Tag: Papercrafts

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3D Cards and More with One File + Silhouette

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

This edition of Crafting Creativity is all about projects with a 3D Lemonade Bouquet Card by Lori Whitlock and is designed to spark the creative ideas of what you can do with 1 file. This blog post covers 6 projects I created using one 3D card design with my Silhouette Studio software and machines.

A decorative yellow pitcher filled with paper flowers and lemons, featuring the text 'Squeeze the Day!' 3D Lemonade Bouquet Card design by Lori Whitlock.

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

The Crafting Creativity series is designed for sharing inspiration, designs, and showing how to make your designs go farther or think outside the box. Find more Crafting Creativity inspiration HERE.

Crafting Creativity with Lori Whitlock

The Crafting Creativity video below shares a preview of the projects created with 3D Lemonade Bouquet Card file by Lori Whitlock. Additional photos, details, tips, tutorials, and supply lists can be found by scrolling under the video.

Project #1 – 3D Lemonade Bouquet Card and Mini Card

A vibrant paper craft featuring a lemon-themed bouquet in a yellow pitcher, with green leaves and white flowers, alongside a green card that says 'Have a Good Day.'

I like to start with the original file as it was designed to kick the monthly projects off. This card is designed to fit in a 5″ x 7″ envelope and has a little mini buddy card with it.

Check out the LIVE video I did to assemble this card below. I shared tips for assembly, admitted my mistakes, showed ways to embellish the card, and assembled a 2nd card style during the LIVE as well.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #2 – Chalkboard Sign

A decorative black sign with the phrase 'Squeeze the Day!' in white script, featuring yellow lemons and green leaves, adorned with a colorful beaded hanger.

For this project, I took the lemon blossoms and the saying from the design to create the sign. I like to mock up the design in Silhouette and see what the placement will look like. This way I can play with the sizing of the design and know what will work to cut. I draw out a rounded rectangle the same size as the actual chalkboard and then adjust the design as needed. Here is a look at my design file and the arrangements I was looking at.

A digital design workspace showcasing three chalkboard signs featuring the phrase 'Squeeze the Day!' with lemon and flower graphics. The workspace includes design tools and settings on the right side.

When I was ready to cut, I set up the design to cut multiple colors of adhesive vinyl at one time.

A screenshot of Silhouette Studio software displaying a design for chalkboard signs with lemon illustrations and the phrase 'Squeeze the Day!' on a black background, along with a cutting mat setup.

I did modify the lemon blossom designs a bit, so I was not layering adhesive vinyl on top of each other. Sometimes when using colors like white and yellow over top of a darker color, like green, the green will affect the color of the lighter vinyl. I didn’t want that, so I took the layered design and subtracted the areas underneath. When I did this, it was not exact, so I had to do some clean-up, which then turned into the August Creative Community member exclusive tutorial. I shared step-by-step how I did it and what worked, what didn’t, what you might encounter, and we covered several tools in Silhouette Studio.

In addition to that, I needed to be able to provide members with a design to practice with, which I shared how I created that in the YouTube video shown below.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #3 – Lemon Print and Cut Cards & Stickers

I took the lemon blossoms, arranged them together, and turned them into a print and cut page. It started as a card design using print and cut elements and personally, I have to fill up the extra space with additional designs and not leave it blank, so I added in a few smaller lemon blossoms too.

Graphic design interface displaying a patterned arrangement of yellow lemons and green leaves, along with text labels like 'Squeeze the Day', 'Hello Sunshine', 'Happy Birthday', and 'Oh Happy Day'.

To give these designs a bit more dimension & depth, I added a line color to the green and yellow of 0.75″ in a slightly darker shade of the fill color. This helps to differentiate between the overlapping lemons and leaves.

A graphic design featuring two yellow lemons with green leaves and white flowers, created in Silhouette Studio software.

This is not something that you have to do and is very project dependent, but I felt it helped to make the pieces stand out versus melt together in blobs.

With the entire design selected, click on the Send tab and it might look like a mess of cut lines. That is because the file is designed to cut each of the pieces out of material and layer it together.

A digital design of two lemons with green leaves and white flowers on a Silhouette Studio interface.

With the design selected, you’ll also see that on the right side, “Cut” is highlighted. This means that the software thinks every piece is to be cut out and why you see the overlapping cut lines. With the entire design selected, choose “Cut Edge”.

A digital design interface showing a graphic of two lemons and white flowers with green leaves, created in Silhouette Studio software, along with tools for cutting and material settings.

I printed on sticker paper and had a few extra planner stickers in addition to 4 card designs.

A workspace featuring a planner open to September 2026, surrounded by handmade greeting cards with floral designs and cheerful messages.

There are a couple things to mention here for this type of project. The Silhouette software only does what you tell it to do. If a design isn’t filled with color, then nothing will be printed. This file was filled with color when it was opened, so those are the colors that I used. However, you can change things up simply by selecting the design and changing the fill color.

By now, you have read me say – “select the design” several times. This is very important! It is one of the most common things we see users post with issues. Most often, they are referring to the Send tab and the options for “Cut” or “Cut Edge” are not highlighted or won’t allow a change. Or in old Silhouette software versions, it could be changed, but nothing happens on the screen.

If nothing is selected, there is nothing to change. So if the design is not selected on the screen, the software has nothing to apply the changes to and that is why “Cut” and “Cut Edge” are not highlighted or able to be switched.

While we see it most often with the Send tab and changing Cut to Cut Edge or turning cut lines off entirely, it can also be a reason something else isn’t looking right either. For instance, if nothing is selected on the screen the QAT (Quick Access Toolbar) won’t have as many options shown.

Graphic design software interface showing a lemon illustration with leaves and flowers, labeled 'QAT' at the top.

If you have ever wondered why you couldn’t select “Cut” or “Cut Edge” or why some options aren’t available to you, hopefully that solves that mystery.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #4 – Supersized Giant Cards

For this project, I took the Lemonade Bouquet Card and blew it up! Using .studio or SVG files have so much versatility in that you can scale a project up or down and not lose quality. I took the file and made it the largest I could with the supplies I had.

A woman holding a large, colorful paper cutout of a tea cup with flowers and a lemon, set in a craft studio filled with various crafting supplies.

I used the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II and 22″ x 28″ poster board to make this giant, supersized card.

Here is a photo showing the size difference in the original card design next to the giant, supersized project.

