Silhouette Cutting Machines Guide

August 13, 2021 by Paula W

If you’ve been thinking about buying a Silhouette die cutting machine, this is a great post for you. We’ve put together this Silhouette Cutting Machines Guide to compare the pros and cons of each machine so you can make an informed purchase decision.

Silhouettes are high quality craft machines that are a fantastic addition to any craft room. Whether you are a paper crafter, sewist, like to work with felt, or want to make adhesive vinyl and heat transfer vinyl projects – or all of the above – this is a great tool to have at your disposal.

Silhouette Cutting Machines: A Complete Guide

There are several Silhouette machines available. We’re going to compare only the cutting machines here, but be aware that they also have the Silhouette Alta and Silhouette Alta Plus (3D printers) and the Silhouette Mint (a machine that makes custom stamps).

In this post, we’ll talk about the Silhouette Cameo 4, the Silhouette Portrait 3, and the Silhouette Curio. All of these machines use Silhouette Studio – the software that allows you to create your own designs from scratch or by importing fonts and images for use with it.

SILHOUETTE CAMEO MACHINES

Basic Features:

The Cameo 4 is the fastest, most powerful Silhouette cutting machine available. Just like with the Cricut Maker 3 or Explore 3, with a Silhouette Cameo 4, you can choose to cut with a mat or do matless cutting (with some materials).

The machine has a built-in roll feeder and crosscutter. This makes it easier to load and cut materials right from the roll.

The Cameo 4 weighs 10 lbs. 6.4 oz. and is 22.44 x 7.68 x 6.69 inches.

With the Silhouette Cameo 4, you can cut materials that are up to 12 inches wide and 24 inches long when using a mat. Using a roll, it can cut up to 12 inches wide and 10 feet long. With select materials, it can even cut up to 60 feet long! With the Silhouette Cameo Plus, you can cut up to 15 inches wide and with the Silhouette Cameo Pro, you can cut up to 24 inches wide.

You can cut material up to 3 mm thick and with a cutting force up to 5 kg. This die cutting machine has automatic tool detection and a backlit touch panel. You can connect your machine via Bluetooth for wireless cutting.

You can create Print and Cut projects with it and it is compatible with Silhouette Pixscan technology. This allows you to use your camera or scanner to cut around a printed image – for example, a drawing you’ve created. It’s also a great way of digitizing your rubber stamps!

Blades and tools that can be used with the Silhouette Cameo include: the AutoBlade, Standard Blade, Premium Blade, Deep-Cut Blade, 2 mm Kraft Blade, Rotary Blade, Punch Tool, and Silhouette Sketch pens.

Minimum System Requirements:

Windows 7 or higher or Mac OS X 10.10 or higher, 2 GHz processor, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB available disk space, USB port, High speed internet connection is recommended.

What can you cut with a Silhouette Cameo 4?

Adhesive vinyl including glossy, matte, printable, metallic, whiteboard, glow-in-the-dark, and chalkboard
Heat transfer vinyl including smooth, flocked, glow in the dark, metallic, printable, and glitter
Fabric stabilizer
Cardstock, including adhesive cardstock, chalkboard cardstock
Chipboard
Cork
Corrugated paper
Duct tape sheets
Cotton fabric and cotton canvas
Faux leather
Kraft paper
Magnet paper
Shrink plastic
Vellum
Temporary tattoo paper
Washi sheets
Stamp material
Window cling
Scratch-off sticker sheets
Wood paper sheets
Stencil sheets

What comes in the box?

The machine itself, including a dual carriage
Power cable and USB cable
A 12 x 12 cutting mat
AutoBlade
Adaptor for other blades and tools
Silhouette Studio software (download)
100 exclusive designs (download)
A one-month Silhouette Design Store subscription
One year parts and labor warranty (US and Canada only)

SILHOUETTE CURIO

Basic Features:

Although it has a smaller cutting area, it can also perform such functions as etching, stippling, embossing, and debossing.

The machine weighs only 5 lbs. 5 oz. It is 5.5 x 17.25 x 7 inches. The cutting area for the Curio is 8.5 x 6 inches with the standard base which is included. You can purchase a large base separately for a cutting area of 8.5 x 12 inches.

The Silhouette Curio has a maximum cutting force of 210 gf. It does not come with Bluetooth capability and must be connected via USB.

Minimum System Requirements:

Windows 7 or higher or Mac OS X 10.10 or higher, 2 GHz processor, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB available disk space, USB port, High speed internet connection is recommended.

What can you cut with a Silhouette Curio?

Adhesive vinyl including glossy, matte, printable, metallic, whiteboard, glow-in-the-dark, and chalkboard
Heat transfer vinyl including smooth, flocked, glow in the dark, metallic, printable, and glitter
Fabric stabilizer
Cardstock, including adhesive cardstock, chalkboard cardstock
Chipboard
Cork
Corrugated paper
Duct tape sheets
Cotton fabric and cotton canvas
Faux leather
Kraft paper
Magnet paper
Metal etching sheets (Curio only)
Metal stippling sheets (Curio only)
Shrink plastic
Score and emboss paper (Curio only)
Vellum
Temporary tattoo paper
Washi sheets
Window cling
Scratch-off sticker sheets
Stencil sheets
Wood paper sheets

What comes in the box?

The machine itself
Power cable and USB cable
Base – 8.5 x 6 inch with three platforms
Cutting mat – 8.5 x 6 inch
Embossing mat – 8.5 x 6 inch
Blade
Embossing tools (fine and wide)
Silhouette Studio software (download)
50 exclusive designs (download)
1 month subscription to Silhouette Design Store
One year parts and labor warranty (US and Canada only)

SILHOUETTE PORTRAIT 3

Basic Features:

Silhouette Portrait 3 is the smallest of the Silhouette cutting machines. It’s a great portable option that’s easy to store. It has a cutting width of 8 inches and can cut up to 12 inches long with a cutting mat or up to 60 inches long when using lined media and a roll feeder (purchased separately). It is capable of performing matless cutting as well. This machine has a special “Pop-out” cutting feature for paper and cardstock that also allows matless cutting.

The Portrait 3 has a maximum cutting thickness of 2 mm and a cutting force of 210 gf. It weights 3 lbs. 8 oz. and is 5.5 x 4.4 x 16.2 inches in size. You can connect your Silhouette Portrait 3 via USB or through Bluetooth. It has automatic tool detection and is compatible with Pixscan. The machine uses Silhouette Studio as its designing software and can create Print then Cut projects.

Minimum System Requirements:

Windows 7 or higher or Mac OS X 10.10 or higher, 2 GHz processor, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB available disk space, USB port, High speed internet connection is recommended.

What can you cut with a Silhouette Portrait 3?

Adhesive vinyl including glossy, matte, printable, metallic, whiteboard, glow-in-the-dark, and chalkboard
Heat transfer vinyl including smooth, flocked, glow in the dark, metallic, printable, and glitter
Fabric stabilizer
Cardstock, including adhesive cardstock, chalkboard cardstock
Chipboard
Cork
Corrugated paper
Duct tape sheets
Cotton fabric and cotton canvas
Faux leather
Kraft paper
Magnet paper
Shrink plastic
Vellum
Temporary tattoo paper
Washi sheets
Stamp material
Window cling
Scratch-off sticker sheets
Wood paper sheets
Stencil sheets

What comes in the box?

