Press and Peel” Outline
Cut the black portions of the design from black vinyl, being careful not to cut through the backing. Weed out the vinyl pieces that will not be used on the finished piece. Place vinyl transfer tape over the weeded design, and use a brayer and squeegee to adhere the vinyl to the transfer tape. Lift the transfer tape with the design off of the backing. Carefully line up the black vinyl design over the cut and glittered flowers. Burnish the vinyl, and remove the transfer tape.
Shape the 3D Flower
Place the flower layers color side down on double layered foam mat. Roll the large tip of the embossing tool around the center of each flower layer, and press
the tool from the outside of each petal towards the center. Turn the flower on the foam mat to have the right side up. Roll the embossing tool around
the center of each flower. Press down firmly in the center to lift the petals on each layer. Curl the tip of each petal back, using the small end of a small paint brush.
Assemble the 3D Flower
Place glue on the center back of the smallest layer. Put the smallest layer in the center of the medium layer, offsetting the petals. Place glue on the center back of the medium layer. Place in the center of the large layer, offsetting the petals. Press firmly down through all layers to lift petals. Place a large or five small pearl stickers in the center of the top layer of the completed flower.
Embellish A Project
Embellish the project of your choice with your completed 3D flower. Not only does the 3D Flower make a nice ornament for a vase centerpiece, it can be hot-glued to a hair clip to create a lovely patriotic decoration for the hair. Add some colored ribbons for a festive look.
Patriotic Flower Hair Ornament
Or you can add the DIY Glittered 3D Flower to a jar to make a patriotic luminary to add to your patriotic decorations. Add an electric tea light to the jar, and glue the flower to the top of the jar. You can make a number of these to decorate and light up for an evening celebration.
Patriotic Decoration – Flower Topped Luminary
More Patriotic Decorations for Your Celebration
Exploding Box Centerpiece
You can make the title of this patriotic centerpiece shine with the addition of DIY Glitter Paper. I am sure you can think of lots of ways to make your patriotic celebrations sparkle by using some homemade glitter paper on your projects.
These Patriotic Decorations work well not only for Independence Day celebrations, but also for Memorial Day, and Veteran’s day. You can add to them for next year’s celebrations as well!
Please show off some of your Patriotic Decorations in our CutterCrafter Facebook group!
Thanks,
Julie
>> HOW TO ENTER THE FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY <<
This resource library is open to everyone for free. All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below.
If you already have your password, enter the resource library here.
How to Make an All-Occasion Tri-level Popup Card
Create the Tri-Level Popup Card
In this post, you will learn how to make an All-Occasion Tri-level Popup Card. The FREE SVG file for this card is available in the free Resource Library.
Tri-Level Popup Card ready for decorations
Supplies Needed for the Tri-Level Popup Card
Please note: Some supplies may include my affiliate links. I am an affiliate only for products that I use. Your purchase from my links will not cost you any more, but they will help support my blog. Thanks!
Free SVG file for the Tri-Level Popup Card
100# white cardstock for popup card
81# text weight Stardream Quartz metallic paper for small Magnolia Flower
81lb Text Fairway Green Metallics paper for inside card mats.
80lb Text Botanic Green Curious Metallics paper for Small Magnolia Flower leaves.
Dark green cardstock for card Backing
Decorative sentiment for outside card: Heartfelt Love Paper Collection by Heartfelt Creations
Small dogwood Flowers – Free SVG cutting files from CutterCrafter.com
Cut out the Card, Card Backing, and Mats for Inside Overlays
The FREE SVG cutting file for this card may be imported into the software used with your electronic cutter. You may resize the project once you have it imported. I resized the main card backing to 6″x 12″. The popup portion of the design measures 5.5″x11″. The finished card measures 6″x6″ when closed. Cut the black lines first. Without removing the mat from the machine or moving the cutting head, change from the blade to an embossing tool, or set the blade depth and cutting pressure to low settings.
Next, select the red and blue lines and score them. Now cut the light green pieces from the paper that you want to use as mats over the popup card. Cut the dark green lines from the card stock you wish to use for the card backing. Cut any pieces that you wish to use to decorate the inside and outside of the card.
Cutting pieces for the Tri-Level Popup Card
Folding the Popup Card
Pinch the center fold line of the popup card from the back side to create a valley fold. Nudge all of the popup pillars up in the opposite direction of the center fold.
First Folds, Center sides of popup card.
