How does it work?
10 reasons why you should get ALL ACCESS today
1. Access to all the designs you can think of
2. New high quality resources are added daily
3. We got you covered. All files come with a commercial license
4. Get the exact graphic you're looking for. Just how you envisioned it
5. Create your own magical designs in an instant using CF Spark
6. Hone your skills by following inspiring classes
7. Astonishing discounts from great providers of craft supply
8. Your online font manager
9. Create unique word cloud art with ease
10. And there is much more
Get you Siser Juliet machine here: SISER | Juliet, 30cm High-Definition Cutting Machine
For more details, just visit www.siserna.com or go to www.CreativeFabrica/Siser
]]>“Don’t let anyone dictate your limits. Do what makes you happy! If it sparks joy, go for it! Don’t let anyone say otherwise.” - Sheils Torralba
Discovering the Art: A Personal Odyssey
Sheils embarked on her calligraphy journey after receiving The Speedball textbook, nibs and Higgins Ink as a gift during her younger years. A few years later, she acquired another tool, the Rotring ArtPen. However, due to a lack of other materials, resources, and no proper guidance, her interest eventually shifted to lettering.
Many years later, Sheils would eventually find her way back to calligraphy. "It served as my outlet to relieve myself from stress after going through some painful and tough experiences in my personal life." This time, with her focus and determination, she started attending live events, free online classes of calligraphers here and abroad. She researched for tools and supplies both locally and abroad. "It was difficult during the first two years as I wanted to learn fast and I was frustrated for not being able to nail the output I saw from others."
Her frustration turned out to be a good thing, as it lead Sheils to practice calligraphy drills during evenings before bedtime. She would write random names, quotes, and song lyrics. "Sometimes, I barely noticed the time as I kept writing till past midnight. This was even more true when I knew there was no work the following day. The quieter evenings that I had, the more I got lost in my own little world of writing." Her experiments with different papers, nibs, and inks became enjoyable and therapeutic.
Her collection of calligraphy tools expanded, but a few remain close to her heart.. "My favorite are my oblique pen, nibs, an different forms of inks. I love using the Finetech/Coliro and my ultimate favorite are inks from Fox and Quills. My go to color is always gold. I love anything that translates to elegance and sophistication."
A few years after she went down the calligraphy rabbit hole, Sheils finally decided to enroll herself in a formal calligraphy class to set a personal standard for herself. "This way I can probably teach in the future and incorporate it in other things that can help generate funds for my family."
From Hobbyist to Professional: Nurturing Talent
Sheils initially did not want to charge for her work. "I love to give freely; especially to those that are really close to me and appreciate the value of my work. The compliments I’ve received were already good enough." However, it came to a point where she needed to buy tools and supplies for her craft. That's when she realized she could get paid for her work, which would in turn help her further expand her skills.
The opportunity to monetize her work came at just the right time, when a very close friend of hers asked for help with their wedding preparations. "The feedback I received from them gave me an opportunity to get more calligraphy jobs."
Memorable Moments and Future Aspirations
Her close friend's wedding preps was just the first of many calligraphy projects for Sheils. "Every project is memorable, especially when it's appreciated by the recipients." But more than the project, it's the feedback and appreciation that pushes Sheils to keep pursuing her craft. The best part of her work is when majority of her clients, mostly referrals and even luxury brands, get her services not just once, but on a repeat basis.
Advice for Aspiring Calligraphers
Sheils' has this to say not only for aspiring calligraphers, but for all crafters out there who find themselves frustrated and discouraged:
"The work I do can definitely be intimidating. It’s certainly challenging, but with enough patience, dedication and the right amount of passion, it will take you to heights you’d never expect to reach. Don’t get discouraged if you didn’t get it right the first time, because nobody gets better overnight, but take the time to learn and enjoy the process. Nothing comes easy towards any goal we have set in our minds, but with perseverance to exceed the standards we’ve set for ourselves, we can reach unimaginable places."
]]>And for crafters who have turned their passion into business–craftpreneurs, as we call them–this is the season where they shine the most. With the season of giving upon us, craft businesses become essential, offering a unique opportunity to turn heartfelt creativity into meaningful gifts.
At The Happy Station, we understand the magic of the holiday season for crafters and craftpreneurs alike. We specialize in providing the workshops, tools, and supplies that turn creative visions into reality. This season, as we gather with our loved ones to celebrate, craftpreneurs are at the forefront, crafting personalized gifts, holiday decor, and one-of-a-kind keepsakes that capture the essence of the season.
In the spotlight this month, we are thrilled to introduce our featured crafter, Maria Miyuki Barraca, whose story inspired us to explore the limitless possibilities of creativity and entrepreneurship in the world of arts and crafts. As the founder of @tinta.at.pintura_ph, Miyuki has transformed her passion for crafting into a thriving business that touches the lives of artists and bakers alike. In this feature, we delve deeper into her journey, one that started with humble sticker labels and a client who had faith, that led her to craft wonders beyond imagination.
Finding Purpose Amid a Pandemic
The year 2020 brought unprecedented challenges to the world, and Miyuki, then just a college student, found herself faced with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Boredom took hold, and in a moment of inspiration, she ventured into selling food online. But it was then when she found that she enjoyed creating the packaging for the food she sells more than she enjoyed anything else in that venture. It just clicked.
"I enjoyed making everything so pleasing," she said. It was this very joy that sowed the seeds of Tinta at Pintura.
From Stickers to Cake Toppers: A Leap of Faith
Miyuki's early days in crafting were a mix of enthusiasm and doubt. Armed with limited knowledge and even fewer resources, she embarked on her journey from selling food to selling sticker labels–something she enjoyed a lot more. "I really didn't have any idea what materials to use or what would truly satisfy my clients," she confides. But Miyuki was no quitter. With each passing day, she embraced the learning curve, determined to find her footing.
And then one fateful encounter changed everything. A client asked if she crafted cake toppers, and even went as far as to suggest the perfect tool to help her with it: Cricut. Curious, Maria took a deep dive into the world of crafting machines. What she found was a revelation—she never had to cut all her sticker labels manually in the first place. There were machines to do it for you! By then, she had already saved up some money, and that was when Miyuki purchased the machine she found within her budget, the Cameo 4. "I can still feel the excitement I had when the package arrived. I was so happy and excited to make crafts. Ideas are popping [up] almost every day. Since most of our client[s] are bakers, I was so excited to make 3D toppers and offer it to them."
The Power of Belief and Support
Miyuki's journey was not an easy one; it’s a process of learning everyday. But a remarkable client, who believed in her talents, played a profound role. "The client who mentioned Cricut to me was super supportive of what I am doing (as in). She does believe in me and [in] what I can do. She would just tell [me] the theme of the cake and would entrust me with the design I want," she says. This trust became her driving force, propelling her to new heights. Three years into the printing business and two years into crafting, Maria has found joy in her work, even amidst the occasional exhaustion. "What she did really helped me with what I can do today."
A Craftpreneur's Daily Life
“Every day is a learning process”
Miyuki's daily routine is a process of learning new things and getting inspired. She spends a lot of her time on Pinterest, Etsy, and social media joining crafting and printing groups; surrounding herself with people who do what she does. She would scroll through her Facebook feed and read the comments to posts regarding the craft, and take in their input to apply for whenever the same concern would come up for her.
She draws inspiration from fellow crafters and their creations. Their passion, dedication, output, process, and creativity amazes her and inspires her to be productive.
