Category: Projects

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Creative Projects with Mixed Media Designs

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

When you hear “mixed media” do you instantly think of physical elements only? Or do you think of digital designs as well? In this issue of Crafting Creativity I’m sharing several projects created using Mixed Media Designs by Sarah Hurley. Whether you make the same projects or not, I hope it unlocks some inspiration and thoughts stirring around on what you can use designs for. The Crafting Creativity series is designed to spark interest and ideas on what you can create using one design file or a style of designs such as these mixed media designs.

Often times I think users get a cut file and think of only one possible project for it and then it might sit in our digital resources forever and not be used again. But, there is so much more that can be created with just one design. For more inspiration and ideas, check out the Crafting Creativity series HERE.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Crafting Creativity with Sarah Hurley Mixed Media Designs

Project #1 – Easy Shaker Cards with Mixed Media Designs

Shaker cards can be very simple to make and assemble. It’s all about layers and creating a “pocket” to hold the shaker bits in place.

A crafting workspace featuring greeting cards with decorative designs, a color palette card showing a cake with icing, a purple glitter pen, tape, and a bag of small heart embellishments.

I used some glitter cardstock hearts that I’ve kept in a little baggie from when I was testing the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat cutting glitter cardstock. They have just been waiting for the right project.

I wanted to see how the design would look in 2 ways – with the mixed media design on top and as the background.

Here is a closer look at the design with the mixed media layer on top of the shaker bits.

A decorative card featuring a cut-out design of buildings with a pink background, showcasing the word 'Be' in a stylish font surrounded by empowering words like 'Thoughtful,' 'Happy,' 'Strong,' and 'Fearless.' Glittery accents and heart shapes add detail, enhancing the overall inspirational theme.

And a close up look at the design with the mixed media layer as a background behind the shaker bits.

A greeting card featuring a pink and teal design with glittery hearts, a message circle that says 'You are' surrounded by positive adjectives, and crafting materials in the background.

Watch the video tutorial below on how I created these designs.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #2 – Laser Cut Sign Background

This was such a random idea that popped into my head and I decided to try it and see what happened. I love how it turned out!

Wooden plaque featuring a butterfly design with inspirational text about growth and embracing change.

In the Silhouette software, I released the compound path and deleted some of the bits in the middle to make it a little more successful in cutting and create a larger space for the design in the middle. Then selected the entire mixed media design and made a compound path again.

Here is a look at the design before I saved as a svg to send to my Glowforge.

An open design software window displaying a decorative butterfly design with text, set up for a wood sign project.

I still need to finish this out and I’m not sure if I’ll add stain or just a protective sealer to it.

I then scaled the design down a bit and made a business sign too.

A decorative wooden sign displaying the name 'EllyMae', the business 'Swift Creek Customs', and the phrase 'Silhouette Secrets + Creator, Instructor, Maker'. It features a QR code on one side.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #3 – Stencils with Mixed Media Designs

Use mixed media designs to create unique stencils that can be used for many different purposes.

Two craft stencils held by hands, one with an abstract speckled pattern and the other with a series of circular cutouts, displayed on a grid background.

This project uses the mixed media files in 3 different ways

  • as stencils
  • as physical elements cut
  • as digital backgrounds
A colorful canvas featuring motivational phrases such as 'Be You, Be Unique, Be Unstoppable' and 'You Are Amazing, Brave, Thoughtful, Kind, Smart, Fearless, Loved, Talented, Unique, Strong'. The background has abstract paint splashes and patterns.

This project came together layer by layer. A collage of different mediums and materials. I love how it has turned out so far. I am not sure it’s completely finished, but I’m sure it will tell me one of these days.

Here is a close up look at some of the layered details on this canvas collage showing 3 different methods of using the mixed media designs.

Close-up of a colorful mixed media artwork featuring an inspirational quote that reads "YOU ARE Amazing, Brave, Thoughtful, Kind, Smart, Fearless, Loved, Talented, Loyal, True, Strong" on a pink background with various artistic textures and patterns.

I also used the stencils in a mixed media journal to practice with before adding to my canvas. My first attempt on the canvas the paint was a bit watery and ran under the stencil, so I set that aside and practiced a bit in the journal.

An artist's workspace featuring an open sketchbook with colorful paint strokes and a stencil. Various paint bottles are arranged in the background alongside paintbrushes and tools, indicating an active creative process.

Use the mixed media designs and cut the design from cardstock or other materials to create a physical element. Layer and add this to the canvas for even more uniqueness and interest.

A close-up of crafting materials on a wooden table, featuring two black butterfly cutouts and several black patterned overlays, alongside a cutting machine and a blue cutting mat.

Add a digital pattern to the mixed media design, print it out, and cut out in a shape to add another layer to the canvas.

A close-up of printed motivational phrases on a sheet of paper, featuring the text 'You Are' followed by positive adjectives like 'Brave,' 'Kind,' and 'Talented,' with colorful watercolor backgrounds in orange and pink.

Mixed media designs have so much potential on what they can be used for and in this case I layered the different elements and just kept building the canvas project.

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – HTV Shirt Designs

I created a couple different shirt designs using the mixed media designs and then cut out of HTV. The first one is cut from Siser Tiger Lily Puff Metallic HTV and another one of my favorites. I made one similar to this last year and it still looks great!

A navy blue t-shirt featuring the word 'create' in a stylish pink font, positioned over a patterned background of pink circles.

Next, I swapped out the Metallic Puff HTV and used a pattern HTV that’s in my stash along with a Siser Glitter Puff HTV. Although the glitter puff didn’t really puff up that much, it still looks great on the shirt.

Navy blue t-shirt featuring the word 'create' in bright green, surrounded by colorful confetti.

And one more creation. I’m not sure how I feel about this color combination, but I think it’s growing on me. I used Siser Glitter Puff HTV in orange and it didn’t puff up much either, but still looks great on the shirt.

A blue t-shirt with a colorful watercolor design featuring the word 'create' in bold, stylish lettering.

All of these shirts were created using the same techniques of an offset of the text and subtracting the offset from the mixed media design.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #5 – ATC (Artist Trading Cards)

Each year for Creativation I’ve made ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) and pass these out to others at the show. I used 2 of the mixed media designs on the background of the ATCs. These techniques could be applied to many other projects such as cards, bookmarks, stickers, etc.

A crafting workspace displaying a stack of colorful business cards with the text 'LIVE YOUR DREAMS' and 'ST LOUIS', alongside a card indicating creator information and a logo for Silhouette Secrets.

Watch the step-by-step tutorial on creating these ATC (Artist Trading Cards) below.

And check out the blog post on the ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) HERE.

Supplies Used:

It is amazing how one design or creative idea can be the spark for so many more projects!

Featured Designer – Sarah Hurley

A great big THANK YOU to Sarah Hurley for collaborating for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter!

Find more designs by Sarah Hurley at the ​Silhouette Design Store​​

Follow along with Sarah Hurley on her ​website​, ​Facebook​, and ​Instagram​.

Sarah also launched Stella Nova this past year too and I’ve enjoyed following along on that journey as well. ​Check that out HERE​.

A great big thank you to Sarah Hurley for collaborating with us this month!

Sign up for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter HERE so you don’t miss out on future collaborations.

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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 Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A collection of mixed media projects including a colorful notebook cover, personalized wooden sign, and various fabric designs featuring the word 'create' and positive affirmations.

Enjoy !

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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.

