This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine. #PartyWithCricut #CricutMade #Cricut #ad
Hey party peeps! As you guys know, I recently teamed up with Cricut™ to bring you ideas on creative ways to use their new Cricut Explore Air™ 2 machine. I’m pretty sure I hugged the box when it arrived on my doorstep! As a professional party planner, I could not wait to get my hands on this baby and explore the many things I could do with it to give my parties a custom flair. I was super excited to join some of my fellow party lovin’ bloggers and Cricut™ on their latest Party With Cricut campaign where we bring you ideas on how to use the Cricut Explore Air™ 2 machine for all things PARTY! Be sure to follow the hashtag #PartyWithCricut to see all the party project ideas.
SWEET 16 PARTY INVITATIONS IDEAS!
I was asked to come up with a project idea for a Sweet 16 party invite and party favor for a teen boy. I was up to the challenge! In fact, I took it one step further and put another blog post up with my “7 TIPS to HOSTING A FABULOUS SWEET 16 PARTY!” Check it out HERE.
IT ALL STARTS WITH AMAZING SWEET 16 PARTY INVITATIONS!
Any fabulous party starts with an amazing invite! It sets the tone for the party and gives guests an idea of the party’s theme. Since most teens these days love music and are always on social media, I came up with this #16ROCKS! party theme—a mix of both things teens love! A growing trend in party invitations is delivering a handmade invitation to VIP guests. I decided to package the VIP invite with a #16ROCKS! t-shirt that the VIP guests can wear to the party. The birthday boy hand delivers these to his closest VIP friends. ROCK STAR STATUS!
LET’S MAKE THE INVITE!
I scoured over Cricut’s selection of papers and fabrics to make the invite and was immediately drawn to the metallics and faux-leather paper….what?!! I know…it’s AMAZING! I knew I had to have it. The mix of silver and gold metallics came in both foil and glitter cardstock versions. I used them both. The mix of black leather and shiny gold and silver metallics just screamed ROCK STAR PARTY!
HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Here’s a list of what you’ll need to make this invitation:
– Cricut™ Faux Leather
– Cricut™ Glitter Cardstock (gold)
– Cricut™ Adhesive Foil (silver)
– Cricut™ Glitter Vinyl (gold)
– Cricut™ Transfer Tape
– Cricut™ Tools (weeder, scraper, paper trimmer)
– mini glue dots
LOAD THE INVITE PROJECT IN CRICUT DESIGN SPACE
For this invite, I started by designing it in Adobe Illustrator first. As a graphic designer, being able to design and upload by own designs and have the Cricut cut it all out is priceless! Log on to Cricut Design Space. You can access this Rockin Sweet 16 Invite file directly HERE. Click on OPEN.
CUT ALL THE ELEMENTS OF THE INVITE!
You will see the invite project loaded on your canvas that resembles the Cricut mat. All four items that you will need to cut are listed on the right on their own separate layers.
See below for what material you will need to cut for each element:
Guitar – silver adhesive foil
Back layer – gold glitter cardstock
Number 16 – gold glitter vinyl
Top layer – black faux leather
Now it’s time to cut your invite elements. Cricut Design Space will automatically walk you through cutting each element. Your computer can connect to your Cricut wirelessly via Bluetooth or you can connect directly with a USB cord. Once you you have the project open, CLICK ON MAKE IT.
STEP 1: CUT OUT THE GUITAR FROM SILVER ADHESIVE FOIL
You will see the guitar sitting on the mat in Design Space. CLICK CONTINUE.
Be sure to turn the material knob on your Cricut to CUSTOM and select Adhesive Foil from the list of custom material options.
Starting at the top left corner of the mat, place a piece of silver adhesive foil on your Cricut standard grip mat. Smooth it down so it is flat on the mat. When prompted, place the mat under the clips on the Cricut and hit the LOAD button on the front of the Cricut. It will pull the mat into position.
When prompted, hit GO! The Cricut will cut out the guitar from the foil. When it’s done you will hit the LOAD button again to unload the mat. Once unloaded, gently pull the foil off the mat leaving the guitar image on the mat.
