A quick reminder! I'm teaching two ScanNCut classes in the San Diego area on Thursday-Saturday of this week! Class 1 & Class 2. Just a few seats left in each class. Come and see me!
'Tis the season for crafting! What is it about the holidays that makes everyone want to make stuff?! I'm not complaining, I love it!
Today's project was inspired by my childhood. We used to go to a neighbor's holiday party every single year. In the kitchen they always had a table for making ornaments. It was simple stuff like stringing cranberries and popcorn. And it was more complicated stuff like making embossed tin ornaments. The good news is that I've uncomplicated it for you! It's so easy to create beautiful embossed metal ornaments with your ScanNCut.
These are beautiful custom cookies. And you don't have to have almost any frosting skills in order to make them! Yay! It's easy when you have a ScanNCut. Check out the video for the instructions:
I tested this process by making cookies with my logo and discovered that screenprinting directly onto iced cookies didn't work for me:
I was ready to scrap the process until I decided to roll out some fondant and see if it was the surface I was printing on rather than my technique. And it was!
I used both store bought (pink) fondant and homemade marshmallow (white) fondant:
It seemed to work equally well on the two types of fondant. Though, I did find that I personally preferred the brighter printing on a white background. But, I think they both look great!
Here's a quick visual guide to the process:
And if you don't want to print on cookies, remember you can screenprint on almost anything!
Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you have ScanNCut questions!
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P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut. It is a machine that I love and use. All projects and opinions are my own.
I will be on Home Shopping Network (HSN) tomorrow (Wednesday). Tune in on your TV or stream it live online. I have the entire 4am hour (sewing and ScanNCut) and most of the 5pm hour (sewing and ScanNCut). I hope you'll tune in and maybe even call in to talk to me on air!
Today I'm sharing a few ScanNCut DX technique videos with you! If you have any technique videos you'd like to see, let me know! All three of these videos are in response to questions I received.
First up: setting up the wireless!
The good news is that your machine is already wirelessly activated when you take it out of the box. All you need to do is set up the wireless and connect it to your CanvasWorkspace account. Set up is quick and easy and I'm going to walk you through it, step-by-step. I encourage you to do these steps along with the video -- pausing and rewinding where necessary. Ready? Let's go!
Easy, right?!
Once the wireless is all set up, then you're ready to update your software (if necessary). Watch the video on how to do it:
There are three methods for updating: wireless, USB thumb drive, and USB cord via CanvasWorkspace for PC. Choose the method that works for you. If you want to be notified when there are software updates, be sure to register your machine on the Brother website.
How does the Auto Blade do cutting fabric? The short answer is, it works like a dream! Check out this video for the skinny on how it all works:
There are just three things to remember when cutting fabric with the ScanNCut DX:
The Thin Fabric Auto Blade is for cutting thin fabric and thin fabric ONLY.
The Auto Blade can cut fabric with fusible, upholstery fabric, leather, etc.
Fabric with fusible or starch won't ravel when you pull it off the mat:
You can easily cut fabric without anything in it, but it will ravel when you pull it off the adhesive mat:
The raveling doesn't matter when you're using a seam allowance (as for quilt piecing), but for applique, you may prefer to use fabric with either starch or fusible.
Some of my personal preferences:
When I cut fabric with fusible, I do it with the paper off and the fabric side down -- aka fusible up.
I have a second Auto Blade & Auto Blade holder, which I've dedicated to cutting fabric because paper dulls blades more quickly than fabric.
If you want to see more fabric cutting, check out this replay of a Facebook Live I did in September. In the livestream I answer questions, cut fabric, cut out stamped images (Direct Cut), cut a silicone stamp, show Background Scanning, explain how the new and old blades are different, and so much more!
Finally, leather -- both real and faux. In the video, you can hear my excitement when the Auto Blade does a totally perfect job cutting leather.