Favorite Tools of the Trade
Just recently, Miyuki was able to purchase her second cutting machine, a Cricut Maker, as a gift to herself for finishing college. Before then she relies on her trusty Cameo 4, her faithful companion from the beginning.
For supplies, she also swears by Oracal and Teckwrap Vinyl for their user-friendly qualities. The Teckwrap Holographic Opal Vinyls, particularly the opal white, are her secret weapons. For Heat Transfer Vinyls (HTV), the Glittery and 3D Puff Iron-ons from The Happy Station elevate her prints to new heights. Cardstocks (especially the textured ones) are her “vice”. She always buys them even though she doesn’t have any project for them (I bet we can all relate).
For her favorite thing to make, which are 3D toppers, foam tape is her best friend. It gives her toppers the 3D effect that can’t be achieved with anything else. Plus, she also loves needle tip squeeze bottles, they make small and intricate detailing a breeze.
Balancing Passion and Business
Finding equilibrium between personal creative fulfillment and the demands of running a crafting business is difficult. I’m sure we can all relate when Miyuki says that she still can’t find the right balance between hobby and business, but she still offers a gem of advice: “What I will always do is just offer the best I can. I would do the craft depending on a client’s budget, sometimes I would go over the budget. And for me, that’s okay. As long as I enjoy what I do and I’m not losing money, I’ll do the best for our clients’ satisfaction.” Because for Miyuki, crafting is not just business; it's the art of creation, the joy of turning dreams into reality.
“As of now, we have regular clients from different provinces/cities. I was doing it part-time for almost 2 and half year[s], and doing it full-time right now since I just graduated college last June!”
Miyuki’s journey behind Tinta at Pintura is a story of passion, persistence, and the unwavering support of a vibrant crafting community. From sticker labels to intricate cake toppers, her journey is a testament to the power of inspiration and the drive to never stop learning. As she embraces her role as a full-time craftpreneur, Maria invites us all to trust the process, relish the journey, and savor the art of creation—one masterpiece at a time. Her story reminds us that within every crafting project lies the potential for magic and transformation.
Crafting Her Path: The Bento Beginnings
MJ's journey into the captivating world of food art began in 2015 when her eldest child started preschool. Fueled by a desire to entice her child to explore a variety of foods, MJ began her exploration with simple fruit skewers adorned with adorable food picks. This marked the beginning of a culinary adventure like no other. But that was just the beginning; Soon, her husband's packed lunch became a canvas for her culinary experiments, leading her into the captivating world of food artistry.
In 2018, a pivotal year, MJ transformed her passion into a visual diary by creating @nomnomnombento - a separate account for her bento creations. Documenting her progress and improvements, this virtual space became a testament to her dedication and an inspiration for fellow aspiring food artists. The result? A breathtaking collection of food masterpieces, each born from her personal guiding philosophy: "Practice is the susi (key) 🔑."
A Dash of Inspiration
MJ's creations are a testament to her whimsical and joyful approach to life. Fueled by her adoration for all things cute, especially Sanrio characters, her bento boxes radiate a playfulness that captures the hearts of all who lay eyes on them. Beyond her own preferences, MJ takes cues from her children's interests, creating bento boxes that celebrate their favorite characters and stories.
Detail-oriented and methodical, another thing that helps MJ's creative process is planning and preparation. With a well-thought-out bento plan and a weekly menu in hand, she ensures that her artistry is never compromised by last-minute rushes.
Tools of the Trade
For MJ, it's not about having the fanciest tools from the get-go. She started out with these tools as her most dependable companion in her bento journey: her dependable craft tweezers, a pair of scissors, and a toothpick. It's worth noting that even MJ's journey had humble beginnings, with her initial experiments involving makeshift tools like plastic straws for cutting ham and cheese. Over time, she got to take on bento-specific tools (like real bento cutters instead of straws), resulting in creations that dazzle the eye. And when the mornings are particularly hurried, her secret tip to save time is the Chuboos nori punchers, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Sage Advice for Budding Bento Enthusiasts
As you embark on your own bento crafting journey, MJ encourages newcomers to wholeheartedly embrace imperfection, as mastery blooms gradually over time. Her guiding philosophy “Practice is the susi (key)” is echoed throughout her words of advice for aspiring bento crafters and food artists.
In the words of the accomplished food artist herself, "Just like any newbies in crafting, it’s totally okay if yours doesn’t look the same as your inspiration. You really can’t expect it to be 'perfect' on your first try. Practice will always be your best foundation until you get the hang of it. And then you’ll be surprised one day, that you’ve finally learned your own style (and) how to make it easier!”
As she wisely suggests, “You also don’t need to splurge on tools right away. Sometimes what you already have available, are the best ones. You just gotta be creative (about) how to make it work.”
MJ's journey exemplifies this philosophy, a testament to the transformative power of dedication and learning.
Unleash Your Inner Bento Artist!
As we immerse ourselves in MJ Ordoña's journey, a single, resounding truth takes shape: every masterpiece is a culmination of practice, imagination, and love. Whether you're a seasoned food artist or an individual stepping onto the path of culinary discovery, MJ's words resonate with profound significance. Find joy in every slice, relish each arrangement, and embrace the stories you bring to life through your culinary artistry. With each practice session, you'll unlock the door to your very own realm of bento magic. For as MJ puts it, "Practice is the susi 🔑" – the very susi that opens the gateway to your culinary wonderland.
]]>One look–that’s all it takes, and you’ll forever be amazed by the incredible talents of Jackie Florendo, the mastermind behind some of the most jaw-dropping and mouth-watering cake creations you'll ever lay eyes on. As a Pastry Chef and Sugar Artist, Jackie has been wowing the world with her edible works of art since 2017.
As a testament to her professionalism and artistry, she has held workshops across the Philippines, from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao, spreading the love and knowledge of handmade sugar flowers, cake painting, and edible sculpting. But she didn't stop there! Her talents and expertise have taken her around the world; conducting workshops in Thailand, Dubai, Singapore, Macau, and Malaysia. Even participating as a judge to various prestigious culinary shows and contests. Truly, Jackie's passion for her craft knows no borders.
We had the pleasure of talking to this baking virtuoso for a delightful chat about her journey, her inspirations, and the magic that happens when art and cake collide.
A Sweet Legacy: From Pioneer to Pastry Royalty
If you think Jackie's artistry just sprung up overnight, you're in for a sweet surprise! Her artistic journey began at the age of six when she took home a medal in a kiddie art contest at her preschool. From that moment on, the creative spark was lit, and Jackie's passion for art kept growing brighter with each passing day. But it was her grandmother, the original Cake Queen of the Philippines, Avelina-Carbungco Florendo, who would unknowingly set Jackie on the path to becoming a master cake decorator herself.
Fun fact: Her grandmother was the author of four cake decorating books, the very first books in cake making in the country.Talk about a family legacy of sweetness!
A Feast for the Eyes: Drawing Inspiration from Everywhere
You might wonder where Jackie finds the inspiration to whip up such enchanting cake designs. Well, she lets us in on her secret: it all starts with her clients! They bring the theme, and she takes it from there. Jackie dives into their mood boards, exploring ideas from movies, greeting cards, invitations, and even other crafts. It's like she has a built-in inspiration library in her mind, and she can turn any concept into a sugary masterpiece!