Next, you’ll need to cut a piece of transfer paper to fit over the entire guitar image. Remove the backing of the transfer tape and place it on top of the guitar image. Use the Cricut scraper tool to make sure the transfer tape lays smooth and firmly rub the entire image with the scraper tool so that the guitar sticks fully to the transfer tape. Lift the transfer tape off of the mat. The guitar image will be now attached to the transfer tape. Sit it to the side.
STEP 2: CUT OUT THE TOP LAYER FROM BLACK FAUX LEATHER
Next, it’s time to cut the top layer of black faux leather. Did I already mention how much I LOVE this faux leather!
Lay a piece of black faux leather on the Cricut standard grip mat, load into the Cricut and hit GO. It will cut out the layer.
Gently lift off the faux leather leaving the top layer on the mat. Then gently lift the top layer off the mat. The small holes may not remove on their own. The weeder tool is great for this. Simply pop out the holes by pressing on them with the weeder tool. Sit it to the side.
STEP 3: CUT OUT THE BACK LAYER FROM GOLD GLITTER CARD STOCK
The next step is to cut the back layer from a piece of gold glitter card stock. Place the card stock on the mat, load and hit GO. Once it’s cut, lift away all the excess paper leaving only the back layer on the mat. Remove the gold card and sit to the side.
STEP 4: CUT OUT THE NUMBER 16 FROM GOLD GLITTER VINYL
The last step is to cut the number 16 from a piece of gold glitter vinyl. Trim a piece of the vinyl from the roll of glitter vinyl. The Cricut paper trimmer tool makes this so easy!
Place the glitter vinyl on the mat, load and hit GO. Once they are cut, lift away all the excess vinyl leaving only the number 16 on the mat. Use the weeder tool to remove the inside of the 6.
STEP 5: ASSEMBLE THE SWEET 16 PARTY INVITATIONS
Now that we’re done WITH all of our cuts, we’re ready to assemble our invite!
First, position the top leather layer on top of the gold glitter back layer and attach them together using mini glue dots. Then, remove the liner from the transfer tape and place the silver foil guitar in place on top of the black faux leather top layer and firmly smooth it down with the scraper tool.
Gently lift away the transfer paper leaving the guitar on the leather. If the guitar begins to lift away with the transfer paper, smooth it back down with the scraper tool and try again to lift it away.
Lastly, attach the number 16 to the invite with mini glue dots. Your invite is now assembled. Now it’s time to attach the back printed panel of the invite.
For this, you will print from your computer a 7″ x 5″ card that includes all your invitation information. Attach the invite card to the back of the assembled invite with glue dots and you’re all done!
Your invites are done and can be given out now, but how fabulous would it be to include with your invitations this matching #16ROCKS! t-shirt. CLICK HERE to see how to make it.
I hope you’re inspired to make your own Rockin’ Sweet 16 Party Invitations with your Cricut. If you don’t have one yet, I have GREAT NEWS! Me and my fellow party bloggers have teamed up to give away a Cricut to one lucky winner! Enter now below for your chance to win!
ENTER TO WIN A CRICUT!
Enter to win your very own Cricut Explore Air 2 machine HERE
WANT MORE DETAILS ON THE CRICUT EXPLORE AIR™ 2?
If you don’t own a Cricut Explore Air™ 2 machine and are looking for more information or are considering getting one for yourself, CLICK HERE for more information. You can thank me later!
LOOKING FOR MORE IDEAS? FOLLOW ME ON PINTEREST FOR LOTS OF INSPIRATION!
CLICK HERE to check out my PINTEREST BOARD full of recipes, parties, home decor, DIY projects and more!
DON’T MISS A THING!
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WANT TO SEE MORE OF MY CRICUT PROJECTS & POSTS?
Click on any of the projects & posts below:
– Check out the NEW Cricut Explore Air™ 2 and up your DIY game!
– My First Project with the new Cricut Explore Air™ 2
– Make Custom Party Plates with the new Cricut Explore Air™ 2
– How to Make #16ROCKS! Sweet 16 T-Shirts with Cricut!
– 4th of July Superhero Flag Shield Backpack and Water Bottle with Cricut
– How to Make Your Own Personalized Unicorn Party Plates with Cricut
Cheers!
Tonya
I was invited to participate in the Cricut Party Blogger Program Kickoff.
