Silhouette Curio 2 – Unboxing, First Cuts & More!!!

What an exciting week it’s been! The new Silhouette Curio 2 arrived on my doorstep this week and I’m having a ball playing with it and testing it out!

If you have followed me for any time, you’ll know that I am proficient with the Curio 1 and love all the fantastic projects that can be made with it. It is still a good machine and if you have one, you can still use it! I can help with that too!

On the Silhouette Secrets+ Teachable site you will find 10 step-by-step classes that are all focused on the Curio 1. Check it out HERE.

Now that the Silhouette Curio 2 has been released, I’ll be developing step-by-step classes for that too! So watch the Silhouette Secrets+ Teachable site for future classes.

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For all the details regarding the 3 new machine models released at the Silhouette Summit 2023, check out this post – New!!! Curio 2, Cameo 5, and Portrait 4

Now, before I go too much farther, I do want to let you know that the Curio 2 is limited in quantity in 2023. What is currently available is what is the inventory for the rest of 2023. But, don’t panic! There will be more coming in 2024 and there is lots of time to learn this new machine.

If you want to add the new Silhouette Curio 2 to your toolbox right now, you can find it at CrafterCuts HERE.

Whether you are diving into using the Silhouette Curio 2 or watching and waiting, I have resources that can help with this new machine.

I have been updating my Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel with new videos as I am testing the machine.

And to make it easy to find machine specific information, I’ve created a Silhouette Curio Playlist on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel. Find that HERE.

The Silhouette Curio 2 is a completely different machine than the first model! It is a large machine too! The footprint of the machine measures in at 20″ x 24″ and will need a dedicated space to function properly. Please consider that before you purchase!

However, I had a group member bring up a really good point. While the Silhouette Curio 2 is a large footprint that needs a dedicated space for it, it does take up less room than if you purchased a Silhouette Cameo 5 and the new Electrostatic Bed for the Cameo 5. It really depends on what your specific situation is and how your workflow is for you! Each user might be different and one machine may work better for one person vs another.

I am having a blast with the new Silhouette Curio 2! It is a new machine and it will take time to learn! I feel that every single person could be successful with this machine IF you take time to learn it and use it properly. If you do not, you will likely hate it. That is not a machine fault, it is simply a personal preference.

I want to share a few projects I’ve been doing with the Silhouette Curio 2.

Here are my first cuts on Vellum paper using the Electrostatic (ES) bed on the Silhouette Curio 2.

Such clean cuts. Check out my Silhouette Curio 2 First Cuts video HERE to see how I did, what issues I encountered, and how I worked through it.

I had several questions about print and cut, so of course I had to test that! Here is a letter size sheet of sticker paper that was cut on the Curio 2 using the new ES bed. The new ES bed means that you no longer have to use a cutting mat for materials that are flat and smooth. The materials can be held in place by static charge. The ES bed is new for the Silhouette Cameo 5, Curio 2, and Portrait 4. It will take time to learn and you will need to set it up properly, but I can see so many new possibilities on projects and successful cuts when using it. The ES bed comes with the Silhouette Curio 2 in the box.

Check out my videos on Silhouette Curio 2 Print and Cut with the ES bed and Tips for Success with the New Electrostatic Mat HERE.

I used Koala sticker paper and a design by Wispy Willow Designs called Small Business Sticker Sheet.

And then of course, once I showed this someone else asked about 12″ x 12″ cardstock, so that was the next project on my list.

This is Recollection Cardstock from Michaels and I used several designs from Diva Watts Designs.

And you probably guessed it, I shared it on YouTube too! Find the video on Silhouette Print and Cut – 12″ x 12″ HERE. See how easy it was with the new ES bed and cutting cardstock.

On a side note, while at the Silhouette Summit 2023, I also was able to meet several of the Silhouette Design Store Designers for the first time – Wispy Willow Designs, Diva Watts Designs, and Sarah Hurley. We spent several meals together and it was a blast. Check out my introduction video direct from Summit HERE. Make sure to follow these amazing designers too, they are a few of my favorites from the Design Store. I look forward to future collaborations with them! Stay tuned!

One of the new features of the Silhouette Curio 2 is it has a clearance of 20 mm. WOW! Yes, 20 mm. This is clearance under the tool housing. It is NOT cutting depth.

It also has auto detection of material thickness. This is awesome!

This means it opens up the possibilities of what projects can be done with the Silhouette Curio 2. Such as sketching on canvas and other thicker materials.

I used a Silhouette sketch pen in the blue sketch pen adapter and sketched out this design on a 8″ x 10″ canvas with a sketch font called SNF Sketchbook by Illustration Ink. There is also a new sketch pen holder (Type C) coming for the Tool 2 housing that will be compatible with the Silhouette Cameo 5 and the Silhouette Curio 2.

You will notice that the canvas is taped down on top of the ES Protective Sheet. I did have the ES bed on so the ES Protective sheet was secure and then taped the canvas to the machine so it would not move. Due to the surface of the backside of the canvas, it will not build up a charge directly on the ES bed to secure it. I also have a piece of wood inside the middle of the canvas for support.

I did try to use the Silhouette Type A pen holder in the Carriage 1 housing, but 3 different pens I tried did not reach the material. I will need to test that some more and figure out why it wasn’t working like it normally would.

Watch for a new video showing the sketch project on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel soon!

I can’t wait to share more! So many projects, so little time!

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Enjoy !

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