Category: Sketching

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Sketching with Silhouette & Watercolor Finish | Easy Mixed Media Project

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

I love all the options available with cutting machines and I love to combine different techniques to see what will happen. I’ve been testing and playing around with some mixed media paper and love how crisp it cuts, even with a well used Silhouette Autoblade! I will be demoing sketching with a Silhouette machine in the Pointer USA booth at Creativation and thought while I was prepping for that, I’d share some of the footage and photos I took during the process.

I am not a watercolor artist, however, I have taken a few classes and have found that I really enjoy the process and with the help of my Silhouette machine, if I mess up, I can simply sketch out another design and try again.

I have included a supply list, additional resources, and a link to the YouTube video on the Silhouette Secrets+ channel below.

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

The first thing to do is gather the supplies for the project. Since I will be using watercolors on this project, I needed a pen that would not bleed and found that the Sharpie felt pen held up to the water and did not bleed with the mixed media paper. See a full supply list below in this blog post too.

A workspace featuring a cutting machine, a sketchbook labeled 'Pointer Art PRO' in mixed media format, a black pen, a blue sheet of paper, and a pack of Sharpie markers.

I also tested with a waterproof pen by Pentel and it worked too. When sketching with a Silhouette machine, the machine draws the cut lines that you see on the screen. It is not automatically filled in. The type of pen tip can make a difference as well as the design, and the size of the design too. When a design is enlarged, the gap between the “cut” lines gets bigger too. This can be more noticeable if the pen doesn’t draw a thick enough line to fill it in. There are ways to fill in a design to be sketched and I’ll included additional resources for sketching below too!

Here is a look at the design of the Protea flower I used. When I am sketching and then cutting, I will set the sketch lines to blue and then the red is a cut line. Then I’ll use the Cut by Line option on the Send tab to tell the machine what I want it to do first. I like to sketch then cut, so the design stays in place.

Design software interface displaying a sketched protea flower illustration on a digital canvas with settings for a Cameo cutting machine.

While there are presets in the Silhouette software, that is just a starting point and each pen can be different. A force of 7 is the preset and I found with the Sharpie felt tip pen, that it is way too much. I was able to get a good sketch with a force of 1. When using a felt tip pen, if too much force is used, it will smoosh the pen tip and results may not be good after.

Screenshot of a design software interface displaying tool settings for cutting and sketching on textured cardstock, including actions and material options.

Do not unload the cutting mat after it sketches if you are cutting after. If using the same tool holder, uninstall the pen and install the blade, then uncheck the sketch line in the Cut by Line Color panel and check the box next to the red color for the cut line. Adjust the settings for the cut and send that to complete the cut.

And then I simply started playing around with the watercolors. I looked up a photo online of a protea flower for some color combinations and just started playing.

A colorful watercolor painting of a flower in shades of pink and yellow, presented on a blue background. The artwork is displayed on an easel next to a set of watercolor paints and a color chart.

Watch the video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE to see more of this process.

A colorful illustration of a flower created using sketching and watercolor techniques, displayed on an easel. A watercolor palette is visible in the background, showcasing a variety of colors.

I have also added a Sketching Playlist to the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.

Sketching with Silhouette & Watercolor Finish Supplies

Additional Resources on Sketching with Silhouette:  

A cutting machine with a sheet of black and white illustrations, including birthday designs, flowers, and animals, on a cutting mat. Additionally, colorful markers are visible beside the machine.

Have fun creating projects with your Silhouette machines!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A colorful watercolor floral artwork displayed on a table next to a set of watercolor paints and a Silhouette cutting machine, with a sketch in progress.

Enjoy !

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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!

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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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Get Creative with Your Cutting Machine – Join Me at Sublimation + Beyond Camp 2025!

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Are you curious about sublimation, DTF, white toner, and more creative ways to bring your designs to life? You’re in for a treat! 🎨

Colorful promotional graphic for Sublimation + Beyond Camp 2025, featuring text announcing the event dates as July 17-19, 2025, and emphasizing that it's back and better than ever.

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

Sublimation + Beyond Camp 2025 is back—and it’s bigger than ever! This incredible 3-day virtual event is completely FREE and packed with classes for every level of crafter. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand your skills, there’s something here for everyone.

🗓️ Event Dates: July 17–19, 2025
💻 Where: Online – join from anywhere (yes, even in your PJs!)
🎟️ Tickets: Free for a limited time! CLICK HERE to register

And I’m so excited to share that I’ll be teaching, too!

