So in decluttering and taking stuff to an opp shop/thrift store, i kind of impulse bought a silhouette cameo 4 (in pink, if that's important). It didn't have cables or a power cord or anything other than the pink case and what i've now figured out is a rotary blade and the auto-blade - there's no adapter or pen holder stuff for position 2, that had the rotary blade in it and i don't know if they're blunt or useful either, so it has been a useless brick or paper weight for a bit but now after a few misses, i have a power cable that means i know it at least powers on (the backlit keypad shows up is the only real way i have deduced this), whether the motors still work remains to be seen because i haven't tried to cut anything with it, i'm a bit paralysed. In theory it can talk to my phone with bluetooth (i figure that means i need to send any files i decide are cut-worthy to an app??), any idea if it can bluetooth talk to my computer because i have (a now updated) version of the silhouette software and if that's able to be set up within the silhouette studio software? Also i don't have a sticky mat at all - from some reading & videos, the silhouette brand ones are super sticky and can be hard to remove cardboard/paper cuts from cleanly without tearing - any mat advice ahead of me buying one would be appreciated too. (In theory the Cameo 4 doesn't need a mat but i'm kinda skeptical about that - wouldn't that stuff the blades more quickly or not cut as cleanly if the auto-blade doesn't cut as deep or uses less pressure?? Thanks in advance, Signed Clueless about Cameo (PS. I had a quick search thru the hybrid pad and didn't see this kind of info, probably because most people would buy something that has all the parts and some kind of actual manual/guidebook in the box, but not me, i kinda didn't want to see a specialty item kind of end up in landfill or just gather dust in the 2nd hand shop - so if these questions are answered elsewhere and it's easier, just link me up, thanks).
I have the cameo 3 which, as far as I know, does need a mat for paper. If I get a mat that is too sticky at first, I just will kind of push it against some fuzzy things like blankets to reduce some of the stickiness. You Cameo should be able to connect by bluetooth to your computer -- mine does -- assuming your computer has bluetooth. If you go to the Silhouette software and click on the "send" tab at the upper right, then on the page that pops up you can see whether it is trying to connect or connecting to the silhouette down toward the bottom of the page on the right. You will need to have the Cameo powered on and make sure it is set up to connect by bluetooth. On mine, there is a little menu of options on the cameo that I scroll through to select that. If bluetooth isn't working, I can always use a cord to connect to my computer. I don't think it matters what position your blade is in -- you can select which one cuts when you send your design to the cameo (carriage 1 or 2). You won't really know whether the blade is sharp until you try cutting with it but they aren't too expensive. I don't think that my cameo came with any adaptor either, just the blade, although you can buy various accessories. e.g., I have a pen that does heat foiling that I'm planning to try but I haven't yet. I've never used pens since I just use digital designs. I think the cameo 4 is amazing so I hope you can get it up and working. Happy to try to answer any other questions you might have. There is definitely a learning curve on these things and even more so when you don't have all the parts!
I've never had a Silhouette but many years ago I used a CraftRobo (still have it). There were lots of instructions online on how to make your own mat since they were expensive. I did that and the homemade mat worked just fine. I used non-slip quilting templates, full size labels (8.5x11) and Krylon Easy-Tack. Then I put blue painters' tape on the edges. When the sticky ran out, I just refreshed it. I'm sure the instructions are online. So even with an expensive mat, you could do that when it sort of loses it sticky.
How cool is that Justine!!! I need to visit more thrift stores and I think it's great you are giving it a go!!
That's so awesome that you found a Cameo in a thrift shop! I am still rocking my original Silhouette portrait from like 10+ years ago, but there have been a number of times I wished I had the 12x12 size option. You are right that the silhouette mats can be SUPER sticky. I'm purchased the light-tack ones in the past and that does help, but also if it's too sticky, I do what the others mentioned and just stick it to my tshirts a few times and that helps. I also tried some generic mats from Amazon and they work just as well, plus they are cheaper. Winning! This brand even has the light-tack ones.... https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F1XL3BM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I know I wrote up a tutorieal a couple of differents times for how to get your first print and cut type project done on a Silhouette. I think they were both related to making stickers. I think one was in the summer challenges and one is in the tutorials maybe? I'll go hunt those down for ya! I will say that they first time I tried to do anything with mine, it was super frustrating and I almost gave up. There weren't very many YouTube videos out yet at that time. But once I figured it out, I love my silhouette!
