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Get the look of a professional laser-cut filigree card with gorgeous foil details with Silhouette Cameo and the We R Memory Keepers Foil Quill!

Hi friends! I’m super excited to share this project because this was my first time using the We R Memory Keepers Foil Quill. I love using my Silhouette Cameo for card making, so I’m always excited with new ways to use my machine.

So today, I’ll show you how to combine the cutting power of your Silhouette Cameo and spectacularly shiny foil in an autumn inspired card that is sure to please!

Get the free pattern for this card!

You can download the free SVG/DXF/PDF pattern for this Fall Leaves Filigree card in my Resource Library.

Let’s get started!

This post probably contains affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking the link, I earn a commission without any additional cost to you). You can read my full disclosure policy HERE.

Quick Links to Information in this Post

• Supplies
• How-to Video (click here to watch on YouTube)
• How to cut the Fall Leaves Filigree card
• How to add foil with Foil Quill and Silhouette Cameo
• How to assemble card
• Free Fall Leaves Filigree Card pattern

Supplies

How-to Video

You can watch the How-to video below or in full HD on my YouTube Channel:

Step 1: Download and open Fall Leaves Pattern

You’ll first need to download my free Fall Leaves Filigree Card pattern from my Resource Library (you can get the password to the library at the bottom of this post).

In my Resource Library, click on the Fall Leaves Filigree Card link to download the file. The file is a zipped folder so to access the files inside, you’ll need to upzip the folder.

The filigree card pattern is saved in SVG, DXF, and PDF format. Here’s what the SVG file looks like in Silhouette Studio Designer Edition:

If you’re using the Basic Edition (the free version) of Silhouette Studio, you’ll use the DXF file. The DXF file will look a little different than the SVG, but you can cut/foil it pretty much the same way.

For tips on working with DXF files in Silhouette Studio, read the blog post I wrote by clicking here.

And I’ve also included a PDF file so you can print out the pattern and cut it out by hand if you want.

There are two filigree designs – the one on the left to be used to cut out the filigree design just on its own, and the one on the right with the gold lines in it to be used with the Foil Quill.

The orange leaves design is what you’ll place behind the filigree to “fill-in” the leaves. There is also the “thankful” sentiment if you want to use that for your card as well.

All the elements in the SVG file are grouped together when you open it in Silhouette Studio. To ungroup the elements, right-click the design and select “ungroup” from the drop-down menu. Now you can move the pieces individually.

Step 2: Cut it out

Align the basic filigree design on your mat, and with the design still selected, click “Send” in the upper right-hand corner of Silhouette Studio.

Make sure “Cut” is selected under Tool 1 (it should be highlighted in gray). If you’re not able to make changes in this menu it probably means you need to click on your design. So, just click on the design on your mat, and then you should see that “Cut” is selected. Click on “Cut” if it isn’t.

Filigree cut settings

The filigree design is quite intricate, but my Silhouette Cameo 3 cut it out great! Here are the settings I used:

• Material: Coverstock, Heavy (105 lb – 122 lb)
• Action: Cut
• Tool: Auto Blade

I also highly recommend using a sticky mat and sharp blade!

Now, just load your cutting mat into your machine, and press “Send” in Silhouette Studio to start cutting!

Since this design is quite intricate, work carefully to gently release the card stock from the mat. Use a tool like a craft knife to help if you need to. If you work too quickly or pull up too hard, you risk ripping the design.

Orange Leaves and Thankful Cut Settings

I used the same cut settings as the basic filigree design to cut the orange leaves and “thankful” sentiment.

The “thankful” sentiment is a little fragile so just work carefully to remove it from your cutting mat.

I actually cut out the sentiment three times so I can layer them together for more dimension on the card.

How to add Foil with the Foil Quill and Silhouette Cameo

In Silhouette Studio, you’ll use the filigree leaves design with the gold lines in it.

But first, attach the Foil Quill “A” adapter to the fine tip (pink) Foil Quill Heat Pen. You just slide it in and screw it on.

Then, put the Foil Quill into your machine – Tool Carriage 2 for Cameo 3 and all others use Tool Carriage 1.

If you’re using the Cameo 3, make sure that there aren’t any tools in Tool Carriage 1.

Next, plug the Foil Quill into a USB powder source, like your computer or wall outlet. DO NOT plug it into your machine. I grabbed an extension cord to put right next to my Cameo.

Arrange the Foil Quill cord so that it goes off to the side of your machine, and isn’t in the way.

The Foil Quill will light up when it’s been plugged in. Put the heat resistant metal plate underneath it while it heats up for at least 5 minutes.

Filigree Design Placement in Silhouette Studio

Meanwhile, in Silhouette Studio move the filigree design with the gold lines to the bottom left corner of your mat. Try to align it so the bottom left corner of the design is at about 0.75 inches and 11.25 inches.

Tips for aligning the design in Silhouette Studio:

• zoom in – click “View” (in top Menu) then “Zoom”
• use grid lines on your mat – click “View” then “Show Grid”
• try using “Snap to Grid” – click “View” then “Snap to Grid”
• in Designer Edition, use the rulers – click “View” then “Show Rulers”
• in Designer Edition, click the Centre at Bottom Left tool and change your X value to 0.75 and your Y value to 11.25
• in Basic Edition, click the Centre at Top Left tool and change the X value to 0.75 and Y to 6.5

How to Prepare Your cutting Mat

Now, arrange 8.5 x 11 inch dark brown card stock in the bottom left corner of your cutting mat (with the 8.5 inch side pointing down).

(Having the card stock on the lower part of your cutting mat allows you to more easily remove the foil before cutting the design.)

Then, cut a piece of foil that measures 8 x 6 inches. A rotary cutter on a self-healing cutting mat with gridlines makes this SO easy!