🎉 My Class: Draw It. Press It. Love It! Sublimation with Any Cutting Machine

A Siser Juliet cutting machine on a desk with various colored markers, design templates, and sublimation coasters featuring flowers and text that reads 'Bloom where you are planted.'

In this class, I’ll show you how to take a simple design, sketch it with pens in your cutting machine, and press it onto your sublimation blanks for a custom creation you’ll love.

One of the best parts?
You don’t need a specific machine.
This project works with any cutting machine that can use pens to sketch—whether you’re using a Silhouette, Cricut, Siser Juliet, Brother ScanNCut, or another model. If your machine can draw with a pen, you’re good to go!

I even created the design in Silhouette Studio and saved it as an SVG, so you can easily bring it into your preferred software. You’ll get the SVG file included as part of the class!

What You’ll Get with Your Free Ticket:

  • 16 foundational classes to help you build confidence
  • 25 beginner and intermediate classes for sublimation, DTF, white toner, and more
  • Access to 40+ sessions from 17 content creators + 6 amazing brands
  • Free 24-hour viewing access to each day’s classes
  • A chance to win over $4,000 in giveaways!

Want to learn at your own pace?
The All Access Pass gives you one full year of access to all sessions, plus $240+ in exclusive bonuses like cheat sheets, digital files, and templates.
Once you register for the FREE ticket, you’ll see the All Access Pass offer pop up.

If you’re ready to get inspired, explore new techniques, and have fun creating something awesome, join me at Sublimation + Beyond Camp 2025!

👉 Click here to register for free and save your spot.
I can’t wait to see what you create with your cutting machine and a little creativity!

Check out the supplies I used for this class HERE.

A crafting workspace featuring sublimation markers and supplies, including two round coasters with flowers and the phrase 'Bloom where you are planted.'

Want to learn more about sublimation without a printer right now? Click HERE

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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DIY Custom Earring Cards with Silhouette Sketching & Gelly Roll Pens

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Looking for a creative way to level up your handmade jewelry packaging? In this DIY tutorial, I’ll show you how to create custom earring cards using Silhouette Sketching and vibrant Sakura Gelly Roll pens. These unique earring display cards not only showcase your earrings beautifully but also add a professional, artistic touch to your small business or handmade gifts. Using Silhouette Studio software and your Silhouette cutting machine, you can sketch intricate designs, logos, or text with ease. Whether you’re selling on Etsy, prepping for a craft fair, or making gifts for friends, these handmade earring cards are the perfect finishing touch!

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

Have you ever made custom earring cards with Silhouette? How about sketched with your Silhouette machine? Why not combine the two and create custom earring cards?
I created the projects shown in this post to send with a gift to a friend.

Customize your designs for your specific project, a gift, or just because!

Think it, design it, create it!

Sketched Earring Card Supplies

Grab your supplies and just get started.

A collection of jewelry making supplies including earring hooks, a Silhouette pen adapter, Gelly Roll pens, and cardstock, arranged on a wooden surface next to a Silhouette cutting machine.

Supplies:

Sketched Earring Card Setup in Silhouette

Use a premade earring card file or create your own. Then add a design to the earring card for sketching.

Screenshot of Silhouette Studio software displaying a design for sketched earring cards, featuring a floral vine design and design setup options.

I used the Long Earring Display Card by Clikchic Designs – Design #389717 for this project.

Keep in mind the software and machines are designed as cutting machines, so the red “cut” lines on the screen are exactly how a sketch pen will sketch out. It will sketch the outer lines of a “cut” file. If a design or font is not filled in, the sketch pen will not magically fill things in unless it’s told to.

If you want a design or font to be filled in by a pen, you can use the Sketch Panel/Line Effects Panel to add a fill. Keep in mind that the sketch fill pattern will affect the time to sketch the design. When a design or font is filled in with a small sketch fill pattern, that pen is going over and over an area just like if you were filling in a design or font by hand with a pen. That can mean that it cements the paper to the cutting mat, so be careful removing the materials from the mat.

Sketch designs, fonts, or single line fonts can work better for sketching without having to do much to alter the designs.

However, not all sketch designs or fonts are truly designed for sketching. The file name may simply include sketch, so it’s always good to click on the Send tab and take a closer look to see where the pen may travel to get an idea of what it will turn out like.

