I love all the options available with cutting machines and I love to combine different techniques to see what will happen. I’ve been testing and playing around with some mixed media paper and love how crisp it cuts, even with a well used Silhouette Autoblade! I will be demoing sketching with a Silhouette machine in the Pointer USA booth at Creativation and thought while I was prepping for that, I’d share some of the footage and photos I took during the process.
I am not a watercolor artist, however, I have taken a few classes and have found that I really enjoy the process and with the help of my Silhouette machine, if I mess up, I can simply sketch out another design and try again.
I have included a supply list, additional resources, and a link to the YouTube video on the Silhouette Secrets+ channel below.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The first thing to do is gather the supplies for the project. Since I will be using watercolors on this project, I needed a pen that would not bleed and found that the Sharpie felt pen held up to the water and did not bleed with the mixed media paper. See a full supply list below in this blog post too.
I also tested with a waterproof pen by Pentel and it worked too. When sketching with a Silhouette machine, the machine draws the cut lines that you see on the screen. It is not automatically filled in. The type of pen tip can make a difference as well as the design, and the size of the design too. When a design is enlarged, the gap between the “cut” lines gets bigger too. This can be more noticeable if the pen doesn’t draw a thick enough line to fill it in. There are ways to fill in a design to be sketched and I’ll included additional resources for sketching below too!
Here is a look at the design of the Protea flower I used. When I am sketching and then cutting, I will set the sketch lines to blue and then the red is a cut line. Then I’ll use the Cut by Line option on the Send tab to tell the machine what I want it to do first. I like to sketch then cut, so the design stays in place.
While there are presets in the Silhouette software, that is just a starting point and each pen can be different. A force of 7 is the preset and I found with the Sharpie felt tip pen, that it is way too much. I was able to get a good sketch with a force of 1. When using a felt tip pen, if too much force is used, it will smoosh the pen tip and results may not be good after.
Do not unload the cutting mat after it sketches if you are cutting after. If using the same tool holder, uninstall the pen and install the blade, then uncheck the sketch line in the Cut by Line Color panel and check the box next to the red color for the cut line. Adjust the settings for the cut and send that to complete the cut.
And then I simply started playing around with the watercolors. I looked up a photo online of a protea flower for some color combinations and just started playing.
Have fun creating projects with your Silhouette machines!
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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 for a creative way to personalize your home decor projects? Glass etching is a fun and easy technique that can completely transform simple glass surfaces into beautiful custom pieces! In this post, I’m sharing how I used Etchall etching creme on a floating glass floral frame to create a unique one-of-a-kind decor project perfect for displaying photos, pressed flowers, inspirational quotes, and more. The frosted etched finish adds an elegant touch while still allowing the beauty of the floating frame design to shine through. Whether you’re new to glass etching or looking for fresh DIY project ideas, this custom etched glass frame is a great way to create personalized decor with a professional look.
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Steps to Etched Glass Projects
Create a stencil for etching.
Clean glass blank with alcohol and allow to dry.
Apply stencil.
Mask off edge of stencil to prevent bleeding
Apply Etchall Etching Creme and allow to sit for 20 minutes.
Remove any excess Etching Creme and place back in the bottle.
Wipe off remaining excess with a paper towel and safely discard paper towel.
Run water in the sink and rinse off decal thoroughly.
Remove masking tape and adhesive vinyl under running water.
Gather the supplies. I am using a floating frame which has 2 panels of glass and the photos will be sandwiched in between the glass panels.
I cut the adhesive vinyl with the Silhouette Cameo and weeded out the design for my stencil. Then applied it to the backside of the glass frame. I also taped off the glass panel edges with painters tape to make it easier to handle and not cut myself.
Since there were some small details and pieces, I did apply a bit of heat to set the adhesive vinyl and give it a good seal. Be very careful here and let the glass cool before handling.
Then apply a generous layer of Etchall etching creme and let it sit for 20 minutes.
Scrape off any excess Etchall creme and put it back in the bottle. I scrape as much as I can and then use a paper towel carefully to wipe away any excess. Then rinse with a generous amount of running water until the glass is clean. Remove the adhesive vinyl stencil and rinse again.
I add some of the bright, colorful flower photos that I had taken from my front yard a few years ago and it really made it pop!
