Hi everyone. It has been a few years since I have posted here. Although I have been crafting off and on. I no longer use a Silhouette cutting machine. I now have a Cricut Explore 3. It has its pros and cons.
With the software I have been learning how to take a single layer and turning it into a layered file. The owl was a single layer, and I turned it into this layered image which I used on a card. Unfortunately, it has gotten too expensive now to mail layered image cards. 🙁
I have also been learning how to turn layered files into print and cut. The bunny in this card was a black and white line drawing. I turned her into a layered images and then a print and cut image. She has a wobbler which I had to trim a little. The flower border turned into a print and cut. The Happy Easter done with an offset. The butterfly was a file I added layers to a few years ago when I was learning how to layer. I turned all but the top layer into a print and cut.
I have also been learning sublimation. Sublimation is done with a printer that uses a special ink, or special sublimation or infusion products as Cricut calls them. The products are either transferred to copy paper or a special paper and then the image transferred to items which will take the ink and heat. Doing sublimation can become an expensive hobby. 🤣
Mugs and tumblers require special equipment to heat transfer the ink. Once the image is transferred it is permanent. This is a mug I did for my youngest granddaughter who is a horse girl. The cost of the sublimation mugs are not cheap so I always am a little scared doing them. The horse was printed onto special paper using my sublimation printer. The paper wrapped around the mug and then the mug put in the mug press. I was pleased that the mug came out perfectly.
Images can also be transferred to fabric. Either Muslin or Polyester. I wanted to take the image which was originally a layered one which I turned into a print and cut and do a test transfer onto Muslin. The colors with the sublimation ink look different until they are heated. Also, how long heat is applied can make a difference in how the colors will appear. I was pleased the way the test piece turned out so adhered the fabric to card stock before placing it on the front of a card base.
Besides crafting I added to the family a dog who was supposed to be a senior dog, but the owner brought over a one year who I couldn't resist. She has now been with me for a couple of years. This is Miss Sadie. She is a Siberian Husky/American Pitbull mix with a small amount of Lab and German Shepherd mixed in. Her favorite thing is unmaking the bed and making a nest on the floor. In this picture she thinks I was going to take her new toy away. I said out loud "What was I thinking buying a toy with a squeaker." She went into immediate protective mode.
