Create a Unique Signature Line with Silhouette Studio! 🖋️✨
Want to add a personalized touch to your projects? Whether you’re crafting custom cards, digital designs, or branding your creations, a unique signature line can make all the difference! In my latest YouTube video, I’ll walk you through the process of designing your own signature line using Silhouette Studio (or other design software). You’ll learn how to use the Text Tool, explore different Font Families, adjust Edit Points, and apply creative effects like Offset and Weld to achieve a polished, professional look. Ready to elevate your designs?
I’m also sharing a look at how I used this to create a custom stamp after I made the video tutorial below.
After I made the video, I used the file to create a custom stamp with my Silhouette Mint machine. I love this little piece of technology. While the Mint Stamp machine is no longer manufactured, it is still a very handy tool to have around if you can get the stamp kits.
While the Mint Studio software is no longer updated, it can still be used on most computers. I was able to connect to my Silhouette Mint machine with no problems with a Windows 11 computer. However, we have seen some issues connecting to some MAC systems, but not all and the only way to know is to test it.
Find the Mint Studio Software HERE. It’s like a step back in time to what Silhouette version 2 was like. Make sure to follow my tutorial for how you can design in Silhouette and then open in Mint Studio to create your stamp.
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Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
Looking to add a creative touch to your journal covers or other projects? In my latest video tutorial, I’ll show you step-by-step how to design a stunning mixed media journal cover using Silhouette Studio and bring it to life with physical mixed media elements. From printable vinyl to layered textures, this project blends digital design with hands-on creativity for a truly unique result! Watch the full tutorial now and get inspired to craft along with me!
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I had so much fun creating this project and can’t wait to create more with the digital elements and mixing physical mixed media to add a unique touch.
I am including the supply list for what I used, but you can use what you have and just start playing around.
And find the original blog post and short form video that is on the Grafix YouTube channel HERE.
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THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
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.
Project #1 – Etched Acrylic Sign with the Silhouette Curio 2
I used the Silhouette Curio 2 with the Power Engraver to etch on a clear acrylic sign.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Now I am not using the adhesive on the rest of the mat and it will increase the lifespan on the cutting mat.
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.
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.
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.
Project #4 – Custom Apron with Artesprix Sublimation Markers and Paints
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.
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.
Other supplies: pencil, scissors, paper towels, copy paper, ruler, sponges or paint brush, paint palette
Project #5 – Foiled Card Design with the Triple Mat Stacked Technique
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.
Foiling can really add a unique touch to your projects! It does take extra time in creating, but can definitely be worth it.
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!
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THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
My mixed media journal is no longer naked!!! I had so much fun creating with a combination of digital mixed media and physical mixed media materials. And I feel confident that my cover is going to stand up to being in and out of a tote bag as I travel with it because it’s protected with the Grafix Laminate. I love how all the layers came together!
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
I have really not gotten into creating with mixed medias too much. But, it is growing on me! One of the hardest things for me to overcome is that there are no rules. There is no right or wrong way to do it. You can use whatever supplies you want, mix them, match them, throw them at it. There is no wrong way. I just have to tell myself to keep going and if I really don’t like something, leave it alone and come back later. My perspective often changes when I take a step back and am not scrutinizing it so close.
I say all of that to say, I am not an expert in mixed media at all! I am watching others and learning from them.
In today’s project, I’ve taken digital mixed media created in the Silhouette Studio software and combined it with physical mixed media to add dimension and layers to it.
I created a background in the Silhouette Studio software combining a patterned background and clipping masks that were filled with colors to match the background. Then added the text on top and filled with white. Since it was created in Silhouette, I could move things around, adjust colors, test out the text saying, and tweak things without committing. Once I was satisfied, then I printed it on Silhouette Printable Vinyl using the high quality settings on my printer. Make sure to let that dry completely before moving on to the next step.
I stamped white acrylic paint on top of the printed background and then splattered paint around the design.
I love how the stamps looked with the acrylic paint and how it dried to give it texture.
Once that was completely dry, then I applied the Grafix Laminate on top of it. This will act as a protectant for the journal cover, but it does not stop there! I used the Tim Holtz Layering Splatters Stencil with a bit of Staz-On ink and added that to the top of the laminate.
