For the June 2019 All Things Silhouette Conference, I taught a class called "Let's Explore Print & Cut with Printable Heat Transfer". I had so much fun creating this class and want to share that with all of you. While I cannot pass around all the demos I made like I did in class, I hope … Continue reading Print and Cut with Heat Transfer Paper
Let's talk software. The Silhouette Studio program is a software program that is installed directly on your computer. What is software? Well, the most basic answer I can use to describe it is, it is code put together in a pattern that tells it what to do. We don't see this side of things and … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Bugs
Today I am headed out to the June 2019 All Things Silhouette conference and I have to tell you while it may be a lot of work to prep and set up for the conference, I always come back knowing more than I did before & feeling inspired by all that I see at this … Continue reading Silhouette Inspiration
Silhouette is having a sale! The Silhouette Alta 3D printer is on sale now from June 1st - 15th for $249.99 Click on this link HERE to go to the Silhouette Alta and use my code SILSECRETS to take advantage of this sale. I have seen so many cool things created with the Alta and … Continue reading Sale & FREE shipping – yes please!
Recovered Documents Did you know that the Silhouette software has an Auto-save feature? When you open the Silhouette Studio program, is there a Recovered Documents Panel that pops up? This Panel can also be found under the File menu in the top left corner, then Open Recovered. The Auto save feature will save a copy … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Recovered Documents
Using multiple Silhouette machines simultaneously One of the great features of the Silhouette Business Edition upgrade is being able to run multiple Silhouette machines at the same time. The Business Edition upgrade has many great features and you do not have to have a business to use it or have a need for it. However, … Continue reading Using multiple Silhouette machines
By now, you've probably seen somewhere online that there are new Silhouette machines and products being released in Fall 2019 and into 2020. You can see a few photos & some details I posted (with permission) on my Silhouette Secrets+ Facebook page - HERE. All the new things coming are amazing! Not only was it … Continue reading Silhouette Summit 2019 Show & Tell
As this post is being published, I will be somewhere over the United States making my way from the East Coast to the islands of Hawaii to attend the Silhouette Summit! I am so excited & honored to be attending the Silhouette Summit 2019 and it is a dream come true for me. This will … Continue reading Aloha Tuesday!
Did you know that you can change your Selection Preferences in the Silhouette software? To open the Preference Panel, click on the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the Design tab or click on the Edit menu in the top right corner and choose Preferences. Selecting an Object There are several ways to … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Selection Preferences
Have you seen Edit points before? Do they intimidate you? Well let's see if we can change that. What are Edit points? Edit points are basically the data points the Silhouette reads to make a particular shape of the object. Each edit point has qualities on how it is supposed to act such as straight … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Edit Points
Last week, in Part 1 of Designing with shapes, we used the tools in the Silhouette software to draw an egg shape. Now, we will use those same tools to draw decorations for that egg. Check out the previous post HERE to see 2 different ways to draw an egg shape. I had 3 eggs … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Designing with shapes Part 2
In October of 2018, I put up a vinyl skeleton on our front door. After Halloween, my kids & husband asked me to leave it up because they thought it would be fun to decorate all year long. They tell me the ideas that they would like to accessorize the skeleton with and I cut … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Designing with shapes
The warp templates area new to the v4.2 software release. They are available with the Designer Edition upgrade or higher and a version higher than v4.2.279 of the Silhouette software. To update the Silhouette software version, I would highly recommend going to the Silhouette website and downloading the update direct from there. Before updating the … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Warp Templates
Text to path *created in version 4.2 of the Silhouette software Let's explore how to take ordinary text and make it more interesting by adding it onto a path. The most common way I see this used is when you want the text to form to a circle or oval shape. But why stop there? … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Text to path
Image Effects Panel in Silhouette Studio v4 Did you know there are a lot of options to change the Image Effects in Silhouette Studio v4? Under the Image Effects Panel on the right side, there are many options that include: - Grey Shade - Colorize - Contrast, Brightness & Saturation - Gamma - Invert - … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Image Effects
There is this little Silhouette machine called the Silhouette Curio that came into my studio and has quickly grown to be another favorite tool. Now, I have to admit that the first day I opened the box, I did holler upstairs to my husband and say something like "I think I made a mistake. I … Continue reading Let’s Explore – The Curio – Getting started