Find additional tips on sketch designs in this post – How to Sketch with Silhouette.

Install the pen in the Silhouette machine and test.

Close-up view of a Silhouette cutting machine with a pen holder and white cardstock positioned for crafting.

The Silhouette pen holders allow for a wide variety of pens to be used in the machines. The installation process is the same no matter if using the Silhouette Type A, Type B, or Type C Pen Holders. Find the collar that fits the best for the size pen you are using and make sure it’s secure.

Did you know that the cap on the Silhouette pen holder has a purpose? Keep the cap!
Place the cap on the pen holder when you install the pen and when the tip of the pen touches the cap, that is your pen depth. This should work for most pen types and all Silhouette pen holders.

If needed, you can also use a popsicle or craft stick placed underneath the pen tip when you insert the pen holder in the machine. This will show you if the pen is too far down in the adapter or installed at the correct height. Pens installed too low in the adapter have a greater chance of drawing drag marks.

Silhouette Sketch Popsicle Stick Trick
Silhouette Cameo 3 with Type A Pen Holder

If the pen is too low, simply remove it and lift it up in the pen holder a bit before tightening the collars. Proper setup and testing will save you frustration and drag lines across your project.

If you are working on a project with specific materials such as envelopes, etc. Test on cardstock first to save your more expensive materials.

Sketching a Design with Silhouette

If sketching and cutting a project, set up the design to Cut by Line Color. I use red lines for the cut lines and blue lines for sketch lines.

Screenshot of Silhouette Studio software displaying design settings for sketched earring cards, featuring a blue intricate design on the left side of the interface.

I recommend sketching first and then cutting, so there is less chance that the design will move. Do NOT unload the cutting mat after the design has sketched.

A Silhouette cutting machine in action, sketching various designs including flowers and a butterfly on a sheet of white cardstock.

Uncheck the sketch lines and check the box next to the cut color, install a blade, and send the job to cut.

For more details on sketching by line color, check out this post – Silhouette Send Tab – Line Color.

A Silhouette cutting machine with white cardstock displaying multiple unsketched earring cards featuring floral designs and decorative borders.

Add you earrings and you have DIY custom earrings cards that can be used as gifts and more!

A variety of handmade earring cards showcasing different designs and earrings, displayed on a textured surface.

Want to see this in action?
Check out this quick glimpse on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel.

Just get started! Set it up to sketch and just start selecting designs and sketching. It is so much fun to just play around with it, even if you do not have a specific project or purpose in mind. Grab some cardstock and set up the machine to sketch and just play!

Additional Resources for Sketching:

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A collection of custom DIY earring display cards featuring different designs and earrings, with a title banner reading 'DIY Earring Cards Sketching with Silhouette'.

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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Create a Bright & Fun Custom Apron with Artesprix Sublimation Inks

Custom Apron with Artesprix Inks
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Get ready to unleash your creativity with a one-of-a-kind project—no sublimation printer needed! In this tutorial, I’ll show you how I used Artesprix Sublimation Acrylic Paints, a Black Artesprix Sublimation Marker, and stencils to transform a plain apron into a bright, bold, and unique piece of wearable art. The best part? No two aprons will ever be the same, making this a truly custom creation. Whether you’re crafting for yourself or gifting it to a fellow maker, this vibrant apron is sure to make a statement in any creative space. Let’s explore the colorful world of sublimation painting and bring your artistic vision to life!

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

Artesprix Sublimation Acrylic Paints, Markers, and Stencils to Create a Custom Apron

I really wanted to go all in on this project and create a design across the entire white apron. And why not? Let yourself go and have some fun just creating and see what’s possible.

I’ll even admit that I messed up during the process and it wasn’t quite the same vision I has original started with, but it still worked out.

I used the Artesprix Heat Transfer Resist Mask, which has a lot of different ways it could be used. Each time I use it, I think of something new, but that usually is because I did it “wrong” and realize it too late. In this case, my goal was to have the area white underneath the Heat Resists Mask. However, I painted on top of the mask and then did not remove it before pressing, so the paint showed through. It was one of those moments that should have had a camera on my face when I realized what I did, but I just went with the flow and it’s unique.

However, it gave it an interesting and custom look in the end. It’s a good thing I added the sketched outline around it with the Artesprix Sublimation Marker or it wouldn’t have shown at all. That was another idea I was testing out to see how it would look.

