EllyMae, the driving force behind Silhouette Secrets+/Swift Creek Customs, has been teaching Silhouette users worldwide since 2016 through blog tutorials, in-person events, and online classes on her Teachable site. Recognized as a top troubleshooter in the industry, EllyMae, a Maker & Creator, seamlessly blends software and technology in her crafting, showcasing expertise in cutting machines, sublimation, and various industry products.
Do you create more than one project with a cut file? That is exactly what the Crafting Creativity series is all about! Do more with your files like blow it up and create a supersized, giant card creation with your Silhouette. Have you seen the giant cards in the store? If you own a cutting machine, you can make your own. I took a 5″ x 7″ card design by Lori Whitlock and scaled it up as large as I could to create a giant card.
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This project type could be done with any model of Silhouette machine from the Silhouette Portrait, Silhouette Cameo, the Silhouette Cameo Pro, and even the Silhouette Curio 2. In the video below, I shared factors that go into this type of project & how I determined how big I could cut this file depending on the machine type.
Plus, more tips, still photos, and a supply list are included farther down in this blog post.
I used the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II to cut all the pieces for this giant card using the 24″ x 24″, 12″ x 24″, and 12″ x 12″ Silhouette cutting mats. Here is a look at the giant card next to the original card design size of 5″ x 7″.
If I were to recreate this project again, I would probably cut multiples of each piece and layer them together to make the card a bit more sturdy.
Here is a look at all the pieces cut for this card next to the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II.
How Large Can a Design Be Cut?
When cutting large projects like this, there are 4 main factors to how large you can cut.
Material size – cardstock sizes can be a limiting factor. I used poster board for the largest pieces of this giant card.
Machine model – from the Silhouette Portrait with a cutting width of 8-8.5″ wide up to the Cameo Pro with a cutting width of ~24″ wide
The Design – layout and pieces of the design affect the size or if the file will need modified to cut larger
Time – all projects take time. The larger you go, the more time it might take to cut and assemble.
Cut Settings for Poster Board
Poster board varies greatly in thickness, coating, density, and quality. There is no magic numbers for cut settings that works for all poster board. What does work to determine what works for the poster board you have are TEST CUTS!
The poster board I was using is thinner than other brands I’ve worked with, so my cut settings did not have to be very high.
As I mentioned in the video, you want to use the largest piece of the design to determine the maximum size you can cut with your materials. I thought this green leaf piece was the largest piece and it was not until I started cutting parts out that I realized the largest piece was the pop out mechanism. I was already half way done cutting when I realized this, but for this project it was not too big of a deal and I could just scale the pop out mechanism down a little bit and keep on going.
This was such a fun project to create. Have you ever created a supersized project with Silhouette? Let us know below in the comments.
Check out the even faster reel on Instagram HERE. It took me about an hour to cut all the pieces for the card, but when you forget to adjust the timelapse speed from auto, it records it all in 21 seconds.
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Enjoy !
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Silhouette Classes
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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated for sharing.
This edition of Crafting Creativity is all about projects with a Monogram Font from Quietfire Designs. The Crafting Creativity series focuses on using your designs to create more! More possibilities, more ideas, more crafting! This month’s feature is a Big Snowflake Monogram Font by Quietfire Designs and has so many options that include unique snowflake letters, but also 3 additional snowflake designs with alternate keystrokes.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Crafting Creativity series is designed for sharing inspiration, designs, and showing how to make your designs go farther or think outside the box. Find more Crafting Creativity inspiration HERE.
Crafting Creativity with QuietFire Designs
Crafting Creativity video preview of the projects created with Big Snowflake Monogram Font by Quietfire Designs. Additional photos, details, tips, tutorials, and supply lists can be found by scrolling under the video.
Project #1 –Shaped Edge Monogram Card – 2 Ways
I used the letter H monogram from the Big Snowflake Monogram Font and created a side fold and a top fold shaped edge monogram card. Plus, the way the font is created, you end up with a snowflake design cut from the middle that can be used for another project too!
Here is a look at the design file in Silhouette Studio as I was creating these cards.
And I have a YouTube video showing you exactly how I created both of these cards in the Silhouette Studio software on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel. Watch it below or direct on YouTube.
Project #2 –Snowflake Ornament and Monogram Ornament
For this project, I used the Big Snowflake Monogram font added an offset and a small circle at the top to create an ornament design. I then exported the design as a SVG file to use with my laser machine.
