Have you ever opened Silhouette Studio, started designing with text, and instead of a beautiful font you’re greeted with rectangles, boxes, or missing letters? Font issues in Silhouette Studio are a common frustrations that we see when troubleshooting with users—whether fonts don’t show up at all, won’t display correctly, or refuse to work the way you expect. The good news? These problems usually have simple explanations and easy fixes once you know what to look for.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Watch the video below or the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel and it walks you through exactly why font issues happen in Silhouette Studio and how to troubleshoot them. In this tutorial, you’ll learn why fonts show up as rectangles, a glimpse at previewing fonts, why fonts can go missing or seem like they are missing, and how to reinstall fonts correctly—including whether OTF or TTF files work best. If you’ve ever wondered “Why is my font doing that?” this video will help you get back to designing quickly and show how to avoid some of these issues.
If you’re ready to go beyond troubleshooting and really learn how to use fonts to create your own designs in Silhouette Studio, come join us in the Creative Community with EllyMae | Crafting & Troubleshooting site. Our February 2026 exclusive member video covers working with text, fonts, and design techniques so you can move from simply typing words to confidently creating custom designs with fonts. It’s the perfect next step if you want to unlock the creative power of text in Silhouette Studio and design projects that are truly your own. In the 96 minutes step-by-step video tutorial I cover everything from where fonts are stored, font storage, designing with glyphs, offsets, compound paths, combining shapes, and more! Create 10 unique designs in less than 2 hours and then take and use those techniques to create even more!
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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.
The Silhouette Curio 2 Leather Carving Knife opens the door to a whole new level of creative possibilities for leather projects—and getting great results starts with knowing how to use it correctly. In this post, I’m sharing my brand new video tutorial that walks through using the Silhouette Leather Carving Knife with the Curio 2, including setting up custom cut settings, what to watch for during carving, and real Day 1 testing results. If you’re curious about carving leather with the Silhouette Curio 2 or want practical tips to avoid common mistakes, this guide will help you get started with confidence.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Ready to see the Silhouette Curio 2 Leather Carving Knife in action? Watch the full video tutorial below or on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel to see my real Day 1 results, custom settings, and tips for success—then try it out on your own leather projects!
These were the results after 5-6 hours of testing on a full sheet of tooling leather. I cannot wait to share 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.
Big news for 2026! I’m thrilled to announce the launch of the Creative Community with EllyMae, a subscription-based space dedicated to crafting creativity and expert Silhouette troubleshooting.
This year, I’ll continue helping crafters troubleshoot their Silhouette projects—but now in a more interactive, subscription-based community. Your subscription supports the costs of hosting, administration, testing, and one-on-one troubleshooting time, while giving you exclusive access to tools, tips, and creative inspiration.
The first month’s exclusive video tutorial is now live inside the Community Forum, and it’s packed with value! I planned for a 1-hour tutorial… but it quickly grew into 1 hour and 30 minutes, plus a 6-minute bonus video where I break down an unexpected tool behavior I encountered during the project. While the design may look simple, this tutorial covers step-by-step instruction, real-time problem solving, and detailed troubleshooting.
Inside this tutorial, you’ll explore Silhouette Studio tools and features, including:
Drawing tools, scaling, offsets, fill colors, line colors, and thickness
Compound paths and the Replicate panel
Spacing tools, turning cut lines on and off, and Move By
Undoing alignment
Print & Cut tips and troubleshooting
…and that’s just the beginning.
Subscription Benefits:
Private Facebook Creative Community: Share projects, ask questions, and get Silhouette troubleshooting help from experienced users. Exclusively for subscribers.
Exclusive Monthly Video Tutorial: Receive detailed tutorials and bonus insights each month.
Future Perks: Additional benefits may be added as the community grows.
Other ways to stay connected and inspired in 2026:
Silhouette Secrets+ Facebook Page: Updates, tips, and inspiration — Follow here
Step-by-Step Classes: Hosted directly on my website with new releases planned for 2026 — Explore classes
Weekly Newsletter: Projects, artist collaborations, news, and sales — Subscribe here
Website Tutorials & Blog Posts: Ongoing tutorials and guides — Silhouette Secrets
If you’ve ever wanted a space focused on education, explanations, and real-world crafting solutions, this community was built for you.