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How to Make ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) with Silhouette

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Have you ever heard of an ATC? Or Artist Trading Card? They are a very popular thing to create to swap or pass out to other creatives at events or even through the mail. I had a good friend many years ago who collected them and would put them into trading card pockets. I thought it was such a neat idea. Then fast forward and I started attending Silhouette events and started making things to trade. Without even thinking about it, I was creating ATCs and swapping them. ATCs can be created with physical supplies or digital supplies and then printed. There is NO WRONG WAY to create one.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

When I’m traveling, I like to make digital ATCs, so they take up less room and are not bulky. And you don’t even need to own a Silhouette machine to create and print from Silhouette Studio. The Silhouette Studio software basic edition is free for anyone to download from Silhouette America.

Here is a look at the ATC design in Silhouette Studio that I created for Creativation 2026 that was held in St Louis. I used a colorful background pattern, mixed media design, and a font by Sarah Hurley, along with a St Louis svg I found.

Colorful graphic design featuring the text 'LIVE YOUR DREAMS' and 'ST LOUIS' against a vibrant background with abstract shapes.

Now, one thing to note, if you want to open svg files in Silhouette Studio, it does require a software upgrade to Designer Edition or higher. Find more details on that HERE.

Once I had the design how I wanted, then I grouped it all together and replicated the design and centered them all to the page.

Design layout featuring multiple artist trading cards (ATCs) with a colorful background, text reading 'LIVE YOUR DREAMS', and company branding at the bottom, displayed on the Silhouette Studio software interface.


I also wanted this one to be a double-sided ATC so created a second page by using File > Save As, then deleting the details inside the rectangles and adding new information. This ensures that the design placement is exactly the same for both sides.

Screenshot of Silhouette Studio software displaying a design for business cards with a template for ATC (Artist Trading Cards) stickers.

Now, the biggest thing about a double-sided print is figuring out how your printer loads, pulls the material through the machine, and which side it will print on. Every printer is different and the only way to know is to test it and make a few mistakes. It never fails every time I do this that I have a few I mess up.

A close-up image of printed stickers featuring the text 'Live Your Dreams' and colorful abstract backgrounds. A hand with a ring is holding the sheet of stickers.

Since my design is straight lines, I opted to not use print and cut and have the registration marks take up space or spend the time loading each page into the machine for it to be cut out. I grabbed 2 of my paper trimmers, a 12″ to cut the long lengths and then a smaller one to cut each card apart. It ended up being faster to do this than if I let the machine do it for me and I can get more to a page.

However, if I have a design that needs to be cut exactly around the design, then I definitely set up a print and cut project.

A crafting workspace featuring a paper trimmer, colorful printed cards with the text 'LIVE YOUR DREAMS' and 'ST LOUIS', various art supplies, and a cutting mat.

I share the full creation process of the ATCs in the video below or on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel.

Supplies to Create ATCs in Silhouette

Additional Resources:  

What will you create today? Sometimes it’s fun to just play around and put things together to see what happens, even if you don’t have a purpose for it at the moment.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A close-up of an Artist Trading Card (ATC) displayed on a cutting mat with colorful designs, featuring the text 'Live Your Dreams' and 'ST LOUIS'.

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.

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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.

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DIY Glass Etching with Etchall on a Floating Frame

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Looking for a creative way to personalize your home decor projects? Glass etching is a fun and easy technique that can completely transform simple glass surfaces into beautiful custom pieces! In this post, I’m sharing how I used Etchall etching creme on a floating glass floral frame to create a unique one-of-a-kind decor project perfect for displaying photos, pressed flowers, inspirational quotes, and more. The frosted etched finish adds an elegant touch while still allowing the beauty of the floating frame design to shine through. Whether you’re new to glass etching or looking for fresh DIY project ideas, this custom etched glass frame is a great way to create personalized decor with a professional look.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A decorative glass frame with etched floral designs and the word 'beautiful' featuring three images of bright orange hibiscus flowers.

Steps to Etched Glass Projects

  1. Create a stencil for etching.
  2. Clean glass blank with alcohol and allow to dry.
  3. Apply stencil.
  4. Mask off edge of stencil to prevent bleeding
  5. Apply Etchall Etching Creme and allow to sit for 20 minutes.
  6. Remove any excess Etching Creme and place back in the bottle.
  7. Wipe off remaining excess with a paper towel and safely discard paper towel.
  8. Run water in the sink and rinse off decal thoroughly.
  9. Remove masking tape and adhesive vinyl under running water.
  10. Rinse blank thoroughly.
  11. Dry and Enjoy!

Glass Etching Supplies

Gather the supplies. I am using a floating frame which has 2 panels of glass and the photos will be sandwiched in between the glass panels.

A silhouette cutting machine positioned on a work surface, with a package of an 8x10 float photo frame and several sheets of colored paper in coral and light blue.

I cut the adhesive vinyl with the Silhouette Cameo and weeded out the design for my stencil. Then applied it to the backside of the glass frame. I also taped off the glass panel edges with painters tape to make it easier to handle and not cut myself.

A creative workspace featuring a peach-colored cardstock with floral designs and the word 'beautiful' in script, surrounded by crafting materials including etching cream, a scraper, and a wooden stick.

Since there were some small details and pieces, I did apply a bit of heat to set the adhesive vinyl and give it a good seal. Be very careful here and let the glass cool before handling.

A person using a heat gun on a coral-colored stencil that features floral designs and blank rectangular spaces on a fabric surface.

Then apply a generous layer of Etchall etching creme and let it sit for 20 minutes.

An overhead view of a crafting workspace featuring a pink base with a brown adhesive design, a bottle of etching cream, tools, and a heat gun.

Scrape off any excess Etchall creme and put it back in the bottle. I scrape as much as I can and then use a paper towel carefully to wipe away any excess. Then rinse with a generous amount of running water until the glass is clean. Remove the adhesive vinyl stencil and rinse again.

A hand holding a transparent acrylic sheet with floral design and the word 'beautiful' inscribed, positioned over a wooden surface.

I add some of the bright, colorful flower photos that I had taken from my front yard a few years ago and it really made it pop!

Decorative photo frame featuring three images of hibiscus flowers, with the word 'beautiful' etched below and floral designs on top.

Take this idea and make it your own! What supplies do you have in your craft stash that you could make a custom glass etched

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A DIY glass etching floating frame featuring three images of vibrant flowers, with decorative floral patterns and the word 'beautiful' etched into the glass.

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.

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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!

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Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II Tips for Cutting Large and Long Vinyl Projects Successfully

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

The Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II opens up a whole new world of possibilities for makers who love working on a larger scale. From oversized decals and statement wall designs to banners, signage, and long-format heat transfer vinyl projects, this machine is built to handle it all—but success with long cuts comes down to more than just size. In this deep dive tutorial, you’ll discover practical, real-world techniques that help you get smoother feeds, more accurate alignment, and consistently clean cuts across extended lengths of vinyl.

Inside this post, you’ll find a quick breakdown of the key strategies covered in the full video, along with actionable tips you can start using right away. These insights are designed to help reduce common issues like material shifting, tracking errors, and uneven cutting—so your larger projects feel just as manageable as smaller ones. Whether you’re brand new to the Cameo Pro MK II or looking to refine your workflow, this guide will help you cut with more confidence and control on every long-format project.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Watch the full deep dive video below and see a quick nutshell of tips below.

Tips for Success in a Nutshell – Cameo Pro MK II

Do you really need to cut 10 feet of material at one time?

If the design is one long design, then maybe yes. But, if it’s a bunch of designs, cutting it in smaller chunks can be more successful and less wasted materials and time in the long run.

