Secret to Preventing Smeared Ink on Silhouette Printable Clear Sticker Paper

Yesterday I shared a tutorial on how to make custom stickers with the Silhouette Printable Clear Sticker Paper.  As a recap, I printed some simple black one line stickers. Sadly, while printing, the ink smudged all over making most of them unusable. Wah Wah Wah  I promised I'd share  the secret to preventing the ink bleeding and so here it is...

Silhouette Clear Printable Stickers Tutorial

If you follow along on the Silhouette Facebook page you may remember that last week I shared a Deal Alert on the Silhouette Printable Clear Sticker Paper.  I grabbed it and promised a tutorial and so today I'm delivering.

How to Recover Missing Silhouette Studio Files (and an eBook update)

If you've ever been working on designing a Silhouette Studio file and then suddenly - in the blink of an eye or a crash of the software - it's GONE? (Hand raised here!) If yours is too, today's you're lucky day. My favorite mom and daughter crafty duo are back today to share details on how to recover missing Silhouette Studio files.

Centering HTV Designs: The Secret Cheat for Silhouette Crafters in a HURRY!

Okay people let's be real here for a second: I'm writing daily tutorials and an ebook, filling Etsy orders, shuttling the kids to swimming, gymnastics, yoga, school, the doctor and whatever the heck else, dealing with snow (and too-cold-for-school days - when did that become a 'thing'?), switching laundry, wiping up dried toothpaste off the counter, and you-know-what off the toilet seat.  I mean for goodness sakes, if you follow Silhouette School on Instagram, you even saw my use-the-nebulizer to pump-up-the snow tubes-time-saving trick.

In other words: we've all got too much to do and too little time to craft so I figured this little crafting hack could help all you busy Silhouette users out there, too.

Are you ready to have your mind blown when it comes to centering heat transfer vinyl the fastest way possible?

Silhouette Print and Cut Tutorial (Updated for V3)

Way back when I was using Silhouette Studio Version 2 I wrote the original Print and Cut tutorial for beginners.  It's been a popular one...but for all the newbies out there who are using V3 I'm sure you're like "WHAAAAT is this girl talking about?"

That's what happens when they go changing the software on ya: combining menus, moving icons, and changing pop up windows. Fear not - the basics of print and cut are still the same, but I think it's worth a quick update for those of you using V3 who've shied (is that how you spell it?? I've been looking at it for like 6 minutes now thinking that doesn't look right...but even Google says it's right) away from Print and Cut.

I promise you once you do one Silhouette cut and print project, you'll feel more comfortable and confident. Just take it one step at a time: 1) design  2) set up  3) print  4) cut!

11 Silhouette Projects to Use Up Your Scraps

Do you have a box, a drawer, or a storage container full of scraps? Of course you do..you're a crafter and you wouldn't dare throw out scraps as that would be going against one of the main ways to save money on Silhouette supplies.

If you're at a loss for what to do with all those scraps of vinyl, HTV, and paper are are a bunch of ideas to get the creative juices flowing.

DIY Custom Puzzle Magnet: Silhouette Tutorial

So I turned another one of my daughter's masterpieces into something more than just a piece of paper that will end up in a pile at the top of her closet for the next 20 years.   I had this idea that I could turn the painting into a puzzle using my Silhouette...and then I thought 'Why not a magnet puzzle?'.  And so...I did! This would also work with a favorite photo!

For this project you'll need printable magnet paper. I actually went with the Avery brand printable magnet sheets because they was less expensive than the Silhouette brand.   The printable magnet paper is different than the adhesive magnet sheets - so just make sure you get the right thing.  Also be aware the magnet sheets are rather thin so while they'll stick to your fridge without a problem, they're not going to hold up a gallery-worth of kids' art.

Sharpening a Silhouette Blade with Tin Foil: Test Results

Alright so perhaps you've heard the advice that sharpening a Silhouette blade with tin foil will breathe new life into a dull blade. Well, my friends - I have too. And last week when I cut an intricate design and had the vinyl tear I went through my checklist of reasons why my blade wasn't cutting properly.

Three cuts later..I finally gave in and changed the blade, but kept the rest of the settings the same and whatdoyaknow: perfect cut!

So it was the blade after all and I'm just cheap and stubborn. I didn't throw that blade out yet though - I wanted to test out this little tin foil experiment since clearly the blade was dull.

13 Way to Save Money on Silhouette Supplies

If your craft fund is running low or is getting a little too pricey, there are ways to save money on Silhouette supplies.  We all know crafting isn't exactly a cheap hobby - but it can be a cheaper one.  Just follow these 13 tips for saving money on Silhouette supplies.

FREE! Valentine's Day Pencil .Studio Cut File (for V2, V3, and PDF)

And because I love you I'm sharing a second new post of the day!!!  I realized you've probably already made Valentines, but in case you're super behind or if you just love a free cut file (and who doesn't??) I'm giving away this one today.

 I've also included it as a PDF for those who might run across this post and not have a die cutter..just print it out and cut it out..and then get yourself a Silhouette and you'll see how much time you're wasting with scissors and fun you're missing out on!

It's all sized and ready to go for you since I designed it in Silhouette Studio to fit around a roll of Rolos. (I also learned through this little crafty project that it's now official that Amazon sells everything you could ever possibly want in life - including a 36 pack of Rolos rolls. I mean...)