👉 Find all the details about the Creative Community Subscription and join us today!Join Here
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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.
Jewelry making just got a whole lot more creative! In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to design and create dazzling custom jewelry pieces — perfect for pendants, earrings, bag tags, keychains, and more — using Silhouette with stencil designs and a variety of patterns. From selecting your supplies to following step-by-step instructions, you’ll learn how to turn simple materials into stunning, personalized accessories that sparkle. Whether you’re making gifts or adding a touch of charm to your own style, this project is a fun way to blend creativity, craftsmanship, and a little bit of shimmer.
Scroll down for the full tutorial, or check out the video version for a closer look! You can also download the printable supply list and step-by-step instructions PDF to craft along at your own pace.
Sparkle and Shine: DIY Custom Jewelry with Silhouette | Make Custom Pendants, Earrings & Bag Tags Video Tutorial available HERE
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
*Tutorial written in Silhouette Studio version 4.5.812 Blog post is photo heavy
Open the Silhouette Studio software and set the page size/media size to Letter or whatever size you are printing on.
Open the Registration Marks Panel and turn on the registration marks for print and cut. Click the Restore Defaults button to reset the defaults for your most accurate print and cut results.
Save the file using File > Save and select a location on your hard drive to keep your work safe.
Measure the jewelry blanks to know what size to create the design at.
In Silhouette Studio, using the Drawing Tools on the left, select the Draw Ellipse tool, hold down the Shift key and draw a circle. This will create a perfect circle.
Using the Scale Tools, adjust the size of the circle to the size of the jewelry measurement. I adjusted the circle to 1″.
Since I am filling the circle with a pattern and colors, I made an offset to create a manual print bleed. This ensures that exact size I need for the pendant is cut, it will not have white edges on it. I have no issues with print and cut using Silhouette as I follow the same steps every single time. However, it is one of the most common issues we see with troubleshooting with users and it’s usually due to something in the setup.
Silhouette has a 1/16″ off cut that is within the normal range of accuracy with the machines. Adding your own “print bleed” is just another way you can ensure success with your project turning out how you like it. There is also an automatic print bleed option in the Silhouette software, but it doesn’t always yield the look you want.
Open the Offset Panel. Select Offset and adjust the distance of the offset as desired. Set yourself up for success with this keeping in mind that 1/16″ off cut possibility. I used an offset of 0.110″. There is no magic number here and it can vary for all projects.
In order to fill the design with color, the design needs to be a cut file. If using an image file such as a png or jpeg, then you would need to trace the design to get “cut” lines to fill in certain areas with color.
For this design, first change the fill color to transparent. This makes the next steps easier to work with.
Right click and choose Release Compound Path.
Move the outer line away.
Left click and drag across all the remaining pieces to select all, then right click, and choose Make Compound Path.
Add a fill color back to the design to see how it looks.
Again, these steps may vary depending on the design you are working with. If you want to follow my exact steps, I’d recommend grabbing the Hand Carved flower stencil by Kassy’s Parlour so you are working with the exact file I’m using.
Copy and paste the stencil file to the print and cut project mat. Using the corner bounding box, scale the design down to fit within the circle offset and position as desired. Right click on the stencil design and choose Send to Back. Select everything and make a copy. Then save the file.
I actually made 2 copies and pulled the stencil design away so you could see it on the left side. The copies will come in handy in the next steps.
On the original design, hold the Shift key down and select the circle offset and the stencil design by clicking on them. Open the Modify Panel on the right side and select Crop. Now the design is cropped to the offset circle.
Once Crop is selected, it will break all the pieces of the stencil design apart. Make sure to Group the pieces back together. I use Ctrl+G to group as the keyboard shortcut.
Also, when using the Crop tool, the outer offset circle is now gone. This is where the copies come in handy. Make a copy of the offset circle from the left side and move it onto the design mat. Select the new offset circle, the cropped stencil design and the original circle; then use the Align tools to Center it together.