And here is a look at the bottom right corner of the journal cover.
I love the textured look that is protected with the layers of ink on top of the Grafix Laminate!
This was so much fun to create and I’m not even sure it’s 100% finished. I can continue to add things to it in the future. That’s one of the the things I’m learning more and more with these projects is that there is no wrong way to do it!
Check out the video on the Grafix Arts YouTube channel where I share how I did this HERE and I’ve included a supply list below too!
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Find more tutorials on the Silhouette Secrets+ website 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!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
The Silhouette Studio software allows you to print directly from the program to any printer that is setup on your computer. This action can be performed easily by going to File > Print and selecting the printer you are using once the design is ready to print. However, the colors you see on the computer screen may not be the actual results that print out from your printer.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Factors That Can Affect Printed Colors
A computer monitor is not calibrated to print colors. Each brand of computer monitor can vary in the visual representative that you see. If you were sitting next to someone else using the exact same Silhouette Studio software version, your colors may not appear the same on screen as that person next to you simply because you are using different computers.
Computer monitors display in RGB (Red Green Blue) versus printers that are CYMK (Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, black) – this can affect the actual printed results versus what is seen on the screen.
There are many different brands and models of printers out there on the market being used worldwide. Different brands and models of printers can yield different results.
Printer ink can vary by brand and yield different results.
The material being printed on can affect the colors. Different materials absorb the ink and the final color you see can vary depending on the material. For instance, plain cardstock will absorb more ink into the paper versus a glossy photo paper. This can make the color appear muted on the cardstock versus a more vibrant print on a shiny gloss of photo paper.
The printer settings selected when printing can affect color outcome. Each printer model has different settings it can print at and what you select for the print job sent can affect the final outcome of colors. For example, draft settings versus normal versus photo quality.
Printer drivers can affect the outcome of colors and other options available, such as print page size, etc. For best results, install the full printer drivers direct from the printer manufacturer’s website for your specific printer model. Simply plugging in a printer or connecting it to your computer does not usually install the full printer drivers. While it may print, it may not have all the options of the full print driver as it’s using a default driver that’s in the computer operating system to perform basic print functions.
Computer operating systems (OS) and updates. Print quality can vary by Windows versus MAC and also by the OS updates on those computer systems. We have seen print color output change overnight with a computer OS update.
Different software programs can have different print color results.
Now that we’ve covered a few things that can make the difference, how can you test what colors you see versus what colors you get when printing?
Silhouette Studio: Color Test Print
Draw out 1-inch squares (or larger if needed) and replicate to fill the page
Open the Fill Color Panel and fill each square with a color that you want to test print.
The full Fill Color Panel on the right side of the Silhouette software has several options for adding colors. Use the preset colors, add your own custom color, or add in colors by HEX, HSL, or RGB codes. Create your own custom color palettes too for easy access on future projects.
I used the Color Cubes by Sarah Renae Clark to fill in a page of color combinations that I want to test print. The color cards give 5 colors with the HEX code for each color and also have shades of that color shown on the card.
In the Silhouette Studio software, at the bottom of the Fill Color Panel, you can adjust the color to another shade easily by moving the custom color dot around on the color palette.
Once page is filled as desired, then select File > Print in top left corner.
Verify on the Print Preview that everything will be printed as desired. The print preview is where you can catch errors before you waste ink printing. For instance, if the design is not showing completely and is cut off, that can indicate the wrong printer is selected or the page size is incorrect. There is still time to make changes before you commit to printing and using ink. If you are doing a print and cut project, verify that all 3 registration marks show as printing completely on the page before you click print.
When ready, click Print. The printer menu will pop up and you can select what options you would like to print at and where to print from. I use the rear tray on my printer when printing any specialty materials or cardstock.
If you make any changes such as the actual printer being used or the page size, you will need to apply those changes and then cancel out to the main design screen to reset those settings completely.
Once printed, you can see how the colors will print on that particular material. It’s always best to test on the actual material you will be using to know for sure.
I printed this on higher quality copy paper using the regular print settings from my printer. I was also notified that one ink cartridge was low on ink, so I know that will affect the colors that are printed as well.
Additional Tips for Printing:
Objects or designs need to be filled with color to print.