Working with the Artesprix Sublimation products has been a great source of enjoyment & experimentation for me. I have learned to just go with the flow and not try to control things as much when creating. See what can happen and you never know… you might like the outcome better than you thought you would.

Here is a look at the full apron design

Artesprix Sublimation Apron Design by EllyMae

A bright colored, artistic art apron that is perfect to protect your clothes when making any mess. Oh wait – that might just be me that needs an apron full time.

Supplies for Custom Art Sublimation Apron:

Full Look at the Artesprix Custom Apron Design

And don’t throw away any extras!!! Save those and you can use that for future projects. Here is a look at my pages I picked up extra paint on and some of the extra stencil designs I had after making my apron.

Artesprix Sublimation Pages for Future Projects

Watch this tutorial HERE on the Artesprix YouTube channel.

I absolutely love crafting with Artesprix products—they never fail to ignite my creativity and inspire new project ideas! Check out more of my Artesprix sublimation creations HERE.

I’ll be sharing more so make sure to follow Artesprix on social media to see more projects!
YouTube channel
Blog
Facebook Page
Iron-on-Ink Inspirational Facebook Group

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Sublimation Apron with Artesprix Sublimation Paints, Markers, and Stencils

Grab some Artesprix sublimation products and get to creating today!

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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DIY Wine Stopper with Artesprix – Custom Design

DIY Sublimation Wine Stopper with Artesprix
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Looking for a fun and easy way to create a custom DIY wine stopper? 🍷✨ In this project, I’m using Artesprix Sublimation Markers to design a one-of-a-kind personalized wine stopper with the Artesprix Sublimation Wine Stopper Blank! Whether you’re making a unique gift or adding a personal touch to your kitchen accessories, this shows you how easy it can be to create your own design.

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

DIY Wine Stopper with Custom Design using Artesprix Sublimation Markers

I recently took a 5 day challenge for a watercolor class held by Tracey Weinzapfel and it was so inspiring. Each night we had a 1 hour live class and she would show us some techniques to just play with. I loved it and sometimes my brain just would not stop thinking of new ideas. This one hit me in the middle of the night and I knew I wanted to try it out.

I can say that there is not another one like this in the world as it was custom drawn by me. But, you do not have to hand draw a design like I did. You can also use small stamps, add textures, paint a design, and more!

DIY Wine Stopper with Artesprix Sublimation Markers

Supplies for DIY Wine Stopper:

Watch this tutorial HERE on the Artesprix YouTube channel.

I absolutely love crafting with Artesprix products—they never fail to ignite my creativity and inspire new project ideas! Check out more of my Artesprix sublimation creations HERE.

I’ll be sharing more so make sure to follow Artesprix on social media to see more projects!
YouTube channel
Blog
Facebook Page
Iron-on-Ink Inspirational Facebook Group

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

DIY Sublimation Wine Stopper with Artesprix Markers

Grab some Artesprix sublimation products and get to creating today!

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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1 Design, 5 Projects: Unlocking Creativity with a Single Silhouette File

5 Projects with 1 Design
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Each month in the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletters, there is a free file offer. I then use that file to create multiple projects, showcasing the endless possibilities you can achieve with just one design. In this blog post I am sharing a variety of creative projects made using snowflakes designs that I created in the Silhouette Studio software. There are so many possibilities when working with just one design and I hope it sparks your creativity to look at your designs differently and think about the possibilities for multiple projects with one file.

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

The January newsletter files were several snowflake designs that I created in the Silhouette Studio software. This is a great way to learn more about using the tools in the Silhouette Studio software and every single user could create these themselves. Check out the tutorial on the tools I used HERE.

Snowflake Designs by EllyMae Created in Silhouette Studio using the Drawing Tools

Make sure to sign up for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter HERE for future free files & project inspiration.

Crafting Creativity with One Design

Project #1 – Acrylic Ornament

Acrylic Ornament with Oracal 651 decal - Silhouette

I drew a 3″ circle in the Silhouette Studio software as my template to create within for placement and getting an idea of what the design would look like. Using one of the snowflake designs, I added an offset and then used the Knife tool in Silhouette to cut the snowflake design in half. Next, I opened a snowflake saying, adjusted it at bit, and added that to the design. Then cut everything from Oracal 651 and applied it to the front of a 3″ acrylic circle.

