Multi Color Sketch Pens on Silhouette CAMEO 4

Silhouette CAMEO 4's high pressure carriage offers a ton of benefits (hello rotary and kraft blades!!!), but also sacrificed a couple of techniques a lot of users got used to on the dual carriage CAMEO 3 and Curio.

Just like with the single carriage Silhouette machines, it's not possible to do a multi color sketch (with two different color sketch pens), foil and cut, or a sketch and cut in a single pass with CAMEO 4. This is because Carriage 2 is exclusively for the specialty tools. That means sketch pens and the sketch pen holder won't fit.  But the good news is, it is still possible and just an extra step or two.

31 Silhouette Sketch Pen Project Ideas...Get Your Sketch On

Silhouette Sketch Pens are a really cool - and easy - way to add sentiments and designs to you Silhouette projects.  They can be used in so many different ways...now that you have taken our 5 part Silhouette Sketch Pen course - your imagination and creativity are your only limits.  If you're looking for ideas and inspiration on how to put your sketch pens to use, check out the 31 amazing projects below and get your sketch on.

Silhouette Sketch Pens Tutorial for Beginners

4/29 Update:  Be sure to read to the bottom of the post if you are using Studio V3 as the upgraded version slightly changes the location of the sketch pen option. 

Our Sketch Pen Series continues today with the very basics on how to use Silhouette Sketch Pens. This lesson covers how to sketch (aka draw) a single design (or font) with a single color pen

The basic rule of thumb in Sketch Pens 101 is you're going to design in Silhouette Studio like you would for a regular cut line, but when you go to cut it you'll just draw it instead.  For this example, let's use one of free designs that comes in the Silhouette library - the bicycle. 

Open Silhouette Studio > navigate to the library > double click the bike or whatever design you want to use to bring it into the work area.

Silhouette Sketch Pens Tutorial for Beginners (V4)

If you're new to Silhouette Sketch pens this beginner tutorial will walk you through step by step on how to draw with your Silhouette cutting machine.

It's best to think of a Silhouette sketch pen just like the auto blade or ratchet blade as far as how it will draw. Instead of cutting however, when a pen is in the carriage, the machine will sketch.

$1 DIY (Silhouette) Sketch Pen and Holder

A few days ago I asked our Silhouette School Facebook fans if anyone would be interested in learning about sketch pens...the answer was an overwhelming 'YES!'   When I say 'overwhelming' I mean the post was liked and commented on more times than any.other.post.ever on our FB page.  Okay then...I must give the people what they want.

And so without further ado today, Silhouette School is launching a Silhouette Sketch Pen series.

Now because I know some of you probably couldn't care less about sketch pens - after all you bought this machine to cut, not draw gosh darn it - this series will be presented over the course of the next few weeks rather than during consecutive days.  No need to make foes by posting about one subject for a straight week, right!?

After looking at your questions about sketch pens I am breaking the series down like this (not necessarily in this order):

How to Make Reusable Handwriting Tracing Sheets from Cutting Mats (Sketching or Etching)

Recently we posted how to create DIY Reusable Tracing and Handwriting Sheets using clear sticker paper. Well, now here are 2 more ways to create them - this time using thin plastic cutting mats!  

This tutorial can be done with any of the Silhouette machines but I am using a Silhouette CAMEO 4 in this example.

Using Edible Ink Markers and Sugar Sheets with Silhouette's Sketch Pen Feature

Wow you guys...the number of things you can do with your Silhouette never ceases to amaze me. That's why when Heather, a custom cake decorator, contacted me about how she uses sugar sheets and edible ink with her Silhouette to create amazing, custom edible creations I was totally intrigued. Heather's here today to share  her secrets with all of you!

***

Since I first received my Silhouette Cameo on Christmas Day 2014, I have sought to challenge myself and the machine with what it can create. I have not been disappointed.

How to Use Two Sketch Pens in Silhouette CAMEO 3

Thanks to the dual carriage, the Silhouette CAMEO 3 makes it easy to use two tools at the same time - including sketch pens.

Using two different color sketch pens takes a little set up in Silhouette Studio - which is what I'm going to show you today!

Silhouette Sketch Pen Tutorial: How to Cut Out a Sketched Design

I'm back with the third part in our Silhouette Sketch Pen series.  Today I'm going to show you how to cut out a design you've sketched.  Since we started the 101 series with the bicycle let's continue from there.  If you haven't reviewed the basics tutorial on how to use sketch pens, I suggest you start there since this tutorial will assume you know the basics. Go on...

Back already?  Let's get moving.  Start by opening Silhouette Studio > navigate to the library > double click the bike or whatever design you want to use to bring it into the work area.

Faux Chalkboard Christmas Card (with Silhouette Sketch Pens)

In case you haven't noticed I'm not a big paper crafter. Actually my creative juices struggle when it comes to paper, but when a few of my blogging friends suggested we all team up for a holiday song-inspired project I felt the time was right to try my hand at cards...again. So just be gentle, all you expert card makers out there.  :)  Be sure you read all the way to the end so you can check out the other 9 awesome holiday song-inspired crafts, as well! 

