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What Can You Do With a Cutting Machine
When most people think of a cutting machine, they immediately think of paper crafts, vinyl decals or personalised t-shirts. While these are some of the most popular uses, modern cutting machines are capable of working with a surprisingly wide range of materials and project types.
Whether you own a Brother ScanNCut, Cricut or Silhouette machine, there are countless ways to put it to work. From cards and home décor through to fabric projects, stencils, magnets and even thin wood, a cutting machine can help you create projects that would be difficult, time-consuming or impossible to produce by hand.
Browse the categories below to discover different materials you can cut, draw on or embellish with your cutting machine, along with project ideas and tutorials to help inspire your next creation.
Please note: Material compatibility varies between cutting machine brands and models. Some materials and techniques may require specific blades, mats or optional accessories. Always check your machine's capabilities before starting a new project.
Paper & Cardstock
Paper and cardstock are among the most popular materials used with cutting machines. From simple greeting cards through to detailed paper crafts, cutting machines can produce intricate designs that would be difficult to cut by hand.
- Greeting cards
- Paper lanterns
- Bookmarks
- Wardrobe dividers
- Paper quilt boards
- Footprint stencils
Adhesive Vinyl
Adhesive vinyl is ideal for personalising and decorating a wide range of surfaces. Whether you're creating labels, decals, signs or stickers, a cutting machine makes it easy to produce professional-looking results.
- Labels and organisation
- Wall decals
- Custom plaques
- Stickers
- Car decals
- Glassware decoration
Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)
Heat transfer vinyl allows you to customise fabric items using a heat press or iron. It's a popular choice for creating personalised clothing, bags, home décor and gifts.
- T-shirts
- Hats
- Aprons
- Bibs
- Coat hangers
- Bags
- Cushion covers
- Appliqué embellishments
Drawing & Pens
Many cutting machines can also draw using specialised pen holders. This opens up opportunities for creating invitations, planners, colouring pages, labels and detailed artwork with consistent, professional results.
- Invitations
- Addressed envelopes
- Colouring pages
- Planners and calendars
- Quilt block marking templates
- Custom artwork and lettering
Fabric
Cutting machines can accurately cut fabric pieces for sewing, quilting and appliqué projects. They help reduce preparation time and improve accuracy, especially when working with repeated shapes and patterns.
- Fabric appliqué
- Quilt pieces
- English paper piecing templates
- Felt projects
- Fabric labels
Stencils
Create reusable stencils for painting, decorating and crafting projects. Cutting machines make it easy to produce crisp, detailed stencil designs for use on furniture, walls, fabric and more.
- Footprint stencils
- Sign painting stencils
- Furniture stencils
- Cookie decorating stencils
- Airbrushing stencils
Magnets
Magnetic sheets can be cut into custom shapes and designs for educational tools, planners, promotional items and personalised fridge magnets. They are quick to make and highly practical.
- Fridge magnets
- Magnetic planners
- Educational magnets
- Magnetic bookmarks
Recycled Plastics
Materials such as milk bottles and plastic book covers can often be repurposed into useful craft projects. These durable plastics are ideal for creating templates, garden markers, tags and reusable stencils.
- Garden labels
- Plant markers
- Bag tags
- Stencils
- Reusable templates
EVA Foam
EVA foam is a lightweight material commonly used for costumes, educational projects and displays. A cutting machine allows you to produce accurate shapes and components with clean edges.
- Cosplay armour
- Children's craft projects
- Foam stamps
- Signs and displays
- Educational shapes
Balsa Wood
Some cutting machines can cut thin balsa wood, allowing you to create models, signs, ornaments and decorative projects with greater precision than hand cutting.
- Model making
- Signage
- Ornaments
- Layered wall art
Leather & Faux Leather
Leather and faux leather are excellent materials for creating custom accessories and decorative items. Cutting machines simplify the process of producing detailed shapes and repeated designs.
- Earrings
- Keyrings
- Bookmarks
- Bag tags
- Patches
Felt
Felt is a versatile crafting material that works well for toys, decorations, appliqué and educational projects. Cutting machines help achieve clean, accurate cuts without fraying.
- Toys
- Appliqué
- Coasters
- Decorations
- Quiet books
Cardboard
Many cutting machines can cut lightweight cardboard, making it easy to create gift boxes, organisers, packaging prototypes and other dimensional craft projects. Cutting machines provide greater accuracy and consistency than cutting by hand, especially when working with fold lines and repeated designs.
- Gift boxes
- Organisers
- Decorative signs
- Layered projects
- Packaging prototypes
- Model making
Acetate & Transparency Sheets
Transparent materials such as acetate can be used to create shaker cards, overlays, window effects and reusable templates. Cutting machines make it easy to cut detailed designs without damaging the material.
- Shaker cards
- Stencils
- Window effects
- Overlays
Rhinestones & Embellishments
Some cutting machines can create rhinestone templates and embellishment layouts for apparel, costumes and decorative projects, helping achieve consistent and professional-looking results.
- Custom apparel
- Dance costumes
- Team uniforms
- Decorative gifts
Foiling & Embossing
Depending on the machine and accessories being used, foiling and embossing techniques can add decorative finishes to invitations, stationery and craft projects.
- Wedding stationery
- Invitations
- Certificates
- Decorative cards
Ready to Try Something New?
Many cutting machine owners start with a few basic projects and never realise just how versatile their machine can be. Exploring new materials and techniques is a great way to expand your skills, discover new hobbies and get even more value from your machine.
Whether you're creating handmade gifts, organising your home, personalising clothing or tackling your next creative challenge, there's always something new to make. We hope these project ideas have inspired you to try a different material, learn a new technique and start your next cutting machine project today.
