Lightning McQueen - the easy way....

Last Spring I made some characters from "Cars" for my great-nephew while I was visiting my sister (here is a LINK to that post). While I was looking through my files for something else, I came across the file for Lightning McQueen and realized that I had never "cleaned it up" and posted the file.



I had the baby bug with me on my trip and I made the largest possible Lightning McQueen that would fit on the baby bug mat. This file requires multiple mats. I checked the file to be sure that it would also work for the Expression and I had to move one shape over to the right a bit due to the difference in the "uncuttable" areas between the 6 x 12 and the 12 x 12 mats. I have not actually cut the file on the Expression.



Because this cut is much larger than the Princesses I have posted, there are multiple mats to cut. The base layer is on page one of the file.



The body of the car is on page two of the file.



The shadow is on the last page of the file - I had to tilt it to make it fit on the 6 x 12 mat.

Each of these mats has the color and the size of paper needed on the tab.



The cutting page for the other layers of the car is page three.



The reference page for the layers is page four (do not cut this page).



Here you can see the preview of the layers from the reference page - I did not do separate pages for all of the colors (they really are not necessary but I have included them in past files to help people see how to use this system).



Here is the mat set up with the papers for cutting the layers. If I ever want to make this car again it will be very quick and easy to cut - the assembly will still take a while!


Today was a very busy day - I was finishing up three projects that all need to be in the mail tomorrow. Jen and I are teaching three classes this week - there are still a few openings if you want to sign up "last minute." Instructions for registering are on the Let me Show You How to Do that blog.


Lightning McQueen #6 at 5.5 inches

Fun with Cars!

Never say never! I remember when the "Cars" cartridge first became available I thought, "I'll never use that." I was doing just fine with my "Cars"less collection of cartridges. Then, wouldn't you know it, Michaels had a great sale price ($29) and my sister mentioned that her grandson just loves the "Cars" characters and suddenly I needed it!

Today after doing some packing and moving with my son, I came back to my sister's house and we had some fun playing with this cartridge. I brought my baby bug with me on the trip so we could make some of the cars for her to take along when she goes to visit my niece and her family this weekend. I really do like the little bug for travel and still wish I had taken the plunge and purchased the Create when it was on sale for the Black Friday price of $149 (then I'd have the "Don Juan" cartridge which is at the top of my list right now!).



My sister put together Lightning McQueen at 5 1/2 inches. This was her first intricate layered cut and she did a great job! We also cut the names and made little signs to use with the pretend cars her grandson builds from blocks.



I put together Sally at 4 1/2 inches, smaller but there are fewer pieces involved so it was still relatively easy to do.



I used the same principles for setting up the mats and cutting that I have shown in several posts about the Disney Princesses (here is a LINK to the Princess posts) and other layered cuts like the leprechauns from the Paper Dolls cartridge (here is a LINK to that post).



Above is a photo of my mat set up for all the layers for Sally. The two blues are slightly different shades and we decided to make all the windows white.



Here is the mat set up for the top layers of Lightning McQueen - I couldn't fit the body on the baby bug mat with everything else so I needed two pages.

We added the shadows to the backs of the cars to make them more sturdy for playing - ideally we would have laminated them too (but I didn't bring that machine along...).



We used the more solid inner parts of the name cuts to label the characters on the back.

I think my great-nephew will be very excited to see these when Grandma arrives!

In looking over the extras on this cart, I came across something that can be used in a very interesting way and I'll have another "out-of-the-box" file once I have a chance to work out that design. I think every cartridge has so many possibilities when you really look through all the cuts and use your imagination!

(I didn't have time to "clean-up" and post the files tonight but I will share them when I can - it is a great time saver to keep the files for making more of these cuts after the first, rather labor intensive "set up" session!).