Make sure the leading edge of the material is completely straight.

Set yourself up for success from the start. If the leading edge is crooked or uneven, then it will have a greater chance of failure because it will be more difficult to load straight.

Here is a look at my vinyl roll before I started. High rate of failure trying to use an uneven edge like this.

A Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II cutting machine with a large rolling blade and control panel, placed on a turquoise work surface.

I have a large self healing sewing mat and use a rotary cutter with an acrylic ruler to straighten out my vinyl edge.

Flat lay of a crafting workspace featuring a roll of black vinyl, a cutting mat with grid lines, a rotary cutter, and various crafting supplies in the background.

Silhouette Cameo Pro models do not like bulk rolls.

Bulk rolls can be very heavy and not easy to pull the vinyl off of.

Silhouette Roll Feeder Setup Properly

Make sure the roll is properly set up in the roll feeder on the front of the machine and is secure and moving freely.

Adjust the roll feeder screws to accommodate different roll thicknesses, but the vinyl should always sit on top of the roller of the roll feeder and roll freely. The roll should not be down in the roll feeder or resting on the table top inside the roll feeder.

The photo below shows improper setup of the roll feeder for this size of a roll. It is sitting down in the roll feeder and not on top of the rollers of the feeder.

A close-up view of a Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II machine with a red roll of vinyl installed on a teal surface, accompanied by a pair of scissors.

Adjust the screws and lengthen the roller support as needed to fully support the size roll being used.

Close-up of a Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II machine with a red roll of material beneath it, highlighting the settings and adjustments for material feeding.

For best results, always use the roll feeder stability bar. If the material roll hits the stability bar, then the roll is too big and can have issues with feeding properly.

Fully Support Vinyl the Full Length in front and behind the machine.

Vinyl that is hanging off a table is working against gravity to pull up and into the machine.

Load Material Properly

The line on the far left of the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II is for use with a 24″ cutting mat. The line on the right side that the arrow points to is for all other widths of materials or mats.

Close-up view of a Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II machine showing the load lines on the machine.

The left edge of the material should be next to the proper load line and the left roller completely on the material.

Close-up view of a Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II machine showing the proper loading of 24" material.

The right roller should be securely on the right edge of the material and in a location it can be locked in place.

Close-up view of the right side of a Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II with material loaded.

Listen to Your Machine When Loading Materials

You will be able to hear it more than see it if the material catches on something as it is loading. There are multiple areas where materials can get hung up in the machine such as the bottom roller bar, the channel in front of the cutting strip, and the channel on the cross cutter on the backside of the machine.

Materials catching can affect the feed and if the vinyl is loaded straight. Crooked vinyl from the start will only get worse the greater distance it goes into the machine.

Settings that Affect the Feed in Silhouette Studio

On the Send tab in the Silhouette software, click on the gear icon in the bottom right corner. If you are having issues with feed and cutting specific designs, try adjusting the Cut Order Sorting settings to see if it helps.

Screenshot of Silhouette Studio graphic design software displaying the cut setup on the Send tab.

Feed the Vinyl Through the Machine for the Full Length

This can help identify if there are going to be any issues before you even put the blade in to cut. It can save you time and money in materials by doing this.

If you continue to have issues with a material catching in the machine, feed in 4″+ to advance the leading edge of the material past all of the areas it may be catching on. 4″ of material can save you time and material in the long run. Use that 4″ for scrap later for other projects.

Test Cut, Test Cut, Test Cut!!!

Cut settings that are too deep can affect the feed and whether the cuts will connect and complete. It will save a lot of materials, time, and money

Get Extra Vinyl

It’s always a good idea to have extra vinyl on hand for any mistakes or errors, especially if working on a deadline.

I share additional tips in the Silhouette Cameo Pro Unboxing as well.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

EllyMae with Silhouette Secrets+ demonstrating the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II cutting machine with a roll of vinyl at her crafting workstation.

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!

shop classes
Silhouette step-by-step Classes by Silhouette Secrets+

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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.

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How to Make a Kentucky Derby Hat at Home | Easy DIY Derby Fascinator

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

If you would have asked me last week if I was going to be making a Kentucky Derby hat, I would have said that it wasn’t even on my radar. And then we were given a challenge at work and my brain just started working on the idea. And pretty soon I had a summer beach hat in my shopping cart, and the idea was coming together.

First, before I go farther into how I made this, please know this hat would be for indoor use. Since it’s made from paper the designs would fall apart if it were rained on or splashed with water.

Kentucky Derby hats are unique and do not have to be identical to each other. This is one of those projects that you can really add your own personal details to and just have fun!

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Next up was to start gathering the rest of the supplies.

I’ve had this large flower hanging around in my studio since I was working with the 3-D Flower Flamingo Design by Tanya Batrak in June of 2024. This file was one of the Crafting Creativity collaborations that I do each month with a new designer. Find more details on the projects created with that file HERE.

And I had some pink tulle from an adult fairy tutu I made about 16 years ago. Yes, that’s right, I keep supplies around a long time just in case. Except I purged the little flamingo flowers a couple weeks ago when I was cleaning. It never fails that when I let something go, I will want to use it the next week. I grabbed some ribbon and had the start to my supplies.

A crafting workspace featuring a large straw hat adorned with a pink tulle decoration, paper flowers, and various crafting supplies including scissors and decorative elements.

I didn’t want to buy any additional supplies even though I did look at some feathers, but I ended up cutting a feather design and then painting it with a metallic paint by DecoArts.

A crafting workspace featuring white paper feather cutouts on a grid cutting mat, surrounded by various art supplies like glue, paint, and tools.

I took the black ribbon off of the hat and then added a green ribbon and hot glued it in place to secure it on the hat.

Flat lay of crafting materials including a large straw hat with a teal ribbon, white decorative feathers, pink tulle, and a large pink paper flower on a wooden table cluttered with various craft supplies.

Next, I cut some lengths of the pink tulle and bunched it together and secured it with zip ties. Then glued it in place on top of the green ribbon.

A crafting workspace featuring a large yellow straw hat adorned with pink tulle fabric and decorative elements like feathers, surrounded by various crafting supplies.

Once the glue was dry on the tulle, I added more hot glue and secured the large flower. Then let that cool completely so it was set.

A wide-brimmed straw hat decorated with a large pink paper flower and pink tulle, placed on a crafting surface with various crafting supplies in the background.

Then I just started adding the feathers, securing them with hot glue and letting it set up before moving it around.

A handcrafted straw hat adorned with a large pink paper flower and white feather-like accents, placed on a crafting workspace with various supplies.

I thought about adding more. I cut some strips of papers in 2 shades of pink and white and then curled them, but when I started adding them to the hat, it didn’t feel right. So, for now, this project is finished.

A woman smiling while wearing a large, decorative straw hat adorned with a pink flower and feathers, paired with a pearl necklace.

Now, I will admit that I’m not a “hat” person typically. However, I put this on and looked in the mirror and I love the hat. I think it’s because it’s over-the-top and there really isn’t a wrong way. Kentucky Derby hats are big & bold.

A woman wearing a large decorative hat with a pink flower and tulle, paired with a black sleeveless dress and a pearl necklace, standing outdoors with greenery in the background.

Maybe someday I’ll make it to the real Kentucky Derby, but for now, this hat will be on display at work for the 152nd Kentucky Derby Day.

A woman in a large, decorative hat with pink flowers and tulle stands on a balcony, wearing a black dress with a geometric pattern. She has a necklace and visible tattoos, with green trees in the background.

