Tag: Print and Cut

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Creating 3D Ornaments – 2 ways: Sublimation and Print and Cut

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.

3D Christmas Ornament Bundle
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.

Creative Fabrica membership

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:

  1. Sublimation
  2. 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.

Silhouette Sublimation Ornaments

Sublimating 3D Ornament Designs

Supplies used:

Silhouette Sublimation Ornaments Backside

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.

Silhouette Studio Ornament Templates

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.

Silhouette Studio Software Sublimation Ornament Template

I filled the text with color so it would print and then changed the line color to transparent on all the text.

That’s it! These are ready to send to my Epson F170 Sublimation printer.

Silhouette Sublimation Ornaments Printing

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.

Silhouette Sublimation Ornament

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.

Sublimation Ornaments Finished

I pressed each side individually so I could line it up better.

Sublimation Ornaments Finishing Backside

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!

Silhouette Print and Cut 3-D Ornaments

Supplies used:

Silhouette Print and Cut 3-D Ornaments Backside

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.

Silhouette Studio Print and Cut Setup

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.

Silhouette Print and Cut 3-D Ornaments

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.

Silhouette Print and Cut 3-D Ornaments Setup

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.

Silhouette Print Preview

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.

Silhouette Print and Cut Page 3-D Ornaments

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.

Silhouette Print and Cut 3-D Ornaments Finished Fronts

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.

Silhouette Print and Cut 3-D Ornaments Finished

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!

Add twine or ribbon and you are done!

Additional Resources & Tutorials:

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!

Additional 3D Design Ideas:

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.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Silhouette Print and Cut 3-D Ornaments and Sublimation Pinterest

Enjoy !

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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
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Silhouette Curio 2 – Unboxing, First Cuts & More!!!

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.

If you want to add the new Silhouette Curio 2 to your toolbox right now, you can find it at CrafterCuts HERE.

Whether you are diving into using the Silhouette Curio 2 or watching and waiting, I have resources that can help with this new machine.

I have been updating my Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel with new videos as I am testing the 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.

Here are my first cuts on Vellum paper using the Electrostatic (ES) bed on the Silhouette Curio 2.

Such clean cuts. Check out my Silhouette Curio 2 First Cuts video HERE to see how I did, what issues I encountered, and how I worked through it.

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.

Check out my videos on Silhouette Curio 2 Print and Cut with the ES bed and Tips for Success with the New Electrostatic Mat HERE.

I used Koala sticker paper and a design by Wispy Willow Designs called Small Business Sticker Sheet.

And then of course, once I showed this someone else asked about 12″ x 12″ cardstock, so that was the next project on my list.

This is Recollection Cardstock from Michaels and I used several designs from Diva Watts Designs.

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.

I used a Silhouette sketch pen in the blue sketch pen adapter and sketched out this design on a 8″ x 10″ canvas with a sketch font called SNF Sketchbook by Illustration Ink. There is also a new sketch pen holder (Type C) coming for the Tool 2 housing that will be compatible with the Silhouette Cameo 5 and the Silhouette Curio 2.

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.

Watch for a new video showing the sketch project on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel soon!

I can’t wait to share more! So many projects, so little time!

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Enjoy !

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Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!

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**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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Waterproof decals with Oracal 651 & Silhouette Printable Vinyl

This post has been sitting on my to-do list for the past year. Yes! An entire year, but I guess all things have their timing. In this case, I made these water bottle decals over a year ago and they are still holding up amazing. So I can share how I did it and share also the longevity of it.

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

Waterproof Water Bottle Decals with Silhouette

For this project, I used Silhouette Printable Vinyl and Oracal 651 clear adhesive vinyl to create the waterproof decals.

Now, the first thing I want to emphasize is that if you are creating decals to sell, this is probably not the method for you. But, it is a great option for personal use. I’ll explain a bit more as we go through the tutorial.

Supplies used for Waterproof Water Bottle Decals

Designs used in this project:

Creating the Waterproof Decals

Check out the video tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE or find the written tutorial below.

Since this was a project for my daughter, she helped with the entire process.

First was picking the designs and setting them up to print and cut with Silhouette.

Once the file was set up, we sent it to the printer.

