Silhouette Chipboard and Two-Step Cutting Technique

Hello, over on the Silhouette UK Blog this week I've been using the Silhouette Chipboard sheets.  I did have a little problem preventing the card from moving around my mat while is was cutting it, so I've shared the solution, a two-step cut.

The first cut, cuts about half way through the media, and the second follows the first and cuts all the way through. This allows the pressure on the first cut to be lower so movement of the media is less likely, and the second cut ensures that the surface is cut more cleanly. It works for thicker and more difficult to cut materials, and also coated media such as metallic card and specialist printing cardstock.

My project is a set of fairy wings (Lori Whitlock's Butterfly) cut from the Silhouette Chipboard, part of a mixed media project yet to completed.

Make your own Shadow Die Cuts with Silhouette Studio

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.

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.

The designs used from the Silhouette Design Store were:

Make this Dandelion Printable from Sarah Hurley's cut file

Hiya.  Over on the Silhouette UK Blog this week I have a tutorial showing how to produce a printable using this lovely free dandelion design cut file by Sarah Hurley. Sarah is a British designer, so its always exciting to see her new designs in the Silhouette Design Store.

The project uses this week's featured product - Silhouette Printable Glitter Sticker Paper. It has a fabulous glittery finish and is fantastic for printables. My post has step-by-step instructions for how to transform the cut file into a printable design using the Silhouette Studio software.

It includes how to do the following:

• Arrange the file pieces for printing
• Make a colour swatch
• Colour the file using the "Colour Picking' technique
• Refine the colours for this special media
• Prepare the print.

The Make a Wish file was free in the Silhouette Design Store at the time of writing this post.  I can't promise that it will still be free by the time you read this, but let's hope so. P.S. You don't need a Silhouette machine to make this - just the software, which is free to download here.


The last time I used the Glitter Sheets was to make these. I still regret that we had to use them (would rather have kept them for other years).

Make your own Lightbox Photo Panels

Hiya,  Today I have a post on the Silhouette UK blog using my Silhouette Cameo to customise a lightbox with a large photo, using Print & Cut to make perfectly sized panels.

I was so pleased to receive this lightbox as a Christmas gift as I've wanted on for ages.  I've seen that you can buy photo panels to go in the light boxes, but I wanted to make one featuring a photo of a local beauty spot. Because of the size of my lightbox (just a tad over A4 size) I used A3 paper and the larger cutting mat, the Silhouette 12" x 24" Cameo® Cutting Mat.  With it I did a giant Print & Cut and so made panels that were the perfect size for my lightbox. The instructions in my post will show how you can do it too (and maybe help with any large-scale Print & Cut projects you are thinking of undertaking). Of course, if you have a smaller lightbox, you could make the panels with the regular cutting mat.

I used:

A3 Printer Paper

Large Format Printer (A3 or bigger)

Silhouette® 12" x 24" Cameo Cutting Mat

Silhouette Cameo® 3

The photo is the view from our house (taken by my husband) and I think it shows that there are SOME advantages to living in the north east Scotland!  What photo would you put in your lightbox?

Bye for now,

Flip Top Calendar using Silhouette Studio's Move tool

Hello and Happy New Year.  I had a post on the Silhouette UK Blog a few days ago showing how to make this flip top calendar. It used Silhouette's Print & Cut and Move functions.  It was cheap to make (the frame I used cost just £1 from IKEA), and would look great on a desk, beside a telephone, or even as a small gift.

I used the 2018 Calendar set by Alaa' K (parts 1, 2, 3, 4), resizing them to fit a bought picture frame. I also adjusted the position of the holes using the Move function.

The bright coloured papers are from MFT Graphic Grid 6x6 paper pad. There are twelve different colours - perfect for this project!

Hope you have a happy and organised 2018!

Add a new material type to Silhouette Studio software

Hello again, over on the Silhouette UK Blog today I have a post to show how to add custom media to the list of cutting materials in the Silhouette Studio® software. You'll find adding custom settings can be a HUGE time saver.

My post includes a step-by-step guide (using version 4.1 of the Silhouette Studio® software).

The media I added is glitter wallpaper; which cuts beautifully on my Cameo and Curio. I tested it making bows for my Christmas tags and parcels using Lori Whitlock's 3D Bow from the Silhouette Design Store.

Pop over to the Silhouette UK Blog if you have a Silhouette and haven't mastered this process yet.  If you discover anything extra about adding new cut settings it would be great to add it as a comment and share it with the wider Silhouette community too.

Custom Colour Fabric Designs - a Pincushion

Hello folks,

Today on the Silhouette UK Blog I show how to make a custom-coloured piece of fabric, ideal for projects requiring small amounts of material. The tutorial shows how to colour a cut file in the Silhouette Studio software to create a uniquely coloured fabric design.

I needed a 5.5" fabric square for a no-sew project which I printed on to Silhouette Printable Cotton, along with registration marks and then cut out with the Silhouette.

I like to use background designs from the Silhouette Design store as they cover a good sized area of the design space (often 12" x12"). You can find them by selecting Search Designs, adding criteria to the Browse Designs box (I wanted a roses pattern so added 'roses background') and then filter by Cut Type, choosing Regular Cut.

In the tutorial I show you how to colour the background using a colour swatch ...

... and add a white outline to enhance the design.

Using the software's print and cut feature I printed the design onto the Silhouette printable fabric on my printer, and then cut it on the Silhouette Cameo.

With the square of printed fabric I made up this pin cushion kit that I bought online.

I added a little vinyl around the base.

And voila! 

I think I might make more of these as gifts for sewing friends. What projects could you make with 5.5" squares of fabric in your favouire colours?

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Personalised Magnetic Paper Dolls

Hello,  today I've shared a tutorial for a fun holiday project over on the Silhouette UK Blog. 

Did you ever play with paper dolls as a child? Now you can make a magnetic version with Silhouette Printable Magnetic sheets and your Silhouette. Not only that; because you can manipulate photos in the software, you can PERSONALISE your magnetic dolls too!  I'm sure children or grandchildren will have a grand time choosing clothes and customising accessories!

Oh, and did I say that the set is made from a photo of my lovely, generous, understanding daughter! (She did give me permission to use it, after all)!

The  pieces are printed onto the Silhouette magnetic paper on an ink jet printer and cut out on a Silhouette cutting machine. There is a full tutorial on how make this from Samantha Walker's files, download-able from the Silhouette Design Store. 

No real assembly is required and the pieces can be placed on the metal or magnetic surface right away. I thought my board looked a little plain so I added the chalkboard frame. seen in the first photo. 

SILHOUETTE FILES USED:

Samantha Walker BASIC TABBED PAPER DOLL  #10163

Samantha Walker BASIC PAPER DOLLS SASH DRESS AND SHOES #10164

Megan Hardy Designs LADIES' ACCESSORIES #41455
Loni Harris CHALKBOARD FRAME #15703


I hope you and your kiddos enjoy this one. Have fun!

I decided to enter this into the Silhouette Challenges Blog #36 as I had such fun with this project and think their followers would too! Why don't you post your make this month too - Anything Goes!