It was fun to make, used up some of my previous projects sitting around, and went together very quickly. And I saved the black ribbon exactly how it was so if I can also turn it back into a summer hat to use pool side too when Derby Day is over.

Supplies for DIY Derby Hat:

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A woman wearing a large, decorated DIY derby hat featuring a pink flower and tulle, dressed in a black patterned outfit and pearls, standing outdoors with green trees in the background.

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!

shop 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.

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Brilliant Living Digital Kit by Nitwit Collections – Crafting Creativity

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Brilliant Living is a gorgeous digital kit by Nitwit Collections and I was thrilled to collaborate with them for the March 2026 Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter. Newsletter subscribers had the chance to grab the Brilliant Living Knick Knack kit for free exclusive to them in March. Throughout the month I created several different projects using the kit to show it’s versatility from layered cards to tags and even sublimation projects too! Find all the details below.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A digital design preview featuring a card cluster with floral elements, butterflies, and a colorful plaid pattern, promoting 'Brilliant Living' by Nitwit Collections.

Crafting Creativity with Nitwit Collections – Brilliant Living Digital Kit

What a bold, beautiful kit! Check out the full Brilliant Living collection on the Nitwit Collections shop HERE.

Project #1 – Layered Card Designs

This card has 4 layers of the elements stacked on top of each other with foam tape to give it dimension.

A handcrafted greeting card featuring colorful floral designs, a purple butterfly, and the text 'brightest wishes for you' from the Brilliant Living digital kit. The card is placed on a wooden surface in front of a cutting machine.

Here is a look at the print and cut page printed out ready to cut around each of the layers.

Crafting project featuring a colorful card design with floral elements, a butterfly, and text that reads 'brightest wishes'. The card design is on a mint green cutting mat placed on a wooden surface.

There are so many options with a digital kit and you can mix and match, add more layers, decrease the layers, or only print one layer for a project as well.

If you are mailing the card, you may need to keep the thickness of the layers in mind when creating it.

So for the next cards, I stacked elements together and then was able to print 2 card fronts on one sheet of paper. Each of these designs have different elements that can be layered together.

A printed design featuring two cards with the message 'brightest wishes,' surrounded by colorful flowers, butterflies, and ladybugs, set against a white background.

Here is a look at the final results from this printed page.

Two greeting cards featuring colorful butterflies and flowers from the Brilliant Living Digital Kit, with the text 'brightest wishes for you' prominently displayed.

The card on the left side only has the “for you” and the “ladybug layered”, while the card on the right has the “wishes, for you, and the ladybug layered”.

Two colorful ladybug cutouts with red bodies and black spots, placed on a grid background.

There were a couple intricate areas that may not cut well for all users. I was able to get these ladybugs with their antennae’s to cut, but had to be extremely careful removing them off the cutting mat.
However the butterfly antennae’s were just too delicate, which is another reason you may want to add that layer directly to the card background instead of trying to add it as a 3-D layer.
But you never know until you try. The Silhouette machine might amaze you in the cut it can get.

Three greeting cards featuring colorful floral designs, butterflies, and the text 'brightest wishes for you' on a wooden surface. Created with the Brilliant Living Digital Kit

Watch how I created these layered card designs with Silhouette in this video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel – Layered Card Design with Brilliant Living Digital Kit – Step-by-step Silhouette tutorial

A flat lay image of two layered greeting cards featuring floral designs and butterflies. The cards read 'brightest wishes for you' and are accompanied by crafting tools, including scissors and a tape runner, on a wooden surface.
Layered Card Design video HERE

Video tutorial HERE

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #2 – Layered Tag Designs with Brilliant Living Digital Kit

Being able to create your own designs means that you can make them any size you want and create as many as you need in the moment. I started with the idea to create only 2 tags, but it ended up being 4 complete designs.

A crafting workspace featuring a cutting machine, several colorful tags with floral designs and text, a roll of tape, scissors, and decorative embellishments on a wooden surface. Tags created with the Brilliant Living Digital Kit

I used 2 sheets of paper to print and created 1 layered tag and one simple print and cut tag on each sheet.

A colorful greeting card design featuring floral elements and the text 'wishes' displayed on a crafting machine workspace.

Here is a look at one of the layered tags using the foam tape to pop up the dimension.

The great part about creating your own tags is there are no rules. Flower hangs off the edge, no problem! Want the design to be flush on the edges – no problem! Or mix and match. And using a digital kit allows you to mock it up first in the Silhouette software before you even cut the elements out.

Watch the video tutorial for these designs on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.

Four decorative tags with floral designs and the word 'wishes' displayed on a wooden surface, alongside a cutting machine, promoting a step-by-step tutorial in Silhouette Studio.

Video tutorial HERE

Supplies Used:

Project #3 – Quick Print and Cut Cards with Brilliant Living Digital Kit

I used the same techniques I shared in the step-by-step video tutorial – Layered Card Design on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel and created a little bit different layout for two 5″ x 7″ cards.

Two greeting cards displayed on a wooden surface, featuring floral designs, butterflies, and the word 'wishes'. The left card has a striped border while the right card showcases a different layout with a colorful pattern. Created with the Brilliant Living Digital Kit

Here is a look at the card designs in Silhouette Studio.

A digital design featuring two greeting card layouts with floral patterns, featuring butterflies, ladybugs, and the word 'wishes'. The left card has a white background with pink and red flowers, while the right card displays a blue background with a plaid pattern.

And then I simply chose letter size paper and rotated the designs 90 degrees so I could print 2 on a page.

A screenshot of Silhouette Studio software displaying the design for a card featuring floral motifs, butterflies, and the word 'wishes'. The design area shows two card layouts and various setup options on the right.

A few slices with my paper trimmer and my card front were ready to attach to a base.

Quick and easy cards in minutes with the Brilliant Living Knick Knack kit by Nitwit Collections.

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – Sublimation Projects with Brilliant Living Digital Kit

Digital designs worked perfectly for sublimation projects! I created 4 sublimation project designs on 1 sheet of sublimation paper.

A collection of crafting materials including a decorative metal panel, multiple colorful greeting cards featuring flowers and butterflies, and bookmarks, arranged on a wooden table next to a cutting machine. Created with the Brilliant Living Digital Kit

I made a decorative panel, cover for a compact mirror case, a bookmark, and a coaster.

The colors are so bright and brilliant with these projects, except the center of the coaster turned out a bit washed out. This can happen with hardboard at times and moisture affecting the outcome.

A colorful decorative panel featuring floral patterns, a purple butterfly, and bold text that reads 'brightest wishes' alongside an arrow and additional decorative elements. Created with the Brilliant Living Digital Kit

Watch how I created these sublimation projects with Silhouette and sublimation blanks on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.

An image showcasing a decorative card with floral and butterfly designs, featuring the text 'brightest wishes' and other colorful embellishments, alongside crafting materials on a wooden table.

Video tutorial HERE

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Featured Designer – Nitwit Collections

A great big THANK YOU to Nitwit Collections for collaborating for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter!

Make sure to follow Nitwit Collections for more amazing designs:

Sign up for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter HERE so you don’t miss out on future collaborations.

Silhouette Secrets+ Newsletter

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Unsubscribe at anytime.

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Did this spark some new creative ideas for you? It’s always inspiring to see how a single flower and greenery design can bloom into so many completely different projects! I had so much fun reimagining this one design across five unique creations and showing just how versatile a single file can be. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A flat lay of various sublimation projects including a decorative coaster, a compact mirror, tags, and a greeting card featuring colorful floral designs and the text 'brightest wishes'.