Silhouette Portrait® 3
Power cable & USB cable
Portrait Cutting Mat (8″ x 12″)
AutoBlade
Adapter for Silhouette sketch pens
Silhouette Studio® software (download)
50 exclusive designs (download)
1-month Silhouette Design Store subscription (available with tool registration)
Warranty: One year parts and labor (Limited to USA and Canada only)

30 Amazing Silhouette Hacks

July 23, 2021 by Paula W

If you’ve got a Silhouette machine, you’re probably always on the lookout for some amazing Silhouette hacks. We have learned some amazing Silhouette tips over the years and we’re sharing 30 of our favorites with you today.

Whether you are a Silhouette beginner or a seasoned pro, you might just pick up some new die cutting tips and tricks to use with your Silhouette cutting machine today. From weeding to applying vinyl to making your projects last longer, we’ve got some ideas here you’ll want to check out.

30 Amazing Silhouette Hacks

Be sure to check out these amazing Silhouette hacks and let us know which one is your favorite. Tag us on social media using hashtag #MakersGonnaLearn and be sure to pin this post on Pinterest so you can refer back to it again and again.

1 – Weeding on the Mat

Weeding on the cutting mat is like having a third hand to help you hold down the vinyl as you weed. It allows you to focus on the weeding without struggling to also hold down the vinyl and keep it from lifting up.

You want to be able to lift up and remove the excess pieces without disturbing the parts of your design. Weeding on the mat is the best way we have found for doing that flawlessly.

burnishing vinyl onto silhouette cutting mat

2 – Burnish your Vinyl

One of the other things that can really help keep your excess vinyl in place while you weed is by burnishing. Use your burnishing tool to ensure that the vinyl is well-adhered to the mat before you begin weeding.

We also like to burnish from both the front and back after applying the transfer tape. We find this helps us the transfer tape stick well to the vinyl and really aids in the vinyl placement process. Finally, we burnish our vinyl down onto the surface we’re applying it before peeling up the transfer tape. This helps it get the best possible adhesion to the surface and makes for a much longer-lasting project.

3 – Use a Gift Card in place of a Burnishing Tool

Some materials just need a little temporary help being held in place securely on the mat. Start by pressing your surface firmly onto the mat.

Then, using your burnishing tool, burnish the material down to the mat. If you don’t have a scraper tool on hand (or can’t find yours!), grab an old gift card. It will work in a pinch.

4 – Use masking, Washi, or painter’s tape to secure items to the mat.

If you need a little help keeping materials securely on your mat, you can add some tape to the corners or around the edges. This is a great tip when using an older mat that has lost a lot of its stickiness or for when working with those heavier materials like balsawood, basswood, and chipboard.

5 – Reverse Weeding

If you are not already familiar with reverse weeding, be sure to check out our video that shows you everything you need to know about it. We highly recommend reverse weeding for any complicated project.

With reverse weeding, you apply transfer tape to your project before weeding. Then you flip it over and weed from the back. This helps hold those intricate little pieces more securely as you weed away the excess.

6 – Make Reusable Stencils

Did you know that you can make reusable stencils with your Silhouette? You can use Silhouette stencil sheets or we have found that craft plastic or laminator sheets from the office supply store work really well too. This will give you a great reusable stencil that you can use again and again for your craft projects.

Once it’s cut, you can use some type of spray adhesive to hold it in place if needed. You can use a repositionable spray adhesive but we found that regular spray adhesive gives a great stick and does not leave the residue.

This is an economical way to make the stencils you need and you can even customize them with your own designs! This video will show you all the details on how to use craft plastic to create a stencil when you’re ready to get started. We’re using a Cricut machine in the video but you can easily use the same technique with a Silhouette.

7 – Easily Center Your Crafting Materials

Our next hack will help you to center t-shirts, tote bags, and other similar surface materials you might be using with your Silhouette die cutting machine. It’s super simple! All you need to do is to take your t-shirt and fold it in half lengthwise.

Line up the shoulder seams and the neck seams to ensure that the shirt is perfectly centered. When you have a nice straight line, take your EasyPress or iron and heat it right in the middle. This way, it’s going to create a little crease so that you can see the exact middle of the t-shirt without having to pull out a measuring tape over and over again to get that perfect alignment.

After that, you can also measure down about 3-3 1/2 inches from the neck and iron in another crease of that horizontal line if you want. This will help better visualize just how far down you’d like to place your design.

8 – Working with Slick Surfaces

This hack is a great one for when you’re working with vinyl with any slick surface like ornaments, mugs, glass, ceramic, or other non-porous materials. You should always have rubbing alcohol in your craft room because you can use it to clean those surfaces. This will get all the dirt, debris, and oil residue off your project so you’re gonna have flawless results applying the vinyl down.

Once you start doing this, you’re going to see a huge change in how the vinyl adheres. It’s going to transfer better and you’ll be able to remove that transfer tape ten times better as well. Best of all, it will keep your design on your surface much longer, giving you amazing results!

performing a test cut with silhouette cutting machine

9 – Make a test cut!

Making a test cut is very important. This will save you frustration and money by helping to keep you from ruining your project and materials.

Once you have used a material several times, you probably don’t need to keep doing a test cut on it, but we highly recommend this for any new materials. First time cutting glitter vinyl? Do a test cut!

Anytime that you think things like, hmmm, I have an older blade – should I adjust my blade settings? – you might want to do a test cut!

10 – Protect your machine with a dust cover.

You might use yours so often and are cleaning it off regularly that this tip isn’t for you. But, if you’re an occasional crafter or you’re going to be away for a while, it is a great idea to cover your machine in between uses. This will help keep it clean and protected.

11 – Deal with a mat that is too sticky.

Your mat will come covered with a protective sheet. Once removed, the cutting mat has quite a sticky surface! Sometimes those brand new mats are too sticky and you could ruin the materials you’re trying to cut.

To solve this issue, use a clean cotton rag or t-shirt to dab all over the mat. This helps cut down on some of the stickiness before your first use.

removing protective sheet from silhouette cutting mat

12 – Speaking of the protective cover on the cutting mat, be sure to keep it!

Be sure to save the protective sheet that comes on your Silhouette cutting mat. Remove it and put it somewhere safe. Place it back over your cutting mat after each use to help protect it and make it last longer.

Did you lose or damage the protective sheet? Buy a shower curtain liner and cut it into pieces sized to fit over your cutting mat. They make a great substitute for the original protective sheet. They’ll keep your mats clean and protect them from damage.

13 – Clean your blades.

Not getting the best cuts from your blades? Obviously, after a while, you need to buy a replacement blade, but often, the blade has simply collected bits of paper, vinyl, glitter, and other materials in it.

Remove the blade from the carriage. Use a cotton swab or lint-free cloth and clean away any debris stuck there. This can help you get additional use from your blade.

Another great way to clean your blades: wad up a ball of aluminum foil. Stab the blade into it several times. This helps remove those last bits of dirt that you can’t get with a cloth and helps your blade perform better.

cleaning silhouette mat with lint roller

13 – Clean your mats.

