Here’s my attempt at putting all the resources for sketching/writing/drawing/plotting/engraving/embossing with pens/tools in a diecutter in one place. Note that some of these are affiliate links.
Why draw/write with a diecutter?
A lot of people ask why sketch/write/draw instead of just using your computer printer. Here are some possible reasons:
- To achieve a more handwritten look
- To write over a larger area than your printer can print
- To use specialty inks such as watermark, neon, glue, dimensional, embossable, erasable, disappearing, white, glitter, metallic, washable, conductive, foilable to name some.
- To write on things that will not work in a printer such as dark paper, metal plates, folded boxes, cork, non-inkjet vinyl or transparencies, etc.
- To align writing to cutting without registration marks
Third Party Pen Holders for Silhouette and Cricut
Sketch File Freebies
- Sketch files from me
- Chibi drawings from Omar
- Simple drawings, many subjects from Dimensions Guide
- Summer Sun by Printable Cuttable Creatables
- Bird in Ponoko templates
- Clipartopolis weekly freebies are often single line (AI or EPS format, tutorial on how to use is here)
- Roses from BenBlogged in AI and EPS format
- Nelma alphabet from LostType.com in AI format
- Prefilled sentiments in .studio format from Pauline
- Free pumpkin file from EyeDrawIt
- Declaration of Independence excerpt from Thingiverse
- Line Art Typography for Silhouette by Nadine Muir
- 10 pack from SoFontsy.com
- Stroke Icons, various themes with tutorial
- Sketch and cut SVGs from Jen Goode
note: open path AI and EPS format files can be converted to SVG with CloudConvert or possibly Inkscape, video tutorial here
Sketch Files for Sale
- Craft Genesis Drawing SVG and DXF
- Single line designs from various artists at Creative Fabrica
- So Fontsy single line designs
- Sketchables from Printable Cuttable Creatables svg format
- Rustic Sketch set from Lettering Delights svg format
- Single Line designs, various artists from the Hungry JPEG
- Silhouette Design Store now featuring SVGs
- Cricut Acess (for Cricut users only) filter for “Draw Only” or “Cut + Draw” under Operation Type
- Attention artists … notice the need here!
Thin Fonts for Sketching/Writing/Engraving
Thin Font Freebies / Free Single Line Fonts
- Free Single Line from K40Laser
- CNC Text Tool
- My Dafont Pen Fonts Selections
- Delbert free from Missy Meyer
- Free true single line fonts (generate svgs with Font LabPad)
- Hershey Text Generator
- Single line demo fonts from Single Line Studio
- Templatemaker Single Line Font Generator
- my blog post on “single line” fonts for cutters
- 15 more free “single line” fonts for cutters
- Many fonts sampled with fine tip sharpie (nice list with links from Gigi)
- 9 free “single line” fonts from CamBam (some characters do not work properly in cutting software, proceed with caution)
- Thin font ideas, resources and links from Amy Chomas
- Numerous fonts sampled with sketch pens from Sensory Emporium
- Generating single line text in Inkscape
- 2 free thin fonts (Chalkboard Chum and Elsie’s Alphabet) from Font Snob
- Nadia’s post on Font Options for Cricut Explore
- Free font families with ultrathin (100) versions
- Single line font from Gentleman Crafter
Thin Fonts for Sale
- SIngle Line fonts at Creative Fabrica
- Silhouette Design Store now open to all (search does not filter for sketch fonts, be sure to choose only ones with thin strokes)
- Lettering Delights Thin Fonts (use OPF version in MTC, SCAL or Pazzles InVue, use TTF version in all other software)
- SingleLineFonts.com
- OneLineFonts.com
Open Path Format (.opf) true single line compatible with MTC, SCAL or inVue
- Lettering Delights Thin Fonts
- SingleLineFonts.com
- OneLineFonts.com
- Open path fonts at Pazzles Store
- Free Lattice font from SusanBlueRobot
- 5 free example open path fonts from Make the Cut
Filling Fonts/Images for Sketching/Writing/Engraving
- How to fill fonts in Inkscape (Axidraw extensions)
- How to fill fonts/images in Silhouette Studio 4.2.471 or later from Narelle
- How to fill fonts/images in Cricut Design Space
- How to fill fonts/images in Silhouette Studio 4.0.837 from Pauline
- Filled in fonts
- More filled in fonts
- Still more filled in fonts
- How to fill fonts and images using the sketch tool in SSDE
- How to fill fonts and images using SCAL4 from Scrappy Dew
- How to fill fonts and images with Make the Cut from Julie
- How to add fill to any font or image with Inkscape
- How to add fill to any font or image with Inkscape and Eggbot extensions
- How to fill fonts/images using inset in SCAL
- How to fill fonts/images using inset in Silhouette Studio (video)
- Nadia’s post on Font Options for Cricut Explore
- My Dafont “Pre-filled” Pen Fonts Selections
- How to use the Curio fills
- Pauline’s post on fill techniques
- Manual technique for filling sentiments in Inkscape
- Overview of Silhouette sketch fills by Kelly Wayment
- Line Art Typography for Silhouette by Nadine Muir
Dingbat Fonts for Sketching/Writing
Centerline Trace Apps for Creating Sketch Files
- Inkscape 1.0 now includes Center Line Trace!
- Rapid Resizer (free web app) – video tutorial here
- Make the Cut – choose “Font Thinning” from the Shape Magic>Advanced menu
- Adobe Illustrator – use LiveTrace and set fill to off and path to on – tutorial from Kristy at Craftermath here
- Corel Draw
- Win Topo (free) tutorial from Kristy at Craftermath here
- Signature to SVG
Creating your own Sketch Files
- Converting photos to sketches
- How to create single path sentiments with an iPad
- How to trace a hand sketch
- Create sketches with Inkscape
Creating Sketch files in Silhouette Studio Designer Edition
Favorite Pens for Diecutter Sketching (with proper adapter)
- Sakura Gelly Roll
- Uniball Signo
- Papermate Inkjoy
- Papermate Flair (felt tip)
- Target Up and Up gel pens
- Pentel Fabric Gel pens
- Staedtler Tri Plus
- Pilot G2
Pens/Markers that fit Cricuts (pre-Explore) and Silhouettes without pen holders or adapters
- Licensed character markers from Tri-Coastal Design sold at Walmart, Michaels and Dollar Tree
Pens/Markers that fit the Cricut Explore, Explore Air (2), Maker
Pens/Markers that fit the Cricut Explore One (or B side of Cricut Explore and Cricut Explore Air)
- Regular (Fine Point Sharpie)
Engraving
- Engraving with the Cricut Explore
- Engraving(Etching) with the Silhouette Curio
- Curio Clipboard Project by me
- Engraving with a Silhouette Cameo
Embossing
- Powder embossing with a Silhouette
- Powder embossing with a Cricut Explore
- Score and Emboss with a Silhouette Curio
- Flat embossing with the Curio (different, way-cool kind of embossing)
- Flat embossing with the Cricut
Other Sketching-related tutorials
- Intro to using pens in the Cricut from Jennifer Maker
- Sketching with watercolor from Smart Silhouette
- How to get a true size cut line in Silhouette Studio
- How to get a true size cut line in Cricut Design Space
- Centering your writing on a blank in Cricut Design Space
- Targeting your cuts on the Cricut Explore
- Silhouette Pixscan for targeting blanks
- Cricut SnapMat (feature of iOS app)
- Writing/Drawing with a Cricut Explore from Jen Goode
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