How-To: Create Your Own!
Every sticker begins with a story. At CassXoDesign, my creations are pieces of what makes beach memories beautiful. With my trusty Cricut by my side, I bring each piece of the beach into each design, sharing pieces of my heart with the world. Here is a peak into my creative process, powered by inspiration with the precision of the Cricut Joy.
Drawing it Out:
My creative process is structured and requires patience and timing. Here is how I channel my best work:
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- Draw.Draw.Draw: Every design starts with freehand sketches. Whether it is just the silhouette of a palm tree or waves, I draw many variations of my idea until I feel I have drawn the perfect visual for my inspiration.
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- Finding The Right Time: My creativity kind of runs on a clock. It sounds silly, but I draw my best sketches and come up with my best visuals at night. Yours may be in the middle of the day, or right after your morning coffee, but I tend to thrive when it is close to bedtime.
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- Scenery: I like to do my sketches and think of new ideas in different locations. Sometimes, being in a new environment can spark new ideas that would not be possible if I were always at home. I am inspired by the environment naturally, so being outside and coming up with sketches is where my best ideas have been created.
Sometimes being creative can be a little wavy, and it is easy to get caught in the undertow.
How I keep creating:
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- Stay Motivated: Drawing ties in with my background in athletic discipline, and I know the importance of staying motivated no matter what. Engaging in different creative projects, like photography or even expanding on my drawing skills, I always find little things to keep myself motivated with the art of design.
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- Learn and Rest: Taking time to learn something new or to take a small break from creating can refresh your spirit and you can come back stronger than ever to create something new. Never underestimate the power of a little break to bring your creative spark back.
The Cricut: Here is How It’s Done:
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- My Cricut Joy is my favorite tool to bring my designs to life. I create my designs on a combination of Adobe Illustrator and Procreate, depending on what feels best. Once my design is ready, I transfer it to the Cricut Design Space. The precision of the Cricut Joy is amazing, always making each design into a tangible piece of art.
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- Choosing the right material is so important. Depending on the design, I select from a variety of vinyl or cardstocks, ensuring the final sticker looks great and is even better quality.
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- My Cricut cuts the pieces and removes excess material. After it makes the cuts, I use precision tools to separate, or “weed” the sticker pieces from the adhesive. It is always the most rewarding part of seeing my design come to life after I make the separations and can see my design off-screen.
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- Applying the design onto its final surface is the last step. The sticker finds its home here, and I take transfer tape and peel it back. I then put the sticker I had just created onto the tape and made sure I perfectly aligned it. After I press the transfer tape on carefully, I flip it over and pull the backing away while pulling the transfer tape away with my other hand. I then use a tiny squeegee tool to ensure that the sticker is completely stuck to the transfer tape and does not come off. I then flip the piece once again and peel off the solid white backing from it.
After this, it is all set and I get excited! Packaging is important, so I then put the design onto my CassXoDesign mini box and it is ready to be shipped to a loving home!