I originally was just going to do the monogram ornament and then the snowflake jumped in the projects too! In this monogram font, the comma, period, and question mark all create a design too!
And then with a bit of wire bending and wrapping created 2 beaded ornament hangers. You could also use craft twine or premade ornament hangers too!
Don’t have access to a laser? No problem, you could also create ornaments out of many other different materials such as adhesive vinyl, cardstock, HTV, fabric, etc.
Have you ever created a shaker card? While they may look intimidating, they can also be made very simply too!
The Big Snowflake Monogram font has the options that the keystrokes of a comma, period, and question mark all give a different snowflake design.
To create this shaker card, I started by creating the background of the card with a printed sentiment. I could print 4 – 4.25″ x 5.5″ card designs on one letter size sheet of paper.
I printed this on a blue shimmer paper and then took my paper trimmer and cut it apart.
Then I took one of the snowflakes and welded it to an oval frame.
I then cut the outer oval from a sheet of clear acetate/transparency film.
Glue the acetate directly behind the frame and then add foam tape to create the “pocket” for the shaker and ta-da – you have a shaker card. I love how it turned out and now have 4 cards created in a short amount of time.
I share exactly how I created these shaker cards in this video tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel. Watch below or direct on YouTube.
Project #4 –Custom Snowflake Ornaments, Gift Tags, or Bag Tags
These acrylic etchings could be used for bag tags, gift tags, or ornaments. It can be an embellishment for a gift given or the gift itself.
I used the Silhouette Curio 2 and the Power Engraver to etch 3″ acrylic rounds.
What a great way to personalize a gift and make it unique! I added some wooden beads on twine and made it even more personalized too. You could also match the colors to the gift wrap or bag too!
Now, what if you don’t have the Silhouette Curio 2? Well, maybe it should be on your wish list or… Use the same idea but cut adhesive vinyl and apply it to an acrylic round instead.
And if you do start making stuff for the holidays, make sure you put it in a place you will remember where to find it. I cut out a vinyl decal and added it to a box so I can continue to add things like Christmas cards and decor to the box and hopefully it doesn’t get lost in a “safe” space when I need it.
This design is the perfect design to use to create and customize gifts. I used it to create a stencil and then etched a monogram onto a glass container for a family friend.
This could be used as a candy or treat dish, candle holder, or a variety of other ideas. And it hardly cost anything to make. I used a piece of scrap adhesive vinyl from my stash and the container is from the Dollar Tree.
This glass container has a bit of a conical shape on it, so I used the Conical Warp tool to help in creating the stencil so it would lay flatter and not have any buckles in the design.
I shared this technique in the March Crafting Community exclusive tutorial when I made the etched martini glasses.
If you are a current subscriber, make sure to check it out in the Creative Community forum!
So many options with one design! And with this monogram font you have endless possibilities on how you can customize and make unique, personalized gift ideas too!
Featured Designer – Quietfire Designs
A great big THANK YOU to Quietfire Designs for collaborating for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter!
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For even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativitysection on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
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Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
I love being able to create custom gifts for friends, family, and for events I attend. When I was brainstorming the 5th project for the month of July’s weekly newsletter I had several options. The one that beat out the other ideas was because it can be used as a gift for a family friend for the holidays. The winner? A custom etched monogram on a glass container with Etchall etching creme. This could be used for a candy dish, candle holder, home decor, or many other things. I’ll leave that up to the recipient to decide what to do with it.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Steps to Etched Glass Projects
Create a stencil for etching.
Clean glass blank with alcohol and allow to dry.
Apply stencil.
Mask off edge of stencil to prevent bleeding
Apply Etchall Etching Creme and allow to sit for 20 minutes.
Remove any excess Etching Creme and place back in the bottle.
Wipe off remaining excess with a paper towel and safely discard paper towel.
Run water in the sink and rinse off decal thoroughly.
Remove masking tape and adhesive vinyl under running water.
Gather the supplies. I started by grabbing a sheet of Oracal 651 adhesive vinyl in a color that I don’t really use often, however, I ended up using a scrap from my scrap pile because the design fit on it and I have a drawer full of scraps.
Enlist a helper, whether you really want their help or not. Supervisor Goldy decided she was going to test out the tools and if I turned my back she would have taste tested the adhesive vinyl and transfer tape too!
