FREE Papercraft Hanger SVG File to use with the Leaf Wall Art Shadow Boxes

Hello, this week I've been playing with corrugated paper to make these Leaf Wall Art Shadow Boxes.  I have a post over on the Silhouette UK Blog describing how to cut the corrugated paper, with instructions on how to put together this set of shadow boxes.

I like to share a little extra something over here on my own blog when I can. This week I have a FREE cutting file for a hanger to mount these shadow boxes, or any light papercraft project, to the wall. The file is in SVG format, so can be used with most digital paper cutting machines; Silhouette (with Designer edition), Cricut, Scan n' Cut, etc. The file is free to use for all non-commercial uses, all I ask in return is that you become a follower of my blog or Instagram feed.

Download the FREE file here

For crafters who do not have a cutting machine, the file is also available as a FREE printable template in PDF format here.  

Once the hangers are cut out, fold them on the centre score line and adhere the two halves together. Fold on the remaining score line and adhere the square part to the back of your paper craft project.

I constructed the shadow boxes so that there is a void in the back to accommodate a hanger and a hook and still allow the boxes to hang flush to the wall. The boxes can be hung on the wall once the adhesive is dry. Traditional picture hooks will work, and small 'command' hooks will work too. The one pictured is possibly a little too small, but I've run out of my favourite size.

This is the design I used to make the Leaf Shadow Boxes (an SVG file from the Silhouette Design Store).


These are the Silhouette products that I used.


Here are the other products used/recommended.




I'd love to hear how you use this hanger. Do post a comment here, or on my other social media if you find it handy.

Magnetic Bookmarks and Planner Page Markers

Hiya, Over of the Silhouette UK Blog today I've shared a tutorial for some cute retro bookmarks using the Silhouette Printable Magnetic Paper. These use a Print & Cut design called the 57 T Bird Car Print and Cut Set (#12253) by Samantha Walker.

The post includes details on how to adapt the design to print onto the magnetic sheets with an inkjet printer, and how to use a Silhouette Cameo to cutout and score the bookmarks too. Pop over to the Silhouette UK Blog to find out more.

Here are some other projects I have made using these printable magnetic sheets.

Magnetic Paper Dolls

Giant Magnetic Paper Clips

How to knockout a Vinyl design for Rhinestones

Hello, its been all about the gorgeous Silhouette Rhinestones on the Silhouette UK Blog this week and I've shared a decorative pillow/cushion using rhinestones and flock heat transfer featuring the Eiffel Tower and a custom rhinestone phrase - Ooh La la! Pop over to read that post if you'd like to find out how to design your own rhinestone decal. I used the Eiffel Tower file (#41675) by Samantha Walker and Madilyn Sketch font (#77519) by Rivka Wilkins, both from the Silhouette Design Store.

In this post I'm concentrating on the heat transfer part, and particularly how to 'knockout' the rhinestone design from the flock heat transfer layer to allow the rhinestones to adhere directly to the cover's fabric rather than the flock. This is important because although the stones might initially stick if applied on top of the flock, over time they will likely loosen and drop off.

With regular shapes I use the offset feature in the Silhouette Designer software to make a slightly larger version of the design and then cut the design and the larger holes. However, there is a quicker way with the Designer Edition of the Silhouette software. 

This is how:

• Copy the rhinestone design, then Paste in Front (right mouse click actions)
• Release the Rhinestones (from the Rhinestone Panel)
• With the new copy still selected, increase the size of the rhinestones to the next size up
• Move the original rhinestone holes away and use to cut the rhinestone template & make the decal
• Delete any of the new holes which fall to either size of the design
• Cut the new rhinestone holes along with the background design.
• Weed the design and the holes.

The vinyl design is applied to the item first and the slightly larger holes are then in perfect alignment with the rhinestone transfer with a small gap around them so the rhinestones can adhere directly to the item without being deflected by the edges of the vinyl design.

The result is very neat and the larger holes are barely visible.

I hope that you find this technique useful for your rhinestone text decals.

Tiered Ombre Cake Box Card

Hiya.   Today I'm sharing another fun greetings card from Simply Crafty SVGs.  I've used the Tiered Cake Box Card, a 3-dimensional card that folds flat for posting.


I love ombré shading, and have some seen some wonderful real cakes decorated in that style. I decided to give the cake on my card an ombré look, and also used vellum to make the plate look more like a glass cake plate.  I made a few small adjustments to the Tiered Cake Box Card design though, adding more detail to the icing using internal offsets, then adding the recipient's age with a matching offset. I describe how I did these things in a little more detail below using my Silhouette Cameo. I used a Silhouette Cameo® 3, and the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software. However, the SVG files can be used with other desktop die cutting machines and software (details here).


Materials Used:
Pale Blue Heavyweight Smooth Cardstock
White Mediumweight Textured Cardstock
Pearlescent Vellum
Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive
Double-sided Adhesive Tape
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pads in Salty Ocean & Faded Jeans
Ranger Mini Ink Blending Tool
Lawn Fawn Starry Backdrops Clear Stamp
Versamark Clear Watermark Ink Pad
Wow! Ultra Fine White Embossing Powder
Embossing Heat Tool
Sizzix Tim Holtz Stripes Embossing Folder from the Harlequin & Stripes Set
Alcohol Markers for colouring the candle flames (Optional)
Silhouette Cameo


Files Used:
Simply Crafty SVGs Tiered cake Box Card

Fonts Used:
SW Swirl Dance Font



Heat Embossing the Cake
Once I'd cut out all the pieces, I stamped the two cake front pieces with Versamark ink and applied white embossing powder to provide a resist for the ink blending. It isn't necessary to stamp on the lower part of the taller piece, as only the top part shows once the card is assembled.

Coloring the Ombré Cake
I blended the lighter colour of ink (Salty Ocean) on to the top three quarters, and then blended the darker colour (Faded Jeans) to just the top edge.

Here is the before and after, (actually after, and before) showing what a difference it makes!

Vellum Cake Plate

I cut three plates from vellum as well as from the blue cardstock and then adhered them together using double-sided tape. Yes, I did trim those excess end pieces first!

This is what they look like stuck together. The tape shows through the vellum a little, but as it runs parallel with the stripes it looks like part of the pattern.

Coloring the Candles (optional)

I coloured the candles on cake background (cut from white cardstock) with Copic Markers of various colours. I followed part of this YouTube video for colours choices.  Alternatively, you could use colored card, paper, or add chalks, or colored paper.

Offsetting the Icing

To give a little more detail to the icing I made an internal offset of 0.55". I cut the offsets from the textured side of the card, and the original pieces from the smooth side.

I did the same with the swag parts, but released the path and deleted the inner-most parts, copied the original inner parts, and made a compound path with them and the new offsets (otherwise the pieces would have been too small to handle easily).

This is how the finished icing looked.

Adding an Age

You'll notice that I also added an age. It would also possible to add a small sentiment in the same way. I typed out the number (using SW Swirl Dance font from the Silhouette Design Store) and added an offset to match that of the icing. I cut the offset from white card, and the number itself from a scrap piece of ombré blended card.

I cut the number from different parts of the card and from white, and chose to use the lighter ombré version.

Assembling the Card

The card was assembled following the directions in the pdf document included with the file download. I used panels in the same colour as the card base, shading the edges lightly with the distress inks.

The card fits into a US A7 envelope.  A free envelope file is available on the site that fits perfectly (for cards up to 5" x 7").

These are the files I used. Just click on the photo to visit the item in Simply Crafty SVGs online store.




This is a great card for all sorts of occasions and goes together very easily. Wouldn't it be great for Mother's Day? I'm sure I'll be using this one again before too long!



Janet, DT Member Simply Crafty SVGs

Blog: Crafting Quine 
Instagram: @CraftingQuine



Simply Crafty SVG Files:
Tiered Cake Box Card
Basic Envelope Set (Free)

Design your own Vinyl Decal to make a Wooden House Sign

Hiya, I love using my Silhouette to make unique gifts and this week I've designed my own vinyl decal to decorate a plain wooden house blank as a gift for my daughter. All it took was a couple of fonts and a bird file from the Silhouette Design Store (and a wee bit of manipulation in the Silhouette Design software). I have a tutorial to show you how to design your own decals on the Silhouette UK Blog today.

The digital files used are:
A Little Birdie Told Me by Hero Arts (#56886)
Willow Bloom Font by Skyla Design (#235171)
LW Sketchy Font by Lori Whitlock (#76191)

A few folks have asked me where I sourced the wooden house blank from. Well, we found it in the clearance section of our local Tesco supermarket and it cost pence rather than pounds! It was already decorated, but that was soon covered over with a couple of coats of grey chalk paint.

Surprisingly, the supermarket can be a great source for craft blanks!  This coffee sign was one I re-purposed some months ago by recovering the front face with black paper. If you like the look of using white gel pens with your Silhouette there are heap of useful tips on that post too!

Have you found an unusual source for crafting materials - do share!

Using your own watercolour paintings to make digital backgrounds and fills

Hiya, Over on the Silhouette UK Blog I have a tutorial on how to paint an ombré watercolour shape, import it into the Silhouette Studio software, and how to combine it with other digital files.

The post includes instructions on how to add the watercolour pattern as a fill pattern in the Silhouette Studio software, and how to manipulate the pattern and use it to fill other designs to make cards and digital prints.

The designs I used were all by Nic Squirrell from the Silhouette Design Store.

Agapanthus Flower Border by Nic Squirrell

Houseplant Papercut Border by Nic Squirrell

Spotted Succulent by Nic Squirrell

Do pop over to the Silhouette UK Blog and find out how to do this - the possibilities are endless!

NEW Pop Up Cards in Silhouette Studio V4.1 - Digger Card

Hiya,

Over on the Silhouette UK blog I recently shared a fun card using the new Popup card feature in the Designer Edition in version 4.1 of the Silhouette® Studio software.

I'd been asked to make a card featuring a digger for a friend's grandson and it seemed the ideal opportunity to try out the popup feature.  I used the Construction Tractor (#113473) file by Studio Ilustrado from the Silhouette® Design Store.

My post over on the Silhouette UK Blog includes step-by-step instructions on how design and put together the card using the Silhouette Studio Software.

This isn't the fastest card that I've ever put together, but it is certainly one of the most fun. I loved how it turned out. I hope you'll try it - you're sure to love it too.