Enjoy !

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Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.

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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!

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Crafting Creativity: 1 Bunny File, 5 Creative Projects with Studio Ilustrado

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

What can you do with one cut file? A lot. Each month I work with a featured designer in the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter who provides a file for subscribers, and I share new projects each week during the month with that file. I typically start with the original file, add my own touches to it and then I create additional projects to show the versatility that one file can have. The Carrot Balloon Bunny Card by Studio Ilustrado is a perfect example. In this blog post I’m sharing 5 different design ideas that can be made with a Carrot Balloon Bunny Card design.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A cute paper craft scene featuring a gray bunny in a hot air balloon shaped like a carrot, surrounded by colorful flowers and pastel eggs on a checkered tablecloth.

Crafting Creativity with Studio Ilustrado

One file, endless possibilities.

Collage of spring-themed crafts featuring bunny and carrot designs, including greeting cards, decorative items, and crafting tools.

Project #1 – Bunny Carrot Balloon Card

I started out creating the design as originally intended by making the card and adding my own special touches with inking, paper shaping, and foam tape.

A colorful paper craft depicting a bunny in a hot air balloon shaped like a carrot, with a basket and flowers in a grassy landscape.

I had the Silhouette Curio 2 out from testing with the Silhouette Leather Carving Knife, so it was the machine I used to cut this card. Almost all the pieces were cut out using scraps from my stash. I love being able to use my scraps!

Look at these tiny details!

A hand holding a gray paper cutout of a smiling bunny with long ears.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure if it would cut well with the electrostatic mat on the Curio 2, but it did! Especially using a scrap piece of cardstock with the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat.

Sometimes we all just need a little bit of help and taping down the cardstock scraps on the Electrostatic Mat can be that help. It just added a little bit more security to hold my scraps in place and get a successful cut with the Electrostatic Mat. I love this new technology that Silhouette has. While it does not work with all materials, it has saved me hours of time cutting cardstock.

Close-up of a cutting machine with two tool holders, one equipped with a blade and the other empty, and a piece of gray material on the cutting mat.

While I used the Silhouette Curio 2 to cut the projects, any Silhouette machine could be used to create these projects.

Watch a bit of the behind-the-scenes on creating this project in this video – Creative Projects with Studio Ilustrado Designs – Bunny Carrot Balloon Card HERE

A colorful, three-dimensional craft display featuring a bunny in a basket, surrounded by green grass and flowers, with a large carrot above.

Supplies Used:

Project #2 – Peek-a-boo Bunny Box

A yellow gift box shaped like a carton with a bunny illustration on the front, placed on a crafting table alongside a roll of adhesive tape, a tape dispenser, and a crafting tool.

The bunny made the perfect peeking addition to this gable box card. Don’t let the name of a design fool you either. The title of the box is called Christmas Gable Box by Studio Ilustrado, but it can be used for so much more!

Now here is one of my “secrets” – while the Silhouette machines can cut acetate for the window of this box card, I can cut it faster and with less headache.

Digital design software interface showing a cut template with instructions to cut a shape from cardstock.

I cut the window shape from a piece of cardstock using the Silhouette machine and then used it as a template to make a few quick snips with scissors and I was on my way to assembly. It doesn’t have to be perfect since it will be hidden inside the box. And I saved myself time, headache, and didn’t dull my blade.

Crafting workspace with a yellow paper cutout featuring bunny designs, scissors, and various crafting supplies including glue and other tools.

However, if cutting multiples or a different design than a rectangle, it may be beneficial to set up the machine to cut acetate when needed. It’s great to have options.

Supplies Used:

Project #3 – Spring Round Wood Sign

I used my laser to cut this out of wood, but you could also use other materials such as cardstock too! Even though I have a laser machine, I started with a 12 inch wood round blank, which you could use as your backing board too.

A decorative wall hanging featuring a cartoon bunny in a hot air balloon shaped like a carrot, with the words 'Hoppy Spring' at the bottom, set against a blue background.

I used the SVG file, opened it in Silhouette and made a few modifications to the file to be able to create the layers for cutting on wood. Since the wood has more thickness to it than a material such as cardstock, I had to add a layer behind the bunny and cut multiples to make it sit flush with the sign and balloon basket. The knife tool in Silhouette helped me to cut the bunny’s little feet off so it would sit flush on the balloon for this design. That sounds so bad when I type it out, but if you have designed in Silhouette, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

A workspace with various craft supplies including a blue sign that says 'SPRING', a cute wooden bunny cutout, and several Uni Posca markers in different colors.

I used a combination of Posca Paint Markers and Deco Arts Paint for finishing out the sign.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – Seasonal Door Corner Design

As I was designing and cutting the first sign, another idea popped into my head too! Have you seen the door corner designs?

A decorative wall hanger featuring a cute gray bunny with pink ears peeking over a white picture frame. The word 'SPRING' is spelled out in yellow letters beside the frame.

I drew out a skinny rectangle, made a copy and rotated it 90 degrees. Aligned the right edges and welded it together to make the corner. Then sized the bunny and welded the bunny background to the rectangles to sit on top. Next, I added letters down the right side. Before welding the letters, I made a copy so I could cut them out and layer on top for color and dimension.

Before you go to cut the design, make sure it’s all flush. I forgot to cut the bunny’s feet with the knife tool, but I didn’t realize it until after he was all cut out, so he sits a little bit higher on the top of the door. In this case, it wasn’t worth recutting the design simply because you can’t really tell on our door frame.

I love these little door corner designs, even if we only have a few door frames that I can add them to in our house because the previous owner used the wrong trim to frame out the doors or the frame is too close to the wall. It is a fun way to add a bit of decoration without putting another hole in the wall.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #5 – Creative Cards

I used the knife tool again, but not to cut off any bunny feet. Instead I cut the carrot off the design and used it to create a couple corny cards.

Four handmade cards featuring carrot designs and playful phrases, displayed on a crafting mat with various crafting tools in the background.

I used a Silhouette Black Glitter sketch pen and a font called BFC Rustic Cherry Farmhouse to sketch out the sentiment. I love the look of this glitter black pen, but it’s very difficult to photograph and show how it really looks.

A craft workspace featuring a Silhouette cutting machine, with a blank page laid out displaying fun carrot-themed quotes and phrases, alongside two markers.

I used the Silhouette Curio 2 to sketch this design using the electrostatic mat because that was the machine on my desk this week, but sketching can be done with any Silhouette machine model.

Two handmade cards on a crafting desk. The left card features a carrot with the text 'I CARROT FOR YOU'. The right card depicts a potted plant with the text 'BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED'.

The clay pot was drawn in Silhouette Studio using basic shapes and adjusting the bottom edit points on a rectangle too!

Unlock your creativity by learning more about Silhouette. You never know where it will take you! Even making cards with carrots.

Four greeting cards featuring playful carrot designs and puns. The cards read: 'YOU'RE ONE IN A BUNCH', 'BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED', 'THANKS A BUNCH!', and 'I CARROT FOR YOU', showcasing colorful carrot illustrations.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Featured Designer – Studio Ilustrado

Find designs by Studio Ilustrado at:

Follow along with Studio Ilustrado on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram.

A great big thank you to Studio Ilustrado for contributing the free file for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter for the month of February! If you missed grabbing the free design in February, grab it HERE and start creating!