Make sure that the ink is completely dry before touching when you are doing print and cut. You do not want any part of the design, including the registration marks to smear. Smeared registration marks can affect the accuracy of a print and cut with Silhouette.

After printing, we placed it on the cutting mat and sent it through the Silhouette to cut around the design.

Find more tutorials on Print and Cut with Silhouette HERE or check out my Silhouette class on Teachable – Silhouette Print and Cut Basics to Design Files to Troubleshooting Course HERE.

Next, it was time to setup the offset with the Oracal 651 clear. I recommend saving this file and then using File > Save As to save a file with the offsets, just in case you want to come back to this project later.

Silhouette makes this so easy with Offset Panel. Adjust the distance as needed for your project and your design.

When creating the offset, keep in mind that it’s designed to keep water out. I’d recommend a good size offset, but you don’t want it larger than necessary. Clear as mud right! Each project & design may vary. You want to make sure that the printed material is well protected so water doesn’t sneak in under it.

For more details on Offset in Silhouette, check out this post – Let’s Explore v4 – Offset Panel HERE

I no longer need the graphics or the original cut lines, so I can arrange the offset cut lines to maximize my space on my material and then send this to cut out of Oracal 651 clear.

Clean the surface of the blank with alcohol and allow it to dry. This gets rid of any oils or debris that could interfere with a clean adherence.

Weed the excess away from the Silhouette printable vinyl and the Oracal 651 clear.

Then simply apply the Oracal 651 clear over top of the printed design as centered as possible.

I’m sure you could find many ways to get it lined up exactly perfect, but in reality, I just eyeballed it. If I mess up, I can reprint and recut – So Simple!

It turned out fantastic! Here are the original photos on the day it was created.

That was in August 2022 and it has held up so well. A year later here is what it looks like.

There are a few nicks and dings where she dropped it and some residue from other stickers she thought she could add to it. Those “stickers’ didn’t last through the first wash.

She was headed out the door for her first day of school and we snapped these photos. As you can see it has held up nicely, even with ice water and extended use through an entire year.

Now, a few more tips for success!

  • Make sure to clean the surface of your blank, so you get the best adhesion with your materials.
  • After applying the decal, wait 48 – 72 hours prior to use. I’d recommend 72 hours. This allows the adhesive on the material and vinyl to set up or cure.
  • Then hand wash, no picking, no scrubbing, no dishwasher for best results.

Now, I mentioned at the beginning that if you are a seller, this probably isn’t the best method. Why?

Well, there are few reasons.

  1. The method I used is not UV safe. So it’s not recommended for outdoor use.
    It has worked great for water bottles used daily, but they aren’t out in the sun.
  2. It may not be efficient for mass production. After applying the Oracal 651 clear layer to the printed material, if it’s left too long it could start to cure to the backing of the printed material. For best results, I would recommend for immediate application. But, you never know until you try.

It has worked great for my daughter’s water bottle that she has used almost daily for an entire year and is still going strong.

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.

Silhouette Classes

Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!

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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
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Summer Days of Downloads!!!

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

We are seeing some cooler temperatures here and in a short time the kids will be headed back to school. The summer has gone too fast!

Although I do enjoy Fall and the cooler temperatures, maybe we can hang onto that summer feeling a little bit longer….

The Summer Days of Downloads hosted
by Heat Transfer Warehouse

I’m so excited to be participating in this!
Heat Transfer Warehouse sent out a request and I’m so glad I answered the call. I love a good challenge and I love learning new things! I’ve been designing in the Silhouette Studio software for over 10 years now and I love to create things!

Grab free designs on the Heat Transfer Warehouse website that are created by other crafters and influencers like me and have fun!

I love how this turned out!!!

Grab the free SVG file HERE at Heat Transfer Warehouse.

I used Siser EasyColor DTV and print and cut with the Silhouette to create my design, but you can use the SVG file for any materials you want to cut it out of! Adhesive vinyl, HTV, cardstock, and more!

And I have a new video out on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel sharing how I used the file HERE.

I am sharing it all!!! I ran into some issues and things did not go perfect, but I’m going to share how I made it a successful project in the end. From printer issues to user error, I’ll show you how I fixed both!