Measure the blank and create the design to cut for the stencil. For this project it does have a bit of a conical shape to the widest part of the vase, so I used the Conical Warp tool with the etched monogram design to help with that. I shared this technique in the March 2026 Crafting Community member exclusive tutorial when making etched martini glasses. See more on the etched martini glasses HERE.
Then I grabbed a scrap of adhesive vinyl and cut it with the Silhouette Cameo. Any Silhouette model machine can cut adhesive vinyl for stencils.
Glass etching is permanent. So I do like to add a little bit of heat to the glass etching stencil when it has fine details. I do this carefully so not to burn myself and then let the glass and stencil cool completely. This step can help the adhesive vinyl adhere a bit better and smooth out any areas that may have had allowed etching creme to seep underneath. And then I add a layer of painter’s tape around the edges just in case any etching creme dribbles or runs.
While you could cut a larger piece of adhesive vinyl with the stencil to avoid using the painter’s tape, then you run the risk of more wrinkles and the stencil not adhering completely flat on a curved surface.
I then cover the entire stencil area where the design is with Etchall etching creme and wait 20 minutes.
When 20 minutes is up, I carefully scrap the Etchall etching creme off and put it back in the jar. It can be reused. Then I will carefully wipe the design with a paper towel before running water in the sink and rinsing off any remaining creme. At this step, you do want to be careful not to dislodge any pieces of the design. It never fails that when an oops happens and the creme touches an area you do not want to etch, it will happen in seconds.
Once the Etchall etching creme has been rinsed, removed the stencil and painter’s tape, and then carefully dry the glass container. Then admire the custom glass etched monogram project.
I love how this turned out! A perfect gift idea with a custom etched monogram. And it was a very economical project to complete too! Glass jar from the Dollar Tree (which isn’t a dollar anymore, but still reasonable) and reusable Etchall etching creme that can make many, many more projects!
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THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated for sharing.
It’s Time to Sparkle! And use your designs for more than just 1 project. Clikchic Designs is this blog posts featured artist and I’m sharing several projects created with one of their designs. I have collected a lot of Clikchic Designs files and love seeing her process of creation. Did you know she creates her designs by hand? That may be one of the things that first caught my eye and made her designs stand out to me. She creates by hand and then digitizes her work to share with us. I am so inspired by her creations! Check out the end of this post for even more inspiration by Clikchic Designs!
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The Crafting Creativity series is designed exactly for sharing inspiration, designs, and showing how to make your designs go farther or think outside the box. Find more Crafting Creativity inspiration HERE.
Crafting Creativity with Clikchic Designs: Time to Sparkle
Crafting Creativity video preview of the projects created with Time to Sparkle by Clikchic Designs. Additional photos, details, tips, tutorials, and supply lists can be found by scrolling under the video.
Project #1 –3-D Mixed Media Canvas
I am a Creative Professional with NAMTA and every year they host Creativation which is a large gathering of craft industry businesses, retailers, and brands from around the world. This year the Creative Professionals had the chance to display art in the entrance hall of the event. We were given the parameters of a 12″ x 12″ canvas and a red, white, and blue theme and told to create to share our skills and talents. I love to be able to make unique creations and start with something flat and give it dimension.
This project was several weeks in the making. I believe we found out we were going to do this in January or February with the conference happening in May. Once a topic is given to me my brain just starts with throwing out ideas. I try to keep a running list, usually in my phone, but often times I find a physical list in my creative journal is what really gets ideas flowing and allows me to narrow things down.
This is one of those projects that is built as it goes along and I continued to add things to it over the entire process.
Sparkler Creation – Embossing Powder – reel on Instagram or Facebook
Creativation 2026 – Creative Professional Canvas Wall Preview – reel on Instagram or Facebook
Project #2 –Sublimation Tumbler
I started by measuring the tumbler then drew a rectangle in Silhouette Studio for the template size. Then the process of filling the design with patterns began. After testing many options I decided I loved this pattern with the ombre blues and having the design in white.
I love how it turned out and now have another custom tumbler I can use.
This card design was created by first setting the Time to Sparkle up for sketching and then cutting out the stars and swooshes from the card front.
This design works perfectly for a going away card, new adventure, best wishes, congratulations, and more!
I set the text to sketch and used a crosshatch sketch fill of 0.015″. Then used the “cut” by Line Color on the Send tab to tell it what action I wanted each line color to do.
After the sketching and the cut out was complete on the front of the card, I added a layer of glitter cardstock behind to give it more sparkle.