Before folding the remaining parts of the popup card, glue the mat pieces in place. It will help to keep the cut pieces on your cutting mat so that you can see where the pieces go on the card. Remove one piece at a time, add some glue on the back side around the edges of the piece, and place on the card. Repeat with each mat piece until all pieces are in their proper positions.
Mat Pieces glued in Place.
From the back side of the card, pinch on the valley folds at the top and bottom of each popup pillar. Then pinch from the front side on the mountain fold on each pillar. Carefully fold the card closed all the way.
Closed Popup Card
Mountain and Valley folds on the Popup Card
Glue the Popup Card to the Backing Card
Now you are ready to glue the top side of the popup card to the inside top of the backing card. Add glue only to the back side of the top portion of the popup card. Avoid getting glue on any of the pillars, so that they can pop up properly. Line up the center fold of the popup card into the center fold of the backing card, glue side up. Next, carefully close the backing card over the popup card. Press firmly in place until the glue is dry.
Turn the card over, open the backing card, and apply glue to the white popup card. Again, apply glue only around edges of the card, making sure that you do not get any glue on the popup pillars. Close the card and press down until the glue is dry. Now you can open your card and inspect it to make sure that it folds open and closed correctly.
Print and Cut Some Clipart
After you have cut out the pieces for your card, and assembled it, you can decorate your Tri-Level Popup Card for any occasion. Simply add the decorative elements to the panels that pop up, as well as on top and bottom inside of the card, and the front of the card. You can add the titles and sentiments of your choice. Here is how I decorated my Tri-Level Popup Card on the inside. I used some clipart posted for free download this week from DesignBundles. There are so many designs from which to choose. These are the design pieces that I used. Size your design pieces to fit the card. The widest pieces should be no wider than 5″ wide in order to fit well on the card. Duplicate pieces that you would like to use as layers over the base designs.
Create a 3D Decoupage Effect by Layering Pieces
Cutting two of each design pieces will give you the option to layer pieces for a 3D Decoupage effect. You can see a video tutorial on how to do this using a Pazzles Cutter with the Pazzles InVue software, or using Make The Cut software. I use the Pazzles Software when creating files for use with Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker, and Make The Cut software for use with Scan N Cut , KNK Zing, Cameo, and older Cricut machines. The two wider pieces are downloaded as bouquets. Individual flower elements are cut and layered over the flowers in the bouquets to give the design more depth.
Shape Your Printed Flower and Butterfly Pieces
To get a dimensional look with your printed designs, use Flower Shaping Tools and a foam mat. Use a medium size embossing tool on the back sides of the printed flower shapes. Tap the tip of the embossing tool on the back side of each petal, and roll in circles in the center of each flower to give the edges some life. Turn the flower over on the foam mat, and press the embossing tool firmly in center. Shape the larger bouquets in similar fashion. Put a dot of glue on the center back side of the flower, and place it over the corresponding flower in the bouquet. Hold in place until the glue is dry. Repeat with as many layers as you like. You may add small lines of glue on your design pieces, then add some glitter to them to make them sparkle.
Butterflies and Flowers Clipart from DesignBundles
Decorate the Inside of the Tri-Level Popup Card
You are now ready to glue your 3D decoupage designs onto the popup card.
Decorated Tri-Level Popup Card
Decorate the Outside of the Tri-Level Popup Card
And this is the outside of my tri-level popup card, decorated as a card of encouragement for friends who are having a hard time right now. I used some paper from Heartfelt Creations Love Collection. I also used the small magnolia flower from our Free Resource Library on the front of the card. You can use some of the same paper you used for the mats on the popup card, to create a mat for your chosen sentiment. Add some decorative elements such as the Small 3D Magnolia flower, and tiny pearl stickers. Or you can use other decorative elements that you have on hand.
Outside view of decorated Tri-Level Popup Card.
Please share your decorated cards with us.
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How to Use SVG Files with Scan N Cut
Learning how to use SVG files with Scan N Cut is important. Not all SVG files work well with Scan N Cut. In this tutorial you will learn how to make sure that your SVG file will work well with your Scan N Cut. ScanNCut SVG files need to be no larger than 11.75″ x 11.75″ using the standard sized mat, or 11.75″ x 23.75″ using the long mat. The DPI size also needs to be correct. Make sure that the ScanNCut SVG file has a minimum number of nodes. This tutorial will address all of these issues.
Scan N Cut
How was the SVG file Created?