A person holding a large, colorful decoration of a lemon-themed flower arrangement in a yellow pitcher labeled 'Squeeze the Day'. The background includes craft supplies and tools.

There are 4 main factors that affect how large you can create:

  • Material size – cardstock sizes can be a limiting factor. I used poster board for the largest pieces of this giant card.
  • Machine model – from the Silhouette Portrait with a cutting width of 8-8.5″ wide up to the Cameo Pro with a cutting width of ~24″ wide
  • The Design – layout and pieces of the design affect the size or if the file will need modified to cut larger
  • Time – all projects take time. The larger you go, the more time it might take to cut and assemble.

I was able to put together a quick video showing how I determine the size I can create in Silhouette and a few additional tips I learned along the way with my project.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #5 & 6 – Card Creations

These next 2 cards just happened through the month. I attended an in-person event called Craft Roulette and started participating in their challenges as a goal for myself – to create more!

Craft Roulette is a weekly online “show” that spins a wheel to give the creators different parameters each week. It is designed to challenge the creator and help crafters think outside the box. What is posted in the gallery and Facebook group is amazing! So many different ideas that come up the same parameters is truly inspiring.

Here is my first ever submission to Craft Roulette that I submitted the week before the in-person event.

A colorful poster featuring a quote that says 'When life gives you LEMONS make lemonade' with illustrations of lemons and flowers on a blue background.

I mixed and matched designs in this project and have those listed below.

Supplies Used:

And then I used the design again at the end of the month for a Craft Roulette submission. This one took the lemonade bouquet and shrunk it down to fit on the front of a card.

A handmade greeting card featuring a yellow pitcher with green leaves, lemons, and white flowers, placed on a green and yellow patterned background, with a cutting machine in the background.

Supplies Used:

Do you only use a file one time or for the original project? Or are you getting the most out of your designs that you own? I hope these ideas have sparked some creative energy and get you thinking about your designs in a new way.

Want to see more ideas? Check out the last collaboration with Lori Whitlock – 4 Creative Ways to Use Lori Whitlock Designs: Inspiring Projects for Every Crafter HERE.

Featured Designer – Lori Whitlock

A great big THANK YOU to Lori Whitlock for collaborating for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter!

Find more designs by Lori Whitlock

Follow along with Lori Whitlock on her website, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Find tutorials on Lori Whitlock’s website HERE.

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

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For even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

A collage of crafting projects themed around lemons and flowers, featuring various paper designs, cards, and decorative items that promote creativity and positive messages.

Enjoy !

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

Silhouette Classes

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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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Easy Fun Fall Card with Silhouette & Watercolors

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

These cards turned out fantastic and I just have to share how I created the Fall cards with my Silhouette and supplies from Pointer USA.

A crafting workspace with pink cardstock, art supplies, and homemade autumn-themed cards with falling leaves and inspirational quotes.

Sometimes I get the opportunity to work with a company or product and my goal is to find ways to use that with my Silhouette or with a Silhouette project. That is after all the main focus of Silhouette Secrets+ right!

I am a Creative Professional with NAMTA and Pointer USA reached out to me before the 2026 Creativation to see if I’d like to test some of their products. I will fully admit I wasn’t sure what the quality would be when I first looked at the site, but once I started using the products I had no doubts. I have since purchased more myself because I am using the products in my projects. Not only are they a good quality craft supply, but they are also economical too, which I know that most of those reading are also looking for. No matter what supplies you use, I hope you get some ideas from this blog post for your future projects

Full disclosure: I have received products from Pointer USA for testing and was paid for the Instagram reel created (Sept 2026). My opinions are my own and I was not paid to promote with this blog post.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

First, I want to share the Instagram reel that I created that shows the process. Of course, reels are designed for short form & it takes longer than 50 seconds to complete the project, so it is a very quick glimpse at my process. I’ll share a few more details, a supply list, and screenshots of my design in Silhouette Studio below the reel, so make sure to scroll farther down.

Supplies Used for Fall Cards with Silhouette

Fall Card Design Details

I started first with the watercolor background. This takes no skill at all and anyone can do this smoosh technique. I love how it gives a different pattern and unique look each time.

I started with my lightest color first. I added a bit of yellow watercolor paint on top of my Glassboard mat and then added water with a water brush from the watercolor travel kit.

Close-up of a hand using a water brush to apply yellow paint onto a grid-patterned surface, with a watercolor palette and paint tubes visible in the background.

Then I laid down the mixed media paper over top to pick up the color. I repeated that to fill the entire page. And repeated the same process with the orange and red watercolors. Have fun with this and create some awesome background images. Don’t focus on what the entire page looks like. It should be random, especially for this project since you will only see a glimpse of the background through the leaf cutouts of the card front.

A vibrant watercolor painting featuring shades of orange and yellow on textured paper, accompanied by a watercolor palette and a water brush.

I chose to use the Art PRO watercolor tubes of paint for this project and it turned out fantastic and bright.

While that dried I headed to the Silhouette Studio software to create my card design. I used a combination of sketching and cutting with the Silhouette to make the card fronts and designed everything in Silhouette so I knew exactly how it would look.

Here is a look at the card design in Silhouette Studio all put together. I love to be able to mock-up a design before I start cutting so I can see how it will all fit together.

A digital design featuring red autumn leaves scattered around the word 'fall,' with the text 'is proof that change is beautiful' at the bottom. The design has a layered border in orange and yellow.

The white and the yellow layers have the leaves cut out so it will show through the red layer which is going to be the watercolor background.

Here is a look at the layers of this card design separated out in Silhouette Studio.

Design workspace in Silhouette Studio showing a layout for fall-themed crafting, featuring various colored rectangles and autumn leaves.

The fall sentiment will be sent to sketch out on the front of the card and then without unloading the mat, the leaves will be cut from the card front. From one sheet of letter size paper, I could get 4 card fronts and I took it a step farther by swapping out the pen for each one. This took a little bit more time to complete, but I wanted to show how the colors would look and mix it up.

Since I was sending the designs to sketch and then cut, I used the Cut by line feature to be able to send each action separately. This was extremely helpful to be able to send only one card to sketch at a time and swap out the pen colors in between. More details on using the Cut/Sketch by Line Color in Silhouette HERE.

