Thursday, February 26, 2015

SIlhouette Print & Cut Tutorial Series: Registration Marks, Getting Perfect Cuts & Other Common Problems

Some days your Silhouette is working perfectly fine, the next it decides to shift its cut lines or not register the marks at all! It can be very frustrating and makes you want to pull your hair out or toss out the whole machine! Well today I am going to show you some tricks and tips in troubleshooting your cutter.

Registration Marks

For Registration mark reading OR print & cut misalignment issues go to Silhouette's FAQ page here:
http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/faq/solution/353

Printing

If you've seen my previous tutorial, you'll know that you have to set your registration marks to print onto your paper before cutting. This is what it uses to read and know where to cut.

Many people have problems where their cuts are slightly off. I have had this problem happen to me so many times!

Make sure when you print that there is nothing blocking any of the marks or the sensor. My computer sometimes prints a glitch over the marks and it won't read and will just be a waste! My printer also sometimes jams and the marks would be printed crooked or folded over and i would have to toss that out as well!





Light/Sensor

 If the lighting in your room isn't bright and in order for your machine to read the registration marks and cut right it is recommended that you put a lamp or some kind of light when you are cutting. The machine uses a laser to read the marks and when you have more light over the sensor it can better read your marks and know exactly where to cut.

Having an even & bright light over the sensor also makes your cuts more accurate.

Sometimes sticker paper can get stuck under the laser and won't read at all. To get that off just use a q-tip and slide it under until the paper is out!

Getting Perfect Kiss Cuts

Problem: You thought you had the perfect kiss cut settings, but still it decides to cut all the way through and you're then left with hundreds of tiny stickers that you have peel off the mat! So annoying right?! You have lowered your blade to 1 & it still makes your stickers cut through?

Solution: Instead of lowering your blade try messing with the thickness settings instead.  Don’t set it too high,  start lower and gradually move the setting up as you go.

In the cut settings you'll see a test cut button after you've changed your settings just click it and it will cut a small triangle and square at the top. Then unload it and try peeling it to see if it cut through or kiss cut.

If it still isn't good then change your settings again move the test cut arrow to the left a bit and do another test cut and keep doing that until you get a perfect cut! Lowering the thickness or raising it can really make a difference whether you have stickers that are cutting through or not cutting enough!

Mats


Problem: Your mat is too sticky and curls your sticker paper when you peel it off.

Solution: to desticky your mat try getting a clean t-shirt and pat it down a few times to remove some of the stickiness.

When peeling your sticker sheet off the mat, try flipping it upside down first and then peel the mat up and away while holding down the paper instead.

Or you can just buy the light hold mat from Silhouette. I personally love the light hold mats. They are perfect for sticker paper and it makes peeling my stickers off so much easier. Though they do last only for a month or so, but I enjoy the easiness of it so it's worth it to me. Just be sure to always put the cover back on the mat after using it and you can extend the life of your mats!

Intricate Cuts

Problem: When cutting smaller detailed stickers, the cuts seems to jumble up in between and look very messy

Solution: Go to cut settings and change the speed to a lower setting. Lowering your speed on a cut can give you a much cleaner cut.

More Help

If you’ve tried all of these tips and settings and nothing works for you you may want to try these options:

Packet Size:
Adjusting the packet size can help with the flow of communication from the computer to the machine. To change the packet size follow the steps below:
  1. Launch the silhouette studio software
  2. Go to silhouette studio or file and click preferences
  3. Select Advanced
  4. On the bottom right hand side you will see a column that says packet size, it should currently be at Auto (1000 bytes)
  5. Adjust the packet size setting to 500
  6. then click apply

Clear Silhouette Software Preferences:
  1. Close the software
  2. Go to the folder: C: > Users > my_User_name > AppData > Roaming > com.aspexsoftware_Studio
  3. Delete the bolded "com.aspex.." folder noted above
  4. Restart the software

Update your Software

You can find the latest software here, try re-downloading it for your computer and see if that helps!

