A tip, a card, and a free download

Here's a tip for new Design Studio Users:
When making a card, go backwards. Instead of starting by cutting the main image out with a size that you think will work, start by setting the perimeters of the card by laying a rectangle on the DS mat. You can find a rectangle in several cartridges including Plantin Schoolbook, George and Basic Shapes, and Don Juan.

For example, a typical quarter-fold card measures 4.25" by 5.5". Just input the width and length(height) in the shape properties box so that the finished card will be within that size.

Doing so not only ensure that your Cricut cutout sizes will work for that card size, you will also know that any layers will fit in the embossing folders should you want to emboss since most embossing folders that are sold in the market now are made in that quarter-fold size.

I find that it also helps to cut down on paper wastage when I preset the size as I know that I will not end up with a card that is too big or too small than I had intended.

For this card I used the butterfly image from the Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge. It is cut at 3". I made the green layer by welding the shadow of the butterfly with a rounded-corner rectangle (George and basic shapes). The card base was made by welding 2 rounded-corner rectangles.

By presetting the size, I know with certainty that embossing that green layer will be easy as it will fit in the Sizzix embossing folder. Also, I enjoy making cards more than envelopes and I usually buy the pre-made quarter fold envelopes (no. 5 1/2). Since I have started by determining the card's finished size, I have no doubt that it will fit in the envelope. :-)

To download the cut file, click on this link:

Butterfly Card 

The cut file contains the butterfly, the first layer, and the card base. 

Enjoy!

My Super Sized Princess Card

 

 
After making those jumbo Valentine's Day cards yesterday, I was not able to shake off the notion of making more large size cards. By applying the same concept of flipping and welding two shadow images, I came up with this super sized princess card. I used the Once Upon a Princess cartridge and welded the shadows together with Design Studio to get the card base.

It is a big card. The image was cut at 10.5 inches on the 12"x24" mat. I used Stickles to apply some bling to the card. It took some work to get the card base all welded up and I did make some mistakes along the way but I love the end result. I think I'll work on another one of these jumbo cards tomorrow.

A simple card idea: Super-sized cards

It's 11pm and I just realized that I have all the kids' class valentines ready but I forgot the teacher's card! So I whipped out the Love Struck cartridge, welded two heart shadows together with Design Studio and cut them out at 10 inches to make these super-sized cards. They're big and super-fun to make but remember to flip the first shadow before welding or the card will not fold right. ;)