For a quick mat cleanup in between full cutting mat cleaning, you can dab at it with a piece of duct tape or a lint roller to remove bits of glitter, paper bits, and so on. A quick swipe with a baby wipe will remove some of the surface dirt and grime.

Don’t miss this: Full mat cleaning tutorial

14 – Be sure to check and double check your blade setting before you begin cutting.

If you cut too deeply, you may just cut right through the mat! If that does happen, you can sometimes temporarily repair the mat by using a really strong duct tape on the back.

15 – Keep your cut pieces from curling up.

Turn the cutting mat upside down on a flat surface so that you can peel the cutting mat away from the cut pieces instead of vice versa. This helps keep your vinyl, paper, cardstock, and other materials flat and prevents curling really well!

16 – Mirror when using HTV.

Heat transfer vinyl needs to be placed on the cutting mat glossy side down and matte side up. Because of this, it’s important that you remember to mirror your image and text in your designs before cutting with HTV.

This is such an easy step to forget as you’re working on your project. To make it easier to remember, some people like to place a sticker on their Silhouette machine saying something like “MIRROR IMAGE” in bright colors that will catch their attention and remind them.

DID YOU KNOW: Heat transfer vinyl, HTV, and iron-on vinyl are all just different terms for the same kind of vinyl!

17 – Use non-Silhouette pens in your machine.

Want to use other pens in your Silhouette machine? You can remove the insides from a marker and use that remaining shell as a pen holder in your machine. Pen too thin? Wrap tape around it to thicken it up as needed to fit!

18 -Save and reuse your transfer tape.

We’ve been able to get up to 7 reuses out of one piece of transfer tape. Simply place it back onto its backing sheet and use again.

If you’ve run out of transfer tape, in a pinch, some clear contact paper or some of that sealing cling wrap can help. It’s not a perfect fix but it can help in a crafting emergency.

PRO TIP: Our favorite transfer tape for most vinyl projects is the masking paper transfer tape. It’s really inexpensive and easy to use. You can simply tear a piece of it off the roll! It’s not as sticky as traditional transfer tape so we have fewer craft fails with it on basic vinyl, HTV, and lightweight materials like paper and cardstock. You’ll still need a stickier tape for glitter vinyl and some other materials.

Snap To Grid setting in Silhouette studio

19 – Problems moving your design on the virtual mat? Try this.

If you have “Snap to Grid” turned on (and sometimes it seems to turn itself on!), Silhouette Studio is going to try to place the elements of your design where it thinks they should go. It will “anticipate” the spacing it thinks you want. Sometimes this is really convenient. Sometimes it means you’re trying to move part of your design and it don’t line up exactly where you want it.

Instead, it will “jump” a certain preset spacing. You may be trying to move it over 1/8″ but with each movement you make, Silhouette Studio is actually moving it 1/4″. This can be very frustrating, but it’s easy to fix.

In Page Setup, you want to click on the middle tab – it looks like a grid. There you’ll see the setting “Snap to Grid”. Uncheck the box to turn this off and you should be able to freely move your design elements to precisely where you want them!

20 – Use a safety pin to weed and lift tiny pieces of vinyl.

We love, love, love our Pin Pen tool, but in a pinch, a safety pin works for weeding out those tiny, intricate pieces of vinyl from your design. You can even put a magnet on the side of your Silhouette to hold the pin and keep it at your fingertips!

21 – Having trouble seeing the cut lines to weed your design?

Some people find it really helpful to use a lightbox. Cricut even makes a “BrightBox” to help with this. If you don’t have a lightbox on hand, try placing your design on a well-lit window.

Pro tip: Wear a headlamp if you’re having trouble seeing your designs. It’s hands-free and will help you see so much better!

22 – Use baby powder to weed dark designs.

Lightly sprinkle this over your cut vinyl and then brush off the excess. The powder will get down into all of the crevices and make dark colored vinyl designs show up so much better.

This makes weeding dark vinyl ten times simpler for you! It’s not going to damage your project at all but it will help you see what you’re weeding.

silhouette die cutting machine cutting vinyl

23 – No Teflon sheet? Use butcher paper or Kraft paper over your iron-on design.

Bonus: it don’t make the HTV really shiny as the Teflon sheets sometimes do.

24 – Add measurements right on your craft table.

You can glue down a measuring tape or make measurement marks with a permanent marker. This way, you’ll always be able to double-check your project measurements even if you misplace your measuring tape.

Paper Towel Holder Being Used To Store Rolls Of Vinyl

25 – Organize your vinyl.

There are several different ways you can organize and keep track of your vinyl.

Cut open toilet paper rolls lengthwise and place them around rolls of vinyl. It helps keep them closed AND you can write on them – date purchased, type of vinyl, etc.
With scrap pieces, you can put them into those plastic page protectors and put them in a binder to hold them all in one place. An accordion file also works well.
Close rolls of vinyl with colored rubber bands. You can color code according to type – purple is HTV, pink is regular vinyl, etc.
Use a paper towel holder to hold your rolls of vinyl and keep them handy.
Store Vinyl In IKEA Plastic Bag Dispensers

26 – The best trick for applying vinyl to curved surfaces.

First, when applying Cricut vinyl onto curved surfaces such as a mug, you will see that the transfer tape doesn’t want to lie flat and adhere well. This is one of our favorite tips! Simply cut slits into the Cricut transfer tape all around your design so you can more easily apply it to a rounded surface.

If there are ever any bubbles, you can work those out a lot easier with the slits in place too. You’re going to love using this handy hint with mugs, tumblers, or Christmas ornaments. It may take a little longer but you’re going to get great results with your vinyl die cutting project.

27 – Keep weeded pieces in an empty tissue box or wipes container.

I love this hack! As you weed your projects simply drop your weeded pieces into an empty tissue box or wipes container. It will keep your workspace clean and keep those vinyl pieces from sticking to you and everything else.

Use System Dialog for print and cut projects

28 – Use system dialog when creating Print then Cut projects.

When getting ready to print your Print then Cut projects, use System Dialog to increase the quality of your printing to “Best”. This makes a big difference in the results you’ll get from your Print and Cut crafts.

29 – Remove vinyl and heat transfer vinyl from surfaces.

If you aren’t satisfied with the results of your craft project, you can often remove the vinyl or HTV from the surface and make it again. With regular adhesive vinyl, often all you need to do is to use a heat embossing tool or blow dryer to heat up the design and loosen the adhesive enough that you can then use a scraper tool to remove it.

With iron-on vinyl, we found a product on Amazon that removes Iron-On from any fabric with no discoloration or residue. It’s called AlbaChem VLR Letter Removing Solvent. It is really easy to work with!

30 – Use this instead of a Cricut EasyPress mat.

We love the results we get with an EasyPress mat. It helps send the heat back up into the material we’re heating and this allows for more even heating. If you’re not ready to purchase one or just need a temporary alternative in a pinch, we recommend a terry cloth towel.

Fold it three or four times to provide enough even pressure under your project. Make sure to place it on a very sturdy table or countertop. You need that solid surface underneath the towel to adhere your iron-on vinyl well.

Which Cricut to Buy?

May 7, 2021 by Paula W

We want all Cricut beginners to make an informed decision before dropping a chunk of change on a die-cutting machine. This post will help you learn more about each of the 3 Cricut models: The Cricut Joy, The Cricut Explore Air 2, and the Cricut Maker. We hope this helps you figure out Which Cricut to Buy.