Silhouette Studio is designed as a cutting software. That means the red lines you see on the design mat are cut lines for a Silhouette machine to follow. When a shape is drawn or text typed out, it is generally not filled with any color and the software sees it as empty. Which is exactly how it will print to a printer if sent. This is one great thing about utilizing print preview, you can catch issues before you’ve actually tried to print the project.
Cut lines do not print unless told to do so.
There are 2 options if you want the line of an object to print.
1 – Increase line thickness above 0. Any line thickness above 0 will print on the material.
Here is what the text above will show on the Print Preview when the top text line is set to 0 line width and the bottom is set to 1.75.
2 – Select the objects you want the lines to print on and check the Print Lines of Selected Shapes box on the bottom of the Line Style Panel.
Here is what the text above will show on the Print Preview when the top text has the print lines of selected shapes chosen.
There is also an italic note stating: This will display your 0 pt cut lines as 0.1 pt lines in prints and in SVG and PDF exports.
Sublimation prints need to be pressed to show true color.
If you are printing using sublimation inks, the true colors will not show until the design has been pressed. A sublimation print will always look dull or muted prior to pressing. For best results and the most accurate colors, press onto 100% polyester. This will show the final colors
New equipment may not function the same as old equipment.
Getting a new, updated printer model can be a great thing! However, users can be quickly frustrated when things do not work the same or the new printer doesn’t print the same colors the same as the old one did. It can take some getting used to for all new equipment.
Low ink of any cartridge or tank can affect the color outcome.
Most home printers have a set of color cartridges or tanks, for instance, my Canon TS9521C has 3 colors and 2 black cartridges. To make up the colors you are asking it to print, the printer combines those inks in order to make the color output. If a color cartridge or tank is low on ink, it may not yield the desired results.
The results that each user sees and has when printed can vary simply because we all have different equipment we are using.
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THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
Using patterns in the Silhouette Studio software can give your projects a unique look. Whether you are doing a print and cut project or creating a digital graphic image. Digital patterns can be a great asset to your toolbox. As with many tools in the Silhouette Studio software, there can be multiple ways to do it. I’m sharing 4 ways that patterns can be opened in Silhouette Studio below, but first what is a pattern?
A digital pattern is a photo file. It is typically a JPEG, PNG, or TIFF file format. Before we get too far into it, one thing to note about digital patterns is that they can be quite large. A digital pattern, when designed properly should be 300 dpi for print quality. That means the file size is much greater than your average SVG file. Since every user has a different computer with different specifications, that also means that each user’s computer may handle data differently. When working with heavy data files, close any programs that are not necessary and any tabs within Silhouette that are not needed. I’d also recommend clearing out any Recovered Documents and keep that cleared out as well. This will help your computer and software run as smooth as it can.
4 Ways to Open Patterns in Silhouette Studio
1 – Open the pattern from the Silhouette Library Patterns Folder. If you want to open the full pattern on the design mat, double click on the pattern in the Silhouette Library Patterns folder. If you want to fill a particular shape, click on the shape to select it on the design mat. Then click on the Library Tab, Patterns folder and single click on the pattern. Click back on the Design tab and the shape will be filled with the pattern selected. If you double click with a shape selected, it will fill the shape and then also open the full pattern on top of that too.
2 – Select a pattern from the Fill Color Panel – Tab 3.
3 – Click on the Show/Hide Library icon in the bottom left corner of the design tab. This will open a split screen showing the library and the design tab. This can be much easier to see larger images of thumbnails and design with instead of having to swap back and forth between the Design and Library tabs. Select a pattern the same way as in #1.
4 – Drag and drop a pattern from a folder saved on your computer or storage device. When dragging and dropping, drag the pattern to the shape you want to fill and hold it until the pattern has filled the shape. If you move too fast and release the mouse button too quick a little white rectangle will appear and not go away. The only way to get it to disappear is to close and reopen the software.
I hope these tips have helped give you some ideas on how to work with patterns and create unique projects in Silhouette Studio. Check out the additional resources below to learn even more!
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THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
In this edition of Crafting Creativity I’ll be sharing the projects I created through the month with an arrow background/stencil design. So many great options from one file! A great big thank you to Sarah Hurley for providing the free file for the Silhouette Secrets+ August newsletter!