Take this idea and make it your own! What supplies do you have in your craft stash that you could make a custom glass etched
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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.
The Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II opens up a whole new world of possibilities for makers who love working on a larger scale. From oversized decals and statement wall designs to banners, signage, and long-format heat transfer vinyl projects, this machine is built to handle it all—but success with long cuts comes down to more than just size. In this deep dive tutorial, you’ll discover practical, real-world techniques that help you get smoother feeds, more accurate alignment, and consistently clean cuts across extended lengths of vinyl.
Inside this post, you’ll find a quick breakdown of the key strategies covered in the full video, along with actionable tips you can start using right away. These insights are designed to help reduce common issues like material shifting, tracking errors, and uneven cutting—so your larger projects feel just as manageable as smaller ones. Whether you’re brand new to the Cameo Pro MK II or looking to refine your workflow, this guide will help you cut with more confidence and control on every long-format project.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Do you really need to cut 10 feet of material at one time?
If the design is one long design, then maybe yes. But, if it’s a bunch of designs, cutting it in smaller chunks can be more successful and less wasted materials and time in the long run.
Make sure the leading edge of the material is completely straight.
Set yourself up for success from the start. If the leading edge is crooked or uneven, then it will have a greater chance of failure because it will be more difficult to load straight.
Here is a look at my vinyl roll before I started. High rate of failure trying to use an uneven edge like this.
I have a large self healing sewing mat and use a rotary cutter with an acrylic ruler to straighten out my vinyl edge.
Silhouette Cameo Pro models do not like bulk rolls.
Bulk rolls can be very heavy and not easy to pull the vinyl off of.
Silhouette Roll Feeder Setup Properly
Make sure the roll is properly set up in the roll feeder on the front of the machine and is secure and moving freely.
Adjust the roll feeder screws to accommodate different roll thicknesses, but the vinyl should always sit on top of the roller of the roll feeder and roll freely. The roll should not be down in the roll feeder or resting on the table top inside the roll feeder.
The photo below shows improper setup of the roll feeder for this size of a roll. It is sitting down in the roll feeder and not on top of the rollers of the feeder.
Adjust the screws and lengthen the roller support as needed to fully support the size roll being used.
For best results, always use the roll feeder stability bar. If the material roll hits the stability bar, then the roll is too big and can have issues with feeding properly.
Fully Support Vinyl the Full Length in front and behind the machine.
Vinyl that is hanging off a table is working against gravity to pull up and into the machine.
Load Material Properly
The line on the far left of the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II is for use with a 24″ cutting mat. The line on the right side that the arrow points to is for all other widths of materials or mats.
The left edge of the material should be next to the proper load line and the left roller completely on the material.
The right roller should be securely on the right edge of the material and in a location it can be locked in place.
Listen to Your Machine When Loading Materials
You will be able to hear it more than see it if the material catches on something as it is loading. There are multiple areas where materials can get hung up in the machine such as the bottom roller bar, the channel in front of the cutting strip, and the channel on the cross cutter on the backside of the machine.
Materials catching can affect the feed and if the vinyl is loaded straight. Crooked vinyl from the start will only get worse the greater distance it goes into the machine.
Settings that Affect the Feed in Silhouette Studio
On the Send tab in the Silhouette software, click on the gear icon in the bottom right corner. If you are having issues with feed and cutting specific designs, try adjusting the Cut Order Sorting settings to see if it helps.
Feed the Vinyl Through the Machine for the Full Length
This can help identify if there are going to be any issues before you even put the blade in to cut. It can save you time and money in materials by doing this.
If you continue to have issues with a material catching in the machine, feed in 4″+ to advance the leading edge of the material past all of the areas it may be catching on. 4″ of material can save you time and material in the long run. Use that 4″ for scrap later for other projects.
Test Cut, Test Cut, Test Cut!!!
Cut settings that are too deep can affect the feed and whether the cuts will connect and complete. It will save a lot of materials, time, and money
Get Extra Vinyl
It’s always a good idea to have extra vinyl on hand for any mistakes or errors, especially if working on a deadline.
I share additional tips in the Silhouette Cameo Pro Unboxing as well.
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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.
