Hello, Janet here with some cute retro bookmarks using the Silhouette Printable Magnetic Paper. These use a Print & Cut design called the 57 T Bird Car Print and Cut Set (#12253) by Samantha Walker.
As this magnetic paper is printable it is perfect to use with Print & Cut files from the Silhouette Design store. To transform the Print & Cut images into bookmarks takes a little manipulation, and I'll explain the steps for you here. The method can be applied to many of the other 8000+ Print & Cut files available in the store.
STEP 1: Set up the Print & Cut Document
In Page Setup change the size to match the magnetic paper size ( i.e. to Letter). I prefer to set the orientation to landscape. Also tick the Show Print Border and Show Cut Border.
From the Registration Marks tab, select Type 1 in the Style dropdown box, I like to increase the thickness to .60 to make the registration Marks easier for the sensor to dectect.
In the Main Menu (top of the page), change the Print Page Setup to Letter size. Now, when you look at the virtual mat, the registration marks are joined by the cut (red) line, and the print (grey) line is visible within the page borders and outside the cut line.
STEP 2: Prepare the Design
Open the design in the same tab and examine the file. When you separate the design from the cut line you'll see that all the cars are in one piece. These will need to be separated in order to use them as bookmarks. For this file, using Ungroup, or Release Compound Path doesn't separate them any further. There are other ways of doing this, but I like to separate them using the knife tool.
In the Design edition of the Silhouette Studio software, there are a selection of knife styles. I selected the Freehand style, and temporarily changed the outline of the bounding box to black. Then I drew lines, crossing the left and right hand edges of the box between the cars to separate them. It is helpful to then select all the cars and change the black line back to clear.
STEP 3: Make the Bookmark Shape
Make an offset of one of the existing cut lines (Offset, Distance of 0.125").
Selecting the new offset, open the Modify window and Replicate, Mirror Above. Move the new shape down to slightly overlap the first offset.
Weld both offsets together (select both, right mouse click, select Weld). Then add a fold line where they join, ensure it is given a different colour and centre it vertically to the entire shape. Now you can delete the inner cut line and duplicate the new shape to make four outline shapes and place one of the cars on each shape. Select everything (Ctrl A) and increase their size (holding down the shift key to keep the size proportional) and then spread them out a little within the registration lines, cut lines and shading.
STEP 4: Print the bookmarks
The magnetic sheets print beautifully on my inkjet printer. They should print well in any inkjet which normally takes thick cardstock. If you don't always get Print & Cut to work well for you, I suggest that you practice both the print and cut stages with a piece of scrap card trimmed to letter size in the same light conditions that you'll use for the final cut.
Ensure that your Page Setup is still set to Letter (grey line should still in the correct position from Step 2) and send your file to print having first increased the Print quality to best. Allow the bookmarks to dry before handling overmuch. Note that if all the line thicknesses are set at minimum or zero, they do not print, and for this project you don't want them to.
STEP 5: Cut Settings
Select Send and then Cut by Line. Set the red line to Magnetic Paper Printable, and the fold line to Vinyl Matte (a shallow cut). IMPORTANT: Untick the clear line from around the cars so that it doesn't cut at all. Place the media on the cutting mat printed side up, and feed it into your Silhouette. Carry out a test cut if you haven't cut this media before and adjust the cut settings accordingly, then send the job to cut.
STEP 6: Finishing the Bookmarks
Remove the sheet and bookmarks from the mat and fold the bookmarks along the fold line. Use a paper folder on the reverse of the fold to make a really crisp line.
The bookmarks are now ready to use. If you wish you can add some additional magnetic strip for a 'snappier' closure.
The bookmarks can be used as regular bookmarks, or to mark pages in your planner or journal. Don't feel limited to this design though - there are 8000 more in the store to choose from!
Bye for now,
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Great and interesting tutorial Janet, love this idea.
ReplyDeleteFaith
Thank you Faith.
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