I love Siser EasyColor DTV and have been using it for over a year now! My shirts have been through 30+ washes and still look awesome! I wear some of them almost weekly. The biggest thing is to follow the directions for Siser EasyColor DTV exactly!
I have several tutorials and updates on my Siser EasyColor DTV results HERE.

Behind-the-Scenes Look

I’ll be sharing a how-to video soon showing the exact steps I took to create this design in the Silhouette Studio software. The hardest part is coming up with the design idea, well…. actually, the hardest part is picking fonts for me. And in this case, I had to use fonts that I knew had a commercial use license and allowed designs to be created and shared.
Make sure to read those terms of use for the fonts and designs you get and know exactly what they can be used for!!!

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at my creation process.

I save my work in many steps along the way in case I mess up or change my mind. Now, this is my working file and I started saving as a back up file along the way too! This way if anything happened, I had something to fall back on and I didn’t lose all the hours of work.

It did take time, but I loved it! I love being able to create things and sometimes I lose track of that in all the hustle and bustle!!! I thrive off of being able to create!

Now, let’s zoom in and did you see these color palettes next to my design?

These color palettes helped me to choose colors for my design! So simple!

Check out this tutorial – Create Custom Color Palettes in Silhouette HERE
I show you exactly how you can use color palettes in your creations!
Want to change up the colors of my SVG file? You can! And you can use color palettes to help too!

Want to create something with this design or simply collect it – grab the file HERE

I would love to see what you create with it!
Feel free to share on the Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae Facebook group HERE.

And stay tuned for a how-to video coming soon! I’ll post the link here when it’s complete!

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!

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

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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
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Silhouette Print and Cut Success

Have you tried print and cut with your Silhouette?

It is just one of the many things that you can do with the Silhouette machine.

Today I’m sharing the link to a video tutorial released on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel that is
5 Tips for Print and Cut Success with Silhouette – Consistent Success!

We troubleshoot thousands of issues each month and in most cases, it’s often something really easy to fix.

In the video I am sharing the top 5 things we see when troubleshooting.

Check it out HERE

I hope these tips help!
For more on Print and Cut check out the header on the blog HERE.

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.

Looking for more in-depth, step-by-step classes, check out all of my online Silhouette classes on my Teachable site HERE.

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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product
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March Featured Class & Silhouette “Secrets”

It’s time for the March news and sharing my Silhouette “Secrets” with you!

March Featured Class and Coupon Code

This month’s features class is

Let’s Explore v4 – Text in Silhouette Studio

In this class we explore Text in Silhouette Studio including:
– the Text Tool
– Text Style Panel
– How to get accurate text sizing
– Resizing text
– Font Families
– Welding
– Script Fonts
– Offsetting text
– Tracing text
– Installing fonts
– Glyphs

It cover all the aspects of text in Silhouette Studio that I see so many users ask about. Become a text expert with me and expand your skills!

Check out the full class description HERE.

And use coupon code TEXT2023 to save $5 off this class.
Good through 3/31/23.
There are now 2 purchase options.
A 60-day access and a lifetime access. This is also NEW for 2023!

New Silhouette Class Released

Creating Unique Designs in Silhouette Studio

In this class you will learn how to create all of these designs in the photo above and you can choose what you want to create as a finished project.
Choose to make one or choose them all!

In this step-by-step class, we put the Silhouette Studio tools to work for us! This class is designed for all levels of users to follow along and create. A few of the tools we will discuss and use are: drawing tools, compound paths, text, offset, knife, glyphs, text to path, and more!

This is a custom design created by YOU could be used for all kinds of projects from adhesive vinyl, HTV, Mint stamps, stencils, and more!

I share examples of different finished projects with the techniques used and include optional supplies for additional projects on the class supply list.

As a bonus, I have also included a demonstration of Citristrip etching on a powder coated tumbler using a design created as the stencil.

Check out the full class description and supply list HERE.

Silhouette “Secrets”
– Because some things are just too good not to share! –

Silhouette “Secret” #1

Top 10 tools in Silhouette Studio

Text Tool, Fill Color Panel, Line Style Panel, Align Tools, Trace Panel, Drawing Tools, Replicate Panel, Offset Panel, Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), Edit Points

These are the Top 10 tools I think that Silhouette users can put to work for them right away. You probably use most of them without even thinking about them.

