3D Butterfly Card Tutorial: Loklik Crafter vs iCraft

Some projects come together effortlessly… and some make you work for every single layer. This 3D butterfly card definitely fell into the second category. What started as a simple idea quickly turned into a full lesson in patience, troubleshooting, and knowing when it’s time to upgrade your tools.

In today’s video, I’m sharing the entire process — the good, the frustrating, and the surprisingly satisfying ending.

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Where It All Started: A Butterfly and a Vision

I wanted to create a dimensional butterfly card with layered wings, soft florals, and a clean, elegant base. The design came together beautifully in IdeaStudio, and I was excited to bring it to life.

But the moment I hit “Cut,” my Crafter had other plans.

Cardstock snagged.  

Edges tore.  

Details refused to cut cleanly.  

If you’ve ever watched your machine chew up a design you spent hours preparing, you know exactly how that moment feels.

Learning Through the Process: IdeaStudio Techniques

Even though the cutting didn’t go smoothly at first, the design process itself was a great opportunity to walk through some essential IdeaStudio tools. In the video, you’ll see step‑by‑step how I:

• Slice shapes to create clean cutouts  
• Unite (weld) elements together to turn multiple shapes into one single cuttable piece  
• Group and organize elements for easier editing  
• Prep multi‑layer designs for cutting  
• Arrange flowers and accents for a balanced layout  
• Set material parameters for cardstock  
• Use the Draw function to write the greeting inside the card 

If you’re still learning IdeaStudio or want to see a full workflow from start to finish, this project is a great example of how all the tools come together.

When the Crafter Couldn’t… the iCraft Could

After several failed attempts, I finally accepted that the Crafter just wasn’t handling the fine details of this design. So I switched to the Loklik iCraft — and the difference was immediate.

Clean cuts.  

Smooth edges.  

Perfect details.  

The butterfly wings finally looked the way I imagined them, and the flowers cut beautifully on the first try. It was such a relief to see the project come back to life.

Bringing the Card Together

Once all the pieces were cut, the fun part began — layering the butterfly, shaping the wings, assembling the flowers, and adding those final touches that make handmade cards feel special.

The finished card is bright, dimensional, and full of movement… exactly what I hoped for when I started.

Watch the Full Tutorial

If you want to see the entire journey — the design, the fails, the upgrade, and the final card — the full video is now live. Whether you’re here for the machine comparison, the IdeaStudio tips, or just a little creative inspiration, I hope it helps you feel more confident in your own crafting process.