Cricut Drawing Project- Rainbow Bridge Card

Cricut Drawing Project - How to make a Rainbow Bridge Pet Sympathy Card using a cricut machine and pens

Today I want to share with you a Cricut Drawing Project I designed on Cricut Design Space. It’s a Cricut Drawing Card with the theme of a Rainbow Bridge Pet Sympathy Card.

And I’ll be sure to share the Cricut Design Space Link File and a Video of how to create it. Because you might like to make the very same card! It’s a helpful Cricut card to have on hand in case a loved one or a dear friend loses their Furry Family Member.

Those of us who treat our furry friends as a member of the family know just how deeply it hurts with the loss of a pet. I think most people are familiar with the “Rainbow Bridge” concept but in case you are not, you can read about it here. I think it’s just a beautiful poem!

And not to worry as I created this Cricut drawing project with both Dogs and Cats in mind! You will be able to easily swap out the Dogs for Cats or vice versa or use both in one card. This Cricut drawing project makes a very versatile Rainbow Bridge Pet Sympathy Card.

Updated Rainbow Bridge Drawing Project File

Sorry to report the original card I designed in Cricut Design Space became corrupted per software engineers who worked for hours trying to recover my file.

So, I re-designed the card to be very similar to the original one. I actually like my new version better and had it tested by several who report they like it better too, so Yay!

I updated the links so you will be taken to the correct Design Space Project.

Here are a few pics of the new card design, I hope you like them. This card has become quite popular and I have been getting emails reporting how much the recipients who receive them really loved the card in their sadness of the loss of their furry loved one!

cricut drawing project card, pet sympathy card

a cricut drawing project card with a rainbow and bridge in the design

cricut shimmer paper can be used to enhance the look of the card

I used the Gold Shimmer Paper and absolutely love the look of it on this card. I used it for the one rectangle shape on the front of the card and for the wings and halos.

When you use the shimmer paper, I suggest using a Green Standard Grip Mat or a very new Blue Light Grip Mat. When you choose the Shimmer setting to cut, it will cut 2 times for each piece. When I used a not-new Blue Mat, the shimmer paper would move or shift during the cut. Once I put the shimmer paper on the Green mat it cut like butter on the Shimmer Paper setting.

I will provide the steps below in addition to a helpful video. Please keep in mind the video was created with the original card design. But have no fear, the process is the same so you may find the video helpful especially if you are new to making cards with a Cricut.

Supplies

Table of Contents

Rainbow Bridge Design Space File

Cardstock
Cricut Pens
Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air 2
Cricut Mat
Wink of Stella – optional
Jelly Roll Pen – optional
Stickles – optional
Jewel or Paper Picker – optional
Tweezers – optional
5 X 7″ Envelopes – White – optional
5 X 7″ Envelopes – Brown – optional
5 X 7″ Card sleeve protectors – optional

Process for a Cricut Drawing Project

Video – Rainbow Bridge Pet Card

Designing

To make this project just like mine, locate the Cricut Design Space File Link in my resource library.

If you’d like to design your own drawing project then you have several options.

5 Steps for a successful Cricut Drawing Project

1. Search for images you like in Cricut Design Space, Select image then click on “Insert Images”

Search for images such as this Dog image which shows a cut file but you can easily change it to a draw image for any Cricut Drawing Project.

Notice below the image you selected is now on your Cricut Mat in Design Space.

Also, note it shows your “Linetype” as “cut”. If you would like to “draw” this image instead then use the drop-down arrow and select “draw”.

1st image is showing Cut. 2nd image showing Draw.

Cricut Design Space image set to be a cut image. You can change this image to a draw image to create a Cricut Drawing Project, such as a Rainbow Bridge Pet Sympathy card.

changing line type from cut file to draw file for a Cricut Drawing Project.

Notice also how the black square changed from a solid black to an outlined black color. This shows it changed from a cut file to a Draw file. As is, this dog would be drawn using a black pen. If you would like to change it to a different color click on the black square as shown below.

It will default to the F – Fine Point (0.4mm). Here you can choose a different color or If you need a different type of pen, click on the rectangle box labeled F-Fine Point. This will give you more pen-type selections to choose from as shown below.

2. You can also search for images that are designed to draw. Such as the one below. Trust me, there are tons of drawn images! YaY!

