i’m just bopping in to share my latest love with you: the silhouette cameo cutting machine. i purchased it several months ago and didn’t start using it until last month. i cannot believe i waited so long! all of the sudden, i feel like i’m not sure how i lived without the ability to cut all.the.things.

though i had about a day’s long learning curve to get through, the machine and program that comes along with it, called silhouette studio, are really easy to use. i upgraded to the ‘designer edition‘ so that i could import files in from illustrator. it works like a charm! the cameo will cut sticker paper, vinyl, temporary tattoo paper, stencil material, cardstock, chipboard, magnet sheets and even fabric!

one of my favorite features of the silhouette studio is the nesting feature. once you have several motifs in the document, you can simply select ‘nest’ and the program will place as many motifs as possible on the sheet in order to maximize your space and reduce waist. it’s like magic.

i got slightly carried away with the temporary tattoos. they’re just so fun! to make these, i printed the designs on temporary tattoo paper with my standard printer (along with a set of registration marks silhouette studio includes on the document), then ran it through the cameo. the cameo reads the registration marks and cuts everything out precisely. and, it actually works!

it has been incredibly helpful as i’ve prepared for a craft fair and upcoming trade show. i’ve made custom hang tags and sticker price tags which you might be able to see in the top photo. i also made a gold vinyl decal of my logo, which you can see in the above photo hanging on the cart. this thing is amazing!

do you have a silhouette? if so, what are you favorite ways to use it?