Sunday, December 13, 2020

Our New Year's Card Is A Pop-Up, Light-Up Dumpster Fire With Dancing Raccoons. Want One?

I've been searching for weeks to find some crafty way to commemorate 2020, and eventually decided John and I would have to design something from scratch to really do this year justice.

This has taken at least a dozen prototypes, testing cut files, colors, papers, and overall design, but I'm delighted to finally unveil our finished New Year's card! Woohoo! Can I get a trumpet fanfare?



Omigosh, that's even better. Thank you, John.

So as you can see, the front and back are super simple:


Because this card is all about the inside:

Pop in a battery-operated tealight, and that's when the magic happens:


Obviously this card isn't for everyone, but if you have a twisted sense of humor - or just really like trash pandas - then our pop-up light-up dumpster fire is for you. And good news! I convinced John to put in the extra work to make his files available for you bots. It's taken several days, but he's done all the hard stuff, designing & formatting & adding handy placement guides. So now all you have to do is download our files, print, cut on your Cricut or other cutting machine, and assemble.

Oh, and the downloadable version doesn't have any words inside, so you can choose to add your own message or leave the inside blank.


Generally I give all our templates away for free here, but this one I'm going to list over on Etsy as an instant download. It's easier to bundle the files that way, but also this is so John and I can make a few extra dollars, which we plan to put towards Project: Epbot things. (John's currently building a wheelchair-friendly pantry door, can't wait to show you!) The file bundle is $4, and comes in convenient .pdf and .svg formats, so you can make as many cards with it as you like.

And - AND! - since I know we're already kinda close to New Year's, and some of you won't get around to making this in time, I asked John to also make a second set of cut files that replace the 2020 on the dumpster with the ever-popular, "This is fine."



Boom. Now it's perfect for any dumpster-fire occasion, beyond 2020! And of course that second set of cut files is included with the $4 bundle.

Since this is our first foray into card making, I'm not sure how to rate the difficulty level... so let me show you how we put it together, and you can judge for yourself:  

First, download our file bundle from Etsy. Then:

- Print the card interior on a standard 8.5X11 sheet of white card stock. (We used a matte brochure paper to make the blacks extra velvety, but that's optional.) Flip the paper over, and score the center and two side folds on the back.


These are the measurements where you should score your lines. It's important that you score these now, but don't fold them yet.

- Feed that sheet you just printed and scored into your cutting machine, and cut the center design.


Done!

- Remove the cut sheet from the mat and carefully fold the center line OUT and the side lines IN, like this:

 Since you pre-scored these lines (you remembered to do that, right?), this should be easy.

- Print the card exterior on your choice of light colored card stock, and fold in half. (Dark colors won't reflect the light well inside, so stick with something white or pastel.) Since the front is so plain I recommend using a card stock with a nice texture, like this white linen we used from Amazon, but again, that's optional.

Note: Printing the card exterior will place two almost invisible placement marks on the front, so don't skip this step!


- Cut the raccoon head graphic from your choice of vinyl (we used gold foil), then transfer it to the front of the card. Look for the placement marks: the lower dot should be covered by the raccoon's nose, and the higher dot should be covered by the top of his hat, just below the pom-pom.


The placement dots will help you keep the design centered and straight: no more obsessively double-checking with a ruler!


- Now it's time to join the two pieces of your card together. Apply glue stick or double-stick tape to the outer edge of the interior piece of card stock:


... and stick it to the inside edge of the exterior piece, like so:

Repeat for the other side, and you'll have both pieces of your card sealed together.


Your finished card should look like this from the top:


That space is where the battery-operated tea light will go.

And that's it, you're done! This card will fit a standard A9 envelope, and is meant to be displayed open with a tealight inside, for that cozy dumpster fire glow.

