MAKING NAME TAGS USING

Transcription

1 MAKING NAME TAGS USING THE SILHOUETTE CAMEO MACHINE By Janet Alexander This tutorial steps you through creating letters by using the Silhouette Cameo machine and then attaching the letters to the base. CUT THE LETTERS OUT USING THE MACHINE 1. Create flexible metal clay by adding 3-4 drops of glycerin to 16grams of lump clay. The glycerin keeps the clay from drying stiff. 2. Roll out your flexible metal clay 2 cards thick (.50mm). Dry clay in dehydrator for 5 minutes or allow to air dry overnight. 3. Place semi-dry clay on contact brand clear shelf lining paper with the sticky side of the shelf paper facing upward holding the clay. 4. Open the Silhouette Studio Designer Software on your computer that comes with the Silhouette machine. 5. Select the Text tool on the left side of the window [5]. [5] 1

2 6. On the right side of the screen in the Text Style window [6], set the text type to a wide font and the text size to 14 or whatever size you d like. [6] 7. Click inside the work window and type a name. The example shows the word Rose [7]. Note: the settings do not remain set at the last setting you used. They must be changed every time you type a new word. 8. The letters on the word Rose are too close together for cutting out in clay, so they must be moved further apart. In the Text Style window, adjust the Character Spacing slider to 170% [8a]. [7] Note: If the text is unselected the slider doesn t change the text. Mouseclick the text to re-select it. The system spreads the letters apart [8b]. [8a] [8b] 9. Perform a test cut on thick paper. Adjust the cutting blade to #5. Turn the blue knob on the machine all the way to the left. Lift the blade assembly up out of the cradle [9a]. Change the blade s depth to #5. Slip the 2

3 blade s bottom into the ratchet cap on the machine [9b]. Turn the blade in the ratchet cap until the number five is at the pointer on the cap [9c]. Remove the blade from the ratchet cap placing it back into the cradle. Note: the red line on the blade should be pointing at number 5 [9d]. Lock the blade in by turning the blue knob all the way to the right. Place a sheet of paper on the cutting mat at the top left corner of the grid on the mat. Turn on the machine and open the lid. Align the cutting mat s left corner with the line on the machine [9e] [9f]. Make sure that Load Cutting Mat has the black dot [9g] next to it on the machine s console. If not press the up arrow to select it. Load the mat by pressing the Enter button on the machine. Set the blade settings on the computer to match the blade setting on the machine. Select the cut settings button at the top right corner of the Silhouette Studio Designer window [9h]. The Cutting Settings window opens on the right side of the screen. Change the blade to number 5 by clicking the small black triangle next to the picture of the blade. When selected, the number 5 should be highlighted in blue [9i]. Make sure the other settings are set to match those in the photo [9i]. Click the icon Open Registration Marks [9j]. Uncheck the Show Registration Marks in the Registration Marks window [9k]. Select the cut settings button again opening the Cut Settings menu. Select the Cut button. The machine cuts any of the red lines shown on the screen. [9a] [9b] [9c] [9d] [9e] [9f] 3

4 [9h] [9g] [9i] [9j] [9l] 10. Unload the mat by pressing the Enter button on the machine. Make note of where the machine cut the letters. This is where you will place the clay attached to the plastic shelf paper. If the letters are to the size you need then you are ready to cut the clay. If not adjust the letter sizes, and complete another test cut. [9k] [10a] 11. Cut the letters out in the clay. Place the clay backed with plastic onto the mat where the machine cut the previous letters [11a]. Take note whether the black roller on the feed will roll over the clay. If so, move it down the bar. Feed the mat into the machine, by pressing Enter to load the mat. The machine is already set to cut 2 cards thick clay at blade # 5. You can adjust the blade to cut a little deeper by changing the blade s depth to #6. Selecting the check box double cut makes the machine cut the lines twice [11b]. If you change the blade depth to #6 on the computer then remove the blade [11c] and change its depth manually as well. 4

5 [11a] [11b] [11c] 12. Unload the mat by pressing the Enter button on the machine [12a]. [12a] 13. Carefully lift the letters off the mat with tweezers. [13a] 5

6 MAKE THE NAME TAG S BASE 1. Make the pendant s base for the letters to attach onto. Grease the texture and then roll metal clay over texture 3 cards thick (.75mm) [1a] and cut out your shape using a needle tool and a form template. Dry the clay completely. [1a] 2. File the shape s outside edges and sand then the backside. 3. Drill a hole using a 1.5mm drill bit. Using a twisting movement between your fingers easily drills the hole. 4. Attach the letters to the base. Wet the base using a small craft brush and water. Pick up one letter at a time and place it onto the base. Pat the letter down against the base removing any air pockets. Repeat with the rest of the letters. 5. Dry the clay completely. 6. Sinter the clay per the manufacturer s directions. 7. Polish and finish. SHRINKAGE FACTORS PMC3 and PMC+ has a shrinkage factor of 15% when fired at 1650F for two hours. Enlarge your design by 118%. PMC Sterling has a shrinkage factor of 15 20%. It s best to error on the large side, so plan on the 20% shrinkage rate. Enlarge your design by 125%. Art Clay Silver low fire has a 9% shrinkage rate. Enlarge the design by 110% THE SILHOUETTE CAMEO CUTTING BLADE SETTINGS The Cameo cannot cut deeper than 1mm (4 cards = setting 10 on blade.) Cutting at setting 10 may require a double cut setting. Number of Cards Slat Color MM Thickness Inch Thickness Blade Setting