Make a copy of this completed design and pull it off to the left side. Then save the file.
If the wrong circle was selected when using Crop, simply use the Undo feature and go back to start again.
For this design, since we created our own print bleed, we only need to cut the inside circle and not the offset or the stencil design. Hold the Shift key down and click on the offset circle and stencil design to select them, then click on the Send tab and choose No Cut. This will turn the cut line off for the offset & stencil design. You can do this step at the end of the process too, however, if you remember before you make copies, then it can be a little bit easier.
Now it is ready to start filling it with a pattern and colors. If you want to use different patterns and background colors, make additional copies and space across the page.
I am using patterns from the Silhouette library. These are mostly files I’ve purchased from the Silhouette Design Store over the years and I have quite the collection. You can add your own patterns to the Silhouette library Patterns folder, however, I do caution users on doing so as patterns can be large files and quickly eat up storage space in your Silhouette cloud storage. I typically use the drag and drop method for bringing in patterns from an outside location. More details on Pattern Fill HERE.
Select the stencil design on the first one. Then either open the Library tab or click on the Show/Hide Library icon in the bottom left corner. Show/Hide Library will do a split screen of the Silhouette Library which can sometimes be easier when designing and less flipping back and forth on the screen.
Select the Patterns Folder in the Silhouette library on the left side and then choose a pattern. This will fill the selected object on the design mat with that pattern.
When working in the split screen, you can adjust the sections on the library if needed. This will depend on the computer screen size you are working on. Move the mouse cursor over the line the arrow points to above and then you will see a slider double arrow cursor to adjust the sections to see more of the pattern fill library. To go back to the full screen Design tab, simply click on the Show/Hide Library icon again and it will close.
Repeat this process for all the additional designs. I used a variety of different patterns for my pendants. Sometimes you really don’t know how it will print out and you may like some better than others once printed.
If you want to adjust the patterns further, open the Fill Color Panel – Tab 3 and you have additional options to Scale, Pan, Rotate, etc.
For the backgrounds, I chose to pull a color from each pattern and use that as the background color. Select the offset circle, then open the Fill Color Panel – Tab 1 and using the eyedropper tool, select a color from within the pattern. It may help to zoom in on the design to select the color you want.
If the colored circle covers the design, as shown above, right click and choose Send to Back. This happens because we made a copy of the offset and added it on top of the design and we need to reorder it.
If you don’t like the color, simply repeat the steps and select another color until you find one you like. Repeat these steps for all of the designs.
You can also use the Custom Color slider in the bottom of the Fill Color Panel to move the dot around to change the color to different shades of the color palette or even enter a HEX code at the bottom too.
I chose to print 2 copies of each pattern so I could make different projects with each or if I messed one up, I had a spare.
Continue to fill the page as desired. When the page is full, click File > Print and print the page. I printed onto Epson Presentation Paper – Matte and used the high quality photo matte settings.
Here is a look at one of my design pages before I printed it.
When doing a print and cut, set yourself up for success! Here are a couple tips that can help eliminate a lot of the issues we see users have with print and cut.
Use the default registration marks. This is where the most accurate print and cut results will occur consistently. Adjusting the marks or making them smaller increases the chance of a misread and off cut.
Keep the design out of the crosshatched area of the design screen. This is the safety zone for the optical eye to read the registration marks. Any colors or design aspects within that crosshatched area can interfere with an accurate reading.
Use a Silhouette cutting mat. The Silhouette machines are calibrated specifically for a Silhouette cutting mat. 3rd party mats are not typically the same page margins around the outer edges of the adhesive area and can cause issues with print and cut.
Place the printed page in the top left corner of the adhesive area on the grid exactly as it shows on the Silhouette software screen.
Hold the mat level or slightly elevated so the mat remains level as the registration marks are read. If the mat is hanging down in front of the machine it can cause it to bubble up in the middle between the rollers and this can affect how the registration marks are read. You can easily test this by simply loading your cutting mat and let it fall, then lift it up. You should be able to see the mat will flatten out in between the rollers when supported.