Check out more details on that HERE

Silhouette “Secret” #2

I released a couple new videos on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel last month. One of those is

How to Set up Print and Cut Stickers

In this video, I show how you can turn cut lines off for items you only want to print and not to cut.

Check out this new video HERE.

Make sure to Like and Subscribe if you want to be notified of future content released on YouTube!

Silhouette “Secret” #3

I have been writing Silhouette tutorials and teaching classes now for 6+ years. That’s a lot of information out there on the website to comb through.
I compiled all of it into an A to Z Silhouette Resource section on the blog.

Click on the keyword and it will take you to more resources on each topic.
Check it out HERE.

I hope this month’s “secrets” help you to be more successful with your Silhouette!

—–

I want to hear from you!
If you have any classes, tutorials, or techniques you would love to learn, please let me know on this Google Form below.

Silhouette Secrets+ Reader Survey HERE

I want to make sure I am putting out content that is relevant to my followers.
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback!

Silhouette Secrets+ Sponsor

CrafterCuts, a Silhouette Authorized reseller is a sponsor for my Silhouette Secrets+ Teachable site.

And I have a coupon code to save 10% on your order
Use code SECRETS at CrafterCuts
Get free shipping with a $35 order
I always recommend having extra blades and mats on hand for your projects this year!
You will also find this information under the NEW “Sponsor” tab at the top of the Silhouette Secrets+ Teachable site HERE.

Don’t forget to check out all of the Recommended Retailers and Font sites on the blog HERE.
Thank you for your support! Each time you use an affiliate link to make a purchase, it supports me and what I do. You do not pay any more for that product, but I may get credit for the referral.

I also have a “Buy Me a Coffee” option as well on Ko-Fi because I know not everyone buys new supplies each month, but many still asked for a way to support Silhouette Secrets+.
Thank you all for your continued support of my small business!

Watch for more from me on the Silhouette Secrets+ blog and YouTube channel this month!

Find all the current Silhouette classes on my Teachable site HERE.

Find me online at: Silhouette Secrets+ Blog – https://bit.ly/3CnLZ8s
Silhouette Secrets+ FB Page – https://www.facebook.com/SilhouetteSecretsplus
Silhouette Secrets+ FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/silhouettesecretsplus
Silhouette Secrets+ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/silhouettesecretsplus/
Swift Creek Customs FB Page – https://www.facebook.com/swiftcreekcustoms
Swift Creek Customs FB Group – https://www.facebook.com/groups/swiftcreekcustoms

Have a great month!

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Siser EasyColor DTV UPDATE!!!

Siser EasyColor DTV was released in August 2022 and I have been loving it!

Today I have an update for you on some of the Siser EasyColor DTV projects that I have done and it is now available in larger sizes! Yay!

I wear several of the shirts I made when I first received Siser EasyColor DTV almost weekly.
This means they have been washed over 20+ times and they are still looking great!

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

First, I mentioned above that larger sizes for the Siser EasyColor DTV are now available.
You can grab those HERE at The Vinyl Spectrum.

Supplies used:
Siser EasyColor DTV
Siser TTD Mask (when needed)
Canon TS9521C inkjet printer
T-shirt or blank to apply it to

These are all shirts that I created when I first received my Siser EasyColor DTV in August 2022 and have been washing almost weekly for most of them.
That is 20+ washes for most of them and they still look fantastic.
I can see where the shirts themselves have shrunk or worn, but the DTV is still in great shape!

This is the very first shirt that I made using the Siser EasyColor DTV.
Periodic Table Sarcasm design by Suzanne Cannon – Design #298890

Creators Gonna Create design by Jamie Lynn Designs – Design #295352

Seaturtle Watercolor Printable by La La Shiba – Design #327519

Creativity Takes Courage design by Jillibean Soup – Design #416662

The biggest thing about the Siser EasyColor DTV is we’ve learned new things since it’s first release date.
Check out the instructions from Siser HERE and follow them EXACTLY for the best results.

Here are the biggest things to do for best results
1. Print on plain paper settings.
2. If using TTD Easy Mask, wait 24 hours before masking.
3. After pressing Siser EasyColor DTV, wait 24 hours and wash in cold.
Washing prior to wearing washes out any excess ink that is not soaked into the DTV.
If worn without washing, any contact with water can create water spots in that excess ink and even stain the shirt. It is recommended to wash prior to wearing and I’ve had great results with that!

