Tried & Tested: Pretty Quick Papercut Birds SVGs Collection
As you may have spotted, the latest addition to CraftWorld is our Downloadables section. This includes an ever-growing range of digital downloads including magazines, sewing patterns, digi stamps, SVG cutting files and more. To help us make sure that everything is running smoothly, we asked the CraftWorld Testing Team to help us put some of the new collections of digital designs to the test. These are the results!
Papercut Perfection
This collection of designs was first created by the Pretty Quick team for physical dies several years ago and was a huge hit with crafters. The dies are no longer available to buy but we love them so much that we just had to bring them back as digi downloads. Not only does this mean that the designs are available again, but they're also more flexible - you can cut the panel out at any size, from any material your digital cutting machine can handle!
Individual SVGs: £3.99
SAVE 75%! Complete collection of nine designs: £9.98
Let's put these to the test...
Angela Finch
The digis were fun to work with. I did have a problem with the flamingo one, no matter how I tried to cut it the bottom leg would just rip during cutting. It was a shame as I was looking forward to playing with that one. I think it was the file rather than my machine, as all the others cut fine, even the stork with the balloons.
Editor's Note: Based on Angela's feedback, we tweaked the design of the flamingo and added simplified versions of all the designs
I think my favourites were the Owl and the Heron. I did 2 cards with the owl, as its so versatile. (I have started ink blending the heron but wouldn’t have got the photos done in time.)
I have a Scan n Cut SDX 2200D.
Angela's Cards
Melanie Heywood
I have used the dove, robin and owl files. Out of these designs I think my favourite was the dove file, but the robin is a close second. I have kept my cards really plain and simple as I felt the designs were elaborate enough. They have all been cut, using the my Cricut machine and the files have only been used on Cricut’s design space, so I was unable to manipulate the file without loosing all of the really fine details.
Melanie's Cards
Suzanne Taylor
I really liked the way the files cut lines in the objects to give some definition, shape and features to the picture, like a metal die would through a die cutting machine. All those lines cut first and I wondered what my machine was cutting to start with, but it soon became evident when the object lines were cut around them.
I did cut a few extra lines in the Puffin file on the Puffin itself. As I was painting the black I felt like I needed an extra line to join the wing up as it just didn’t look right without it. I also cut a few small lines at the bottom of the white where it joins the orange leg and also one line to show the shape of the left leg.
Out of the three I have used my favourite design has to be the Puffin, but maybe that’s because I love the way my card turned out!
I used a Brother Scan n Cut SDX 135Pro.
Suzanne's Cards
The Dove
I made it into a 6.5” circular easel Christmas card. I lightly coloured the leaves with some Nuvo Green Envy Glacier Paste and coloured the holly berries and the individual sets of berries with Cosmic Shimmer Rich Red Gilding Polish. Once dried I used Nuvo Crystal Drops in Morning Dew (which is clear) on top of the coloured red berries and DoveCraft 3D Pearl Effects Pastel Cream (which is almost white) on the Mistletoe berries. I painted some Nuvo Pure Platinum Embellishment Mousse over the cut lines on the Dove to highlight the feathers, gently turned up the edges of the upper wing to give some perspective and used the Nuvo Morning Dew drops to make an eye.
Raised up on foam tape the Dove panel was stuck onto some really chunky red glitter card, Peace on Earth Dove gold card was used to create the easel base and back. I used a small red oval of the glitter card and an adhesive Merry Christmas for the stopper. I made a poinsettia out of vellum and attached to the front. I have sent pictures with and without the poinsettia. There is a sentiment of Merry Christmas inside, where the sender can write their message.
The Puffin
I made into a 6”x 8” side fold card. The background was created with Nuvo Shimmer powders in Blue Blitz with just a tap of Meteorite Shower. I made the very centre and lower half a more solid colour to represent the sea, whereas the top is lighter to represent the sky. The matt layer is black card.
I cut two of the puffin file and stuck together for more strength. The whole of the cut file I then painted with Nuvo Shimmer powders and a Cosmic Shimmer Pixie Powder, mixed with a drop of water on an acrylic stamping block. Catherine Wheel was used for the red flowers and lighthouse stripes, Green Parade for the grassy area below the lighthouse, Meteorite Shower for the irredescent colour of the end of the puffins feathers. The cliff, bank, ledge and sand were all created with CS Rich Gold and a few shades of brown water based die ink pens. The puffin black was painted with quite a few layers of a black die ink cube. The orange legs and beak, and greenery around flowers were also water based die ink pens.
A tiny drop of the blue shimmer powder was used as shadows on the clouds along with a little white acrylic paint to make them look puffy and a clear sparkle pen for a twinkle. A white gel pen was used to create a 'wood grain effect' around the frame. The card is left blank so it should be used for any occasion. To say I was pleased with this card is an understatement, personally I think it’s the best card out of my three.
The Robin
I made into a 8”x 8” top fold card. The matt layer is a bronzy black card to match the glitter in the leaves. The top layer is pale green Centura Pearl card which is dry embossed in the centre using a blossom folder. The Robin cut file I decided to colour using heat embossing powders and glitters.
I used Cosmic Shimmer Ancient Copper on the robins head as that was smooth and Wow Crusty Copper on his body and wings to give some texture to his feathers. The chest is Wow Ruby Romance, the beak is Wow Mai Tai. I also used a little Mai Tai on the robins back to highlight his wing feathers. He has a gold gem for his eye.
The leaves were coloured with a variety of Wow greens. The darker leaves are Green Glitz, the paler green daffodil stalks are Spring Breeze. The green and gold leaves are Mojito and a few small pale leaves at the top are Sea of Tranquility. The daffodils are coloured with Easter Sparkle. I stuck the cut file directly onto the Centura Pearl with hot glue only sticking the base of the leaves so they could turn up and the lower body of the robin so his head could curl forward. The top four daffodil flowers are left unstuck so they curl up and the bottom two flowers stuck down so the stems are raised. All to give some 'life' and perspective to the cut file. A thinking of you sentiment was heat embossed, fussy cut out and matted on the same card as the base matt card.
About the CraftWorld Testing Team
The CraftWorld Testing Team is made up of crafters of all skill levels. The only requirement to join the team is a love of craft and access to some basic equipment!
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TREAT FOR PREMIUM MEMBERS
All of our testers loved this design in particular, so we thought we'd let you try it out for free. Download it now and start creating beautiful cards like these below.
CraftWorld Premium Memebers - claim your FREE Papercut Owl SVGs, worth £3.99!