New to the die-cutting craft world and researching Cricut machines in the hopes of finding the best machine to fit your needs before buying? This is the post for you! Becca will explain the key differences between the machines and give you some tips on how to find the right one for you.

Which Cricut Do You Need?

Of course, Cricut isn’t the only brand out there when it comes to die-cutting machines. There are also Brother Scan-n-Cuts and Silhouettes. However, we mostly work with Cricuts and that’s what we’ll be talking about today.

Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore Air 2, and Cricut Joy

As mentioned before, there are 3 different models of Cricut die-cutting machines: The Cricut Joy, the Cricut Explore Air 2, and the Cricut Maker. You’re probably asking, “Well, which Cricut is best for me?”. That answer depends on what you plan on making with it and what materials you want to use with it.

Want to learn more about the Cricut Mug Press? Everything You Need to Know about the Cricut Mug Press

Cricut Joy

The Cricut Joy is the smallest of the machines. It is cute and compact but we do not recommend it as your first or only Cricut machine. Because it’s so small, you are very limited on what you can make with it.

If you’re only wanting to make small labels, decals up to 4 1/2 inches, or greeting cards, then this is the machine for you. However, with the price of it, it’s much better to invest a little bit more and get an Explore Air 2, which can do all of that and more!

Keep in mind that as you start using your Cricut, you may find that you love it so much that now you want to make bigger projects. You’ll have to invest in a second machine to do that if you start out with the Cricut Joy. The Joy is a good supplemental tool, though, if you want to carry it to craft shows and do customized projects on the spot.

Cricut Explore Air 2

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is our favorite machine. This is a very versatile die-cutting machine! The list of projects you can make with this machine is nearly endless.

You can many, many different types of materials and by adding a few different blades or tools, you can even do more. Use the bonded fabric blade to cut bonded fabric, the scoring stylus for creating scorelines, or a pen to draw with.

We have found these machines to be a workhorse! They last longer and give us far fewer problems than the other machines do. They’re simply more reliable!

The Print then Cut is more spot on and we find we don’t need to calibrate our machine as often as with the Maker. If you don’t want to cut wood, thick fabric, thick felt, or thick chipboard, then the Explore Air 2 is for you.

Cricut Maker

The Cricut Maker is the top-of-the-line machine that Cricut has to offer. You can cut more materials with it than the Air 2 as mentioned above (thick fabric, thick felt, etc).

The Maker has the adaptive tool system, which means it has more tools available for it. So, you can perform more techniques with it than you can with the Air 2. For example, there is the perforation tool, debossing tool, engraving tool, and more.

If you are going to need some of those capabilities or you just have a serious case of FOMO, then this is the machine for you. However, in general, for most crafters, we don’t think the extra money you would invest in a Cricut Maker is really worth it.

We have had over 20 machines here at Makers Gonna Learn and the Maker has been the most glitchy one for us. We have had some sort of an issue with each and every Maker we have ever owned. This can range from the knife blade not being detected every single time or the fine point blade popping out or Print then Cut calibration having to be done every single time and more.

I have a Maker at home and haven’t had those issues, but my machine doesn’t get as much use as the ones here in our studio do. This is just something to bear in mind, depending on what you want to make and how much use you plan to get out of your machine.

We suggest that you make a list of exactly what kinds of projects you want to make with your Cricut machine. If you need more detailed information, the Cricut website has a helpful chart listing the materials each machine can cut.

This video takes a more in-depth look at the various Cricut machines:

Easter Print then Cut Projects

February 10, 2021 by Paula W

These Easter Print then Cut projects are not only adorable, but they also open up so many possibilities of things you can make for your family and friends for the holiday. These are great time-savers allowing you to make so much more for Easter than ever before. Even better than that, you can personalize them for each recipient.

If you’ve never made a Print then Cut project before with your die cutting machine, let us reassure you that it is easy and fun! Besides your Cricut, Silhouette, or Brother Scan and Cut machine, you will also need an inkjet printer. We’ve got a helpful Print then Cut tutorial here if you’re just getting started with it.

Easter Print then Cut Projects

Whether you want to make customized Easter baskets, little favors to leave at each person’s place at the dinner table, greeting cards or some really cute Easter decorations for your home, we’ve rounded up some really fun craft ideas for you here. Make some of these projects or use them as inspiration for your own ideas. There’s so much you can do with the Print then Cut technique!

ADORABLE EASTER BUNNY BUCKET From Makers Gonna Learn

we think these buckets would be perfect for a backyard hunt. With the lids on them, they offer more protection from bugs and animals and keep the goodies inside safe until the kids find them. Plus, does it get any cuter than this?

Print Then Cut Easter Bucket with image of Easter Bunny

FUN PRINT THEN CUT CRICUT EASTER PROJECT! From Makers Gonna Learn

HAPPY EASTER TREAT BAGS From The Happy Scraps

These would be a fun item to include in an Easter basket or to use as table favors for each person at Easter dinner. You could even hand them out to friends and family or leave them on their front porch as a fun surprise!

EASTER ANIMAL TREAT BOXES From Lia Griffith

These are so sweet! Just picture them on your Easter table or nestled inside each person’s basket.

Print Then Cut Easter Animal Treat Boxes including bunny, chick, and lamb

EOS LIP BALM EASTER BUNNY CARDS From Fields Of Heather

A greeting card and gift in one – perfect!

Print Then Cut Easter Bunny Cards with EOS lip balm attached

EASTER BUNNY PRINT THEN CUT TREAT BOX From Better Life Blog

More adorable little treat boxes! We just love these and can picture them lined up on our dinner table filled with Easter grass and jelly beans.

PRETTY FLORAL COASTERS From Makers Gonna Learn

These aren’t strictly Easter but the pretty spring, floral design is perfect for the occasion. Use this design on other items as well!

PRINT THEN CUT EASTER EGG SHAPED TAG From Everyday Party Mag

Add this cute little tag to your Easter decor, baskets, bags of candy, and more!

Print Then Cut Hoppy Easter Egg Shaped Tag

EASTER TABLE DECORATIONS From Everyday Party

This would make such a pretty centerpiece for your Easter table. Or, use it on the mantel surrounded by Easter bunnies, flowers, and candies.

Easter Egg Shapes spelling out the word EASTER hung like bunting from dowels for table centerpiece

ANTIQUE EASTER BUNNY CARD From Get Silvered

What a lovely card! Anyone receiving this for Easter will be so pleased and appreciative!

Antiqued Easter Bunny with Flowers Greeting Card

PRINT THEN CUT EASTER STICKERS From Crafting A Family

Stick these on the envelopes for your Easter cards, add them to place cards, banners, treat bags, or give sheets of them to the kids and let them have fun making their own decorations!

Print Then Cut Easter Stickers with a variety of designs like bunnies, chicks, baskets, flowers

EASTER PRINT THEN CUT CHARGER WITH CRICUT! From Makers Gonna Learn

How pretty is this charger? Seal it with a food-safe sealant or lay a piece of plastic wrap or waxed paper over it and use it for displaying your colored Easter eggs. Or simply display it on your mantel or shelf for a lovely holiday decoration.

