Cricut and glitter tattoos

jenniferella wrote:What is the easiest way to pull out the pieces of the stencil that will be glittered? Ive just been using a toothpick, but it seems a little tedious...am wondering if someone has come up with a more efficient way of doing it! Still trying to figure out this whole process, but I definitely love making my own tattoos. Ive gone a little crazy and am up to 175 designs now!!!

Do you mean to pull them off the mat, or off of the skin once they are applied?

For the mat, once they are freshly cut from the machine, anniel is right - the Cricut spatula is best. Makes fast work of that.

If it's to pull the tricky bits off the skin once it has been applied, I can't remember the thread I saw it in, but I think someone said tweezers.

Hi Everyone,

Im new to the site and have been researching for hours about making my own glitter tattoo stencils, i know i need to purchase a silhoutte machine but havent got a clue about what materials to use and how to make them.

I would be doing them at my kids school faytes etc

would love any help, tips etc

I am in the UK so maybe thats why im finding it hard to find information??

Many thanks
Hayley

Toothpicks, like Faketoos recommends, have been best for me off the body...but I would like to find something a little more professional looking. Tweezers just are clumsy for me to handle for some reason. I picked up a cuticle stick (a 2 colored plastic one) that I need to try out still.

I tired to make my own yeah that was interesting needless to say the least lol.

x

Faketoos, maybe a private platform is a better place to work it out.

is everyone still recommending the Silouette and scal? or have things changed? I am about ready to take the next step in making my own but, just still confused on what I need to purchase. This is a great thread and I really appreciate you all sharing your experiences and advice.

I upgraded my cricut to the Silhouette and I LOVE it. I'm still using the SCAL with it. I've also got the designer edition of the Silhouette software and I'm really on the fence about which software I like best.
Shop around for your silhouette, your vinyl, and your blades. You can get some AMAZING deals.

Since people are still chiming in on this awesome thread, I've got the new Silhouette Cameo machine and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I've made glitter tat stencils, plus my entire wedding invitation suite (super intricate diecutting going on there), and it's fantastic. I wish I could just run to the store for new blades, but that's the only complaint I have. It cuts cleaner than a Cricut (IE: sharper points, clean circles, less jagged edges). They also have a gigantic library of images you can buy for only .99 cents, like an itunes library. So when I needed a fancy swirl instead of spending half an hour to design one myself I just went on and spend a dollar and bought one. Also, for $50 you can get the designer edition of the software and import any of your own svg files, just like the SCAL software used to do for the Cricut. It will cut any font on your computer and will make outlines from even an imported image. You can also cut rhinestone templates with it, which I used to make my bling "Face Painter" shirt.

So far my glitter tat stencils are just made with the Silhouette brand vinyl, but I'm going to order better stuff and try it out in the next couple weeks. I think it's alot cheaper to make your own if you have the time to spend to do it. The machine cuts very fast, but you still have to pick out all the unwanted pieces, then cover in the clear transfer tape, and cut each stencil appart from the master sheet. It took me pretty much a whole evening to make about 80 stencils, not counting design time.

http://www.craftvinyl.com/ has blades for the best price I've found. I'm LOVING my cameo as well!

Next month I will be able to order my Sil Cam. Thank you for your post updates I really appreciated it. I am lucky to not have to go into this big purchase blindly. I am so super excited that its worked out for you. Can wait to play with my own.

I just ordered a Silhouette Cameo! So excited! Thanks to everyone who posted information! It should arrive Wednesday! All I need now is to get the Adhesive Vinyl! I read 2 different kinds on here...can anyone clarify which is best!? Oracal 641 or 651?? Thank you!

Wow! Life just got way more interesting and a lot less frustrating. This is so cool... I can have an endless supply and limitless designs! I WANT one today. LOL

So.... where is the best place to buy one of these Sil Cam gems?

There's a lot of info on this thread but my brain is scrambled and I do not have time to sort things out, so....

Those of you with experience and willing to save me time honing it down - if you were to put together a shopping list for someone wanting to get started with cutting their own tat stencils and body art stencils (like BAMs) - what would be on the list? And WHERE would you buy it all?

Sil Cam
$50 designer edition software
Adhesive Vinyl - (specific brand/type)
Transfer Tape
Extra cutting blades?

Is that everything I need to do what I want? (Glitter/Mica Tats and body art stencils)

The most important item you need is a CUTTER! People have discussed Cricut, Silhouette Cameo and I heard Plankets? I just ordered a Silhoutette Cameo and it should arrive tomorrow! I am NO expert, but this is the info I got out of this forum last night!
Also, The Silhouette Cameo comes with software, which I will start with!

