CRICUT: Tips for using the Simple Pop-up Cards cartridge in Design Space

Have you seen the new Simple Pop-Up Cards cartridge? It has 30 really cute pop-up cards with matching envelopes.

Here's the Congratulations card. I've used the CK Graduate Bear from Kadoodlebug Designs to embellish the front of the card.

If you have the Cricut image subscription you already have access to this great cartridge.

I've been cutting each of the cards and have a few tips that might help when you're creating them!

When you insert the card onto your canvas, all the layers of the card will be grouped together. That includes the envelope and that makes it difficult to size the actual card. Right?

Wrong!! It's actually super easy to size the card!

Select your card from the image gallery and click Insert Images to add it to your canvas.

You'll see both the card and the envelope grouped together.

In the layers panel you'll see each of the different layers. I've circled the two layers that make up the envelope.

Click the "eye" to close those two layers. The envelope will disappear.

Continue to hide the layers until all you are left with is the base card. In most cases, but not always, the base card is the bottom layer in the group.

Now you'll be able to resize the card.

So, what size should the card be? The handbook for this cartridge shows the recommended size for each card. Using the recommended size (or smaller) will ensure that your card and envelope can be cut on a 12x12 mat.

The recommended size will be the height measurement. But the size you set will be dependent on whether the card is a side folded card or a top folded card.

Here's an example. The "I Love You" card is top folded and recommends a size of 5.5". However that's the height of the card when folded.

If you set the height as 5.5" you will end up with a card that is only 2.75" high by 2.12" wide when folded.

If you were to use 5.5" as the width measurement you would end up with a card that is 5.5" wide but the unfolded height would be 14.27". Far too tall for a 12x12" mat.

So to get a top fold card that's 5.5" tall when folded you need to set the height measurement to double the size listed in the handbook.

Therefore, set the height at 11" and your card will then measure approx 5.5" x 4.25".

But what about the envelope? How will you know what size that should be?

Well, that job has already been done for you.

Click on the card then go back to the Layers panel.

Unhide all the other layers in the Layers panel.... and you'll see that the envelope and all the other parts of the card have also been resized in proportion to the card base.

Obviously you don't have to use the recommended size for your card. Just remember to hide the envelopes and any other layers and don't forget to set the size to double the height of your finished card if it's a top fold card.

I've put together this table which lists the cards and what you should set the height measurement.

Image from handbook	Set height as	Finished card size (Width x height)
	11.0"	4.25" x 5.5"
	11.0"	4.25" x 5.5"
	4.25"	5.5" x 4.25"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	10"	5" x 5"
	11"	5" x 5"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	5.5"	4.25" 5.5"
	10"	7" x 5"
	10"	7" x 5"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	10"	7" x 5"
	5"	4.25" x 5"
	5"	5.75" x 5"
	7"	4.5" x 7"
	6.25"	5" x 6.25"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	8.5"	5.5" x 4.25"
	10"	7" x 5"
	10"	7" x 5"
	7"	5" x 7"
	10"	7" x 5"
	10"	5" x 5"
	5"	5" x 5"
	10"	5" x 5"

Don't forget to check the cartridge handbook for some basic assembly photos.

Happy crafting!  ♥

Glass cutting boards - they're in Australia too!

This post is for my fellow Aussie crafters.

As you probably know decorating glass cutting boards with vinyl is all the rage at the moment. But finding those boards here is extremely difficult.

Well, the other day I actually found some! We definitely don't have the variety that the US has, but at least we have some!

Here's what I found...

It measures approx 10" x 8" (25cm x 20.5cm) and has a rough cutting surface. The underside however is smooth.

It does have a pattern stuck to it and because I wasn't sure that I would be able to get it off I only purchased one.

I brought it home and tried to peel the backing off but didn't have a lot of success. I remembered seeing some posts about this in Cricut Lovers Guide to Design Space where it was suggested to soak the board in hot water for a while.

That didn't help much but then I remembered the other suggestion was to spray it with Goo Gone.  I happened to have a bottle of De-Solv-it so I thought I'd give that a try.

With that, a scraper and a little elbow grease I was able to get all of the backing off!

Once I cleaned it up I thought I should put something on it. I used an image called What's Cookin? from the 3 Birds on Parade cartridge. If you have the Cricut image subscription you're in luck because it's included!

If not, it's currently on sale at Cricut.com. And if you only want the one image you can purchase that through Design Space if you're a Cricut Explore owner.

The yellow vinyl is from the Cricut Brights Sampler pack. 

Don't forget, if you're making one of these you need to flip your image as you'll be putting the vinyl on the underside. 

So.... where did I find the cutting boards?

(Just let me get out of the way so I don't get crushed in the stampede)....

Daiso!

If you haven't heard of Daiso they are a Japanese store where just about everything is $2.80!!! Yes! $2.80! ☺

Here's the link to their store locator: Daiso

So if you've been hunting for these cutting boards I hope you have a Daiso near you! Unfortunately they don't appear to sell online. 

Oh, and for the New Zealanders.... there's a Daiso in Auckland. ☺

Happy crafting!  ♥