Now, I know most of you probably don't want to make a card like this... but would you like to have one? Because John and I've made 8 extras of these babies to give to YOU, some blank, some printed with our greeting. To enter, just share my post about this card - or the Youtube video of it - on any social media (Facebook, IG, Twitter, SnapTok, etc.), then tell me you did so in the comments. (We're using the honor system here.) I'll choose 8 people at random by Wednesday the 16th to mail a card -  yes, even international! Just keep in mind it probably won't reach you before the New Year if you're not in the U.S.

If nothing else I hope this gave you a laugh, babes and bots - and remember, sending a video of a funny New Year's card to your friends and family is almost as good as sending a real one. Just remind them to watch with the sound on, 'cuz the music John picked made me laugh so hard.

In case we don't see you before then, John and I both wish you a very happy new year-that-isn't-2020. May next year be a little more loving, a little more healthy, and a little less sucky, forever and ever, amen.

::MWAH::

*****

UPDATE: My winners are...

- Kelsey S.
- Laurinda
- Chrissy
- Sarahlcsnano
- Erin
- Raienya
- Eric
- Martha in KC

Congrats, all of you, and please e-mail me your mailing addresses, so we can get those out to you!

64 comments:

  1. Shared! (I had to put this here as you don't have it on the FB page yet.) I wish I could make stuff like this, but I don't have a Cricut (and most likely never will as they are so expensive.) You two are so creative and talented. Happy year that isn't 2020 to you, too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was already planning to share this on Facebook anyway, but the possibility of actually getting one made me rush to do it that much sooner. Yes, it's up now, and I'm sure many of my friends will get a kick out of it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is great! Thanks as always for sharing your crafting brilliance and abundant sense of humor. It's a light in dark times.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. "It's a light in dark times." Pun intended?
      -Elsie

      Delete
  4. does discord count? if not my dumpster fire loving friends there needed to see it anyway, so no loss

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've shared your clever card diy on facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shared on FB & Twitter! LOVE THIS so much.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Shared with my crafty friends on Facebook!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Shared on Instagram! That is such a great card. I don’t have a cricut but I’ll pass it on to those who do.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Well great, now I'm going to finally have to buy a Cricut. 😆
    I already shared your fb post about this amazing card before I even clicked over here to view the video.
    You have outdone yourself. Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Shared on Facebook! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tweeted :). No cricut here, but it was fun to watch it in action!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Does sharing with the four friends that have Cricuts and begging them to make a set of cards for me count? If not, I’d happily buy completed cards rather than files from the Etsy store! ��

    ReplyDelete
  13. Shared on Facebook. I don't have a Cricut but I know a bunch of people who do.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Shared on Facebook - my friends will get as much of a kick out of it as I did. May 2021 be vastly better for us, each and every one.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Shared on Facebook! I wish I had a machine to make these and send out! Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Shared on Facebook! I wish I had a machine to make these and send out! Brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is absolutely fantastic. xD!
    I was starting on my 2021 bullet journal recently and my sister convinced me I've gotta put some apocalypse stuff in there to commemorate the end of 2020. Feel like that's a similar vibe. :P

    ReplyDelete
  18. Aaaaaah my christmas cards are so very similar (not so much the dumpster fire but a light up card) and I was feeling fretful about whether I was asking too much of friends to get an electric tealight to put in, but it seems I was very much overthinking things (thanks anxiety) and now feel so much better about sending mine out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh, I'd love to see your card! I only just discovered light-up cards while browsing Pinterest, but I've only found a few. Could you share a pic of yours on FB or IG and tag me so I can see?

      And yes, I figure most folks have a battery tealight around, or even a battery string of craft lights! If not, Dollar Tree carries them 2 for $1.

      Delete
  19. Oh thank you, this made my day! And so apropos for this year. I shared on Facebook. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. That is awesome! So wonderfully appropriate for this year. <3

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thank you, I'd love a chance at one. I shared on Discord, in several places because this is hilarious and I really needed the laugh.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I was planning to share this before I even read down to the contest entry part! Genius, classy, hilarious.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Shared on Facebook because this is just amazing! Love the raccoons!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Shared on Facebook. This is amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Shared on Facebook! I love this, but I don't have a Cricut!

