Sunday, February 18, 2024

Outlines or Offset Made Easy

Outlines or Offsets Made Easy

Outlines can make words look more interesting, creating depth, extra color, or bling. Outlines can also help words stand out from what is behind them. Last but not least: outlines help physically keep letters together on a surface.

No matter the end goal, the process is very similar and very simple in Silhouette Studio.



In this example we will outline complete text.

  1. Find your favorite font and type your name or word.
  2.  Select your word and then select your offset panel.  When creating cards or Shaker Cake Toppers .10-.15 is typically a good border with rounded corners.
  3. Now you can pull your text out of the offset shape, and prepare to cut from desired material.
  4. If your shape has bits inside the shape, you will want to right click and release compound path. Delete unnecessary bits.


In this example we will outline individual letters.

  1. Find your favorite font and type your name, number or word.
  2.  Select your text and right click, select ungroup. Your word is now individual letters.
  3. Space letters apart to allow space for outline.
  4. Select all your letters, select offset panel. .10-.15, rounded corners, and apply.
  5. Now you can pull your letters out of the offset shape, and prepare to cut from desired material. 

This example is from my Gift Bag Upscale Tweak







Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Stamping Multiples

 Valentine Multiples Made Easy

When my kids were little over 30 years ago we would get that class list and create some very basic valentine cards and attach the simple sticker or tootsie roll. 

Then my granddaughter would spend Fridays crafting with Grannie. We would work for several Fridays completing special gifts for each class mate,  office staff, and any teachers that had a special place in her heart. 

I love to create in multiples. These days I'm just creating cards. But still I create a bunch. So anytime I can simplify the process it makes it more fun. And if you follow me in other places it saves me 'spoons'.

Today's process is stamping in multiples. 

I take the whole stamp set,  mount it with tape or double sided sticky to the clear plate of my MISTI stamping tool.

If the stamps are too close together to create a border around them I move them around slightly. 


Mount Stamp Set to MISTI 

Stamp entire set on white cardstock.

Stamp on white cardstock

Place stamped sheet on your Silhouette PixScan Mat.

Place on PixScan Mat

I use my Cannon camera to take a picture, you can use your cell phone, a scanner, this is just what works for me. 


Take a picture of your PixScan Mat

Now I remove the media card and insert in my laptop. And pull the image into my PixScan Silhouette software. 

After scanning all the images I create a small outline for each image. Making a few tweaks to individual images if necessary. 

After completing outlines all inner lines can be deleted. 

For your first cut you can literally cut out your images on your PixScan Mat.

Now you have master outline files.  I setup a many as I can on a page,  then cut them in half to Stamp them. 

2 sets 'die cuts' ready to stamp


Cut out your basic 'die cuts'. Save the scrap for your layout. Then insert your 'die cuts' into matching holes. 

Insert 'die cuts'



Now you can Stamp all the images at the same time. 

Stamp 'die cuts'


Ready for assembly 

Subscribe and follow to see to more tweaks and to see this finished project. 


Thursday, January 4, 2024

A2 Organizers for Scrap Papers

I love a quick Silhouette Cameo Tweak that solves multiple issues. 

These A2 magazine style organizers from Lori Whitlock are perfect.

I changed the labels to the opposite side of the box for easy read ability and so I can see the paper from my work space. (The opposite of how they would normally be positioned) 

I created the boxes from heavy 100lb cardstock. With light weight paper for insert panels adding durability and fun design. (It's all in Lori's download file.

Perfect to organize paper scraps, and keep frequently used items within easy reach.




Because I like to get right to the story,  I'll add the extras here...

Utilizing Paper Scraps

Papercrafting now, just over 12 years, (Tweaking for a lifetime, lol) I quickly discovered scraps are a real issue.  


My first efforts to save all those great useable pieces, I read to cut to the nearest inch and store with like colors.  Some recommendations were folders, clear sleeves, paper totes, etc you get the idea. 

Well,  it was rather tedious to keep up on it and cumbersome to access. 

Then I started traveling a little and making cards in my motorhome. Utilizing the Cricut Joy (sorry for crossing platform 😬) for small cuts if I needed them. 

Before I headed out I would grab a stack of prefolded and logo stamped bases in assorted colors.  And a stack of precut assorted color mats 4X5.25 and white fronts at 3.75x5.00.


