Silhouette Cameos can make any old projects look brand new in just a couple of minutes! Cameos are programmable cutting machines that can design your own creations or you can use the beautiful templates that are available at the Silhouette Design Store. This essay includes what material you will need, the planning phase, preparation, sending the project through the machine, and the finishing steps of making a project with a Silhouette Cameo.

Step 1: Collect All the Material That Is Needed.

The material needed to complete this project includes a computer, silhouette software, silhouette cameo, cutting mat, matte vinyl, scissors, a ruler, weeding tool, transfer tape and tool, a wooden box with a chalkboard insert, and a plan.

Step 2: Connect the Computer to the Cameo and Open the Software.

To connect the computer to the machine there is a power cable that attaches to both machines. This is needed so that the project can get sent to the Cameo to get cut.

Step 3: Decide What Font and Size the Word Is Going to Be.

The font that is going to be used in this demonstration is called Bromello and the chalkboard insert on the box is 5” by 3.25” so the size of the word will be about 5.028” by 2.650”.

Step 4: Weld the Cursive Letters Together.

Since Bromello is a cursive font, the letters have to be welded together so the word is cut as one item altogether and the letters won’t be detached after the cutting is done by the machine.

Step 5: Attach the Vinyl to the Cutting Mat and Load It Into the Cameo.

After the word is situated and looks good, it is time to attach the vinyl to the cutting mat. Now after the matte vinyl is attached to the cutting mat, it can be loaded into the cameo to get ready to be cut. To load the mat in the machine, line the mat up with the machine’s rollers and the left edge of the mat lined up with the blue guideline on the machine. Next, press the “Load” button on the control panel and the machine’s rollers will then pull the mat under.

Step 6: Make Sure the Cameo Is Set on the Correct Settings.

To do this click on the “send” tab and make sure that “Cut” is selected and then “Vinyl, Matte” selected in the material section.

Step 7: Cameo Is Cutting Out the Word.

Now after the correct settings are selected, the project is ready to be sent to the cameo. To send the project, hit the blue “SEND” button at the bottom of the screen and wait for the cameo to do its magic.

Step 8: Unload the Cutting Mat From the Cameo.

After the Cameo is done cutting out the project, hit the “Unload” button on the control panel and it will unload the cutting mat.

Step 9: Peel Off the Excess Vinyl and Weed the Rest of the Word.

Now that all the big steps are done, find some open space to work and peel off the extra vinyl around the word, and then weed the extra small holes out of the word.

Step 10: Transfer the Word Onto the Box With the Transfer Tape and Tool.

Cut a piece of transfer tape about the same size as the word then lay it on top of the word. Next, grab the transferring tool and rub the transfer tape onto the word. Pick up the word with the transfer tape and place it on to the chalkboard insert on the front of the box.

Step 11: Placing the Word in the Chalkboard Insert.

Grab the transferring tool again and rub the word onto the insert well enough so it sticks. It will be easy to tell after you pull the tape up and it leaves the word attached to the insert on the box.