I had so much trouble getting my new cameo to cut right on my OLD OLD macbook and I did everything to fix it. I ended up just connecting it to my iMac instead and it started cutting perfectly! So maybe my old computer couldn't handle the software? I don't know, but it worked so unfortunately I can't use my old laptop unless I upgrade its ram or something. 

Last Resort:

If all else fails try calibrating your machine...

"Calibrating the Silhouette is only required for adjusting the cutting alignment as it relates to print & cut jobs. Calibration should only be performed if there are concerns specifically encountered with cut lines not aligning with the contour of printed images during print & cut jobs that use Registration Marks.

If misalignment is not universally the same distance off around the entire image, then calibration is not the proper course of action and further information about setting up print & cut files should be reviewed. If misalignment is universally the same distance off around the entire image and all steps for proper set up of a print & cut file has been reviewed, then you may proceed with the process of calibrating the Silhouette."

you can go here to find out how to calibrate your machine properly.

If there's anything else you'd like me to address please comment below! I hope this helps you out! I still get little problems where the settings switch up on me, and just when I think everything's going great my stickers cut off or cut through! But following these tips and tricks with help from Silhouette's support and from members of the Facebook Group - Silhouette Loves EC group, has helped me tons!


Daily Checklists & Week On One Page Planner Inserts


In an attempt to reevaluate my  planner system and start new habits along with my new schedule, I created this daily checklist with the weekly view on one page. This insert is perfect for people who has to do the same tasks every day and instead of writing it down every day you can now just check it off. It is great for routines and/or creating habits. I have two toddlers and it is so important to stick with a scheduled routine with them to avoid tantrums and whining. Since starting to plan with this new schedule of ours, both my kids and myself know what to expect and what we have to do everyday. I have been able to get so much done as well! On the weekly view I just write down places I have to go for that day, or important events or appointments. On the 2nd page, I write down my weekly goals, tracking - to keep track of my expenses for the week, but you can use it to track anything else as well, and notes for other miscellaneous tasks I need to remember for the following week.

So here is what my customized version looks like, the ones for download below will be blank instead. 
& this is what it looks like partially filled out! and decorated! You can use stickers to put the dates in or just write it in. I used my tiny hearts from my etsy shop to write down the dates.

 Downloads:
A5
Personal
Pocket

Trouble?
If you are having trouble printing this printable, I have found through many other readers that it prints out in actual size better if you first download the file directly onto your computer first, then opening and printing that file from there. be sure to print at 100% or actual size and use these instructions to see how I print my inserts!


If you do end up using these I would love to see pictures. Tag me on Instagram @wenduhh_plans or #mswenduhhblog Please do NOT share the actual file or file link. Instead please send your friends here to download my free printables, thank you.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Monday, February 16, 2015

Free Printable Stickers: Icon Labels for Planning

I love to use icons to make certain events stand out in my planner. I made these sets to do just that! I also mess up a lot when I plan so I like to cover up my mistakes with labels. You can use these icon labels to write down your lists and help you remember what's going on in your life. 

Stickers included in this printable are:
  • Small Labels
    • Briefcase - for work related tasks (hours, meetings etc.)
    • Cleaning - for house chores
    • Money - for writing in your payday amounts or money spent
    • Piggy Bank - for writing how much money you've saved
    • Credit Card - for writing how much you've spend on your credit card or to track when you've made a bill payment
    • Weights - to write down your workout or keep track of your gym payments
    • Shopping Cart - to write down where you will go shopping or when
    • Books - for all those chapters you need to read or study for school, or book you want to read
    • House - for any house related tasks/projects or mortgage or rent payments
  • Larger Labels 
    • Mail - to keep track of letters to write to penpals, or packages coming in the mail
    • Car - for places you have to go to for the day
    • Computer/Bills - if you pay for bills online, this one's great to make a list of all the bills you are paying for online!
    • Shopping Bag - for making a list of things you need or want to buy
    • Clock - for writing down what appointment you have and at what time
 



These are for PERSONAL USE only! Print as many as you'd like! If you do end up using these I would love to see pictures. Tag me on Instagram @wenduhh_plans or #mswenduhhblog Please do NOT share the actual file or file link. Instead please send your friends here to download my free printables, thank you.

