27 Oct 2018

Make your own Shadow Die Cuts with Silhouette Studio


Make your own Shadow Diecuts with the Silhouette Cameo. Tutorial by Janet Packer for Graphtec Silhouette UK https://craftinhquine.blogspot.co.uk


Hello, over on the Silhouette UK Blog I have a new step-by-step tutorial on designing shadow word die cuts in the Silhouette Studio® software. These are designed to resemble the large metal word dies with a matching shadow, or halo, which seem so popular at present. I designed a selection of die cuts made from Silhouette Adhesive Cardstock using the software's Print & Cut feature. The same technique could also be used to cut regular cardstock or vellum.


Make your own Shadow Diecuts with the Silhouette Cameo. Tutorial by Janet Packer for Graphtec Silhouette UK https://craftinhquine.blogspot.co.uk


The post includes a step-by-step tutorial on designing the dies and includes a window card made with one of the shadowed die cuts.

Make your own Shadow Diecuts with the Silhouette Cameo. Tutorial by Janet Packer for Graphtec Silhouette UK https://craftinhquine.blogspot.co.uk


The designs used from the Silhouette Design Store were:




20 Oct 2018

Lori Whitlock's Haunted Houses and a design tutorial on Using Simple Offsets

Design Tools Tutorial - Easy Offsets by Janet Packer https://Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk for Graphtec Silhouette UK. Haunted houses cutting files by Lori Whitlock.


Hiya, over on the Silhouette UK Blog today I have a simple design tutorial using the offset function in the Silhouette Studio software.  I've used it to show how to make glow in the dark embellishments quickly and easily using the default offset setting.

To demonstrate the technique I've used a couple of Lori Whitlock's new Haunted Houses (#276325 , #276343), concentrating on the embellishments that are included with the files. Adding an offset, adds a quick and easy enhancement. The embellishments not only glow in the dark, but are thicker and more dimensional. Of course, this technique isn't limited to Halloween projects; you can apply the same steps to any shape which isn't too complex.

Design Tools Tutorial - Easy Offsets by Janet Packer https://Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk for Graphtec Silhouette UK. Haunted houses cutting files by Lori Whitlock.


I also included a bonus project showing how to turn the embellishments into badges, or brooches. I transformed the cute cat embellishment by adhering it to a piece of card cut out at the same size. Then I added a pin closure and I now have a fun set of badges to wear for Halloween!

Design Tools Tutorial - Easy Offsets by Janet Packer https://Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk for Graphtec Silhouette UK. Haunted houses cutting files by Lori Whitlock.


These are the designs I used


... and these are the Silhouette products.



Do pop over to the Silhouette UK Blog if you'd like to find out more.




17 Oct 2018

Top tips for making multiple cards with Silhouette and Cricut - Santa Delivers Box Card by Simply Crafty SVGs


Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


Hello.  I've made a start on making this year's Christmas cards. The Santa Delivers Box Card from Simply Crafty SVGs is THE perfect card for the younger set and I ended up making a little army of them. It is a fun box card design that cuts beautifully using a digital cutter, goes together like a dream, and folds flat for posting.

I thought I'd share some tips for saving time, effort, and materials when you are making duplicate cards. Useful, not just for this card, but for any cards made in duplicates using your digital cutting machine.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


I made no changes to the file itself, and stayed with all the original colours. I did change out some of the materials though, and you'll find out why as you read on.  Full written instructions for assembling this file are included with the file download when you purchase the file.


Materials Used:
White, Red & Black Medium-Weight Textured Cardstock
Grey Adhesive Textured Cardstock
White Printable Cardstock
White & Red Glitter Paper
Black & Gold Sign Vinyl
Beacon 3-in-1 Craft Adhesive
Strong Hold Adhesive Tape
Silhouette Cameo, or other machine that cuts SVG files


Files Used:
Simply Crafty SVGs Santa Delivers Box Card
Simply Crafty SVGs Basic Envelope Set (free)


Other Digital Files: 
Christmas Greeting Dingbat font by Lori Whitlock (Sil Studio or LW Shop)


1. Cut Duplicate Pieces Together
Duplicate all the pieces for the number of cards that you want to make. Then save card by ungrouping them and spending a little time re-arranging all the pieces to be cut from the same material and colour to fit on the page in the the software.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


2. Add Extras
Cut a few extra pieces, especially the smaller ones. Then if one or two don't cut perfectly, or you lose them, you don't need to spend time cutting more, saving time overall.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


3. Cut Like Materials in Succession
Cut all the items from one media type first, before moving on to the next type, to save time changing the cut settings. I cut all the medium-weight pieces in white, then the red and black, then I changed the settings to cut the adhesive grey cardstock, and finally the glitter paper.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


4.  Choose Cardstock of an Appropriate Weight
Choose a card weight that is easy to cut; medium-weight card cuts on a faster speed than heavy-weight cardstock. This style of card has extra layers to give it stability, and so a heavy, foundation-weight card, with a slower cut setting, is unnecessary.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


5. Consider Using Self-Adhesive Cardstock
Cut intricate pieces from adhesive cardstock. This speeds up the process in by:
(1) ensuring the waste pieces stay on the backing sheet, and then they don't need to be removed separately from your cutting mat, and
(2) eliminating the need for need additional adhesive, so time is saved applying liquid glue to thin or fiddly pieces. It's neater and cleaner too!