SVG files may be created in any number of software programs. Some software allows the designer to add many different “pages” of file pieces on a single screen. This is fine if cutting from that software directly to a supported cutter. That software will allow you to select the specific portions of the designs to be cut in a given pass. SVG files of this type will work in many programs for many different cutters. However, any SVG file imported into the Brother Canvas Workspace software will be resized to fit the mat on the screen. When all pieces of the file are selected, and the width or length of the selection is greater than the screen mat size, the pieces will be resized to fit. So all of your design pieces may shrink to a very tiny size in the Brother Canvas Workspace or on the LED screen of your Scan N Cut.
FREE Rose SVG Cutting File
There is a Free Large 3D Rose cutting file in SVG format in my Free Resource Library for you to use as you work through this tutorial. When it is cut and assembled, this rose has a width of about 7″.
Large 3D Rose SVG Project
The cutting pieces for this project measure over 17.5″ wide when selected in their original size. The largest petals measure 3.45″ wide.
Original Size of Large Rose Cutting File – 17.5″ wide
But when you import this same design into Brother Canvas Workspace, you will receive a message that the design was resized to fit the Canvas Workspace.
Warning Message in Brother Canvas Workspace about Size
The resulting imported design in Brother Canvas Workspace was resized to be 11.75″ x 11.75″ and the largest petal measured 2.03″ wide. This size is about 58% smaller than the original. The final assembled flower would measure about 4.12″ wide. Now if this adjusted size is OK with you, then you can go ahead and cut the project to make the smaller rose.
Large Rose SVG file was resized in Canvas Workspace
Vendor Remedies for ScanNCut SVG Files
Some software vendors are aware of this issue, and save their larger SVG projects into multiple SVG files with a maximum width so that they will work with all software, including Scan N Cut. They will add all of the project SVG files to a single folder, and zip them up for a single download. You will need to unzip the folder once you have saved it to your computer, by clicking on the zipped folder, and selecting Extract All. Then you will be able to import one SVG file at a time to either Canvas Workspace or directly to your Scan N Cut via the Bluetooth connection, or via a thumb drive plugged in to the USB port on the machine.
How to Make Size Adjustments for ScanNCut SVG Files
If you have determined that you need to retain the sizing of the original file, how do you make the necessary size adjustments in the file so that it will work with the Scan N Cut? One option is to contact the original designer of the file, and ask them to limit the sizing of their SVG files to a width of 11.75″. However, that is not always practical for you or for the original designer. You can learn to make the necessary adjustments in the file so that it will work on your machine.
The best option is for you to use a third party software for making changes in your SVG file. Software that exports designs with the sizing of the original design are the free Inkscape , Make The Cut, or Sure Cuts A Lot (using the 96 DPI export option or Save as FCM). SCAL is the best option for MAC users.
The Large 3D Rose file is a good place for you to start. Select one of the above software programs to use for editing your SVG files. Plan to stick with it for all of your editing needs. You will need to learn how to use it for many different purposes. Each has its own learning curve. See my video tutorial covering use of each of these three programs for making the small changes that this file needs.
How to Reduce the Number of Nodes for a ScanNCut SVG File
Whenever you change file formats for a cutting file, it is possible that extra nodes will be added to the design. If a design has too many nodes, or construction points, it may not load into Canvas Workspace or the Scan N Cut. It is therefore important to reduce the number of nodes in the design before exporting as SVG. In Make the Cut, you can use Ctrl+Shift + X to view path detail.
Reducing the Node Count in Make The Cut
View Path Detail in Make The Cut
In this file there are only a total of 434 points, and 182 Nodes, as indicated on the top line of the window. This number of nodes is not a problem for Scan N Cut. Some files with lots of tiny detail can have upwards of 30,000 nodes. That would be too many. To reduce the number of nodes in Make The Cut, select all (Ctrl+A), Join (Ctrl+J), Auto Simplify Paths (Ctrl+Shift+Z). The number of nodes will be significantly lower if there are too many nodes.
Reduce the Node Count in Inkscape
If you are using Inkscape, and your SVG file has too many nodes, select all (Ctrl+A) and Simplify (Ctrl+L) as many times as needed to get rid of excess nodes, a few at a time. This file does not need it. You only need to reduce nodes or simplify paths if you get an error when trying to load your SVG file into Canvas Workspace or into the Scan N Cut machine.
Warning when attempting to transfer a design with too many nodes to Scan N Cut.