All printers vary in the amount of ink that is laid down when it’s printing. Test your printer with the specific instructions linked and listed above for the best results.

This new Siser EasyColor DTV has been very, very popular and now with the larger sizes, I know we will see more coming too!

In my experience it has held up well and I am loving it!

Grab yours today HERE and have a play with it!

If you follow me on my Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube Channel or the Swift Creek Customs YouTube channel, you’ll see me wear these often in my videos.

I’ve also put together a quick video update showing up close looks at each of these Siser EasyColor DTV projects on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube Channel.
Check it out HERE or below.

Check out more tips for the Siser EasyColor DTV HERE

I’d love to see what you create!
Feel free to post on the Silhouette Secrets+ with EllyMae Facebook Group HERE
or on the Creating with Siser Juliet & Romeo Cutting Machine Users Facebook group.

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.

Looking for more in-depth, step-by-step classes, check out all of my online Silhouette classes on my Teachable site HERE.

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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
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Silhouette Print and Cut with Waterslide

Do you try new things? At some point, you must have!
No one starts something and knows it from the beginning. At some point, you are a beginner at everything.

It’s that way with Silhouette, designing, cutting, new materials, and pretty much life!

At some point in it, you are a beginner and have never used a product before.

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

FAILURE OR SUCCESS?

Waterslide paper is new to me.

What do you do when something is new?
Practice and get extras because in my experience, things do not always work the first time!

I was asked if I wanted to test some products and this Koala Waterslide Decal Paper was in the list. So, why not?
Time to try something new!

And guess what? My first ones were a FAIL! A BIG FAT FAIL!
I tried on a plastic water bottle and it just flaked off. Since it was a plastic water bottle, I could not put it in the oven to cure, so I tried using a heat gun.

What happens when you fail at something? You try again and that is exactly what I did.

I grabbed some coffee mugs and tried again.

First, the Silhouette makes it so nice to get the designs a clean cut.
I set up the print and cut for the page and printed some extras too.

And then I let my Silhouette machine do the work.

I love print and cut, for more tutorials on setting up Print and Cut check out this section on the blog – HERE. I rarely have an issue with print and cut and that is because I follow the same steps every single time!

For me, that was the easy part! Now comes the stuff I am new at and need to practice!

For waterslide, you soak the image a bit to get it to release from the backing and then carefully slide it off the backing and on to the object.
This is the part that takes practice, at least for me. If you are too rough, the decal will tear. Also, if the design is round and you are placing on a conical shaped object, it increases the level of complexity a bit too.
And guess what I did? Round decals to go on a slightly conical shape.
Yep! I always choose the more difficult path!

In this case, I refer to the instructions. Over and over again because I want to get it right.

I did record my application process and you can watch that video on my YouTube channel HERE.

After I applied the decals I placed the mugs in the oven at the recommended time and temperature.

The results are….. SUCCESS!

Two of the decals I put on looks good, no rips, tears, or flaking.

But not all were successful – there were a couple FAILURES!

This one failed because I didn’t get it completely smooth. Again, round object on a slightly concave mug. Circular decals are some of the most difficult to work with on a conical shaped surface and you need to make sure it’s either small enough to be easier to work with or that you get it completely smooth before baking.

This failure could be affected by many different factors. I was testing to see if I could reuse a sublimation mug that didn’t turn out.
Factors that could have affected this one are the sublimation coating, the sublimation ink that is already on, and most likely also…. my technique and it wasn’t completely flat with all the air out of it.

The most important part is I learned a lot. And this is just going to take practice.

I have not given up on waterslide and I would encourage you to try it!
Always keep trying new things and testing.
You may not get it perfect the first or even the second time!
And that is OK!

If you are feeling adventurous to try new things, grab some of this Koala Waterslide paper and give it a go!

Waterslides are used often in modeling and in situations where you need some wiggle room in application when applying. With a sticker, you are pretty well committed once you stick the adhesive down, but with a waterslide, you have a little bit more forgiveness to position that decal.

You can also seal a waterslide with several methods after applying. That is beyond my expertise on this day and will be something new for me to learn in the future!