If you would have asked me last week if I was going to be making a Kentucky Derby hat, I would have said that it wasn’t even on my radar. And then we were given a challenge at work and my brain just started working on the idea. And pretty soon I had a summer beach hat in my shopping cart, and the idea was coming together.
First, before I go farther into how I made this, please know this hat would be for indoor use. Since it’s made from paper the designs would fall apart if it were rained on or splashed with water.
Kentucky Derby hats are unique and do not have to be identical to each other. This is one of those projects that you can really add your own personal details to and just have fun!
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Next up was to start gathering the rest of the supplies.
I’ve had this large flower hanging around in my studio since I was working with the 3-D Flower Flamingo Design by Tanya Batrak in June of 2024. This file was one of the Crafting Creativity collaborations that I do each month with a new designer. Find more details on the projects created with that file HERE.
And I had some pink tulle from an adult fairy tutu I made about 16 years ago. Yes, that’s right, I keep supplies around a long time just in case. Except I purged the little flamingo flowers a couple weeks ago when I was cleaning. It never fails that when I let something go, I will want to use it the next week. I grabbed some ribbon and had the start to my supplies.
I didn’t want to buy any additional supplies even though I did look at some feathers, but I ended up cutting a feather design and then painting it with a metallic paint by DecoArts.
I took the black ribbon off of the hat and then added a green ribbon and hot glued it in place to secure it on the hat.
Next, I cut some lengths of the pink tulle and bunched it together and secured it with zip ties. Then glued it in place on top of the green ribbon.
Once the glue was dry on the tulle, I added more hot glue and secured the large flower. Then let that cool completely so it was set.
Then I just started adding the feathers, securing them with hot glue and letting it set up before moving it around.
I thought about adding more. I cut some strips of papers in 2 shades of pink and white and then curled them, but when I started adding them to the hat, it didn’t feel right. So, for now, this project is finished.
Now, I will admit that I’m not a “hat” person typically. However, I put this on and looked in the mirror and I love the hat. I think it’s because it’s over-the-top and there really isn’t a wrong way. Kentucky Derby hats are big & bold.
Maybe someday I’ll make it to the real Kentucky Derby, but for now, this hat will be on display at work for the 152nd Kentucky Derby Day.
It was fun to make, used up some of my previous projects sitting around, and went together very quickly. And I saved the black ribbon exactly how it was so if I can also turn it back into a summer hat to use pool side too when Derby Day is over.
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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.
I have been troubleshooting with Silhouette users since 2016, and we have answered a lot of questions during the years. One of the most common questions is “What is this?” and “Why did it just appear?” In this blog post, I’m sharing more details on 4 of the tools that are often confused with each other, how they get turned on, how to turn them off, and where to find more information on each of the tools. These 4 tools can be useful when designing in Silhouette Studio, but not all users utilize them or will use them all of the time. That is one of the great things about Silhouette is the choice of having the options to use a tool or feature. This is also one of those cases where if a user doesn’t know what a tool does specifically, they may never know that it can actually be really useful to them in their workflow.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The 4 tools in Silhouette Studio that are often confused are:
Pressing the letter ‘H’ on the keyboard toggles it on and off.
A file is opened that the designer saved it with crosshairs on.
Typically we see crosshairs appear because a user thinks that they have activated Text Mode and it did not take. So when the letter ‘H’ is pressed on the keyboard, it toggles it on.
Crosshairs can be turned on and off 3 ways:
Press the letter ‘H’ key. If they don’t turn on and off, click on the design mat and then press ‘H’ again.
Open the Page Setup Panel, click on Tab 2, and click the Crosshairs button.
In the top left menu, under View, select Turn on Crosshairs.
Crosshairs are a Designer Edition upgrade feature and those on Basic will not see this available.
Guides can be pulled from the rulers on the top or right side of Silhouette Studio. Guides are a Designer Edition upgrade feature along with Rulers.
These can be accidentally activated if clicking the mouse on top of the rulers or click & pull from the ruler area onto the design mat.
Guides can be deleted by clicking on one to activate it, it will turn dark blue, then press delete. Light blue color means it is not the active Guide selected.
Guide settings can be found under the Page Setup Panel, under Tab 2. Snap to Guides is by default always active, but unless you have a Guide placed on the file, you won’t see it work. Guides can be toggled on and off under this tab too.
