Autumn Tree Cutout Leaves A6 Card

 Feature a colorful autumn (or other scheme) paper print 

as show-through hues, or create your own mix of 

watercolor paints (water sprayed for effect). 

Front panel includes the cut outs of multi-size oval leaves, 

with lyrical tree trunk and branches that fit between. 

Underlay template included to trace or die cut, 

with side-fold card base showing a narrow offset margin at edges. 

A6 card measures approx. 4.63” wide x 6.25”. 

Consider adding the companion banner tag with (separate design) 

Tag Banner Autumn Kaleidoscope Print Cut to add 

“autumn” script word cutout and print & cut “kaleidoscope” 

at card front bottom.

ASSEMBLY:  1. Identify and cut the shapes:

card front base with side fold

leaf cutouts overlay front panel

colored panel, either cut from colorful print

OR

watercolor painted panel, cut to size with

template cutout (white panel shown here)

tree cutout

optional from separate cut file:

banner tag top layer print & cut to include "kaleidoscope"

and banner base shape

"autumn" word cut out

2. The sample card was prepared by custom painting

a watercolor paper and water color markers.

For the sample, a selected group of autumn colors

were swirled to fill in the space on the paper.

Then, the water colors were lightly sprayed with

a mist of water to help the colors mix and run

and blend. If desired, the page can be tipped in

different directions to help the colors further blend.

Leave the paper flat to allow paint to thoroughly dry.

3. While paint is drying, prepare to position and attach

the tree cut out by locating the dash guide mark

'line' at center bottom of front panel. Then . . .

. . . position and attach, taking care to position

the branches so that they fall between and around

the leaf cutout shapes.

4. When the painted paper is dry, place the front panel

over it to "audition" best positioning for desired

color reveal through cutouts. Hold the final position

and trace a line around edges.

5. Trim approx. 1/16" inside traced line, or position

template within traced line, and trace new CUT lines.

Then trim to final size.

6. Position and attach the front panel (leaf cutouts)

on top of colored panel.

6. If desired, prepare the custom, coordinated banner tag:

a) use print & cut techniques to print, cut the "kaleidoscope"

banner front panel;

b) layer front banner shape over base banner and attach;

c) position banner, centered, over front panel

near bottom, then position and attach 'autumn'

word cut out on top.

Christmas Tree Ginger Cookie Easel Card

Send a card and make a decorative statement with this 

this gingerbread Christmas tree measuring approx. 8.75” tall x 6.75”. 

Icing shapes attach to the curvy-edge offset overlay that includes punch circles that allow contrast card front to show thru as part of decoration. 

Back panel includes a “hinge” perforation approx. 2.25” down 

from tip where it attaches back to back with front main panel 

to create an easel stand. 

Tree design is sized to fit and decorate the end caps of 

“Tree 3D Chest Christmas Countdown” (separate design); 

offset front panel for countdown includes 

required assembly slots for that project.

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card front base   B card back base with perforation line

C decorative front overlay

D "icing" accent shapes

2. Prepare the back base by bending forward

along the cross perforation line near top.

3. Position the front card base back-to-back with

the back base above the perforation, matching edges

as precisely as possible, then glue together.

4. Refer to the completed card thumbnail, then

position and attach the icing accent overlays onto

accent front, using the punch hole "dots" to assist

with arrangement, also aligning the center shapes

along the imagined centerline. One good strategy

is to begin at the center bottom, then working upward.

Refer to the narrow distances between circle punches

and edges of overlays as the positioning progresses.

5. Position the completed front decorative overlay

onto the card front and adjust to have narrow offset

margin along edges, then attach in place.

Use a heavy flat weight large enough to cover

the card, then press the assembled card flat

until the glue is completely dry, a few hours

or over night.

6. With card assembly completed, add other decorations

to front, if desired, and a sentiment plaque or label

inside.

Gingerbread Crew in Basket 5x7 Card

 
Festive 5x7 top-fold card presents a basket with 

low-relief top opening where miniature gingerbread folk 

can be tucked to help deliver seasonal greetings. 

Built-up basket side and lower edges provide a “pocket” 

to hold up to 6 to represent your “crew”. 

Add narrow ribbon through basket center slots, if desired. 

Layered handle is inserted under basket, 

curved gently to attach near top of offset front panel so that 

cookie folks can slide realistically within container. 

Attach “Tag Our Crew Print Cut” separate design 

to basket handle if desired. 

ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut the shapes:

A card base (top fold card)

B offset front panel with dash mark guides

C basket base (with ribbon slots)   D basket rim

E handle and offset base shape

F basket side and lower edge "rim" to stack

(5-6 layers using whole or half shapes)

G gingerbread guy accent base (up to 6)

H gingerbread guy body base (up to 6)

I head (up to 6)

J add on shapes (up to 6 sets each): eyes,

buttons, smiles, icing for wrists and ankles

K optional "from our crew" print & cut tag with base

L ribbon to tie at handle (approx. 1/4" wide, 9" length)

2. Identify the half circle and center guide cuts at

top of card front overlay, then . . .

. . . position and attach

to front of folded card base, with consistent narrow

margin of base showing all around edges.

3. Position and attach rim onto basket base shape.

4. Position/stack the build up basket edge rim shapes

onto a whole rim shape, taking sufficient care to ensure

cut edges are aligned as precisely as possible.

This added shape will provide depth and a pocket

into which gingerbread folks can be tucked later.

(Half rim shapes are included to provide economical

use of card stock when cutting.)

Immediately press the rim stack under a heavy flat

object such as this large book, possibly with something

else heavy placed on the top. Pressing until thoroughly

dried (hours or over night) will ensure that the glued-up

shape will remain flat, and minimize warping or curling.

5. Position and attach the build up stack onto

the backside of the basket assembly.

(NOTE this step can precede the pressing step.)

6. Thread the ribbon through the slots on basket,

draw through to center, then tie knot and bow;

trim excess ends, now or later.

7. Prepare handle shapes by bending forward at

the top tip perforation lines.

Position the handle on top of the base, centered

and with perf. bends aligned, and glue in place.

While liquid adhesive is still setting, use a rod tool

such as this narrow dowel to add slight curl just

a bit below the perf lines;

8. Position the handle under the basket assembly,

centered and with straight bottom edge next to

the rim top edge, and attach in place.

9. Apply adhesive to the basket handle tip above perf line

and to build up rim face of basket only. 

On card front, position basket, centered, with handle

top curved edge at guide marks cut into front panel,

and with basket bottom at guide mark there,

and attach in place.

10. Assemble the gingerbread folks:

A. position and attach head overlay onto body

B. position and attach body/head onto base;

add eyes into eye cutouts of head and smile

C. Add buttons into cut outs, icing squiggles at

wrists and ankles

11. Complete card assembly by artistically

tucking your selected number of guys into basket.

Use temp or permanent adhesive to keep them

in place, as preferred.

Here is the completed sample card.

NOTE that the depth of the guys and curl of handle

may require a specialty or oversized envelope for

sending or giving.

12. As an option, consider preparing (print & cut method)

the "Tag Our Crew Print Cut" separate design

to embellish the card.

Here is the completed card, with tag.

Halloween Countdown Magnet Pan Projects

Count down the days until the final “sleepy-time” on 

the night before Halloween. 

Colored vinyl in green, cream, yellow, purple, orange and black 

are carefully positioned and affixed to a painted metal pan --

select from ROUND 12” round pizza (11.3" diam.) 

or RECTANGULAR 15" long (11.7' wide X 8" tall).

Use registration “target cross hairs” guides to create 

a festive decoration.  (Substitute glued-on card stock for

candy corn flourish elements as desired.) 

Countdown window “slider” is cut from or attached to 

a magnetic sheet base (or affix to a mag business card rectangle 

and trim with scissors or art knife), then moved around 

the circumference each day with day’s number showing 

through cutout. Display on a large easel, or drill a top hang hole, 

attach cord ends, or affix saw tooth brackets on 

reversed side to mount on a wall. 

 Recommended for experienced crafters. 

Round version will be focus of this assembly guide.

Both round and rectangular versions have similar assembly

procedures. Differences will be mentioned.

FOR THIS PROJECT, YOU WILL NEED:
1) metallic re-purposed baking sheet (NOT non-stick surface),

 either ROUND with min. 11.75" diameter interior flat surface,

or RECTANGULAR baking sheet approx. 15" across
2) rustic orange matte or satin spray paint to paint sheet,

plus protective acrylic finish coat spray paint,

and optional metal primer paint to ensure paint adheres to metal

3) flexible magnet business card or sheet for slider
4) card stock for slider plus adhesive or double stick paper
5) vinyl sheets for cutting the layers; green,
cream or white, purple, yellow, orange, black, 

plus transfer paper

ASSEMBLY: 

1. Identify, cut and weed the vinyl shapes or selections:

ROUND: A black ring, numbers, cluster foundations, words

with center and two side "target" registration symbols

B white banner foundation with registr. symbols

C Halloween overlay with registr. symbols

D slider magnet face shape and magnet

(NOTE that face shape can be die cut;

magnet layer may be able to be die cut, OR

may need to be traced and cut out with art knife.)

E candy corn overlays (three colors)

F purple stars and dots

G green stars

RECTANGULAR:

A black frame, numbers, cluster foundations, words

with center (next to #6) and 

two side "target" registration symbols

B white banner foundation with registr. symbols

C Halloween overlay with registr. symbols

D slider magnet face shape and magnet

E candy corn overlays (three colors),

purple stars and dots, green stars

2. Find and lightly mark the center of the display surface

with chalk or other temp. mark that can later be remove:

For round, a circle was traced, then folded into quarters,

with center tip cut off.

For rectangle, do something similar, or simply use

a measuring tool to find the Y and X axis centers intersect.

3. Apply transfer paper to the ring set while carefully

peeling away the transfer backer to avoid ripples & bubbles.

 (Clear transfer makes this easier.)

4. Trim the excess carrier approx. 1/4" beyond the outer

edge of vinyl design. 

5. Review the following couple of strategies to assist

to center the design on the metal pan base, 

then select the one that seems to make best sense to you:

STRATEGY A: Poke a T pin or equivalent through

at the center of the center registr. symbol,

and leave in place.

Remove transfer sheet's backing.

Make a preliminary alignment with pan's center mark

and vinyl center target then touch and hold

 the T pin point onto the center of symbol. 

(Look closely to see the T pin) . . .

. . . while rotating slightly to make sure design is centered

both vertically (align with hang hole) and horizontally.

NOTE take care not to let the transfer sheet stickiness

touch the painted surface to avoid pulling off the paint.

STRATEGY B: Gently fold the circle in half along

the vertical center axis with non-sticky sides back to back.

Locate the center target symbol and align with center mark.

Use the bend of the transfer paper to rotate to align

at vertical center axis, then lower into position to affix

the underneath half of the vinyl design assembly.

Finally unfold to position and affix top half in place.

FOR RECTANGULAR DESIGN, follow similar placement

procedures as shown with circular design, as well

as remaining positioning of other elements.

6. Smooth the sheet into position and "burnish" vinyl 

shapes to assist them to attach completely to pan.

7. Gently and slowly peel away the transfer sheet,

watching for any vinyl figures that try to pull up

and stay attached to transfer sheet. Take particular care

with #3, 5, 0, etc.

Burnish the attach vinyl to confirm smooth attachment.

8. Gently and carefully peel and remove the center target.

(It is no longer needed.)

9. Apply transfer tape to the banner base and banner

overlay vinyl cut shapes. When ready to apply,

remove the carrier backing sheet.

10. Use similar registration process as described above

to position WHITE banner first, then BLACK overlay.

Identify the two target symbols, then position and

align these on top of the previous vinyl symbol layers.

NOTE: this image shows the black overlay being

positioned, but the WHITE overlay should be positioned

FIRST (as can be verified by noting that the target

symbols already in position are white).

POSITIONING HINT: to assist to get the black banner

edges to align as precisely as possible on top of

white banner base, carefully scissor-trim the banner upper

and end edges exactly along the vinyl edge.

Then use those edges to position and align precisely.

11. With banner layers in place, remove target symbols.

12. Assemble the candy corn colored layers

to create kernel units. There are two ways to do this:

A. For either approach, peel yellow and white shapes

then position and attach the yellow middle "band" onto

the bottom of the white layer, with side edges matched.

Approach 1: Also peel orange base layer, and

attach white/yellow assembly onto top, with

tips and side edges of all three layers aligned.

Position and attach the kernel unit onto the black vinyl

design exactly over the kernel "silhouette".

NOTE there are two sizes of corn; slightly smaller

are toward the outer edge.

Approach 2: Position the orange base onto pan

assembly first, then position and attach top layer unit

over the orange base.

13. Lift and position the remaining cut shapes,

including the green stars shown here, but also

the purple stars and dots. 

HINT: refer to the online thumbnail image 

to position dots that are not "fused" into 

the swirl flourish shape edges, including center

stars and dots.

14. Attach the slider overlay onto the magnet cutout

shape (NOTE that magnet shape may need to be

hand-trimmed using an art knife) with double adhesive

tape or with appropriate glue.

15. To use the count down slider, position it with outer/top

edge approx. even with vinyl ring shape, then lift and

move around to frame the current countdown

numeral inside window.

(For RECTANGULAR version, move magnet along

rows to frame numeral inside window.)

16. To hang the pan, tie a ribbon or cord through

drilled hole at pan top.

Or use specialty/appropriate adhesive to attach

hanger ribbon ends to backside of pan,

both round and rectangular.

Add a ribbon cluster as desired.