Free 'You Are My Sunshine' Design Cut File from Lori Whitlock

It's the best Friday of the month - the one when popular Silhouette Store graphic designer Lori Whitlock shares a free Silhouette Studio cut file with Silhouette School readers!

This month Lori is sharing this adorable and free You Are My Sunshine design file! I think it would be perfect on pretty much anything you can create with Silhouette CAMEO!

Silhouette CAMEO 3 Getting Started Help for Beginners

Thinking about getting a Silhouette CAMEO 3 when its release date rolls around NEXT WEEK?!  If you're looking for some help getting started with CAMEO 3 or wondering what all the hype is about - you've come to the right spot!

There are some obvious differences in the Silhouette CAMEO 3 vs. CAMEO 2 and earlier versions.  Even for those Silhouette machine owners who are upgrading, there will be a slight learning curve as you get adjusted to the new machine - and software.

Move Multiple Edit Points In a Jif: Silhouette Tutorial

Sometimes you need to modify a design from the edit point level. Edit points are the building blocks of designs. They give you a lot of creative freedom...but they can also be kinda pesky to work with if a design has a lot of them - which most designs do.

Fortunately I recently discovered an edit points shortcut that will have you editing and moving points faster than ever before.

Best Vinyl Storage Idea (5 Reasons This $1.99 Solution is the Best)

I've used a lot of different vinyl storage solutions in my days as a vinyl hoarder Silhouette crafter...but nothing has been as space saving and cheap as this!

As my vinyl collection has grown so has my need for better storage for vinyl rolls and sheets. I started off small...

Free Olympic Rings Silhouette Studio Cut File

Want to show your Olympic spirit? This week I'm sharing a free Silhouette Studio cut file of the Olympic rings.

This file is all ready to be cut on heat transfer vinyl, vinyl, stencil material or paper.  I thought I"d made a little onesie for my niece so she could show off her love of all things #teammommy during her first Olympics :)

Cutting a Profit: My New Book on Silhouette CAMEO for Business is Here!!

I swear I thought the day may never come...but here it is!!! It's Release Day! My new ebook, "Cutting a Profit: The Ultimate Silhouette Guide for Running a Successful Silhouette Business" is now available!! It's hard to believe this digital download book on running a small business with Silhouette CAMEO is my eighth book in the Ultimate Silhouette Guide series and the third of my full-length reference guides.

also available as part of a discounted ebook bundle (see below)

 

I poured countless hours into this book covering small business topics from naming to business formation to branding to marketing to pricing to shipping to working with customers (even the difficult ones) to taxes, licensing, and watermarking.   

As a wife, mother, and small craft business owner myself - I know the struggle to balance it all! That's why I've also included an entire chapter on balancing your business with all of life's other demands.  You'll find resources, time management tools, a time blocking worksheet and a suggested schedule along with tips for being a successful, organized and efficient small business owner. 

Silhouette CAMEO 3 Auto Blade vs Ratchet Blade: First Look

Did ya hear the news? I have the Silhouette CAMEO 3 in my hands!! Woohoo! My UPS man delivered the new CAMEO yesterday and I've spend the morning getting to know my new Silhouette cutting machine.  I even took a quick video for you so you can see how the Silhouette Auto Blade cuts!

There are definitely some noticeable differences in the CAMEO 3 vs. CAMEO 2 and older models. I know a lot of people are interested in the Auto Blade so I thought I'd quickly share a video on how it works.

DIY Baby Blanket Tutorial with Silhouette CAMEO and Electric Heat Transfer Vinyl

I've been scratching my head recently trying to think of a unique baby boy gift for a friend's second baby.  I came across the baby month blankets that are gaining popularity right now - but still cool and different...and then the inspiration hit!  I love when I can take an idea and totally make it my own which is what I did with this Texas theme baby blanket!

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.

My struggle with this project was the fact that while I had a whole set of this beautiful new (as in just released yesterday) Easyweed Electric Heat Transfer Vinyl from Expressions Vinyl...I only had 12x12" sheets in each color.  (Believe me you want all the colors - they're all stunning!  You can check out Expressions Vinyl's full selection of Siser Easyweed Electric HTV here.)

Vinyl Nail Decal Tips and Sizing Guidelines: Silhouette Tutorial

If you've joined the vinyl nail art club - welcome! I've been using vinyl to decorate my own, as well as my daughter's finger and toenails, for almost as long as I've owned a Silhouette.  Whenever I share a photo of our vinyl nail art I get questions - most about cutting such small designs and sizing the decals. Today I am going to answer the three biggest questions I get about Silhouette vinyl nail designs so you can get decorating your nails, too!

Silhouette CAMEO Print and Cut Hack to Re-Use Pre-Printed Sheets

You know what I hate? Wasting materials!!! For instance, when you print and cut a small design on a piece of paper or sticker paper you're wasting the rest of the sheet...right?! No! I've figured out an awesome Silhouette CAMEO hack that will let you utilize the rest of that sheet for future print and cut projects!

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.

Okay let's take a look at this little trick using the just the Standard Matte White Sticker paper from Online Labels.

Free Monogram Frame Silhouette Studio Cut File

I know how you all feel about monograms...and pair them with polka dots and ohhh emmm gee.  For this week's Freebie Friday I'm sharing a free Silhouette Studio Cut File of a Polka Dot Monogram Frame.

All you have to do is pick your favorite font and add a single letter monogram or a circle monogram. You can use this as a vinyl car decal or as an oversized wall decal. I cut it with my Silhouette CAMEO on glitter heat transfer vinyl and applied it to a cute tote back to make a DIY library bag for my daughter.