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
What is Crafting Creativity?
I started sharing a blog post each month where I’m sharing the projects I’ve created with 1 file from an artist I have collaborated with. This is a file that the designer has provided for the Silhouette Secrets+ Newsletter subscribers and each month is something new! My goal is to share how you can take 1 design and think about different projects use it in to make your designs go farther! In each blog post, I’m sharing the projects created, the supply list, and additional resources that can help you learn more and advance your skills!
Crafting Creativity with Sarah Hurley
Project #1 – Fun Card with Bosh Cat and Arrow Background
I knew the moment I saw the Bosh cat design that I wanted to use him on a project. In following Sarah Hurley on social media and saw that she had adopted him, so I watch for his appearances. I always wonder what he’s thinking and feel like many of her designs would fit right in with Bosh’s thoughts.
Projects seem to take on a life of their own and I am getting better about just going with the flow of things and the direction it takes me. I knew I wanted to start with something bigger with this project and it developed along the way.
This fun sign is magnetic and the saying can be swapped out depending on what mood strikes you. Feeling snarky? Add a snarky saying. Sarah Hurley has some good ones in the Silhouette Design Store and sometimes I just enjoy scrolling through them for a laugh. Need a pick-me-up? Add an inspiration saying…. or – leave them guessing at what will be up next.
Watch the video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel and learn how to create your own interchangeable sign. Find it out HERE or click the image below.
Video tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE
Project #3 – This Side Up T-Shirt Using Text to Path
This was a fun way to use up scraps and create a fun shirt for myself. Anyone who’s ever traveled with me knows that I can trip over thin air. It’s genetic or that’s what we joke about because I get it from my Mom. If you ever see me on the ground, you’ll know why.
Project #4 – Sublimation Journal Cover with a Stencil
I love being able to create my own projects and modify them as needed. That is exactly what I did in creating this stencil with the Grafix Stencil Film. The arrow background/stencil design came in as a square, but I was able to modify it with a few simple steps to make it for what I needed.
Or use with any inks or paints to create amazing projects!
Project #5 – Bookmarks with Print and Cut
I used the arrow background/stencil design to create these bookmarks and then added my own custom color to it with the help of the Color Cubes by Sarah Renae Clark to select a color palette for the 2 different designs.
I hope this edition of Crafting Creativity with Sarah Hurley has sparked a few ideas about what you can create. Write those ideas down and see where they take you!!!
A great big thank you to Sarah Hurley for contributing the free file for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter for the month of August! If you missed grabbing the free Arrow Background/Stencil, it is available in the Silhouette Design Store HERE.
Sign up for the weekly newsletter HERE to have information delivered direct to your inbox and grab the new freebie each month.
Silhouette Secrets+ Newsletter
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I hope this has given you some ideas on how one file can lead to many different projects!
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
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THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
In this edition of Crafting Creativity I’ll be sharing the projects I created through the month with a watercolor background pattern. Patterns can really make your project unique and be used in creative ways with Silhouette. A great big thank you to Clikchic Designs for providing the free file for the Silhouette Secrets+ July newsletter!
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Silhouette Background Patterns Projects
This past month I have had so much fun designing and creating with the Watercolor Background design by Clikchic Designs.
I even went LIVE on YouTube – which for me is a big step, especially with all the issues Silhouette has been having. In the live video tutorial I shared all about pattern fill and how you can use it.
I’ve been collaborating with designers this year and each week I am sharing new projects that can be created from 1 file. This is a file that the designer has provided for the Silhouette Secrets+ Newsletter subscribers. I want to share how you can take 1 design and think about different projects you can use it in to make your designs go farther!
Project #1 – Card Design with Watercolor Background
I used the Watercolor Grunge background and printed it on a 12″ x 12″ sheet of cardstock. Don’t worry if you don’t have the capability to print on 12″ x 12″ cardstock, the same technique can be done with letter size paper too!
I participated in a card swap and signed up to exchange 20 cards, so this was a perfect way to create 6 cards from one sheet of paper. And every one of these cards was different because of the unique watercolor grunge background.
Here is another set I made with a vertical layout.
