If you’ve ever wondered if you can use the SHOW-OFFS Stencil Blanks with your Cricut Machine, the answer is yes! I’ll walk you through the process of How to Make Stencils Using SHOW-OFFS Stencil Blanks and Cricut Design Space.
*A couple of people have wrote about an interest in making cookie stencils using these Show-Offs Stencil Blanks and I have replied that I did not know if they would work for making cookie stencils.
I have recently been in contact with Hobby Lobby customer service and they have confirmed that these SHOW-OFFS Stencil Blanks ARE NOT INTENDED FOR FOOD USE. *
Please make sure to find a FOOD SAFE MYLAR on any stencils that are intended to come in contact with food or drink.
Supplies List:
–Cricut Machine
The Process:
I personally like making my stencils using SHOW-OFFS Stencil Blanks that can be purchased at Hobby Lobby. I prefer to use the 6″x18″, 9″x18″, and 12″x18″. I don’t use the 8″x10″ SHOW-OFFS stencil blanks because they are a lot thicker.
The stencil blanks have a layer of film covering that needs to be peeled off before cutting.
To start the peel, I just look for one of the corners that looks like it’s starting to peel, which then just takes seconds to get the film off.
If none of the corners are lifted and ready peel then I use my fingernails to start the peel, and this can sometimes take several minutes to get the layer of film off.
The stencil blank then needs to be pressed onto the Cricut mat.
The glossy side of the stencil blanks faces upward, while the matte side faces downward on the mat. (The glossy side will be the side from which the layer of film is removed.)
I use the 12″x24″ mat that has to be purchased separately from the Cricut machine.
Once the stencil blank is pressed onto the mat, it is ready to be loaded into the Cricut machine.
I usually make sure the stencil blank is on as smoothly and without air bubbles as possible.
I turn the material dial to custom on the Cricut machine.
—-Important Information Regarding Settings for Stencil Cutting—-
When I first got my Cricut machine I had to figure out what settings I needed to change my machine to, so that it would cut through the SHOW-OFFS stencil blanks. To find the Manage Custom Materials tab, click on the menu button on the home page.
Then click on Manage Custom Materials.
A window will pop up where the different materials can be changed.
First Click “Add New Material” and name it Show-Offs Stencil Blanks or whatever you choose to name it. Then click “Save”.
Next set the Show-Offs Stencil Blanks setting to cut at a pressure of 350 at 2x. Then click “Save”.
If you choose to use the Custom Material option just make sure to select the Show-Offs Stencil Blanks setting when loading the mat and getting ready to cut the stencil blanks.
Cricut Design Space guides users when to load the mat and when to hit the cut button.
The blinking light on the machine also indicates when to hit the load button and when to hit the cut button.
I have used both the German carbide blade that comes with the Cricut machine and the Regular blade that can be bought in stores, and both work great when cutting these stencil blanks.
After the stencil has been cut, and Cricut Design Space gives instructions to unload the mat, it is time to take the stencil off the mat.
Turn the mat over so that the stencil faces down on a flat surface, preferably a clean table. Then bend the Cricut mat up, so that the mat pulls slowly away from the stencil.
Once the stencil is free from the mat, a beautiful stencil is waiting to be used.
I hope this tutorial, How to Make Stencils Using SHOW-OFFS Stencil Blanks and Cricut Design Space, is helpful.
Thanks so much for sharing How to Make Stencils Using SHOW-OFFS Stencil Blanks and Cricut Design Space !!
A little about Repurposing Junkie
I started using stencils on furniture in 2015. I had given a white table a makeover, and painted it orange to be an accent table in the living room. Even with the bright color, the table was missing something. I applied a stencil that I had bought at one of my favorite craft stores to the table to give it that something extra and sure enough it really made the table stand out.
After seeing the transformation the table took by adding the stenciled flowers, I was hooked on stenciling. I loved how adding just a bit of detail made the piece stand out and took it to a whole new level. Adding this detail and seeing the results was all I needed to be convinced that stenciling was the way to go, and thus began my love for all things stencil.
I love how a stencil design can add detail and beauty to furniture,wall art, clothes, mugs and other accessories, walls, floors and so many other things. It’s fantastic how easy it is to make something beautiful become exquisite and eye catching just by adding a stencil overlay.
After stenciling for a while, I started designing my own stencils in 2016 to cut on my awesome Cricut Explore. It took some time and learning but it was so rewarding being able to cut my own custom designs right in my home.
I went on to write some tutorials on cutting stencils using the Cricut machine:
I also wrote a few tutorials on designing your own stencils and the tools needed to create and make stencils using the Cricut:
Creating Stencil and Printable Designs:
After getting comfortable with cutting stencils on the Cricut and learning how to create my own stencil designs, I began offering stencil cut files for free on my blog and in my Etsy shop. I have since closed up my Etsy shop and opened a new shop, that offers a variety of cut files that can be made into stencils.
In my shop, I offer wall stencil cut files, and border stencil cut files, both of which are great for wall and furniture embellishments. I also have a lot of monogram/alphabet stencil cut files for personalization projects. Plus lots more stencil cut file designs to check out in my shop, and plenty more to come.
I design all the stencil cut files and printables that I offer on my blog, and in my shop, using my own hand drawn elements, or fonts that can be found on my resource page, or a combination of both.
I have found a passion for design and strive to create unique and fun designs that can be used in a variety of settings, such as home decor, furniture, wall art, fashion design, accessory items, and so much more. My eye has always been drawn to the details, patterns, and embellishments in such things as home decor and clothing, so it’s a real joy for me to become part of the design process of such things.
Stencils are a great and easy way to add that something special to a piece whether it’s repurposed furniture or wall art or a brand new canvas or wall.
I share on my blog how I’ve transformed several repurposed pieces using stencils:
You can check out the stenciled projects here. I usually add stencils to furniture and wall art pieces. Some of my favorite stencil projects include refinishing a curbside table, upcycling a piece of canvas wall art, and making an extra large stenciled wall art piece, just to name a few of my favorite stencil projects.
I also have some repurposing projects that I hope are fun and inspiring. I love taking old “junk” and turning it into something completely different:
You can check out the repurposing projects here. I have several projects using ceiling fan parts, spindles, old frames, plaques, and furniture. Some of my favorite repurposing projects are the ceiling fan blades to airplane repurpose, the angels made from hinges and spindle parts, and transforming a kitchen table using stencils, and these are just a few of my favorite repurposing projects.
I hope you spend some time on my blog, checking out the Cricut tutorials, DIY projects, and SVG Cut Files and Printable designs that I offer for FREE as a bonus to email subscribers.
If you’re interested in signing up to my blog email list, you can do so using the form below. I only send out one email a week and that is to let email subscribers know that I’ve added new designs to the cut file and printable resource libraries, and also to notify them when I have a new blog post or a special deal I’m running in my shop.
I sincerely hope you enjoy the projects, tutorials, stencil cut files and printables offered on my blog, in my Resource Library. If you have any questions concerning the tutorials, stencil cut files, printables an/or projects found on my blog, you can contact me here.
Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I hope you take your time and look around, and I hope you find the blog posts, projects, tutorials, stencil cut files and printables resources to be useful and helpful in your DIY projects.