Four handcrafted greeting cards featuring autumn leaves in various colors, with the word 'fall' and the phrase 'is proof that change is beautiful' displayed prominently.

Look at that background showing through! It turned out even better than I thought it would. Each card is completely different and I don’t know which one is my favorite.

I love playing with paper and seeing what is possible. I hope this has sparked some ideas for crafty projects in your future.

Find more Silhouette Resources HERE.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Colorful fall-themed cut out cards displayed on a crafting table with various art supplies, including glue, scissors, and pens.

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 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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BIG projects with Silhouette – Supersized Giant Card Creation

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Do you create more than one project with a cut file? That is exactly what the Crafting Creativity series is all about! Do more with your files like blow it up and create a supersized, giant card creation with your Silhouette. Have you seen the giant cards in the store? If you own a cutting machine, you can make your own. I took a 5″ x 7″ card design by Lori Whitlock and scaled it up as large as I could to create a giant card.

Photo shows a background of a craft studio with supplies and EllyMae with Silhouette Secrets+ holding a giant card made with Silhouette.

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

This project type could be done with any model of Silhouette machine from the Silhouette Portrait, Silhouette Cameo, the Silhouette Cameo Pro, and even the Silhouette Curio 2. In the video below, I shared factors that go into this type of project & how I determined how big I could cut this file depending on the machine type.

Plus, more tips, still photos, and a supply list are included farther down in this blog post.

Supplies Used for Giant Card Creation

I used the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II to cut all the pieces for this giant card using the 24″ x 24″, 12″ x 24″, and 12″ x 12″ Silhouette cutting mats. Here is a look at the giant card next to the original card design size of 5″ x 7″.

Photo shows a craft studio background and a supersized, giant card next to the original sized card for comparison.

If I were to recreate this project again, I would probably cut multiples of each piece and layer them together to make the card a bit more sturdy.

Here is a look at all the pieces cut for this card next to the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II.

Photo shows a craft studio with a Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II machine on a table and poster board and cardstock pieces cut before assembly for a giant, supersized card.

How Large Can a Design Be Cut?

When cutting large projects like this, there are 4 main factors to how large you can cut.

  1. Material size – cardstock sizes can be a limiting factor. I used poster board for the largest pieces of this giant card.
  2. Machine model – from the Silhouette Portrait with a cutting width of 8-8.5″ wide up to the Cameo Pro with a cutting width of ~24″ wide
  3. The Design – layout and pieces of the design affect the size or if the file will need modified to cut larger
  4. Time – all projects take time. The larger you go, the more time it might take to cut and assemble.

Cut Settings for Poster Board

Poster board varies greatly in thickness, coating, density, and quality. There is no magic numbers for cut settings that works for all poster board. What does work to determine what works for the poster board you have are TEST CUTS!

The poster board I was using is thinner than other brands I’ve worked with, so my cut settings did not have to be very high.

Photo shows a screenshot of the Silhouette Studio software showing the Send tab with the cut settings used by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+ for this giant, supersized card project.

As I mentioned in the video, you want to use the largest piece of the design to determine the maximum size you can cut with your materials. I thought this green leaf piece was the largest piece and it was not until I started cutting parts out that I realized the largest piece was the pop out mechanism. I was already half way done cutting when I realized this, but for this project it was not too big of a deal and I could just scale the pop out mechanism down a little bit and keep on going.

Photo shows a screenshot of Silhouette Studio software with the pop out mechanism design on the virtual mat to be cut for the giant, supersized card creation.

This was such a fun project to create. Have you ever created a supersized project with Silhouette? Let us know below in the comments.

If you missed it above, you can watch the video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.

Check out the even faster reel on Instagram HERE. It took me about an hour to cut all the pieces for the card, but when you forget to adjust the timelapse speed from auto, it records it all in 21 seconds.

Photo shows EllyMae with Silhouette Secrets+ holding up the giant, supersized card created with Silhouette that features a Lemonade Bouquet design by Lori Whitlock.

Additional Resources:

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Photo is in Pinterest format and shows a giant, supersized card creation by EllyMae with Silhouette Secrets+.

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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Monogram Font Projects with Silhouette

Close up look at a custom shaker card made with Silhouette.

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

This edition of Crafting Creativity is all about projects with a Monogram Font from Quietfire Designs. The Crafting Creativity series focuses on using your designs to create more! More possibilities, more ideas, more crafting! This month’s feature is a Big Snowflake Monogram Font by Quietfire Designs and has so many options that include unique snowflake letters, but also 3 additional snowflake designs with alternate keystrokes.

Big Snowflake Monogram Font by Quietfire Designs

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

The Crafting Creativity series is designed for sharing inspiration, designs, and showing how to make your designs go farther or think outside the box. Find more Crafting Creativity inspiration HERE.

Crafting Creativity with QuietFire Designs

Crafting Creativity video preview of the projects created with Big Snowflake Monogram Font by Quietfire Designs. Additional photos, details, tips, tutorials, and supply lists can be found by scrolling under the video.

Project #1 – Shaped Edge Monogram Card – 2 Ways

I used the letter H monogram from the Big Snowflake Monogram Font and created a side fold and a top fold shaped edge monogram card. Plus, the way the font is created, you end up with a snowflake design cut from the middle that can be used for another project too!

This photo shows 2 shaped edge monogram cards that were created in the Silhouette software on a table in front of a Silhouette Cameo 5 with a Precision Glue Press.

Here is a look at the design file in Silhouette Studio as I was creating these cards.

Photos shows a screenshot of the Silhouette Studio software with the design of 2 shaped edge monogram cards created by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+

And I have a YouTube video showing you exactly how I created both of these cards in the Silhouette Studio software on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel. Watch it below or direct on YouTube.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #2 – Snowflake Ornament and Monogram Ornament

For this project, I used the Big Snowflake Monogram font added an offset and a small circle at the top to create an ornament design. I then exported the design as a SVG file to use with my laser machine.

I originally was just going to do the monogram ornament and then the snowflake jumped in the projects too! In this monogram font, the comma, period, and question mark all create a design too!

Photo shows 2 custom snowflake laser engraved and cut wood ornaments with wire wrapped beaded ornament hangers.

And then with a bit of wire bending and wrapping created 2 beaded ornament hangers. You could also use craft twine or premade ornament hangers too!