Oracal 651 adhesive vinyl cut for a decal with Silhouette

I used the Silhouette Autoblade for these cuts and it did beautifully.

Adding weeding lines in Silhouette to a design for easier weeding

Using the Line Drawing Tools to add weeding lines can help so much when you have intricate designs to weed. This allows you to weed smaller sections of the design and not have the material stick back to itself.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #2 – 3-D Snowflakes

Creating 3-D Paper Snowflakes with Silhouette

Using one of the snowflake designs, I added a score line down the center and cut 3 for each 3-D snowflake out of cardstock. Then assembled them together to make the 3-D ornaments. The score line helped to fold each of the snowflake sides directly in half for assembly.

I shared how I did this in a new video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel found HERE.

How to Make a Stunning 3-D Snowflake in Silhouette Studio - step-by-step tutorial

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #3 – Keychains/Bag Tags and Earrings with Heat Foil on Silhouette Leatherette

Key chains/bag tags and earrings created with the Silhouette Heat Foil Pen and Silhouette Leatherette

This silver foil looks amazing on the Silhouette black leatherette. I highly recommend the Silhouette leatherette for anyone who wants to get started with cutting faux leathers. Create many different projects with the Silhouette heat pen and Silhouette leatherette.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

For older model machines without the powered tool housing

Additional Heat Foils that I’ve tested

Project #4 – Cut Out Card

Snowflake Cut Out Card with Silhouette

I cut the snowflake design out of a blue sheet of cardstock and then had to walk away for a bit because I wasn’t sure how to finish this out.

Snowflake Cut Out Card in Process

I ended up pulling out supplies and stamps just to see what might be good to add on to finish this card out. I stamped some embellishments from a birthday stamp set as snowflakes in white ink and then stamping the sentiment in a light blue and adding it to the card with foam tape for dimension.

Card Making Process using Stamps and Inks

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #5 – Printable Magnets

Printable Magnets with Silhouette Printable Magnet Sheets

Print and cut is so awesome and there are many different material types you can use, such as printable magnet sheets. I filled the snowflake designs with color, added an offset and then a few more shapes to fill the page. These could be used to decorate any magnetic surface.

I used them to give additional ideas for a recent class I taught on creating a custom chalkboard for home decor. This chalkboard is magnetic and has so many options you can play around with.

Custom Chalkboard Design for Home Decor Created with Silhouette

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

I love discovering how a single design can spark endless creative possibilities! The Crafting Creativity blog series is your ultimate source of inspiration, filled with innovative ideas, practical tips, and expert techniques to take your crafting to the next level. Whether you’re transforming a favorite design, exploring new materials, or refining your skills, these posts are here to fuel your creativity and bring your ideas to life. Check out more in the Crafting Creativity series HERE and see where your imagination leads you! ✨

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

5 Projects from 1 Design with Silhouette Pinterest

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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DIY Jewelry Pendants with Artesprix Sublimation Inks

DIY Jewelry Pendant with Artesprix Sublimation Inks
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Have you ever wanted to create your own custom jewelry with vibrant, professional-looking designs? With Artesprix Sublimation Inks, you can turn your creative ideas into stunning custom jewelry pendant that is truly a one-of-a-kind piece. In this blog post, I’m sharing the simple process of designing and sublimating your own jewelry pieces, perfect for gifts, personal accessories, or even to sell. No matter your experience level, this fun and easy project is sure to inspire your creativity!

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

Artesprix Jewelry Pendant with Beaded Necklace by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+

The white part of the design is the white of the sublimation blank and is created by using the Artesprix Heat Transfer Resist Mask. Basically it’s a stencil in reverse. The Heat Transfer Mask blocks any of the ink from binding to the sublimation blank and leaves it a bright white.

Silhouette Cameo 5 cutting Artesprix Heat Transfer Resist Mask

I cut the Heat Transfer Resist Mask with the Silhouette Cameo 5 using a Blade depth – 2, Force – 14, and speed 5 cut this design beautifully. I would highly recommend test cutting to get the best cut settings for use with your machine and blade. My blade is older and well used, so it did use more force than a brand new blade would.

Here is a close up look at the finished custom jewelry pendant.

Artesprix Jewelry Pendants by EllyMae

I LOVE them! Love the colors that turned out and I also combined my new hobby of beading to complete these projects.

Supplies for DIY Custom Jewelry Pendant:

Watch this tutorial HERE on the Artesprix YouTube channel.