Guides can also be found in the top left menu under View, then select the option desired.
This control point appears any time there is editable text activated.
This is the control handle that is used to drag text to a path and have it snap to the path. This feature is always available on editable text and there is no way to turn it off.
The April 2026 member exclusive tutorial for the Creative Community is an in-depth tutorial on Text to Path with advanced techniques too! Check out more details on the Creative Community HERE.
*Creative Community members watch for a cheat sheet on these tools coming soon to April’s forum!
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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.
The Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II is officially in my studio and I’ve been testing it. I am one of the original testers for the Cameo Pro 4 and am happy to share that a lot of the information will carry over to the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II model as well. There are a few updates to the Cameo Pro MK II, but the tips I’ve provided on the previous model can help you be successful as well. In this blog post you’ll find the link to the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II unboxing video as well as still shots below and some additional tips to help users be successful and troubleshoot the Cameo Pro MK II.
Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II Machine Photos and Tips
While unboxing any new machine, make sure to inspect it carefully for any packing materials that secures the device during shipping. It can be hiding around some corners as shown in the photo below. Before plugging the power cord into the machine, make sure to carefully slide the housing to the right side and remove all the packing materials in and around where the housing was located during shipping.
Silhouette machines are shipped worldwide from the manufacturer, so the machine is not set up properly for first use when the box is opened. After removing the packing material, unlock the right roller and slide the roller mechanism to the right side to lock into the correct location according to whether you are using a cutting mat or the width of the vinyl.
There are 5 auxiliary rollers in between the left and right rollers. These rollers can be removed. If removed, make sure to store them in a safe location as they currently do not have replacements of this same style. These auxiliary rollers do not provide any firm pressure like the left and right rollers and do not feed the material into the machine. They all have a spring located on the roller that helps to keep materials from bubbling up in the middle.
The Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II has additional locations that the right roller can be locked in place compared to the previous Cameo 4 Pro model. On the backside of the roller bar there are little sections with notches where the right roller will settle in and can be locked in place.
The roller bar has been redesigned on this model, which allows the rollers to be visible and grip the materials better than the previous Cameo 4 Pro.
In a nutshell, the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II is a Cameo 4 Pro body with the guts and updates of the Cameo 5 model. This includes a redesigned chassis and the new roller bar and roller system. On the older Cameo 4 Pro model, the rollers were located underneath the roller bar and difficult to see. The rollers are approximately 1/4″ in width on all Silhouette machines. On the older Cameo 4 Pro model, the rollers had very, very specific locations that they could be locked into place and even 1/16″ to the left or right could make a big difference in how the material feed through the machine.
Here is a look at everything that is included in the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II box. There is also a 24″ Silhouette cutting mat in the box, that is out of the bounds of this photo.
Inside the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II box you should find: a 24″ Silhouette cutting mat, 2-part power cord, plastic bag with the Silhouette Type B Autoblade, a Silhouette tool, sketch pen adapter, and the parts for the roll feeder and mat support. There are also several pamphlets included in the box too.
Tips for Success with the Silhouette Cameo Pro MK II
Make sure that the leading edge of the material is completely straight. If it is not, it can be difficult to load the vinyl correctly and the material can skew as it is being cut and fed through. The photo below is an example of how much my 24″ roll of adhesive vinyl was off from straight. Once I cut the leading edge it was easier to load in the machine and did not bunch up.
Once the material is inside the machine, use the arrows on the touchscreen to feed the vinyl all through the machine the length of the cut to see how it will feed and if it will stay straight. On the touchscreen, after the vinyl is already loaded the down arrow on the 4 directional arrows is the one that will advance the vinyl through the machine. The arrows on the touchscreen move the actual blade housing left and right as well as down the material and back.
The photo below shows a close up look at the backside of the machine and the crosscutter. If the vinyl is advanced to the backside, it can then be cut off in a straight line. Flip the levers down on both sides of the crosscutter and then slide the blade across to the other side to slice the material.
Make sure to flip the levers back up after the cut is complete and to move the crosscutting blade to the very edge of the crosscutter. If these steps are not taken, it can interfere with the proper feeding of the vinyl on the next cut as it can block the material from advancing through the machine.