Icons are from freepik.com
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Free Printable Stickers: Watercolor Squares for Erin Condren Planners

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I've posted a freebie so today I wanted to share with you these watercolor squares and half squares! My watercolor checklists and flags sticker set was so popular that I had to make some squares that fit the Erin Condren planner as well! I hope you enjoy these rounded rectangles! You can use it to decorate your planner, write quotes or events in them, or however you may want to use them. 



& Here is the matching set of stickers available in my etsy shop!
 


Click here to see how to turn these into stickers!

& How to Make Kiss Cut Stickers Without a Machine!

These are for PERSONAL USE only. If you do end up using these I would love to see pictures. Tag me on Instagram @wenduhh_plans or #mswenduhhblog Please do NOT share the actual file or file link. Instead please send your friends here to download my free printables, thank you.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Similac Strong Moms Giveaway! Picture Perfect Prize Worth Over $15,000!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Similac® StrongMoms® for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hi everyone! Today I would like to introduce you to this wonderful program that every mom or mom-to-be should join! The Similac StrongMoms program & right now they are having a huge sweepstakes!
Similac
Similac StrongMoms is hosting an amazing sweepstakes giveaway- the Strong Moms Giveaway !
A super lucky mom will win the "Capturing Memories from Bump to Baby" GRAND PRIZE worth over $15,000. You will have everything you need to be sure to capture every little moment with your little one(s). Plus over 300 moms will win fabulous prizes through the instant win game. See rules here.
Details:
Giveaway: Dates 12/2 – 2/16
Hurry and enter now! You can enter daily from now until the 16th for your chance to win the instant prizes!
Grand Prize includes:
  • 3 Professional Photo Shoots
  • Canon® EOS Camera and Lens Kit
  • A GoPro® Hero 3 Camera
  • A 13-inch MacBook
  • Adobe Photoshop® Elements 12 and Adobe Premiere® Elements 12
  • Beginnings Baby Record Book
  • $500 Shutterfly® Gift Card
  • $500 Pickles & Ice Cream® Gift Cards
  • Medela® Pump in Style Breast Pump
  • A What to Expect When You’re Expecting® Book Set
Over 300 lucky moms will instantly win these prizes below:
  • Similac® Prenatal Vitamins
  • Similac® for Supplementation Formula
  • Shutterfly® Gift Cards
  • Snoogle® Full Body Pillows
  • Beginnings Baby Record Book
  • Medela® Pump in Style Breast Pump
  • A What to Expect When You’re Expecting® Book Set
In addition to this giveaway, by joining Similac StrongMoms you will receive so much helpful information tips & more including:
  • Nutritional guidance for a healthy pregnancy
  • Emails with tips and tools
  • Infant formula savings, samples and partner offers
  • Great Nutrition information for mom and baby, along with check lists, tools, like the diaper decoder and tummy trouble tool are all available through the program/website.
I absolutely love the prizes for this giveaway. I don't know what I would do without my camera and I wish I had a GoPro to capture all of the crazy things my boys have done. They move fast and they grow even faster. Join Similac StrongMoms for your own chance to capture and treasure all of these memories with your child(ren)!
Take a look below at some of my memories with my children!
With these prizes you'll be able to capture them all beautifully and make holiday cards and books with the shutterfly gift card!

Pierce's First Birthday Book from Shutterfly

Jax as a newborn

Our Family Photo in 2013

Pierce's First Trip to the Beach

Pumpkin Patch with my boys!

Pierce's First Christmas

Snow Trip
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Monday, February 9, 2015

Silhouette Print & Cut Tutorial Series: How to Trace, Offset & Cut Around Any Image!