Don’t have access to a laser? No problem, you could also create ornaments out of many other different materials such as adhesive vinyl, cardstock, HTV, fabric, etc.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #3 – Snowflake Shaker Cards

Have you ever created a shaker card? While they may look intimidating, they can also be made very simply too!

The Big Snowflake Monogram font has the options that the keystrokes of a comma, period, and question mark all give a different snowflake design.

To create this shaker card, I started by creating the background of the card with a printed sentiment. I could print 4 – 4.25″ x 5.5″ card designs on one letter size sheet of paper.

Screenshot of the Silhouette Studio software showing a design for 4 card backgrounds.

I printed this on a blue shimmer paper and then took my paper trimmer and cut it apart.

Then I took one of the snowflakes and welded it to an oval frame.

Screenshot of the Silhouette Studio software showing the snowflake frame design created to be cut out.

I then cut the outer oval from a sheet of clear acetate/transparency film.

Screenshot of Silhouette Studio showing the oval shapes to be cut from clear transparency for a shaker card.

Glue the acetate directly behind the frame and then add foam tape to create the “pocket” for the shaker and ta-da – you have a shaker card. I love how it turned out and now have 4 cards created in a short amount of time.

Photo shows a shaker card created in Silhouette and cut with the Silhouette Cameo 5 with a saying of We are like snowflakes, all different in our own beautiful way!

I share exactly how I created these shaker cards in this video tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel. Watch below or direct on YouTube.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #4 – Custom Snowflake Ornaments, Gift Tags, or Bag Tags

These acrylic etchings could be used for bag tags, gift tags, or ornaments. It can be an embellishment for a gift given or the gift itself.

I used the Silhouette Curio 2 and the Power Engraver to etch 3″ acrylic rounds.

Photos shows acrylic rounds that have been etched with the Silhouette Curio 2 using the Snowflake Monogram Font and then twine and beads added for hangers.

What a great way to personalize a gift and make it unique! I added some wooden beads on twine and made it even more personalized too. You could also match the colors to the gift wrap or bag too!

Now, what if you don’t have the Silhouette Curio 2? Well, maybe it should be on your wish list or…
Use the same idea but cut adhesive vinyl and apply it to an acrylic round instead.

And if you do start making stuff for the holidays, make sure you put it in a place you will remember where to find it. I cut out a vinyl decal and added it to a box so I can continue to add things like Christmas cards and decor to the box and hopefully it doesn’t get lost in a “safe” space when I need it.

Photos shows a plastic storage tote that is customized to with an adhesive vinyl decal that says Christmas 2026.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #5 – Custom Snowflake Monogram Glass Etched Decor

This design is the perfect design to use to create and customize gifts. I used it to create a stencil and then etched a monogram onto a glass container for a family friend.

Photo shows a custom monogram etched onto a glass container with a bottle of Etchall etching creme in the background.

This could be used as a candy or treat dish, candle holder, or a variety of other ideas. And it hardly cost anything to make. I used a piece of scrap adhesive vinyl from my stash and the container is from the Dollar Tree.

This glass container has a bit of a conical shape on it, so I used the Conical Warp tool to help in creating the stencil so it would lay flatter and not have any buckles in the design.

I shared this technique in the March Crafting Community exclusive tutorial when I made the etched martini glasses.

Photos shows a custom glass etched martini glass with the saying Espresso Yourself etched using Etchall etching creme also in the photo.

If you are a current subscriber, make sure to check it out in the Creative Community forum!

Not a member? Find out more details on the Creative Community HERE.

Find more details on this glass etching project in the blog post – Custom Etched Monogram Gifts & Decor with Glass Etching

Photo shows a title of Glass Etching with Custom Monogram Font - Silhouette & Etchall.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

So many options with one design! And with this monogram font you have endless possibilities on how you can customize and make unique, personalized gift ideas too!

Featured Designer – Quietfire Designs

A great big THANK YOU to Quietfire Designs for collaborating for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter!

Find more designs by Quietfire Designs

Follow along with Quietfire Designs on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

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

Silhouette Secrets+ Newsletter

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

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For even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Photos shows a Pinterest collage of the projects featured in this edition of the Crafting Creativity series.

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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Creative Projects that Sparkle with Clikchic Designs

Time to Sparkle Header

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

It’s Time to Sparkle! And use your designs for more than just 1 project. Clikchic Designs is this blog posts featured artist and I’m sharing several projects created with one of their designs. I have collected a lot of Clikchic Designs files and love seeing her process of creation. Did you know she creates her designs by hand? That may be one of the things that first caught my eye and made her designs stand out to me. She creates by hand and then digitizes her work to share with us. I am so inspired by her creations! Check out the end of this post for even more inspiration by Clikchic Designs!

Preview of Time to Sparkle Design by Clikchic Designs.

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

The Crafting Creativity series is designed exactly for sharing inspiration, designs, and showing how to make your designs go farther or think outside the box. Find more Crafting Creativity inspiration HERE.

Crafting Creativity with Clikchic Designs: Time to Sparkle

Crafting Creativity video preview of the projects created with Time to Sparkle by Clikchic Designs. Additional photos, details, tips, tutorials, and supply lists can be found by scrolling under the video.

Project #1 – 3-D Mixed Media Canvas

I am a Creative Professional with NAMTA and every year they host Creativation which is a large gathering of craft industry businesses, retailers, and brands from around the world. This year the Creative Professionals had the chance to display art in the entrance hall of the event. We were given the parameters of a 12″ x 12″ canvas and a red, white, and blue theme and told to create to share our skills and talents. I love to be able to make unique creations and start with something flat and give it dimension.

Photo shows a 3-D Mixed Media Canvas project with a red, white, and blue theme. Projects features several 3-D papercraft designs.

This project was several weeks in the making. I believe we found out we were going to do this in January or February with the conference happening in May. Once a topic is given to me my brain just starts with throwing out ideas. I try to keep a running list, usually in my phone, but often times I find a physical list in my creative journal is what really gets ideas flowing and allows me to narrow things down.

This is one of those projects that is built as it goes along and I continued to add things to it over the entire process.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #2 – Sublimation Tumbler

Photos shows a shimmer sublimation tumbler with a colorful design and Time to Sparkle on the front along with the Craft Pro Tumbler Press from Heat Press Nation.

I started by measuring the tumbler then drew a rectangle in Silhouette Studio for the template size. Then the process of filling the design with patterns began. After testing many options I decided I loved this pattern with the ombre blues and having the design in white.