The crosscutter is a removable and replaceable part should the blade become dull. If the crosscutter is not installed correctly and secure, you may get an error in the Silhouette software. The photo below shows a look at the crosscutter when removed from the machine.
If the leading edge of the material is curled down, it can catch on the channel of the crosscutter. This can affect the feed and results of the cuts being made. This is often something you can hear first before you see the results of the miscuts or misfeed. Any catching inside the machine can affect the feed and cause miscuts on the design.
Straighten out the edge of the material so it’s not curled down to prevent this. However, if you do use the crosscutter to slice the vinyl after a cut is complete, it can create that curled edge.
Make sure to zoom in on the design being used on the Send tab and check the design before you send a large design to cut. I did not before I made my first cuts and ended up with 24″ of wasted vinyl. This was a design that I purchased and thought it would be a quick cut as my first test and that’s not how it ended up. Several parts of this design were not welded correctly. If you zoom in really close on the Send tab prior to cutting, you can hopefully catch something like this before it happens.
If you do run into issues, start first with looking at the setup and watching the machine. That’s how I find a lot of the issues we troubleshoot is by looking at photos and video of how the machine operates. And I listen to the machine. As I mentioned above, I can often hear something is wrong before I see what the issue is.
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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.
Silhouette IPT is short for Intelligent Path Technology and was first announced to us at the 2023 Silhouette Summit when the Silhouette Cameo 5, Curio 2, and Portrait 4 models were announced.
Affiliate links may be present in the following blog post and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
In this blog post, I am sharing some of the details of the IPT setup and how it works. Read more details below and then watch the video tutorial with even more tips on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel HERE.
The Silhouette IPT is a patented cutting technology that changes the cut order of a design to “help” it stay in position and complete the cut. Depending on the design you have on the file, when it’s turned on, it will complete the cut of the design in segments versus a continuous cut around the entire design. The photo below shows the standard method of cutting on the left side, that would be from 1 starting point and cut around in one continuous cut back to the starting point on a heart. On the right side, the white dots are points of reference in how the design would be cut in segments, starting on the top right, then moving to the top left and then moving to complete the bottom on each side. This method is designed to “hold” the design in place and not have shifting as it’s being cut.
This new technology was created to help delicate materials such as vellum be more successful when cutting out designs and to cut through multiple layers of materials at once, such as several sheets of vellum stacked on top of the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat.
Here is the video we were shown at Silhouette Summit 2023 to explain the process.
This is a setting you have to set up and turn on in order for it to use the IPT cutting method and is not an automatic setting. It is compatible with the Silhouette Cameo 5, Curio 2, and Portrait 4 models.
Silhouette IPT settings can be found under the advanced settings on a preset setting, or you can turn it on for a custom cut setting. On the Send tab in Silhouette Studio, select the MORE button and you will see a box next to “Intelligent Path Technology”.
Here is a look at Silhouette Studio version 5
Screenshot Silhouette Studio v5.0.402
And a look at the Advanced Settings in Silhouette Studio version 4
Screenshot Silhouette Studio v4.5.815
If IPT is selected on a preset material setting, you will need to Save As to create a new material in order for it to be activated on the cut setting. If you simply check the box and X out of the preset material, it will not activate the IPT setting.
Screenshot Silhouette Studio v4.5.815
How Silhouette IPT (Intelligent Path Technology) Works
Let’s take a real world look at the IPT cut setting and the order that it takes. Keep in mind that the Silhouette software will change this order for every design, and you do not know what the order will be unless you watch and record the machine behavior.
I’ll be using the Silhouette Curio 2 for this demonstration, but it works the same for the Silhouette Portrait 4 and the Silhouette Curio 2. I am using Silhouette Vellum sheets for this test along with a brand new Silhouette Autoblade.
I used the same shape from the video by Silhouette from 2023. I drew the heart using the Flexishapes tool on the left side in Silhouette.
This was completed as a continuous cut, the blade never lifted.
Then I turned the cut lines off for the first heart and turned the cut lines on for the 2nd heart, which is an exact copy of the first one.
My first attempt at this IPT cut, I used the Vellum preset, checked the box, but then X’d out and found out that it did not activate the IPT setting. A new custom setting is required by clicking on Save As after checking the box.