Here are a few Instagram links to get you started – make sure when you visit to like and leave a comment too! Creators love to hear from real people who enjoy their work.
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One design can be used in so many different ways. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativitysection on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
Enjoy !
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
When we were told as Creative Professionals with NAMTA that we would have the opportunity to display our artwork at the 2026 Creativation event, my brain immediately started thinking of ideas and I started a list in my phone. We were allowed to have 2 – 12″ x 12″ canvases on display in the entrance hall for the conference and were given a theme of red, white, and blue. This was an opportunity to display our art and share our skills. I love building things, so a 3D mixed media design was a no brainer for me. This was one of those projects that I started with a few basic ideas and built the project as I went. Sometimes that’s just how it goes. Some things might work together along the way and some things might not.
I love building 3D projects! There is just something about taking flat materials and molding them into a final 3D project. Having a cutting machine like a Silhouette or Siser Juliet or Romeo opens up a lot of possibilities to cut designs for 3D creations. The biggest factor that goes into it all is – TIME! It takes time to design, build, and modify things as you go along in the process.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
In this blog post, I’m sharing a look at the behind the scenes of creating this 3D Mixed Media Canvas: Time to Sparkle with a few still photos & the supply list. Check out the video at the end of the blog post for additional shots of the process as well.
First, here is a look at the finished project.
I started by gathering some supplies to get started. I had to order new inks to print the background papers. These 3 are designs by Clikchic Designs and can be found in the supply list below. I am able to print borderless with the Canon TS9521C printer. I ordered Oracal 851 glitter adhesive vinyl in red, white, and blue from Vinyl Spectrum. The entire theme of this canvas is to sparkle, so I embraced that fully.
I first started by cutting down the background paper for the backside of the canvas to fit within the frame. Then added layer of Mod Podge to the canvas and to the backside of the blue patterned paper. Smooth that down as much as possible. Adding the Mod Podge to both the canvas and the back of the paper helps it to adhere smoothly. Once it’s down flat, then I added another layer of Mod Podge Sparkle on the front of the blue paper. Let this dry completely.
While that was drying I set up the design for cutting from Oracal 851 Glitter Adhesive Vinyl in Silhouette Studio.
Then I cut each color of glitter adhesive vinyl. For each layer, I cut the color and the green rectangles. The green rectangles are designed as layering marks that are used to line up the layers exactly. While it might use a little more material when using these marks, I find I get a much more accurate layering. This is one of those techniques that no matter how you do it, practice makes it better.
While this design is not technically layered, the colors are in a specific location to each other, so I used the same technique with the layering marks and it worked out great!
Then I carefully applied the adhesive vinyl to the front of the patterned paper. This will be the background that shows through on the busted canvas.
Once the backside of the canvas was dry, I flipped it over and applied a layer of Mod Podge to the front of the canvas and to the backside of the pattern paper for the front. Once it was flat on the canvas, I applied a layer of Mod Podge Sparkle to cover the entire paper on the front. Let that dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Once it’s dry, then I flipped the canvas over and used a box cutter with a ruler to slice through the paper & canvas layers in multiple directions. This will allow the front to be rolled out for the “busted” canvas technique.
I have made several of these busted canvas projects and I found that it was much easier to glue the rolled edges down and have them stay if the pieces were “trained” first before gluing down. To do this carefully roll the sections back and hold for a little bit. Then let it sit for awhile. Repeat this step as needed. I found I was much more successful in having the curls hold with hot glue when I did this as the paper didn’t lift or try to go back to it’s original shape. Since there are several layers of glue, paper, and canvas, it can be a bit stiff.
Once it has sat in “training” for a bit, then I glued each end down onto the canvas with hot glue and held it in place until it cooled. Repeat for any stubborn sections.
I have several other pieces to this project so while it’s in “training” or things are waiting to dry, I would move on to the next element of the design.
I did not get any photos of the first 3D firecracker I created that’s shown in the top left corner of the photo above. As you can see, I have 2 copies. The first was a proto type that I cut and assembled to see if it would work with the layout. Then I decided to cut the box out of glitter cardstock while I was cutting the pieces for the sparklers too. These sparkler designs by Paper Beats Dynamite are fantastic with excellent written instructions.
The rectangles of color are glued to a bamboo stick and then once the glue is set, are rolled and glued around the stick.
On the end of each skewer, hot glue is drizzled from where the cardstock strip ends to the end of the skewer to make it appear like it’s melted.
