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Sunday, December 18, 2011

Silhouette Studio Tutorial: How to make Gift Tags using Print-and-Cut


By now you would probably have seen the new Nancy Happy Holiday sets on the Lettering Delights website. I couldn't have been more happy when I saw the sets. Nancy Kubo is one of my favorite designers and her Create-A-Critter cartridge is the only reason why I still have my Cricut Expression in my house. Well, and that my kids wanted me to keep the cutter. Anyway.....with Nancy's designs now available on the Lettering Delights site, it really feels like it's a dream come true!!  I'm not going to get all sappy about it but I'm really overjoyed that what I had once fantasized about has now become a reality. 

As the MTC plug-in for the Cameo was released when I was away on vacation, I really haven't had time to play with it yet. At the moment I am really liking the print-and-cut capability of the Silhouette Studio with the Silhouette Cameo and so for today's tutorial, that is exactly what I am going to use. 


To make the tags, I used the Lettering Delights' Nancy Happy Holiday GRAPHIC set but you can also use the SVG from the Nancy Happy Holiday CUT IT set.

The font that I used for the label is LD Little Piggy.

Here is the video tutorial and if you prefer the written instructions, just keep scrolling down. ;-)




1. Using the rectangle tool, draw a 2.5" x 4.5" rectangle.


2. 
File>Merge and open the nan_01.png file if you are using the GRAPHIC set. Use the Nancys_Holidays-01.svg file if you are using the CUT IT set.

Lock the Aspect Ratio and set the width to 2". 

Position the bear inside the rectangle.


3. Make a quick trace of the Bear by unchecking High Pass Filter and at 100% Threshold.  If you are using the svg from the Cut It set, you can skip this step. 



4. Draw a rounded-corner rectangle and set the size to 2" by 1.2"


5. Make a shadow layer of the rounded rectangle and the bear by using the Offset tool. 


6. To remove the "hole" in the middle of the tag, just right-click and select Release Compound Path.

  
Select and delete away the "hole".

7. With the rounded-corner rectangle selected, click on the Rhinestones tool button. 
Select Edge for the Rhinestone Effect and reduce the Rhinestone Spacing to 0.10mm.


8. Fill the rhinestone circles with red using the Fill Color tool.



9. Add text to the label using the LD Little Piggy font and at a font size of 14 pt.


10.  Fill the letters with black....


..... and delete away the rectangle from Step 1.

11. To make a tab for the gift tag so that a ribbon or twine can string through, draw two circles. Place the smaller circle inside the larger.


12. Weld the larger circle to the gift tag.


13. Using the Line Color tool, change the line color of the gift tag and ribbon/twine hole to grey. Change all other outlines to transparent.




14. Open the Cut Style window and set all the cut lines to NO CUT except for the gift tag and the ribbon/twine hole.


15. Now the gift tag is ready for print-and-cut!

16. Maximize your cardstock by filling the page with the gift tags!

17. If you are using the SVG and prefer to cut out and layer the bear, just move the bear to outside the virtual mat so that it does not get printed.


Here is a tag that I made with the SVG:


These tags are really fun to make! Use the Nancy Happy Holiday set to make different designs to use as gift tags.


Christmas is but a few days away and I hope that today's tutorial will help when you run out of gift tags. Late at night. When all the stores are closed. :-P

IMPORTANT: 

If you find this tutorial helpful, please click the LIKE button below or leave a comment. Your feedback helps me decide if I should continue posting these types of tutorials. Let me know if they are too simple or long-winded or if I should cut down on the details. Also, please let me know if it is necessary to have both written and video tutorials. Should I just post the video? 

Thanks!




UPDATE: I just realize that I didn't include the instruction for making the larger green base. 



To make it, just do an offset of the gift tag. Set the Offset distance to about 0.12". When cutting, "switch on" the cut lines for it and the twine/ribbon hole.


74 comments :

  1. Love the written comments and thanks so much for the tutorial.

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  2. These are so awesome! Love them! Now I have to make my own! :)

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  3. I love your tuts Jin!! I'm one that prefers the written tutorial, they are easier for me to follow.
    Your tags are beautiful!! Can't wait to have enough pennies saved up to get a Cameo :-)

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  4. Thank you so much for this tutorial! I love how you made these tags! I like that you include a written tutorial.

