Dollar Store Hacks: Silhouette Cutting Mats and DIY Stencils!!!

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6:00 AM

I love finding things that work great for other things...from the dollar store!

Dollar Tree to be exact!

Here's 2 fabulous things to do with these chopping mats!
2 in 1 pack...so 50 cents a piece!

They are pretty firm and sturdy plastic sheets!
9 by 12"

First one I used as a silhouette Cameo cutting mat!
Yes, I'd love to say $20!
I just used it the same as a mat without the markings.
I could easily put this right on top of my silhouette mat and use a sharpie to mark the lines!
These are perfect for scraps and pieces of vinyl you just can't waste!
(Not good if you are cutting 12 by 12", but great for 8 by 10's or scraps of paper!)

Just line it up...spray with removable adhesive...

Cut and weed!

Hello cheap cutting mat!

And a cute way to use up vinyl scraps!

Next thing I did was see if the Cameo had the power to actually cut the mat!
did it? No. But it scored it pretty good.

Perfect for a big Damask Stencil!

Same technique I've used before in my DIY Stencils...

mark the spaces that need to be cut out...that will save confusion later!
Then used an x-acto and scissors and cut out along my score lines!

Takes a while...

When done, use Easy Tack repositionable
spray and spray the backside of the stencil

Find somewhere that could use a stencil...

Stick it on...and tape the edges...

Use a stencil brush and some paint...

Paint it carefully...I'll admit, I didn't do the best job that I know how...but it was an "experiment"

Don't look super close...

Pretty great for a 50 cent stencil! I think a simpler design would work better...

Linking up to THESE parties this week!

Comments

Unknown said…

I just ordered my Silhouette today, and I've been scouring the internet for any and all information/hacks I can find. Thanks for the money saving tip.

5/30/2013 4:54 AM

Micheal Hussey said…

Thanks to share these details it’s truly nice.
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6/05/2013 2:21 AM

BJB said…

Any idea if it will work with the Portrait...their mat is apparently thinner? I just got my Portrait and am scared death that I will destroy my may right away.

11/03/2013 6:12 AM

Jessica said…

The clear contact paper in rolls at Dollar Tree works wonderfully as a stencil medium. It's sticky enough that you won't have problems with it bleeding under the stencil but it's easily re-positionable. And it cuts just like vinyl, without having to cut with scissors. Plus, you get a whole roll of it for a dollar and it can easily be used for glass etching projects and other things that need the stencil to be flexible. :)
Thanks for the tip about the mat! I use a Silhouette Portrait, so that will work perfectly :)

1/30/2014 9:16 AM

58 Cherries said…

Thanks for the tip. I received the same machine for Christmas and have yet to be able to use it. I do use stencils all the time, though. If I may offer a piece of advice in return - if you want your stencil to not bleed so much and for the lines to be crisp and clean - use less paint. It should be a still stencil brush and just minimum amount of paint. (I blot my brush on a paper plate until it is just a tiny bit wet). It means more pressure and effort required to stencil it on, but the results are well worth it. Just a tip as I've ruined many of my efforts by too wet of a brush.

58Cherries

8/29/2014 2:01 PM