Finally found it! It was from a DYD thread. I was looking in totally the wrong places! https://the-lilypad.com/forum/threads/diy-stickers-document-your-december-2020.74065/
Excellent instructions! I'd add that once I have all my pieces in place, I made an action that makes the black "cut file". It converts all the layers (other than the background) to a smart object, rasterizes, creates a new blank layer, selects the smart object and fills the blank layer with black. So much faster than doing them one by one.
I did this exact same thing for my Scan'N Cut. But thankfully I just got the Print to Cut function and now it takes care of all of that for me. Woo hoo! But the action made everything so much easier before this!
Okay this was a great tutorial and I'm not sure why I didn't think of the bleed idea. I'm going to try this when I get home and see if it gives me better results. Thanks for this!
So I ordered one of these in the regular stick and boy was it beyond sticky. It took a lot of effort to get it to work with paper. Since I orderd a pack of three for 1/2 the cost of ONE Scan N Cut mat, I am using the other two for fabric for my appliques which is working awesome. I also ordered a LOW tack one from Temu and it is working wonderfully - for $2 I'll take it
Wow! You can't beat $2! I do like some of each kind, but since I do a lot of stickers, I do like the sticky ones to hold the sticker sheets down. But when I print on regular paper or cardstock, I use the light-tack versions.
Uuuuhhhhh... that's brilliant! I'm going to need to create something like this for myself! Thanks for the idea!
Thank you for all the links and advice guys - i still haven't done anything with it and broke the door handle on the washing machine this week so i was had no freetime as i had to do things the old fashioned way and our study/scrapping and printing area is a wreck but i'm glad to know i have this thread of ideas and advice to come back to when i have time and space!
I have a Cricut instead, but it is fun to play with. I mostly use it to cut out stickers for me. My daughter uses it to cut vinyl - regular and heat-transfer. She has a big t-shirt project she is working on right now.
It was very much an impulse & who else would want this at a 2nd hand shop kind of purchase. I wanted a Silhouette Curio a few years back b/c of its digital embossing capabilities ( I didn't want to have to buy a heap of physical dies & embossing folders & a machine like a sizzix that could not do anything with digital products) but the curio didn't seem to appeal to many & was discontinued before I got my act together, & I have no idea if I can even emboss anything with this one but someday I'll hopefully have time to play & experiment with it. Someone on a video I think I saw explained cricut & silhouette are like the apple & android version of the cutting world and I think that analogy holds from what I've seen in terms of outlay, big promises and learning curve but given I never went down the apple path (except for the iPod (RIP iPod!)), I'm happy to meander around googling as I need with the android version . My printers not even installed in the house ATM with renovating the study but I was interested in print & cut stickers & more Digi diecuts & using them ( with foil) for cards than vinyl but I like the almost limitless possibilities - I'm sure when I figure some things out & start using it my DD will think of ways to use it too, I love that you both are finding it useful!
A quick google told me that the Craft Robo cutting machine came out in 2004 although it was not available in the USA at that time. But a similar machine called the Wishblade was. The original Cricut came out in 2005. The Craft Robo and Wishblade had to be connected to a computer to cut anything. The Cricut didn't. All my scrapping friends were buying the Cricut then had to invest in the cartridges. When I decided to buy I chose the Craft Robo. Things evolved and the Cricut eventually became available to use with a computer. The company Silhouette America came into the market in 2009. The software is nice because I can use it with my Craft Robo. And, if you look at the machines, the Cameos are a sleeker more updated version of the old wishblades and craft robos. In the end, many of my friends that had the Cricut and cartridges got rid of them and ended up with a Cameo. And, my over 15 year old Craft Robo still works if I need it! I don't do anything except paper cutting and that is rare so it works for me.