Mixing Magic with Technology
One of the things that make Jackie's creations truly extraordinary is her perfect blend of traditional baking and cutting-edge technology. She doesn't just rely on her regular kitchen tools; she also harnesses the power of 3D printers, Cricut machines, and laser cutters like FLUX. Who knew that art and technology could make such a delectable duo? With her ingenious approach, Jackie can seamlessly transition between edible and inedible mediums, elevating her cakes to a whole new level of wonder.
Jackie’s Recipe for Life: Advice from the Sweet Guru Herself
For those still searching for their creative calling, Jackie has some fantastic words of wisdom:
“You will never go hungry (figuratively and literally) if you have art in your life”
Art is vast and beautiful, and having an eye for design and color is an incredibly useful skill. Whether you're pursuing art as a hobby, stress reliever, or profession, it can lead you down countless rewarding paths. Just look at the rich tapestry of possibilities: from cake decorating to fashion, architecture to music videos, and beyond – art is the heartbeat of it all!
So, if you find yourself drawn to the world of creativity and self-expression, take a page from Jackie Florendo's book. Embrace the artistic adventure, nurture your passion, and remember: there's always something new to learn. Jackie proves that when you follow your heart and mix in a little sugar and imagination, you can create magic that will leave people in awe.
So, the next time you come across an extraordinary cake that makes you wonder, "How is that even possible?" just remember the name: Jackie Florendo, the Pastry Chef and Sugar Artist extraordinaire! Trust us; you won't be disappointed. Her delectable creations will leave your taste buds dancing and your eyes shining with sheer wonder.
#LetsCreateHappy everyday, everyone!
“So let your mind wonder, try and try and try and try, enjoy and smile at the end when you actually touch your creation come to life”.
Sharing with you all another crafting journey of scribblingeyedmd. This will be a long post but really worth reading. ❤️
I’m Josh, Mom of 2, who plunged into creative arts very late in my life.
Thou in my early years, fascination to arts and crafts were evident. I enjoy finishing coloring books my elder brothers and sisters left unfinished. Turning scrap sheet of papers into anything thru origami but it was more of a past time versus hobby.
It was in 2013, after giving birth to my first born, where the need to label our kid’s 1st birthday party invitation (DIY to cut cost) that led me to start into pointed pen calligraphy. It didn’t help that my hubby was spoiling me with those exotic pens (He was kind of into Harry Potter and these pens liken to Wands for him). From other types of calligraphy, watercolor art then mixed Media art, this interest continued. 2015-16 I learned about plotter cutters, I knew I wanted but was hesitant because it’s not readily available yet in the Philippines.
Fast forward June 2020, hubby learned about Cricut upon seeing my browser history and Amazon wish list and to justify his own wish list he coerced me to get one so he can sneak in his own toys on the shipment ( maximize shipping charge he shouted). It came, it stayed in the box but collected dust. It was not until Feb 2021 I muster the courage to open my maker 3 and that is what sealed the deal and led me to now a weekly trip to Happy Place. Now that I tried to reminisce, my hubby giving me this relentless guilt trip of leaving this maker 3 collect dust was also a motivator to open the box.
Joining forums and watching Youtube video you will see the immense possibility of my machine. The interest and “Can I? “Was the driving factor and turning a blind eye on wastage initially (it was costly majority of times) allowed me to continue. I was able to make my own stickers, personalized vector lamps, personalized mugs, and shirts (small wins). It then went to volumed handcrafted themed DIY printables, packages and treats for my kids’ birthday and school giveaway (big and significant savings on our part in terms of customized giveaway expense). It quickly evolved to 3d paper interactive crafts like cards and even cake toppers (ROI and some small revenue stream). From disastrous mistakes and to coin my kids, “it looks ugly” this continued trial and error cycle allowed me to further hone my craft and the encouragement (more of “ask” from my relatives) really helped me persevere.
Crafting with Cricut may seem overwhelming at first, but remember there are so many help and experts you can tap on plus numerous tools out there that can make things actually easy. All of them when used in conjunction make your imagination come to life. So let your mind wonder, try and try and try and try (did I say try again?), enjoy and smile at the end when you actually touch your creation come to life.
Vivian Nocum of Vivian and Vernice
"I work hard, play harder and pray the hardest."
This month, we bring the focus to some of the strong women we have worked with. Sharing with you Vivian and Vernice's inspiring message for newbie crafters:
Hi! This is Vivian, the mom-crafter behind the socmed Vivian and Vernice on Facebook, TikTok and IG. I am a full-time special education and Science HS teacher for 15 years now and also a local biz-owner. Currently, I am a Cricut Philippines ambassador and an affiliate for The Happy Station.
As a woman, the younger me was driven primarily by my desire to learn new things, to be always on top of my game, to be up for any challenges, to move and travel, to hoard things, fight for advocacies I believed in, no matter the cost. As I aged, I learned to value passion, simplicity and contentment. That when I have less, I have more. I just love and appreciate my simple life as a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a teacher, a friend and a colleague. I work hard, play harder and pray the hardest. This mantra kept me in balance.
My crafting journey is so simple, too. It started with a dream and with stroke of luck, I won my Cricut Explore Air 2 in a collaboration of The Happy Station x Hellomardie .This humble beginning is the reason why I am here in our crafting community. The goal was to craft what I love, pay it forward, always help, create and inspire, and maybe empower others. Unexpectedly, these gestures has opened so many doors of opportunities and allowed me to connect with all of you. I am truly grateful for every encounter.
As I share a piece of myself with our readers, may this empower you all to create and craft your heart out, share your works, trust your timeline and appreciate your own process. In my realization, I didn't need to outbest others - I just need to be me. May this principle work for you as it did for me. Let's continue to love, root for others and appreciate even the simplest projects made of love. Let's all live a happy and fulfilled life ❤️
Happy Women's Day, ladies! 👸
Your timing couldn't be more perfect!
We are really excited to share with you the latest addition to the The Happy Station line up - the FLUX line of laser cutters / engraver
FLUX, Inc. is a company founded in Taiwan in 2014 by a team of talented people who all share a passion for creativity.
*Currently, we only have beamo and Beambox available. Beambox Pro and Hexa will soon be available.
Cut and engrave! See the list below:
beamo |
Beambox |
||
MATERIALS |
CUTTING |
CUTTING |
ENGRAVING |
Wood |
3 mm |
5 mm |
Yes |
Acrylic |
3 mm |
5 mm |
Yes |
Leather |
1 mm |
2.5 mm |
Yes |
Cardboard |
2 mm |
3 mm |
Yes |
Bamboo |
3 mm |
5 mm |
Yes |
Fabric |
9 mm |
15 mm |
Yes |
Rubber |
- |
- |
Yes |
Anodized Metal |
- |
- |
Yes |
Glass |
- |
- |
Yes |
Cement |
- |
- |
Yes |
Stone |
- |
- |
Yes |
Stainless Steel |
- |
- |
Yes |
The machines work with Beam Studio (for PC and MAC) and Beam Go (for mobile application). These are intuitive, easy to use software/app you can install on your computer / mobile phone, for FREE. In fact, you can download the software even before you get your machine.
PNG, JPEG, SVG and DXF
Designers can benefit from Beam Studio’s seamless integration of Adobe Illustrator or import designs from AutoCAD, Inkscape, CorelDraw, and even Microsoft Word.
Wireless Integration
beamo and Beambox are USB, hard-wire, and mobile device supported. They come fully equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity for a seamless workflow anywhere you are.