Reduce the Node Count Using Sure Cuts A Lot
To reduce the number of nodes in a file if you are using Sure Cuts A Lot, go to the Path menu at the top of the screen, and select Simplify. A window will open allowing you to see the nodes and reduce the number of nodes if there are too many. This design does not have too many nodes, so simplifying would actually add nodes as shown in the image below.
Use the Path Simplify tool to view the number and to reduce them if necessary.
Import your ScanNCut SVG Files into Scan N Cut Canvas Workspace or into the Machine
Once you have edited the SVG files to have its objects fit on a single design page in the software of your choice no wider than 11.75″, reduced the number of nodes if necessary, and exported the files as SVG for FCM using the proper DPI settings, then you are ready to transfer your files to your Scan N Cut machine for cutting. You can copy the files to a thumb drive, and plug them in to the machine’s USB port, or import them into Canvas Workspace to Transfer to your Scan N Cut.
Cut the pieces for your ScanNCut SVG Large 3D Rose, and you are ready to assemble your flower.
Large 3D Rose SVG Cutting File
You can get the FREE cutting file for this project as well as additional SVG projects in my FREE Resource Library.
>> HOW TO ENTER THE FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY <<
This resource library is open to everyone for free. All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below.
If you already have your password, enter the resource library here.
Thanks!
Julie
cuttercrafter.com
Tips for Cutting Basswood on the Cricut Maker
Here are my tips to cut basswood on the Cricut Maker while making a lovely 3D Family Tree bursting with small magnolia flowers!
3D Basswood Tree decorated with names on hearts and 3D Magnolia Flowers.
Supplies Needed to Make the 3D Family Tree
Please note: Some affiliate links may be used in this post. I am affiliated only with products that I use. When you purchase products using my affiliate links, it does not cost you any more, but I will share some commission. Thanks!
One Basswood sheet 3/32″ x 8″ x 24″
Cricut Maker
Knife Blade holder and blade for Cricut Maker
Cricut Strong Grip Mat
Blue painters tape or masking tape
3D Family Tree design by JenniferMaker.
Glue that dries quickly.
Heartfelt Creations 3D Rose Shaping mold
Magnolia Flower Cutting File from the Free Resource Library
Cricut Printable Sticker Paper
Cricut recommends using basswood no thicker than 1/6″, but all I had was 3/32″ basswood. I used it to cut a lovely free 3D Family Tree design by JenniferMaker.
3D Basswood Tree
Preparation for Using the Knife Blade to Cut Basswood
First, If you have the Cricut Maker, order the Knife blade, and an extra blade. Basswood was hard for me to find locally. You may have to order some online. The other thing that would be good to order is the 2mm chipboard for the Maker. I noticed that this is an excellent quality chipboard. Not all chipboard is created equally. Some shreds easier than others, and cuts poorly. This chipboard is thick, firm, and a good cutting quality. It measures only 11″x11″ . Thicker media for cutting with the knife blade needs to be no wider than 11″.
After you receive your new knife blade, be sure to follow the instructions for its proper use. You need to calibrate the knife blade in the Cricut Maker machine. This process is easy and quick. Then, move the white star wheels on the roller bar over to the right. I neglected to do this, and the wheels marked up the length of my wood. Do some small test cuts! See my post on how to make test cuts.
Cuts using the knife blade need to be no smaller than 3/4″, or about the width of a pencil. A few pieces of my 3D tree broke after removing them from the mat because they were on the thin side. Basswood is more sturdy than balsa wood, but it can split if you are not very careful handling it while removing it from the mat.
Use the heavy tack mat, and use painter’s tape or masking tape on the edges to keep the wood in place during cutting.
Cut Basswood with the Knife Blade
Heavy media takes many passes, and may take a very long time. Thick basswood required about 14-15 passes. The 3D tree took two hours to cut. There were two large pieces to cut, and each piece took an hour. Stay near the machine during the cut, as the blade did get stuck about 4 times on each of the pieces. When the blade runs into tiny pieces of “dust”, cutting stops, allowing you to brush away the debris. You click on the C button to resume the cut at this point. No time is lost, and the machine does not miss any steps in the process. Since I was cutting media that was thicker than what was recommended, that may have been part of the reason for the blade getting stuck so much. But the cuts were still perfect!