Here is a list of the designs I used in testing with this print and cut project:
– Coffee Doesn’t Ask Silly Questions It Understands by Grace Lynn Designs – Design #395783
– Coffee, Coffee, and more Coffee by Dawn Nicole Designs – Design #195664
– Dead Without Coffee by Sophie Gallo – Design #420243
– Not Without My Coffee by Sophie Gallo – Design #420297
– This Good Mood Sponsored by Coffee by Sophie Gallo – Design #377578

I would love to see what you are creating with your Silhouette software or machines!
Feel free to post on my Facebook group at 
Silhouette Secrets with EllyMae.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Enjoy !

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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.

Or if you are looking for more in-depth, step-by-step classes, check out all of my online Silhouette classes on my Teachable site HERE.

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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
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Larger than Mat Projects

Creating a Larger Than Mat Project in Silhouette Studio

Have you ever wanted to create a larger than mat project?

How do you cut apart an image that is larger than you can print or larger than you can cut on your Silhouette machine mat?

This was a question asked on my Silhouette Secrets+ Facebook group this week and I created a quick YouTube video showing one way you can do this.

Check out the new video tutorial HERE
Don’t forget to Like and Subscribe to be notified of future video tutorials on
my YouTube channel.

I used a random photo from one of my recent projects I’ve been working on, but you can do this with any image. A jpeg or png file will be the easiest to work with since it’s a flattened graphics and consists of 1 layer. You could still work with a svg file, but it may require a bit more playing with it, since it’s made up of pieces.

Check out the File Types for Silhouette tutorial HERE for more information on file types.

Here are a few of the resources I posted in the video description to help with future projects:
– New! Print and Cut Tutorial Video HERE
– Silhouette Guides and Rulers HERE
– Knife Tool Tutorial HERE
– Knife Thickness Tutorial HERE
– Print & Cut written Tutorial HERE
– Printing Large Format Tutorial HERE

Have you made a larger than mat project?

I used it when I cut the black backing for this large reindeer gnome.

Check out the post on Getting More Out of your Silhouette Designs HERE where I first showed the large reindeer gnome.

Pop over to the new YouTube video tutorial HERE and then get to creating!

I would love to see what you are creating with your Silhouette software or machines!
Feel free to post photos or questions on my Facebook group at 
Silhouette Secrets with EllyMae.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Enjoy !

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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.

Or if you are looking for more in-depth, step-by-step classes, check out all of my online Silhouette classes on my Teachable site HERE.

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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
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Printable Heat Transfer Vinyl

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

Last week Siser announced a new product called Siser EasyColor DTV. This new product is an actual Heat Transfer Vinyl that can be printed with a home, inkjet printer.

Up until now there has been a product on the market called Heat Transfer Paper, which many users get confused by and call printable HTV. But, it’s really not. It is paper, not actual vinyl. I’ve used several brands and had success with it and have even taught classes using it. Each brand may have different results.

Now, there is a new option out there. Siser EasyColor DTV and I’ve been testing it this past week. So far, I am loving it!

I wanted to share a bit about that process so I made up a “quick” video. I say “quick” because it is longer than I intended as I give a lot of tips about print and cut in the video. We troubleshoot thousands of Silhouette issues each week on social media and most times it is something that can easily be fixed to get successful print and cuts. So I shared several of those tips in the video.
I want YOU to be successful and it’s always best to practice the print and cut technique on copy paper or cardstock before using your more expensive materials such as EasyColor DTV.

Check out the new video on the Swift Creek Customs YouTube channel HERE.

Check out the description of the YouTube video for more resources and links to the supplies used in the tutorial.

Grab some of the new Siser EasyColor DTV and if you plan to do a print and cut grab the Low Tack Transfer Mask too! I got mine at The Vinyl Spectrum and had it super fast!

I have so many ideas to use this material with and cannot wait to share more!

I would love to see what you are creating with your Silhouette software or machines!
Feel free to post on my Facebook group at 
Silhouette Secrets with EllyMae.

Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.

Enjoy !

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is logo.jpg

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.

Or if you are looking for more in-depth, step-by-step classes, check out all of my online Silhouette classes on my Teachable site HERE.

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**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.