Making Printable Acetate Christmas Ornaments - Cricut

I love these so much!  They are photos printed on acetate that "float" in the center of the ornaments.

I have a long detailed post on how I did this, and the mistakes I made, below, but here is the cliff notes version:

1. Make sure you use the right acetate.  If you are using an inkjet printer (what most of us have as home printers) you need acetate that works in inkjet printers.  I use this one. Grafix Ink Jet Film, 8-1/2-Inch by 11-Inch, 6-Pack, Clear

2. Cut on custom, choose Foil Acetate

3. The phonto app curves text quickly.  Create, send to yourself, upload to design space.  Detailed instructions here - http://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2017/11/how-to-curve-text-in-phonto-for-cricut.html

4. Glitter and snow will stick to the acetate - foam beads (found at the dollar tree) work best.

4. I use a mini bowdabra. It's currently one of my most favorite things. Darice Designer Bowdabra Bow Maker, Mini

(That's my first successful use of the Samantha font)

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The first part of this project was pretty easy.  
I uploaded this image:

Made it a print and cut image by selecting the white and "erasing" it.

Then I uploaded photos.  I did nothing but upload them, as this will be print and cut.

For the 4 inch ornaments, my size is: 3.972 wide  x 3x8 long

Then I placed the blank ornament image over the photo, and sliced.

I did that for each of the ornaments below.

For the Gilmore Girls ornament (top left) I had to re-add the topper - there wasn't enough space at the top of the photo for a full slice of just the image.  So after deleting all of the extra slices, I selected the top and the photo and chose "flatten" to make it one image for print and cut.

(Someone mentioned that they made these years ago by printing on acetate then cutting out with a circle punch.  I don't have a circle punch this large, and I like the extra tab at the top to help hold them in place - but I'm certain a circle punch would work too)

Then I hit "Make it"

I shall title this step, "Mistakes have been made".  LOL!  First - you can't do 4 at a time.  Maximum width is 6.75 for print and cut.  Second, did you know there are TWO kinds of acetate?  I of course, bought the wrong one.  There's an acetate specifically for ink jet printers. 

It actually printed beautifully.  But it was sooooo wet that I couldn't hit cut.  I ended up pulling it off the mat, and blotting it.  Why?  Because I don't always think things through.  Blotting it was not a good idea.  I should have just let it alone to see how/if it would dry.  Patience is never my strong suit.

(They look lighter, with the light shining through the window, than they really are)

 I have 3 versions (on the wrong acetate) hanging in the window right now.  Draft print, regular print, specialty print.  The ink is very wet.  (see mistake #2 - specific acetate paper for ink jet printers....)   None worked well - it simply does not dry.  I NEED inkjet specific acetate.

Note - others have tried using page protectors.  While this will work, within a few days, the page protectors will curl up inside of the ornament.  I don't think there is a good alternative to good inkjet printable acetate.

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Two days later - 

My new inkjet printable acetate has arrived!  And it works GREAT.  This is what I bought:

 6 sheets for $5.95.  I'm using the larger, 3.9 inch, ornaments, and can get two ornaments from one page.  The smaller ornaments would allow me to get 4 ornaments to a page.  Be sure to print on the rougher side!  You'll feel the difference easily enough.

My next problem was cutting - it didn't cut all the way through.  But since it was print and cut, I was able to recut without any problem.  However, once I went to custom settings and chose foil acetate, it cut beautifully.  I noticed that on this setting, it cuts twice.  

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Free SVG Files For Christmas Ornaments
(a collection of links)
http://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2017/11/free-svgs-for-christmas-ornaments.html

How to Make a Bitmoji Christmas Ornament
http://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2017/11/how-to-make-bitmoji-christmas-ornament.html