You do have the option to add extra passes, one at a time, after the cutting is done, in case the wood is not cut all the way through. You simply press on the C button on the machine to have it cut again. Do not do this too many times, as the knife is capable of cutting all the way through the mat.
To remove the cut pieces from the mat, remove the tape first. Then roll the mat away from the wood. You don’t want to bend the wood, because it can crack and split.
Assemble the 3D Basswood Tree
You cut two pieces. One of them has a slit at the top, and the other has a slit at the bottom. Handling very carefully, slide the piece with the slit in the bottom as far as it will go over the other piece that has the slit at the top. The pieces will fit together very snugly if you are using Basswood with 3/32″ thickness. The cut pieces are fragile. The tree will stand on its own if the two pieces are aligned correctly.
Cleaning the Mat
Using a scraper tool on the mat after cutting wood is not a good idea. The bits of wood can get caught in the grooves of the cuts in the mat, ruining it. It is recommended that you wash the mat and use a brush with a circular motion to get the tiny wood pieces off of the mat. Then you can let the mat dry, or wipe it down with a soft cloth or paper towel. My mat cleaned up nicely. The knife blade did produce some pretty deep cuts on the mat, though.
Decorate Your Cut Basswood Tree
You may decorate your cut basswood tree according to your plan for its use. I decided to make my tree into a 3D Family tree, with names of family members printed on sticker paper, cut into heart shapes. To do this, you can print the names on Cricut Printable Sticker Paper, and use your electronic cutter to cut around the printed names in the shape of hearts. Be careful not to cut through the backing sheet of the sticker paper. Performing a test cut on the sticker paper before proceeding is important.
Next, adhere the heart stickers to the assembled tree. There are 72 small hearts onto which you may place stickers. Add small magnolia flowers on the tree branches. This is a smaller version of the flower used on the lovely peony gift basket. Assembly of the small magnolia flowers is very similar to the peony flowers on the gift basket.
Instead of shaping the small flowers as a peonies with small beads in the centers, shape them as more open Magnolia flowers. To do this, Instead of using the 3D Floral Basics Shaping Mold from Heartfelt Creations, use their 3D Rose Shaping Mold. Use two petal layers and one leaf layer for each flower you wish to place on the tree. I used 32 flowers on my 3D tree, so I needed 72 petal layers. Use quick drying glue inside of one of the petals, and insert the other with petals alternating. Shape the leaf layer, add some glue to the center, and place the petal layers in the center of the leaf layer. Adhere the flowers to the tree branches so that they do not obscure any of the printing on the heart stickers, using a dot of hot glue on the back of each flower.
3D Basswood Tree decorated with names on hearts and 3D Magnolia Flowers.
You can use this lovely 3D Family Tree design as a nice table centerpiece, or decor for a special event. It can be a part of a 3D village, or it can be a special gift. For weddings you could have each guest sign a blank heart sticker, then you can place the stickers on the tree later. This idea would also work for baby showers or wedding showers. Another idea is to use this as a necklace organizer. Use colors and decorations to match the theme of your special event!
Get the FREE CUT FILES FOR THE Small Magnolia Flower
You can get the SVG cut files for the Small Magnolia Flower as well as some of my other FREE SVG projects from my FREE Resource Library.
>> HOW TO ENTER THE FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY <<
This resource library is open to everyone for free. All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below.
If you already have your password, enter the resource library here.
Love,
Julie, cuttercrafter.com
How to Make a Lovely Peony Gift Basket
Learn how to make a lovely peony gift basket adorned with six 3-D peony flowers. Use your craft cutter – Cricut, Pazzles, Scan N Cut, KNK, Silhouette, Silver Bullet, etc.- to cut out all the pieces for the project. The basket is easy to assemble. Color and shape the flowers, glue to the basket, and fill with goodies to make it ready to give to someone special for Mother’s Day, Anniversary, Birthday, Graduation or other special occasion.
Peony Gift Basket with 3D Flowers
There are two small and one medium-sized peonies on each side of the handle. The basket is made from white cardstock, and it is lined with pieces cut from printed digital papers available in the Pazzles Craft Room. I plan to fill this basket with my mother’s favorite Sees candy, and give it to her for Mother’s Day. You can fill yours with special treats for someone special in your life for a special occasion such as a birthday, wedding, baby shower, anniversary, graduation, Mother’s Day, etc. There is a matching card available in the Pazzles Craft Room, the Popup Flower Card.
Supplies
Note: Some affiliate links may be included.