Then, apply Foil Quill Placement Tape (or washi tape) to one of the 8 inch sides of the foil.

Try to put the placement tape only about 1/2 inch (or a little less) into the foil. This is very important so that it doesn’t interfere with the Foil Quill.

Next, adhere that taped foil to your card stock, aligning the foil with the bottom edge of your card stock. Then, put tape on the other 8 inch side, making sure to pull the foil as taut as you can with minimal wrinkling.

Lastly, apply placement tape on the two remaining edges of the foil, smoothing the foil as much as possible.

I found that it was easiest for me to work with smaller strips of tape, than with 1 big, long strip.

Make sure all placement tape is securely stuck down (no edges sticking up), and cut off any bits that overhang the mat.

It’s important to pay attention to where you place your design in Silhouette Studio and to what your cutting mat looks like.

Using these instructions should allow for about a 1-inch foil margin around your design (which is recommended).

You can always experiment with smaller margins to help conserve foil, but if the placement tape overlaps your design, that area will not be foiled.

Foil Quill Settings in Silhouette Studio

With the design placed correctly in Silhouette Studio, click “Send” in the upper right-hand corner, then click “Line.” There are two line colors in this design: black are your cut lines, and gold are your foil lines.

Click and drag the gold box to the top row of the table (if it wasn’t already).

A general rule for selecting the material settings with the Foil Quill is to select the material settings based on the material you intend to foil. I however, used the settings recommended by Melissa at the Silhouette School Blog in THIS blog post.

The only difference is I did not use a chipboard “shim” with this project, and I had excellent results every time.

Here are the settings I used for the Foil Quill:

• Material: Chipboard, then change the following settings –
  • Force: 22
  • Speed: 7
  • Pass: 1
• Action: Sketch
• Tool: Sketch Pen

If you’re using the Cameo 3, click the right circle in the Tool No. column to indicate your are using Tool Carriage 2 (because the Foil Quill should be in that carriage!).

Now, uncheck the box next to the black lines. You need to foil and cut in two separate passes.

(Do NOT use the “Add pause” button here – as the machine will not reset to the original starting position so you won’t be able to remove the foil to do your cutting).

load machine

Back on your machine, slide the rollers to the side so they are not in the way of the foil. You don’t want anything in the way that could possibly interfere with the Foil Quill.

Now, remove the heat resistant metal plate and load your cutting mat.

Double check your settings in Silhouette Studio (this is always a best practice! I hate messing up and having to re-do).

Make sure you have enough slack in the Foil Quill cord, and it’s not going to get in the way. I just laid it off to the side.

Then, press “Send” in Silhouette Studio, and now the magic happens!

When the foiling is done

When the machine is done, DO NOT UNLOAD YOUR MAT! This is VERY important.

Remove the Foil Quill from the tool carriage and unplug it. Now, insert the cutting blade into your machine. You do not need to touch anything else on your machine.

Next, gently remove the placement tape and foil from the card stock (without moving the card stock) to reveal the awesome shiny foil goodness!

The placement tape did peel up some of the card stock around the edge, but for this project that doesn’t matter because we’re trimming that part off anyway.

Then, back in Silhouette Studio, uncheck the gold lines and check the box in the black line row (to cut these lines!)

I used the same cut settings as the basic filigree design. Click “Send” in Silhouette Studio to cut.

When it’s done, unload your mat and carefully remove the cut and foiled design from your mat!

Woo hoo! You did it!

Step 3: Assemble the pieces

Spray adhesive worked pretty well to attach the filigree cut to the orange leaves. I sprayed the back of the filigree with E6000 spray glue, then lined it up with the edges of the orange leaves, and pressed down firmly.

I actually did all this outside so I could spray away and not worry about it getting all over my craft room. For the video, though I just quickly ran back inside to continue filming.

I then, put an acrylic block on top of the filigree and leaves, then something heavy on top of that to really press the pieces together while they dried.

If you can see a little bit of the orange card stock out from under the edge of the filigree, you can try to camoflauge it a little with some dark brown ink. Swipe a little bit of the ink along all four edges with either an ink blending tool, or you can take the ink pad directly to the edge of the card stock.

To adhere this piece to the card stock base, I decided to just use liquid adhesive, so I liberally applied it to the back of the orange leaves and pressed it down on my card stock base, centering it so that there is a little border around the edge.

For the “thankful” sentiment, I glued all three together by stacking them, to get some dimension. I put a heavy, acrylic block on the top of them to press them together while they dried.

Then, to adhere it to my card, I also just liquid glue and laid a heavy, acrylic block over top to get go adhesion while it dried.

Embellishment

Then, I started to embellish it! This card is actually extremely versatile as far as embellishing goes. I created several different versions of it to show you how you can really bring this card to life and make it unique. Here a few ways I did it:

There are so many possibilities for embellishing this card, but I think that it’s really the intricate filigree design that takes the cake!

Complete!

I’m so glad I decided to try the Foil Quill because I absolutely LOVE the shine it added to this card! I think that this just may be my new favorite tool!

Just like with any new toy, however, there was a learning curve. Hopefully, my instructions make it easier for you to use the Foil Quill because once you get the hang of it, you may feel like adding foil to everything now!

Did you make it? I’d love to hear from you!

If you made this card, I’d love to see it! You can tag me on Facebook or Instagram using #lindsayddesigns or you can email me at hello@lindsaydickason.com.

And if you give me permission, I’d love to share a picture of your card on this blog post!

Let me know what you think in the comment section!

And if you have any questions about this post, you can ask me either in the comment section of this post or email me at hello@lindsaydickason.com.

Happy crafting my friends,

Get the pattern to make the Fall Leaves Filigree card!

Download my Fall Leaves Filigree card pattern by subscribing (free) below to get the password to my Resource Library.

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