Have good lighting and not variable lighting or shadows. We have seen users have issues with print and cut simply by the amount of light from morning to afternoon. If your room lighting changes throughout the day, it can affect print and cut results. Avoid harsh shadows as well. Shining a bright light directly at the machine can also interfere with the optical eye reading the marks correctly. Shiny materials such as glossy surfaces or holographic can also interfere with an accurate reading as well as the light bounces off the material. Keep in mind that the optical eye is not a high level of intelligence. It is simply a laser eye that turns on and is looking for black registration marks in a very, very specific location on the page. The machine creates it’s own light, so technically it should be able to read the marks even with the lid closed.
The Epson Presentation Paper – Matte is a lighter weight paper and I love the print quality of images on it. I will use a slightly older cutting mat for this paper and used the Copy Paper settings with a blade depth of 2.
Once the machine has done it’s magic, then I like to remove the main paper first and I can carefully go back and remove all the circles. To help with any curling on materials, I will flip my mat over and peel the mat away from the material. I have to tell myself to slow down so I don’t tear the designs sometimes too! It’s not the machines fault if I tear it getting it off the cutting mat.
Next, it’s time to add the sparkle with the Mod Podge Sparkle and a foam brush. On a safe surface, give each of the designs a good coating of the Mod Podge Sparkle and let that dry. I use a silicone mat for easy clean up.
The first ones I made, I only used one layer of Mod Podge Sparkle. The second round, I added a second layer and let that dry completely before the next step. The double layer added even more sparkle and I felt it just added a bit more to the pendants. The design on the left has one layer of Mod Podge Sparkle on it versus 2 layers as shown on the right side.
Once it’s completely dry, then I applied a thin layer of E6000 to the inside of the jewelry pendant and carefully added the design on top and spun it around a bit. This helps to spread out the adhesive evenly. Make sure all areas are secure and let the E6000 dry completely before the next steps.
Once it’s dry completely, then add a thin layer of E6000 on the top of the design and a thin layer on the backside of the pendant glass. Then apply the glass on top of the design and spin it around to spread the adhesive evenly. Press to secure it completely. If you add too much glue, then it can seep out the edges and blur on the glass globe, but you want enough to have an even thin layer between the globe and design.
Let this dry completely before adding jewelry hardware and then admire your projects.
Here are a couple close up photos of the completed projects.
Once you get started, it’s hard to stop creating.
I had so much fun creating this mess… I mean these projects! They turned out fabulous! Sometimes you just need to allow yourself to get started and see where the project will take you.
Additional Resources on the Silhouette Tools Used in this Tutorial:
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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.
Are you ready to start crafting with your Silhouette Cameo 5 but don’t know where to begin? 🎉 Our brand-new Beginner’s Guide to the Silhouette Cameo 5: Crafting Made Easy is here to help! This step-by-step class is designed with beginners in mind, walking you through everything from unboxing your machine to mastering your first project. Whether you’re brand-new to Silhouette or want to boost your confidence with the Cameo 5, this class is packed with practical tips and easy-to-follow instructions to set you up for crafting success. Let’s get started on your creative journey today! 🌟
Beginner’s Guide to the Silhouette Cameo 5: Crafting Made Easy step-by-step class Click HERE
Take the guesswork out of using your Silhouette Cameo 5 with this hands-on, step-by-step class designed for beginners. You’ll learn how to set up your machine, navigate the essential features of Silhouette Studio, and master the basics of cutting with confidence. This class covers everything from opening the box to getting your first successful cuts, with expert tips all along the way. Perfect for new users, this guide will leave you equipped with the skills and knowledge to bring your creative ideas to life!
Portrait 4 owners: this video course can also be used for Portrait 4 machines as well. Most of the information is the same for both machine models, the main difference is the cutting width of each machine. View an unboxing of the Portrait 4 here.
The supplies needed for this class are minimal. I used Oracal 651 adhesive vinyl, AT 65 Transfer Tape, and Cardstock.