So I made a 3rd copy of the heart and I clicked on the MORE button and checked the box next to Intelligent Path Technology and chose Save As. Then clicked the X in the top right and chose the new material of Vellum (1) as my setting. I then clicked on the MORE button to double check that IPT setting did save with the new material.
The IPT function did work and it cut the heart in 10 different line segments. However, the cut order was a bit different than the video by Silhouette from 2023 and I noticed it started the first cut in the bottom left area of the design. I am using Silhouette Studio version 4.5.815 for this demonstration. The order in which it cuts may vary by software version, which may be why the order is different than what the video shows from 2023.
Here is a diagram of the cut order using IPT with this heart shape
This heart with this specific material cut fine both ways. But, that won’t always be the case.
On a more complex design, such as this flower shape drawn with the Flexishapes and the control point adjusted to make a sharper petal, IPT did make a difference in the cut. Instead of tearing, smooshing, or ruining the corners on the interior of the petals, it was a clean sharp point and the design cut well.
For this flower shape that is approximately 4.3″ tall and 4.2″ wide, it did 51 segmented cuts. I am not going to study the video to diagram all that out, however, it was pretty neat to watch. And it was a success, with no smooshed corners or tears. I did have to “pop” out the flower carefully, but for some designs that extra little bit of care is worth it!
Here is a close up look at the interior cuts on the flower shape. Look at those crisp, cut edges! No tearing or smooshing using the IPT feature in Silhouette.
Vellum is a very delicate material and can be difficult to cut, especially on an intricate cut. Vellum will also curl as you can see in this photo, the flower immediately started to curl. Humidity can also affect the success of cutting vellum, well, really any paper is affected by humidity. For best results, store vellum in a sealed envelope and completely flat. The Silhouette Electrostatic Mat is awesome for cutting vellum designs and I share even more in the Silhouette Curio 2 – Out of the Box class found HERE.
Here are a few more vellum products I’ve tested with:
It is a setting you can turn on for a preset material, then Save As a new material.
It is a setting you can turn on for a custom setting.
It does take longer to cut a design because the blade will lift, move, and cut in a different order.
It will take longer on the Silhouette Curio 2 versus a Silhouette Portrait 4 or Silhouette Cameo 5 model due to the slower movement of the arm on the Silhouette Curio 2. It may only be a few seconds longer, but it will.
Testing is the only way you will know if it will work for a design and material.
The Silhouette software decides the order of IPT based on the shape, size, and design. The user does not see the order or know how many segments a design will be cut out in.
Don’t believe AI answers on what IPT does or in general how to use a Silhouette. AI has no experience using Silhouette machine and will come back with some very bad advice. Experience using a cutting machine will beat AI hands down – literally.
This is NOT the same as Cut Order Sorting options found under the Settings (gear icon) on the Send Tab in Silhouette Studio.
Screenshot from version 5 Silhouette Studio
Here is a look at where to find the Cut Order Sorting options in Silhouette Studio version 4
It did take more time to cut, but I was able to successfully cut out a rolled flower design using the Silhouette Electrostatic Mat and IPT setting. This has been something I have troubleshot with users several times and the intricate design just couldn’t be held in place to complete the cut using the standard cutting methods with the electrostatic mat.
I am thrilled with how this worked out!
Does Silhouette IPT Work?
Yes – but not for every design, material, or project. I thought it worked great with the flower design above as that is one of those highly likely designs to smoosh and tear on the sharp corners.
Personally, I do not typically like the little tabs it left, similar to pop out cutting. However, it might be beneficial for those materials or designs that just will not cut the standard way. The only way to know is to test it and see what happens. If you do use it, I would recommend a sharp pair of detail scissors to snip the little connections and care when separating it from the full sheet.
The second part of IPT method for cutting through multiple layers of materials, proved to be much more finicky with mixed results. I spent hours and hours testing and was never really impressed with the results. The more layers of material, the less desirable the cut results were. It is not something I’ve spent more time testing. Maybe someday I’ll try again.
I hope those tips give you a better idea of how this new cut path technology works. You never know until you try and hopefully that will help your trials go a bit easier.
Next time you have a design that is just giving you fits with a standard, continuous cut setup – you might try out the IPT setting and see if it makes a difference in the success with your material.
