Love Bug Box Card from Simply Crafty SVGs

Hiya, I have a nostalgia post for your today. Do you remember a series of movies from the 1960s featuring a mischievous VW Beetle? Well using the Bug Box Card from Simply Crafty SVGs I've made a love bug of my own. I think it's a cute version for a Valentine's or Birthday card.

Materials Used:
White, Red, Blue & Black Medium weight Textured Cardstock
Black Gloss Cardstock
Silver Matt Metallic Cardstock
Silver Glitter Paper
Clear Acetate (optional)
Thick Printer Paper
Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive
Dimensional Adhesive Tape
Grey Ink Pad
Silhouette Cameo
Inkjet Printer


Files Used:
Simply Crafty SVGs Bug Box Card

Other Digital Files: 
Shadow Scenery Dingbat by Lettering delights (OTF)
Watercolor Ombre Pattern by Amy Robison (Studio)
LW Quirky font by Lori Whitlock (OTF)

Background

I filled the background piece with a watercolour ombre pattern and one of the scenery dingbats. I set this up as a Print & Cut on think printer paper to make an easy custom background.

These pictures show I intensified the colour using the Image Effects Tools in the Silhouette software. (excuse these two photos having the piece upside down, I did notice before printing).

The Background was cropped and filled with black.  The horizon line shown is the top/bottom edge where the pattern is tiled. This becomes visible when the design is scaled down and moved using the Panning function.

The pattern was moved until the edge just showed  above the hills. Then the Print & Cut was set up to minimise paper by moving the bottom print mark up towards the top of the paper.

Stripes

I cut the car from the white cardstock, inking the edges with grey ink for added definition.  The stripes of coloured paper were added during assembly. I cut long, narrow strips from the edge of the 12" square paper. One strip each of blue and red was sufficient for the whole car. The pieces were applied as each layer was assembled making them easy to align.


Race Number

This wouldn't have been a love bug without a race number, and this one was easily made by drawing two circles. The numbers, were written in LW Quirky font and removed from the smaller circle using 'Make Compound Path'. This could be substituted with the birthday age, for a birthday card, or with a red heart for Valentine's.


This is the file I used. Just click on the photo to visit the page in Simply Crafty SVGs online store.


Janet, DT Member Simply Crafty SVGs

Blog: Crafting Quine 
Instagram: @CraftingQuine



Simply Crafty SVG Files:
Bug Box Card

Valentine Cards - Love U Two Pieces

Hiya, today I have a pair of cards over on the Silhouette UK Blog which feature one design idea, but which use very different techniques and methods.

My post includes information on using the Silhouette Scratch-Off Sticker paper.  Hop over to read about using this usual crafting medium with your Silhouette Cameo.

Heart Lock Box by Simply Crafty SVGs

Hello.  Janet here with a lovely gift box to give for Valentine's Day. I've used the SVG file for the Heart Lock Box from Simply Crafty SVGs with just a tiny bit of extra embellishment and the tiniest bit of manipulation, to make it my own. 

This heart-shaped padlock box is a delight to make. Heart boxes can be a bit tricky to put together with umpteen tiny tabs to glue simultaneously, but this box is cleverly designed with the minimum of tabs to make construction straightforward.

I used the Silhouette Cameo and the Silhouette Studio software, but the file can be made with most cutting machines and software that can use SVG files. Check the FAQs for additional information.


Materials Used:
Pink AC Cardstock
Silver Mirror Card
Silver Glitter Card
Silver Glitter Ribbon
Beacon 3-in-1 Adhesive
Silhouette Cameo


Files Used:
Simply Crafty SVGs Heart Lock Box

Other Digital Files: 
Screw Head Embellishments by Jamie Cripps (Studio or SVG)

BOX ASSEMBLY

The box part is constructed from pink cardstock. It's hard to see here because I added an additional front panel in silver glitter card to cover the lid entirely.


DECORATIVE HANDLE/SHACKLE

The handle was made as directed in the accompanying PDF instructions. It is essentially a 3-part sandwich with glitter card as the filling, surrounded by layers of silver mirror card. the cutouts give an engraved look.



DECORATIVE FRONT PANEL

I added some additional decorative cutouts to the large front panel. The were 'borrowed' from the shackle by releasing the compound path on the shackle and copying them to  the lock panel. Additional impressed lines were added by hand using the tool shown in the key section (below).

The circular part had an additional piece added to the centre, allowing the edges of the original (in glitter) to show. It was made by releasing the path on the original, copying it, and then releasing it's compound path. Then the size of the outer circle was decreased whilst keeping the keyhole in its original size and position. In short, a smaller circle, but with the same size keyhole.

The only 'non-standard' parts added were the screw heads, cut from silver mirror cardstock.



DECORATIVE KEY

Two copies of the key were cut so that they could be adhered back-to-back.  I used the tool shown to impress some lines into the cardstock. The mirror cardstock is quite soft and required little effort to make quite deep marks.

Finally the key was attached with a silver ribbon and the project was complete.

The file is newly available in the Simply Crafty SVG Store.  It is a lovely container for any small Valentine's gift - jewelry, favorite chocolates, or JEWELRY (maybe my husband is listening)!

Bye for now,
Janet, DT Member, Simply Crafty SVGs


Blog: Crafting Quine 
Instagram: @CraftingQuine



Simply Crafty SVG Files:
Heart Lock Box

Love is in the Air - Valentine Card with the FREE File

Hiya, Today I have made a Valentine's card using this week's FREE file from the Silhouette Design Store - the Love Is In The Air phrase, Design #176413.  I couldn't resist taking it up into the skies!

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

• Silhouette CAMEO® orPortrait®
• White Printable Cardstock
• Grey Heavyweight Pearl Cardstock
• Vellum
• Card Adhesive
• Adhesive Foam Pads
• Glossy Accents or similar
• Silhouette Adhesive Corrugated Paper
• Love Is In The Air file download by Silhouette #176413
• Amazing Plane by Echo Park file download #125012
• Cloud Borders file downloads #2320 #173527

Here are my construction steps:

1. Make a rectangular card base in grey heavy-weight pearl cardstock in the Silhouette Design software.
2. Adhere a large rectangle of white corrugated paper to the card base.
3. In the software set up a Print and Cut page and arrange the plane elements to fit into a white rectangle. Add coloured frames or strips as required.  Add cut lines to the outside of the rectangle.
4. Ungroup the quote and rearrange it to follow the line of the banner.
5. Copy the plane and banner and add cut lines around the outside.
6. Print and then cut out the elements on your Silhouette.
7. Cut cloud borders from vellum (I used regular and pearlised vellum).
8. Adhere the rectangles to the card with card adhesive.
9. Adhere the smaller elements to the card with adhesive foam pads.
10. Adhere the vellum cloud pieces obscuring the adhesive behind decorative strips of card or tuck the ends under the rectangular pieces.
11. Add some glossy accents to the hearts.
12. Card complete!

This makes for a fun valentine card.  You can change out the colours or materials for a more masculine or feminine look.

The Love Is In The Air design is available free in the Silhouette Design store for one week from 30th January 2017.

Technical Alert !! For these photos I've been experiementing with a light box. I'm finding it difficult to getting a nice sharp focus. Apologies if this spoils your viewing. Do you ever have photo problems?

Challenges Entered:
Crafting By Designs - February Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenges - #334 February Anything Goes 
Glitter N' Sparkle - #226 Love is in the Air