Must know Silhouette Cameo Tips

February 2, 2021 by Paula W

Whether you’re a beginner or pro when it comes to die cutting, these helpful must-know Silhouette Cameo crafting tips are sure to save you time, money, or frustration – maybe even all three!

From mats that are too sticky or not sticky enough to dealing with thin fonts and cut pieces that curl up, this post is sure to make your Silhouette craft projects much easier to create. Once you learn these tips, you’ll find that you’re able to create even more amazing projects than ever before.

After all, isn’t that what we die cutting enthusiasts want? More time to use our Silhouette machines!

Must know Silhouette Cameo Tips

weeding a piece of vinyl for a test cut made with Silhouette Cameo

One of our all-time favorite tips: Using a material that’s new to you? Use a small piece and do a test cut. It can save you some aggravation and some money! Try it out and adjust your settings as needed before cutting your actual project.

Also, this is a tip that many people don’t think of. Protect your machine with a dust cover. It will help keep it clean and require less maintenance on your part! This is especially important to remember if you’re using your Silhouette machine less frequently.

Cutting Mat Tips

Dabbing a clean cloth over Silhouette cutting mat to remove some of the tackiness

Having trouble getting your media off the cutting mat without it tearing? Your mat is probably new and too sticky. Dab all over the surface of it with a clean piece of cotton (rag, t-shirt, etc) to reduce the tackiness and make it easier to use.

Have an older mat that just isn’t sticky enough to hold your media in place anymore? Wash it with warm soapy water. Let dry for a full 24 hours before using again and the stickiness will be restored.

cleaning a die cutting mat with a lint roller

For a quick mat cleanup in between, you can dab at it with a piece of duct tape or a lint roller to remove bits of glitter, paper bits, and so on. A quick swipe with a baby wipe will remove dirt and grime.

Silhouette Blade Tips

Be sure to check and double check your blade setting before you begin cutting. Many a cutting mat has been ruined because the cut was so deep that it went right through the mat. If you do accidentally cut through your mat, you might be able to repair it with a good quality packing tape on the back of it.

Keep your cutting blades clean. They will begin to collect bits of paper, glitter, and other gunk. Once they do, they won’t cut as precisely or last as long.

inserting a silhouette cutting blade into a Cameo machine

Make sure your blade is properly installed. It should be pushed in all the way and you should be able to hear it click into place.

Silhouette Studio Tips

Whatever fonts you have installed on your computer will also be accessible in the Silhouette Studio. If you download any new fonts, they will be available in your Text Style list the next time you open Silhouette Studio.

Thin fonts can be problematic because they tend to tear. You can thicken them up (just a little bit – that’s all you need to make a difference!) and make it easier to cut by adding a small offset to your text.

It’s worth the upgrade to the Designer Edition of Silhouette Studio. There are some really useful functions only available in Designer Edition that you’ll want to have.

Make sure to let your project completely finish cutting before exiting the program. When you shut down your Silhouette program, it shuts down the cutting as well.

Use your grid lines. Use the “show grid” lines function on the page settings window. You’ll see grid lines on your Silhouette Studio virtual mat that will correspond to the grid lines on your cutting mat. This can greatly help with perfecting your material placement.

Removing a Silhouette cutting mat from a vinyl design upside down

Keep your cut pieces from curling up with this simple tip: Turn the cutting mat upside down on a flat surface so that you can peel the cutting mat away from the cut pieces instead of vice versa.

Aren’t these some amazing die cutting hacks? These Silhouette Cameo tips and tricks will help you create your craft projects with ease!

Want to learn some more about your Silhouette machine? Check out these posts:

All About Silhouette Blades

25 Materials You can Cut with Your Silhouette Cameo 3

Best Places to Find Silhouette Supplies on a Budget

Must Know Silhouette Cameo Tips and Tricks

A Beginners Guide To Working With HTV

January 29, 2021 by Paula W

One of the most common types of crafts that people want to make when they first get their die cutting machine is an iron-on project. This Beginners Guide to Working with HTV will help you get started with learning all the tips and tricks for how to use heat transfer vinyl.

A Beginners Guide To Working With HTV

In the article below, we’ll outline for you everything you need to know about using HTV with your Cricut, Silhouette, or Brother die cutting machine. We’ll start with the basics about the material itself and then give you some great tips and tricks for working with iron-on vinyl (yes, that’s the same thing as HTV!).

What You Need to Know about HTV

HTV = heat transfer vinyl = iron on vinyl. They are all different terms for the same type of material!

Unlike other types of vinyl used for die cutting, iron-on has built-in transfer paper. This is important to keep in mind when working with HTV.

When you look at your heat transfer vinyl, you’ll see that one of the sides is shiny. That’s the built-in transfer paper.

This is SO important >>> You will need to lay your iron-on vinyl shiny side down on the mat for cutting. Be sure to mirror your image/text in Cricut Design Space so that it comes out the right way after cutting.

Cricut Design Space showing mat with mirror button toggled on and Eat Drink & Be Merry design showing backwards

Materials You Can Use HTV On

Most of us instantly think of things like t-shirts and sweatshirts, but really, you can use heat transfer vinyl on so much more!

It works well on hats, tote bags, shoes, leather, and more. Check out these helpful posts below to learn how to iron on two unexpected surfaces: wood and tumblers!

How to Iron On Tumblers

How to Iron On Wood

Where do I Place my HTV on T-Shirts?

On some projects like wooden signs or tumblers, it can be pretty easy to eyeball exactly where to place your vinyl. It can get trickier though with things like t-shirts. Our rule of thumb is to measure down 3 inches from the neckline. To get the proper vertical placement, we like to fold the shirt perfectly in half (line up all the seams!) and use our EasyPress to iron along the fold. That will give you a crease line to use for centering your design.

Placing Htv Die Cut Design On T Shirt. Design says Don't worry be happy.

Remember with cups, you want to have it down far enough that your lips won’t touch the design as you’re drinking from it. If it’s a sign that is going to be placed in a frame or a design going on a box with a lid, make sure you allow space for the frame/lid when placing your design before adhering it.

How to Heat Your Iron-On Vinyl:

The reason this kind of vinyl is called heat transfer vinyl or iron-on vinyl is because you have to use heat to activate the adhesive and adhere it to your surface. You can use a Cricut EasyPress, a heat press, or a household iron.

We prefer to use a Cricut EasyPress. It’s easy to use and we find it much better for getting the best results than any other option. It’s portable and provides even heat to your design.

We have a comprehensive guide to the Cricut EasyPress here. If you’re thinking of getting one, have a look. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of each model and compare it to other heat sources as well.

If you’re starting out with a basic household iron, you can find our tips and tricks for using HTV with a household iron here.

What to Use Under Your Heat Transfer Vinyl Craft Projects:

We have the Cricut EasyPress mats and love them! They are definitely game-changers! Each of the mats have properties in them that take the heat and sends it right back up to your surface material.

We’ve found that with the EasyPress mats, we don’t need to use as much pressure. We’ve also been able to use lower temperature settings and get better results.

If you’re not ready to commit to one of these, we highly recommend, as an alternative, a terry cloth towel. You want to make sure that it’s folded three or four times to achieve that even pressure you need for good results.

Whether you’re using an EasyPress mat or using a terry cloth towel, be sure to work on a very sturdy table or counter top to get the best results.