Photo is a screenshot of the Silhouette Studio software showing a rectangle template for the sublimation print with a background design and Time to Sparkle in the center.

I love how it turned out and now have another custom tumbler I can use.

Photo shows a custom sublimation tumbler with a bright background and Time to Sparkle on the tumbler. This design was created in Silhouette Studio and printed with an Epson F170 Sublimation Printer.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #3 – Sketch and Cut Out Card Design

This card design was created by first setting the Time to Sparkle up for sketching and then cutting out the stars and swooshes from the card front.

Photo shows a card created by cutting parts of the background out and sketching Time to Sparkle on the front of the card.

This design works perfectly for a going away card, new adventure, best wishes, congratulations, and more!

I set the text to sketch and used a crosshatch sketch fill of 0.015″. Then used the “cut” by Line Color on the Send tab to tell it what action I wanted each line color to do.

Photo shows a screenshot of the Silhouette Studio software with the Sketch set up on the Send tab to complete on the front of the card.

After the sketching and the cut out was complete on the front of the card, I added a layer of glitter cardstock behind to give it more sparkle.

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #4 – Lighted Cake Topper

I added the Time to Sparkle design cut from glitter adhesive vinyl onto a clear transparency layer for this cake topper.

Photo shows a Lighted Cake Topper that was custom made in Silhouette Studio using the Time To Sparkle Design by Clikchic Designs

This design was created using the Draw Shapes tool in Silhouette Studio and creating several layers.

Photo shows a screenshot from the Silhouette Studio software showing the layers created for the lighted cake topper design featuring Time to Sparkle.

Supplies Used:

I love how one design can be used to create so many projects. The possibilities are endless!

Featured Designer – Clikchic Designs

A great big THANK YOU to Clikchic Designs for collaborating for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter!

Find more designs by Clikchic Designs

Follow along with Clikchic Designs on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

Here are a few Instagram links to get you started – make sure when you visit to like and leave a comment too! Creators love to hear from real people who enjoy their work.

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

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One design can be used in so many different ways. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Photo shows a collage of projects for the Crafting Creativity blog post featuring Clikchic Designs - Time to Sparkle Design. Projects shown include a 3D Mixed Media Canvas, Sublimation Tumbler, Custom Card, and Lighted Cake Topper.

Enjoy !

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3D Mixed Media Canvas Creation with Silhouette

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

When we were told as Creative Professionals with NAMTA that we would have the opportunity to display our artwork at the 2026 Creativation event, my brain immediately started thinking of ideas and I started a list in my phone. We were allowed to have 2 – 12″ x 12″ canvases on display in the entrance hall for the conference and were given a theme of red, white, and blue. This was an opportunity to display our art and share our skills. I love building things, so a 3D mixed media design was a no brainer for me. This was one of those projects that I started with a few basic ideas and built the project as I went. Sometimes that’s just how it goes. Some things might work together along the way and some things might not.

I love building 3D projects! There is just something about taking flat materials and molding them into a final 3D project. Having a cutting machine like a Silhouette or Siser Juliet or Romeo opens up a lot of possibilities to cut designs for 3D creations. The biggest factor that goes into it all is – TIME! It takes time to design, build, and modify things as you go along in the process.

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

In this blog post, I’m sharing a look at the behind the scenes of creating this 3D Mixed Media Canvas: Time to Sparkle with a few still photos & the supply list. Check out the video at the end of the blog post for additional shots of the process as well.

First, here is a look at the finished project.

Photos shares a look at the finished Time to Sparkle 3-D Mixed Media Canvas project completed by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+ by Swift Creek Customs.

I started by gathering some supplies to get started. I had to order new inks to print the background papers. These 3 are designs by Clikchic Designs and can be found in the supply list below. I am able to print borderless with the Canon TS9521C printer. I ordered Oracal 851 glitter adhesive vinyl in red, white, and blue from Vinyl Spectrum. The entire theme of this canvas is to sparkle, so I embraced that fully.

Photos shows supplies on a desk that includes printed backgrounds, glitter adhesive vinyl, Mod Podge, a 12" x 12" canvas, TCW Stencil Butters, and tools that will be used to create a 3D Mixed Media Canvas.

I first started by cutting down the background paper for the backside of the canvas to fit within the frame. Then added layer of Mod Podge to the canvas and to the backside of the blue patterned paper. Smooth that down as much as possible. Adding the Mod Podge to both the canvas and the back of the paper helps it to adhere smoothly. Once it’s down flat, then I added another layer of Mod Podge Sparkle on the front of the blue paper. Let this dry completely.

Photo shows a bottle of Mod Podge and Mod Podge Sparkle that has been applied to the backside of the 12" x 12" canvas for the 3D Mixed Media project.

While that was drying I set up the design for cutting from Oracal 851 Glitter Adhesive Vinyl in Silhouette Studio.

Photo shows a screenshot of Silhouette Studio and the design set up to cut multiple layers of adhesive vinyl using layering marks.

Then I cut each color of glitter adhesive vinyl. For each layer, I cut the color and the green rectangles. The green rectangles are designed as layering marks that are used to line up the layers exactly. While it might use a little more material when using these marks, I find I get a much more accurate layering. This is one of those techniques that no matter how you do it, practice makes it better.

Photo shows a look at the layered adhesive vinyl design with 3 colors using layering marks to line up each layer.

While this design is not technically layered, the colors are in a specific location to each other, so I used the same technique with the layering marks and it worked out great!

Then I carefully applied the adhesive vinyl to the front of the patterned paper. This will be the background that shows through on the busted canvas.

Photo shows a look at the adhesive vinyl design applied to the patterned paper background for the 3D Mixed Media Canvas project.

Once the backside of the canvas was dry, I flipped it over and applied a layer of Mod Podge to the front of the canvas and to the backside of the pattern paper for the front. Once it was flat on the canvas, I applied a layer of Mod Podge Sparkle to cover the entire paper on the front. Let that dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Photo showing the patterned paper attached to the front of the canvas with Mod Podge and the background paper completed for the 3D Mixed Media Project.

Once it’s dry, then I flipped the canvas over and used a box cutter with a ruler to slice through the paper & canvas layers in multiple directions. This will allow the front to be rolled out for the “busted” canvas technique.