Do you often get frustrated when trying to cut an image you found on the internet? It always cuts the white background with it! So all you're left with is just a square instead of the actual shape around the whole image. One way to get your images cut around an image is by using SVG files with the designer edition. But sometimes you just can't SVG files for some images. So today I will show you how to do it without having to upgrade or find any SVG files! You can use JPG or PNG files and easily cut around the images using the trace and offset features!

In my previous tutorial I showed you the basic print and cut tutorial here, this week I will show you how to trace.offset and cut around any image! and please stay tuned for next week where I will show you more about registration marks and tips on getting perfect cuts!


Step 1: Find any image you want to print and cut. My favorite place to go to for free images and icons is freepik.com! There you can download SVG files as well! But for the sake of this tutorial I will be working with just the JPG file.

Step 2: Drag your downloaded image into Silhouette Studio


Step 3: Click on the square icon with a little green box inside. (trace window)

Step 4: Highlight around the image that you would like to create a cut line around


Step 5: after tracing you will the red cut line around the image


Step 6: Offsetting. To cut around the image, offset it by going to the offset window and changing the distance until you like where the cut line would be.


Step 7: drag the images away so you can see the offset and traced cut lines.


Step 8: erase the inner (trace) cut lines so your image isn't cropped like so



Step 9: Line up the image and cut line then select both of them



Step 10: Cropping. Go to the modify window and crop it



ALL DONE!




I hope this pictorial was useful! Now there is more potential for you and you silhouette machine! You can print and cut any image you'd like! To see the basic print and cut tutorial go here, and stay tuned for next week where I will show you more about registration marks and tips on getting perfect cuts!


If you do end up using these I would love to see pictures. Tag me on Instagram @wenduhh_plans or #mswenduhhblog
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

January Planning Favorites

Hi Everyone! I want to start showing you all of my favorite monthly planning supplies! I hope to do this every month and maybe give you all some ideas for your planners! Anyways so here are my favorites from last month!

My January Favorites!

 


1. This pen is a 0.38mm Unistyle Fit pen. It writes so smoothly and is skinny enough to fit in my Filofax Mini pen loop! It has been my go to pen lately!

2. Die cut note pads! These giant die cut notepads from Michael's are so smooth and thick! Writing on it is fun and functional!

3. Stickers from obsessedwithcute! You've probably seen these a few times in my planner! I love using them for marking grocery shopping days and whenever mail is coming in! The kawai faces on them make them totally cute! You can shop for these here at her shop!


4. Photo keeper cases for stickers! It's so neat and portable. You can find them on Amazon, Michaels, Joann's or some targets. 


5. This cleaning checklist printable from pinchalittlesavealot.com. Now I don't have to write down all my little cleaning chores everyday in my daily planner! I can easily check it off daily and even have room for my bigger weekly cleaning projects! 


6. This sampler from scribble prints co! I love the icon stickers and especially the canceled stickers!! I find myself using these all the time I need more! The quality of her stickers are awesome as well, they're semi glossy but are so smooth to write on! Shop for these here in her etsy shop!


7. My favorite washi tape! It's from Michael's Recollection collection. It's so colorful and you can never go wrong with polka dots!

 8. Gold Foil Feather Tags from Target's Dollar Spot!  I love hole punching it and using it as a book mark, so simple and easy!


9. Hello Ashely Ann's stickers! I love the backpack and crayons for my kids. They are so cute and just my style! And I love the arrows as well for marking places I have to go! They're the perfect size! 

10. And last but not least are my very own stickers! These are illustrated by my friend Ruby! You can buy her digital images and create your own stickers for personal use as well. (Click here!) Shown below are the college diary stickers and cleaning labels. I don't go to college but I use them for writing my blog posts and working on my orders for my shop! They are so cute and it totally adds personality to my weeks! And the cleaning labels are great for making cleaning days a little more tolerable! You can find these kiss cut stickers in my shop here!


Hope you enjoyed this post! What are some of your favorites from last month to use with your planners? I very much enjoyed using these items to plan my days and decorate my planner! Comment below if you would like to see more posts like this!

Thanks for reading!


Love,
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