Constantly Stamping

How to Use MDS files with the Silhouette Software - The Basics

I received an email the other day from a fellow SU demonstrator who needed just a little help understanding how to pull the MDS files into the Silhouette software. I made a quick little video to explain it for her, so I thought I would just put it out there for anyone else who may have similar questions.

One Step Further...Another Video Tutorial about the Silhouette and MDS2

I know that some of you aren't really getting into this video tutorial series that I have been doing, but for those of you who are the response has been amazing. I have one more tutorial today. This one picks up where I left off a few videos ago. Today I am going to show you how to put a frame around that MDS2 artwork using the Silhouette Studio software.

This is a card that I created with the finished print and cut file. Obviously the focal image is colored in MDS2 and then cut with the Silhouette Cameo. Then I went totally traditional from there. I used the new Core'dintions Card Stock in Early Espresso (#127848) and embossed it with the Woodgrain embossing folder (#127821). I used a sanding block to reveal some of the white inner core of the cardstock. I stamped the greeting and added everything to the card with some Lucky Limeade bakers twine and a button. Since I only made a card front I was trying to figure out how to take the picture. I came up with the idea of putting it on the front of a picture frame that I had on my desk. It was really cool how it turned out.

 

 

How to Print & Cut MDS2 Images from Start to Finish

 I am still getting quite a few emails from readers who don't quite understand what I mean when I talk about the "print & cut" feature of the Silhouette. So I did a video tutorial that I hope will help. The quality of this video isn't as good as I would like because I had to hold the camera with one hand and operate all of the software and equipment with the other, but maybe it will help those of you who are still a little confused. Don't be embarrased. It took me a while to make sense of all of this too!

Video Tutorial: How to Print and Cut MDS2 Artwork with your Electronic Cutter

I am back with another tutorial. Today's video teaches you how to use MDS2 software and the Print & Cut feature on your electronic cutter to create fun and easy paper crafting projects. Here I made a napkin ring by attaching my cut artwork to a strip of card stock. I used the Tweet Leaves Digital Stamp Brush that is available for download. I am not sure exactly how this process works for all e-cutters, but this video takes you step-by-step on how I did it on my Silhouette Cameo. I used Silhouette Studio Designer Edition, but I am fairly certain this will work with the standard software that is included with the machine. Let me just say again that I am certainly not an expert on this, but I thought I would share what I have learned so far. (NOTE: I want to clarify that you use your own home printer to print the artwork. It is necessary to add the registration marks beforehand. Then when you put the printed artwork on your cutting mat and place it in the machine, the electronic eye will recognize the registration marks and know exactly where to cut.)

I know that digital paper crafting isn't for everyone. But if you are comfortable with your computer and especially if you love using your MDS2 software, then I am confident you can master using an electronic cutter.

 

Video Tutorial - Loading your MDS Card Stock and DSP into your Silhouette Studio Software

I am back with another video tutorial today. For those of you who have no interest in the digital aspects of paper crafting, I know this must be a little boring. But for many of you, learning how to utilize MDS in conjunction with your Silhouette Cameo will open an entirely new world of possibilities. I know some of you are craving more because you should see the emails that are coming in. Not everyone has a Silhouette...some of you have other brands of cutters. But I would almost bet that you can take the things I am teaching you and make it work for you too. So I will keep the video tutorials coming at least until I have covered the basics. I will try to weave a few stamping projects into my blog posts so that the rest of you have some eye candy to keep you satisified.

I am trying to keep my videos as fast-paced as possible. Unfortunately running the Silhouette Software and the screen capture software at the same time really slows things down. I have edited out some of the dead spaces in order to keep things interesting. I have also been struggling with my seasonal allergies, so if I sound a little stuffed, that's why.

In today's video I will show you how to import your MDS card stock and dsp into the Silhouette Studio software. This will come in handy when you want to utilize the print and cut feature of your Silhouette Cameo. Oh, and BTW, I am definitely not an expert on this. I am just a crafty gal who has taught herself some of this cool stuff and I thought I would share it all with a few thousand of my closest friends. And of course, I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator if you don't already work with someone...just sayin'!

Video Tutorial - How to create cut files for your Silhouette Cameo using the punches from the MDS software

I promised that I would have more video tutorials about how I used MDS2 files to create cut files for my Silhouette Cameo. I have had a difficult time running the Silhouette Studio software and the recording software at the same time so it has been a little more difficult that I had hoped. I managed to put together this short video about how to use the .svg punch files to make cut files, but I am working on more videos on how to use the .svg stamp brushes in MDS2 to make cut files as well as how to utilize the print and cut features of the Silhouette. So bear with me because there are definitely more tutorials coming soon.

Today's video uses punches from the MDS and MDS2 software to create cut files using the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition Software.

SVG Files for MDS2

WOW...I have received several emails asking me about my electronic cutter and how I created the vinyl cut files that I used on the projects in yesterdays blog post. So I have decided to put together a series of videos to try and answer your questions. It will probably take me a few days to work through it all, but I thought I would start with the very basic thing you need to know...What is an .svg file and why it matters.

An .svg stands for Scalable Vector Graphic. The reason it matters is that you can re-size it larger or smaller and it maintains its integrity and doesn't pixelate. I have been told by SU that all of the new stamp brushes for MDS2 will be .svg files. This is important to know because you won't be able to use the new files with the old MDS software. That means you will need to upgrade to MDS2 or MDS2+ to use the new downloads. This file format also makes it easier to create cut files for your e-cutter. I don't know about all e-cutters or software, but I do know for the Silhouette Cameo that you will need to upgrade to the Designer Edition of the Silhouette software in order to recognize the .svg files.

The first video I have made is to show you how to determine if the file you want to purchase for My Digital Studio or other software you are using is in the .svg format. I will have more videos coming soon, but this should help a little.

A Sweet MDS Tutorial

I received a nice comment from Tammy asking how I created the label for the Valentine Treat bag. So Tammy, this is for you (and anyone else who may be wondering). I tried to keep the pictures small, but you can click on them and they will enlarge if you need a closer look.

 

Of course you need to purchase and download The Sweetest Ever Valentine template. Open MDS and create a new project. Choose Multiple Output Option. Select 8-1/2x11 Portrait setting. Choose Designer Template. Select Sweetest Ever Valentine Template. This is what Page One will look like.

Step One: Delete everything off the page except the part that we will be working with.

 

 

 

 

Step Two: Move the words and frame away from the background. Group them together to make it easier to keep together. Also group together the background paper but leave it where it is.

Step Three: Duplicate the background and move it below the first box.

Step Four: Return the words and frame to the original position.

Step Five: Use the square label punch to cover the portion that you don't want to print.

Step Six: Fill the punches with the same color as the background paper (in this case, Whisper White). This helps conserve printer ink.

Step Seven: Use the square punch again to add a little extra pink CS to the sides. I used the color picker to get an exact match.

Step Eight: Change the color of the side punches to pink. I used the color picker to get an exact match. Now select everything and group it so that nothing gets messed up. You may want to fill the other portion of the page with other elements so that you don't waste your expensive matte photo paper.

That's it. How this helps!