Designing in Silhouette Studio: Creating Layered Striped States

One of the latest crazes going around the Silhouette crafting world is the striped state decals.  Whenever there are viral Silhouette crafts like this, we get a lot of questions - especially from beginners - about how it's done!

This week Silhouette School weekly contributor Becky Dykes is here to break down this Silhouette Studio design tutorial into easy to follow steps!

Putting Heat Transfer Vinyl on Acrylic Blanks to Avoid Bubbles!

Well, ya learn something new everyday! I actually had no idea putting heat transfer vinyl on acrylic blanks was even possible until Jamie from Craft Chameleon just lit up my crafting world with this amazing anti-bubble vinyl hack!

I know lots of us Silhouette CAMEO and Portrait crafters - myself included - struggle with avoiding bubbles when applying adhesive vinyl.  Well, it turns out skipping the vinyl altogether and using Heat Transfer Vinyl on acrylic instead is the answer!

Amazon Prime Day 2016: Silhouette CAMEO Accessory Must Haves!

Prime Day Deals

I will keep this updated as I see deals!  If you see a deal to share please email me at Melissa@SilhouetteSchoolblog.com with "Prime Deal" in the subject line!

Current Deals

Silhouette CAMEO 2 Starter Bundle - $179.97
Silhouette CURIO - $125 
Silhouette Mint Stamp Machine $61.60
Gel Pens for Sketching with Silhouette CAMEO, Portrait or Curio
48 Pack of Gel Pens 
Martha Stewart Glitter Set of 24
Label Paper (for stickers) 
Onesies 
Stemless Wine Glasses (great for etching or vinyl!)

30 OZ Double Wall Stainless Steel Tumbler  $15.90  (Just like a Yeti!)
Pack of 4 Stainless Steel Straws for Yeti Cup - $5.32

Upcoming Deals: 

Light Box (Makes weeding easier) (1:55pm EST)
White Liquid Chalk Markers (Starts at 4:40pm EST)

8 Pack Colored Liquid Chalk Markers (Starts at 5:30pm EST)
Fabric Markers 6:15pm EST
Unfinished Wood Crafting Blocks (7:30 pm EST) 

Amazon is celebrating a one day global sales event again this year.  The online retail giant is promising it will be bigger than Black Friday. The good news is lots of accessories for Silhouette CAMEO and Portrait are available on Prime which means there's a great chance they'll be even more of a steal when Amazon Prime Day 2016 rolls around on Tuesday, July 12!

I know I'm not the only Silhouette crafter who has a hard time finding Silhouette items in the craft store, which is why I prefer Amazon Prime for my Silhouette supplies and blanks on Amazon.  The yearly Amazon Prime membership fee is more than worth it for the two day free shipping, free Prime videos, Kindle books and Prime Music.

Free Beach Babe Silhouette Studio Cut File

For this week's Freebie Friday I'm sharing this fun Silhouette Studio knockout design! The free 'Beach Babe' cut file is set up to be cut on two different color vinyls or heat transfer vinyls. The vinyl knockout design can then be layered.

(Shirt Mockup) Photo Courtesy: Kim West/A Girl and a Glue Gun

When you open the file in Silhouette Studio ungroup it to pull the two sections apart before you cut on your Silhouette CAMEO or Portrait. You'll notice 'babe' will fit right into the open areas of 'beach' - so it's all ready to cut!

Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl for Dishwasher Safe Mugs

Did you know that Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl can be cut with Silhouette CAMEO and then applied to ceramic to make dishwasher safe mugs?!  It's true...and it's amazing!

Weekly Silhouette School contributor Becky Dykes is here today to show us exactly how you can add HTV to mugs! Here's Becky...

So you know from our past experiments (remember when we tested it out on glass?) that Heat Transfer Vinyl isn't just for fabrics anymore.  Little did most of us know that it would soon be the answer to personalized and dishwasher safe mugs!

How to Create and Print Patterned Paper: Silhouette Studio Tutorial

Did you know it's possible to create and print patterned paper from Silhouette Studio in just a few quick steps?  Once you've printed patterned paper at home, the possibilities of what you can do with it on your Silhouette CAMEO or Portrait are endless!

This is a sponsored post but all opinions are my own.

I used a coordinating set of digital patterns to create some cute paper medallions with my Silhouette CAMEO...which I'll show you how to do in another tutorial.

Silhouette Studio Transfer Properties Tool Tutorial: A Gem of a Design Tool

There's a little gem of a tool hidden along the top tool bar of Silhouette Studio in Designer Edition. It's the Transfer Properties tool. If you haven't used it - you're totally missing out on a shortcut in designing!

To keep it simple, the transfer Properties tool does just that - it transfers or copies properties such as fill color, line color and font style to another line of text or shape.

Silhouette CAMEO Paper Tutorial: Do's and Don'ts When Cutting Paper

You guys! I'm doing something today I rarely do - and that is guest posting on another blog! I'm so thrilled and honored that one of the most successful and popular designers (not to mention the sweetest) in the Silhouette Design Store - Lori Whitlock - has allowed me to take over her blog!  I'm over there today sharing my do's and don'ts for cutting paper with Silhouette CAMEO and Portrait. 

So to find out my best tips and practices for cutting paper with Silhouette head on over to Lori's blog...where Silhouette School has set up shop for the day!

Free Mr and Mrs Silhouette Studio Cut File

It's Friday and this week I'm sharing a free Mr and Mrs Silhouette Studio cut file with you! This design is hugely popular on burlap pillows as a wedding or shower gift...not that I know from experience or anything.

The design can also be split up in Silhouette Studio and used on his and her shirts or coasters or mugs or whatever you want!