A layer of gray acrylic paint was applied over top of the hot glue and the cardstock. Then I used black and red embossing powders on the end of the sparklers to make it look burnt and burning or hot.
Next I cut more glitter cardstock for additional firecrackers to add to the canvas.
These squares are rolled up and glued together to create a firecracker and I found it was easier to “train” them first and let them hold that shape a bit before gluing together. Once the glue was set, I could start adding them randomly to the bottom of the busted canvas section using hot glue.
Now, I will admit that I don’t typically like to cut glitter cardstock. It literally eats blades and can be difficult. But this project it was worth the effort it took. However, I am shocked that I actually got it all cut without issues because this is what my blade looked like after I was done cutting all these pieces.
Next, I wanted to add another element in – beading. I even had my supervisor, Goldy in on this one. She wasn’t much real “help” but she made sure to keep me focused.
Since this is a 3D mixed media art piece, I added another hobby of mine – beading – into the design elements. I strung beads in red, white, and blue on a wire and then bundled the colors together to create 3 different firework bursts. The one thing I did not take into account on this element was the weight of the beads and wire when finished. It all worked out and a LOT of hot glue held them in place.
I love how this all came together and the entire process of creating it piece by piece. 3D creations are one of my favorite things to do, but I don’t always take the time to do it.
This 3D Mixed Media Canvas may not be a project that you recreate, but I hope it inspires you to think outside the box and to combine and create ideas that reflect you as an artist. Every individual reading this has the creative spirit inside of them whether you believe it’s there or not. Sometimes you just have to let it out and let it flow, not try to control it or have the exact plan at the beginning.
Want to see a little bit more? I’ve created a video sharing even more of the photos behind the scenes in creating this process.
I love seeing what others are creating and their talents and skills. Check out this video I did from the Creativation 2026 entrance hall sharing a look at all the canvas creations by the Creative Professionals on Instagram or Facebook. Each canvas is unique and no two are alike!
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
Enjoy !
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated for sharing.
Today I’m sharing a card design where I combined a stamp from Emerald Creek and used it with an easel card cut file from Lori Whitlock. I cut all of the pieces for the easel card and then added special touches to it with stamping, watercolors, and a little bit of sketching with a pen. One easel card cut file can be used to create so many different kinds of cards. Or scale the card file up and use it as home decor too!
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Rather than keep the base of the card plain white, I chose to use the same flower stamp and stamp a few more along the bottom edge. I first stamped onto a sticky note and then cut around the stamped image to use it as a mask over top of the center flower, so the side flowers look like they are behind the middle image.
Then I used a small Thank You stamp from Emerald Creek on the sentiment cut piece and then did a little bit of pen work around the edges to make it stand out. It is matted onto the same background paper as the top card piece and then popped up with foam tape. This little piece gives the card the support to create the easel part.
Change it up with different flowers or focal designs and mix and match sentiments. One card cut file can open up a world of possibilities.
It is great to have the option to be able to print and cut sentiments, but often times if I’m only making up a card or two, I know it will take me longer to find more designs to fill the page. Having a few key sentiment stamps can be very handy to finish up the card quickly.
This easel card style is one that you could easily have all the pieces cut and customize it as needed whenever you need a quick card to send out too!
The original file has holes around the scalloped edges, and I didn’t want those for this design. It was an easy modification to do by selecting the scallop piece, right clicking on it, and choosing release compound path. It may also need to be ungrouped too. Then I could move the large scallop piece away and deleted the small circles.
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
Enjoy !
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated for sharing.
Create more with your designs and your Silhouette! Do you ever get a file and then use it once and are done with it? Let’s change that way of thinking and get our designs to do more for us! That is exactly what the Crafting Creativity series is all about. Unlocking the ideas of creating with a design and seeing what can happen. For more inspiration and ideas, check out the Crafting Creativity series HERE.
In this blog post I’m sharing creative project ideas with one design file from Wispy Willow Designs. One design has so much potential and can be the key to unlocking the creative fire inside you! Check out how I used one design in 5 different projects ideas, including the ones that failed.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Create More:Crafting Creativity with Wispy Willow Designs
Project #1 –Print and Cut Stickers
For this project, I did some stickers and was testing it with some adhesive photo paper that says it’s waterproof. While the image itself was waterproof, the paper itself was not and the stickers did not last.
While this project failed as a water bottle decal, I still found I love the adhesive photo paper for other projects. I have been using it for cards, home decor signs, and more!
