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Clever Someday

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Sketching Resource Page

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

  • Chomas Creations
  • FlywheelIT
  • KidSharp
  • Little Paper Towns

Sketch File Freebies

  • Sketch files from me
    • Anchor and verse
    • Pumpkin border
    • Fall bundle
    • Christmas gift
    • Army boots
    • Seagull
    • Dressform
    • Reindeer
  • 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
    • Shamrock
    • Easter Egg Doodles
    • Leaf Vine
    • Gift Box
    • Love sentiment
    • Square frame doodles
    • Girl and Doll Crown and Wand
    • Hello Homework sentiment
    • Thank you card and sentiment
    • Snowflake tag

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

  • State Birds
  • Doodlebats for Sketching
  • My Dafont Dingbats for Sketching selections

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

  • Silhouette Blog tutorial

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
    dollarmarkers

Pens/Markers that fit the Cricut Explore, Explore Air (2), Maker

  • Pen options for Cricut Explore from Nadia
  • Video from Sassi Scrapbooking

Pens/Markers that fit the Cricut Explore One (or B side of Cricut Explore and Cricut Explore Air)

  • Regular (Fine Point Sharpie)
    ExploreSharpie

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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I may be an affiliate for some of the products I recommend. This means that if you purchase one of those items through my link I will earn a commission, even though the cost to you will not be higher. Using these links is an easy way you can help me defray the costs of keeping the blog running. I hope I've proven to you over the past 9 years that I am going to tell you the truth, regardless of any financial interest I may have.

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