The dreaded last piece of your papercraft has got you frustrated?
Here is an amazing trick! *refer to the images below for a visual. 

On our patterns there are some notes that help you orient yourself as you make your Papercraft. One of the note will say last piece. It will also sometimes say something like ' cut a hole so you can reach inside for easier assembly' This always helps as you can actually reach inside to glue your last few tabs however depending on your preferences, yo might want to have a fully 'closed' Papercraft. This is where this trick will be your new best move!!
First step:
Where it says last piece, print the piece twice. (If you received your Papercraft Kit already printed by mail, just keep the remaining left-over pieces of same color cardstock aside.)
Second step:
​Cut your first last piece so you can finalize your make and then using the second piece (which should not have any tabs) just glue in place on top! (if you have remaining same color cardstock instead just cut a piece similar to the hole you made but a big bigger and glue on top of your hole).

Here is a video tutorial on how to use our 3D papercraft patterns with your Glowforge.
Thank you!

In the world of papercraft we see all kinds of things, and we also see giant things! If you’ve wanted to try to make a bigger size papercraft for a long time, but weren’t sure how to, here are some tips.
Here is my journey: Little by little I researched the ways to do it and especially the necessary tools and materials. The rest is easy.
When I say easy, let me explain: Once I've equipped myself with the right paper (130 lb cardboard) and a large format printer, the rest is a matter of DIY. 
​You can use our Kits (already printed on the right size and thickness paper). Here is what you will need to get you set-up!

​Gluing Method #1 :
Also, lately I changed my technique and use double sided tape with a
double sided tape dispenser. It's a bit more expensive with a value ranging from about $50 to $75. I also bought 'heavy duty' tape. 
For most projects, regular double side tape works but bigger needs stronger tape. The cost of the tape is significant and I bought that at uline.ca
 

​Gluing Method #2:
On the other hand, a stick of glue at $4 does the trick too! My favorite is the red, the pritt. Here you will have to tape your seams once the glue dries (from the inside with packaging (clear) tape). This is the less expensive method and it takes a bit longer but works!

And that's it, the rest is manual but simple. You have to do a little every day or set-up a weekend aside. The pattern pieces are cut and 'scored ' (I take the back of the knife with a ruler and I slide on the dotted lines.) By the way, scoring the lines to fold is an important part. 
A bit annoying but folding will be much better!

The rest, well, it's like a mix between making a puzzle and painting by number. Just find the numbers that go together, so 1 with 1,   2 with 2...and glue them! 
HERE is the result: breathtaking every time!!

You can harden your models with resin epoxy ( see our other post) but you can also stuff them like you would a plush fabric toy. You can use plush or you can also use crumbled newspaper to add strength. In the photo below, I added polyfill to the legs of my flamingo. It stands without but some of the models will be used as model displays so I reinforce them.

A visit to my old blog has reminded of all the years I have put in to this ‘Sofs’ adventure. Such a fun trip. I wrote about many fun projects like how to make a tunic with your photos! Go check it out —> http://sophiemarcoux.blogspot.com/

So if you are here its most likely that, like me, you looked online to see if someone had done this experiment yet and found very little. I did find lots of people asking and talking about everything else they tried except this! Lots of people layered cement and epoxy but not actually mixed it. 

First I tried approximately ( everything is approximate!) 65% epoxy resin ( art resin) and 35% cement ( cement all quick setting) I mixed my epoxy first as per instructions and then I added my cement powder right in. (no water added) It worked super well. It came out darker and it sort of look like wet cement. It feels more like resin then cement and took a good 24 hours to fully cure.

For m second try, I used the reverse so 65% cement and 35% resin. This time I mixed my cement as I would have normally except I kept it on the dryer side (a bit less water then I would normally). Then I mixed my resin as per instructions and mixed both substance. Again here it worked like a charm! This time it looks a but more like cement would and took a bit less time to dry although it still takes much more time then just the quick setting cement all. See picture above of the 2 resin mix with cement experiment. Darker more resin looking is the first try and second is this new ratio.

I finally tried with even less resin to see if I can get that real cement feel ( grainy and sand feel versus the resin with is more plastic). I tried a 90% cement versus 10% resin ratio. It made the casting strong enough that my object did not break when I pulled it out of the mold and it feels like cement. Yay!! Here is a picture ( below) of the 3 different ratios although I don’t think it really shows.

Comment accrocher votre licorne sur le mur vous dites? Facile, regardé! ( une punaise, un petit clou ou même du ruban double face.

Ever wanted to use your die cutter to also score your lines?? I sure did.

If you are like me you’ve wondered how you could score your lines with your scanncut! You could try embossing but that’s a bit too much when all you need a quick score on your fold lines.

Well, after wondering for a long time and watching many YouTube videos, I figured it out! I felt that the tricks that people were using weren’t as user friendly as I had hoped so I tried this and it is AMAZING !

As you will see from the pictures below I am using a sdx225 so I am not sure if this technique will work for all models but I hope so!
You will need to have the universal pen tool holder and then you need an old pen that has ran out of ink. I find that there is a specific size pen that you need as some are either to thin or some too thick. I found one that fit just right.

You will need to set up your file to have your cut lines different from your score lines. I use my svg files from my papercraft designs ( you can find them with my digital downloads or email us if they are not already included when you get the pdf template).
I print the pdf document first on cardstock, then I scan it and send it to my canvasworkspace. I finalize the preparation by setting up my svg file to match the scan.

Once that’s done I set my score lines to ‘draw’.

What is important here is that you set your draw functions to pressure: 9 ( max pressure). Also the speed should not be too fast.

There you have it!! Scoring your lines has never been so easy!! You’re welcome! Let me know how it went for you.

FIRST you make pink popcorn! Good start yes?! I used a recipe I found online here. You may need to try it a few times before you get the right texture or the right color.
pssst you can also make it other colors for any other fun occasion.

SECOND make a hippo! That’s the best part in my opinion ( of course!) You can purchase the kit which will sent to you or you can also purchase the digital download template. 
The template makes a BIG hippo ( 36 inches long) but you can also print it on a smaller scale to make samller ones (make sure to reduce eac page to the same %). Use the size that fits your need. I used the large one for the photo but how cool would it be to make a few of the mid size ones.

NOW you pretty much got all you need to surprise your loved ones! You can add a few cute drinks and a few balloons if you want. Either way, I think that you are sure to make this party memorable. Take some pictures and wow your social media friends!! we want to see too, find us on instagram @sofsdesigns