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  5. tutorials are very useful, video will be great too

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  6. I feel silly, but am new to the Silhouette and am having trouble between steps 5 and 6. I do not understand the release compound path and how to get rid of the bear's outline in the lower box. If you could help that would be great. Thanks!

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  7. Jin I really appreciate your written tutorials - they are very easy to follow. Please keep posting them, as well as the videos.

    Hugs,

    Carmen L

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  8. I really appreciate the tutorials, and like having both written and video ones. Seems like you pick up different things in each format. Thanks for making them...keep it up.

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  9. I love the written tuts, they help get the general idea of what's going on, then the video is helpful to make the final point helpful. Thank you for all you do help teach us!

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  10. Wonderful tutorial! There's never too much detail and I prefer the written versions rather than videos. Thanks so much for sharing with us.

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  11. Thanks so much for this tutorial and all the tutorials, especially the videos. I am a visual person and really appreciate the videos but the written instruction helps too. So thanks for both. I love the tags and will now make some myself. K

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  12. I so appreciate your tutorials! I just got a Silhouette cameo and with your tutorials, I feel I am now ready to begin using the machine. You make things so much easier to understand! Thank you so much!!! Love the tags!

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  13. I'm thinking about getting a Silhouette and this is some wonderful information, Thanks!

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  14. I appreciate both styles (written and video) but if I just want a quick overview of what you're showing, I love that there's the step by step written version with photos. Thanks for all of your hard work over the year and happy holidays!

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  15. Wow!!! Thanks so much... I'm gonna make these right now =)

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  16. Jin, You have the best tutorials and I refer back to them often. Thank you for ALL of the work you go to - to make them. :-)

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  17. Thank you so much for posting these! They are so helpful and the videos really assist me in knowing how to work my machine! I like when you explain why you choose to do something a certain way instead of another way. It also really helps! Thank you for thinking of us newbies & inspiring our creativity!

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  18. Jin, your tutorials are so important to us, you help us so much to understand our machines. Please keep making these excellent tuts for us.

    Also, I love the videos because I am more of a visual learner. Thank you thank you again for being so kind.

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  19. Thanks for all the tutorials. I just got my Cameo and am still exploring design studio software. When I have more time I need to go through a whole tutorial so I can grasp what you are doing! Still not familiar with terminology like offset. Lots to learn, but wouldn't be able to without your help!

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  20. LOVE the tutorial! Thank you so much!

    Aloha,
    Dena

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  21. You don't know how much I appreciate your written tutorials! I am hearing impaired. Most YouTube tutorials are frustrating especially since the Captions function is severely lacking.

    Thank you so much and please keep up the great work!

    Happy Holidays!

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  22. Wonderful tutorial and adorable tags! Thank you so much for posting both the video and written. I prefer watching the video and then having the written instructions to be able to refer to when I am making a project. I have a Silhouette and rarely use it because I am intimidated by all the features...however, you have inspired me! I am going to get it out right now and play. Thanks so much for the inspiration and tutorials:o)

    -Mollie

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  23. I love the videos because they are so clear for me to understand, but I also love the written tutorials since it helps me remember the steps with a quick look .

    Lovce your blogs and your tutorials, I am a huge fan of yours.

    Kio.

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  24. I apprecaite all your tutorials. I love that you take the time to write them out and make a video.
    Keep them coming!!!!!!

    Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    You rock!

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  25. These tutorials are awesome please keep making them. I love both parts of the tutorial. Thank you for taking your time to teach us.

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  26. I went online yesterday and bought the Cut It set to use with my Silhouette. I don't know if I am doing something wrong, but when I try to open them in my Silhouette Studio software it tells me that the files can't be open. Please help! Am I doing something wrong? I didn't think I needed 3rd party software (I don't have MTC yet) but maybe I am wrong...

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  27. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  28. I just LOVE your tutorials Jin and hope that you keep posting them! These gift tags are SOOO super cute and I think I need to make some right now. Your tutorial is perfect to help me!

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  29. Thanks everyone for your kind words. I appreciate your feedback as it helps me decide how I should present my tutorials.

    @Mollie, to use SVGs with the Silhouette Studio program, you will need to use the Designer Upgrade or a 3rd party software like Make-the-Cut. If you had purchased the Lettering Delights CUT IT set, you can use the included DXF or GSD formats with the regular (free) Sil Studio program but you may have to fill in the colors for print-and-cut.

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  30. Your tutorials are
    SUPER FANTASTIC!!!
    I know its alot of work but I like them both (written/video)!! My silhouette will be coming this Easter...LOL!! You make the silhouette look like it's going to be a BLAST to play with...I can hardly wait. Your blog for the silhouette is the BEST!!!!THANKS!!

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  31. Perfect! Thanks for letting me know, Jin. Now that the graphics are on sale I am off to go shopping:o)

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  32. Your video tutorials have helped me become familiar with my new Cameo. Please continue to make them! I would have never thought of creating gift tags with this LD set. Now, I plan to make several today. I have re-watched the video about 5 tmes already. I am using the SVG set and want to make sure I am not missing any steps. I think I'm ready! Thanks so much, Jin.

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  33. Also, just wanted to mention that I am new to the world of Cameo and MTC and SCAL. I would LOVE to see more video tutorials where you use Silhouette Studio with SVG files (guess you need the Desginer version for that? Right? I don't have that yet, but I already see the need.) Or, possibly using MTC to alter svg files (such as the gift tag) to be cut with the Cameo. I am very unfamiliar with MTC but have owned it for several months. Thanks again for your insppiration, Jin!

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  34. I LOVE your tuts Jin. I have enjoyed them so much and have learned so much from them.

    Now that I have the Zing and not the Cameo, I did not read this tutorial for the Cameo. I do have the Silhouette SD, which is a great little machine, but I don't want to do print and cut on it, it's too small of an area anyway. I am going to attempt some pnc on my zing.

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  35. I started by following the written instructions, but found I needed the video. I used the trace outer edge and couldn't get the offset to follow the shape until I went back and did it your way. Is there really a difference between trace and trace outer edge in this application? Thank you very much for your instructions. I am new to digitial cutting. I do find the studio software very intuitive.

    Kathy

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  36. My Cameo should be here tomorrow! thanks so much for your tutorials. I love the video and appreciate that you take the extra time to write out the tutorial too. The video is nice to watch so you can understand exactly what you do as you do it and the printed tutorial is nice to have while you are actually cutting. I have never done a print and cut with my SD, so I am planning to give it a try once I get my Cameo. Thank you so much for all of the time and effort you put into your tutorials! Happy New Year!

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  37. Awesome tutorial. The step by step directions along with video are extremely helpful. I appreciate the time you take in making these tutorials
    Wishing you and your family a safe, happy and healthy new year.

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  38. I appreciate your tutorials. I just received my new Silhouette Cameo for Christmas. I wish there were more tutorials about image manipulation, cut styles, make/release compound paths,modify options (welding, intersectng, dividing,etc.) The user's manual describes all of these, but it's different seeing them in practice and I want to see how they are actually used in certain situations. Your tutorials are so much more helpful when you see these put in practice. Is there any other source that describes how to use these options with examples? Thank you again for taking time to do this and in sharing your knowledge.

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  39. I've recently found your site and love your tutorials. Thanks for taking the time to do them :)

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  40. Hi Jin- Great tutorials. I just made some tags following your tutorial, trying to learn how to use the Silhouette Designer Edition. I do like both the video and written tutorials. Any idea why I get a double cut then I set the outside line to cut, and everyting else to no cut, and the double cut feature is un-checked? You are pretty awesome- thanks for sharing your talents.

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  41. @Roberta, zoom in on the image and see if there are two cut lines. If so, just delete it or set it to no cut.

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  42. Jin,

    I didn't get my Cameo until the 25th, but I can't tell you how very much I appreciate your video and picture tutorial!!! :) Thank you so much for taking the time!!!!!!!! They are extremely helpful!!!!!!!!!! You are a big reason that I am buying from Lettering Delights, too!

    Crafty hugs,

    Jennifer
    partridgelu at yahoo dot com

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  43. I've only had my cameo a week and your tutorials are going to mean I get so much out of it in a short period of time - thank you sooooo much for your generosity in sharing all these hints and tips.
    xXx

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  44. Thank you so much for this wonderful tute. I love the pictorial one, helps me follow better... one step at a time:)

    Need a small help though.. i have the silhouette sd and when i am using the Graphic set with .png extension and then try and trace as you mentioned in Step 3, my computer just logs off/crashes every single time... i tried 3-4 times but it's the same story again and again. Pls advise where am i going wrong. I was trying to create a tag using one of the Frog images.

    Also, i guess svg files won't work n silhouette directly? what do i need to make them work here. Is there an svg to .Studio converter available? If yes, could you guide me where?

    Thanks so much for your patience with my so many questions :)

    Best Regards
    Shalini

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  45. Thank you, Jin! I am no longer intimidated by my machine!

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  46. I enjoyed watching the video but I do get more from having print instructions on hand when I actually go to try it myself. I always seem to miss steps if I just watch the video.

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  47. Hi Jin, this is a great tutorial. Thank you so much! I just got my cutter, and this was my very first project on it. I was completely successful! I blogged it here, if you are interested! http://peasinapod.typepad.com/peas-in-a-pod/2012/05/more-on-may-baskets-making-gift-tags-giveaway.html Thank you again! I really enjoy your blog and projects.

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  48. Oh, P.S. I'm with Vicki....I love the videos. They are great. I also love the print instructions. Would it be possible to have the print instructions in a downloadable format (i.e., a PDF) so I can download them, print them, and save them? It would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for considering the suggestion.

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  49. My Cameo should arrive tomorrow and this will be the first project I wll attempt. I normally prefer having video tutorials, but when there are so many steps it is so awesome to have all of the individual screen shots. TFS,

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  50. Thanks for the excellent video.I have my Cameo since 3 month and never made a card yet. I do not know how!!
    This might help me.
    jogry/bali

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  51. I love your tutorials, thank you so much for taking the time to show us such useful information. Please keep making them for us. Thank you so much!! Diane

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  52. I love your site. I've had my Cameo about a week, and I will be trying some of your projects. Can't wait to make some gift tags and stickers. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.

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  53. Fabulous tutorial! I love the detail you go into with all the screen shots and your writing is so easy to follow. Thank you!

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  54. I am new to the Cameo and really appreciate all the videos and tutorials. Big help.

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  55. Hi found the tutorial on YouTube and was so grateful to see the link to the blog spot and picture tutorial. I have only had the cameo 2 days and I was very confused. It just does so much but instructions are lacking. You have helped so much! Thank you!

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  56. I was referred to your tutorial from LD; I had inquired about how to use their Print and Cut images on my Cameo (how it would compare to how I currently use Silhouette images for Print and Cut). Anyway, thanks for the tutorial, and I really appreciate the written instructions. Otherwise, I have to keep starting and stopping the videos as I try to frantically take notes. Myself personally, tend to use written tutorials more than video, but I am sure I am not the norm.
    Thanks for sharing your talents and creativity!
    Stacy

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  57. Jin, I don't know what I would do without your video tutorials! They have helped me tremendously! You have the BEST tutorials out there! PLEASE keep them coming! I would love to see more print and cut with the silhouette cameo SSDE!

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  58. AWESOME! Love your tutorials. Please keep them coming!

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  59. I learned a lot from the video. Thanks. I've used a Silhouette machine for over 3 years, but I'm new when it comes to using the Print and Cut feature.

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  60. I got a Silhouette Portrait which I am new to. I live in Africa and I love tutorials. Yours are very good and helpful. Please do not stop making them. Cheers! (from Tanzania).

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  61. Really great tutorial. I know how much time goes into making them. Thank you for sharing

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  62. thanks for the help!

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  63. Gracias Amiga!!! saludos desde Argentina..

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  64. Jin Thanks for the Tutorial! I don't even have a silhouette yet, but I still look at all of them to judge if I can really learn how to do it all or not. I'm still cussing my way along with my Cricut product.

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  65. I really like both the written and the video

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  66. Tonya G.

    Thanks for this post, I received a Silhouette Cameo for Christmas from my hubby and have been to afraid to open the box lol. Over the Easter weekend I am off work and am going to open it up! This is exactly what I wanted to try to make, some gift tags for our summer reception to celebrate our wedding.
    Thanks you so very much!

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  67. I don't know how to like this tutorial. :( But, I like it :)

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  68. Do I need the Design Edition to be able to make this? I love your tutorials!! This is exactly what I have been looking for! thank you!!

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    1. Nope. If you only have the free Silhouette Studio program that came with your machine, you can use the colored graphics like I did in the video to make this tag. :)

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  69. This is truly helpful. Although I have had my Silhouette for years, I am still learning new things. I have never used the rhinestone feature-who knew!!!

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  70. Is there a way to set a specific radius to the corners of the rounded rectangle?

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