If you are new to owning a Silhouette CAMEO or just want to learn more about how to use the Silhouette Studio software to create your own unique designs and projects, then this series is for YOU! Silhouette Boot Camp will share a short tutorial each week on a design function for your Silhouette to help you understand exactly how to use the software to it’s fullest, and enable you to create anything you can dream up with your machine!
I am so excited to finally announce Silhouette Boot Camp! In our Silhouette Inspiration Facebook group there are endless questions and pleas for help on getting started with Silhouette Studio, and understanding exactly how to use all of the powerful design functions that the software gives you. When I put out a call to the community asking, “What do you not understand about your Silhouette?” I got hundreds of responses with questions of all types on how to use the machine.
I got to work that very night putting together this series that will take you from the most beginner questions, to pretty advanced functions of the software so that you can really understand how to use it and design anything your creative mind can dream up! This has been an absolute labor of love to put together, but here is what you can expect from the lessons:
- Each lesson is a “mini-tutorial.” This isn’t a huge book, but just a weekly mini lesson on a new feature each week. It should be quick to read, easy to understand, and help you master the software in little bites each week.
- Each lesson will have a video. There are some things that would take me 1000 words to explain, or just 5 seconds to show you! I know many of you are like me and are visual learners, so you will find a video in each lesson explaining the concept we are discussing that day.
- Each lesson will have a text explanation. I love video, and often it helps me get through roadblocks I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do, but sometimes life just isn’t optimal for a video, so each post will also have text to further explore and explain the topic. That way if you need to scan or quick reference anything, it is all right there in multiple formats.
- Each lesson has a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. I have three small kids, so making these lessons, especially the videos, is a feat in itself! If these are helpful to you, make sure and pin the post or share it on Facebook, to help me spread the word about my site. Also, comments are always encouraging and very appreciated!
So what do you need to do to follow along? It is simple really! I plan to post a new lesson here on The Pinning Mama each Monday. You can check back here, or sign up for my Craft Email list, and you will get a notification right in your inbox anytime I post a new lesson or Silhouette freebie! Also, as I mentioned above, pinning the posts not only helps me, but it also gives you a great spot to bookmark this series so that you can check back whenever you are ready to learn! This post is the table of contents of sorts, as I will list below all of the planned lessons for the series and then update them with links as they become available- so bookmark this page!
Silhouette Bootcamp – 20+ Lessons on How to Use Your Silhouette CAMEO!
Here is what you can expect to see in the series. Posts that have been published will be linked below. If a post is not linked, then it has not been published yet. Check back, or sign up for my email list, as a new lesson will come out each week! Also, even though I say Silhouette CAMEO below, almost all of these tutorials are applicable to Silhouette Portrait, Curio, and Mint as well since they all run off of the same Silhouette Studio software.
***If you have a burning question you don’t see a lesson on below, please leave me a comment so I will know the things you want to learn as I plan the next tutorials for The Pinning Mama.
Silhouette Boot Camp – Lesson Schedule
- File Types you can use with your Silhouette CAMEO and how to use them.
- What are Compound Path, Group, and Ungroup functions version 3 software, What are Compound Path, Group, and Ungroup version 4 software, and how to use them in Silhouette Studio.
- What is Convert to path and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 3 software). What is Convert to Path and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Crop and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 3 software) What is Crop and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Divide and how to use it in Silhouette Studio.(version 3 software) What is Divide and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Intersect and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 3 software) What is the Intersect and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Subtract and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 3 software) What is the Subtract and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Subtract All and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Weld and how to use it in Silhouette Studio.(version 4 software)
- Review- Silhouette Studio Modify Panel. (version 4 software)
- What is Scale/ Shear and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Kerning and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Nesting and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Point Editing and how to use them in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is the Align feature and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Replicate and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Offset and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Trace and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- What is Fill/ Gradient and how to use it in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- How to use Page Set Up in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- How to use use Registration Marks for Print and Cut in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- How to use the Transform Panel in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- How to use the Print and Cut Feature in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- How to use the Stipple Feature in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- Cut lines Explanation and Types in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- Over cut/Bleed Lines Explanation in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- How to use the Image Effect Panel in Silhouette Studio. (version 4 software)
- Silhouette Software Editions Overview (version 4 software)
Remember, these are just mini, bite-sized lessons each week so that you can continue to learn and sharpen your skills with your Silhouette each week. This schedule is not binding, and may change and flux some, but I wanted you to be able to see the things that I have planned so far! Again, don’t forget to pin this, and make sure to sign up for the emails so that you don’t miss a lesson! I’ll see you next week for Lesson 1!
Brenda says
I have had my Silhouette for over two years. My biggest challenge is taking it out of the box!!! For some reason it really scares me!
Dawn says
Me too, Brenda! I found this site today and am so excited to finally set mine up and get busy. I’ve had mine since Christmas go 2015, and it’s been out of the box once!
Janis says
Thank you so much. You are great for doing this.
Kimber says
You are so welcome!
JaNel Moore says
Maybe I missed the info in your announcement, but what is the cost of the boot camp!
Kimber says
It’s free! Emily or I will publish a new tutorial each week so just keep an eye on your email! Enjoy!
Ian Harrison says
Thank you very much for all your lessons they have helped me understand the studio software and have given the confidence to use the silhouette
Nancy says
I’m so glad to have these tutorials! I want to cut multiple animal, flower, etc shapes from one piece of paper on the Silhouette and I need some help! My grandchildren like to paste and they are too little to use scissors well so I want to precut multiples for them to use.
Kimber says
That is such a sweet idea! I hope these help!
Clothilda Rohling says
You may cover this but if you well letters can you reverse the action and unweld. When I weld I have a tendency to forget a letter I’m very new at this and can figure out but my remedy takes so long I know there has to be an easier way. Of course I learn a lot doing it this way.
Kristie says
Will you be completing the Bootcamp lessons? The ones you do have are very helpful!
Mickey Holder - Killeen, Texas (90 miles from Austin) says
I’ve tried to find some one in my area who has a Silhouette that would be interested in giving me a few lessons. I’m not worth a darn with software. I’ve bought and download freebies but don’t know which file to put them in – not sure how to unzip or save/open SVG files. Had a Cricut for couple years couldn’t do anything with it. Heard silhouette was easier to learn. So I’m drowning, I have bought a of of vinyl, the markers and Pixc mat but not opened. So I’m lost, lost——-
Marietta says
Thank you. I will catch up from Lesson 1. I need a lot of help.
Daphne Harnum says
So happy you are doing this!!!! I had a new machine for Christmas and so afraid to use it. But your tips and tutorials have made it possible for me to gain the confidence needed to try. I have learned so much from you, THANKS!!!! I know it must take a lot of your time to do these but please know how grateful I am that you do!!