Who doesn’t like a great smelling car? If you want to keep that “new car” smell for as long as possible, or you even want to add new and interesting aromas to your vehicle, then you’ll definitely want to try out cardstock freshies. Not only can freshies completely transform the interior of your car, but they can also be placed in your home or workplace. This means you can use cardstock freshies to enhance the air in virtually every environment in your life!
But how can you use cardstock cutouts for freshies? Is there a particular kind of freshie cardstock you should use for DIY freshies? Finally, what are some quality cardstock designs for freshies? In this guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s look at what we mean by “cardstock freshies” and what they can really do. So, let’s get started!
What Are Cardstock Freshies?
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If you’re unfamiliar with the term “freshies,” it is a fun synonym for “air freshener.” Thanks in large part to the online community of arts and crafts enthusiasts, freshies have taken on a whole new life. Now, you can find thousands of freshie cardstock images for free. These images can then be turned into cardstock cutouts and placed on homemade cardstock freshies.
Most freshies are made using a combination of materials, primarily scented aroma beads that have been baked in the oven. Cardstock can also be used as a fun addition and a way to easily place unique images on your air fresheners. In any case, all freshies that feature cardstock paper designs can be considered cardstock freshies. DIY cardstock freshies offer crafters a highly unique experience. Not only do they require careful design of cardstock cutouts, but they also involve baking. Therefore, making your own cardstock freshies is truly a fun and challenging project! |
Freshie Cardstock Image Ideas
There are no limits when it comes to freshie cardstock images. From animals to business logos, you can use pretty much any image as the basis for your cardstock freshie. For this reason, it is best to think of ideas unique to you and your environment. For example, if you’re creating a cardstock freshie for your workspace, you might use an inspirational quote or something that is both fun and appropriate for the office. Alternatively, if you’re creating a freshie for your car, you might opt for something reflective of your personality and sense of humor!
Oftentimes, when the sky is the limit, it can be difficult to decide what you want to do. This is definitely true with freshies! With so many images at your disposal, how are you supposed to choose? While we can’t make the choice for you, we can offer some popular options to help get your creative juices flowing! So, here are some popular freshie cardstock images to consider:
- Celebrities – Do you have a favorite singer, actor, or athlete? If so, you can use their images to create fun freshies!
- States or Countries – If you’re proud of where you come from, why not celebrate your roots? Freshies offer you a great way to celebrate your home state or country wherever you go.
- Team Mascots – If you’re a sports enthusiast, making a freshie with your favorite team’s logo or mascot is a great way to show your dedication as a fan!
- Brand Logos – Whether you own your own business or simply want to appreciate your favorite company, you can easily create cardstock freshies using brand logos.
- Quotes – Quotes are one of the most popular options for freshies because they are so versatile. You can use funny quotes, inspirational quotes, or even your favorite movie quotes to create a memorable freshie!
- Nicknames – Do you have a fun nickname that is unique to you? If so, turn it into a freshie!
- Cartoon Animals – Cute images are a great accompaniment to pleasant smells. You can easily create freshies using images of real or imaginary animals.
- Memes – Do you have a favorite meme that applies to you or a meme that always makes you laugh? If you’re like most people nowadays, you probably do. So, make your favorite meme into a cardstock freshie!
- Landscapes – Landscapes offer great material for all kinds of visual arts and crafts, and freshies are no exception.
- Religious Symbols – If you have religious symbols or images that are important to your spiritual life, you can use these symbols to create freshies and daily reminders of your beliefs.
- Holiday Themes – Freshies won’t last forever, but they can definitely last for the duration of the holiday season. Whether you want to appreciate Thanksgiving or the New Year, you can make a freshie to celebrate your favorite holiday in style!
How To Make Cardstock Freshies
Making cardstock freshies requires a few steps, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be making tons of cool designs in no time! So, let’s look at how to make cardstock freshies:
- Prep Your Oven – The exact temperature may vary based on the kind of aroma beads you use. That said, you should generally expect to preheat your oven somewhere between 325°F and 350°F. If you’re unsure what heat setting to use, do a test with a small number of beads to see how much heat they need to melt.
- Break Out The Baking Sheets – You can use traditional baking sheets to create your freshies. If you’re afraid of your beads getting stuck to the metal, consider lining your baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange Your Cookie Cutters – The easiest way to set the shape of your freshies is to use cookie cutters. Simply arrange your cookie cutters on your baking sheet, making sure that they are spaced evenly apart. While round cookie cutters are the most common option, you can use specialty cookie cutters based on the desired shape of your freshies.
- Set the Beads and Nails – It is easiest to use a nail or similar metal rod near the top of each freshie to create the hole that will later enable you to hang your design. Once the nails are in place, pour your aroma beads into the cookie cutters until they are spread out evenly and tightly compacted.
- Start Baking – Place your baking sheet in the preheated oven and let the beads bake for approximately 6 to 8 minutes. If this is your first time, consider testing your beads at the 5-minute mark. All you have to do is take them out of the oven and gently press on the top of the beads with a spoon. If the beads stick to the spoon, they are finished. If not, they may need a few more minutes.
- Cool Your Beads – Once you know that your beads have begun to melt into each other, you can remove them from the oven to let them cool. Remember that your beads should not melt into a liquid. You should still be able to distinguish individual beads from one another. Overbaking the beads could cause them to lose their aroma!
- Separate the Freshies – When the beads have had time to cool, you can remove them from the cookie cutters. To do this, you may need to pry them out gently. Don’t use too much force, as it could cause them to lose their shape.
- Thread Your String – Assuming you plan to hang your freshies, you’ll need to thread string through the holes you created with the nails. You just need to tie the strings together so that the freshies can hang from your car’s rearview mirror or wherever you choose to hang them.
- Add Your Cardstock – The last step is to add your cardstock and any images to your freshies. The best method is to use hot glue or a similarly strong adhesive. Once you’ve made sure that the cardstock is securely glued to the freshies and you feel happy with the design, you’re all set!
The Best Cardstock For Freshies
Fortunately, most cardstocks work really well for freshies. There is no specific home, work, or car freshie cardstock, though it is generally advisable to go with a thicker cardstock like 80 or 100 lbs. These are less likely to be damaged if your freshies have not cooled properly. In any case, adding cardstock to freshies is really easy and a great way to enhance their value and visual appeal!
Ready to start your next project? Check out our high-quality cardstock today, and let us know how you put our cardstock to good use!