What started out as a sublimation tumbler idea, morphed into a sublimation journal cover project instead. I could not think of what I wanted to put as a saying onto a tumbler and while I was stumbling over that, I kept walking by these sublimation journals that I had ordered several weeks back.
Sometimes when the original project does not turn out, the next one is even better than you could imagine. I love these journal covers!
Project #4 – T-shirt Design using Siser EasyColor DTV
Printable patterns can be used for all kinds of projects, including printable HTV. Siser EasyColor DTV is real HTV that can be used with an inkjet printer.
I have had great success with the Siser EasyColor DTV and I would contribute that to following the printing and care instructions exactly. I have shirts that still look fantastic that I made when it was first released in August 2022.
I had a misprint when I first did the sublimation print for the journal and I had a line of “tiling”, which is a sharp distinct line in the actual printout and would not look good on my finished project. I explained about this and showed exactly what it looks like in the YouTube video HERE.
But, I wasn’t just going to throw away the printed sublimation page. I can use it for other projects! So I started digging in my sublimation blanks to see what the design would fit completely on. The coaster was the perfect fit and now sits on my desk too!
For the photo, I paired it with a tumbler that I use all the time from a previous class on creating your own custom designs.
Sometimes mistakes can be a good thing!
Next, I took a few more sublimation blanks and made some earrings and a necklace pendant from the extra pieces of the mistake sublimation print.
I don’t even want to admit how many pieces of sublimation printed designs I have just hanging out waiting for the perfect blank. Shhhh…. we won’t talk about it.
A great big thank you to Clikchic Designs for contributing the free file for the Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter for the month of July! If you missed grabbing the free Watercolor Grunge Background, it is available in the Silhouette Design Store HERE.
This year I started offering a free file each month for Silhouette Secrets+ newsletter subscribers. I love designing in the Silhouette Studio software and have shared some of my creations as well as look forward to collaborating with more artists in the future too!
Silhouette Secrets+ Newsletter
Never miss out on the news, tips, “secrets”, deals, classes, and more that I share on Silhouette Secrets+. Sign up for the newsletter and get information delivered to your inbox every Friday. Unsubscribe at anytime.
Sign up for the weekly newsletter HERE to have information delivered direct to your inbox and grab each month new freebie.
I hope this has given you some ideas on how one file can lead to many different projects!
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
Enjoy !
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
Have you seen these awesome designs for 3D ornaments?
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Both Side 3D Christmas Ornament Bundle
This past year 3D designs have become more and more popular. With the options to print on many different materials and use in many different projects.
This past week a group member posted about these files and inspired me to create some projects with them. I want to share 2 ways that you can do this with any 3D files you might find.
You’ll notice that in the photo above, I have a Download button. This is because I recently signed up for Creative Fabrica’s All Access subscription which allows access to millions of graphics, fonts, classes, and more. I held off doing this for a long time, but the sale of $4.99/mo when paid for annually finally got me.
Well, what really got me was I was looking to buy a file for $4.00 and I realized that was almost 1 month of the subscription. So I decided to go for it and have been shopping ever since. I’ve actually used more files in projects since I signed up a few weeks ago, which has more than already paid for what I would have spent without the All Access.
Now, I’m typically not a fan of subscriptions, but there are a few that I’m slowly growing to love and a good deal never hurts either. If you are interested, click HERE. This is a limited time offer, but I know they also offer deals throughout the year too!
Crafting 3D Ornaments: Two Techniques
Once I got started creating with these files, I couldn’t stop. I knew immediately what I wanted to do, but had to gather a few supplies before I could start. I’ll share both the steps and the supplies I used for both below. Make sure to read to the very end as I’m adding additional details at the bottom too!
The 2 ways I used these 3D files are:
Sublimation
Print and Cut – Printable vinyl, sticker paper, Siser DTV, etc.
Not everyone has the equipment to print sublimation designs, so I wanted to share an alternative as well. Whether you use sublimation or print and cut on a material, both are not complex to do.
Craft Pro Heat Press – any heat source with adequate pressure and reaching at least 400 degrees F can work for sublimation
Sublimation is pretty simple, but it does require specialized equipment. With a sublimation printer, you can print on sublimation paper from any software program that can print, and then you press it onto a sublimation blank.