This past weekend I had the opportunity to teach at the Terri Johnson Creates Silhouette Spring Retreat. This was an intermediate level retreat and not only did the attendees learn lots of new things, but I learned from both the attendees and my colleagues as well. But, do you know what the most important part … Continue reading Silhouette Spring Retreat 2019
This week let's take a look at how to create your own design in the Silhouette Studio software using basic shapes and text. We will create an overlay that could be cut out of cardstock or other materials. I most often see these at trade shows cut by big, fancy laser cutters. But, why can't … Continue reading Creating designs in Silhouette Studio v4
This week we are going to explore one of the newly released features of the v4.2 software. The Puzzle Panel is available in the Silhouette software with the Designer Edition Plus or Business Edition upgrade. (Use my code SECRETS10 to save an additional 10% off the great prices on upgrades at Swing Design) The Puzzle Panel … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Puzzle Panel
Today, I am stepping away from the "Let's Explore v4" series about software for another topic I am asked about all the time. Today I will give you some tips I've discovered about getting the most use out of the Silhouette cutting mats. As a beginning Silhouette user, I do feel you go through mats … Continue reading Tips to get the most out of your Silhouette mat
Print and cut with the Silhouette software has so many options available. The past 2 weeks we have explored using a print and cut file (Part 1) and creating text (Part 2) to use in print and cut. This week we will explore creating a print and cut file from a jpeg or png image. … Continue reading Print and Cut – Part 3 – Images
Let’s Explore v4 – Print & Cut – Part 2 In Print and Cut - Part 1, I showed how to create a print and cut project from an already existing file that was set up for print and cut. In today's post, we will create our own text and turn it into a print … Continue reading Print and Cut – Part 2 – Text
Let's Explore v4 - Print & Cut - Part 1 I love the print and cut option on the Silhouette software! I've used it for many years and in this 2 part series I will share some tips with you for getting a successful print and cut. A few weeks back I made up special … Continue reading Print and Cut – Part 1
Did you ever need a quick card? Grab that cardstock and an easy cut file from the Silhouette Design Store. I used Lori Whitlock's Sympathy Card Thinking of You - Design #258278. While the card says Sympathy, it could be used for a lot more than that. This was a pretty easy card to cut. … Continue reading Cards with your Silhouette
I see many questions regarding .svg files come up across the Silhouette world, so let's take a look at it. What is a svg file? A .svg is a Scalable Vector Graphic. But what does that mean to a Silhouette user? It is a cut file that you can resize without losing image quality. How … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – How to open an svg file
Happy New Year! And what a better way to start the New Year off then getting our Silhouette libraries in shape. In the Silhouette software, you will find the Library tab in the top right corner. Once you click on the Library tab, you will see the Library tree on the left side and the … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Silhouette Library tips
Wow! 2018 has sure gone by fast! There has been so much that has happened - what a year! I started the year with the goal to have a blog post every week and I only missed 1-2 weeks, so I'm counting that as a success! On to next year! I started the year out … Continue reading Let’s Explore Silhouette v4 in 2018 & 2019
The Tiling feature is a Business Edition upgrade feature that is found under the Media Setup Panel - Tab 4. The Media Setup Panel is found on the right side of the Silhouette software at the bottom of the icon toolbar. Depending on the size of your computer monitor you may see all the icons … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Tiling
I see so many questions regarding Silhouette Studio Updates, so let's discuss some information about a software update. Update vs Upgrade First, a Silhouette Studio update is different than a Studio upgrade. A Silhouette software upgrade is a product you can purchase that unlocks additional features in the Silhouette software. There are 3 levels: Designer Edition, … Continue reading Tips on Silhouette Studio Updates
Do you have the Business Edition upgrade? If not, there are so many neat features that are unlocked with it. I have to admit that I have not used this much as all, but after today, that will be changing. Media Layout Setup Panel What is it? If you have the Business Edition upgrade this … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Media Layout Setup Panel
I have a big to do list, do you? Well, I'm really going to try and get it all accomplished and that starts with making some of these layered vinyl acrylic ornaments that I bought from Craft Chameleon. With the purchase of the acrylic shape, you get the cute cut file to go with it, … Continue reading Layered Vinyl Acrylic Ornament
It's that time of year - are you ready? I bought several Christmas gifts yesterday even though I didn't feel ready. And now the sales start! As an affiliate with Silhouette America, I get to share their Black Friday special with you early. Starting today at 8 am MST (10 am EST) the early access … Continue reading Silhouette Black Friday Sales!