3. You can also create your own using shapes. Honestly, we only have our imaginations and some patience to design a Cricut Drawing Project just what we would like or vision. Just as I did for this Rainbow Bridge Pet Sympathy Card.

4. If you need further basic assistance with Cricut Design Space, check out my Free Guide. You can download it for free and print it if you like, plus there is a Video that is “time-stamped” in all the right places to jump you exactly where you need to learn or remind yourself of a particular step. 😊

5. Don’t forget to attach any drawing image to something on your Cricut Design Space Mat. For example, on the Rainbow Bridge Card, I attached my drawing images or shapes or fonts to the 5X7″ card base.

Attaching an item (Dog) will tell Design Space you want that “Dog” to be drawn on “that” 5X7″ piece of paper. Make sense? 📎← Fancy paper clip for remembering to attach 😆

Cutting your Cricut Drawing Project

Here is the Design Space File I created. I created it so you can choose a dog or cat or use both. Let’s say you decided you want only the dog for this card. You would select the cat group below and in the layers panel turn the eye off so the project will only cut out the dogs. (I show this detail in my video)

Cricut Drawing Project of a Rainbow Bridge Pet Sympathy Card.

Once your design is completed, click on “Make It” to select your settings prior to cutting.

This will send your design to the Design Space Virtual Mats to view, note how in the picture below you can check to make sure your drawn images are attached to the card bases.

If you find one of your drawn images is not on a paper but on the Cricut mat, hit cancel and go back into Design Space and attach that image ✔

Click continue as you will be selecting your cardstock material next.

Notice in the picture below, all the pens noted you will need for this particular project.

The picture above is also showing to load your scoring wheel and a yellow pen. If you are using a Cricut Explore Air 2 then it would ask you to load your pen or your scoring stylus instead 👌 Below I’m adding my yellow pen into Clamp A per Design Space.

Once your tools are loaded you will place your mat into your cutting machine and press on “load” then the flashing “Go” button.

During your project when you see the “Go” button flashing, do not unload your mat but just look at your Design Space App as it’s trying to let you know which pen or tool to load next. So change your pen or tool then press the”Go” button again.

Tip: I find it helpful to put all the pens I’ll need for one project in a coffee mug and I like to keep a cute tray to hold my pen lids and tools I’ll need for this current project.

If I recall correctly, this large drawing project took approx 25 min to just draw. So it is good practice to be organized and be able to keep your pens handy. 👍

Weeding or Removal from Cricut Mat

Once your drawing and cutting are complete, unload your mat and turn it upside down to carefully remove your cut files so they do not curl up while removing.

Now your Rainbow Bridge Card is ready to glue and add your own personal touches if you like.

Apply

I started by gluing the backs of the wings and attaching them to the dog, then gluing the dog onto the card bases.

Tip: I also find it helpful to use angled pointed tweezers for small objects as below.

Then I used some more glue to adhere the dog to the card base and front.

use glue to adhere wings to dog and the dog to the card.

Now comes the fun part of personalizing your cards. Often times what can make your card stand out and also be unique is to add those extra touches.

Money-saving TIP: If you do not have any Cricut Glitter Pens, you can use this pen to make your pen lines look like you used a glitter pen!

I used this pen to add a special gold glitter look to enhance the drawn halo.

using wink of stella pen in gold glitter to enhance the look of the Cricut drawing project.

Then I finished off the special touches by adding some of this to the 3 red hearts on the front of the card.

Next, it’s time to fold your card where the scoreline is.

Then smooth the folded edge with a Cricut Scraper to give it that finished polished look.

smoothing out the card fold with a Cricut scraper

Next, I used a tape runner to adhere the card front to the card base. You can also use glue if you prefer.

using tape runner to add card front to card base.

Tips to save your Cricut Drawing Projects

Ok, well tips for saving any card you’ve made or purchased to keep them clean and safe until use.

TIP: This is a great organizational tip to use throughout the year. I like to make cards ahead of time and keep them protected and in the same place so I know exactly where to find them when needed, even when I’m rushed!

I grab an envelope and place it behind the card and place both into a large or small card sleeve protector and file for later use. I just love this method, it’s a win-win!

I have a different shaped cardholder to file “all” my cards in by order of what kind of card it is, such as Birthday, Get Well, etc.