Valentine Project - Print & Cut Iron-on

I tried using the Square 1 printable iron-on fabric for the first time a few days ago.  It was very easy to work with and there are all sorts of ways you could use this product for practical and decorative purposes.  Above you can see some of the images that I cut out with my Silhouette Cameo after printing the page in my regular inkjet printer.

I'll post the finished project tomorrow, but I wanted to show you how easy it is to bring any graphic that you own (I have hundreds of digital scrap kits!) into the Silhouette software and make a cutting file for it.

If you are bringing an image in from the Creative Memories StoryBook program (no longer available to purchase but if you own it you can still use it) or the Panstoria Artisan program (this is the program I now use), you will need to export the image into a file on your computer that you can access easily.  Right click and choose "Save selection" - "Export to image file" from the drop down menu.

There is an additional screen where you acknowledge the copyright and agree not to violate it.

If you already have some digital scrap supplies in a file you can just drag them in to the Silhouette Studio from an open folder or choose "open" from the file menu and browse to the image.  Be sure to change the drop down menu to "all files"

The images tend to come in at very large sizes but you can quickly adjust them to a better size using the scale tools.  Once you have added the image to the mat, you need to trace it to add cut lines.

Choose "Select Trace Area" from the top of  the trace menu and draw a blue box around the shape.  Then uncheck the "High Pass Filter" box and adjust the Threshold until there is a solid yellow line around the edges of the image.  Since you are going to do a print and cut, the interior details do not matter.

Just choose "Trace Outer Edge" and a cut line in the shape of the image will be created.  I have separated the shape and the cut line for this screen shot.  You will want to "group" them so the cut lines stay with the image as you set up the mat for cutting.

I repeated this process for each image I brought in to the program and filled the mat as neatly and as fully as I could (I didn't want to waste any of the material).

Use the "Cut Style" menu to set the file to cut on the edges of the printed images.  When you choose the cut setting, the screen will gray and the bold red lines will show exactly where the cuts will be made.  Sometimes I do an interior offset of the shape to create a slightly smaller proportioned cut shape.

Here is the fabric with the images and registration marks after I printed the file on an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of the Iron-on Printable Fabric.

Here you can see all of the cut shapes on the mat after I cut the file with the Cameo.  I removed the excess material, but I have a tip for using the leftovers - stop by tomorrow to see.

The cut shapes were nearly perfectly aligned with the printed images.  Once these are ironed on to fabric any slight variation in the cutting line is not noticeable.

Are you wondering what I made with all of these?  Tomorrow I'll show you part two!

There have been several requests for more photos of our new cat so I have a few to share...

She likes the heated floor and the rug in our sunroom - especially in this cold weather...

Such a pretty little face...

She can be a bit grumpy if you try to get her to leave her special spot.

Look at this great new feeding dish we found for her at Tuesday Morning for only $5!

Thank you for all of the kind comments about my Dad yesterday.  He was a very special man.

Quite a few people have asked if I sell my files.  I was planning to set up a store just about the time Dad's health deteriorated and those plans were put aside with our crazy year.  I hope to have the store ready sometime in the next few weeks.  Thanks also for the lovely compliments on the Valentine card and the encouragement to move forward with these plans. I have something special planned for next month - if you have been reading my blog for a long time you might have an idea about what will be happening...

One final note - Happy Birthday Kelly!!!

Subscribe to Capadia Designs if you would like to have new posts delivered directly to your email.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a commission. I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use or can recommend without reservation.

Valentine Card with Intricate Design

This Valentine card is an original design that I made and cut with my Silhouette Cameo machine.  I tend to prefer designs that are intricate and symmetrical.  I also like to test the capabilities of my machines by making cuts that are very delicate with lots of twists and turns. 

This was cut on thick pink shimmer cardstock. The cut settings were speed 3, thickness 33 and blade at 5 with a double cut. While this design appears quite complicated, it was relatively easy to create using the design tools in the Silhouette software.  I am curious to see what tools are available in the new Design Space that will control the Cricut Explore machine.  Just a few weeks to wait...

I wanted to raise the image above the card surface to create shadow lines showing the details of the cut.  The large foam dots fit neatly on the corners and I cut smaller dots in half to line up along the edges of the square.

I didn't happen to have any on hand but I think a thin foam tape would  be ideal for this type of application.  The trimmed dots worked well enough.  The card base is Core'dinations Cardmaker series in Scarlet Pearl and it is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches.

However, once I placed the topper on the card base, I did not like the way it looked from the side.  So I set about finding a way to hide the dimensional dots.

I had some thin satin ribbon that just fit between the topper and the card.  I wrapped it tightly around the sides (if I had planned ahead, I would have set the adhesive a little further in from the edge).

I adhered the loose end at the beginning to the foam dots and used 1/8 inch ScorTape to adhere the end of the ribbon to complete the enclosure.

My design included some heart cuts in the center,  These hearts could have been used for another card but I decided to stick with the original concept and add them to the card.

When you want to place an image exactly in the same position it is helpful to use the "offcut" as a template.  I adhered the thin outline of the heart directly to the card front (it looks like it is off center in this photo but that is just because it is at a slightly lower level).

I wanted the center heart to be raised at the same level as the frame so I used some more of the same brand of foam dots to raise it at the same height.

The interior heart cut helped me to center the raised heart.

These "leftover" bits could be used on another card.  I hate to let anything go to waste.

Here you can see the difference in the levels of the card elements.

The card design is very delicate but it needed just a bit of dressing up - I thought pearls would be perfect.  I had pink pearls and white pearls but these light tan pearls looked the best.