Here are the cuts from the video (this is one of the built-in applique designs from the DX225):
As with cutting fabric, you want to make sure to use a High Tack Fabric Support Sheet when you cut leather. (Although, I probably could have gotten away with a regular Standard Mat when cutting the faux leather -- it was pretty paper-like.)
Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you have ScanNCut DX questions!
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P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut. It is a machine that I love and use. All projects and opinions are my own.
Put on some black clothes and this cat mask made from felt and you're ready to go! Watch the video for the how to:
I used two different kinds of felt to make the mask: acrylic craft felt for the mask base and stiff felt for all of the decorative elements. The one negative about cutting acrylic craft felt is that it really messes up your mat. It takes a long time to clean all of that fuzz off of the mat and I hate cleaning. The stiff felt, on the other hand, leaves behind almost no residue. I do share my mat cleaning tips in the video, but if I were to do the project again, I would probably use stiff felt for the base so that I wouldn't have to take the time to clean the mat.
Use a brayer to strongly adhere the felt to the mat.
Use the metal spatula to help pull the felt pieces off of the mat.
To get the most out of your mats, clean the felt fuzz off of the High Tack Fabric Support Sheet right away using an alcohol free, fragrance free baby wipe & the metal spatula.
This is a fun and easy project with great results!
I hope you give it a try!
Also, if you're not a costume person and you just want to decorate, there are some super cute new cut files for sale on CanvasWorkspace.
I used the treat box cut file (upper right in the image above and larger below)...
...but added my own flair with some glitter...
...and a few bats (one of the built-in cut files in the DX225):
You're supposed to put candy inside the box, but I thought the shadow was too cool to do that:
I love that it's so easy to add your own personal touch to any of the cut files you purchase -- choose your own colors, add elements, take away elements. No one says that you have to create the item as intended. Add your own flair!
Thanks for stopping by!
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P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut. It is a machine that I love and use. All projects and opinions are my own.
Today I have two awesome ScanNCut projects for you!
I am in looooooove with this first project. It makes me happy every time I see it in my studio:
And the best part is that is was super quick and easy to make. Just grab all the junque you have sitting around your art space and add your ScanNCut and you've got art! Watch the video for the how-to:
So what do you think? Ready to put a bird on it?!
Next up, a quick and easy vinyl project:
I travel a lot and I like my coffee. But I also keep mixing my travel coffee cup up with other people’s because they all look the same! I thought, “Why not personalize my cup with my business logo?!” It’s so easy to do when you have a ScanNCut and the results are beautiful and quite professional!
And people are always asking me for written directions, so here they are:
If you already have your logo as a cutting file, send it over to your ScanNCut.
If you don’t, import it to CanvasWorkspace Online. You can then resize it as you wish and send it to your ScanNCut.
Measure the area for your logo on your coffee cup. Determine how large the logo should be.
Once you’ve retrieved your design in your ScanNCut machine resize it as necessary.
Load a mat with vinyl on it into the ScanNCut and use the background scan function to scan it in so that you can perfectly place your cut. Place your cut so that it fits on your vinyl. Be sure that your blade, pressure, and speed settings are correct. Do a Test Cut if necessary. Remember, you want to “kiss cut” the vinyl – i.e. only cut through the vinyl and adhesive and not through the backing material (like a sticker). Cut your vinyl.
When you’re finished cutting, remove the mat from the machine and the vinyl from the mat. Trim the vinyl as necessary with scissors. Weed the design using the Brother Hook Tool.
Use a vinyl transfer sheet to remove the vinyl design from the backing paper. Rub with your finger or the Brother Brayer.
Use the transfer sheet to place the vinyl design onto your coffee cup. Rub with your finger or the Brother Brayer.
Carefully remove the transfer sheet...
...and burnish the vinyl design with your fingers.
I love the way it looks!
Thanks for stopping by!
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P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut. It is a machine that I love and use. All projects and opinions are my own.
Please note that some links on this blog contain affiliate links and I receive a small percentage of those sales. Rest assured, I never recommend a product that I don't believe in. :)