    ReplyDelete
  26. This is awesome! I want to add that the cricut can also score the card for you while it's doing the cutting. You just need to include the scores as part of the cut file and have a scoring tool. I haven't done this a much, so I'm not sure how well it works, just that it's a thing that exists.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I shared on Facebook! I love this card so much!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I shared this on Facebook. I don't have many "friends" on fb, but the ones that I do will appreciate the humor. I'm going to wish everyone a "Happy year that isn't 2020!"

    ReplyDelete
  29. I WISH we'd sent out dumpster fire cards this year. Hilarious! I'll just have to settle for sharing your video with everyone on Facebook instead. (I shared on FB.)

    ReplyDelete
  30. This is just what this end of year needed :-) Shared on FB. And also with friends who I knew would appreciate it

    ReplyDelete
  31. I couldn't wait to share the video on FB! I don't have the tools to make this, so I'm hoping to win one 🤞🏼 & apparently I can't manage to post a comment, either, because this is my second try 😄

    ReplyDelete
  32. Did a shout out on my FB page. LOVE THIS CARD!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Shared on Facebook, because I could never make this in a million years!

    ReplyDelete
  34. This is AWESOME! (Too bad I already have my New Year cards made.) Shared on FB.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Shared the video on FB, I now need a Cricut to make these!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Makes me wish I could make my own. I know a lot of people I could send one to. Oh well.

    ReplyDelete
  37. This is full of awesome and makes me want a Cricut even more. Sadly, I can't justify it: my unemployment needs to go toward the mortgage. You two are the best!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Shared on FB. So perfect, wish I had a Cricut!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Shared your facebook post on the book of face.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Sharing on Facebook!

    I love trash pandas, and this card truly is so fitting to usher out this dumpster tier year.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Sharing on fb :) These cards are fabulous :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. SHared on facebook! Everyone is gonna love it!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Sharing on Facebook right now! I would love to make this card, but don't have a lot of free time with a new tiny person right now....

    ReplyDelete
  44. This is such a wonderful card! I'd like to make a request: could you please list a pdf file of the design template on etsy for those of us old school exacto knife hand cutting types (who don't have a fancy cricut)? I think it's a marvelously clever design! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, of course! I just asked John, he says he'll update the file bundle to include .pdfs right now. If you already purchased it just e-mail us, and we'll send over the extra files for you.

      Thanks for asking, I'm sure other folks may want to hand cut this, too!

      Delete
  45. Totes shared that awesomeness!
    And the video of Suki sleep eating is sooo adorable��

    ReplyDelete
  46. Shared on FB! This year... It would be so much better with a card from you.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Shared, more because it's so awesome, but I would still love to receive one!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Shared on Facebook! This is super cool ^^

    ReplyDelete
  49. Love this, it's one of the best cards I've seen in all my 69 years! I've shared it on fb, and commented there but figured I should cover my bases,right? Much love & hugs to you, Jen, and a speedy recovery! Martha in Kansas City

    ReplyDelete
  50. Shared on FB! Love this!!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Shared it to facebook because it's so great! 😂

    ReplyDelete
  52. I shared the video to my Facebook page! That is hilariously awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Shared, because we need some joy in the dumpster fire of a year. Love you guys!

    ReplyDelete
  54. Shared publicly on Facebook!

    Gah, I love this so much! I’ve seen plenty of dumpster fire-themed stuff, but having it actually light up really takes the cake(wreck). Thanks for sharing your genius with us!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Shared before i even finished reading but seriously, this is amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Shared on FB! So damn cute! You two are so imaginative.

    ReplyDelete
  57. Too late to enter any contest, but I am still sharing it tomorrow because it is made of awesome!

    ReplyDelete

Please be respectful when commenting; dissenting opinions are great, but personal attacks or hateful remarks will be removed. Also, including a link? Then here's your html cheat sheet: <a href="LINK ADDRESS">YOUR TEXT</a>