Here is a look at my setup in Silhouette Studio for this print and cut page. I try to maximize the space when I do a print and cut project. However, I do use the default registration marks for the most accurate print and cut results.
When I created the print and cut sheet design, I was thinking ahead to projects and included a size of the image that I could use on a wood round for a tiered tray sign.
Wood is a natural surface, so it can be tricky sometimes to get things to stick. I did add a coat of Mod Podge to the wood and let that dry before applying the adhesive photo paper to it.
This project was a failure! Big fat failure! The design itself turned out fabulous but the rest went into the trash.
I printed 2 copies of the beach design and then added them to a cardstock backer to make a double sided piece that was supposed to go inside a round clear ornament. I mentioned above that I like to maximize my print and cut space, so I included extra designs that I can use on cards in the future too!
I wanted to add in sand and shells to the bottom of the ornament, but the glue didn’t look right when dry.
Back to the drawing board on this one. I tossed the ornament in the trash.
It was just not the look I was hoping for, but I do have a double sided design that is looking for a new project to be used in.
The previous project may have failed, but this one turned out FANTASTIC!
I cut each layer out of Siser Easyweed HTV and then pre-pressed the tote bag. Then each layer was placed and pressed for 3-5 seconds, just enough to get it secure and to be able to remove the carrier sheet. After the last layer give the entire design a press. I did 10 seconds at the end, but it really just depends on the layers and the material being used. This is a canvas tote bag with some texture, so I wanted to make sure it was well secured.
When cutting different colors of the same material, you can usually cut more than one color at a time. I do this with cardstock, adhesive vinyl, HTV, etc.
Here is a look at my setup for cutting this design, then I will cut my HTV colors down to the size I need and place them exactly where they are shown on the screen.
If using a Silhouette cutting mat and the mat is loaded properly, then the designs should cut in the exact location they show on the screen. If using a 3rd party cutting mat, they may not line up the same since the margins on the mat edges can vary from a true Silhouette cutting mat.
Cutting multiple colors at once, not only can save you time, but it can also make your mats last longer too because you are cutting the materials down to the size needed and not ripping a full piece of material off the entire mat each time.
Here is a look at the pieces after I cut and weeded each one.
Mirror the Design Yourself
Flip the design manually, by right clicking on the design and selecting Flip > Horizontal on the Design tab and then when you Send the design to cut, select “Send As Is” and the design will cut out exactly where you have it placed on the screen.
If you let the Silhouette software mirror the design, then you may end up wasting materials and not having the material in the right location to cut. The software flips the entire mat, not just the design and does not show that on the screen. So you think it will cut on the left side, but it flips the entire mat and then cuts on the right.
Now, here is the humdinger on this one – the software flipping the entire mat can vary by software version. They added this “new feature” in and then it did not work the way a real user works, so many users wasted vinyl. After several years, they tried to “fix” it in the software so it would just flip the design and not the entire mat. Then in later versions, it was reverted back to flipping the entire mat again. It’s one of those things that I guess you’d say was implemented by an engineer and not someone who actually uses the Silhouette to cut HTV daily.
Pressing Multiple Layers and Colors
When pressing multiple colors, typically each color is pressed separately unless the pieces can be lined up WITHOUT any overlapping cover sheets. If the cover sheet of the HTV piece overlaps, it can interfere with the design being pressed.
Place one color of the design, then press for 3-5 seconds to “tack” it down, then remove the carrier sheet and repeat for all the layers.
Unless the carrier sheet of each layer covers the entire design, make sure to only press long enough to tack it down and then remove the carrier sheet for that piece. If you press it too long the carrier sheet can leave an indent in the other pieces of HTV that are already pressed.
For instance, if I left the carrier sheet for Beach on too long, it might leave a line impressed into the sunshine rays.
Use a protective layer on top of the HTV when pressing each layer, unless the carrier sheet covers all of the HTV each time. This will protect the HTV and prevent it from sticking to the top platen of the heat press. I use a Teflon sheet or a piece of parchment paper depending on what’s handy and what material I’m using.
Oh and another one – parchment paper and wax paper are not the same. Wax paper in a heat press can leave a big mess.
This project was a test, well, actually several tests.
Testing pens to see if they were waterproof, sketching with the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II with no mat, and mixing watercolor backgrounds with acrylic paint markers.
This idea just would not go away and for some reason, I really wanted to sketch out this month’s design. I can’t pinpoint why, but sometimes you just don’t know what will turn out until you give it a try. And sometimes you just have to let yourself play.