I absolutely love working with Artesprix products—they always spark my creativity and inspire endless ideas for future projects. You can explore more of the projects I’ve created with Artesprix sublimation products HERE.

I’ll be sharing more so make sure to follow Artesprix on social media to see more projects!
YouTube channel
Blog
Facebook Page
Iron-on-Ink Inspirational Facebook Group

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Sublimation Jewelry Pendant by Artesprix

Grab some Artesprix sublimation products and get to creating today!

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.
Posted on by — 2 Comments

Maximize Your Creativity: 4 Stunning Projects Using Just One Jaime Lane Designs File

Poinsettia Flower Projects with Jamie Lane Designs
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Each month in the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletters, I team up with a talented designer to offer a free file. I then use that file to create multiple projects, showcasing the endless possibilities you can achieve with just one design. In this blog post I am sharing a variety of creative projects made using the Poinsettia Gift Tag file by Jamie Lane Designs.

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

Poinsettia Gift Tag Cut file by Jamie Lane Designs

Make sure to sign up for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter HERE for future free files & project inspiration.

Crafting Creativity with Jamie Lane Designs

Project #1 – 3-D Poinsettia Gift Tags

Poinsettia Gift Tags by Jamie Lane Designs

To start the month off, I cut the design and assembled it for gift tags using kraft cardstock and colored cardstock. I then inked the edges of the cut pieces and used some paper shaping tools to add dimension to the flowers before gluing it all together.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #2 – Christmas Card Embellishment/Home Decor

I scaled the flower design down just a bit and used it as an embellishment on our Christmas card.

Christmas Card Decor embellished with Poinsettia Design by Jamie Lane Designs

This one shown isn’t quite mail friendly, so I kept it for myself and used it as decoration for this year.

I added an easel to the back of all the Christmas cards I sent out and the one shown above that I have on display in my home.

Christmas Card Easel Stand by Lori Whitlock

The Silhouette LIVE tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel from November is what started the entire idea of using this with my Christmas card design. In the live I followed a suggestion from a viewer which began the creation of this years Christmas cards. I also shared sketching tips and a demo using the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat.

Silhouette Sketching & Electrostatic Mat Demo & Tutorial

Watch that Sketching tutorial video HERE.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #3 – Gift Box Topper

Poinsettia Tag Design by Jamie Lane Designs Gift Box Topper

I scaled the poinsettia design up a little bit, cut a few more center pieces for the flower and added it on top of a hinged gift box. Added a little bit of gold sparkle spread on the poinsettia and now have a custom made gift box ready to go.

Hinged Gift box by Jamie Lane Designs

Want to know the perfect cut settings for all cardstock? There isn’t one. There are many factors that affect cut results such as: brand, color, weight, paper finish, blade life, cutting mat adhesion, humidity, the design, and more! Test cuts are the best way to know what will work for your particular cardstock or any material in fact. This will save you time, frustration, money, and supplies.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – Poinsettia Bouquet

Over a year ago, I started working on a poinsettia project and crafted these gold-painted wool ball centers for the flowers. While that project was never finished, I kept all the pieces neatly tucked away in a basket, waiting for the right moment to complete it. As I revisited the project, I realized I had used this exact poinsettia flower file from Jamie Lane Designs. Inspired, I decided to pair it with beautiful pearlescent papers from 12 x 12 Cardstock Shop to create a stunning bouquet.

Poinsettia Bouquet with Jamie Lane Designs File and 12 x 12 Cardstock

I ordered the cardstock and when I went to use it I was surprised at how thick it was. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to successfully cut it with the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat. After feeling it, I went looking for the weight and found it was 105 cover that’s 285 gsm. Even though I thought it might be too thick, the only way you really know if something will work is to test it! So I did just that. I did have to adjust my cut settings a bit at the beginning and then it cut beautifully!

As I mentioned above, there are no perfect cut settings that work for all cardstock. The faster you can learn to accept that, the less frustrating it will be. You will quickly learn that test cuts will save you time and if you are like me, kick yourself when you don’t do them.

Check out the new video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel where I shared how I created this paper flower bouquet with tips to using the Electrostatic Mat too!