81# text weight Stardream Quartz metallic paper
80# text weight Botanic Curious metallics paper
Watercolor pencils and water brush or watercolor paints and brush
Heartfelt Creations Floral Basics Shaping Mold
Embossing Machine
Pazzles Digital Paper or Printed paper
Assembly Instructions:
Make six 3D peony paper flowers, 4 small and two medium. The SVG, WPC, or AI cutting files include flowers in three different sizes. I used the small and medium flowers on my basket. I am placing the larger flowers that I made inside of the basket with the treats that I use to fill the basket.
Cut two medium petal layers, and two smaller petal layers, and one set of leaves per flower.
Add water color to the lower half of each petal. I used water color pencils to scribble some lines on the lower portion of each petal, then swirled a water brush pen around each petal to blend the color. You can use inexpensive watercolor paints and small paintbrush dipped in water to blend the colors.
Watercolored Flowers
Shape the Petals
Place small petals, color side down, on the slots for the small size petals of the Heartfelt Creations Basics flower mold. Place the larger petals color side up on the slots for the medium size petals. You may layer up to three of the petal layers per slot in the mold.
Flower Mold
Place the cover over the petal-filled base, and run through your Cuttlebug, Big Shot, or other embossing machine using a cutting plate sandwich that works with your machine according to the chart available at Heartfelt Creations. I used the Fiskars Fuse machine with 2 -B and 1- C adapter plates along with the cutting plate.
Use an embossing machine with the flower shaping mold.
Remove the petals from the mold and let them dry.
Let the Shaped Petals Dry
Place the dry petals on an embossing mat, medium size petals color side up, and small size petals color side down. Press firmly in the center of each petal layer using an embossing tool to lift the petals. I used the 5mm tip in a small circular motion in the center of each petal layer to add more lift as needed.
Use flower shaping tools
Assemble the Flowers
Place some hot glue in the center of the uncolored side of one of the small petal layers, and place a small faceted bead in the glue. Add some more hot glue to two of the petals and squeeze them around the bead. Add hot glue to just the bases of the remaining petals, and wrap them around the bead. Place some hot glue in the center of the other small petal layer and position the bud in the center. Squeeze the petals of this layer around the bud.
Flower Bud
Shape the larger petals in the same manner. Place some hot glue in the center of one of the petal layers and place the second petal layer in the center, with petals alternate of those in the first layer. Place glue on the bottom and around the bottom edge of the bud, and place in center of the larger layered petals.
Completed Peony
Shape the leaves using the paint brush handle, and make a valley fold down the center of the leaves.
Shaped Leaves
Place some glue in the center of the leaves and place the flower in the center of the leaves.
Peony with Leaves
Make the Basket
Cut the white pieces for the basket from heavy cardstock. The basket is formed using three sections that are glued together by the side tabs. The cutting file includes panels (shown in pink below) that will be cut from patterned paper and glued inside of the basket after it is assembled. Be sure to do a test cut on your paper before cutting the delicate basket design.
Basket Pieces to Cut
Print the digital paper, or use printed paper that you have, and cut the inside pieces, show in pink above. Glue the pink pieces to the white pieces before assembly. The square pieces go on the back side of the white pieces. Fold the top flaps forward on the score lines, and glue the pink scalloped pieces under the folder flaps as shown below.
Pattern Paper glued to inside pieces of basket.
Glue the front side of a side tab to the back of the untabbed side of another basket section. Repeat with the remaining basket piece.
Shape the pieces into a hexagon shape, and glue the final tab to the remaining open side.
Turn the box upside down, and fold the flaps towards the center of the basket.
Place glue around the edges and around the inside of one of the hexagon pieces as shown below in blue.
Press the prepared hexagon, glue side down into the bottom of the basket.
Glue the other hexagon to the bottom of the box, covering the tabs.
Gently stretch the handle pieces with your fingers into curved shapes.
Glue the printed strip in the center of the handle piece. If your patterned paper was not a full 12 inches long, center it on the handle piece. The bottom inch on each end of the handle will not be visible once glued to the inside of the basket.
Use hot glue to attach each end of the handle inside the basket. The ends of the handles should go about one inch down from the top edge of the basket.
Use hot glue on the back of each flower to attach to the basket. Glue the larger flowers on center of the outside flap opposite the handles. Then glue the smaller flowers on the flaps, on either side of the larger flower.
Finished Peony Basket
Side view of the Peony Gift Basket
Fill the basket with the recipient’s favorite treat, and delivery to someone special. They are sure to love it!
Would you like to have the FREE SVG cutting file for a smaller version of the same 3D flower that was used in this project, as well as some of my FREE SVG projects? Check them out in my FREE Resource Library.
>> HOW TO ENTER THE FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY <<
This resource library is open to everyone for free. All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below.
If you already have your password, enter the resource library here.
Make A Fabric Doily Bonnet with 3D Fabric Flowers
You can make a fabric doily bonnet with 3D Fabric Flowers suitable for Easter, weddings, parties, and special events. Do it yourself to create a designer bonnet in the color scheme for your event. Use your electronic craft cutter to create a lovely craft project. This bonnet is made entirely of fabric and ribbon. Even the 3D flowers on top of the bonnet are made of fabric
Fabric Bonnet with 3D Flowers
Supplies
Electronic Craft Cutter
Fabric Mat
Brayer
1 yard Wired ribbon 2.5″ wide
Cotton Batiks Fabric 1/3 yard from Vogue Fabrics
Low Temp Glue Gun
¼” elastic – 12”
Low Temp Glue Sticks
1/2″ Curling Iron
Terial Magic Fabric Stabilizer
2 Gallon Ziplock baggie
Iron
Ironing Board
Pressing Cloth
Assembly Instructions
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Prepare the Fabric.
Place the fabric in a two-gallon Ziplock baggie.
Spray enough Terial Magic Fabric Stabilizer on the fabric in the baggie to saturate the fabric.
Allow to dry until just barely damp.
Place a pressing cloth on an ironing board. Place the damp fabric on the pressing cloth. Place another pressing cloth over the damp fabric.
Set the iron to a high cotton setting without steam.
Iron the fabric until it is dry and stiff.
Cut the Stiffened Fabric
Import the SVG cutting file into your cutter software. Place the stiffened fabric on an extra tacky cutting mat. Use a brayer over the entire surface of the fabric to ensure that it is securely adhered to the mat. Use a new blade in your cutter or one that has only been used for cutting fabric. Perform a test cut to determine the best pressure and blade extension to use for cutting this project. Use two passes and a slow cutting speed when cutting fabric. Cut the doily first. Then cut the flowers.
Assemble the Flowers
Layer 1, Bud – Put hot glue along the side edges of one of the flower petals, and wrap these petal edges to the edges of a petal across from it to form a bud. Add hot glue to the sides of another petal, and place around the bud. Add hot glue to the final petal edges, and place it around the bud.
Layer 2. Place some hot glue in the center of another flower layer, and place the bottom of the bud in the center of this flower layer. Add some hot glue half-way up each of the petals and glue to the bud.
Layer 3 Add some glue to the bottom of this flower layer, and place in the center of another flower layer. Add hot glue only to the base of each of petals on this layer, and press up around the previous layers.
Layer 4 Repeat instructions for layer 3.
Layer 5 Place a dot of glue in the center of the final layer. Place the bud and previously added layers to the center of this final layer. Do not add hot glue to the petals on this layer.
Center Bud piece – Curl the single petal around itself to form a tiny cone. Place hot glue on the inside tip and place inside of the flower.
Use a hot curling iron to Curl each of the two sides of each petal towards the outside of the flower. Add more hot glue if needed to form the finished flower. You will need three finished flowers for this project.
Assemble the fabric doily bonnet with 3D Fabric Flowers
Glue the flowers to the center of the ribbon, and glue the ribbon to the center of the cut doily.
Finished fabric flowers glued to ribbon .
Glue the piece of elastic near the edge of each side of the bonnet. This elastic will go behind the ears, and under the hair to hold the bonnet in place. Curl the long edges of ribbon to hang down the sides of the bonnet.
Curled ribbon hangs down the sides.
Here is a top view of the fabric doily bonnet with 3D Fabric Flowers.
Top View of the bonnet with 3D Fabric Flowers
Your DIY fabric doily bonnet with 3D Fabric Flowers is now ready to use for Easter, weddings, parties, and special events. It makes a lovely gift accessory! My little friend loved wearing her new hat for Easter!
Would you like to see some of my FREE SVG projects? Check them out in my FREE Resource Library.
>> HOW TO ENTER THE FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY <<
This resource library is open to everyone for free. All you need is the password to get in, which you can get by filling out the form below.
If you already have your password, enter the resource library here.
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