QuicKutz Company Blog

The holidays are coming to a close and it’s time to pack the decorations away for next year. But before you do, I would like to share with you a quick and simple project that will have you enjoying the cards, photos and holiday letters you received for years to come.

A big thank you to Kim Cook for sharing this wonderful idea! I added a little twist with shrink plastic charms created with QuicKutz.



Along with your cards, photo postcards and letters, you will need a metal ring, ribbons or fibers to match your paper, 6x8 sheet acetate, two sheets of patterned paper cut into four 6x8 pieces, two pieces of 6x8 thin chipboard (you may substitute with two 6x8 pieces double-sided heavyweight patterned cardstock instead of paper and chipboard), a sheet of shrink plastic, markers or ink to color shrink plastic, and a hole punch.

Dies I selected for creating shrink plastic charms were parchment scroll REV-0080, Ornaments Rev-0068, Tree Rev-0067. Using your Epic or Revolution, cut your dies just like you would paper. Lightly sand them so ink will adhere better. Punch a hole in shape to thread fiber through. Color shapes with ink, markers or chalk. I wrote on the scroll using a black pigment marker. The color will intensify when shrunk.

Follow the instructions for shrinking. I placed my cuts on a craft mat, stabilized with an alligator clip and heated with a heat gun. It is fun to watch the shape curl upon itself then settle out flat. I tried wet glue and glitter on a shrink plastic die cut and it created a lumpy sugar cube-like finish when it shrunk. Have fun experimenting!

Once your dies are made, assemble the cover and front page. For the cover I used a 6x8 sheet of acetate and glued the Santa Paper Doll REV-029-S to the bottom right and then set it aside. Next I glued a sheet of patterned paper to each side of the chipboard. (Repeat for your back cover at this time). I used Khaki mini for my year and title, placing “cards” on label die from Santa’s Workshop. You may create pocket inserts for any letters at this time.

To complete the project, punch a hole in the top left corner of acetate cover, both top and bottom pages. Match top left corners and punch holes in cards. (The Crop-a-Dile tool makes this step simple.)

Assemble your project, tie charms to ring, add additional fibers or ribbons.

This is a great project that can be adapted for wedding and anniversary cards, baby announcements, birthdays, graduations, etc.

My goal this year is to further incorporate special keepsakes into our décor for everyday pleasure and enjoyment.

I have received great pleasure participating in QuicKutz’s Ambassador program and making new friends on the forum and gallery.

Happy crafting!

Sandy Peplinski