I had to laugh when I looked at this lovely vintage label - 1962 isn't that long ago is it!

One medium pearl on the larger heart, two small pearls on the two small hearts...

...and four large pearls in the four corners.  Seven is a lucky number so this seemed like just enough.

I was happy with the idea of wrapping the thin ribbon around the card to hide the foam - maybe I should have done that around the heart as well.  I didn't have a matching color ribbon but it is hidden from view when you are looking straight at the card.  When you see the card from the side it is just a nice little surprise and the card looks more polished.

Of course, you could add a different embellishment in the center framed by the lacy loops for a different occasion.

I hope you had a good weekend.  I didn't get this post scheduled correctly so it is going out Sunday evening - I'll get back on the normal schedule this week.  I did get to spend some time crafting and I have lots of new things to post this week.

Subscribe to Capadia Designs if you would like to have new posts delivered directly to your email. 

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a commission. I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use or can recommend without reservation

Autumn Wishes Card

Today is the first full day of Autumn (it officially began yesterday at 4:44 p.m.).  Our weather has been beautiful with bright blue skies and that touch of crispness in the air.

I had some errands to do in town and decided to walk with my camera, hoping to see some changing leaves.  The leaves are still mostly green but I did see one bright tree - I am sure there will be more to follow soon.

With the changing of the seasons, I change the wreath on our front door.  The current wreath is made from a garland of leaves and a few of them fell off when I put the wreath up.  They have been sitting on my craft table along with lots of other bits and pieces waiting to be put to good use.

A little over a year ago, I shared this card that I designed using the Silhouette Studio software.  You can see that post HERE.  I actually designed both a square and a rectangular version but I never put the square card together and posted it.  The colors of the leaves from the wreath made me think about my stack of semi-completed projects, so I pulled out the square card pieces in their autumnal colors at last and made this card.

The pieces were ready to assemble and I looked for a stamp small enough to fit on the front circle with the leaves.

I found a set that I bought quite a while ago and just never got around to using (do you have any of those?).  This set is from Papertrey Ink and is number 7 in the series of "tag-its" stamp sets (item #2404).  I think these small sets are a great value at only $5.

The card base is cut from Core-dinations textured cardstock and I inked it along the cut edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink to hide the lighter core color.  I heat embossed the sentiment in gold and I was pleased that it is quite legible embossed on the textured cardstock even though it is only about 3/8 x 3/4 inches.

The coordinating insert is attached to the back of the card so the cut out design is highlighted.

 
 A few gems clustered here and there add some nice sparkle to the card.

You have to remember to keep the inside sentiment in the center area so it won't show through the cut work pattern when the card is closed.

Happy Autumn to you!  I hope you are enjoying some beautiful weather too.

Important Note for Creative Memories Digital Center users

September 23rd was the original date given as the final day to order digital StoryBooks, Page Prints, Calendars and other Digital Center products.   Due to issues with the servers (so many people uploading at once) the date has been extended to Thursday, September 26th at 11:59 p.m. Central Time.  The Digital Center will be shut down at that time.  All items ordered will be processed and mailed but it won't be possible to access the Digital Center after Thursday to check on order status.

September 30th is the last day for the Creative Memories.com website and all consultant personal websites.  If you haven't downloaded any purchased digital content or programs you need to do it now before the websites go down.  For more detailed information about the digital programs and content see THIS POST.  If there are ideas or techniques that you want to remember from the help pages or project center you should copy them and save the copy to your computer for future reference.

Do you have any fall colors showing in your area yet?  The colors of the changing leaves are so pretty - if only they didn't have to fall and then be cleaned up from the lawn!

Subscribe to Capadia Designs if you would like to have new posts delivered directly to your email.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a commission. I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use or can recommend without reservation

Butterfly Birthday Card

This cheerful birthday card was designed with a butterfly shape from the group of images that were included with my Silhouette SD and the Grenouille font.

I tried two versions - one with a sentiment and one with blank space for stamping.  I altered the butterfly shape to have just the wings cut into the card front and created a separate body.

The letters were modified to make them cut like a stencil so the centers would not be lost.

 I used a double cut and the tiny letters cut cleanly except for the tail of the "y."  Fortunately, it was easy to trim the tiny piece that was "stuck."

The wings are gently lifted so they "fly" above the card.

It takes some time to alter the cuts and set up the file but when you are finished the design can be used over and over for a quick card.  The card base is Core'dinations white gemstone cardstock, the green and orange glitter cardstock is from DCWV and the top layer is solid cardstock from CTMH.

The layer of glitter cardstock used as a mat adds sparkle quickly and easily.

No adhesive was used on the antennae of the butterfly to add a little more dimension.  I found that I needed to do two double cuts to make a clean cut of the butterfly body in the heavy glitter cardstock.  I checked before unloading the mat after the first cut and realized that a second cut was needed.  Since I hadn't unloaded the mat I simple pressed "Cut Again" to make the cuts in exactly the same place on the mat.

This card can be mailed easily and should "fluff up" when it is removed from the envelope.

I couldn't resist adding gems in three corners but you could leave these off or use dots punched from glitter cardstock for the corners to make the card more "mailing-friendly."

Be sure to stop by tomorrow for directions on creating the file with the Silhouette Studio software.

Happy Patriot's Day (in Maine & Massachusetts) and Happy (?) Income Tax Day.  If you are getting (or have already received) a refund will you be spending any of it on crafty purchases? 

Subscribe to Capadia Designs if you would like to have new posts delivered directly to your email.