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


6. Assemble in Stages
Adhere the pieces together assembly line style to save time. You become an expert at each stage and the process is completed faster and with greater skill. On the Santa section, apply the red glitter bodies first, then the white trim. the black belt, the black boots and finally the gold buckle.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


7. Make Your Own Shiny Media
Rather than spending time applying foiling or wet embossing to embellishments like buckles, cut them from card with an additional layer of metallic vinyl.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


Similarly, use cardstock with a shiny vinyl layer to cut the belt and boots. As you can see, it is a great way of using up scrap pieces of all the materials.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


8. Use a Dingbat fonts for Greetings
Rather than taking the time to type, resize and arrange sentiments use a greetings dingbat font where all the hard work is done for you.  Use a sketch pen or pen and pen holder to write out the sentiments with your machine, or better still, set up a Print & Cut page and use your printer to make sentiment panels which you can have the cutter cut out for you.

Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.


9. Have Envelopes to Fit
Check the finished card size before you start. Resize all the pieces to fit ready-made envelopes if necessary. This card fits into a US A7 sized envelope (for cards up to 5" x 7").  This is a standard size available in the UK too, so you won't need to spend time making envelopes to fit. However, If you want to make a custom envelope Sandy has provided a free file which you can download from her site (follow the link below).



Santa Delivers Box Card by Janet Packer Craftingquine.blogspot.co.uk Includes tips on matchmaking cards. SVG Design by Simply Craft SVGs.



These are the files I used (including the free envelope file). Just click on the photo to visit the page in Simply Crafty SVGs online store. The FREE Basic Envelope File is a great find; there are three different sizes of envelopes included.





I hope you find these tips useful. If you have any time, money or effort saving tips you'd like to share, do add them in the comments below.



Janet, DT Member Simply Crafty SVGs

Blog: Crafting Quine 
Instagram: @CraftingQuine



Simply Crafty SVG Files:
Santa Delivers Box Card
Basic Envelope Set (Free)

These cards have been entered into the Crafter's Castle Anything Goes (Christmas/Winter) Challenge #10


12 Oct 2018

Bird Deterrent Window Cling





Hello. This week on the Silhouette UK Blog I've used Silhouette Clear Window Cling to make a bird deterrent sign for my house window.



My post describes how to design, make and install the window cling to a window using Silhouette Clear Window Cling and white sign vinyl.


I used these designs ...






and these products.


7 Oct 2018

Gift bag and Homemade Drinks Mats - Carina Gardner Guest Post



Hiya! I'm delighted to be a guest designer over on the Carina Gardner Blog again this week. I have this useful gift set for you, featuring Carina's Striped Gift BagThankful Quotes and a couple of her Mini Lou dingbat fonts (Autumn and Thankful).



I've used white wood-textured cardstock with brushed metal effect vinyl in copper on the bag, and heat transfer vinyl in copper and white on the cork coasters.




The Mini Lou and Carina Gardner cutting files are all from the Silhouette Design Store . You'll find more details over on the Carina Gardner Blog. You'll also be able to read about the other guest designers of the Carina Gardner Holiday Design Team 2018.




To keep up with all my projects, follow me on Instagram.

All the Holiday Team makes will use the hash tag #cgdesignteam

6 Oct 2018

Glow in the Dark Bottle Gift Bag for Silhouette UK

Design Tips for Silhouette Studio. Partial Knock Out Text Technique. Designed by Janet Packer Crafting Quine for Graphtec Silhouette UK




Hi, On the Silhouette UK Blog today I've designed the decal for this Halloween bottle bag using heat transfer materials. It is designed in the Silhouette Studio software, and the materials are cut with a Silhouette Cameo, and applied using a heat press (an iron would work too).

Design Tips for Silhouette Studio. Partial Knock Out Text Technique. Designed by Janet Packer for Graphtec Silhouette UK


The magical element is the glow in the dark HTV which glows really brightly when the lights are doused, and contrasts well with orange flocked heat transfer.

To make the decal I used a partial "knock out" design technique on one of the words using a ghost design. The post on the Silhouette UK Blog describes how to do this for yourself.

The Silhouette Glow in the Dark Heat Transfer is a dream to weed and apply and gives a fun effect.




DESIGNS USED:




PRODUCTS USED: