The Silhouette User’s Gift Guide (Part 2)
for Paper Crafting, Glass Etching, Fabric Cutting, and Heat Transfer Vinyl
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I’m back this week with Part 2 of my Silhouette User’s Gift Guide and today I’m focusing on specialty items for paper crafting, glass etching, fabric cutting, and working with heat transfer vinyl. If you missed Part 1, you can find it here. Both lists are loaded with Silhouette gift ideas so be sure to share them with anyone who’ll be shopping with you in mind this holiday season!
Note: I purchase most of my Silhouette supplies from either Silhouette America, Amazon.com, or Swing Design. Many (but not all) of the product links included in this post are affiliate links. By purchasing through these links, you help support Caught by Design without any additional cost to you. In cases where items are available from multiple suppliers, I’ve provided a link to the lowest price as of this writing. Thank you for your support!
The Silhouette User’s Gift Guide
for Paper Crafting, Glass Etching, Fabric Cutting, and Heat Transfer Vinyl
Paper Crafting
Card-making and many other types of paper crafting are made easier with the help of your Silhouette. As with any project, having the right tools can make a big difference, and here are a few of the ones I use most often:
- 12×12 Light Hold Mat (Cameo) – has a lighter adhesive than the regular Silhouette cutting mat and is ideal for cutting copy paper or more delicate items.
- 9×12 Light Hold Mat (Portrait)
- Tombow Tape Runners
- Tombow Refills
- Zig 2-Way Glue Pen
- Scotch Advanced Tape Glider – I can’t recommend this tool highly enough if you are going to be making a lot of paper crafts. I bought mine when preparing for my son’s wedding four years ago. It was a lifesaver then and has been used for many, many projects since.
- Xyron – used for cold lamination, applying adhesive, and making stickers/magnets. The Xyron works without electricity and is available in several different sizes. I personally own the:
- Paper Cutter – yes…even with a Silhouette, there are times when you need a good paper cutter, especially when making envelopes.
- Envelope Punch Board – such a fun tool that can be used for much more than just envelopes!
- Sketch Pens
- Pen Holder – allows you to use regular pens and gel markers in place of sketch pens. (One of my favorite types of pens to use is a fine tip Sharpie.)
- Laminator
Splurge Item
Hot foiling adds a whole new dimension to your paper crafts and there are several ways to achieve a foiled texture. My favorite is the Minc machine. I call this a “splurge item” because I use mine only on occasion – but I always love the results.
Glass Etching
Fewer Silhouette projects are more satisfying than etching glass with stencils made on your Cameo, Portrait, or Curio. The only supplies required are a stencil and some etching cream. Stencils can be made with vinyl, contact paper, or shelf liner but I prefer Oramask 813 stencil film. Having tried several different brands of etching cream, EtchAll is the only one I now recommend.
Fabric Cutting
Whether you’re a quilter, machine-applique enthusiast, or someone who just likes to play with fabric, a Silhouette makes light work of cutting and adds to the fun!
- Fabric Blade – identical to a regular ratchet blade except for color. Like a dedicated pair of sewing scissors, a blade used solely for cutting fabric stays sharp longer and provides cleaner cuts.
- Terial Magic – a spray-on stabilizer that makes fabric as easy to cut as paper.
- Heat & Bond Ultra – iron-on adhesive designed for no-sew projects.
- Heat & Bond Lite – iron-on adhesive used for lightweight fabrics and projects that will be sewn.
- Designer Edition Plus – allows you to import embroidery design files directly into Silhouette Studio.
- Embroidery Machine (Brother PE-770) – an embroidery-only machine that packs a lot of features at a very reasonable price.
Heat Transfer Vinyl
Working with heat transfer vinyl is one of the most popular uses of the Silhouette. Once you’re comfortable with HTV, why not try a few specialty items?
- Gift certificate to a craft store such as Hobby Lobby or Michaels to buy blanks.
- Heat transfer vinyl (My preferred suppliers are Swing Design and Expressions Vinyl.)
- Jetpro Soft Stretch Inkjet Transfer Paper for light or dark fabrics.
- Deco Foil
- Easyweed Adhesive (for use with Deco Foils)
- Heat Press
- Teflon Sheet
- Rare Earth Magnets – used to secure teflon sheet to top platen of heat press. Can be found at places like Harbor Freight, Amazon.com, and hardware stores.
- Pressing Pillows
So what’s on your Silhouette wish list this year? Share it with me over on my Facebook page or in the comments below. And don’t forget that gift certificates are available if you’d like to take some classes to learn more about your Silhouette machine. I can’t wait to hear what Santa leaves for you under the tree this year!
Until next time,
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Lycia is a lifelong crafter whose goal is to help others find value, confidence, and joy in whatever they create. She geeks out on using technology to supercharge craft projects with Silhouette Studio, Design Space, Glowforge, sublimation, etc.! Lycia teaches these skills and more through online tutorials and videos as well as in-person classes at both the local and national levels.