Tissue Paper Pumpkins

Create punchy patterned pumpkins with tissue paper shapes and Mod Podge! With a few simple steps, your Silhouette cutting machine can cut tissue paper! We used the AutoBlade for Cameo 4 on our Cameo 4, but you should be able to receive the same results with other versions of the machine. What’s your favorite way to decorate pumpkins? Are you more of a traditionalist or all about bright colors?

Supplies Needed:

Silhouette Cameo® or Silhouette Portrait®
Silhouette Studio®
Silhouette Cutting Mat
Silhouette AutoBlade or Silhouette AutoBlade for Cameo 4
Tissue paper in various shades, cut to 12-by-12-inch squares
Cardstock
A repositionable glue stick
Mod Podge
Paint Brush
Pumpkins, real or faux work
Design ID #22447 for retro shapes, #39582 for flower, #42251 for poppy, #40294 and #290106 for tulips, #32020 for starbursts. Remainder were shapes created in Silhouette Studio® 4.2, Designer Edition Plus, and higher.

Step One: Preparing Your Material

This is a way to cut tissue paper cleanly with your Silhouette cutting machine and avoid any tearing issues from peeling it off your mat.

1. Place a piece of 12-by-12-inch cardstock on your cutting mat. Coat the top of the paper with your repositionable glue stick (different glue sticks will often say Craft Bond on them).

2. Then lay a piece of tissue paper cut to 12 by 12 inches on top of the cardstock coated with glue. Smooth out with your scraper tool so it is stuck securely to the cardstock.

3. Insert your mat into your cutting machine.

Step Two: Formatting Your Designs

1. I used various Flexishapes (available in Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition) and a handful of abstract designs in the Design Store. Feel free to customize these to your liking, but I linked the ones I purchased from the Design Store above. Insert your desired designs into Silhouette Studio® and size them appropriately for your pumpkins.

2. Under your Send panel, set your material to the appropriate weight of cardstock you’re using. I generally use Cardstock, Textured – Heavy (80lb). Press Send to have your Silhouette machine cut the designs. The heavy pressure will ensure the tissue paper won’t raise up when cutting.

3. Unload your mat and gently remove your tissue paper shapes with the spatula tool. The glue will hold the designs in place while cutting but will easily allow you to lift them off once the cut is complete.