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Foil Mandalas with the Cricut Foil Transfer Kit

October 20, 2020 By The Bearded Housewife 12 Comments

Quick Links To Info In This Post

    • LEARN HOW TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL FOIL MANDALAS USING CRICUT’S NEWEST TOOL – THE FOIL TRANSFER KIT
    • FOIL MANDALAS – MATERIALS LIST
        • STEP 1 – DOWNLOAD THE SVG CUT FILE
        • STEP 2 – UPLOAD THE SVG FILE TO CRICUT DESIGN SPACE
        • STEP 3 – UNGROUP THE DESIGN
        • STEP 4 – CHANGE CUT LINES TO FOIL LINES
        • STEP 5 – MAKE YOUR MATERIAL SELECTIONS, LOAD THE FOIL TRANSFER TOOL, AND PREP YOUR MAT
        • STEP 6 – LOADING YOUR MATS AND FOILING/CUTTING THE IMAGE
        • STEP 7 – LAYERING YOUR MANDALA INTO YOUR FRAME
    • WANT THE FREE SVG FILE SO YOU MAKE THESE FOIL MANDALAS YOURSELF?
  • WANT MY FOIL MANDALA SVG FILE? ​ IT’S IN MY RESOURCE LIBRARY! ​ GET THE PASSWORD HERE! ​

LEARN HOW TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL FOIL MANDALAS USING CRICUT’S NEWEST TOOL – THE FOIL TRANSFER KIT

If you are a crafter, you probably have heard that Cricut released a new tool called the Foil Transfer Kit. It creates a pressed foil onto cardstock by using pressure instead of heat. It is, in one word, AMAZING! As soon as I heard about it, I knew I wanted to make foil mandalas!

So, I got to designing. This mandala took my five days to finish drawing but the result is SO SO worth it!

The detail this new tool can replicate is just incredible. I love the shine and texture it adds to the cardstock. So beautiful!

Now, I need to mention a few things about the Foil Transfer Tool. It can only be used with Desktop or Laptop. Like the Knife Blade, it is not compatible with Design Space mobile apps on your smartphone or tablet. Also, it cannot be used with a Cricut Joy machine.

In this tutorial, I’ll give you my step by step instructions and tell you what materials I think work best when making this project.

You can download the SVG file for this project at the bottom of this post.

This post contains some affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you).Read my full disclosure policy here.

FOIL MANDALAS – MATERIALS LIST

  • I am using the FABULOUS Cricut Maker. The Foil Transfer Kit also works with your Cricut Explore Air 2!
  • Cricut Foil Transfer Kit
  • Cricut StandardGrip Cutting Mat (green)
  • Cricut Cardstock in your choice of colors
  • Cricut Foil Transfer Sheets (available in silver and gold)
  • Foam squares (optional)
  • Shadow box frame
Beautiful Foil Mandalas

Beautiful Foil Mandalas

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Active Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

Create absolutely gorgeous foil mandalas with layered cardstock and the Cricut Foil Transfer Kit!

Materials

  • My FREE Foil Mandala SVG Cut File
  • Cricut Foil Transfer Sheets. I am using the gold.
  • Cricut Cardstock in your choice of colors
  • Shadow Box Frame
  • Painter's Tape (optional)
  • Foam squares (optional)

Tools

  • A way to cut out your cardstock and do your foiling. I am using my FABULOUS Cricut Maker.
  • Cricut Foil Transfer Tool with tips
  • Cricut StandardGrip Cutting Mat (green)
  • Cricut Brayer

Instructions

STEP 1 - DOWNLOAD THE SVG CUT FILE

Download the SVG Cut file for the Foil Mandala (#41) from my FREE Resource Library. Click here to get access to the library.

STEP 2 - UPLOAD THE SVG FILE TO CRICUT DESIGN SPACE

If you aren't familiar with uploading SVG files into Design Space, take a look at my quick and easy tutorial here. If you are on your smartphone, here is my tutorial on using the Cricut App.