Check out our Comprehensive Guide to the Cricut EasyPress here.

How do I Make Designs with Multiple Colors?

There are basically two different ways to multi-colored designs using HTV with your die cutting machine.

The first one is Print then Cut.

In this method, you’re going to be using Printable Iron-On Vinyl to essentially create a sticker with your machine. It’s called Print then Cut because it’s a two-step process.

Once you’ve created your design, you’ll print it onto the HTV with your ink jet printer. As it prints, registration marks will be added to your design. These aren’t part of the design itself and will be cut away later but they help carry out the next step properly.

The second step is to load the printed vinyl into your die cutting machine. Your machine will read the registration marks and these will help it know exactly where to cut.

The second way is to layer the HTV.

We have fine-tuned our techniques and come up with what we find is the easiest way to layer HTV. Be sure to check out the video below to see a step by step tutorial.

What if I Make a Mistake or Want to Change my Iron-On Vinyl Design?

You can remove HTV from fabrics! We found a great heat transfer vinyl removal product that’s definitely a life saver. Removing iron-On vinyl is so easy! Now you can remake or repurpose your fabric Iron-On projects without worrying about ruining your fabric. Check out this article: how to remove HTV.

With other surface materials such as wood and tumblers, you may be able to remove the vinyl by reheating it and then carefully and gently scraping it away. This is generally easiest to do the sooner you do it after having applied the HTV in the first place, but it can be successful with older projects as well.

30 Days To Master Your Cricut Challenge — Looking for more great resources for learning about your Cricut? You’re going to love our very popular 30 Days to Master your Cricut Challenge. Daily videos and a guidebook to take you from opening the box to completing your first craft project. FREE with your Makers Gonna Learn yearly membership.

Craft Projects Using Heat Transfer Vinyl:

Cricut Iron-On T-shirts

two toy elephants with baby's names and birth stats on the ears

Making Iron-On Stuffed Animals <<< Yes! It’s possible to iron vinyl on a stuffed animal! We’ll show you how.

Easy Cricut Iron-On Bag

Socks with text saying If you can read this on one and bring me a with a picture of a coffee on the other

How to Make “If You Can Read This” Socks <<<This is such a fun gift idea!

How to Iron On a Onesie

How to Iron On a Hat <<<Think you can’t use HTV with something soft and rounded like a hat? Think again.

If you’re just getting started working with iron-on vinyl, this video is a great one for beginners:

How to Set Up Your Silhouette Cameo

January 8, 2021 by Paula W

You finally got your new Silhouette Cameo. Congratulations! If you’re like many people though, you might now be feeling a little bit intimidated. Don’t worry. We’re going to walk you through getting started and show you how to set up your Silhouette Cameo step by step.

These Silhouette tips are going to be really helpful for you and you’ll be crafting with your new Silhouette machine in no time.

How to Set Up Your Silhouette Cameo

The first step is a really easy one. Actually all of the steps are really easy! Open the box and take out the machine. We’re not kidding!

We keep hearing about people who received their Cameo and then just let it sit there in the box for ages. You’ve invested in it. Let’s take it out of the box and get going!

The Silhouette CAMEO 4 is an amazing new die cutting machine. Comes in pink, white, and black.

WHAT’S IN THE BOX FOR THE SILHOUETTE CAMEO 4

What you find in the box will vary according to which Silhouette Cameo you have purchased. For a Cameo 4, you will find:

Silhouette Cameo®4 cutting machine
AutoBlade for Cameo 4
12-inch cutting mat
4 tool adapters
A/C adapter and power cable
USB cable
Handheld blade adjuster

Be sure to check for all the pieces of foam, cardboard, and tape that holds the Cameo in the box securely. You’ll also find three tabs which hold clear plastic covers onto the front of the machine. You will need to remove those as well.

There is a piece of tape holding the crosscutter in place on the back of the machine that is often overlooked. Double check for that and remove it.

Also, remember that you need to remove the blue protective sheet from the cutting mat before using it! However, we strongly advise that you keep it and use it to protect your mat when not in use.

You can see Tanner unboxing our Silhouette Cameo 3 in the video below:

WHAT’S IN THE BOX FOR THE SILHOUETTE CAMEO 3 DIE CUTTING MACHINE

This is what was in our box. Remember that some of these tools might not come standard with the machine but may be offered in special bundle packages.

Removing small box from a Silhouette Cameo Box

Inside this small box are the cords for the Silhouette Cameo

Cords – these were in a smaller box within the large Silhouette box.

2 mats – standard cutting mat and light hold cutting mat

Pick me up tool

Scraper, hook, and spatula tools

Cutting Blade

Silhouette Cameo recently unpacked from box with styrofoam still on it

Lift the machine out of the box. Remove the pieces of Styrofoam and the material wrapped around the machine.

Open up the machine and carefully remove the pieces of tape that were there for shipping purposes. Once you have done this (and finished admiring your machine like Tanner), you’re all set to start using your new Cameo.

Tanner from Makers Gonna Learn with new Silhouette Cameo die cutting machine

Once you have unboxed it, you’re all ready to set up your Silhouette Cameo:

LET’S GET IT PLUGGED IN

Next up, we’re going to plug in the cords. There are three different cords that you’ll need to use with your Cameo.

The power cord comes in two parts – this is what connects your machine to the power outlet. Then there is a data cord. This is how you connect your Cameo to your computer.

Here comes the big moment! It’s time to turn on your machine. The power button is right beside the spot where you plugged all the cords in.

FOLLOW THE MENU STEPS

You’ll see a menu and it will walk you through setting up your machine. Choose your language. You will then be asked if you want to enable the help icons.

You can always turn these off later if you want but they can be really helpful at first. Finally, you’ll be offered the opportunity to take a brief tutorial where it will show you a few of the basic functions and features.

That’s it! Really easy, right? So what are you waiting for? There’s no need to be intimidated. Get that Cameo out of the box and start creating!

DIY Cricut Christmas Tree Ornaments

December 11, 2020 by Paula W

Deck the halls with DIY Cricut Christmas Tree Ornaments! There are so many ways to personalize your tree with homemade ornaments to suit your decor, theme, and interests.

DIY Cricut Christmas Tree Ornaments

Whatever your style, you’re going to find so many great ideas here. We rounded up some really fun Christmas ornaments that you can make with your Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore machines. (Don’t have a Cricut? These should work just fine with your Silhouette or Brother ScanNCut die cutting machine too!)

DIY FARMHOUSE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS From Makers Gonna Learn

So simple to make but they add a special touch to your tree. You could even add vinyl words to spell out phrases, quotes, or favorite lyrics.

Diy Farmhouse Christmas Ornaments - white rectangles with blue gingham bows and text saying Joy and Noel

DIY LETTERBOARD CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS From Makers Gonna Learn

Cardstock words add a special touch to these embroidery hoop ornaments.

Diy round Chalkboard Christmas Ornaments with text saying Peace, Noel, and Joy

MINI DEER PALLET ORNAMENTS From Love Create Celebrate

Super cute and so easy to make. We think these would be a perfect addition to a buffalo plaid decor scheme.

Mini Pallet Ornaments with a white deer on them

EASY PAINTED CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS From Makers Gonna Learn

Paint some Christmas ornaments to match your color scheme. A vinyl graphic adds the finishing touch.

