Making Memorial Ornaments Using Printable Transparency Film

How To Make Print Then Cut Printable Transparency Film Memorial Ornaments
(with free templates for the designs)

Quick Tips:
  • This is a print then cut project with cricut. The key for print then cut is "flatten".  You have to flatten the text to the insert shape, so that it does not cut out the text.  And Flatten the photo, so it does not cut separately. 
  • I use an Air 2 and these cut beautifully. Cut on custom, choose Foil Acetate.
  • Tips For Solving Common Print Then Cut Problems
  • My printer is an HP Envy 7800 - nothing fancy.  Instant ink saves me a fortune in ink costs.
  • Make sure you place the film in your printer so that it prints on the correct side (the matte/rough side of the film)
  • Insert size - w 3.1 x H 3.25
As an affiliate for Amazon, as well as a variety of svg sites, if you click on the links in this post and make a purchase, there is a chance I will earn a small commission.


Supplies:

The Designs



Step By Step:
You can simply upload the template for the insert (upload the 3-5discmichaels version) and add your own text and photos.  But if you want to use the versions I have here, you can upload them - it will take a few steps, as these are not svgs.

When you upload the image to design space, 
Choose "complex" on the first screen.
Always choose complex for print then cut images.
The next screen will be "Select and erase"
Click on the white background behind the ornament, and it will turn transparent, like in the image above. Save as a print then cut.



When you do this, the image for the insert will have a fine black line around it.  You CAN use this as is, the black line becomes pretty much invisible when placed in the ornament.  But if you want to remove it  - you can slice:

Upload both the template for the insert.
You will see the image with text is MUCH larger than the insert.
Resize the white image to 3.2.
Select all, so both images are selected.


Choose Align, and from the drop down menu, choose center.
Then slice.


Whether you choose to slice or not, you will want your finished template to be
w 3.1 x H 3.25




Add Your Photo
To add your photo, simply upload it to Design Space.  You can then add a circle shape, or create an oval, then slice the photo with the shape, for an oval or circle shaped photo.

IMPORTANT - Do Not Skip this step 
Look on the right under group (photo above) see how there are two images?  Choose select all, and then on the bottom right, choose flatten.

After you choose flatten, on the right you should now have one image.  If you have two, both will cut.  Once it is one image, only the outside shape will cut - the rest will only print.

Send To Printer
When you click make it, you will first need to print.  
After my last update, my printer dialog disappeared.  To make it come back, make sure the "Use System Dialog" is enabled.
These are the printer settings I use.
Always Best for print quality, and I change Paper type to "Other Glossy inkjet papers"

I use the green mat to cut these.
On my cricut air 2, I change the dial to custom
Then cut on Foil Acetate

Putting Them Together
Roll the transfer sheet to insert it. The tab at the top will hold it in place in the ornament.
I use my weeding tool to help shape it back if needed, and to push the feathers into the back.  I used a feather boa from the Dollar Tree for the feathers.  The feathers behind the film make the photo and text more vibrant than if the ornament is left empty and clear.

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For Tips, Tricks, Tutorials and loads of free svgs - 
https://www.facebook.com/fieldsofheathercrafts/posts/

11 comments:

  1. I love this project! I recently purchased a couple of acetate sheets and was trying to find something to make with them. Would this project work with acetate sheets or just the transfer paper?
    Thank you!

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  2. Is there anyway you could email the link to download the files for the ornaments. I can’t get them to download from the site. Thank you. My email is swarri1349@aol.com

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  3. I love this project, thank you for sharing! My sheets won't seem to dry after printing though, am I doing something wrong? Do you have to wait a certain amount of time before cutting it with the cricut?

    Thank you! :)

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    1. Are you sure you bought the right paper? This happened to me when I first made these type of ornaments, because I bought the wrong transparency paper. I have an inkjet printer (that's what most household printer are) and i mistakenly bought paper meant for a laser printer.

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  4. Hi there, thank you so much for sharing these files. I purchased clear acetate sheets from Micheals and my image is very wet and barely noticable. I tried printing on both sides as well. Do I need to find different sheets?

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  5. Hi. I am trying to use your Wings design for a ball ornament. When I click flatten, the ornament shape cut disappears. Any help? Thanks in advance!

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  6. Very great tutorial thank you so much for this. I have been trying to figure out how to make this for my mother in law for xmas as my father in law died this summer and she had to move from NC to Washington to live with us and it has been super hard on her.

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  7. Thank you for sharing! I can't wait to try this!

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  8. Has anyone done these without a cricut? If so, what did you use?

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    Replies
    1. I didn't use the cricut machine, just the program but you might even be able to do it with out. I just hand cut them. We do have a cricut but I didn't use it for this.

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