Intuitive and Ready to Use
Control and monitor your machines at your fingertips with the touch panel. Make sure your design is perfectly aligned using the built-in camera to preview the work area.
What You See Is What You Get
The built-in camera allows you to preview your design and the work area to make sure everything is perfectly aligned.
Internal water-cooling
The closed-loop water cooling system circulates water throughout the machine, keeping the components at the proper temperature at all times.
Integrated Safety Features
If left opened, auto pause ensures the laser stops. Plus, you can stop production, with a single switch, at any time.
Due to their fully enclosed design, beamo and Beambox are identified as Class 1 laser cutters, defined below:
For general use, the CO2 laser tube lasts 6 months to 1 year. Other parts that may need to be replaced are the focusing lens and the mirrors.
We provide a one year warranty for the machines, and a three month warranty for the laser tube.
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Cake Toppers
From simple "happy birthday" sentiments to the more elaborate and personalized ones, cake toppers are still all the rage. Even in the pandemic ridden world, people will always find ways to celebrate birthdays and special occasions in style. There are a multitude of materials (like cardstocks and vinyls), designs and color combinations to choose from. Just let your creative juices flow!
Cake Topper by Apple Tan
Shirts Galore
Personalized shirts are a fun and exciting way for people to show their personalities. Offer event shirts for Zoom meetings or parties, special celebration shirts, or everyday shirts that highlight their personalities!
Personalized shirts by Veron Grace Abacan
Invitations
No celebration is complete without invitations - they set the mood for upcoming events. You can create your own artwork and print pretty, one-of-a-kind invitations with a printer:
Printed invitations by Jeannie. She sells SVG files over at ListLab
Or you can go one step further and foil them. Foiling creates a classy touch, making great looking designer notepads and invitations for your clients. You can foil monograms, logos, and labels to suit every occasion-- instant elegance!
Foiled invitations - Loren Adarna Canz/ Crafted Colors
Personalized Notecards
With so much interest in journaling and calligraphy, handwritten notes are making a huge comeback. Offer personalized notecards and notepads in your shop too. They make perfect gifts for people who already have everything!
Cute Hairbows
Kids are going to have to stay in longer, but that doesn’t mean they can't use pretty hairbows to liven up their days. Check out these pretty bows! Can you believe they're handmade?
Hair bows by JapzCraft
Mugs, Tumblers, Cups and Glasses
Hydration is ultra important these days so every one needs a mug or bottle to have around the house. However, this is the one instance where NOT SHARING is caring – each member of the household should have their own mug. So, offer to personalize it for them! Don’t stop with just names-- go with funny quotes, labels, their favorite character! Let your creativity shine!
Sublimated BTS mug by The Happy Station
Planner Stickers
People love to put their lives in order and what better way to do that than having a planner to organize their lives. Offer planner stickers to make their year colorful and bright! Check out this sticker designed by Vince Art Studio in collaboration with The Happy Station.
Planner sticker by Vince Art Studio
Pillow Covers
Adorable throw pillow covers make homes cozier. Personalize each in fun shapes and colors, or even your favorite quote!
Throw pillow cover by The Googly Gooeys.
All About the Home
You won’t go wrong when you focus on products for the home. You will not run out of things to label or decorate --canister labels, tea towel labels, kitchen pantry labels, bathroom bottle labels, wall art and decals, home décor, wall plaques, family rules signages, magnet boards, family calendar...the list is unsurprisingly endless!
Pantry labels by Lea Condes / Le Paperie
Children’s Artworks
Kids are art geniuses and their artworks are priceless. Immortalize their work by transferring their art into shirts, bags and totes, keychains! They’ll be so giddy to find their artworks in actual products!
Personalized shirts by HelloMardie
Be sure to back up your idea with a sound business and marketing plan and don’t forget to provide excellent customer service for your clients. We hope some of these ideas will inspire you to start your business. With the right tools and equipment, we are sure you will be on the right track to success in 2022.
]]>
Maine, what made you decide to go into this line of business?
makerMaine was originally a way for me to share my love for art. Crafting then was more of a hobby than a business. My family and friends started recognizing my works and supported me by buying my crafted items.
What's your role in it? Do you handle both the creative and the management side?
From the lay outs down to customer support, I handle all aspects of makerMaine. My husband would help me book deliveries every now and then but it’s still mostly a one-woman small business. It's not an easy feat but having a dependable support system and a very understanding significant other makes it manageable.
Did you prepare for anything before officially launching your business?
To be honest, there was no official launching of makerMaine because it only started as a platform for me to share what I love doing. When people started asking how they can buy my crafted items, I did research on how I can properly price my works. I looked around for reliable couriers and tried to find how I can ship my products locally without them being damaged in transit. I also thought of how I can pack my items in a way that the receiver would feel the love I’ve put into making their orders.
How long did it take before you received your first official order?
My first orders were really from family and friends. They empowered and enabled me to trust myself and offer my craft via makerMaine. It took a little less than 2 months for me to get an official order from outside my support circle.
And I guess the rest is history. Of all the projects that you have made, do you have any that really stand out for you?
I have three most favorite craft! The first one is this:
It's my first Cricut project. Bam (my daughter) celebrated her 5th birthday. We made her invitation cards using Cricut and I remember asking for your advice then because the cuts were initially so misaligned. It's where I was able to master getting the print and cut function right. 😂
Bam and I made about 40 of this card and she was was proud of it! She was so thrilled to give them to her classmates and I really thought she was going to give them all away. A few months later, I found out that she hid one for herself. She told me that for her, it's a reminder of our love for each other. (Awwww, that's so sweet!)
Then these are my second favorites! Daya ko no, tatlo yung second favorites.🤣 Hahaha! I cut these using Cricut's rotary blade and spent hours sewing them together. All the efforts are worth it because my kids were so happy and they were always saying then that mommy made these just for them. Katabi nila magsleep! 😅
And lastly - my third favorite are these invitation sets for my best friends' wedding. I had to cut half of these invitations manually until I was gifted my Cricut Maker. This is that "say yes to getting a Cricut already push"! Haha!
Thanks for sharing these projects that you love! What about with your business - what do you love most about running your business?
Oh, there are so many things that I love about running makerMaine. Who knew that we can actually earn while doing something that we love? It’s just amazing how this business allows me to pursue my passion in arts and crafts while giving me opportunities to earn through selling. Being makerMaine also allows me to share my craft and guide co-crafters into learning and exploring new things. I also love that through running this business, I meet friends who share the same interests with me.
Were there any challenges for you along the way?
Juggling makerMaine and motherhood sometimes takes a toll on my health. I work late at night when my kids are already asleep because it’s only then that I’d have plenty of time to craft. The problem is that I have this tendency to be a little workaholic and would sometimes not notice that I’ve already spent excessively long hours crafting, therefore losing plenty of sleep.
I also used to have this self-doubt of not being good enough; always asking myself if my craft is decent enough to sell. Will people actually have interest in what I’m making? I have always had the imposter syndrome but being surrounded by very supportive people enabled me and made me decide to push through with selling. Their support empowered me and gave me the courage to start this line of business.
Listening to you, I can hear how important your family's support is to you. Aside from support, what other things do you think newbies in this business would need in order to thrive?