Perfect Cardstock Cuts with the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Poinsettia Flower Design by Jamie Lane Designs and Neenah Stardream Cardstock from 12 x 12 Cardstock Shop

I miss counted when I was cutting the flowers out and I had more flower pieces cut than I had wool ball centers, but I wasn’t going to let this one sit unfinished. I had extra center pieces leftover from the previous projects and still finished these out to use for a future project or gift.

What are some ideas you have for projects this year?

Find more designs by Jamie Lane Designs at the Silhouette Design Store.

I love exploring how one design can inspire multiple creative projects! The Crafting Creativity blog series is your go-to source for endless inspiration, packed with innovative ideas, practical tips, and expert techniques to elevate your crafting. Whether you’re reimagining a favorite design, experimenting with new materials, or mastering advanced skills, these posts are here to ignite your imagination and help you bring your creative visions to life. Head over to the Crafting Creativity series HERE and discover where your creativity can take you!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Poinsettia Projects with Jamie Lane Designs

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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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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How to Sublimate a Baby Bodysuit Using Artesprix Markers, Stencils, and Inks

Artesprix Sublimation Inks Custom Baby Bodysuit
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Looking for a fun and creative way to make a personalized baby bodysuit with sublimation? In the latest project video on the Artesprix channel, I’m showing you step-by-step how to sublimate an adorable baby bodysuit using Artesprix Sublimation Markers, Stencils, and Inks. Whether you’re crafting a unique gift for a baby shower, making something special for your little one, or just exploring sublimation techniques, this project is easy, beginner-friendly, and oh-so-cute! I’ll also share all the supplies you need to create your own, so you can get started right away.

Custom Baby Bodysuit with Artesprix Sublimation Inks & Stencil

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

Supplies for Custom Sublimation Baby Bodysuit:

Watch this tutorial HERE on the Artesprix YouTube channel.

I absolutely love working with Artesprix products—they never fail to ignite my creativity and inspire countless ideas for future projects. Find more projects I’ve created using the Artesprix sublimation products HERE.

I’ll be sharing more so make sure to follow Artesprix on social media to see more projects!
YouTube channel
Blog
Facebook Page
Iron-on-Ink Inspirational Facebook Group

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Sublimation Bodysuit with Artesprix Sublimation Inks, Stencil & Marker Pinterest

Grab some Artesprix sublimation products and get to creating today!

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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Unlock Creativity: 5 Stunning Projects You Can Create with Just One Design by Megan Hardy

Crafting Creativity with Megan Hardy
Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Discover the magic of versatility with Megan Hardy’s creative designs! In this post, we’ll show you how you can transform a single design into five unique projects that are perfect for any occasion. From an etched acrylic sign with the Silhouette Curio 2 to a wood sign using adhesive vinyl, a personalized apron using Artesprix sublimation markers and paints, a sketched place card for stylish gatherings, and a dazzling foiled card featuring the triple mat stacked technique—this post is packed with inspiration and tips to make the most of your crafting tools. Do more with your designs and bring your creativity to life!

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

Each month in the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletters, I collaborate with an amazing designer to bring you a free file. Throughout the month, I work with the newsletter file to create and share a variety of projects, showcasing the many ways it can be used.

Make sure to sign up for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter HERE for future free files & project inspiration.

Crafting Creativity with Megan Hardy

Project #1 – Etched Acrylic Sign with the Silhouette Curio 2

Etched Acrylic Sign with the Silhouette Curio 2 - Design by Megan Hardy

I used the Silhouette Curio 2 with the Power Engraver to etch on a clear acrylic sign.

Silhouette Curio 2 Acrylic Etching Engraving with the Power Engraver

In most cases, I prefer to etch on the backside of acrylic, however, I knew I want to paint on the back, so I etched the front for this design. The Silhouette Power Engraver leaves a pretty smooth finish, but that will also vary based on the actual acrylic being used and the fill options chosen. The only way to know how it will turn out is to test.

I use shapes in the Silhouette Studio software to create a “template” in order to align the design where I want on the blank I’m using. Just make sure to turn the “cut” line off for the template before you send it to etch or it will also etch the outer edge of your blank as well.

Silhouette Studio Setup for Curio 2 Etching

Also make sure to keep the design away from the taped edges or it could affect the etch results. I got lucky in this etching and it still etched through the painters tape, however, that can also gum up the Power Engraver tool too with the tape particles and adhesive.

Silhouette Curio 2 Engraving Tips

Additional Resources:

Don’t have a Silhouette Curio 2 to etch with? No problem!
Check out these other ideas for Acrylic Sign Decor with Silhouette HERE.

