Hi Guys!

I am re-posting a project I previously posted on the KnK Design Team blog in case you haven’t seen it and also to include the files with my others, if you have seen it I shall be back with something brand new real soon :)

Today I bring you bags…big strong bags! There are 2 different bag styles to chose from, a Tote bag and a Gift bag.

One of the most exciting things for me about getting a Zing was knowing that I would be able to make bigger and stronger bags & boxes. My Zing cuts through the thickest card stock I own, 340 gsm (approx 120lb), using the standard blade in just 1 pass! My Zing also has a massive 14″ by 24″ cutting mat which accommodates even the largest sizes of card stock in my collection. These two things mean that I can make bags and boxes of a really decent, usable size which are also very strong.

I cut my bags in one piece from A3 (ledger) sized card, the finished tote bag measures 7 inches tall and the gift bag is 7.5 inches tall (without handles). I used an offset of .30 and a force of 70 for my paper and 120 for my card.

Tote Bag

Pic 1: It is much easier to attach my patterned paper pieces to the bag before assembly.

Pic 2: I use wet glue when I assemble bags and boxes for the strongest hold and as it takes a minute or two to dry I use bulldog clips or paper clips to hold the tabs in place.

Pic 3: Once the tabs have dried I can glue the sides into place to complete my bag.

Pic 4: I added a simple tag in matching papers to finish my bag.

Gift Bag

Pic 1: As with the Tote Bag, I attached my patterned paper pieces to the Gift Bag before assembly, it’s much easier trust me :)

Pic 2: The Gift Bag has a reinforced top to turn down, rather like a hem. I glue this into place and hold with my handy clips.

Pic 3: I add glue to the side tab then fold the bag over and clip into place until dry. Once the side tab is dry we glue the base, it can help to reach inside the bag at this point and coax the tabs down with a bone folder or ruler until the glue dries.

Pic 4: The handles can be added in 2 ways, the first is to thread some ribbon or string through the holes then tie a knot on the inside as I have done in the picture below with my white twill ribbon.

Pic 6: The second way to add handles is to apply some red liner style tape to some ribbon then attach it along the sides of the bag, the ribbon can also reach across the under side of the bag for extra support. Pierce the ribbon at each hole and insert a brad, this method gives you an extra sturdy Gift Bag.

Pic 7: Again I added a tag in matching papers to write my message to the recipient.

Here are your Free Cut Files – Formats: ai, dxf, gsd, mtc, pdf, studio & svg:
(click on the link below the image to download)

Tote Bag Digital Cutting File by Bird

Gift Bag Digital Cutting File by Bird

Hey There!

In case you didn’t see it at the time and also to include the files into my archives, I am sharing a project I previously posted on the KNK design Team blog.

I have a Twirly Card to share today, I have seen them referred to as a Pop-Up Twirly Card but essentially the motion of opening and closing the card causes a skewer on the inside of the card to twirl, this allows you to attach an element to the skewer which will also twirl. This style of card can look complicated but worry not, I have made a Cut File (at the end of the post) which may tempt you to give it a go :)

The picture below shows all of the materials you will need for the card base, you will need:

1 copy of the Twirly Card Cut File cut just smaller than A4 / letter size with your chosen KNK machine, I cut mine with Make the Cut and my Zing.
1 sheet of A4 / letter size Card
Strong adhesive tape
Twine or similar thread
1 Skewer

Starting with the cut file piece, fold along your dashed lines ensuring that your tabs fold inward, it should look like the picture below:

Feed the skewer through the space for it at the end of the tabs then wind some twine around your skewer a few times. Thread the twine through the holes in the card and attach to the back with some strong tape ensuring that your skewer twirls when your card opens and closes. You may find that the twine won’t let you open the card fully, this is fine as long as there is lots of spin:

Cover all of the edges of your card with glue or tape, you can also see here where I attached the twine:

Glue/tape your card base mechanism onto your folded A4 / letter sized piece of card, one side at a time. The outer layer of card is slightly larger which allows us to trim away the surplus with scissors and have a neat and tidy edge.

To prevent the skewer from slipping through the tabs I used a small strip of adhesive tape on the skewer ends then wrapped some of my twine around it and liberally coated it with some glossy accents and allowed it to harden. You can repeat the process if needed to form a larger stopper.

Your card base and mechanism is now finished and you can decorate your card. I cut some tall letters for the front of my card and popped them up with some 3d foam pads.

You can now add an image or sentiment to the skewer inside of your card, experiment with the size to ensure that it will twirl freely before you attach it permanently. For the best results use 2 copies of your twirly element and sandwich the skewer between them.

As mine is a Birthday Card for my Dad, I layered my letters in different shades of shimmery blue card stock, I hope it will catch the light when he opens the card and it twirls. The letters are also included as a cut file at the end of the post.

Here are your Free Cut Files – Formats: ai, dxf, gsd, mtc, pdf, studio & svg:
(click on the link below the image to download)

Twirly Card Digital Cutting File by Bird

DAD Digital Cutting File by Bird

Well hello there and welcome to the very first project to be made at the brand spanking new Birdhouse! Some parts of the house still need attention and a few boxes are yet to be unpacked but we can’t let things like that stop us from crafting, can we? ;)

I have a daisy edged card cut file for you today and I’d like to show you how I used a cheats method to create a stained glass look. You may remember I used different coloured pieces of vellum to create a stained glass look on my Mothers Day Card, well it can be tricky where you have fine cuts to hide your edges behind so on today’s card I used markers to get a similar effect in no time at all.

Pic 1: I cut the card base and the front panel as they appear in the cut file at 5.75 inches high to fit into a 6 inch envelope. I also cut the outline of the front panel in vellum to create my stained glass layer.

Pic 2: I stuck my vellum down to the back side of the front panel with a glue pen.

Pic 3: Still working on the back side of the card and vellum, I used Copic markers to colour the middle of my flower and the stem & leaves. You only need to add one layer of marker as it may start to streak if you add too much. The best bit about this technique is that it is very forgiving as you can colour outside of the lines, just as long as you stay behind the card and don’t veer into a neighbouring vellum window.

Pic 4: Turn your flower over and there are no signs of glue or colouring outside of the lines, they are all hidden :)

Pic 5: I glued my flower down to the card base ensuring to match up the window sections, wet glue makes this so much easier. Your card now looks neat on the inside and outside!

Pic 6: I decorated the front of my card with some broderie anglaise trim and yellow seam binding (Mimosa). My sentiment is printed onto some card then cut with a spellbinders circle die, I added an eyelet to turn it into a little tag then I tied it to my bow.

Pic 7: This is how the card looks when it stands up.

Here’s your Free Cut File – Formats include ai, dxf, gsd, mtc, pdf, studio & svg:
(click on the link below the image to download)

Daisy Edge Card Digital Cutting File by Bird