It was pretty quick when I realize any shape I needed could be put on that little Cricut Joy mat in that 4X5.25 size.  In fact I could cut the shape from the middle and still utilize it as a photo mat.💡

That's when I started cutting all my scraps first to 4X5.25 and any light colored or white 3.75x5.00.
(Smaller pieces to the nearest inch,  but more on that later) 

Then I was able to quickly tote these with me while traveling. 

Back home I found myself reaching for those pre-prepped traveling supplies. 

I grabbed a couple non used clear boxes and stacked card bases in them. I found a couple drawers that had empty space I could fill. 😲


There I was assembling cards,  but it was so much easier when I was in the motorhome.  Now if that isn't completely backwards from reality. 

So as the New Year approached I knew this had to be my everday annoyance with a simple solution. 

Quick fix, big impact! 


And back to those other smaller scraps.  I still put them in folders in my drawer right below me. If I need to cut an Easter egg, a sock,  or matting for a sentiment, I simply open that drawer find the color folder and grab a little piece and throw it on my Silhouette mat.






Saturday, December 17, 2016

Silhouette Mint Ink Storage

No better 'Tweak' than a useful Tweak


I recently added the Silhouette Mint to my Silhouette collection. I've never been much of a stamper, so this little addition to the tweaking corner has taken a small niche of it's own. 
Like all of my new additions I find the need to organize it. First was those tiny bottles of ink. I scored the perfect cabinet at the local thrift store, but quickly found all those bottles were toppling over when I reached for one... 
With the silhouette I make boxes all the time, but I thought maybe I can tweak what I already have.

This was a super quick tweak and no more falling over bottles!


Grab all those little boxes the ink arrived in, and your hot glue.





Cut off the hanging tag, then cut your box down the middle. As pictured above.




Add hot glue and fold in. Make sure to use very little glue and press in tight to reduce extra sizing. 


You can see I didn't take the time to make my cuts perfect, just grabbed scissors and went for it. 


Well worth the few minutes to complete!

 TweakingCorner.com

Monday, March 7, 2016

Wedding Banners made Easy

Making Multiples Easier

Banners are one of those projects that compel a sort of similarity. If it's a long banner it necessitates similarity if you are to complete it in a timely manner.
 
Today I wanted to share a few life tweaks that make them even easier. Starting with when I recently redid my craft room the one change I made I do not know how I ever lived without was adding a ruler to the edge of my frequently used surface.
 

 
 
 


Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Easy Chalkboard File Folder Labels

Do Less With More Focus

Sometime it seems we try to do these amazing things, when in fact we could focus a little more and achieve greater outcome. This weeks organization project was just that.
 
I needed file folders I could put a description or client name on the top of with a date when necessary. I wanted to re-use these folders but I still wanted them to look great.
Chalkboard is the hottest label right now, I cut these fancy labels for things all the time.
 
Why not on folders too?
 
Chalkboard File Folder Labels cut on the Silhouette

 
here's the tweak
 
 
  1. Draw a rectangle shape with rounded corners to fit your tab. (red circle) I created these 3.5 inches wide by 1/2 inch tall.
  2. Then use your cut tool, (blue circle) to cut off bottom edge to make shape flat on bottom. Make sure your unfilled shape is toggled to treat as solid.
 
 
 
Once shape is completed replicate as many times as needed.
 
That's it doing less with more focus! Happy Tweaking!
 

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Weekly Free Download

Silhouette Free Download 1/19/2016

 
For those new silhouette users every week the Silhouette store offers a FREE download pattern.
Sometimes the patterns may not appeal to you as much as others, but especially in the beginning I recommend always downloading them. It will make you familiar with different design ideas, and most pieces can be used in lots of different ways.
 
First let me give credit here to Daniela Moscone she is the amazing designer for this one. I was most surprised by this card because the back flaps double as the cards stand. So this one stands up on it's own. We love that!
 
Then to add just a quick enhancement to the back-side I saved the stars and the rectangles from the front cut. I also used my cutting tool to cut an additional base.
 
1. Duplicate your base. (or copy paste)
2. Select your Cutting Tool
 

3. Make sure your unfilled shape stays as a solid.
4. Hold your shift key while dragging knife across bottom section to cut in straight line.
NOTE: If your new to the knife remember that if you cut a little off simply hit your undo and start again until you get it straight.
Now you have the base and you can delete the upper half. :)
Happy Tweaking...