It doesn't matter how small or how big a business is. For us to thrive,
a. It’s important that we know what our brand stands for (have a clear set of values that we know we can be faithful with).
b. We should have a vision, a mission and an achievable goal.
c. Then we should give value in the relationships we create with our clients (and partners too). We should give importance to good customer service. Customers love to engage with businesses that are reliable and trustworthy. In fostering this sense of trust, we need to be transparent, authentic and consistent. Authenticity and consistency mean sticking to the values and message of our brand. From every service or product, we provide, every piece of content we create, ensure that we remain true.
d. It's also very important to plan and allocate resources effectively. Part of this is pricing our crafted items properly. Always remember that time is a very important resource, and it is what we sacrifice to create quality crafted items. It is only right to make every effort count.
Couldn't agree with you more! Pricing and branding are important parts of the business that are usually overlooked.
For crafters who are planning to go into crafting as a business, I would advise them to know what they want their brand to stand for. Try to set clear values for their brand because it is only then that they can be authentic and consistent. A business will not thrive if your only goal is to earn, but it will not also work if your only fuel is your passion to create. You should try to balance both. You should set clear and achievable goals so you can always remind yourself of your “WHYs” when things become challenging. When crafting, it is normal to get inspiration from everyone in the community but it is not going to do you good if you deliberately copy or imitate someone else's work (because by then your craft would be compared and valued according to how accurately you copied, not according to how creative and beautiful your output is). It's always best to express yourself through your craft and never reproduce what is given for you to recreate. Keep in mind to allocate your resources effectively. Do not hoard things initially. It's not resources but resourcefulness that ultimately makes the difference.
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Cricut machines owned:
Cricut Maker and a Cricut Explore Air2.
Favorite crafting tools:
My favorite crafting tools include my precision knives, my carving knives, my silicone brush (I use for both crafting, glue application and nail art), and my scissors! I love scissors! I hoard scissors!
]]>Acrylic Birthday Cake Topper
Difficulty Level: ***
Time: 30 minutes
Materials you will need:
Step 1. Upload your image to Design Space
For this project, we used a ready image we found on Google.
To get started, head to your canvass on Cricut Design Space, and then click on the “UPLOAD” button, found on the bottom left of the screen.
This brings up the upload screen. Click on the UPLOAD IMAGE button.
From this screen, you can drag and drop your image to the window or browse for the file and click open.
Once you've chosen your image, Design Space will ask you to choose from three image options - there’s SIMPLE, MODERATELY COMPLEX or COMPLEX. Personally, we prefer Complex as it preserves the original color of the image. It is also best for designs with lots of texture and/or patterns. After you've made your selection, press CONTINUE.
On this screen, edit your image further by using the magic wand tool (the first icon on the tool bar) to clean the image. For this project, remove the white background and the counters (or the white parts inside the loops of the letters). You want to be able to see the checkered background which means that the background is clear. Press CONTINUE to move forward.
Since we are not printing anything, we will save this project as a CUT IMAGE. (If you want to do a print then cut project, then choose PRINT THEN CUT.) Once you're ready, click UPLOAD to upload the saved image to your Design Space account.
The image would then appear in your account’s uploaded files. This image will now be ready for use anytime you need it. To insert this image into your canvass, select the image and click INSERT IMAGES.
Et voila! You’ve just uploaded your first design and it's now ready for cutting! But before you do, make sure that you have adjusted the size of the image to fit your cake topper. Once you are happy with the size, press the MAKE IT button on the upper right of the tool bar:
Step 2. Cutting
...which will bring up the screen below. Remember, the grids on the mat on the software is exactly the same as the grids on the actual mat. This feature comes in handy when you have scraps left, and you need the machine to cut exactly where the scraps are. When ready, click CONTINUE.
Press “Browse All Materials” to see all your options.
For this project, we chose Glitter Vinyl from the list of materials. Once you're ready, hit DONE, and follow the instructions on the screen to proceed.
Place your vinyl on the mat and let it through the machine to cut out your text/image by pressing the “DONE” button to start cutting. Once the cutting is completed, remove the mat from the machine.
Step 3: Weeding
With your weeding tool, remove all the parts you don’t need from your vinyl.
Step 4: Transferring
Now that you’re set, apply transfer tape on your cut vinyl, and burnish it a couple of times. Flip the backing sheet and burnish it as well. This will help make sure the letters adhere to the transfer tape.
Lift the transfer tape carefully, making sure all the cut parts go with it, and place the tape on top of the acrylic topper. Once you have decided where the cut parts will go, gently lay down the tape on the topper. I like doing this from top to bottom, or bottom to top, as I find it helps minimize bubles. Glitter vinyl is actually an easy material to work with, as there are rarely any bubbles left. Scrape down the tape with your Cricut scraper to remove bubbles, and to make sure the cut parts stick on the topper.
NOTE: New transfer tape will always be sticky. To solve this problem, stick tape on to other surfaces (your clothes, the table, your arm) several times to remove initial tackiness.
Peel off the transfer tape. And, there you have it-- your very own acrylic cake topper!
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Tell us about your business.
I'm Camille Herrera from Sprinkles & Co. You can check us out on Instagram under @sprinklesandcoph and on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/sprinklesandcoph/. Sprinkles & Co.'s meaning is actually Sprinkles & Confetti, Our main product line is anything related to parties, events or celebrations. From cake & cupcake toppers, to banners & buntings, to balloons, lootbags, party favors, etc. We're even getting ready to launch our complete desserts buffet setup line.
When did you start your business?
Sprinkles & Co. started last January 06, 2021. We're new to the industry with just nine months of operations, and we're still adjusting and coping with the new trends and techniques needed in our business. We still have a lot to learn from the mentors, ambassadors & legends of the crafting world.
What made you decide to go into this line of business?
We came up with this idea and decided to pursue this line of business since I've been into arts & crafts since I was young. My elementary and high school days - I loved making scrapbooks, journals, diaries and even our school's bulletin board. Since I'm not good at drawing or doodling, I focused more on paper arts & crafts. Then, I saw Cricut on the web way back, but unfortunately, didn't have the means to buy one. Having one was a long-time dream. Then, last Christmas of 2020, my husband asked me what I wanted as a gift for the holidays. Maybe it's a sign that my long time dream will come true when before he even asked me about the gift, I came across Cricut again on Instagram. The first one I saw was the Cricut Explore Air 2 & Maker. But thinking and upon seeing the price, I told my husband if I can get the Cricut Joy instead. But, given the supportive husband he is, he told me that we can get the Cricut Explore Air 2 and I agreed, told him that'll served as both Christmas & birthday gift to me. The rest was history. And now, we already have the Maker.
What is your role in it? Do you handle both the creative and the management side, or you handle the creative side and someone else handles management, logistics etc?
I handle everything from the creative & management side, to the logistics, etc. But sometimes, my husband helps me with the management & creative side, since he's more creative than me. (KT: Yay for supportive husbands!)
What actions, if there are any, did you take before officially launching your business?
We browsed the net for some inspirations, read some blogs about the same business, came up with some ideas on what to do and launch first. We also brainstormed for name ideas and logo designs. We set up our Instagram and Facebook accounts. Then, we bought some initial inventory. The rest followed.
How long did it take before you received your first official order?
After we bought the Cricut, we got our first official order from my niece, who is a baker. Our first orders were for two dozen cupcake toppers.
What do you love most about running your business?
I love that we get to do what we love to do, which are arts & crafts. We get to express our creative side and we get to be our own bosses too, while spending quality time together as a family.
What are the biggest challenges you encountered in running this business?
