I got these SVG files from blogs - sorry, no idea whose blogs - way back when the Cameo was new. They've been sitting in a folder for all that time, and when I happened upon them the other day I thought they'd make adorable shaped Christmas cards! Kitty makes me want to say, "Hello, Christmas!".
Here's how I did it:
First, I resized the files so they would fit into an A2 envelope - no bigger than 5.5" tall and 4.25" wide.
The original files had details that would have made WAY too many teeny tiny pieces to glue together, so I deleted some of them, such as stripes on the shirt and the buttons on the clothing.
TIP: When cutting out little pieces, use a piece of Post-it label paper as a "parking spot" so the tiny bits don't get lost. Post-it label paper has Post-it glue ALL OVER the surface, so it's tacky enough to hold onto the tiny pieces but they are easy to remove when you're ready to glue the shape together!
To create a cut file for the card back, I traced the outline of the black Kitty base shape using the trace tool. Then, using the line tool, I drew a perforated line across the top of the traced shape about 1" from the top. This creates a card back that can be attached to the front at that 1" wide top edge. Bending the card back slightly at the perforated line creates a card that stands up beautifully. If your cutter doesn't have a way to draw a perforated line, simply omit this step and score the card back with a bone folder after cutting.
I cut the card backs out of Close To My Heart White Daisy cardstock***, stamped a sentiment on them and then attached them to the paper pieced card fronts. Added some bling and ribbon embellishments, and Tada!!! Paper pieced shapes are now adorable cards!
Close To My Heart cardstock cuts beautifully in all electronic cutters. The smooth texture and even grain of the paper prevents those blade skips and hanging chads that can be so frustrating! If you like creating with your Cameo or your Bug, give it a try! I think you'll like it!
***A note about the White Daisy cardstock - I love it, it stamps great, BUT - it's heavier than other CTMH papers and clay-coated, so it really, really REALLY sticks to Cricut and Silhouette mats! You'll get a great cut and no paper stuck to your mat if you use
Sally's Secret Method to cut White Daisy:
1. Select a well-broken-in cutting mat that's not too sticky. Do NOT use a new mat for White Daisy or any clay-coated stock!
2. Grab a roll of painter's tape (Scotch Blue works great!) and tape the corners of the cardstock to the mat. This keeps your paper from shifting, just as insurance, because remember, the mat hasn't got a lot of sticky left. You can also use washi tape if you have no painter's tape, but it hurts my heart to use that pretty washi for such a pedestrian purpose!!
3. Select the right setting for your machine. All cutting machines are different, so I highly suggest testing settings on scrap before you cut a project! On my Silhouette Cameo, I use a ratchet blade setting of 5. On my good old Cricut Expression, I set the blade to 6.
4. Double cut. Your blade setting is deep enough to cut through your paper, but some heavy papers are fibrous as well as thick, and the double cutting gets all the way through those extra-tough bits.
Happy cutting!!
Sally these are soo darned cute. I love your tutorials such good information.
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