Tag Archives: free download

Free Interactive Die Cuts: Zip Strip

A secret message only the recipient can read – what a fun element to add to a handmade card! I had fun designing these free digital die cutting files for my Silhouette die cutter and I hope you enjoy using them too.

I’m calling it a “zip strip” and the cool thing about this is that you can customize the file to the length you need to fit the secret message beneath. Here’s a sample so you can see what I’m talking about:

Here I die cut the zip strip from pale blue cardstock. I stamped on the die cut piece as well as the card base. Before adhering my die cut strip, I marked the position of the zip strip (using the cut lines on the left end) and stamped a message. When the zip strip is pulled…

The message appears! The sentiments are from my Daffodils stamp set which is available from Paper and Such. The other stamps are from Papertrey Ink.

Here’s another card that I made and gave – obviously, once the zip strip is torn off, it can’t be replaced, so this one you’ll be seeing unopened.

This card is 5″ x 7″, but I shortened the zip strip before I die cut it so that I could stamp on the end of the strip. Stamps are from Papertrey Ink and Close to My Heart.

The message under the zip strip proclaims, “You’re one in a million.” Oh, I am just excited about the possibilities! Just imagine what you could do for Valentine’s Day!

The download link for the Silhouette Studio file is below. I am happy to share my cutting files with you for your own personal use. Please do not sell these files or post them online for others – you are welcome to share the link to this post for anyone wanting to download the window slider Silhouette cutting files for free from me.

I’ll be posting more Silhouette files in the future – lots of ideas brewing – why don’t you subscribe to my blog and be the first to download the free digital cutting files I’ll be sharing for free?

Download the zip strip digital die cutting file for Silhouette and Cameo here.

The download link for my window slider card can be found here.

 

Free Digital Cutting File for an Interactive Window Card

Interactive cards are big right now! How fun it is to give a handmade card that includes a pop-up element, or a sliding window, or a tear away strip with a secret message underneath! One of my favourite stamp companies recently debuted dies that create such interactive elements, and they were on my wish list until I realized that I could make my own using my Silhouette digital die cutting machine and save over $50! The coolest thing is that while the metal dies are limited to one or two sizes, my digital cutting files can be resized and customized!

The first design I created is for a window slider. A pull tab opens the window and reveals a message or picture on the card itself or beneath the window.

Window Slider cutting files

I set up the file with two sizes for you, but they can be easily resized or rotated to suit your project.

Window Slider card closed

I cut both slider and base out of white cardstock, stamping before assembly. Both pieces need to be scored before assembly – tutorial to come!

Here’s what it looks like when the tab is pulled and the window opens. Here, I’ve stamped my message on the slider card itself, but you can see there’s room for more under the image – maybe a handwritten message?

Here’s a video showing how to assemble the file once cut:

And another card, in a brighter, funky style:

Here I turned the window slider for a horizontal card.

Be careful if you are adhering anything to the window – you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t obstruct the operation of the interactive portion. Here I’ve put the message beneath the window on the card itself. I love how fun this card turned out!

The stamps I used are from Close to My Heart and have been discontinued, however, there are interactive stamps available from a number of different manufacturers. Papertrey Ink’s Movers & Shakers sentiments set would be perfect!

I am happy to share my cutting files with you for your own personal use. Please do not sell these files or post them online for others – you are welcome to share the link to this post for anyone wanting to download the window slider Silhouette cutting files for free from me.

Download the window slider .studio file here.

The download link for my “zip strip” .studio file can be found here.