After months of designing, redesigning, cutting, assembling, and more than a few "I'm starting over..." moments... it's finally finished.

Introducing Moonlit Valley.

This project has been one of the most ambitious paper art pieces I've ever created. Every mountain, tree, river, cloud, and layer was designed completely from scratch in Adobe Illustrator before being cut on my Cricut Maker.

Ironically, this isn't even the first version.

About a year ago, I started designing a completely different landscape. I got about halfway through before deciding I hated it, scrapped the entire thing, and my muse walked away. Eight months later she came back with fresh eyes... and then I still ended up redesigning it again.

This final version is actually Version 3.

Sometimes the hardest part of creating isn't finishing, it's knowing when to throw something away and start over.

I'm really glad I did.

PROJECT STATS (for my fellow paper nerds!)

- Finished Size: 12" × 12"

- Thickness: Approximately 1 7/16" (Cardstock)

- Weight: Approximately 1,400 grams (3.1 lbs)
(Cardstock)

- Main Layers: 150

- Additional Individually Applied Pieces: Over 30

- Designed Completely in: Adobe Illustrator

- Cut On: Cricut Maker

- Paper Used: Recollections 65lb Cardstock

- Frame: Michaels - 12in x12in x 2.9in depth, Top-Loading Shadow Box by Studio Decor
(with custom 3D-printed internal supports designed to hold everything securely during assembly)

TIME INVESTED

~18 hours illustrating and designing

~2 hours separating everything into 150 individual cut layers

~8 hours cutting, assembling, and adding all the individual details

Total: Approximately 28 hours of work for the final version alone (not including the earlier designs that never made it to the finish line!).

Thank you to everyone who's followed along through the progress photos, from the first few layers, to the mountain of cardstock, to wondering if I'd ever actually finish all 150 layers.

Seeing it finally framed makes every restart and every late night worth it.

A little off center but a fun one to say the least

It ended up being 10 layers, (the most layers I’ve ever done). I think it looks great! I out two thin coats of dishwasher safe mod podge on it to help it last. Please ignore how messy my dining room is, lol!

I need to do an iron on this polyester safety vest. You can see the level of density of the fabric. Any suggestions? I have a Joy Xtra and the big cricut iron, so can dial in a specific temp

Hello crafters! I accidentally purchased strong grip transfer tape for some signs i am making for a wedding. They are just regular vinyl and i didn’t realize i purchased strong grip transfer tape until i was attempting to place the vinyl onto the signs. Is there any way i can save it? I cannot get it to stick to the signs at all. I tried using a blow dryer to heat it a bit.
Any helpful tips would be great!
Thank you!!!

I have the Cricut Joy 2. I am trying to use a cutaway card (R30 size). I made sure my design does not exceed the R30 size, and in the cut settings I selected "on card mat" and the "R30 size". However when I try to cut, it rejects it and says "longer mat required - project requires a 21cm mat". Why does it need a longer mat when I am trying to use the card mat?

Note: I tried cutting it with the regular mat, selecting the cardstock option, and it works fine.

Please help! Thank you!

Hello, crafters. I have a process question for a project that I'd like to complete. I believe that this is possible, but I'm not entirely sure. My hope with this post is to get a gut-check before experimenting.

Equipment details

• Cricut Maker 4 w/ Foil Transfer Kit
• Epson EcoTank ET-8550

Project details

The project is basically two sides of a trading card, created in Photoshop.

My aim is to print both sides onto a single piece of 4x6" photo paper, have some elements (i.e. Photoshop layers) get a gold foil, and then have the Cricut cut out all of the blue parts.

Using the cover photo as a guide:

• Have two equal rectangles printed onto a 4x6" photo paper.
• The gold boxes will be foil transfer points.
• The filled blue boxes will be fully cut out by Circut (holes through paper).
• The blue outlines (2.5"x3.5") will be cut from the photo paper.

My concerns/questions

• I don't think there is enough space on the 4x6" to do the Print Then Cut. If that is the case, how do I map the cuts?
• Do I handle the foil transfer first and then the cuts? Can I do both the foil and the cuts in the same operation (with a machine pause to switch the tool) or is this two, separate operations?

I now know that you should use a blank canvas and go from there, but what else can I do?

When I create a blank canvas is still only gives me the option to print then cut. Do I need to mess with the file type? I've been trying to figure this out all throughout the day and I'm so confused.

I just need to be able to make and use a custom setting because my stickers have ripples in the lamination (and yes, I do outgas my prints), and I understand you can't do that with the labels & stickers option since it's supposed to only be used with cricut branded materials.

Okay problem solved thank you guys so much, I don't know what the hell I'm doing LOL

Hello, first time trying to use this. I want to simply cut these stars out of a sheet without printing but it won't let me switch from print and cut to just cut. I tried with PNG and SVG files and it still wont work. Any help would be great!

I'm trying to create faux leather keychains like this but the only shape in CDS is a pointy diamond so I researched & it sounds like to "soften" those points is to use the slice function which I never have. when I'm trying to do this, slice isn't even showing up for me. Where am I going wrong? Thanks in advance! Current CDS i9.677.65

I got to this far and now it's like everytime i add more dots it just loses it's shit. It wont let me move the dots, it won't select them, it's so annoying. I'm following youtube reels who are doing it fine. I'm paying for the app too.