This year I started offering a free file each month for Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter subscribers. I love designing in the Silhouette Studio software and have shared some of my creations as well as look forward to collaborating with more artists in the future too!

Silhouette Secrets+ Newsletter

Never miss out on the news, tips, “secrets”, deals, classes, and more that I share on Silhouette Secrets+. Sign up for the newsletter and get information delivered to your inbox every Friday.
Unsubscribe at anytime.

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Sign up for the weekly newsletter HERE to have information delivered direct to your inbox and grab each month’s new freebie.

Did this spark some new creative ideas for you? It’s always inspiring to see how a single design can be used in completely different projects! I had so much fun reimagining this one design across five unique creations and showing just how versatile a single file can be. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Collage of five craft projects featuring bunnies, plants, and colorful decorations, with a central text overlay reading '5 projects 5 1 file'.

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!

shop classes
Silhouette step-by-step Classes by Silhouette Secrets+

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae
**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.

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Silhouette Cameo5α (Alpha) Unboxing

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

The Silhouette Cameo5α (Alpha) model is the latest machine released by Silhouette America. It was announced at the Silhouette Summit 2025 in Japan in September 2025 and was released shortly after the Summit.

A boxed Silhouette Cameo 5 cutting machine, labeled with dimensions and brand, placed on a concrete surface.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I was not able to attend the Silhouette Summit in Japan, but did order the Silhouette Cameo5α as soon as it was available on the Silhouette America website. At the time of the release, only the white Silhouette Cameo5α models were available and there was no timeline on the other colors being released, so I grabbed it. However, if I would have had choices, I would have selected the Bianco Carrara pattern. When this pattern was first released, I was not impressed, until I had one in my hands and it is my new favorite pattern.

I released 2 unboxing videos on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel sharing a quick setup as well as an in-depth look at the new machine model.

So far the in-depth unboxing and setup has been the most popular.

I did not get a blog post out at the time of releasing the unboxing, but sometimes a delay can also be a good thing as I’ve had some time to work with the Silhouette Cameo5α and really test it out. This means that I can add more information and real world experience to the blog post.

Here is one of the first projects I cut out after unboxing the Silhouette Cameo5α.

Crafting materials laid out on a wooden table, including cutouts of a skeleton, coffin, and various decorative pieces, with a Silhouette cutting machine in the background.

This project had many intricate cuts from the wood layers to the small skeleton hands. At this size, the cardstock makes a huge difference too! The first one I cut, the cardstock paper layers were separating and I had to switch to a higher quality smooth cardstock for these details.

Three white paper cutouts of hands placed on a brown surface, with a crafting tool nearby.

Here is a close up look at this finished project of the 3-D Skeleton Coffin with all of the details.

A decorative wooden chest with chains and a padlock, featuring skull and bony hands, set against the backdrop of a cutting machine.

This was just one piece to my Halloween busted canvas project, but it was a great test to really see what the Silhouette Cameo5α was capable of.

A decorative coffin with a skeleton figure inside, resting next to a white cutting machine on a wooden surface.

But, of course, I couldn’t stop there! The coffin was only the first piece of my Halloween busted canvas project.

A Halloween-themed decoration featuring a skeleton seated in a spooky graveyard setting, surrounded by a decorative wreath made of black netting, yellow and black patterned ribbons, and faux bones, with a miniature coffin and tombstone that reads 'R.I.P.'

I continued to cut out pieces for the 3-D Tombstone and put the Silhouette Cameo5α to the test. Within a short amount of time from unboxing the machine, I had a lot of cut hours into testing it out.

Watch the video – 3D Tombstone & Skeleton Halloween Art | Creative Process with Silhouette HERE.

A 3D Halloween-themed display featuring a skull behind wooden planks with chains and a padlock on one side, and a gravestone marked 'R.I.P.' on the other side, surrounded by paint supplies.

How Is This Model Different?

The Silhouette Cameo5α is an updated model of the original Cameo 5. The original Silhouette Cameo 5 model is no longer manufactured.

The Silhouette Cameo5α features a new roller design and I do like how it is much more visible to see the rollers and if ever there is a need, easier to clean them as well. It also has a pinch pressure button locking mechanism on the right roller that is so much nicer than the original model design.

Close-up view of the interior of a Silhouette cutting machine, showcasing the rollers and blade holders on a wooden surface.

It also has an additional 0.3 mm clearance on the roller bar for the Silhouette Cameo5α. At the Silhouette Summit, they mentioned this in reference to use with the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat. With the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat, there is a protective sheet that goes on top of the mat before you place your materials on it to be cut. This protective sheet adds height to what is rolling through the machine. I have not had any issues with this, however, they must have received some feedback from users who were using multiple layers of materials, such as stickers with a laminate on top of it which is thicker than your average cardstock. So the clearance was increased a tad bit.

Keep in mind that when you are talking about clearance, the material also has to “clear” the bottom of the tool that is being used. So even if it clears the bottom of the roller bar, thicker materials also have to allow the blade or tool to clear it as well. And even if a material can clear both the roller bar and tool tip, that does not guarantee that it is a cuttable material with the Silhouette. There are many factors that go into whether a material is going to cut well with a Silhouette.

Close-up image of a cutting machine with a white exterior, displaying the interior components and cutting blade holder system.

With the Silhouette Cameo5α, you do have to use a Silhouette software version of 5.0.402 in order for the machine to be recognized. As I type this up, there are still many bugs and issues with version 5 and I am not recommending version 5 for all users. But, if you are a Silhouette Cameo5α owner, you do have to use version 5 and there is no way around that. I recommend using version 5.0.402 at this time and not the current version (5.0.414) as we have seen some issues with the current version. We have seen some issues of machines being bricked or recognized as a regular Cameo 5 and not a Silhouette Cameo5α. If you encounter any of those issues, please contact Silhouette Support and be as detailed as possible in your request for assistance. Including photos and video can help them help you faster as well.

The Silhouette Cameo5α also uses the 4 point registration marks for print and cut projects. This was first released with the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II model and now is available with the Silhouette Cameo5α model. Silhouette states that this is supposed to improve accuracy of the print and cut results. However, I have not seen any significant improvements in my testing. The biggest issues we see with print and cut are still due to setup and user errors.

Screenshot of a design project in Silhouette Studio, featuring two card designs with floral and butterfly elements, along with text 'wishes' and 'for you'. The page setup settings are displayed on the right.

I shared a little more on using the 4 point registration marks and testing it with the same design on both the older style marks and the newer style marks in this video – Layered Card Design with Brilliant Living Digital Kit – a Step-by-Step Silhouette Tutorial.

Image shows two layered greeting cards featuring floral designs and butterflies, with crafting materials like tape and scissors in the background. The text above indicates a step-by-step tutorial using a digital kit.

This 4 point registration mark system is only available if the Silhouette software has recognized a Silhouette Cameo5α or a Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II has been connected.

What Do I Use?

I use both the Silhouette Cameo 5 original model and the Silhouette Cameo5α. It really just depends on what I am doing and what the project might be.

Anytime I get a new machine, I like to put it through the paces to see what works and what doesn’t. This means testing both the machine and the Silhouette Studio software.

Here are some print and cut projects I did while testing it.

A crafting workspace featuring a cutting machine, colorful papers, printed floral designs, and various crafting tools arranged on a wooden table.

I do love that I can create meaningful cards and gifts for friends and family, no matter what the circumstances are.

A greeting card featuring a floral design with the text: 'May you find comfort in sweet memories, strength in those you love & hope in each new day,' placed next to a crafting machine on a wooden table.