I used Silhouette Studio software to design and print from for these ornaments.
The ornament blanks I was using were 3″ circles. Using the Drawing Tools on the left side, I drew a circle 3.125″. This allowed for a little bit of breathing room in lining up the images and eliminate any white edges if I was off just a bit in placement.
Then I used the Text to Path option in the Silhouette Studio software to add personalization to each ornament with a name and the year. This way the kids wouldn’t fight over which one was theirs.
I filled the text with color so it would print and then changed the line color to transparent on all the text.
Next, make sure to remove any protective paper from the sublimation blanks. This can be difficult to see and sometimes a bit hard to get started to remove. This is to protect the polyester coating that is on the sublimation blanks. Sublimation binds to polyester materials or coating.
Make sure to remove it from both sides before pressing or it can be a mess and melt.
This is where I failed to snap a photo, so I’ll share the steps I took below.
Next, place the sublimation blank down on top of the printed image and line it up as you want. Then secure it with heat tape.
Then, place a piece of parchment paper on the bottom of the heat press platen to protect it. Sublimation ink turns to a gas when it’s heated and you do not want that to be transferred to the top or bottom platen. Make sure to protect both well with parchment paper.
Place the sublimation blank down on the bottom heat press platen with the print on the top. Then place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the ornament to protect your heat press top platen. Very important!
You will have a sublimation sandwich. Parchment paper, sublimation print, sublimation blank, and then parchment paper.
Follow the directions for the specific sublimation blank you are using. I pressed for 60 seconds at 400 degrees F.
Let it cool and peel away the sublimation paper and heat tape to reveal the image.
I pressed each side individually so I could line it up better.
They turned out so good! I didn’t realize when I bought the metal sublimation blanks that they had a bit of glitter or shimmer to them, but they looked awesome when completed!
Print and Cut 3D Ornament Designs
Now even if you do not have a sublimation printer, you can still create ornaments too! These designs could also be printed onto printable vinyl, sticker paper, Siser EasyColor DTV, and more!
Canon TS9521C – any good quality home printer will work
Such fun designs! My husband happened by when I was making them and said, “That is the fittest gingerbread man I’ve ever seen.” We had a good laugh and he is pretty cute!
For this round of ornaments, I set up the design page in the Silhouette Studio software for a print and cut.
This time I used a 3″ circle since I would be applying it directly onto a 3″ acrylic blank and did not want the printable vinyl to hang off the edges.
I sent it to my Canon TS9521C home printer and then placed it on the cutting mat to cut with the Silhouette Cameo 5. I did print using the high quality photo paper matte setting.
The first time it cut, it was just a tiny bit off. Well within the normal 1/16″ allowance of a Silhouette print and cut, but I decided to reprint it and add a print bleed.
Print bleed adds a border of color to the outside edge of the design. You can adjust the size of the print bleed as needed and the colors will depend on the actual colors of the image or design.
Print bleed is great for eliminating any stark white edges that might show around a printed design as the color extends past the cut line.
Of course, the second time I sent it to cut, the print and cut was spot on and perfect. But that’s just how it works sometimes. I am probably the only one who would have noticed the small margin.
I removed the protective cover on the 3″ acrylic circle and then peeled the printable vinyl off the backing and placed it on the acrylic circle.
Once I had both sides added, I used the Diamond Tip Reamer to poke the hole and smooth out the edges of the paper inside the hole for the hanger. I love this little tool! It works great for so many things!
As I mentioned above, the 3D designs have really become popular this past year and there are so many different projects you can do with them from ornaments, coffee mugs, tumblers, etc. Some of the designs are created specifically for a sublimation printer, such as the tumbler or coffee mug designs, but here are others that can work for print and cut projects such as cards and more!
I’ll share a few that I’ve had my eye on below. Maybe it will spark a creative idea for you too!
Remember that any “sublimation” design could also be used as a regular printed design as well. A jpeg or png file does not have cut data, so if you want to cut around it you would need to create that cut line by either drawing a shape as I showed above or tracing to get a cut line around it. There is also the Autotrace feature in Silhouette Studio for transparent png files, but it doesn’t always work the best for all projects.