Good luck!
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Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
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Have you ever opened Silhouette Studio, started designing with text, and instead of a beautiful font you’re greeted with rectangles, boxes, or missing letters? Font issues in Silhouette Studio are a common frustrations that we see when troubleshooting with users—whether fonts don’t show up at all, won’t display correctly, or refuse to work the way you expect. The good news? These problems usually have simple explanations and easy fixes once you know what to look for.
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I just shared a brand new video on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel that walks you through exactly why font issues happen in Silhouette Studio and how to troubleshoot them. In this tutorial, you’ll learn why fonts show up as rectangles, a glimpse at previewing fonts, why fonts can go missing or seem like they are missing, and how to reinstall fonts correctly—including whether OTF or TTF files work best. If you’ve ever wondered “Why is my font doing that?” this video will help you get back to designing quickly and show how to avoid some of these issues.
If you’re ready to go beyond troubleshooting and really learn how to use fonts to create your own designs in Silhouette Studio, come join us in the Creative Community with EllyMae | Crafting & Troubleshooting site. Our February 2026 exclusive member video covers working with text, fonts, and design techniques so you can move from simply typing words to confidently creating custom designs with fonts. It’s the perfect next step if you want to unlock the creative power of text in Silhouette Studio and design projects that are truly your own. In the 96 minutes step-by-step video tutorial I cover everything from where fonts are stored, font storage, designing with glyphs, offsets, compound paths, combining shapes, and more! Create 10 unique designs in less than 2 hours and then take and use those techniques to create even more!
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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.
Creating shaped & layered paper flowers is all about the details. In Creating Layered Paper Flowers with a Silhouette Cameo: A Behind-the-Scenes Crafting Process, I’m sharing a closer look at the full creative journey behind my layered paper flower bouquet. This blog post goes hand in hand with the new YouTube video, where I walk through the behind-the-scenes process, helpful cutting tips, shaping techniques, and see the complete supply list below too. You’ll see how flat paper designs can be transformed by adding dimension, shaping each layer, and assembling them together to create full, eye-catching paper flowers using the Silhouette Cameo.
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Watch the Video & See the Details!
Head over to the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel to catch the full behind-the-scenes video, then scroll down to explore the finished flower photos and the complete supply list for creating your own layered paper flower bouquet.
I had so much fun creating these layered paper flowers and greenery. Time is the key factor to completing projects like this. Enjoy the creative process!
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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.
If you love creating interactive cards, this JOY Spinner Card is a must-try holiday project! In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through how to design and assemble this layered spinner card using Silhouette Studio, along with a complete supply list and helpful tips and additional resources. Watch the full video, grab the supplies below, and let’s create a festive card that’s sure to impress!
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This card design was first shared in my Silhouette Secrets+ Facebook group and my admin did a bit of sleuth work and found who we believe is the original designer for this spinner card idea. This card design was inspired by Dress My Craft. Make sure to grab the Dress My Craft spinners linked in the supply list below.
One thing leads to another… down the rabbit hole I went and Dress My Craft has so many neat ideas to create with the spinners.
Create the layered look with the same colors of cardstock or mix it up and do multiple colors. I cut both to see what it would look like, but I think I prefer the white layered on top of each other with the offset. I am so glad I saw my admin (Teresa’s) card ideas and included that into the video tutorial. I think it really makes it stand out.
I love being able to create designs in the Silhouette software, and projects like this JOY Spinner Card truly show how versatile it can be! If you haven’t already, be sure to watch the full video tutorial on the Silhouette Secrets+ YouTube channel for step-by-step instructions and extra tips. I hope this inspires you to create your own interactive card and continue learning even more about what Silhouette can do!
Save this for future reference by pinning the image below.
Enjoy !
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click HERE & buy a coffee. Every little bit helps with the cost of running the site.
Silhouette Classes
Never stop learning! Let me help you take the anxiety out of learning with Silhouette and get to creating faster! My Silhouette classes are heavily focused on software, so you can take the skills & techniques taught and apply them to many future projects!
**This post may contain affiliate links. What that means is that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher but I may get compensated for sharing.
THANK YOU for your support! How can you help? Click the link to buy a coffee. Every little bit helps in the cost of running the site.