Photo shows a look at the front of the canvas after it's been cut and the edge rolled back to create the busted look for the 3D Mixed Media project.

I have made several of these busted canvas projects and I found that it was much easier to glue the rolled edges down and have them stay if the pieces were “trained” first before gluing down. To do this carefully roll the sections back and hold for a little bit. Then let it sit for awhile. Repeat this step as needed. I found I was much more successful in having the curls hold with hot glue when I did this as the paper didn’t lift or try to go back to it’s original shape. Since there are several layers of glue, paper, and canvas, it can be a bit stiff.

Once it has sat in “training” for a bit, then I glued each end down onto the canvas with hot glue and held it in place until it cooled. Repeat for any stubborn sections.

I have several other pieces to this project so while it’s in “training” or things are waiting to dry, I would move on to the next element of the design.

Photo shows a work space with craft supplies and cut pieces from cardstock to create 3D sparklers along with an assembled firecracker box for the 3D mixed media project.

I did not get any photos of the first 3D firecracker I created that’s shown in the top left corner of the photo above. As you can see, I have 2 copies. The first was a proto type that I cut and assembled to see if it would work with the layout. Then I decided to cut the box out of glitter cardstock while I was cutting the pieces for the sparklers too. These sparkler designs by Paper Beats Dynamite are fantastic with excellent written instructions.

The rectangles of color are glued to a bamboo stick and then once the glue is set, are rolled and glued around the stick.

Photo shows a close up look at creation of the 3D Sparklers for the 3D Mixed Media project. Hot glue was added to the ends of the bamboo skewers to look like it was melting.

On the end of each skewer, hot glue is drizzled from where the cardstock strip ends to the end of the skewer to make it appear like it’s melted.

Photo shows a look at creating 3D Sparklers using embossing powder on the ends to make it look like it's melting and on fire for the 3D Mixed Media project.

A layer of gray acrylic paint was applied over top of the hot glue and the cardstock. Then I used black and red embossing powders on the end of the sparklers to make it look burnt and burning or hot.

Next I cut more glitter cardstock for additional firecrackers to add to the canvas.

Photo shows glitter cardstock squares on a table with some rolled and some flat. These will be used to create 3D Firecrackers for the 3D Mixed Media Canvas.

These squares are rolled up and glued together to create a firecracker and I found it was easier to “train” them first and let them hold that shape a bit before gluing together. Once the glue was set, I could start adding them randomly to the bottom of the busted canvas section using hot glue.

Photo shows a bunch of assembled glitter cardstock 3D firecrackers on a work space. These will be elements added into the 3D Mixed Media Canvas.

Now, I will admit that I don’t typically like to cut glitter cardstock. It literally eats blades and can be difficult. But this project it was worth the effort it took. However, I am shocked that I actually got it all cut without issues because this is what my blade looked like after I was done cutting all these pieces.

Photo shows a look close up of a Silhouette blade with the cap off and the glitter debris that is filled inside the blade after cutting lots of glitter cardstock for the 3D Mixed Media project.

Next, I wanted to add another element in – beading. I even had my supervisor, Goldy in on this one. She wasn’t much real “help” but she made sure to keep me focused.

Photo shows a cat supervising and "helping" with wire and beads on a board.

Since this is a 3D mixed media art piece, I added another hobby of mine – beading – into the design elements. I strung beads in red, white, and blue on a wire and then bundled the colors together to create 3 different firework bursts. The one thing I did not take into account on this element was the weight of the beads and wire when finished. It all worked out and a LOT of hot glue held them in place.

Photo shows a workspace with a variety of craft supplies on the table that are being used to create the 3D Mixed Media Canvas. With 3 beaded bundles in red, white, and blue in the foreground.

I love how this all came together and the entire process of creating it piece by piece. 3D creations are one of my favorite things to do, but I don’t always take the time to do it.

This 3D Mixed Media Canvas may not be a project that you recreate, but I hope it inspires you to think outside the box and to combine and create ideas that reflect you as an artist. Every individual reading this has the creative spirit inside of them whether you believe it’s there or not. Sometimes you just have to let it out and let it flow, not try to control it or have the exact plan at the beginning.

Supplies Used for 3D Mixed Media Canvas:

Want to see a little bit more? I’ve created a video sharing even more of the photos behind the scenes in creating this process.

I love seeing what others are creating and their talents and skills. Check out this video I did from the Creativation 2026 entrance hall sharing a look at all the canvas creations by the Creative Professionals on Instagram or Facebook.
Each canvas is unique and no two are alike!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Photo shows a completed 3D Mixed Media Canvas project Pinterest pin layout.

Enjoy !

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Easel Card Design with Silhouette

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Emerald Creek Design Team – July 2026

Today I’m sharing a card design where I combined a stamp from Emerald Creek and used it with an easel card cut file from Lori Whitlock. I cut all of the pieces for the easel card and then added special touches to it with stamping, watercolors, and a little bit of sketching with a pen. One easel card cut file can be used to create so many different kinds of cards. Or scale the card file up and use it as home decor too!

Photo contains an image of an easel card with a flower stamp from Emerald Creek.

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

Rather than keep the base of the card plain white, I chose to use the same flower stamp and stamp a few more along the bottom edge. I first stamped onto a sticky note and then cut around the stamped image to use it as a mask over top of the center flower, so the side flowers look like they are behind the middle image.

Close up look at the front of an easel card with a flower stamp from Emerald Creek and a Thank you sentiment.

Then I used a small Thank You stamp from Emerald Creek on the sentiment cut piece and then did a little bit of pen work around the edges to make it stand out. It is matted onto the same background paper as the top card piece and then popped up with foam tape. This little piece gives the card the support to create the easel part.

Photo contains an image of an easel card with a flower stamp from Emerald Creek.

Change it up with different flowers or focal designs and mix and match sentiments. One card cut file can open up a world of possibilities.

Photo contains an image of an easel card with a flower stamp from Emerald Creek.

It is great to have the option to be able to print and cut sentiments, but often times if I’m only making up a card or two, I know it will take me longer to find more designs to fill the page. Having a few key sentiment stamps can be very handy to finish up the card quickly.

This easel card style is one that you could easily have all the pieces cut and customize it as needed whenever you need a quick card to send out too!

The original file has holes around the scalloped edges, and I didn’t want those for this design. It was an easy modification to do by selecting the scallop piece, right clicking on it, and choosing release compound path. It may also need to be ungrouped too. Then I could move the large scallop piece away and deleted the small circles.

Supplies Used for Easel Card:

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Enjoy !

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

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Create More: Creative Projects with Wispy Willow Designs

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Create more with your designs and your Silhouette! Do you ever get a file and then use it once and are done with it? Let’s change that way of thinking and get our designs to do more for us! That is exactly what the Crafting Creativity series is all about. Unlocking the ideas of creating with a design and seeing what can happen. For more inspiration and ideas, check out the Crafting Creativity series HERE.

In this blog post I’m sharing creative project ideas with one design file from Wispy Willow Designs. One design has so much potential and can be the key to unlocking the creative fire inside you! Check out how I used one design in 5 different projects ideas, including the ones that failed.

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

Create More: Crafting Creativity with Wispy Willow Designs

Project #1 – Print and Cut Stickers

For this project, I did some stickers and was testing it with some adhesive photo paper that says it’s waterproof. While the image itself was waterproof, the paper itself was not and the stickers did not last.

Photo contains a water bottle with a decal, a Silhouette machine in the background with a print and cut page on the table. Create More with Silhouette

While this project failed as a water bottle decal, I still found I love the adhesive photo paper for other projects. I have been using it for cards, home decor signs, and more!

Here is a look at my setup in Silhouette Studio for this print and cut page. I try to maximize the space when I do a print and cut project. However, I do use the default registration marks for the most accurate print and cut results.

Photo shows an screenshot of the Silhouette software print and cut page setup. Create More

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #2 – Home Decor Tiered Tray Sign

When I created the print and cut sheet design, I was thinking ahead to projects and included a size of the image that I could use on a wood round for a tiered tray sign.

Photo shows a printed page for print and cut loaded in the Silhouette machine.

Wood is a natural surface, so it can be tricky sometimes to get things to stick. I did add a coat of Mod Podge to the wood and let that dry before applying the adhesive photo paper to it.

Photo shows a finished project for a tiered tray using a print and cut design. Create more with Silhouette.

Supplies Used:

Project #3 – Round Ornament Design

This project was a failure! Big fat failure! The design itself turned out fabulous but the rest went into the trash.

Photo shows a close up of a print and cut sticker using the Happiness Comes in Waves design by Wispy Willow Designs. Create more with Silhouette.

I printed 2 copies of the beach design and then added them to a cardstock backer to make a double sided piece that was supposed to go inside a round clear ornament. I mentioned above that I like to maximize my print and cut space, so I included extra designs that I can use on cards in the future too!

Photo shows another print and cut page with multiple designs on it on a table with a Silhouette Cameo 5. Create more!

I wanted to add in sand and shells to the bottom of the ornament, but the glue didn’t look right when dry.

Photo shows a failed project with glue showing in an ornament with sea shells.

Back to the drawing board on this one. I tossed the ornament in the trash.

It was just not the look I was hoping for, but I do have a double sided design that is looking for a new project to be used in.

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – HTV on a Tote Bag

The previous project may have failed, but this one turned out FANTASTIC!

Photo shows a finished project with a fantastic HTV design using the Happiness Comes in Waves design by Wispy Willow Designs. Create more with Silhouette!

I cut each layer out of Siser Easyweed HTV and then pre-pressed the tote bag. Then each layer was placed and pressed for 3-5 seconds, just enough to get it secure and to be able to remove the carrier sheet. After the last layer give the entire design a press. I did 10 seconds at the end, but it really just depends on the layers and the material being used. This is a canvas tote bag with some texture, so I wanted to make sure it was well secured.

Supplies Used:

Tips For Working with HTV

Cutting Multiple Colors at Once

When cutting different colors of the same material, you can usually cut more than one color at a time. I do this with cardstock, adhesive vinyl, HTV, etc.

Here is a look at my setup for cutting this design, then I will cut my HTV colors down to the size I need and place them exactly where they are shown on the screen.

Photo shares a screenshot of Silhouette Studio software with multiple colors of the design on the design mat. Create more!

If using a Silhouette cutting mat and the mat is loaded properly, then the designs should cut in the exact location they show on the screen. If using a 3rd party cutting mat, they may not line up the same since the margins on the mat edges can vary from a true Silhouette cutting mat.

Cutting multiple colors at once, not only can save you time, but it can also make your mats last longer too because you are cutting the materials down to the size needed and not ripping a full piece of material off the entire mat each time.

Here is a look at the pieces after I cut and weeded each one.

Photo shows the cut design pieces from HTV on the table with a Silhouette machine.

Mirror the Design Yourself

Flip the design manually, by right clicking on the design and selecting Flip > Horizontal on the Design tab and then when you Send the design to cut, select “Send As Is” and the design will cut out exactly where you have it placed on the screen.

Photo shows a screenshot of Silhouette Studio showing how to choose Send As Is for an HTV design after it's been manually flipped. Create More!

If you let the Silhouette software mirror the design, then you may end up wasting materials and not having the material in the right location to cut. The software flips the entire mat, not just the design and does not show that on the screen. So you think it will cut on the left side, but it flips the entire mat and then cuts on the right.

Now, here is the humdinger on this one – the software flipping the entire mat can vary by software version. They added this “new feature” in and then it did not work the way a real user works, so many users wasted vinyl. After several years, they tried to “fix” it in the software so it would just flip the design and not the entire mat. Then in later versions, it was reverted back to flipping the entire mat again. It’s one of those things that I guess you’d say was implemented by an engineer and not someone who actually uses the Silhouette to cut HTV daily.

Pressing Multiple Layers and Colors

When pressing multiple colors, typically each color is pressed separately unless the pieces can be lined up WITHOUT any overlapping cover sheets. If the cover sheet of the HTV piece overlaps, it can interfere with the design being pressed.

Place one color of the design, then press for 3-5 seconds to “tack” it down, then remove the carrier sheet and repeat for all the layers.

Unless the carrier sheet of each layer covers the entire design, make sure to only press long enough to tack it down and then remove the carrier sheet for that piece. If you press it too long the carrier sheet can leave an indent in the other pieces of HTV that are already pressed.

For instance, if I left the carrier sheet for Beach on too long, it might leave a line impressed into the sunshine rays.

Photo shows several layers of HTV pressed onto a canvas tote bag.

Use a protective layer on top of the HTV when pressing each layer, unless the carrier sheet covers all of the HTV each time. This will protect the HTV and prevent it from sticking to the top platen of the heat press. I use a Teflon sheet or a piece of parchment paper depending on what’s handy and what material I’m using.

Oh and another one – parchment paper and wax paper are not the same. Wax paper in a heat press can leave a big mess.

Additional Resources:

Project #5 – Sketch & Mixed Media Design

This project was a test, well, actually several tests.

Testing pens to see if they were waterproof, sketching with the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II with no mat, and mixing watercolor backgrounds with acrylic paint markers.

This idea just would not go away and for some reason, I really wanted to sketch out this month’s design. I can’t pinpoint why, but sometimes you just don’t know what will turn out until you give it a try. And sometimes you just have to let yourself play.

Photo shows a look at a sketched design that has been colored with watercolors and acrylic markers with multiple craft supplies on the table.

And it worked!
The pens were waterproof and did not bleed.
The Silhouette machine sketched the design as it should without a cutting mat.
The watercolor background turned out fantastic – LOVE IT!
The acrylic markers on top = worked!

It is unique! It also gave me a bunch more ideas too.

And I put together a video of this project below.

Supplies Used:

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

Featured Designer – Wispy Willow Designs

A great big THANK YOU to Wispy Willow Designs for collaborating for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter!

Find more designs by Wispy Willow Designs

Follow along with Wispy Willow Designs on her website, Facebook, and Instagram.

A great big thank you to Hannah at Wispy Willow Designs for collaborating with us this month!

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

Silhouette Secrets+ Newsletter

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One design can be used in so many different ways. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Photo is a Pinterest photo for pinning this project that states Crafting Creativity with Wispy Willow Designs. 1 Design = 5 projects. Create More 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.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Hybrid Card Design with Silhouette

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

Have you ever made a hybrid card before? If you have made a card, you probably have but didn’t even think about it when you did. It is a card combining digital and physical elements in the creation. I am on the Emerald Creek Design Team the June theme was “Tiny joy, simple things.” I’m sharing the details of this card creation below including a supply list for the materials used in the creation.

Photo contains a full image of the Dream Hybrid card created by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+ as a Design Team member for Emerald Creek Co

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Creating the Hybrid Dream Card

First, I started with the Dreams Live Here PNG by Pam Bray and brought it into Silhouette. I only wanted to use the Dream part of it, so I used the knife to cut the design apart. Then repeated the pattern to fill the size I wanted for my card front. I did play around with a couple different layouts with this as you can see in the photo below.

Photo shows a screenshot of Silhouette Studio software with the Dream background creation by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+

While I could use the Silhouette machine to cut around the design and even set it up as a print and cut, it is sometimes easier just to use a paper trimmer, especially when it’s straight lines.

Photo shows a printed page of the Dream background created by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+

Next, I used a stencil that I cut with my Silhouette from a mixed media design by Sarah Hurley in a recent Crafting Creativity project, and drew in the stencil with embossing pens.

Photo shows a stencil on top of the Dream background for the next step in the hybrid card creation by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+

Then added the Magical Mysteries Kiss of the Fairy Emerald Creek embossing powder and heated that up to melt the embossing powder onto the Dream background. Next, I cut a larger background from the Lemoncello Paper by Pam Bray for the card base and inked the edges of it.

Photo shows a selection of craft supplies being used in the hybrid card creation by EllyMae with Silhouette Secrets+

And then adhered the Dream background on top of the blue background.

Photos shows a look at the embossed technique on the Dream background in the hybrid card creation by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+.

I then used the Providence Florals – Prairie Crocus Stamp with Ranger archival black ink on mixed media paper. The flowers were colored in with watercolors and the edges of the paper inked using Lisa Horton Cloud 9 Color Shifting inks. I cut another piece of the Lemoncello papers in yellow for the mat and inked the edges of that too.

Photo shows the card elements and craft supplies being used in the hybrid Dream card creation.

Then added a layer of Simon Hurley Pity Party Solar Paste on top of the watercolored flowers and it gives it a bit of shimmer and shine.

Photo shows an up close look at watercolored flowers with a layer of Simon Hurley Solar Paste added to the top.

Then I adhered the Dream background onto the card base and then used foam tape to adhere the matted flowers to the bottom right. For a bit of dimension, I added some pink twine behind the flowers before securing it down. Then I cut just the word Dream from the other pattern I had printed and matted it on black cardstock. I used foam tape on the left side to keep it even with the flower elements.

Photo contains a full image of the Dream Hybrid card created by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+ as a Design Team member for Emerald Creek Co

And the final step was to add 3 clear rhinestones in the top left of the card.

Here are some close up looks at the finished Dream card.

Photo contains a close up of the Dream Hybrid card created by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+ as a Design Team member for Emerald Creek Co

The embossing powder is so cool when it reflects the light.

Photo contains another close up angle of the Dream Hybrid card created by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+ as a Design Team member for Emerald Creek Co

I love how this card turned out combining digital elements with physical stamping, watercoloring, and inking.

Photo contains a another look at the details of the Dream Hybrid card created by EllyMae at Silhouette Secrets+ as a Design Team member for Emerald Creek Co

Hybrid Card Supply List

Photo contains a look at the supplies used to create they hybrid card.

I hope this post on the hybrid card I created gives you some ideas of what you could create. See what supplies you have on hand and what you can combine to create a unique card, tag, mixed media creation and more!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Photo is an image of the full card design in the Pinterest photo format.

Enjoy !

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Creative Projects with Mixed Media Designs

Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae

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

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

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Crafting Creativity with Sarah Hurley Mixed Media Designs

Project #1 – Easy Shaker Cards with Mixed Media Designs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #2 – Laser Cut Sign Background

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #3 – Stencils with Mixed Media Designs

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

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

This project uses the mixed media files in 3 different ways

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supplies Used:

Project #4 – HTV Shirt Designs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Supplies Used:

Additional Resources:

Project #5 – ATC (Artist Trading Cards)

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

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

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

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

Supplies Used:

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

Featured Designer – Sarah Hurley

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

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

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

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

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

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

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One design can be used in so many different ways. If you’re looking for even more inspiration, tips, and creative project ideas, be sure to browse the Crafting Creativity section on the Silhouette Secrets+ website — click HERE to explore!

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

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

Enjoy !

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.