You'll see that I filled in the pieces with color so it's easier to know what color to print on (or you can print and cut). The gray strip we opted to leave off, but it would go between the yellow and the small pink strip just like on a pencil. The pink circle is the top of the eraser.  Just put this thing together with a glue stick, some glue dots (my vote), or tape (my daughter's pick...why do kids love tape so much?!) and finish the adorable pencil off with a Hershey kiss.

You can also make some print and cut tags and tied them on some bakers twine or ribbon.

Enjoy, my loves...and happiest of Valentine's Days to you!

Pencil Valentine V3

Pencil Valentine V2

Pencil Valentine PDF

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine! 

Thanks for coming to class today at Silhouette School.  If you like what you see, I'd love for you to pin it!

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How to Convert Studio Files to SVG: Silhouette Tutorial

I'm taking the day to relax, kick back and enjoy a whole lotta nothing..who am I kidding? I'm working away on the ebook and while I do I thought I'd have regular Silhouette School subs, Becky and Glenna from My Paper Craze, substitute today to bring you another fabulous tutorial!

Today the mom and daughter duo are sharing their tips on converting .studio files to SVGs.   First things first and I can't stress this enough this method is strictly for converting files for your own personal use.

***

The .studio extension is exclusive to Silhouette Studio which means other programs can't open Studio files and the newer versions of Silhouette Studio DE have taken away the ability to save as an SVG.  SVG files are "Scalable Vector Graphics" and are editable, readable and useable in far more platforms without losing resolution.  Read more here if you want to get all technical.  At some point in your Silhouette crafting adventure you may run across a project in which you need to convert a .studio file you've designed into an SVG to use in another application - such as for applique, a printable or web image, or to share with a friend (or yourself) who uses a different type of die cutter.  I know some of you out there have larger cutters like the ZING or have both the Sil and the Cricut...so this useful.

How to Decorate Your Silhouette CAMEO in 8 Minutes or Less

So a few weeks ago when I should have been using the 10 spare minutes I had to write another few lines in the ebook, I instead decided to decorate my Silhouette CAMEO. As an original Portrait owner this wasn't possible (come on SA, share the love!), but since I added Ms. Cami to the family in November I've been wanting to make her all purty!

Seriously this couldn't be easier since one of the FREE shapes you get with the Silhouette CAMEO is for the machine's control panel. Have you seen this yet? 

How to Remove the Blue Spell Check Line in Silhouette Studio

The spell check feature in Silhouette Studio V3 is a pretty handy tool...except when it leaves little blue squiggle lines all over your design.  This may not be a problem if you're designing something for yourself, but if you're like me and do a lot of screen grabs or mock up, having blue squiggles - under someone's name (that is actually spelled correctly) or all over subway art just because you opted not to use caps - is a sight for sore eyes.

How to Find Free Commercial Fonts: Silhouette Tutorial

If you're looking for places to find free commercial fonts to use with your Silhouette, well, today's your lucky day!  Many fonts are for personal use only, but if you're selling items that include text you'll either need the commercial license or to find free commercial fonts.  Fortunately for you there are a few really easy ways to find free commercial fonts!

Remember, fonts downloaded and installed on your computer, when Silhouette Studio is closed, will automatically appear in your font list the next time to open up the software.  If you need a step by step tutorial on fonts and Silhouette Studio, check out this tutorial.

Now, let's get down to business.  DaFont.com is one of my favorite places to start when looking for fonts.   

3D Print and Cut Magnets (And Tons More Silhouette Print and Cut Ideas)

It's Challenge Time and this month my friends and I from the Silhouette Challenge group are sharing some print and cut projects...and as an extra challenge: HEART print and cuts.  I was in need of a quick Valentine's Day classmate gift for my son's pre-school friends. I know my little guy brings home lots of art work and such that I like to display so I figured the kids - and the parents - might appreciate a magnet.

So today I am sharing a tutorial on how to make Print and Cut conversation-heart inspired magnets and I'm taking it up a notch by making them 3D! Oh just you wait for this magic!

For this project you'll need: 

Cardstock

Adhesive Magnet Paper 

Mod Podge Dimensional Magic 

Wax Paper

Cookie Sheet

Alright so let's start off in Silhouette Studio by designing.

How to Cut Faux 'Stitching' with Silhouette

Last month I shared a tutorial on how to make a word into a shape in Silhouette Studio. I cut a LOVE heart for a shirt and then added some elbow pads. I got more questions about the elbow pads than the actual design I was sharing the tutorial on. Go figure.

Some wanted to know if I sewed on the elbow pads and others questioned how I did the stitching.  The truth is the elbow pads were 100% HTV and the 'stitching" wasn't stitching at all - but rather the shirt showing through the tiny oval cuts in the heat transfer vinyl.

How to Design a Frame and Text Scrapbook Layout in Silhouette Studio

Today I'm answering a reader question on the blog about how to design and cut a 12x12 scrapbook layout with frames and text in Silhouette Studio.  The basic thing you need to keep in mind when designing with frames is that in order to weld them today and/or weld them with text, you must make the frame compound paths. 

Let's get started by opening up Silhouette Studio.