Silhouette Studio Cloud Upgrade: How to Update and What I Know For Sure

So I updated to the new version of Silhouette Studio which includes the Silhouette Cloud...and guess what it didn't take all day (just 20-30 minutes actually), it didn't cause me any more gray hairs, and it still have ALL my files!


While the new release of the Silhouette Cloud in the latest version of Silhouette Studio is getting a lot of talk, it's nothing to be too scared of especially now that Silhouette America has released more information.  

Silhouette Studio Cloud: Important Information Regarding Latest Studio Update

4/29 Update: Silhouette School has obtained a statement from Silhouette America's Customer Support regarding the Silhouette Studio Cloud Update. (See below to read the full statement)

Silhouette America quietly released a new version of Silhouette Studio on April 26, 2016 which includes a major change: The Silhouette Cloud.  The Cloud will open up additional options for saving your Silhouette designs...however, I would not update just yet for the simple fact that we don't know enough.

Silhouette announced the Cloud almost a year ago, so we knew it was coming, we just didn't know when. Apparently it's here, but with very limited information.  When I say limited, I mean like 5 words....the release notes for V3.7.206 simply state: "Silhouette Cloud implemented into Library."

Free 3D Paper Shaker Flower Silhouette Studio Cut File from Lori Whitlock

Just like we do the last Friday of every month, Silhouette School is partnering up with designer Lori Whitlock to give away a free cut file.

How to Cleanly Cut Cardstock with Silhouette: Line Segment Overcut Tutorial

If you're among the large majority of us who've experienced bad Silhouette cuts on cardstock...fear not! Today we're sharing the one click trick to cutting cardstock cleanly with your Silhouette CAMEO or Portrait!

Silhouette School contributor Becky Dykes is here with the answer to all your torn, ripped, and tattered paper problems!

As a papercrafter, snagged and ripped corners quickly became the bane of my crafting existence. When I first began, I actually avoided sharp corners altogether because my Silhouette just seemed to destroy them, especially when cutting cardstock.

I tried new blades, I tried point editing, I tried offsets... pretty soon I just accepted the fact that I wasn't going to get nice, sharp corners with my (cheap) cardstock. I had heard that the secret was purchasing the more expensive cardstock, but the truth is, this was happening on some of my more intricate vinyl projects, too.

Well, thankfully, Silhouette America heard our pleas and gave us an updated cutting function along the way with Version 3: Line Segment Overcut.

Silhouette Video Tutorials...And Why You're Seeing More From Me!

In case you've been living under a rock, I've been sharing more and more Silhouette video tutorials....on the Facebook page, on YouTube, on Instagram even... heck I even created a Video Tuts section on the blog and soon I'll be launching my first 30 minute video course!  Crazy-talk, I know!

So what's up with all.these.videos anyway?

Why Use a Hat Press?

I think I get more questions about heat presses than perhaps any other single topic on Silhouette School. Today Jamie from Craft Chameleon, formerly PunchPlacePlus, is here to share a quick tutorial on using a hat press...and why you may find it easier to work with on certain HTV projects.

The basic concept of a hat press is the same as a heat press - but for certain items (and more than just hats) they make adding heat transfer vinyl easier and faster than working with a heat press.

Teacher Gift Ideas: 9 Cute School Cut Files & Patterns for Silhouette Crafters

It's that time of year when I start to get requests for End of the School Year teacher gift ideas!  Do I have a treat for you!  I just ran across the mother lode of school cut files in the new bundle from The Hungry Jpeg.  There are nine school-inspired monogram frames and a bunch of school patterns included in the $12 Lets Craft bundle and there are countless ways to use them!

Vinyl Mailbox Decal Design: Free Silhouette Studio Cut File

Vinyl mailbox decals are a popular way to add personal and curb appeal to a home.  One of the very first designs I created in Silhouette Studio was a monogram mailbox decal.  For this week's Freebie Friday I'm sharing the cut file with you so you can simply add a monogram, cut, and apply to your mailbox.

Printing and Designing Life-Size Graphics in Silhouette Studio

I am constantly amazed at the power of Silhouette Studio - and all that it can do.  Did you know you can design and print beautiful life-size images from the software? Silhouette School weekly contributor Becky Dykes is here today to share the secret to printing huge banners without the pixelation issues that often accompany enormous size files.

Here's Becky...

Believe it or not, my favorite designing space is Silhouette Studio. Once you really get the hang of all the tools and functions, there are very few things you can't do in Silhouette Studio. But no matter how hard I tried, when creating large-scale graphics, they always printed blurry... until I learned this handy trick! 

The Trick to Designing Single Line Rhinestone Text in 3 Steps in Silhouette Studio

I don't buy too many designs in the Silhouette Online Store, but there is one thing I'll spend my money on and that's thin fonts (sometimes called "sketch fonts").  They're the single line fonts that are designed for sketching with the Silhouette - rather than cutting. While they're awesome for sketching, they're also perfect for rhinestones - especially if are going after the single line rhinestone text.

Creating Mockups with Basic Design Tools in Silhouette Studio

Mockups are a popular topic here at Silhouette School! Last week I showed you how to use your own photos for mockups.  Sometimes, however, a photo isn't available...and that's why today's lesson is on how to create your own mockup designs using a few basic tools in Silhouette Studio. I'm happy to welcome Eff again from the Whatcha Workin' On? blog back to Silhouette School to share this awesome lesson with you.

 Today I'm going to show you how to create artwork mockups in Silhouette Studio.

I really like working with life-size on-screen artwork mockups; I've made a lot of them. You can design right in the mockup if you like, which is what I did for the pink nursery saying above, or you can resize a photo of existing art to audition it life-size in frames and mats of different colors, and you can play with frame arrangements to find the one you like best.