STEP 3 - UNGROUP THE DESIGN

Once uploaded into Cricut Design Space, ungroup the design by selecting UNGROUP in the layers panel.

ungroup the design

Note: My image is 10.5 inches squared which fits in my shadow box I am using. If your frame or shadow box is different, make the adjustment to the size of your design BEFORE ungrouping!

STEP 4 - CHANGE CUT LINES TO FOIL LINES

Scroll down to the mandala design. Select it.

select the mandala layer in the layers panel

Under the LINETYPE menu, select FOIL.

select foil from the linetype menu

Select FINE for the tip.

choose fine for the tip

Highlight the group the mandala is under.

select the mandala group from the layers panel

Click ATTACH in the lower right side of the layers panel.

Click the GREEN Make It Button.

STEP 5 - MAKE YOUR MATERIAL SELECTIONS, LOAD THE FOIL TRANSFER TOOL, AND PREP YOUR MAT

For this project, I am using Cricut Medium Cardstock.

To load your fine tip into the foil tool, press down on the plunger.

to insert the foil tip into the tool, press down on the plunger

Insert the fine tip into the tool and release the plunger.

then insert the tip and release the plunger

Now, adhere your cardstock to your mat.

to apply the foil, start with your cardstock on your mat

Add a piece of foil on top of the cardstock.

Note: Do make sure you have only one piece of foil. They do tend to stick together!

add your layer of foil on top of the cardstock

Take a piece of tape that is included with your foil.

take a piece of tape that is included with your foil

Adhere the foil to the mat by adding tape along all four sides. You will want the foil to be slightly tought. Not too tight that it will rip but not too loose either!

apply tape to the four sides fo the foil

If you need to add more tape, you can use painters tape to help adhere an area of the foil.

you can use painters tape if you need extra adhesion

STEP 6 - LOADING YOUR MATS AND FOILING/CUTTING THE IMAGE

Once you have placed your foil ready to go, load the cutting mat into the machine by pressing the flashing ARROW button.

load your mat

Load the Cricut Foil Transfer Tool into CLAMP B.

change out the fine point in clamb b blade for the foil tool

You will know the machine is ready to start the foiling process when you see the flashing "C" button. Press that to start.

click the flashing C to begin foiling

Once the foiling has completed, carefully remove the tape and foil from your cardstock. DO NOT PRESS THE ARROW BUTTON THAT UNLOADS THE MAT!

once the foiling is finished, remove the foil carefully. Don't press the arrows to unload the mat.

Return the Fine Point Cutting Blade to CLAMP B.

return the fine point blade to clamb b

Press the flashing "C" to complete the cut.

press the flashing c to make your cut

After your machine has finished, continue cutting the remaining layers.

STEP 7 - LAYERING YOUR MANDALA INTO YOUR FRAME

Your mandala is now complete.

your finished mandala

Here are two versions. One with the foam squares to add extra dimension and one without.

two versions. one with foam squares and one without

You can run the foam squares along the perimeter of the layers to add that dimension. Totally up to you. They are beautiful either way!

apply your foam squares around the perimeter of the cut

Before you add your mandala to your frame, insert the included push pins into the fabric backing.

insert push pins into the fabric backing of your shadow box

Layer your mandala into the shadow box from lightest to darkest.

add each layer to the frame from lightest to darkest

Add the backing to your frame and secure it.

add your shadow box backing

Your gorgeous art is now ready to display!

your mandala is complete

© The Bearded Housewife
Project Type: Decor / Category: Decor

Do you love it? I hope so! Post a photo in the comment section or tag your projects on social media @thebeardedhousewife using the hashtag #beardedhousewife! I’d love to see how yours turn out!!

I am so excited to create more and more projects that incorporate foil! It really elevates your work!

Speaking of more projects, my dear friend Amy Romeu of AmyRomeu.com has an amazing tutorial on how to create leather teardrop earrings embellished using the Cricut Foil Transfer Kit. STUNNING!

