Make Suncatcher Window Clings with Cricut

1. Introduction: Hi. My name is Amaya, and I'm an artist and video creator. In this class, I will be showing you how to make these Sun cuter window clings. I will share my process of creating the linework in Procreate, setting up the CUT files in Photoshop. Keep in mind, you can use your preferred programs if you aren't using the same ones as me and cutting everything out using a cricket machine. You can choose to make a design of your own or use the template provided so you can get started as soon as you join the class. 2. Setting up the design: We'll start by creating and setting up the design. If you'd like to make your own design, this is my process within Procreate. The Canvas size depends on what size you want the cling to be. The design that I'm drawing is approximately five by 8 ", so that is the size of my canvas. I use the round brush and increase the streamline and stabilization for smooth line work. I keep the brush size around 5%. So here I'm tracing over a design that I already had. The line work just needed to be thicker. Oh. Once you have your design drawn, turn off any background layers and save it as a PNG. I bring the design into Photoshop. This is where I will create the files for both the vinyl cut layer and the outline cut layer. Create a new layer above your design, create a shape in the corner and fill it in with black. Copy this shape to each corner, and these are going to be our sizing marks. You need these to prevent the cricket design space from resizing the canvas automatically. If you don't add these, the cricket will basically crop it right up to the linework, and that's what we want to avoid. Make sure you turn off the background and save it as a PNG. This is our vinyl cut layer, and now we need to create the outline cut layer, which is the window cling material. Create a new canvas the same size as the other. In this case, minus five by 8 ". Drag over both your design and the sizing marks to the new canvas. Select the design layer and add a stroke. I keep the size at 50 pixels and then use the paintbrush to fill in the entire shape. So this is going to be the outline cut layer for the ling material. Go ahead and turn off the background, save it as a PNG and open the cricket design space. Go ahead and bring in both files and choose the single layer option. In the canvas, change the size to the size of your canvas. Again, minus five by 8 ", so that's what I'm entering. Oh Once I have them both in here, I'm going to go ahead and start with the outline layer, so I'm just turning off the vinyl one. For the outline layer, use the card stock for intricate cuts option, and I keep the default pressure. That is the cut setting I have found to be the best for cutting the window cling material. Once you have that cut out first, which you'll see in the next lesson, we will go ahead and cut the vinyl layer next. And for this one, I use the premium vinyl permanent glossy cut setting, but choose the one based on the vinyl that you're using. I set the pressure to less because I was using a new blade at the time, but normally I just use default, and that is the process of creating and setting up the design. So now we will move on to the cutting. 3. Cutting the vinyl: Let's go ahead and start by cutting out the vinyl window cling and transfer tape. I cut them based on the canvas size of the design. So again, this one is five by 8 ". Let's start with the outline layer, which is the cling material. Make sure you place it with the textured side on top. And on the mat, you can kind of see a square shape where the cricket cuts the sizing marks, which is about a quarter inch from the lines. So that's where I place the material. And again, I am using the card stock for intricate cut setting on the cricket. When that's done, peel everything off. Now we'll cut the vinyl and make sure to adjust the cut setting for the specific vinyl that you choose. For the next step, you will need a weeding tool. You want to remove all of the extra vinyl, leaving only the linework. I also cut off the extra vinyl at the end to save for making smaller window clings. So now you should be left with just your design. We're going to peel off the backing paper of the transfer tape, and if you can, it helps to line up the lines with the lines in your design to make the process a little easier. Use a scraper tool to make sure all of the vinyl is adhered to the tape. And then peel off the tape and the vinyl should come off with it. Take the ling outline and place it back onto the mat with the textured side on top. I'm making sure to line it up with the line in the center so that I can line up the vinyl easier. Just make sure to look at all the edges to try and get it as even around as possible. And then slowly, you can place the vinyl down onto the ling. Use the scraper again to really make sure that the vinyl is adhered to the cling, and it's easier to peel off the transfer tape first and then remove the cling from the mat. And here is the finished window cling suncatcher. 4. Applying the cling: Here's how to apply the cling. Before using it, make sure to remove the plastic backing on the ling. Clean an area of your window that gets direct sun for best results, and the cling should adhere nicely. You can also spray some water onto the window beforehand if it's not staying. And if the cling ever starts to peel off, you can wash it with a little bit of soap and water, and it will work like new. And because these don't have any sticky adhesion, there's no glue, you can remove and reapply whenever you need. 5. Project: Now that we've gone over all the steps to create a window cling suncatcher, it's time for your project. You can either create a cling of your own design or use the template I provided for you. The PNG files can be found under the Projects and Resources tab. They are ready to cut, so just import them into the cricket design space, and when you get to the Canvas, enter four by 4 " for the Canvas size. Once you've made your window cling, please share photos of it in the project section of the class. And as always, if you have any questions, let me know in the discussions tab, and thank you for joining.