Running Two Silhouette Machines Simultaneously from Different Silhouette Studio Work Areas

If you want to literally cut your cutting time in half you can actually run two Silhouette machines at the same time - and they don't have to be cutting the same design or even cutting from the same work area.

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

I recently got my hands on a few rolls of high gloss permanent vinyl from ProWorld. It was the first time I've used their vinyl and I was anxious to try it out.  This was a perfect excuse for cutting with two machines - I got results in half the time!

Hope and Love Arrows: Free Silhouette Studio Cut Files

It's Freebie Friday and this week I'm sharing a set of arrows I designed for you! The hope and love arrows can be used together or separately and cut on pretty much any material!

Designing a 'MOMogram' in Silhouette Studio (Use Any Font!)

I'm always getting asked how to turn words into shapes in Silhouette Studio. I've shared a few different tutorials on Silhouette School on designing word art, but with Mother's Day around the corner Silhouette School contributor Becky Dykes is here with a fun design tutorial just for mom.   This fun play on the monogram is pretty popular right now with the Silhouette crafters - so get schooled on the technique and then jump on the 'MOMogam' bandwagon!

The Ultimate Silhouette Guide eBook - 15 Page Free Update Now Available

UPDATE: If you purchased the ebook version and have not received a link to download it in your email, please email me to request it! - Melissa

Tomorrow I'm headed to Salt Lake City for the three day blogging conference, Snap!.  I'll not only be attending sessions on everything from winning the social media game to being an organized, efficient blogger to how use a scroll saw (with Silhouette!) (gotta love Virgina Fynes of Fynes Designs)...but also speaking as a presenter.   Myself, alongside Abby from Just a Girl and her Blog and Dawn Nicole from By Dawn Nicole will be speaking to a large group of bloggers and influencers on writing and marketing ebooks.

Apparently they think I have something insightful to say about writing ebooks, despite the fact that I only put my first one out about a year ago.  In that year a lot has happened in the Silhouette world...there've been a few updates in the Silhouette software and a new mobile app has launched.  Those changes have lead me to write a 15 page free update to my original ebook The Ultimate Silhouette Guide.

Creating MockUps in Silhouette Studio with Your Own Stock Photos

As a blogger and also as a seller, one of my Silhouette hacks is creating mock ups. I can't possibly make - nor do I need - every single shirt, pillow or printable that I share on the blog. If you're a seller on Etsy or elsewhere - listen up because this will come in handy for you, too!

Many times I work through Silhouette School tutorials just to show the process rather than the finished product. Other times I am sharing a free cut file and I need to quickly offer an example of how it can be used.  Sometimes it's most effective to make a mockup and not the actual item.  If you're seller, this is especially useful to show customers an example of what their idea will look like before it's actually made. You can also use mock ups as listing photos.  

Free Tiered Dress Silhouette Studio Cut File

This Friday I'm sharing a free Silhouette Studio cut file that's near and dear to my heart. My daughter is making her First Holy Communion in May so I designed the file for the invitation based on her Communion Dress. I shared a picture of the invitation on Instagram and was overwhelmed by the response. (Thank you!) So...I thought I'd share it as this week's Freebie Friday design.

If you're thinking I don't know anyone making their First Communion...don't pass this one up just yet. It can be used for lots of occasions: weddings, baptisms, baby showers, a little girl's birthday party or just a card for a special little lady! 

Free (Extra) Sticker Set with Ultimate Silhouette Sticker Guide Purchase in April (& Previous Purchases)

If you're interested in upping your print and cut game, there's no better time than April!  This month I'm offering an extra free set of ready-to-print and cut stickers with the purchase of The Ultimate Silhouette Sticker Guide or the Ultimate Silhouette Bundle (which includes both The Ultimate Silhouette Guide and The Ultimate Silhouette Sticker Guide at a discounted price).

That means along with the 6 free templates, sticker sets, color print charts and guides that already come with the Ultimate Silhouette Sticker Guide ebook...you're getting an additional set free this month!

'Changing' the Default Font Size and Style in Silhouette Studio

If you've ever opened up a text box in Silhouette Studio you know the default text size is 72 which is rather large and the default font style is Arial which is not too exciting. I get the question often about how to change the default font size and style - so today I'm here to share a little trick.

The 7 Best Silhouette Studio Keyboard Shortcuts (And Where to Find the Full List)

Did you know there's a huge set of Silhouette Studio keyboard shortcuts?  I was so stinkin' excited when I discovered this and since then I have come to develop a few favorites. 



First I'm going to tell you my seven favorite Silhouette Studio keyboard shortcuts, then I'm going to tell you where you can find the full list for both Mac and PC so you can check out all you're missing...

How to Design and Press Rhinestones and HTV Decals (Silhouette Tutorial)

Heat transfer vinyl is nice and rhinestones are hot - but put them together and you've got yourself a winning combination. Silhouette Studio makes it easy to design rhinestone and HTV designs! Once you get the hang of this Silhouette technique - which focuses on the offset tool and rhinestone spacing - you're going to have so much fun playing around with it because honestly you'll only be limited by your imagination!

Today I'm going to show you how to put rhinestones around a design - which is the easiest method.

Since I like to take baby steps so you don't get overwhelmed, I'll follow up later this month with the next step which is basically layering rhinestones on htv without actually layering. So tricky!

Free Gumball Machine Silhouette Studio Cut File

It's Friday and that means it's time for Freebie Friday! This week I'm sharing a gumball machine cut file I created.

I did a print and cut on a piece of Silhouette-brand Printable Cotton Fabric and then outlined in HTV.