You can check out Amy’s post here!

Love,

WANT THE FREE SVG FILE SO YOU MAKE THESE FOIL MANDALAS YOURSELF?

GET IT FROM MY RESOURCE LIBRARY! YOU’LL RECEIVE THE PASSWORD FOR THE RESOURCE LIBRARY INSTANTLY AFTER FILLING OUT THE FORM BELOW!

WANT MY FOIL MANDALA
SVG FILE?
​
IT’S IN MY RESOURCE LIBRARY!
​
GET THE PASSWORD HERE!
​

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    Filed Under: Decor Tagged With: cricut decor projects, cricut explore air 2 tutorial, cricut foil, cricut foil transfer kit, cricut foil transfer kit tutorial, cricut maker tutorial, cricut projects, easy cricut projects, foil mandalas, layered mandalas, mandalas

    Previous Post: « Easy Coffin Shaped Treat Boxes
    Next Post: Cricut Foil Transfer Tool Basics »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. CookieTrent

      October 20, 2020 at 6:43 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
      • The Bearded Housewife

        October 20, 2020 at 7:32 pm

        You are most welcome! It’s my pleasure! Enjoy it! Let me know how it turns out!! 😊

        Reply
      • Shirl

        October 21, 2020 at 12:17 am

        Just got my foil kit! This is a beautiful project! Thank you.

        Reply
        • The Bearded Housewife

          October 21, 2020 at 5:54 am

          Shirl,

          Hi there! You are most welcome! Thank you for the compliment! Enjoy your foil kit. It is addicting!! Let me know how your mandala turns out!

          Reply
    2. Ida Foster

      October 21, 2020 at 12:40 am

      Thank you for this beautiful file and the excellent how-to video! I just got my Cricut Foil Tool Kit and a pack of gold foil. You have given me the confidence to open it and make your mandala. I am grateful and really excited! 😊

      Reply
      • The Bearded Housewife

        October 21, 2020 at 5:55 am

        Ida,

        That is so sweet. Thank you. It is a fun project. Let me know how it turns out! Congrats on getting the transfer kit. It can be addicting!! ❤️

        Reply
    3. Janelle Rogers

      October 24, 2020 at 2:51 pm

      This is beautiful! Can you please tell me if you used this new foil tool on anything not specifically listed in the “materials” Cricut recommends? That is things like, acrylic (I know not likely to work), foam, fabric, wood, etc.?

      Reply
      • The Bearded Housewife

        October 24, 2020 at 2:56 pm

        Thank you, Janelle!
        I haven’t done much experimenting with different materials yet.
        I don’t think acrylic would work but wood should!

        Reply
    4. Jania Johnson

      October 27, 2020 at 9:55 am

      I never cared to make a mandala design until I saw yours. I love it!!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful design!

      Reply
      • The Bearded Housewife

        October 27, 2020 at 10:05 am

        Jania,

        Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoy it!
        Sharing is what I love to do and is a pleasure!

        Let me know when you finish yours. I’d love to see it!

        -Nick

        Reply
    5. Karen

      October 27, 2020 at 9:39 pm

      I hope I did this right was the foil Mandela supposed to cut out like the others? Mine didn’t it’s beautiful. I will work on layers but love the design.

      Reply
      • The Bearded Housewife

        October 28, 2020 at 1:34 pm

        Hi, Karen!

        The foil layer is not supposed to cut out like the others. Your machine should have foiled the mandala and then cut the piece of cardstock down to 10.5×10.5.

        Did it do that? Thank you for the compliment! I’m glad you like this project. It is a favorite of mine!

        Reply

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    Hi! I'm Nick, The Bearded Housewife!
    I am a husband, stay-at-home dad, homemaker and a lifelong crafter! I created this blog after years of family and friends coming to me for advice and direction on how to add special touches throughout their homes. I hope you find some inspiration here to help craft your house into your home! You can find out more about me, here!

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