Complete course outline below:
Introduction, Unboxing, and Proper Setup of the Silhouette Cameo 5 – 20 minutes
Unboxing the Silhouette Cameo 5
Explanation of all parts included in the box
Proper Setup of Silhouette Cameo 5 machine
Proper Installation of the included Roll Feeder on the Silhouette Cameo 5
Explanation & Tips to Autoblade Installation and Tool Housings
Silhouette Cameo 5: First Cuts with Adhesive Vinyl & Cardstock – 56:40 minutes
Setting up a Design Using Text
Cut Settings on the Send Tab Explained
2 Ways to Do Test Cuts
First Cuts from Adhesive Vinyl
Explanation of the Autoblade Adjustment
Removing materials from the cutting mat
Weeding Tips
Applying Transfer Tape
Removing the Backing off Adhesive Vinyl & Cutting Tips
Changing Blades & Reinstalling for Cardstock Cuts
Test Cuts on Cardstock
Drawing Basic Shapes & Adjusting a Polygon
Cutting Basic Shapes from Cardstock
Troubleshooting Tips for Cut Issues
Tips to Removing Materials, Saving Adhesive on the Mat, and Materials Not Curling When Removed
More Tips
Additional Resources Terms of Use
This class will help get you up and cutting faster than figuring it out yourself! Help yourself get started quicker and be on your way to more fabulous projects in no time!
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Find more Silhouette resources and tutorials on the A to Z section on the blog HERE.
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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.
Looking to personalize your office supplies or make a custom gift? In this post, I’m excited to share a recent project I created using the Silhouette Curio 2 and the Power Engraver: a beautifully etched acrylic clipboard featuring a design by Sarah Hurley. This project showcases the versatility of the Curio 2, turning a simple clipboard into a stylish, functional piece. Create your own etched masterpiece, perfect for home, office, or as a unique gift. Read on to discover how to elevate your DIY etching projects with the Silhouette Curio 2!
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
When I get an idea in my head, there are times, it just will not leave until I do something. That is how this project came to be. The first one I did, I etched on the backside of the clipboard.
It looks great in person, but I had to hold up a sheet of black cardstock behind it in order to get it to show up on a photo. This one was a bit tricky because the hardware on the clipboard is not removable, so I had to rig up some supports underneath the clipboard to make it a completely flat surface. It was definitely a trial and I am so happy with how it turned out, but I knew I wanted to try again.
Test #2 actually was a failure. I switched to etching on the top of the clipboard to see how it would work and I could hear that something was not right while it was etching. Eventually, it just stopped etching entirely. I thought I’d take the Power Engraver out to clean it. Don’t do that during an etch! When the power tool was removed, it did not start up again when I put it back in while the machine was paused.
It is NOT a waste though! The one thing I’ve learned through the years in all the testing and troubleshooting that I do is that things WILL go wrong. Get extra blanks because something is going to happen. And if it doesn’t, well, you have extra blanks to use. Not a waste! A learning experience and opportunity.
I could not figure out what the issue was, so I swapped out the Silhouette Power Engraver for a new one and marked the old one with issues. I’ll troubleshoot that another day.
Test #3 was a success! The Silhouette Power Engrave tool has a smooth finish so even though this etch is on the top of the clipboard, it is not rough to the touch.
I used a lint roller to clean up the acrylic dust that the Silhouette Power Engraver creates before I removed anything. Be careful with any debris and keep your machine clean for best results. Do not inhale the acrylic dust or get it in your eyes.
Supplies Used for Etched Acrylic Clipboard with the Silhouette Curio 2
Secure the blank well – any movement and it will be a dud as the etching is permanent
Not all acrylic is good acrylic – some will just smoosh versus etch – testing is the only way to know what will work
Start small – I prefer a 3″ round or a coaster when practicing and testing – cheaper to test and mess up with
Do not remove the tool from the machine, even if it is paused.
Be careful with any debris and keep your machine clean for best results. Do not inhale the acrylic dust or get it in your eyes.
Silhouette Curio 2 Classes
Want to get started with the Silhouette Curio 2 faster? I have step-by-step classes available on Teachable from out-of-the-box projects to setting up for successful etching on acrylic.
Find more Silhouette Curio 2 information on the website HERE.
And more videos on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE. Silhouette Curio 2 playlist HERE.
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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.