And it worked! The pens were waterproof and did not bleed. The Silhouette machine sketched the design as it should without a cutting mat. The watercolor background turned out fantastic – LOVE IT! The acrylic markers on top = worked!
It is unique! It also gave me a bunch more ideas too.
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One design can be used in so many different ways. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativitysection on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!
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Creating a “craft camp” does not have to be complex or require a high level of skill. What do you need? Paper and craft supplies – DONE! I’m sharing how easy it is to create your own little craft camp and have a little fun. This is fun for all ages and skill levels. If you have a Silhouette cutting machine, you can use it to cut blanks, stencils, and more to use in the craft camp, but it can be done without a cutting machine too!
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Watch the video below and then scroll under it for more details and a supply list too.
I cut several shapes from mixed media paper and then set up a random selection of craft supplies from Pointer USA. I am a Creative Professional with NAMTA (National Art Materials Trade Association) and was contacted by Pointer USA to test out some of their craft supplies. I have been impressed with the supplies I’ve tested so far and the best part is that they are economical too! Especially if you are getting started with a new medium!
First, I’m going to brag on the Art Pro Mixed Media paper. It cuts fantastic with a cutting machine, which is not always the case with mixed media papers because of the fibrous make up. Often times the fibers will tear and smoosh rather than cut cleanly. But I have now ordered 2 more Art Pro pads because I’ve used it so much.
I also cut out some shaped dragonfly stencils and butterflies with the mixed media paper too.
Here are a couple photos from Round 1 of Craft Camp.
Designs by A
The butterfly and dragonfly stencils were put to use quickly.
Designs by C
And seeing their creations just made me want to create too. After all, I didn’t need to record the entire time. I love to simply add the watercolors to my Glassboard mat and then work with them from there. The smooshing technique is by far my favorite because no two are alike and I have no control over what it might turn out like. Simply scribble, add water, and then place the mixed media paper on top to pick up the color.
Designs by EllyMae
Craft Camp Round 2
Here’s a look at the blanks I cut for Round 2. This time I added in some tags as well to the shapes I cut.
And the creativity just continues. I love how they mixed all the colors around. I would turn around and a new creation would be in progress. I’m not sure who was more excited about them creating – them or me. It was so fun to see how they just picked up the craft supplies and turned it into something.
Designs by A
Every creation is different. The hardest part is the letting go and not thinking it has to be perfect. Each one is unique and just have fun. Anyone can do this! Fun for all ages.
Designs by F
My oldest and I had the idea about the same time. It was probably the tree silhouette stencil that prompted the creative thoughts, but I just had to try out some Northern Lights inspired images. I made the first one and recorded the process to create the second one and shared that in the video. If you missed it, check out the video HERE.
Here is a look at the Craftermath after Craft Camp Round 2. I’ll do a bit of clean up and resetting. But I’ll keep this set up for anyone who feels the urge to create.
I know my creativity sometimes is squashed simply by the thought of pulling out the craft supplies I want to use or having to move things around to get started. This might help me too!
I am loving the quality of the Pointer USA craft supplies. They are not only reasonably priced but also good quality for all ages. Check out the Pointer USA Amazon shop HERE for more options or visit them direct HERE.
If you are looking for a mixed media paper that cuts well with a cutting machine like Silhouette, grab the Art Pro Mixed Media paper by Pointer USA and give it a try.
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Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated for sharing.
Have you ever made a hybrid card before? If you have made a card, you probably have but didn’t even think about it when you did. It is a card combining digital and physical elements in the creation. I am on the Emerald Creek Design Team the June theme was “Tiny joy, simple things.” I’m sharing the details of this card creation below including a supply list for the materials used in the creation.
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Creating the Hybrid Dream Card
First, I started with the Dreams Live Here PNG by Pam Bray and brought it into Silhouette. I only wanted to use the Dream part of it, so I used the knife to cut the design apart. Then repeated the pattern to fill the size I wanted for my card front. I did play around with a couple different layouts with this as you can see in the photo below.
While I could use the Silhouette machine to cut around the design and even set it up as a print and cut, it is sometimes easier just to use a paper trimmer, especially when it’s straight lines.
Next, I used a stencil that I cut with my Silhouette from a mixed media design by Sarah Hurley in a recent Crafting Creativity project, and drew in the stencil with embossing pens.