Manja, I've got lots of answers but I've also got to get my hair dyed and the balcony cleaned, If I don't answer your question by the end of the day kick my butt and I will get you some answers- cause I have em!

I get to buy this set up NEXT WEEK with our income tax refund. I also have it on my to do list that I go through this whole thread & sort out the answers. but its been on my list for a month now. I am running out of time lol I hope to order everything I need on the same day. if I get to it today I will post it for proofing lol

I'm chomping at the bit, sweethavenart! What color are you dying your hair today? I like the blue on you!

Tasha... soooo exciting!

I typed this up over on a glitter facebook group earlier so I'm gonna copy some...

I have a Sillouette Cameo- It's a plotter/cutter. It's made to cut vinyl and paper. I got mine for the tats, and for its versatility- I make hand outs for my girl scouts and sunday school classes, bits for scrapbooks, t shirt transfers, and more. (I'm a pretty crafty person!) If you want to get started you will need A Cameo! The best price is from OhmyCrafts and is $269.99. but be warned, OMC takes FOREVER to ship. Lots of other companies sell for fair price- in fact the company I recommend for vinyl/blades/tape now has the cameo! The company I get blades and vinyl for http://craftvinyl.com/ I got their grab pack of gloss vinyl ($16) and they have one of the best prices for blades. ($10) you also need the transfer tape I got 10 feet for about $10. You will have to pay for a program to get the images to your cameo- to make stencils you need a SVG file, and none of the free programs will import them. I've got the Silhouette Designers edition and Sure Cuts A Lot. (There is also a program called make the cut). I like SCAL the best. It has a number of features I use. And SCAL is 60 dollars. You do the math! Like I said, though, I am still able to use it for lots and lots more!
I recommend this forum http://s15.zetaboards.com/Silhouette_Plus/index/ if you are having troubles getting the cameo to work, there is a pretty big learning curve to get things rolling, and a lot of simple mistakes that can be made. Trust me, I've made them. 8-)
I haven't found an online source for stencil mylar- like you'd make bam type stencils out of. I use a quilt stencil material I found over at hobby lobby.

And actually, the hair is blue and purple today. 8-)

That's very helpful! Thanks so much for taking the time out of your day to save me time out of mine

Much appreciated!

Here is a collage of what I did with my Silhouette Cameo, the free program that came with it, and some adhesive vinyl! A client hired me to do Glitter Tattoos today for their Companies' 'Take your child to work day' and they wanted their LOGO done as the Glitter Tattoo!------ My silhouette came in the mail with some free vinyl YESTERDAY and I was able to get a high res. Logo from their website and turn it into a nice stencil for today's event! I am VERY pleased! I have to get ready for the job, but will check back later to see if anyone has any questions! [img][/img]

Darn! I don't know how to add a picture from my computerr!!!???

Manja wrote:Wow! Life just got way more interesting and a lot less frustrating. This is so cool... I can have an endless supply and limitless designs! I WANT one today. LOL

So.... where is the best place to buy one of these Sil Cam gems?

There's a lot of info on this thread but my brain is scrambled and I do not have time to sort things out, so....

Those of you with experience and willing to save me time honing it down - if you were to put together a shopping list for someone wanting to get started with cutting their own tat stencils and body art stencils (like BAMs) - what would be on the list? And WHERE would you buy it all?

Sil Cam
$50 designer edition software
Adhesive Vinyl - (specific brand/type)
Transfer Tape
Extra cutting blades?

Is that everything I need to do what I want? (Glitter/Mica Tats and body art stencils)

You need and extra mat, you can buy CRICUT ones, they are cheaper and thicker, I only use my SIL for the stencils for my glitter tats, and I don't have an special program, just look for the image I want and clean in in black and white and cut is as jpg, I am cutting BAM stencils too.

Goood to know, artyfacesbyluz! I wondered about cutting BAM stencils... what material do you use for those?

Okay - new question. How long did it take you all to make your money back on the investment of your machine?

My husband is questioning when my break-even point would be. I know it depends a lot on venues/number of gigs/etc. Just wondering what everyone's personal experiences are.

I'm stoked and have numerous ideas of how to generate income from it right away, but he's not convinced.

Manja, I don't know the answer to your question. But... Do you make cards? Scrapbook? Do anything paper-crafty? If so, this is a great investment just for the creative factor alone. They can do so many things. Our elementary school library has a similar cutting machine and it's used to do all kinds of things with it, from cards, to posters, to 3D display boards throughout the school. It does so much more than cut vinyl or paper. Just a thought.

If that's not for you and you only want to get it to cut glitter tattoo stencils and make money back on it, versus getting it to cut personalized stencils or for fun then I'm sure there are people on here with more experience in that area that can help out with your questions.