Lowest prive for Quickqutz Silhouette

This is a SUPER deal! Time to ask Santa for an early Christmas present!

Weld Words with Robo Master 5.1 Software- Free Download

There is a new version of Robo Master cutting software available for Craft Robo and Quickutz Silhouette digital cutters.
The site is in French but software is in English. You will have basic word welding and matting tools available.
Silhouette users- maker sure you install software into a different folder destination or you will lose “My Library” function .

Download Robo Master 5.1

You can download the new version Robo Masters software here. This is version 5.1 and does word welding.

I know that official “English” version will be released in New Year.

Other formats available : AI, SVG, KNK, DXF as well as GSD.
Download this Turkey file file here

Thanksgiving Turkey for Silhouette, Craft Robo and Wishblade

I have to put some finishing touches on this card and it is done. I am quite pleased with how it turned out. Its my first cut with design I did in KNK Studio design software for cutting machines. I am really enjoying it- MUCH easier to fiddle with than Inkscape!

This file cut beautifully. The hardest part was putting on the berries. Must have had brain freeze because I was using a glue pen and going crazy and then realized I could just put thought my Xyron. I must say I also LOVE my Quickutz tool Quickutz tool
( the kid with sticky putty…) good for tiny little balls that need precise placing.

I found cutting large quantities thousand times easier to do with KNK software. I had 5 different colours of card stick that I used to cut and cut several different files that will complement each other and was able to move bits and pieces around very easy. Something I never would have attempted in Robo Master.
Having several cutting mats on the go also HUGE time saver. You can your own cutting mats for very little money or what id id was but 12×14 Crcut mats and cut into 3 8 x 12 mats. Six mats for 15.00.

I will be posting the GSD file in next couple of days.

This is a simple sprig of holly with berries GSD cutting file for Sulouette, Wishblade and Craft Robo cutting machines. Note i have coloured the 3 berries in different shades, you can cut separately, change the three colours to one in Robo Master or select to cut the tree berries all at one and just use inks or chalks to shade.

Download free Holly Berry GSD file HERE.
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Download Free Umbrella GSD file.

How to cut Cut Longer Files in Craft Robo and Silhouette

You need a bit of “extra” on the end of your mat so it can feed in the machine so about the longest you can make a cut file on your cutting machine is 9/10 inches with the standard size mat.

How To Make 12 Inch Borders and Cut Files on Craft Robo and Quickutz Silhouette

I am a big border person. I love to use them in my scrapbooks., maybe because of my Creative Memories background- it is a hard habit to break. I was really stumped as to why I couldn’t make with my machine and realized it was a simple-ish fix. I just needed a longer mat.

I have made my own mats a few times ( you can read my post on How to make Your Own Craft Robo, Silhouette and Cricut Machines) and I personally like them more than the original mat that came with my Silhouette. One issue I did have was finding something that I could use for a lingger mat to make borders for my scrapbook pages..
If you can find the right length of plastic- go for it- just follow directions on the Make Your Own Mat for Cricut Mahines, Silhouette and Craft Robo post I mentioned.

I found the easiest thing to do- especially if you don’t have the adhesive or a Xyron 900 is to just cut down a large Cricut mat. This is probably the least expensive option.

What you need:
Cricut 12-Inch By 24-Inch Mat pack of two cost about 17.00.
Painters tape
Scissors
WD-40 or similar ( Goo Gone, any kind of adhesive remover, and I think an acetone based nail polish remover would work as well.)

I was VERY happy with how these turned out.

Step One:
Cut down your mat. The Cricut mats come in a pack of two. You can cut one 10×17 size mat and then or however long you want. You can make longer if you like.
Cut your mat down. Use the measurements that are printed on the mat as your guide. I used scissors with n problems, I was going to sue craft knife but then had to worry about my cutting mat- seemed like overkill.

Remove Excess Adhesive From Mat

Use your painters tape and tape down the two side of your mat. ( Actually if you really only have to do this along one side). You need to leave about a 1/2 inch strip of mat exposed. You are going to remove the adhesive along the sides- this is so rollers can feed that mat in and out of your machine.
( Note I used duct tape in this- which can strip some some of the adhesive off- use painters tape OR if you use Duct / masking tape and remove some of the stickiness put pulling it on and off some fabric)

Don’T spray the WD-40 right on the mat it will get on parts where you want adhesive. I used a little bit on a cotton ball. The adhesive came right off very easily.
When I took tape off of used a bit of soapy water on cotton ball to get rid of oily residue.

You are done! test out your mat. When you are in your software ( most likely Robo Master) and making a 12 inch die cut or border set user size to width of mat and length 15 inches. Remember you need at least 2 extra inches on your mat so it can feed. So if you want to cut 14 inches you need at least a 16 inch mat, etc.

Go ahead and cut!
Note: Make sure you have enough room at the BACK of your cutter and it doesn’t hit a wall

How Do you Make Your Own Replacement Mats for Die Cutting Machines

Did you know its easy to make your own replacement mats for you Cricut, Silhouette, Wishblade or Robo Craft Die cutting machine?
The cost of a new Cricut mat isn’t too bad (pack of 2 mats for 7.95 at Amazon)- but the price of a new QuicKutz Cutting Mats for Silhouette is hefty- about 25.00 at my LSS and pack of 2 at Amazon is about 30.00 .
It is easy to make your own mat. If you prefer to just try and find a cheap replacement mat, the best price I have found for new mats for your Silhouette or Wishblade it at one my favourite sites, Scrapbookdiecutter.

To make your own mats you you need a few items- some you may all ready have.
- A Some kind of mat. The most popular and highest quality I have found is a Quilters template. The is basically a sheet of thick plastic. You can also use plastic sheets used for stencilling. You can buy the sheets at Micheal’s, Joann’s or Quilting shops.
You need to get a sheet that will end up being at least 9×13. ( it can be longer). If you can get sheets with a grid even better.

Some kind of Adhesive.
OPTION ONE

If you have a Xryon 900 Xyron 900 this is perfect. You MUST

use the Reposition-able Xyron Cartridge however or it will be too sticky. Some people are able to do this without using the machine. If you can get the cartridge cheap then worth a try .

OPTION TWO
An Adhesive Spray, This MUST be repositionable.
A good choice is Krylon Repositionable Adhesive Spray. You can also use a Quilt Basting Spray 12 oz. You can find this at Wal-mart or Michael’s , etc. the brand is not important- just make sure it is reposition able.

You need Masking tape or painters tape.
You use this along the sides so your adhesive does not cover the whole sheet- you need space for rollers to grip.

So, use your tape alone the long edges and cover about 1/4 inch on each side.
If you use the spray, then go OUTSIDE to spray ( fumes) if you are pregnant get some one else to do it. Do a couple of light coating rather then one heavy coating. You can also add a bit more later to freshen,

If you are using your Xyron. Put on your tape and run through machine or use cartridge.

Peel off you tape and you will have your mat! The mat is probably a little too sticky. I use a lint free cloth to dab on it a bit to rid of excess.

You can also use this method to make your mats longer and create longer designs- which i use for making 12 inch borders or vinyl wall art.

Have you made your own mat for your Silhouette or Cricut machine? let me know how it went!

I have lately just bought larger size Cricut mats ( 12-Inch By 24-Inch Cutting Mats) and cut them down to size, I end up with 9×13 mats and longer one making 12 inch borders on my Quickutz Silhouette machine.