Then added the Magical Mysteries Kiss of the Fairy Emerald Creek embossing powder and heated that up to melt the embossing powder onto the Dream background. Next, I cut a larger background from the Lemoncello Paper by Pam Bray for the card base and inked the edges of it.
And then adhered the Dream background on top of the blue background.
Then I adhered the Dream background onto the card base and then used foam tape to adhere the matted flowers to the bottom right. For a bit of dimension, I added some pink twine behind the flowers before securing it down. Then I cut just the word Dream from the other pattern I had printed and matted it on black cardstock. I used foam tape on the left side to keep it even with the flower elements.
And the final step was to add 3 clear rhinestones in the top left of the card.
Here are some close up looks at the finished Dream card.
The embossing powder is so cool when it reflects the light.
I love how this card turned out combining digital elements with physical stamping, watercoloring, and inking.
I hope this post on the hybrid card I created gives you some ideas of what you could create. See what supplies you have on hand and what you can combine to create a unique card, tag, mixed media creation and more!
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THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated for sharing.
Come along with me and see what I shared in the Glassboard Studio booth at Creativation 2026. In this video I’m recreating what I shared and demonstrating how I use the Glassboard magnetic craft mats in my studio and projects. I enjoyed my demo time in the Glassboard booth at Creativation 2026 so much because I was able to share different projects and collect things on the trade show floor to add in as well. Plus, in this video, I share some bonus projects that just did not work out to share on the show floor too!
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Glassboard Studio Demo – Project Remakes with Glassboard Mat
I would love to hear what your favorite project shared was or your favorite tip. Let me know in the comments below.
Behind-the-scenes look – Glassboard Mat Demo
I always forget to take photos when I’m busy teaching, creating, or doing demos. Thank you to Julie McGuffee for snapping a photo of me in the Glassboard Studio booth!
Here is the one and only photo that I took while I was doing the actual demos.
For this one, I was creating with a custom stamps designed specifically for Creativation 2026 by Photocentric and then watercoloring the images in with a watercolor palette by Pointer USA. This has become one of my favorite items to collect on the trade show floor!
One neat thing about this was that I was able to leave my paints exactly as you see on the glassboard mat and break for lunch. Then when I came back for my second demo shift, I simply reactivated the colors with a bit of water and continued creating.
Here are a couple photos from the demo remake. This shows the stamped image from the video and then I added with Lindy’s Gang Magical Shakers for the colors. I love the sparkle it has, but it may not come through well in the photo.
And then a sample of just the colors themselves from the video demo.
In the video demo remake I was able to share multiple projects and show how I use the Glassboard Studio tools when I create. I lost track of how many different projects I was able to share, but here is a look at what was on my work space for this video.
I spy with my little eye… Stamped and watercolored images, custom faux wax seals – hot glue – print and cut images – Posca gold marker for accents, beaded pots of personality, sketching with Sharpie, painted faces with Liquitex, swatching and coloring with Lindy’s Gang Magical Shakers.
If you watch the video demo, you will hear me say that a year ago I did not own a Glassboard magnetic craft mat. I had to really talk myself into spending the money and ordering one. Now, I have 5+ in my craft studio and I do use them all. I have a couple on dedicated work spaces such as my beading & jewelry table, my main work space where I record videos, and a couple set up for a summer “craft camp”. I move them around as needed and I will admit, this is one of those situations where I purchased a couple of them simply because I loved the pattern and it made me happy. Impulse buy – probably!!! And not only have I added the magnetic mat to my work space, but the accessories like the Craft Catcher’s are right beside it too! I use them all the time.
After Creativation and doing the demo, I also added the HexaFlex Organizer Set to my work station as well. There is something about using a tool or storage accessory that gets me every time. Each year of Creativation I seem to add another new tool to my studio.
During the event, I like to be in the moment and I often get too busy & forget to post on social media and then after I get so far behind in posting and compiling video and photos, but there is lots to be shared and I hope to have more soon.
If you are on Instagram, I did put up a couple quick reels from the event.
And I also demonstrated in the Pointer USA booth with my Silhouette Portrait 4 and sketching on their mixed media paper. If you missed it, here is the remake of that demo too and also what failed on the show floor.
Want to see more from the Creativation Tradeshow floor? Check out these videos by my fellow NAMTA Creative Professionals that I was able to hang out with.
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
Enjoy !
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated for sharing.
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click the link to buy a coffee. Every little bit helps in the cost of running the site.