The biggest challenges we've encountered in running our business so far was, when the machine broke down after we bought it, when orders were already coming in. But with The Happy Station's efficient and quality before and after sales services, our machine was replaced in no time, hassle-free. Ms. KT, and the rest of the THS team were and still are by far the best seller & customer service reps we've encountered up to this day. I can 100% attest to all their superb handling of complaints to customer satisfaction. (On behalf of the THS team, thank you so much for your kind words ~ KT)
In your opinion, what are the top three things your business needs in order to thrive?
As for me, since we're just nine months into the business, we still have a lot more to learn, experience and offer. But in order for us to thrive, the top three things we need are:
1. More Creativity - we need to come up with newer, more creative, unique things to offer. We have to always think outside the box for more ideas.
2. Marketing Strategy - we need to focus as well on how we can market our products not just on social media, but in other ways as well.
3. Equipment - For now, we only have 1 Cricut Maker, a laptop, a printer & laminator. As more orders are coming in, we want to add some additional equipment too, including Cricut, of course as part of our expansion plans in our business.
What are your top three favorite crafting tools?
The Portable Trimmer since i'm not good with measurements Next would be the Scraper and the hobby knife.
Any memorable moments in your crafting business?
We were lucky enough to be included / featured in one of the billboards in Edsa, showing our BTS 3D letter lightboxes under the Coldplay x BTS collab fan videos.
Really?!? Your work was featured on Edsa's billboard? Congrats!
Yes po. Naswerte po na naisama yung 3D letters ko po nung isang co-army friend ko na nagpatrend ng hashtag sa collab ng Coldplay & BTS. Then fortunately, napili po.
First thing that came to mind when you saw your work in Edsa from Coldplay's Official FB?
Medyo naiyak po ako Ilang beses ko pa nga po pinanuod kasi akala ko prank lang ng mga Army friends ko. Then mas nanginig po ako nung nakita ko po san nakapost. Nasa Coldplay Official FB page
I'm sure on a high ka for ilang weeks din.
Hanggang ngayon po. Hahahaha
Super happy for you! Super inspiring ng experience mo. Tips for crafters who are thinking of going into crafting as a business as well?
Our simple advice to those who are thinking and dreaming of going into crafting as a business is to just go for it. There are no right or wrong steps. If you have the means & you're physically, mentally, emotionally and financially capable, then go. Start doing and making your passion and dreams come true. Crafting is a learning process itself. You'll learn a lot of things as you go on your business. You'll discover new trends, tips & techniques everytime. There are groups who can help you a lot on the process too. All you have to do is just be yourself, be happy, get creative and all else will follow.
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Did these projects inspire you? Which one's your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below. Happy crafting!
]]>What is a Cricut?
A Cricut is a machine that cuts and/or draws designs or patterns that you create on the Cricut Design Space app. Inside the Cricut, you will find a small, movable blade that cuts the design from the material you are using. Think of it as hi-tech scissors or cutters with a multitude of other functions. Because the process is computer aided, the Cricut machine can cut paper, vinyl, card stock, iron on transfers and other materials with precision and speed.
Why get a Cricut?
The Cricut eliminates the labor intensive part and executes your project flawlessly. What you could do with an X-acto knife or a pair of scissors (plus dozens of hours hunched over your project), the Cricut machine can do better and faster with a press of a button! And because the crafts look professional, you can even use your machine to sell your projects.
Which Cricut machine is right for me?
Choosing which machine to invest in depends on two things:
(1) what you plan to do with your machine and
(2) what materials you plan to use.
There are several machine models available for you to choose from: Joy, the Explore series, and the Maker series.
The Cricut Joy is the smallest machine from the Cricut family. It has a small footprint so it’s easy to store when you have a smaller craft space. With the Cricut Joy, you can cut, write and foil projects like stickers, labels, and cards. You can use this machine to cut with materials such as paper, cardstock, vinyl, iron-on and paper thin faux leather.
Maximum cutting width: 4.5 inches
Maximum cutting length: 20 feet (if using Cricut Joy Smart Materials)
Maximum design length: 4 feet
The Cricut Explore is a powerful machine that can cut various materials including paper, vinyl, cardstock, iron-on decals, fabric and leather backed with stabilizers. It is also compatible with different tools: Cricut Pens, Fine Point Blade, Foil Transfer Tool, Scoring Stylus, and Deep-Point Blade.
Maximum cut size is 11.5 x 23.5 inches
Cricut Explore 3 (Coming soon!)
Launched just last May, the new Explore model will have a stronger motor that could cut up to twice as fast as the previous generations. Cricut Explore Air 3 machine can cut Cricut Smart Materials without mats so you can cut longer designs up to 12 feet (144 inches), mat free! Compatible tools and materials are similar to Cricut Explore 2.
Maximum cutting size: 11.5 inches x 12 feet (if using Cricut Smart Materials)
This is the ultimate crafting machine. More powerful and versatile than the Cricut Explore Air, the Cricut Maker can cut a wider range of materials - from delicate materials like crepe paper, to thicker materials like balsa wood.
It can use the blades mentioned for Explore Air 2, plus more! The Cricut Maker is compatible with the following blades too - Knife Blade, Wavy Blade, the Debossing Tool, the Foil Transfer tip, the Engraving Tip, the Rotary Cutter and the Perforating Tip.
Maximum cut size: 11.5 by 23.5 inches.
Cricut Maker 3
Just like the new generation of Cricut Explore, the Cricut Maker 3 delivers professional grade quality and speed. It has a stronger motor that increases its cutting speed and cutting force. Materials and tools are similar to the Cricut Maker. This new model is compatible with Cricut Smart Materials so you can design and cut long projects without a mat.
Maximum cut size: 11.5 inches x 12 feet (if using Cricut Smart Materials)
What else do I need?
When you buy a Cricut, the machine comes with many freebies to get you started. You’ll find a blade, a mat, a pen and some materials for your first project. After that, you’ll want to think about adding several more supplies so you can keep creating. For example, if you want to do paper based projects, look into scrapbooking paper, cardstocks or vellum. If you like vinyl projects, you might want to try adhesive vinyl, iron-on vinyl and transfer tape.
For tools: When you are just starting out, a Basic Tool Set would be best. This has all the essentials including a weeder, tweezers and a scraper - everything that will help you finish your project smoothly.
Many crafters also swear by the Cricut Brayer - it helps flatten your material on the mat - which ensures a cleaner cut too.
Confused which tool you will need? We suggest taking a look at the Cricut Bundles, which already includes all tools that you will need.
Do you need a computer to use a Cricut?
Yes, you do. You would need a computer or tablet to access Cricut Design Space and send your design to the Cricut machine. The Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker models have USB cable or bluetooth options while the Cricut Joy connects wirelessly through Bluetooth.
What software do I need to use Cricut? Do I need to buy it? How much?
When you purchase your Cricut, you automatically get access to a free Design Space account. Design Space is Cricut's proprietary software program that allows you to design, create and edit your project Familiarize yourself with the Cricut Design Space app and you’ll be on your way to great crafting projects.
Can Cricut print?
Cricut machine can draw and write using Cricut Markers. But, for your printing requirements, you will still need a regular printer.
Is the Cricut machine worth it?
If you love crafting, then yes, you’ll appreciate how quickly and intricately Cricut machine works. You’ll be so impressed with how professional-looking your crafts will come out and wonder why you didn’t get one sooner!