Check out more projects I cut using the Silhouette Cameo5α in this blog post – 5 Card Designs from One Template with Quietfire Designs.

A collage featuring five unique card designs made with one template, showcasing themes like winter, birthdays, flowers, Halloween, and a friendly ghost.

I really do wish cutting machines came with a cut hours timer. Within the first few weeks of owning the machine, I racked up a lot of cut hours.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A woman wearing a black shirt with the word 'create' is standing at a table, pointing towards a Silhouette Cameo 5 cutting machine. The background features various craft supplies and organizational tools.

Enjoy !

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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!

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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.

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Silhouette Tutorial: Layered Card Design with Brilliant Digital Kit

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

New video out on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel!!
In this video I share step-by-step how I created a layered card design in the Silhouette Studio software using a digital kit by Nitwit Collections.

A colorful greeting card featuring a purple butterfly, a red tulip, and the text 'brightest wishes for you' on a floral background, positioned in front of a cutting machine.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This is the first Crafting Creativity project for the month of March that I shared with newsletter subscribers.

Watch this below.

I love the bright colors Knick Knack kit by Nitwit Collections. This kit is exclusive to newsletter subscribers for the month of March and then will be available in their shop for purchase later.

Image showcasing a collection of card designs featuring floral elements, butterflies, and decorative layers. The layout includes a bright and colorful card cluster with the text 'brightest wishes for you', accompanied by matching envelopes and various themed graphics.

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Two decorative greeting cards featuring the text 'brightest wishes for you,' adorned with purple butterflies, red roses, and colorful floral patterns.

This Brilliant Living Knick Knack kit coordinates with the Brilliant Living Collection that can be found on the Nitwit Collections shop.

A colorful collage featuring various decorative elements and phrases related to celebration, joy, and friendship from the NitWit Collections' Brilliant Living Collection.

View this tutorial on creating a layered card in Silhouette Studio on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Two layered greeting cards featuring floral designs and butterflies, with the text 'brightest wishes for you.' A Silhouette cutting machine is visible in the background.

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!

shop classes
Silhouette step-by-step Classes by Silhouette Secrets+

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae
**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.

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Crafting Creativity: 1 Design, 5 Stunning Projects with Flavir Design

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Creativity truly blooms when you learn how to stretch a single design into multiple handmade projects. In this Crafting Creativity blog post, I’m sharing how one flower design by Flavir Design can be transformed into five stunning Silhouette flower projects using a cutting machine and paper crafting techniques. From a layered paper flower bouquet and custom greeting cards to a paper flower box topper, custom bookmarks with patterned backgrounds, and even miniature flowers, this project series is all about getting more value, versatility, and inspiration from one cut file. If you love Silhouette crafting, paper flowers, and creative ways to maximize your digital designs, this post will spark new ideas for your next crafting session.

Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A decorative floral crown made of paper flowers in warm colors and green leaves, arranged on a simple gold circular base.

Crafting Creativity Flowers & Greenery by Flavir Design

Daniela Moscone is the creative artist behind Flavir Designs and can be found in the Silhouette Design Store or on their website HERE. Make sure to check out their YouTube channel HERE for assembly videos too!

Project #1 – Flower Bouquet

I typically start out each month creating the file in the way it is shown. I decided at the last minute to take the pieces and add them to wire to create a bouquet to add to a vase. The best part about this is, if I change my mind, I can easily clip off the wires and add it to a wreath as the original image.

A flat lay image featuring two large, colorful paper flowers - one yellow and one orange - with green leaves on a crafting mat. Surrounding the flowers are a hot glue gun, a sponge, a pen, and small squares of paper. Silhouette flower projects

I love all the layers of these flowers and you can change it up however you want. And, with flowers, there is no wrong way because flowers are not perfect in nature, so if one petal has a chunk out of it, perfect! A bug took a bite. When was the last time you saw a flower in nature that didn’t have an imperfection?

I grabbed some Bazzill smooth cardstock to cut these bright colored flowers. Now, typically I’ve shied away from thicker cardstock like Bazzill and in some cases, Bazzill can be difficult to cut. I knew my blade and my cutting mat were on the older side, so I increase my settings just a bit and then used 3 passes and I had perfect, crisp cuts.

Screenshot of Silhouette Studio software showing a design featuring leaf shapes outlined in orange, with settings for cutting cardstock on the right side of the screen.

Since my mat is older and starting to lose it’s stick, I did secure it down really well with a squeegee. Or you can use a brayer. I was lazy and didn’t go grab it in the other room. Now, if the paper had started to shift, I would have gotten up and gotten the brayer or grabbed a new cutting mat.

I sponged on color to the flowers and the leaves and then shaped them before assembling all together. It can make a big difference in the final results of the project with just a few simple touches.

A close-up view of two artificial flowers, one yellow and the other orange, adorned with green leaves, placed on a wooden background. Silhouette flower projects

Supplies Used:

Watch the video sharing the process called Behind the Scenes: Creating Shaped & Layered Paper Flowers with a Silhouette Cameo on the Silhouette Secrets+ channel HERE.

A close-up of vibrant paper flowers in shades of yellow and orange, accompanied by green leaves, with the text 'Behind the Blooms' prominently displayed.

Project #2 – Custom Card Creation

This project started out totally different than a card design. I love it and it’s a good thing I can create more otherwise it might never leave my studio.

A handmade birthday card featuring a large pink flower, green leaves, and a glittery gold accent band. The card has a watercolor-like pink background and includes the text 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' on a white banner. Silhouette flower projects

I was playing around with a Two-Tone Metallic Spray – Fuchsia & Gold by Hero Arts and now I feel like using it on all my projects. Everything needs to be bright pink with gold flecks right! Well, maybe not everything. Hero Arts has other colors too!

A handmade birthday card featuring a large pink flower, a gold glitter strip, and the text 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY' on a white banner. The background is a vibrant pink splatter design with green leaves. A crafting workspace with various tools and supplies is visible in the background. Silhouette flower projects

The idea started out with spraying the flower layers to add coloring to the solid pink cardstock. I sprayed it on top of my Glassboard mat and then used a sheet of mixed media paper and picked up excess ink to create a background paper that I cut up for the bottom half of the card. The Glassboard mat is so easy to clean up that I find myself working with more mixed media and messy things.

The flowers and greenery were scaled down to fit this 4.25″ x 5.5″ card design. I added a few splatters of the Two-Tone Metallic Spray – Fuchsia & Gold to the card base. Instead of spraying it on, I took the cap off and splattered it to give it a different look.

A vibrant pink paper flower with intricate petals sits on a textured card background, accompanied by green leaves and a glittery gold strip. The card features a banner reading 'HAPPY'. Silhouette flower projects

I used a paper curling tool to give the flower layers dimension and next reached for my shaping kit to hand embossed the greenery to add more texture to it too. After that I curled the leaves a bit with a curling tool too. Then grabbed an extra Happy Birthday sentiment from a previous project and popped that up with some foam tape. For this card, I also used 2 other adhesives – an adhesive tape runner for the large piece adhered to the bottom of the card base and the Precision Glue Press with the glue it came with to adhere the flower layers together, the greenery to the card, and the flower on top.

I added some gold shimmer trim that is adhesive backed in the middle of the card base. Unfortunately, this is a Close to My Heart product that is no longer made, but I’m using my stash.

Supplies Used:

Project #3 – Box Topper Flowers

Add flowers on top of a box to create a unique gift box or decoration. I used both flower shapes in the flower design to create these box toppers.

Two decorative paper flowers in teal and pink placed on geometric boxes, with a background featuring pink spray and floral shapes. Silhouette flower projects

This box is originally designed with a cherry flower top, but why stop there! Swap out the flowers and watch it change the look of this Silhouette flower project.

A pink cherry flower box design displayed alongside details of its purchase options and features.

This box is a unique design and easy to put together too! But if needed, there is an assembly video too – find that HERE.

I used several patterns and printed my own pattern paper for the boxes.

Screenshot of Silhouette Studio software displaying a digital pattern design for a box with a grid background.

For this one, I didn’t even use the registration marks to print it. I added an offset of the box only and then filled the offset design with the pattern. Using a Silhouette mat and loading the mat next to the load line, I sent it to cut. With the manual print bleed, even if it was off by just a little bit, you won’t be able to notice.

A hand holding a sheet of paper with a grid pattern and an abstract shape on it, placed on a cutting mat in front of a cutting machine.

I don’t recommend this method if you are needing completely accurate cuts, but it can work for some designs and projects such as this one.

Close-up of a hand holding a piece of paper with a grid pattern, showcasing a cut-out shape on the paper.

By adding the print bleed around the entire design, I gave myself a better chance that it wouldn’t matter if the cut was off by a little bit.

And of course, I had to make the cherry flower box design too!

Five decorative paper boxes with colorful paper flowers on top, displayed on a wooden surface. Silhouette flower projects

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – Bookmarks with Background Patterns

3-D Flower file as a background pattern – say what! Yes! I took the flower and a leaf design and added a pattern fill to both, then used it as a background to create bookmarks.

A digital design workspace displayed on a computer screen, featuring various bookmark designs with floral elements and motivational text phrases like 'Just one more page' and 'Your only limit is your mind.' The design software's page setup and customization options are visible on the right side of the screen.

Here is a look at the file in Silhouette. I set up the bottom 2 bookmarks to use foil on, even though it looks the same in the software as the print and cut, the bottom 2 have a sketch fill added to them, so when I go to print, it is not going to print that design.

Print preview of bookmark designs featuring motivational quotes and leaf patterns.

I will say, it is much faster to just simply print and cut a design. Foiling does add setup and completion time, but sometimes it can be so worth it!

However, any time you add another factor into a project, you also increase the chances of something going wrong. I should have known better and either test foiled or not trusted Silhouette settings. In this version of Silhouette Studio 5 that I am using, it does not have a material preset for foiling on cardstock, so I had to add that in. And then the preset for force is 15 set by Silhouette. We have told them many, many times that it is too much and I should have decreased it even more. I changed it down to a 10 and that was still too much.

Close-up of a crafting machine applying gold foil to a textured surface with a red light indicator and patterned tape.

I just let it finish – it was ruined anyhow. If this happens to you – you are perfectly normal. Well, at least we are in the same boat together – I’m not sure I’d say I’m “normal”. LOL!

A close-up of foil packaging with an irregular cutout, revealing a textured silver surface underneath. The surrounding area features pastel colors and decorative elements.

Let’s just say – HOT MESS!

Close-up of a textured background with blue floral designs and the phrase 'Just One More Page' in gold lettering.

But, don’t give up! I adjusted the force down to a 2, which is still probably too high and I sent the second design to foil.

A close-up of a decorative fabric featuring blue leaf patterns and the inspirational phrase 'Live Your Dream' in gold lettering.

Once the foiling was done, I added a holographic overlay sheet on top of the bookmarks and sent that to cut.

A collection of five decorative bookmarks with motivational quotes on a wooden surface, accompanied by a craft machine and a pink scraping tool. Silhouette flower projects

In the end, I have 5 new bookmarks created with the flower design from this month’s collaboration. And one design that’s got some blank foiled areas and extra glitter on it where it shouldn’t. But it could still be used as a bookmark.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #5 – Miniature Flower Embellishments

These little pink flowers started out much bigger. I cut the flower shape from ​Silhouette Shrink plastic​ and then watched it transform under a heat gun. Instead of letting the shrink plastic flatten out, like you would with charms, I shaped them instead. Once they curled up, I stopped applying heat and pushed the end of the Silhouette spatula into the center to form the middle of the flower. Then I glued in a yellow bead. And the finishing touch was painting on ​Mod Podge Sparkle​ to give it a bit more fairy touch.

A close-up view of a textured surface covered in green moss and adorned with pink fabric flowers, featuring a wooden structure in the backdrop. Silhouette flower projects

I wanted to maximize the space I could on using the Silhouette Shrink Plastic. Since I was cutting a flower shape out of the material and did not need accurate placement, I added a fill pattern to a 8.5″ x 11″ rectangle and centered that on the letter size media page. I used a ​Pastel Pink Bokeh Background pattern​ by Sarah Hurley – ​Design #469254​ in my final print.

Screenshot of Silhouette Studio software showing two floral background designs, one with a pink and yellow gradient and the other with a pink bokeh effect.

I then printed out the entire page. I checked the “Show Print Border” so that I knew where the edges of the print out would be on my printed page and I could then place the designs within that gray border.

Then I simply filled the page with different sizes of the flowers and cut out the shapes from the printed page. No registration marks needed.

A digital design workspace showing a pink and yellow flower background with yellow flowers and red heart shapes in the design software Silhouette Studio.

I didn’t need the entire page of flowers, so I added in some hearts with another project in mind. Here is a look before adding heat to shrink them down.

A crafting workspace featuring a cutting machine, pink paper flowers, and heart shapes on a wooden table. Scissors and a crafting tool are also visible.

I would recommend cutting extras of whatever you are working with and playing with the shrink plastic. It can be a bit unpredictable when you add that heat and take a few practice runs to get it to mold how you want.

A collection of small pink flower-shaped embellishments scattered on a black surface, with scissors and other crafting materials in the background. Silhouette flower projects

This was actually the second sheet of flowers I had cut because I wasn’t quite thrilled with the first color pattern I’d chosen. I didn’t feel it was a bright enough pink for the project and the vision in my head.

A few tips for working with shrink plastic:

  • colors can change & darken as it shrinks – keep this in mind when choosing a pattern or color palette. The color gets condensed when it shrinks down. If you have dark colors, it can look black after shrinking.
  • any type of plastic can dull the blade quicker than other materials. The settings may need to be adjusted or a new blade needed the more you cut. It’s always a good idea to have an extra blade on hand.
  • carefully remove the shrink plastic from the backing layer after it’s cut. It can tear or break off during this process if handled too rough or if the design is too intricate.

Printing an entire page with a background can be an option for some projects. If you do need exact placement around a printed design, then I would recommend using registration marks so the machine knows where the design is.

Supplies Used:

Featured Designer – Daniela Moscone – Flavir Design

Find designs by Daniela Moscone – Flavir Design at:

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A great big thank you to Daniela at Flavir Design for contributing the free file for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter for the month of January! If you missed grabbing the free design in January, grab it HERE and start creating!

This year I started offering a free file each month for Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter subscribers. I love designing in the Silhouette Studio software and have shared some of my creations as well as look forward to collaborating with more artists in the future too!

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Did this spark some new creative ideas for you? It’s always inspiring to see how a single flower and greenery design can bloom into so many completely different projects! I had so much fun reimagining this one design across five unique creations and showing just how versatile a single file can be. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

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A vibrant handmade birthday card featuring a large pink flower and the text 'Happy Birthday', surrounded by colorful paper crafts.

Enjoy !

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