Supplies Used:

Project #2 – Wood Sign with Adhesive Vinyl

Wood Sign with Adhesive Vinyl decal - design by Megan Hardy

I grabbed a plain wood sign from my stash that I had picked up years ago in a Target dollar spot. Added a couple layers of paint to the sign and let it dry. Then measured the inside of the blank and used a rectangle as a template to size the design. Once I had the design sized, I moved my rectangle off to the left side and drew in some weeding lines with the line tools so it was easier to weed in pieces.

Silhouette Studio Software - Adding Weeding Lines to a Design

I also cut my material down to the size I need so I can save the adhesive on my cutting mat and don’t have to peel a full sheet of material off the mat each time. To do this I decrease the Transparency on the Page Setup Panel so I can reveal the cutting grid and know what size to cut my material down to.

Cutting Adhesive Vinyl with Silhouette

Now I am not using the adhesive on the rest of the mat and it will increase the lifespan on the cutting mat.

Weeding Lines on Adhesive Vinyl

Adding weeding lines in the Silhouette software may take a couple extra seconds before you send the design to cut, but can save you frustration when weeding adhesive vinyl.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #3 – Sketched Place Cards

Sketched Place Cards with Silhouette - design by Megan Hardy

I love how these turned out! This place card was designed in the Silhouette software, using a rectangle, dashed line for scoring, and the pumpkin design from the Falling for Fall design.

Silhouette Sketched design with white pen - design by Megan Hardy

Let’s not talk about the fact that I created these for Thanksgiving dinner and then totally forgot to use them. There is always next year!

But, they turned out looking awesome! I love the painted liked texture that the sketch fill with the white pen gave it. Each one turned out just a bit different in the way the ink laid down and moved.

After creating these, I did a LIVE tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel sharing more on sketching tips and a demo using the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat as well.

Silhouette Sketching & Electrostatic Mat Demo & Tutorial

Watch that Sketching tutorial video HERE.

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – Custom Apron with Artesprix Sublimation Markers and Paints

Custom Apron with Artesprix Sublimation - design by Megan Hardy

Artesprix sublimation products are a great way to test and investigate if you want to go deeper into the sublimation side of things. I used the Artesprix black sublimation marker to sketch out the design with my Silhouette.

Silhouette Studio Sketching with Artesprix - design by Megan Hardy

With Artesprix sublimation products, you don’t need any special paper! Plain ordinary copy paper is all that’s needed and if you don’t like what you’ve made, you aren’t out much. I love playing with the Artesprix products and seeing what can happen.

Once the main design was sketched, then I sponged on some paint in 2 shades of orange around the design to complete the custom apron.

Check out more details in the blog post HERE.

Sublimation Custom Apron with Artesprix Sublimation Markers and Paints

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Project #5 – Foiled Card Design with the Triple Mat Stacked Technique

Foiled Card Design with Triple Mat Stacked Technique - design by Megan Hardy

Make your cards pop with the Triple Mat Stacked technique and add heat foil to that for even more wow factor. I love combining things to make unique projects!

This was completed using a digital pattern in Silhouette Studio, setting it up for a print and cut, then using the setup for foiling the design before cutting.

Silhouette Print and Cut plus Foiling a Card Design with Triple Mat Stacked Technique

Foiling can really add a unique touch to your projects! It does take extra time in creating, but can definitely be worth it.

Silhouette Heat Pen Foiling for a card design

You can see this in action in this video – Quick Foil Card Design: Silhouette Cameo 5, Heat Pen, and Print and Cut video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel.

Foil Card Magic with Silhouette Cameo 5 & Heat Pen

Additional Resources:

Supplies Used:

Find more designs by Megan Hardy at the Silhouette Design Store or on Etsy.

Follow along with Megan Hardy here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeganHardyDesigns​
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganhardydesigns/

I love exploring how one design can inspire multiple creative projects! The Crafting Creativity blog series is your go-to source for endless inspiration, packed with innovative ideas, practical tips, and expert techniques to elevate your crafting. Whether you’re reimagining a favorite design, experimenting with new materials, or mastering advanced skills, these posts are here to ignite your imagination and help you bring your creative visions to life. Head over to the Crafting Creativity series HERE and discover where your creativity can take you!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

5 Projects with 1 Design by Megan Hardy

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.