The Happy Station / Xarion Industries, Inc. is the official distributor of Cricut machines and accessories in the Philippines.
]]>Watch this video below to see how we did it!
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If you're a newbie in the crafting world, which machine is best for you?
With Cricut, there's no such thing as a beginner's machine. All three machines use Design Space - the Cricut companion app that lets you design and cut with your Cricut machines.
If you have space constraints, the Cricut Joy would be the perfect machine for you. The Cricut Joy is obviously a lot smaller compared to the other two machines. It's compact and portable - perfect for your small space. You can use it to create decals, cake toppers, personalized shirts and cards.
If you have the space and want to create decals, cake toppers, greeting cards, or stickers, the Cricut Explore 2 is a powerful machine that can do all those projects mentioned.
If you want to level your crafts up a bit with debossing and engraving, or want to work with materials like chipboard, wood, fabric - then the Cricut Maker it is!
If you want to create decals without the help of a cutting mat then the Cricut Explore 3 best suits you. It works matless with Smart Materials and you can still use it to create cake toppers, cards and stickers with the help of a cutting mat.
If you want a more advanced machine to create your crafts that can cut any fabric, leather and even delicate materials, then the Cricut Maker 3 will be the best option. It cuts 2x faster than any other Cricut cutting machine and works matless with Smart Materials.
Most of us would agree that going into business is tough. But to go into business - as a woman - is even tougher. We have all heard the stories of women who were expected to meet (and exceed) high expectations from their workplace, but still be underpaid, undervalued and underestimated. That's why I was thrilled to know that there is a specific day that celebrates women who join the business world. Today, November 19, we celebrate Women's Entrepreneurship Day.
Today, we shift the focus to women who have achieved success in their businesses. In recognition of this day, we here at The Happy Station thought of interviewing Ms. Leah Que - the woman behind the successful Dessert First (@dessertfirst71 on IG). If her name sounds familiar to you, that's because she has gained quite a following in the various craft related Facebook groups - where she shares photos of pretty cake toppers she carefully designed and created.
Read on as Ms. Leah shares her thoughts.
Ms. Leah Que
How and when did you start?
Sharing with you snippets of our convo with:
Jems Arcenal Mendoza, married to Anjo Mendoza for 2 years and mom to a 1 year old boy. Currently working for their family business.
Sara Resurreccion with Raymond Resurreccion, married for 10 years, a mom of 2, and a Delivery Excellence Manager for a Multinational IT company. She also sells her really pretty cakes and cookies at Sara Munting Panadera (IG: @sara_munting_panadera).
1. What do you think gave your hubby the idea to gift you with a Cricut?
Jems: I think he saw me watching Cricut reviews and tutorials on Youtube and then kept on talking about it. I was thinking to buy one for myself but i’m not in a hurry because it’s quite expensive, Little did I know he already bought one for me as a mother’s day gift! 😱
Sara: I have been researching on the Cricut Maker for a while. I even joined Happy Stations's IG live sessions even when I didnt even have a machine yet. My husband is very observant on things like that.
2. Did you have any inkling he was getting you one?
Jems: Kind of. But I was really surprised when he got me one right away.
Sara: Not at all. He knew I was saving up for it but I didn't know he will actually buy one.
3. What was your initial reaction? 😊
Jems: I felt so happy and ‘kilig’ because he was actually listening and paid attention to what I’m saying. Plus, he made an effort to look for the machine.
Sara: I cried...ugly tears 😜
4. Now that you have a Cricut, what projects are you planning to make?
Jem: Planning to make personalized gifts and favors for family and friends. And maybe I could also sell some crafts in the future when I’m already good at it. 😄
Sara: I own a cake decorating shop and I have cake topper projects in the pipeline. My daughter and husband are even more excited and they have been exploring Design Space for projects to make. It's definitely going to be a family affair.
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Stories like these never fail to inspire us to create more #happy moments for you. We love knowing how the Cricut machine gives you the 'kilig' feels! And in this case, we're also super thankful for observant husbands who pay attention! Do you have your own Cricut story to share? Let us know by sending us an email at thehappystationph@gmail.com.
I got these files from Cocoa Twins, who has generously share them on their website.
Locally, crafters have started making these too.
Mamai C Sev shared this photo on our Facebook page. She used the deep cut blade and chose wood veneer for her materials. Size she cut is 6" wide and 1.2: high.
Another Cricut user, Ivy Garcera Ventura, used vinyl placemats. She used the deep cut blade and cut 4x choosing stencil material for the setting.
Another Cricut user, Ivy Garcera Ventura, used vinyl placemats. She used the deep cut blade and cut 4x choosing stencil material for the setting.
What other materials are you using? Share your settings and materials in the comments below. Stay safe everyone!
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To start, we welded these two rounded rectangles together. You can search for your own rounded rectangle shapes on Google. The weld tool basically does what it says - it fuses layers together.
We wanted a swirly, flourishy font, so we chose this pretty "I Love Glitter" font to go with it.
This font is available here. You can also check out all the flourishes and special characters you can add.
When you type out the fonts on Design Space, you will notice that the letters are separated. Normally, if you plan to cut out these letters, you will have to ungroup the letters, move them closer together, then use the 'Weld' tool to fuse the letters together for cutting. But since we are just printing the image, we used the 'Flatten' tool instead. Flattening it turns the image into a printable image.
Next, we want to put a heart shaped cutout in the middle of the card. To do that, first you choose the heart shape from the list of shapes on the left toolbar.
To cut out the heart, we will use the 'Slice' tool - which you use to cut one image out of another. Note that you can use the slice tool for a maximum of two selected layers only. In this case, let's select the rounded rectangle layer (the layer to be cut) and the heart shape (the shape we want to cut).
Voila! We now have a rounded rectangle with a heart cut out! Slicing resulted in two new heart shaped layers. Since we do not need two layers, let's delete one heart shaped layer, and use the remaining layer for our glitter sticker.
Resize the layer to fit within the heart cut out. You may also choose to make it bigger - it's really up to you! We changed the color of this layer to red, since it will be cutting red colored glitter sticker.
Finally, as this is a card, we need to add scoring lines. Select the scoring line from the Shapes button on the left toolbar.
To make sure that the scoring line is centered, you may use the Align button on the top toolbar. This ensures that the scoring line falls exactly on the center of your chosen image.
And now, we're ready to click Make It!
And there you have it - a personalized Valentine's card in less than 30 minutes! We hope you had fun making this as we did! Till the next craft!
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I have to say, it was really fun creating these stickers. As a die hard planner girl myself, stickers are my weakness :drools:. There's just something so fulfilling about taking a plain notebook page, and prettifying it with your handwriting and stickers. And stickers that you made yourself? Even better!
So, I want to share this simple tutorial I made. The hardest part was deciding which pattern I wanted to use for which label! There are just so many to choose from!! Do I create a sticker for appointments? For bills due? Or maybe I should create stickers for my journal? The possibilities are endless!
To start, open Design Space (DS) and choose 'Shapes' from the left panel on Design Space. In this case, I chose square for my first sticker, and resized it to a rectangle.
After resizing the rectangle, the next step is to choose what color to fill it in with. This is where the fun begins!
With the chosen shape selected, click on the 'Fill' toggle on the editing menu. It will bring down two options - No Fill and Print. Select 'Print.'
Once selected, click on the black square icon right beside the Fill toggle. It should bring up a menu that looks like this:
You can choose between color or pattern. In this case, I went right ahead and chose 'Pattern,' because, why not?