I hope you’ve picked up a few tips or tricks in this tutorial. Please let me know in the comments below if you have any questions.
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Enjoy !
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What an exciting week it’s been! The new Silhouette Curio 2 arrived on my doorstep this week and I’m having a ball playing with it and testing it out!
If you have followed me for any time, you’ll know that I am proficient with the Curio 1 and love all the fantastic projects that can be made with it. It is still a good machine and if you have one, you can still use it! I can help with that too!
On the Silhouette Secrets+ Teachable site you will find 10 step-by-step classes that are all focused on the Curio 1. Check it out HERE.
Now that the Silhouette Curio 2 has been released, I’ll be developing step-by-step classes for that too! So watch the Silhouette Secrets+ Teachable site for future classes.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
For all the details regarding the 3 new machine models released at the Silhouette Summit 2023, check out this post – New!!! Curio 2, Cameo 5, and Portrait 4
Now, before I go too much farther, I do want to let you know that the Curio 2 is limited in quantity in 2023. What is currently available is what is the inventory for the rest of 2023. But, don’t panic! There will be more coming in 2024 and there is lots of time to learn this new machine.
And to make it easy to find machine specific information, I’ve created a Silhouette Curio Playlist on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel. Find that HERE.
The Silhouette Curio 2 is a completely different machine than the first model! It is a large machine too! The footprint of the machine measures in at 20″ x 24″ and will need a dedicated space to function properly. Please consider that before you purchase!
However, I had a group member bring up a really good point. While the Silhouette Curio 2 is a large footprint that needs a dedicated space for it, it does take up less room than if you purchased a Silhouette Cameo 5 and the new Electrostatic Bed for the Cameo 5. It really depends on what your specific situation is and how your workflow is for you! Each user might be different and one machine may work better for one person vs another.
I am having a blast with the new Silhouette Curio 2! It is a new machine and it will take time to learn! I feel that every single person could be successful with this machine IF you take time to learn it and use it properly. If you do not, you will likely hate it. That is not a machine fault, it is simply a personal preference.
I want to share a few projects I’ve been doing with the Silhouette Curio 2.
I had several questions about print and cut, so of course I had to test that! Here is a letter size sheet of sticker paper that was cut on the Curio 2 using the new ES bed. The new ES bed means that you no longer have to use a cutting mat for materials that are flat and smooth. The materials can be held in place by static charge. The ES bed is new for the Silhouette Cameo 5, Curio 2, and Portrait 4. It will take time to learn and you will need to set it up properly, but I can see so many new possibilities on projects and successful cuts when using it. The ES bed comes with the Silhouette Curio 2 in the box.
And you probably guessed it, I shared it on YouTube too! Find the video on Silhouette Print and Cut – 12″ x 12″ HERE. See how easy it was with the new ES bed and cutting cardstock.
On a side note, while at the Silhouette Summit 2023, I also was able to meet several of the Silhouette Design Store Designers for the first time – Wispy Willow Designs, Diva Watts Designs, and Sarah Hurley. We spent several meals together and it was a blast. Check out my introduction video direct from Summit HERE. Make sure to follow these amazing designers too, they are a few of my favorites from the Design Store. I look forward to future collaborations with them! Stay tuned!
One of the new features of the Silhouette Curio 2 is it has a clearance of 20 mm. WOW! Yes, 20 mm. This is clearance under the tool housing. It is NOT cutting depth.
It also has auto detection of material thickness. This is awesome!
This means it opens up the possibilities of what projects can be done with the Silhouette Curio 2. Such as sketching on canvas and other thicker materials.
You will notice that the canvas is taped down on top of the ES Protective Sheet. I did have the ES bed on so the ES Protective sheet was secure and then taped the canvas to the machine so it would not move. Due to the surface of the backside of the canvas, it will not build up a charge directly on the ES bed to secure it. I also have a piece of wood inside the middle of the canvas for support.
I did try to use the Silhouette Type A pen holder in the Carriage 1 housing, but 3 different pens I tried did not reach the material. I will need to test that some more and figure out why it wasn’t working like it normally would.
I can’t wait to share more! So many projects, so little time!
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THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click the link to buy a coffee. Every little bit helps in the cost of running the site.