Have you ever tried tracing an image in Silhouette Studio only to find the result wasn’t as clean or precise as you’d hoped? You’re not alone! Many users struggle with getting a smooth, accurate trace that leads to a successful cut file. We see questions about this all the time, and that’s why I’ve created an in-depth tutorial to help you master tracing and cleaning up your designs in Silhouette. Whether you’re working with complex images or simple shapes, these tips and techniques will help you put the tools in the Silhouette Studio software to work for you!
Find this FREE in-depth video tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.
Every single image that you trace can be different because each one is made up of different colors, gradients, shading, etc. In the video tutorial, I take you along for the journey and it is step-by-step exactly how I would work with a file that needs clean up. The only way to actually know if the file will be a successful cut file in the end is to cut it, so I included my tips after cutting and shared exactly what I would change after I finished the cut to make it even more successful for the final project.
The original traced image started with 24,528 edit nodes and through the clean up process, I was able to get that down to 1,848. That makes a huge difference in the cuttability of a file.
My goal through the entire process was to maintain as much of the character of the image as possible. This makes a great way to make unique projects & gift ideas.
Check out the full in-depth video to learn more about how you can make the tools in the Silhouette Studio software do what you want.
I hope you pick up a few tips to mastering tracing in Silhouette Studio and how to clean up a file for a cuttable design!
Silhouette Tutorial: In-Depth Guide to Tracing & Cleaning Up Detailed Images – Step-by-Step Video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE
For more in-depth tutorials and inspiring projects, explore our comprehensive A to Z of Silhouette section on the website HERE, where you’ll find years of creative resources to help you master your Silhouette skills!
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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.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Just a quick note to share 3 crafting events that are coming up soon!!!
August 2024 events
Gifts & Business Summit – August 23-25, 2024 – details HERE
I am teaching a class called Creating Bespoke Earrings & Custom Gift Packing with Digital Patterns.
Class description: Boost your crafting skills and create unique, personalized gifts with ease! Design one-of-a-kind bespoke earrings that showcase your style and pair them with beautifully coordinated gift packaging. Impress your friends and family with delightful, handmade gifts they’ll adore! Don’t forget to create extras for yourself too!
I show how to set up the design for print and cut in Silhouette Studio, tips for print and cut with Silhouette, and assembly of the earrings and gift boxes too! For this project I used Siser EasyColor DTV on which is an inkjet printable HTV (real HTV) made by Siser, and added that to wooden earring blanks. Find more details on the Siser EasyColor DTV here.
Check out all the classes offered and register for your free ticket HERE.
*****
Maker’s Retreat – Virtual Event – August 28-31, 2024 – details HERE
I am not an instructor at this event, but I attended the in-person Maker’s Retreat in Texas in July and had a blast! They wanted more to be able to attend the event and have opened it up for a virtual retreat! Erin Reed, Eileen Hull, and Kassandra Louise are amazing instructors! This is NOT a cutting machine event and all are welcome!
Get ready for the 2024 Virtual Maker’s Retreat!! It is going to be an amazing event filled to the brim with projects, classes, techniques and LIVES. The Maker’s Retreat is an event that caters to the maker and crafter who loves to do a little bit of everything. From cardmaking to sublimation to mixed media to journaling and so much more!! You will learn how to create over 14 different projects and try out over 18 different techniques all from the comfort of your home. The Maker’s Retreat is a virtual event, so you get to enjoy all the classes, live streams, and events all in your jammies, and it is all happening from August 28 to Aug 31st!
Crafty Con 2024 – September 4-6, 2024 – details HERE
Crafty-Con features over 30 workshops led by experts, all designed to help you break free from any crafting ruts, master new skills, and strengthen your Cricut or Silhouette fundamentals.
I am teaching Intro to Print and Cut in Silhouette where we will use print and cut to create tags.
Class description: In this workshop, you’ll learn the basics of the Print and Cut feature on your Silhouette machine. EllyMae will guide you through the process of designing and creating custom tags using text and graphics. By the end of the session, you’ll have hands-on experience in setting up your design, printing it, and then using your Silhouette to cut it out perfectly. Perfect for adding a personalized touch to gifts, party favors, or any project that needs a special tag! And you’ll be set up for success to create your next print and cut project with your Silhouette.
