Lettering, Pens and Tags

You know about my love for pens and lettering, right? Okay, so let’s build on the tags we made from this post to a whole ‘nother level. The Silhouette Cameo has the capability to use pens instead of a blade, so instead of the image being cut, you can direct it to draw your art or lovely letters. You can use a gel pen with the pen holder or one of the Silhouette Pens. I’m obsessed with the white Silhouette pen (surprise, surprise), but the ink ran out and I just ordered this new pack. Today we will focus on adding a sentiment to your tags using the Silhouette Pen.

The What

• Silhouette cutting machine
• Silhouette Studio
• Blade
• Cutting Mat
• Cardstock
• The template from this post
• A Silhouette Sketch Pen
• Sentiment (by hand or font)
• Glue or Sticker Machine

The How

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Step 1:

• If you are using a hand-written sentiment, scan or take a digital picture of it, then save to your computer. Tip: use in black ink – it makes an easier trace
• Open up your template .studio file from this post, and save as a new file

 Step 2:

• Select File>Merge to add your sentiment image (from Step 1) to the new tag file

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Step 3:

• Use the Trace tool to trace over your hand-written sentiment. You should now have an outlined version of your image
• If you are not using an image, use the Text tool to type your words

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Step 4:

• Resize and place your image on the tags
• To create a border, select your tag and create an internal offset.
• If you want to remove the outer circle that is created, select the internal offset image, then Object>Release Compound Path. Select the outer circle and delete.

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Step 5:

• Select the entire tag (including the internal offset and your text/sentiment)
• Use the Cut Style window to Select No Cut
• Now select only the internal offset and your text/sentiment and set to Cut. We have now set the pen to draw this selection

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Step 6:

• Go to the Silhouette Cut Settings Window and select the Silhouette Sketch Pen
• Load your cardstock onto the cutting mat and Silhouette Cameo
• Replace your blade with the Silhouette pen
• Select Cut
• Once the pen stops writing, do not unload your mat and cardstock, just replace the Silhouette Pen with the blade

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Step 7:

• Now go back to the Cut Style window and only select the outer tag and hole. Select Cut.

• Change your Silhouette Cut Settings to Cardstock, and select Cut

• Cut out your hole borders, assemble and your set! If you want a sturdier tag, double them up. I usually do these in multiples and stash them away for the next set of thank-you gifts. Enjoy your tags!

Looking for some more inspiration? Check out my other Silhouette CAMEO tutorials.