This experience is based strictly on my opinion. Others may have a different opinion or experience with the product listed above. I was provided the sample free of charge by the company or PR agency and I have given my honest opinion.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
Love every detail! Such a fun theme!
Those invitations came out awesome!! It’s amazing what you can do with a Cricut.
I’ve been eyeballing the Cricut for a while now. I’m just not sure I would use it to it’s full potential. These items look amazing though! Hmmm…
I have an older Cricut, and really wish mine could do all of these things. Love the invitations!
Oh Sweet 16 is such an exciting event! Love the Rock n Roll theme you came up with, so original!
Those look so great! I guess the Cricut must be your secret weapon to all you cool party favors.
I need to start rocking my Cricut more. I love what you did with those!
I didn’t know there was so much that you can customize with a cricuit! Looks like tons of fun!
That is a great way to use a Cricut! I never thought to use it for my babies birthday. Looks like the perfect party idea!
What great ideas. I feel like I need a Cricut now. My son will be 16 next year.
You did an awesome job! This turned out really well.
I love seeing sweet 16 ideas for boys – there is not much out there! These Cricut machines are amazing with all they can do.
So cute! I have little ones. I’m looking forward to the day when we give the kids a sweet 16 party. I had a semi formal theme for my sweet 16.
That is one cool machine. It does some awesome work.
Those invites are awesome! Cricut machines rock. I remember the days when I would scrapbook and I would have to run to the store to buy one die-cut because I didn’t have what I needed, and they never had the right color, a Cricut machine is a MUST for any scrapbook fan!
I want one of these so badly!
Why haven’t I seen this cricut before in my life. I have another small business which will benefit from this massively and also reduce spending money on printing companies!
What a great DIY. I would have so loved this for my 16th birthday. You are very talented.
This is an amazingly cute idea for a teen party. It’s sophisticated and perfect for a teen or young adult party. I love the idea.
I’ve seen some amazing projects that bloggers have done with circuit but not t-shirts. This is super cool!
What an awesome theme for a sweet sixteen! These invitations are stunning and I love how you were able to use unique materials aside from standard paper.
I LOVE this invitation. I seriously need a Cricut now lol. You are so talented at all this party stuff. THis will be good to keep in mind for my 16th b-day next year.
I could also make use of this Circuit for my wedding day! Yippee!
Wow, these sweet 16 invitations were really awesome, never thought this could be a DIY as well! Very nicely done
Those are fantastic! They turned out beautifully. Clearly, I need to get myself a Cricut.
So creative! Maybe I should try this on my next birthday… although I’m no longer sixteen.
What a rocking sweet 16!!! I wish I’d had such an amazing party!
These invitations are so cute. I have been wanting to give Cricut a try.
Those turned out really nice. I love them! I’m sure any teen would love to get invitations like those. Cricut is something I’ve been wanting to try for a while now.
What an awesome invite! I just love it! It’s great for more than sweet 16’s too!
The t-shirt and the invitation are so cool. I don’t have a Cricut but I have seen some great things made with one.
I would love to be able to make, with precision, the ideas that I think of on my own instead of having to go buy something that everyone else has.
This is an awesome looking party idea. I love the whole 16 rocks vibe. I would have loved a party like this when I was 16.
I really want a circuit . Looks like there are so many cool things to do with them!
The designs for the Sweet 16 party are so cool! It’s awesome how easy it is to customize your own party decorations.
Wow this is a fabulous invite! What a lucky birthday celebrant 🙂 This printer is a life saver 🙂
That is so cool! It would be nice to make invitations and cards by just using cricut! I love how it turned out.
I love arts and crafts and I would love to have a cricut printer! It’s amazing and just look at the outcome! SO COOL.
Oh my! My kids and I would love this. So many ideas come to mind. Never heard of Cricut printer before.
This is such an amazing project. I know Cricut can do some amazing things and have used it. But I have never seen anything like that. It looks awesome.
Omg this is amazing! What a great way to make something more personable and customized! I never used cricut before but this looks really cool and useful! I need to check this out. Thanks for sharing!
~Crissy
Those invitations look great! I love all these things you can make if you had a Cricut Air Explore 2. So awesome!
I am just in awe at how creative you are! I would never be able to come up with such great ideas! This is such a cute invitation. I will have to ask for a circuit for my birthday so I can try out my own fun and creative designs.