Easy Painted Christmas Ornaments black globes with white deer

DIY CHRISTMAS TEACHER ORNAMENTS From See Vanessa Craft

Such a special gift for a beloved teacher!

Diy Teacher Ornaments personalized with an apple shape and teacher's name

EASY VINYL CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS From Makers Gonna Learn

Fill clear ornaments with faux snow and apply words cut out with your die cutting machine to customize them.

Simple Christmas ornament with Joy to the World on it. Clear glass globe filled with faux snow.

We have SO MANY amazing Christmas cut files. Be sure to check them out here!

IRON-ON CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS From Makers Gonna Learn

Yes, you can use iron-on vinyl on wood! We’ll show you how easy it is. You will love the flawless results!

Wood slice Christmas ornament with Happy Holidays script on it

GLITTER PEPPERMINT ORNAMENTS From Artsy Fartsy Mama

Aren’t these sweet? We love the vintage look of them.

Glitter Christmas balls with peppermint candy graphic on them

PRINT THEN CUT CHIPBOARD CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT From Makers Gonna Learn

Anyone else who absolutely adores the vintage truck look?

Print Then Cut Chipboard Christmas Ornament shaped like vintage truck with Christmas tree in back

PRINT THEN CUT CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT From Makers Gonna Learn

A fun design made using the print then cut technique with your Cricut. You’re going to love how easy it is to make this ornament!

Print Then Cut Christmas Ornament - retro Christmas ball shape with strings of lights background design and words Happy Holidays

WOOD SLICE ORNAMENTS From Printable Crush

This design is so pretty and unique!

Wood Slice Ornaments with red floral design similar to a stylized poinsettia

3D PAPER CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS From Abbi Kristen Collections

We love these 3D ornaments! Such a fun look!

JOY CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT From See Lindsay

White Christmas Ornament with Joy and some holly branches on it

Aren’t these wonderful? So many pretty ideas to add to your Christmas tree or give as a gift. I wonder if some of the relatively flat and non-fragile ones would fit into an envelope. Wouldn’t that be a sweet inclusion with your Christmas cards?

15 Things to Know Before Using Your Silhouette Machine

October 14, 2020 by Paula W

If you’re a Silhouette die-cutting beginner, these tips will help you master your machine in no time! Here are 15 Things to Know Before Using your Silhouette Machine.

Getting ready to buy a Silhouette die cutting machine? Or maybe you just ordered one and are anxiously waiting for it to arrive? You can start getting ready before you even have the machine in your hands and have a head start on using it.

15 Things to Know Before Using Your Silhouette Machine

1 – You can download Silhouette Studio before you even get your machine.

Did you know that you can download Silhouette Studio (that’s the software program that works in conjunction with your Silhouette machine) BEFORE you even buy your machine?

It’s true! Why would you want to? Well, there are a few reasons. Maybe you’re feeling a bit intimidated or unsure about purchasing a Silhouette.

How To Use Line Spacing In Silhouette Studio

So, go ahead and try out the software first! This should help you really get a feel for it and know whether it’s the right machine for you or not.

Once you’ve ordered your machine, you can dive in and get to know Silhouette Studio while waiting for it to arrive. Just think how much you’ll already know when you get it!

2 – Check out the Silhouette Studio manual.

Be sure to check out the last page of your Silhouette Studio manual. There, you’ll find a list of keyboard shortcuts for both PC and MAC. These can really come in handy and save you time when working on your Silhouette projects!

3 – Keep your software up to date.

You should also know that Silhouette will update their software from time to time. It’s a really good idea to go to the Silhouette America website to check for these.

There is a function in Silhouette Studio where you can “Check for Updates” but it’s not always reliable. Go right to the website, check there, and download an update if needed.

4 – Back up your Silhouette Studio library on a regular basis.

It’s a great idea to back up your Silhouette Studio library on a regular basis. Always be sure to do a backup before doing any software upgrades!

When you do a backup, you will notice that it saves to your computer in an .exe format. You will not be able to preview any .exe files. To see and open the files, you will need to do a Silhouette Studio library import.

5 – Start with a beginner level project.

The next super important thing you need to remember is that you are a beginner. So, you should start with a beginner project!

Yes, we know there are tons of adorable Silhouette projects out there and you are itching to make a bunch of them! But save yourself the frustration.

Pick out a beginner level project to get started. Once you’ve mastered those, you can move on to more advanced projects without wanting to tear your hair out!

We’ve rounded up some really fun Silhouette projects perfect for beginners here. You have got to check them out and get started crafting!

6 – Make a test cut.

Once you do pick out your beginner level project, remember: the “test cut” function is one of the most useful things your Silhouette can do. It will save you time, money, and aggravation in the long-run!

When you’re a beginner, make a test cut on your first few projects to ensure that everything is set up properly. It’s still a great idea to keep making those test cuts – yes, even once you have the hang of using the Silhouette – whenever you’re working with a new material.

7 – Save the blue cover sheet that comes with your cutting mat.

You should save the blue cover sheet that comes with your Silhouette cutting mat. You need to remove it to use the cutting mat – this is what is protecting the sticky side of the mat when not it in use.

Some people take it off when they first go to use the machine and throw it away but it’s a great idea to put it back on in between uses. It will help continue to protect your mat and the stickiness that is so important to holding your media in place!

8 – Keep your mat clean.

After many uses, your mat will become soiled and perhaps have fibers and other bits stuck to it. You can easily clean it with baby wipes.

What if your cutting mat is too sticky? Use a clean cotton t-shirt and dab it all over the mat to remove a bit of the stickiness and make it easier to use.

9 – Save your used transfer tape.

Speaking of saving things, be sure to keep your used transfer tape! Transfer tape is so useful – it’s an adhesive tape that helps you pick up your vinyl decals so you can easily place them onto your surface.

If you place it back onto its backing once you’ve used it, you can reuse it at least one more time! That’s a terrific money-saver!

10 – Newer machines don’t need a ratchet tool for the blades.

Your blades with come with a small ratchet tool. You really don’t need it. It’s much easier to use the built-in ratchet on the front of the machine to change the depth of your cutting blade. Insert blade and twist.

With a Cameo 3 or Portrait 2 model, the machine comes with an automatic self-adjusting blade – no ratchet required. You just need to set your machine and software to the required settings. Easy peasy!

11 – Always make sure your blade is inserted properly.

It’s important to make sure that your blade is put into the machine properly. You should always have the fin on the blade pointing toward you.

Some newer blades don’t have a fin. So, how can you tell that your blade is inserted properly? Make sure it is pushed all the way down in and locked in place.

12 – Make sure the rollers are in place.

Before feeding your material into the machine, you need to make sure that the rollers are in the proper place. The left roller remains stationary but the right one can move to adjust the width of the cutting area.

The material you are cutting must be held in place by both rollers or it will slip around and won’t feed through the machine properly.

13 – Weld your script letters together before cutting.

It’s important to note, before printing words in script, you need to weld the letters together. Otherwise, they will print as separate letters instead a joined-together word. You need to click on the text box, then right click, and choose weld.

14 – When printing, change the line weight.

