This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Cupcake Wrapper Series: Wrapping it Up!



Before I close this series on Cupcake Wrappers, I thought that it is important to include some information that I was not able to put in my video tutorials. My version of the "Cut-and-Print" technique is just one of the many ways of simulating the Cricut Imagine, but with equipment that you already have. I continue to learn of other ways of achieving the same results. You are welcome to share your experience and opinions with me as I am open to all advice and suggestions on how I can improve on my techniques.

To recap, the "cut-and-print" cupcake wrappers tutorial is basically:





Step 1: Print outline, Cut wrapper and Adhere over printout.





Step 2: Print full image on adhered cutouts





Step 3: Assemble








Having said all that, here are a few additional tips:

Tip 1: To save ink, when you make the first print that will be used as the base to stick the cutouts on, instead of printing the entire image, you can just print an outline. There are 2 ways to do this:

(A) After you have designed your wrapper and save the image, Duplicate the layer. On the layer copy, right-mouse click and Select Pixels. On the top menu, choose Select>Modify>Expand. In the video tutorial, I entered 10 to enlarge the image by 10 pixels. This is the layer with the full image.



To create an outline only page, Duplicate the layer that you have just created with the expanded image. On this duplicate layer, choose Select Pixels, then Select>Modify>Contract and enter 15. Press Delete and you will be left with only the outline of the image. 
Toggle the layers by closing or opening the eyeball to view and print the required pages.


(B) If Method (A) seems too involved, you can always Duplicate the image layer and then use the Eraser Tool and delete off the inside of the wrapper, leaving only an outline. I prefer Method (A) as it leaves a cleaner outline.



Tip 2:  
Before I print the final image on the cutouts, I fill the empty slit rectangle with the Eyedropper and Paint Bucket tools. That way, I can avoid printing out an empty/white box if I did not position the cutout precisely over the outline. You may also use the Magic Wand tool to delete the rectangle.


Tip 3
I used the wrapper size of 7.7" x 2.6" for the standard cupcake. You can always adjust the size to fit any cupcakes that you are baking. For Mini Cupcakes, I found that 5.25" x 2" was perfect for the scallop edge wrapper.


For this wrapper, I used Lettering Delight's Flower Power graphic set.

Tip 4:


Let your imagination fly with these cupcake wrappers. You don't even have to print on them if you are out-of-time. Just stick some pattern paper onto the mat and cut or let the kids have a go at them. I found that my kids were thrilled to decorate their own wrappers. That will be a great idea for a kid's party where the little guests get to decorate their wrappers themselves. All you have to do is cut a bunch of wrappers out with Make-the-Cut and the Cricut and let the kids get creative with them.

Tip 5
In Make-the-Cut, the Beziar Wrap tool can be used to create unique cupcake wrappers cuts. I have not personally tried this but a long discussion can be found on the MTC forum.


I hope that you have enjoyed this cupcake wrapper series. If I missed out a step or two, do know that it was not intentional. I have designed my tutorials so that it is as easy to follow as possible. If you think that I went too fast, just click on the pause button. ;-) While the steps may look intimidating at first, it is actually a very simple concept. It takes about 10mins to create the cut and the print files and the cutouts. Once you have the basic wrapper shapes, just save the file and you can have your own personalised cupcake wrappers any time you want. Just change the patterns, graphic image or text, and you are good to go. Most importantly, have fun with these wrappers.  Feel free to leave your question anywhere on my blog and I will try to help.

Finally, to close my first series of tutorials, I thought that it would be most appropriate to end it with my first giveaway. Check back on Monday (Sept 27) to find out what I have in store for you and to enter your name in the giveaway. Here's a hint:




 Enjoy your weekend!




Pin It

13 comments :

  1. Thanks for another great tip, the outline idea! Since the ink on my Canon printer seems to be running out all the time this will come in quite handy!! I enjoyed your tutorials they were easy to follow. (Liked the music too!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I enjoyed your tutorials. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Jin,

    I've been on vacation so I've missed your latest tutorials, but I just had to stop and send you a big Thanks!! for all your tutorials and giveaway. Now, back to reading the rest of your past posts.

    Carmen
    cal8007 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks cfine, sucor, and Carmen. I value your feedback very much.

    cfine, thanks especially for letting me know that you liked the music. I was worried about my choice but now I'm relieved. :-)

    Don't forget to come back on Monday, everyone. I will post all details of the giveaway then.

    Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I want to do the print and cut. I have tried and failed previously but I am going to try again. Your tutorials are great, the problem is not you. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love your tutorials...never would have thought to just do outline..that would really save on ink :)

    Janedough99

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really learned a great deal from your tutorials. The photos are clear and I could follow along easily. thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I don't get why you'd go to all this trouble when the hinge technique is soooooooooooooooooooo much easier than all this.

    You basically just print the items (alphabets, clips, shapes, etc). that you want to print. You bring that file into Inkscape and blacken it all out. I think that with MTC, you can do this in the program. I am still using SCAL, so I have to use Inkscape to do this step. Now cut the outline of the blackened shapes with SCAL or MTC/ DON'T unload your mat! Place a piece of masking tape on the edge of the mat and flip it open. Put your printed copy underneath the mat and close it again. Line up the shapes with the opening in the cut layer (your "mask"). Flip the mask open again, and repeat the previous cut. TaDa! your shapes are perfect and cut right on the edge. No need for leaving a white border - or for cutting some off. It's perfect.

    For more details, just Google "clever someday hinge technique"

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, Just ME for your comment. Kay's Hinge method is well-known in the MTC circle and I am happy that it is working out for you. I am sharing my "reverse-hinge" method as I find it easier to work with. I hope that you will give it a try. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, this really helps--ink is so expensive, which is one of the reasons I decided not to get the Imagine. Thanks for the chance to win--is it the Cricut Lite Cupcake Wrappers cartridge?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh my gosh Amy, you guessed it right! Don't forget to come back on Monday to enter your name. :-D

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the cupcake wrappers and the great tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am a regular follower and am learning so much from your site. Thank You. Your site introduced me to Lettering Delights and I've been inspired by your projects even though I am the mom of teenage sons. If I don't win the cartridge can you send me a cupcake, they look yummy!

    ReplyDelete