Saturday, December 19, 2009

Music box (layered vinyl)


While I was at my sister's in New Jersey on Thursday and Friday,  I helped her decorate this clear plastic box full of musical toys for her grandsons (my great-nephews).  We used the Hannah Montana cartridge for this project - it's not just for girls!
 

I set up some mats in Design Studio before I went to New Jersey, but I waited until I was with my sister to actually cut the vinyl.  I put an extra base layer of the "ready to rock" on a second page to see how the colors would look when layered.  It's great to have the smaller Cricut to take along for trips and little projects like this.


We used blue and yellow Wall-Pops vinyl.  This photo shows the mat after "weeding" the cuts.  The Wall-Pops vinyl is easy to work with and seems to hold up very well - I have had some on my car for well over a year. 


To get the top layer adhered to the base as neatly as possible we used some transfer tape.  I cut a piece of about the right size and burnished it down on the weeded cut.


Then my sister carefully peeled the transfer tape with the top layer of vinyl off the backing paper.

 

We aligned the layers and burnished the tape with the top layer to the base layer on the backing paper. We were the tiniest bit off at the right edge but we decided it was close enough!


We lifted the layered pieces and transferred the cut to one end of the plastic storage box, burnished the layered vinyl down to the box and peeled off the transfer tape.


Here you can see the final result.  The label will show if the box is placed on the shelf like a shoebox.

 

I had also prepared a cut for the side of the box using the music feature.  Remember, for this to work properly you simply move the letters together but do not apply kerning or check weld (click this LINK for an earlier post with a bit more about this feature).

 

The music staff cut out nicely - here is the weeded cut ready to transfer.


This time we didn't use transfer tape (which may or may not have been a good idea).  By bending back the backing paper and starting on the left at the correct position to center the cut, we carefully pulled back the backing, adhering the cut as we went along (definitely a two person job).


This was tricky and the lines may have gotten a bit out of parallel but we decided not to worry about it - the little guys won't be too critical of our work! It is more difficult to put the vinyl on a three dimensional object like the box since there are some slight curves to the shape.


 We used the rest of the notes and the "G" clef on the opposite end and side of the box.


I think the boys will have a lot of fun with all of the shakers and cymbals and tambourines inside the box - I hope their mother and father enjoy the concert!

The storm was a bit slower than predicted so we made it home safely - thanks for all the encouraging words!  Now we just need our older son's flight to be on schedule tomorrow and then we will all be home for Christmas!

8 comments:

  1. I love all ideas but I just wanted to say a special thank you for the time you took to do the keywords for Pagoda - I have just got this cartridge and this will be such a help. Thank you so much for all your inspiration throughout the year and I look forward to seeing all your posts in 2010. Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and New year. Debbie
    debbie018@hotmail.com

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  2. Very cute idea, do you carry your entire cricut stash and all the vinyl with you every where you go? I thought I was bad dragging my scrap supplies anytime I had to stay over night, afraid I miss a minute of free time. I love your on the road projects, thanks for sharing!

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  3. Thanks so much for the step by step with vinyl..have been wanting to try it out, and your instructions are always so detailed and clear!!! I so appreciate that!!!!

    I'm glad you made it home safely, and pray for the safe arrival of your older son.

    Cheers!
    Lisa Sturgill

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  4. What a beautiful music box. Love it! After the holidays I'm going to start playing with vinyl. The uses seem endless. Thank you for all your great ideas this year.
    mahuntington@wavecable.com

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  5. Diane,
    I am so glad you ot home safely and I hope your boy does too. We are still snowed in in VA and loving the whole idea of it. But our kids are not traveling this season so we can safely stay home and be warm. Thanks so much for all of your great ideas. I just think of so many fun things to do with the cricut and I get so many more ideas just reading your blog. You are wondeful! Thanks, Rosie

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  6. This is such a wonderful idea! I too bought the HM cart even though I have a boy not a girl... he's fascinated with music and it's perfect for any music oriented themes!

    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  7. Glad you got home safe. This box looks wonderful and so does the window in your Dad's place. Thanks for sharing both. I really want to try doing vinyl now. Do you use the deep cut blade?

    Thanks and have a wonderful Christmas with your son,
    BugHappy from cmb

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  8. This is a great project...what a good way to label toy bins and any other storage container. Have a very Merry Christmas....aloha, Sara

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