This is really awesome! I love the idea of using Cricut for party invitations! I love how it turned out!
This is amaizng and money saver!! I will recommend this to my bff who’s daughter is turning 16 !
This looks like a lot more fun that buying cards so thanks for sharing. Now I have to think about the next party, hmmm ….
Such cool graphics for a sweet 16 party! I’ve always wanted to have a cricut and learn how to use one. Going to enter the giveaway! 🙂
This is so cool! I would have loved something like this as a sixteen invitations. Sounds great and looks awesome.
I love my Cricut! The amount of things you can make with it are endless! I love this sweet 16 idea.
very cool idea and the detail is amazing. I want one of those machines now.
Thoroughly enjoyed the designing process of the invite, and Cricut is a cool device
Loved the t-shirt very much.
I loved this idea for invitation.
That is such a cute top! I’ve wanted a Cricut for so long now.
wow! You really went all out with this one! what a fun project! Thank you for sharing!
These are fab you did an amazing job
WOW! You did such an amazing job with the invitations. I would have love this for my invite for my 16th birthday.
This is such a fun idea. I like the #16rocks theme and the t-shirt. Perfect for teens party.
I’d be more likely to use a “2” or “35” Rocks, but I like the idea. I definitely need to invest in a Cricut.
I spend a lot of time in craft stores and always wondered what Cricut was and what it could do. Very cool to see it in action!
This is a great idea. Though, if I ever need something like this, I would just ask my friend who owns a professional print shop to do it.
I love the invitations! I had no idea a cricut machine could do so much.
This is super cool! you make some of the most awesome DIY projects! Love following your site to see what you will make next.
This looks awesome. I want to try this for my younger’s sister birthday. Thanks for sharing.
OMG I think I need to get a Cricut right away. You did so many amazing projects. Pretty inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing.
Wow!!! What a great machine. Those invitations look amazing.
wow, this is so awesome what a creative and awesome way to make an invitation. so cool I bet they really stood out.
These invites and tee look so good for being a DIY, they may me want to get a Cricut! I like the fact that they are much more customizable than getting them made elsewhere. Great post!
prettyfitfoodie.com
After reading this, I’m convinced that a circuit will make my life all the better. That is is gorgeous. Love it.
This is such a great DIY Idea, you are an artist. I am not sure if i can make something this neat.
I knew that you could do a lot of fun stuff with a Cricut, but I had no clue you could be THIS creative with one. Love the theme, and the metallic? BRILLIANT!
That is one seriously awesome piece of kit! The creative possibilities are endless! Love this party theme too 🙂
Omg how cute are these invites?!?! Perfect for a sweet 16 party!!!!
That is a terrific option for a young boy celebrating his special day. I love your keen sense of design.
You can use this, and open your small printing and designing business in your community. You seems good at it 🙂
How cool is this!! I love how you were able to create and put love into something for your child’s special day!
Great DIY tip from your blog! Ive been looking for the hosting of an event! Thanks for sharing!
Ooh, I love the invite! What a great design. I have a soon-to-be-sixteen-year-old at my house, so I’ll be bookmarking this for later!
Clearly I need to get a Cricut! The stuff you made is so cool. I love making homemade gifts and things for my family.
This is a nice machine. Who would have thought this is already available? I can make a business out of it! I just need to learn and know more about this.
This is a dream tool for creative geniuses! I am not that crafty but maybe if I had a Cricut, I would be able to learn to make nice stuff too. The invitation you made is just awesome!
This is so awesome! You come up with the best party ideas!
i so much love the creativity in this work here, i would not have thought of doing this myself but here you have given me insights to it, it sure will save me alot of money going out to make them.
How clever and creative you are! I wouldn’t even know where to start!
Katja xxx
http://www.katnapped.com
Wow that was so cool. The idea was unique and those invitations ROCKED lol!!
These are super cute! I absolutely love the colors and the textures. If I had to go back and be 16 again, I’d definitely want these to be my party invites!
This is so great! so original and cute, gotta try it
I love the idea of the invites on the leather and the gold lettering. It makes them really unique. Cricut is a great place to get the materials for the invites. Thanks for sharing the information and lovely invites.