I just recently returned from the All Things Silhouette Conference and I always learn so many things. Even though I've been using the Silhouette software for over 6 years now, I learn all kinds of new things everyday. However, at ATS Conference, there is such a gathering of so many great instructors and students, that … Continue reading Silhouette Studio – Adding cut settings & exporting
I started my Silhouette journey as a paper crafter and it has expanded from there. But, I always still love getting paper out and playing with it. I love being able to make custom cards and unique items with my Silhouette machines. It was my husband's birthday last month, so I needed a card. This … Continue reading Cutting Cards with the Silhouette
This year I am honored to be teaching several classes at the 2018 All Things Silhouette Conference hosted by Terri Johnson Creates. An option at the conference is participating in the Silhouette Showcase. This is a chance to show off things that you have made using your Silhouette machines or software and is open for all … Continue reading Silhouette Showcase
Weeding Lines With the Silhouette Business Edition upgrade, there is a Weeding Lines feature. If you are new, the term "weeding" may be new to you. This is simply the removing the excess material around the design that you have cut. When you are using a material such as Oracal 651, it can be easier … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Weeding Lines
The Emboss Panel is such neat feature. Currently, it is only available to those who have plugged in a Curio machine. However, that may change in the future, so Cameo & Portrait users keep your eyes out. It can be found on the right side of the Silhouette Studio v4 software and looks like a … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Emboss Panel
Silhouette has partnered with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to create specific pink Silhouette materials and tools for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. With every purchase of one of these pink products, Silhouette donates a portion to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. ALL Pink CAMEO Bundle This bundle is super special because we have created a … Continue reading Silhouette – Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Conical Warp - What is it? Conical warp shapes your design given the dimensions that you enter to fit the conical object you are trying to place a design on. A conical shape is one that is smaller at one end than the other, like a cup. Have you ever tried to place a vinyl … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Conical Warp Panel
Warp Panel in Silhouette Studio v4 I love that with the Silhouette software you can pretty much manipulate anything. I am one who likes to have control over my designs and files. And that is why I love the Silhouette software - I can do that! The Basic Warp is a Designer Edition upgrade feature … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Warp Panel
I'm excited to announce a Silhouette hands on Workshop! This workshop will be held in Woodbridge (Dumfries), VA from 9 am - 6 pm on October 20, 2018. And here is a sneak peek at some of the projects we will be creating. We will create projects with a variety of products from All About Blanks, … Continue reading Silhouette Hands on Workshop
Layers Panel in Silhouette Studio v4 Unless you've worked in another graphics program, like Photoshop, you may be wondering what layers are. In the Silhouette software, you can create a design in layers which allows you to do many things such as hide, lock, rename, cut by layer, etc. The Layers Panel is an option … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Layers Panel
There are so many neat features of the Silhouette Studio software as you move up in the software upgrades. The Advanced Rhinestone Panel is an option if you have the Designer Edition Plus or Business Edition upgrade. At first glance or if you read the standard description, it may not seem like much of a … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Advanced Rhinestones
Who doesn't love a surprise? And that is just what I received when Silhouette America asked if I wanted to check out their new Mystery box. When I opened the box, look what I saw: Plus a pack of the Kraft Adhesive paper that arrived on my doorstep, it must have forgotten to jump in … Continue reading Silhouette Surprise! Mystery Box!
It is Back to School here for us and I made a little something to add to my kid's backpacks. These bag tags are 3" in size and with the lobster claw, perfect to clip onto their backpack zipper. Our school colors are blue and white, so this little paw print acrylic from Craft Chameleon … Continue reading Back to School project time
Bling, sparkle and wow! Exploring the Rhinestone panel today! This is a Designer Edition upgrade feature, so if you have the Basic software, you will not see this icon on the screen. If you only have the Basic software, you can still cut rhinestone designs, but you cannot create rhinestone designs. The Silhouette Design store … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Rhinestones
One of the options with the Silhouette machine is using pens in the tool holder and then the Silhouette will draw the design you choose. There are sketch designs that you can find in the Silhouette Design store and are all ready to use with your sketch pens. This is one of my favorites I … Continue reading Let’s Explore v4 – Sketch Panel
Everyone starts out with one material or another, mine was paper. I started with my Silhouette as a paper-crafter and it has grown from there. A while back I was visiting friends in Kansas and playing with the Silhouette and my friend asked if I could trace a photo for her that a friend took. … Continue reading Creating a shadow box with Silhouette
We are half-way through 2018 - can you believe that? So it's the perfect time to recap what the "Let's Explore v4" series has covered so far since January. Let's Explore v 4 series Page Setup Panel - Tab 1 - Page Size & Cutting Mat Page Setup Panel - Tab 2 - Grid Options … Continue reading Let’s Explore v 4 Recap
I created this shirt for my son to wear on vacation. He is all about Army and tanks at 6 years old and picked out this Military Set by Studio Ilustrado in the Silhouette Design Store. When this file is opened there are multiple designs so I had to right click on it then chose ungroup … Continue reading “Tank” top