This is what the 'Pattern' menu looks like. Scroll down and you will see HUNDREDS of other patterns available! See that 'Edit Pattern' on the lower left? It's grayed out because there is no pattern selected. But once you select one, you can click on it to adjust the pattern, and end up creating a new one!
After going through hundreds of images (decisions! decisions!), I finally ended up selecting this:
Hint: I edited this with the 'Edit Pattern' option. This is not on the original collection of patterns.
Typed in a label for the sticker, and added a white space for me to note down important events. After making sure everything was in place, I hit the 'Flatten' tool (lower right of the canvass). What 'Flatten' does is to put all layers together as one image. This is usually used when you want to print an image, which is the case for this sticker.
And .... voila!! My very first planner sticker!
Hit the 'Duplicate' button on the editing menu to make copies of your sticker.
And because it was so much fun, I created some more stickers!
When you're ready, click the 'Make it' button on the top right of your DS canvass. It should bring up a layout of your images for cutting. Click 'Continue'.
And VOILA! Cricut sticker sheet ready for cutting!
I cannot wait to create more stickers! We used Cricut Printable Vinyl - we love this because the ink does not smudge, even when wet. Plus, and this is a big plus, it's compatible with your inkjet printer too. No need to get a special printer for it. Oh, and another plus - since it's a Cricut compatible product, you do not need to play around with the cut settings. It's all programmed and stored inside Design Space settings.
We'd love to see what stickers you have made with your Cricut! Let us know in the comments section! Happy planning!
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PLUS, get a free cartridge for every order of Cricut Explore Air 2 picked up at the event.
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We're so excited to share with you this easy DIY table number luminary. These luminaries are both functional and pretty at the same time. You can customize it according to the theme of your party. For this project, we chose a design suitable for wedding or debuts. Let's get started!
First off, you will need the following items:
- regular bond paper or cardstock, depending on your preference. Cardstocks will be sturdier but thicker. Regular paper will be thin enough so that the light goes through the luminary paper bag. Using Cricut Vellum will be an even nicer option, as it will allow the light to cast a soft glow on the table.
- battery operated tea lights
- Cricut Weeding Tool
- glue
Step One:
1. Look for a bag shape you like. For the images, we downloaded some flowers and uploaded it to Design Space. Uploading images is easy. Click to watch video here.
2. Arrange the images until you are satisfied. When you are, make sure you hit the "attach" button (encircled) to fix your layout. Cricut Design Space rearranges your layout by default, and not always in a way that's practical. So be sure to click 'attach' before proceeding.
3. After you have attached all images together, click the "make it now" button, which will bring you to...
4. The canvass mat. Check to make sure that the paper measurements are correct. After making sure everything is in place, hit the "continue" button.
5. Depending on the material you will use, this is where you can select the paper settings. In our case, we chose 'Paper' on the custom dial on the machine.
6. Load your cutting mat and hit the blinking button.
7. After cutting, take the mat out and weed away!
8. Once you've finished weeding, carefully peel off the mat from the paper and assemble as needed.
That's it!
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The Cricut's draw and write function is a great way to personalize your projects. Sure, you can also print and cut. But the draw function lends a more homemade and personalized feel to your work.
How does the Cricut do this?
Photo from Jen Goode of 100directions.com
Your Cricut machine comes with two clamps - labelled A and B. Clamp A is for accessories - pens and scoring stylus. Clamp B is for blades. Fortunately, the Cricut Air 2 comes with a Cricut fine point pen in Midnight (aka Black). Open Clamp A and insert this pen. Wait until you feel the click. That's it! You're now ready to write / draw!
Cricut pens come in a variety of colors and thicknesses which we love. If we had to pick a favorite, it would have to be the Cricut Variety Pen Set in Black for its flexibility. It comes in a variety of pen thicknesses - perfect for when you want to doodle or create calligraphy prints using the Cricut Explore Air 2. Jen Goode of 100directions.com writes in more detail about Cricut pens here.
Enough with the technical info overload. Let's see the many projects you can make with the Cricut pens!
DIY Christmas Ornaments from Jen Goode of 100directions.com
Addressing Envelopes from Kate of Clarks Condensed
Pretty Name Tags from Erin of Printable Crush
We hope these pictures get your creative juices going! Tell us what projects you want to make with the Cricut in the comments section below.
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We love so many things about the new version. But, here are our favorites:
1. No more Flash!
How many of you have had issues with loading Design Space before? The screen would prompt you to install or update your Adobe Flash. It would go on a loop, no matter how many times you updated or reinstalled. Well, that's not a problem anymore with the new Cricut Design Space. It's not built on Flash - so you don't get the annoying Adobe Flash error loop! No Flash = faster and smoother Design Space experience.
2. Bigger Print and Cut space
The new print and cut space is now 6.75" x 9.25". That's a big improvement over the old 5.5"x8" - depending on the browser you are using. Of course, there's a way to go beyond this size. There are various ways to do this. This is the best one I've come across so far. You're welcome!
3. See the fonts!
Now, you don't have to second guess anymore how the fonts look like. In DS v3, the font menu is BIG. It's now easier to visualize how your font will look with your design.
4. Make It Now Projects
The Make it Now projects in Design Space v2 was (and still is) one of my favorite features. It's like a recipe. It shows you your ingredients (materials you need) and procedure (how to assemble). It even shows you the level of difficulty (ranked from easy to difficult) and the time you need to make the project. The folks over at Cricut made it easier for us to access these projects by adding the "Projects" button on the left of the screen.
And the great thing about the Make it Now Projects is - you can customize them! This feature wasn't available before. You can edit the texts and images to personalize it.
There are so many other new features on Design Space v3 - we haven't had the chance to test them all.. yet! But before you upgrade, here are the requirements:
So what are you waiting for? Go to design.cricut.com. Instructions are available here: https://help.cricut.com/help/install-design-space
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The Cricut Design Space is a cloud based software that works in tandem and exclusively with Cricut Explore machines. It is in Design Space where you get to play around with the images, fonts and colors before your project goes to cut. You can even upload your own images on Design Space! And since it is cloud based, you can access it through your desktop computers, laptops or mobile phones.
Here is a short introductory video for Design Space:
It is here where you get to bring your projects to life by using features such as slice, weld, contour, attach and flatten. Here's another video to give you a better idea:
Of course, as with any new software/app, there is a bit of a learning curve. It's not difficult to familiarize yourself with them - as Cricut has made Design Space as user friendly as possible. It's just that there are so many ways you can design a project - the possibilities really are endless. Don't worry - we will get there soon! More on the Design Space functions in our next posts.
In the meantime, stay tuned as we feature simple but beautiful projects you can make as soon as you get your own Cricut machine. Stay tuned!
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The Cricut is a digital cutting machine. It can cut shapes, images and various text fonts. The software - Design Space - is cloud based and is exclusive to Cricut users only. You need to be connected to the internet, log on to Design Space.. and cut away!
While other cutting machines can cut cardstock only up to a certain GSM thickness, the Cricut can cut leather, balsam wood and so much more! Check out this post by The Crafted Sparrow on the many, many items that the Cricut can cut.
If you are not convinced enough, here is another one from Becoming Martha:
And that's it! Stay tuned as we show you easy Cricut projects that are perfect for newbie crafters on our next posts!
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Personalized Easter Egg Basket in 10 minutes by Kim Byers.
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