When you want to print a design from your Silhouette Studio (as a print or as a print and cut), you need to change the line weight. The default line weight is 0 – that’s because most of the time you’re going to be cutting and no line weight is needed for that.

But when it comes to printing any lines or unfilled text, you must use the Line Style tool to give it a line weight.

15 – Remember the undo function.

And whatever you do, don’t forget about the undo function! Make a mistake with your edits? Just press the undo tool along the top tool bar. Make a bunch of mistakes with your edits? Keep pressing to undo a whole bunch of edits!

15 Things To Know Before Using Your Silhouette Machine 1

That’s it! You’re all set to get started with your new Silhouette machine. What will your first project be?

Here are some more helpful Silhouette posts you might want to check out when you’re ready to dive a little deeper and work with text:

How to master text in Silhouette Studio

How to curve text in Silhouette Studio

Two simple ways to thicken fonts in Silhouette Studio

Silhouette Hacks You Should Know

October 2, 2020 by Paula W

We’ve got some Super Cool Silhouette Hacks You’ll Want to Know to make these projects faster, easier, and with amazing results! If you’ve got a Silhouette die cutting machine, you’ll want to check these out.

From die-cutting to embossing to sketching and more, you’ll find tons of craft ideas. You can use your Silhouette cutting machine to customize so many items for yourself or to give as an extra special gift.

Super Cool Silhouette Hacks You Should Know

If you have a Silhouette machine, you already know that it’s one of the most useful tools you could possibly have in your craft room. With its versatility for making so many different types of craft projects, it will give you an endless list of ideas to try.

Check out these amazing Silhouette hacks and let’s start crafting!

making a test cut with a silhouette die cutting machine

MAKE A TEST CUT

The first thing we always recommend is to make test cuts. This is a great idea when you’re first getting started with your machine as a way of getting a feel for it.

It’s also highly recommended whenever you’re working with a new material. Your machine and your blade will react a bit differently to different types of materials.

This is a great way to avoid wasting an entire sheet of material if something goes wrong.

WEED ON THE MAT

When it comes to weeding, we absolutely love weeding directly on your cutting mat. This gives your project a little more stability as you weed and keeps you from having to try to hold the vinyl down with one hand while you weed with the other.

If you’re having problems weeding a really intricate project with tiny pieces, try using a safety pin or straight pin to get into those smaller spaces. Stick a pincushion or a magnet near your workspace to keep those pins handy and prevent them from getting lost.

PRO TIP: You could also use a Pin Pen tool. It’s one of our favorite tools! It’s like having a straight pin inside a ballpoint pen so it’s easier to hold and safer to use.

Pins can also come in handy if you need to pick some tiny bits of paper or other material out of your cutting blade.

FLIP THE MAT OVER

Have you ever noticed that with some materials (lightweight paper or cardstock for example), as you pull your project up from the mat, it curls up? The best way to prevent this is by flipping your mat over.

Instead of pulling the project from the mat, slowly peel the cutting mat away from the project. This helps to keep it nice and flat.

using a lint roller to clean cutting mat

CLEANING YOUR CUTTING MATS

Speaking of your cutting mat, have some baby wipes on hand to give your mat a quick wipe in between projects. This will help get rid of any residue and keep the mat from losing its stickiness too.

If you’ve got some bits of paper or fibers left behind on your mat, simply run a lint roller over it to remove the excess debris. It’s important to clean your mats on a regular basis to keep them sticky and performing well.

dabbing a silhouette cutting mat with a piece of cotton to reduce stickiness

MAT TOO STICKY? NOT STICKY ENOUGH?

If you find that your Silhouette cutting mat is too sticky, dab all over the surface of it with a clean piece of cotton (rag, t-shirt, etc) to reduce the tackiness and make it easier to use.

Mat isn’t sticky enough? Wash it with warm soapy water. Let dry for a full 24 hours before using again and the stickiness should be restored.

If it’s still not sticky enough, tape off the edges with painter’s tape and spray a light coat of spray adhesive. Let it dry overnight and it’s ready for use once again.

SAVE THE PROTECTIVE SHEET ON THE MAT

using the scraper tool to burnish vinyl to the mat

BURNISH, BURNISH, BURNISH!

Some materials just need a little temporary help being held in place securely on the mat. Start by pressing your surface firmly onto the mat.

Then, using your burnishing tool, burnish the material down to the mat. If you don’t have a scraper tool on hand (or can’t find yours!), grab an old gift card. It will work in a pinch.

Finally, if you still need a little extra assistance keeping it in place, you can use some masking, Washi, or painter’s tape on the corners or right around the edges. This is one of those lesser-known die-cutting hacks that can really come in handy!

LINE UP YOUR CUTTING MAT PROPERLY

It’s really important to make sure that your cutting mat is lined up properly. The edge of the cutting mat should be lined up with the blue guideline over on the left side.

Be sure to feed it into the machine straight. If you’re having problems with that, you can place some heavy objects on either side of the mat to help keep it in place. Once you have some practice though, you should be able to load your mats with ease.

MIRROR WHEN USING HTV

DID YOU KNOW: Heat transfer vinyl, HTV, and iron-on vinyl are all just different terms for the same kind of vinyl!

BLADE INSERTION

If your machine isn’t cutting properly, before calling Silhouette support, double-check that your blade has been put into the machine the correct way.

This is a common cause of cutting issues. The blade should be pushed in all the way and you should be able to hear it click in place if installed correctly.

Get more life out of your Silhouette blades by cutting some aluminum foil once a month (more if you’re using your Silhouette machine frequently). Place a sheet of aluminum foil on your cutting mat and cut a design into it.

Another great way to do this – wad up a small ball of aluminum foil. Stab your blade into it several times to help clean off any debris that has built up.

Either of these methods will help clean them and make sure that you are getting flawless cuts for a longer time in between blade changes.

USE REVEAL GRID SETTINGS

Use the reveal grid lines function on the page settings window. This will show gridlines on your Silhouette Studio virtual mat that correspond to the grid lines on your cutting mat. This can really help you get the perfect placement for your design.

KEEP RUBBING ALCOHOL ON HAND

Keep some rubbing alcohol on hand in your crafting space. This is fantastic for cleaning surfaces like glass, ceramics, or other slick surfaces.

It will get off all the dirt, grime, and greasy fingerprints leaving a super clean surface for the vinyl to adhere to properly.

PRO TIP: We like to keep our rubbing alcohol in a little pump bottle. A couple of pumps gives us just the right amount on a paper towel for cleaning our surface material.

SAVE AND REUSE YOUR TRANSFER TAPE

Save and reuse your transfer tape. We’ve been able to get up to 7 reuses out of one piece of it. Simply place it back onto its backing sheet and use again.

If you’ve run out of transfer tape, in a pinch, some clear contact paper or some of that sealing cling wrap can help. It’s not a perfect fix but it can help in a crafting emergency.

KEEP YOUR MACHINE COVERED

Keep your machine covered when not in use. The cleaner you can keep your machine, the less maintenance it will require!

Of course, we use ours so often, it rarely has the chance to gather dust. Still, in between uses, even something as simple as a sheet can help prevent problems.

Looking for more amazing Silhouette tips and tricks? Check out these posts:

15 things you need to know before you use your Silhouette machine

Beginner tips for designing in Silhouette Studio