How to Cut Your Own Handwriting in Silhouette Studio

One of our many talented readers shared a Father's Day Silhouette project she made on our Facebook page and you all went crazy for it.  It was a picture frame that included a handwritten note from her late father...the note had been cut on vinyl and stuck on the glass.  Since many of you asked how it was done, I thought I'd share a tutorial on cutting your own handwriting in Silhouette Studio.

Not to get all sappy on you, but my ninth wedding anniversary is coming up so I thought I'd use the handwritten note my husband gave me (stuck on a mirror) when he proposed more than 10 years ago to demonstrate.   Plus, it's a two for one for me because I get to share a tutorial and make him a gift. Nothing like mulit-tasking!


So here's the note.

Awww...

I'm laughing now I as think about him, with a ring burning a hole in his pocket, scribbling on a sports notepad while sitting on a runway at O'Hare following delay after delay on his way from western PA to Fargo, ND to propose.  We were high school sweethearts, but had been long distance for five years at that time, so what was 10 more hours to wait.  It probably felt like an eternity.   Anyway, ten years, five moves and two kids later I still have that little note.

Please excuse me as I reminisce...back to why you're here.

So get your handwriting - a letter, a signature, a special card or poem, something cute your kindergartener came up with in class or whatever.  It's best to scan the paper directly onto your computer, but you could also take a picture with you camera and then upload it onto your computer that way.

Once it's on your computer, save it as a jpeg and drag it into Silhouette Studio.  Click here if you need a refresher on bringing jpegs into Studio.

Now you're going to trace.  Click the Trace Window > Click 'Select Trace Area > Select around your handwriting > Uncheck high pass filter > slide threshold towards 100% until you get crisp solid yellow lines > Click 'Trace'

Once you hit 'Trace' you'll get a red outline around all of your letters.

Now you can move the actual handwritten piece out of the way and delete it and you'll be left with a handwriting cut design.

 
If you need to group your cut design together so you can resize and move it around the page as you prepare to cut.

OPTIONAL: I wanted my design to cut on vinyl AND I wanted it on the inside of the glass picture frame. Since that means it will technically be flipped, I need to make the text mirrored.

Now I'm ready to cut the handwritten note on vinyl.  I went with black 651 so it kind of looks like a black sharpie on the frame.   Take it from me ... DOUBLE CUT if you have small handwriting...and slow your speed down to a 1 or 2. Even with this at 6" wide, each letter was so small that it was very difficult to weed. I think the double cut really helps make sure the letters aren't sticking to the negative space of the vinyl.

Then grab your transfer paper, press it down really well onto the vinyl handwriting and you can move it to wherever you want!

I put mine on the inside/back side of the glass of a picture frame...

...and then I put the picture 'behind' the text.

And that's all there is to cutting your own handwriting (or your soon-to-be fiance's handwritten love notes.)

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I received a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine! 

Thanks for coming to class today at Silhouette School.  If you like what you see, I'd love for you to pin it!