Amy Chomas Sketch Pen Holder Review & Tutorial

The Silhouette Sketch Pen feature is one of the coolest...but if you haven't tried a Chomas Creation adjustable sketch pen holder you don't know what you're missing.  The sketch pen holder created by Amy Chomas is not only great quality, but what I love the most - adjustable!  So you can use the same older to sketch with a thin pencil as you can with a Sharpie! I mean how cool is that?

Silhouette Pen Holder Review and Tutorial

I've had the new Silhouette Pen Holders sitting in my craft room for more than a month now and finally I got around to testing them out.    The Pen Holders - released by Silhouette America in August - allow users to sketch with their own pens and not just the Silhouette brand sketch pens.  So if you have a favorite gel pen or a skinny marker or even a pencil you can use one of the three size pen holders to do that.

The instructions that come with the pen holders...well, let's just say they stumped me.

What you are supposed to do is grab your pen or pencil and slip the small piece (blue and marked with an S), medium (white 'M') or large (gray 'L') called a "threaded collet" (see why I was left scratching my head?!) into the piece that best fits your writing tool.

Silhouette Sketch Pen Lines and How to Prevent Them

Ya know what's the worst when using Silhouette Sketch Pens? When you get to the end of your beautiful sketch only for the pen to drag a big ol' line straight back to the starting position.

When you're using Silhouette brand Sketch pens they have a ridge on them that ensures they go into the holder the perfect distance.  But the stray line issue can happen when you're using a regular pen, pencil or marker to sketch with one of the pen holders adapters - either the Amy Chomas Sketch Pen holder, the Silhouette Pen Holders, or the DIY version I shared here.

The drag lines occur when the pen is too far down into the holder. It's actually easy to prevent - you just have to make sure your pen is at the exact right distance from the paper.

Perfect Sketch with Sketch Pens in Silhouette Cameo 4

If you're having trouble using Silhouette Sketch pens in your Silhouette Cameo 4, you're not alone. But you don't need to give up on them - they can be useful tools to adding some seriously awesome flair to your projects. 

First off, start by checking out this blog post (with video), that gives you 4 fixes (including sketch settings) so you can avoid one of the most common issues - the sketch pen leaving drag marks on your project. 

Then, head back here for a few more tips for getting that perfect sketch with Silhouette Sketch pens in the Silhouette Cameo 4.

49 Sketch Designs and Fonts for Silhouette Sketch Pens and the Foil Quill! (Including Freebies)

If you're using Silhouette sketch pens or the new Foil Quill, using single line designs and fonts are ideal.

Designs and fonts specifically created specifically for drawing, engraving, etching, and foiling tools will give you a single line design rather than an outline.

Sketch Pen Fonts: The Best Thin Fonts for Silhouette

Finally! Finally I have found what I consider to be the best thin sketch pen font for Silhouette. 

 

 

If you've been working Silhouette sketch pens for any length of time you know finding handwriting fonts to use with sketch pens isn't an easy feat.

How to Use Singe Quill Pen with Silhouette CAMEO on Wood

Creating wood burned projects with your Silhouette machine has never been easier when you combine the Silhouette CAMEO 3, CAMEO 4, or Curio with the We R Memory Keepers Singe Quill Pen.  

This tutorial will walk you through how to create these stunning (and smokin' hot!) wood signs.

How to Use Multiple Sketch Pens with Silhouette

Our popular Silhouette School Sketch Pen Series continues today with a tutorial on how to use multiple sketch pens on a single Silhouette design.  This is actually easier than it sounds as long as you have a basic understanding of sketch pens.   

If this is your first time sketching, I highly suggest you go through our Sketch Pens 101 tutorial because this tutorial will assume you have some basic knowledge of how to use sketch pens on your Silhouette machine.  Go ahead, I'll wait right here...promise.

For this tutorial let's use one of the free designs that comes in the Silhouette library.  I'm going to pick the 'Sunshine Always Follows the Rain' design because it's a combination of an image and text.  So go ahead and open up your design in Studio.

How to Use (Game Changing) Silhouette CAMEO 4 Pen Holder

The Silhouette CAMEO 4 pen holder is now available and they're honestly a pretty big deal.

The marker and pen holders for the CAMEO 4 open up the possibility to use products - like the Cricut Infusible Ink Markers, these American Craft cutting machine pens, gel pens, and fabric pens -  that otherwise can't be used with the CAMEO 4, but can be used with the older model Silhouette machines.

Silhouette Sketch Pen Bleed: How to Avoid It

If you've used the Silhouette sketch pen feature you know that sometimes you can be left with a pool of ink at the very end.

The ink pool, which can lead to ink bleeds and smears, is caused by the pen or marker just sitting stationary at the end of the sketch for a good 3-5 seconds before returning to the starting position. This quick Silhouette Studio trick can save your sketch projects.