And Save the Date for future events coming up too!
September & October 2024 Events
September 23, 2024 – Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube LIVE tutorial and Q & A Save the Date – October 10-12, 2024 Save the Date – October 21, 2024 – Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube LIVE tutorial and Q & A
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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.
Compound paths are one of the things in Silhouette Studio that can take the longest to grasp. We see compound paths every day but are not always really “seeing” them. Most often the initial experience with compound paths leaves you saying, “What the heck?” or something along those lines. Or “Why did it do that?
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Compound Paths in Silhouette Studio
In this month’s LIVE YouTube tutorial we covered compound paths and I walked through several different demonstrations starting with simple compound paths and working our way up to a little more complex designs with compound paths.
Those who attended live were able to ask questions and I answered those on the spot and showed additional demonstrations.
Make sure to check out the Events Tab HERE for upcoming LIVE tutorials and more events too!
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.
Have you ever wanted to have distressed background or edges on a pattern or photo? While Silhouette Studio does not have the same tools as a graphics program like Photoshop does, there are still ways you can get distressed or grunge edges in the Silhouette Studio software.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Recently I was creating a bundle of 20 cards for a card swap that I signed up for through Erin Reed Makes and saw an idea to create 6 card backgrounds from 1 sheet of 12″ x 12″ paper on Pinterest. It was a distressed background with white space left for additional elements to be added to the card front.
Now, these distressed designs are not ideal for cutting as they are quite detailed, but they are awesome for print projects, like creating card backgrounds, sublimation, or other printed projects.
I grabbed some clipping mask png files from ClikChic Designs on Etsy and created exactly what I wanted. But, I knew it could be easier or more available to Silhouette users, so I reached out to ClikChic Designs and we started working together testing some designs and I’m excited to say there are a few in the Silhouette Design Store! If this is a popular idea, you may see more too – so make sure to leave a comment below so we know if you like this style of designs.
Let’s take a look at how I created this distressed background pattern in Silhouette Studio.
Distressed Background Designs in Silhouette
Open Silhouette Studio and set up the page size for your printer.
If you don’t have the capability to print a 12″ x 12″ sheet of paper, don’t let that stop you. This could be done with whatever size you can print on to create projects with.
Open the distressed design and scale it to the size you want to fill as much of the page as you want.
A .studio file, which is what is in the Silhouette Design Store or a .svg file is a cut file. This means that you can add patterns to the design. If you open another file type such as a .png or .jpeg, you would need to do additional steps to work with that file. (See below for additional information)
**Currently as I type this, you will need to download these files direct to your computer to use as the library syncing is broken – click HERE for how to do that.
If the pattern is outside Silhouette, drag it from the My Computer folder location and hold it over top of the design. The design will fill with that pattern.
If you move too fast doing this step, it may not work or you may end up with a small square that won’t disappear without closing the software to reset it. Go slow and hold that pattern on top of the design in Silhouette Studio until it fills the shape.
Patterns from the Silhouette Library could also be used as well. For more on Patterns in Silhouette, check out these tutorials HERE.
Next, change the Line Color to Transparent to see how the pattern will look. This step also ensures that the red cut border will not print.
The next steps would depend on what project you are working on. I printed the design on a 12″ x 12″ sheet of Recollections cardstock.
Then I used my paper trimmer, cut the 12″ sheet at 6″ in the middle of the pattern and then again cut those sections down to 4″ widths. Once I had each section I could trim it down further to 4″ x 5.25″ for my card backgrounds.
I added a stamped sentiment to the front and added some rhinestone gems to each card.
There are so many options! 6 card backgrounds from 1 sheet of 12″ x 12″ cardstock
A great big thank you to ClikChic Designs for working with me and the idea to make this style of designs easily available to Silhouette users. Check out their blog post for additional ideas on this technique HERE.
I have collected designs by ClikChic for awhile. And then I saw on their Instagram channel where they showed how they create their designs by hand painting them and then digitizing them. I was mesmerized. So make sure to check out their Instagram too!
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.
