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HobbyCutters.com Home Page Click for an overview of craftcutter history, capabilities, and popular uses. Much of the Internet's 'advice' about Cricut(r) products is hopelessly outdated. Some of it was never true in the first place. Get your questions about Cricuts answered with current information.
Craftcutters can be useful in many hobbies, including model railroading, war game miniatures, etc. This page contains links to several suggestions. This 'FAQ' focuses on so-called Legacy Cricuts - those 8-to-12-year-old workhorses that are still mechanically fine but whose manufacturer has abandoned their support. They can still do a lot more than many folks think. In fact, I use one when I don't need the more robust cutting features of the newer projects.
Sophistocated computer software allows you do do far more things with your craftcutter than the inventors ever imagined - or - to be honest - wanted you to do. But whatever craftcutter you own, software gives you options that you didn't have before. Articles specific to Silhouette Cameos or written by Cameo fans.
Learn about running trains outdoors from Family Garden Trains, helping folks get started and stay on the 'right track' since 1996
Click to see articles and resources for O, S, and On30 modelers.
Visit the largest and most complete cardboard Christmas 'Putz' house resource on the Internet. Visit the FamilyChristmasOnline site.

Written by Paul D. Race for HobbyCutters.comTM

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Model Signage Projects

In the last ten years, I have seen hundreds of examples of "craft" signs made with the use of a craftcutter. Many "hand-painted" "farmhouse" signs were obviously done with stencils created on craftcutters.

The same technology can be used on models, at least down to a certain scale.

Several friends have used their craftcutters to relabel their rolling stock for their railroads. Others have used them to provide signage for their buildings, or billboards, etc.

Applications include using "permanent" vinyl applied directly, one-time use vinyl stencils, and stencils made from "stencil" stock that can be used over and over.

With the newer craftcutters able to cut thicker stock, raised lettering for building signs is quite easy.

We are just getting started in listing such examples, but we hope to grow the list as we see - or create - more signage projects that fit in this category.

Here is what we have so far:

  • Using a craftcutter to turn a mailbox into a 'See Rock City' barn. Click to go to article.Creating "See Rock City" Signage with a Craftcutter - I have barely scratched the surface on what you can do with a Cricut, Silhouette, or similar machine, but I've been inspired by friends who use them for all sorts of projects, including signage. Here's one of my attempts, inspired by finding an old black barn-shaped mailbox at a flea market last year.

    This article is on our Hobbycutters.com site, which we created because the craftcutter information we were posting had applications beyond any one of our existing sites. If you have or are considering a Cricut, Silhouette, or similar machine, we may have content to help you.

    Click on the photo to see the article

  • Using purple spray paint and orange vinyl lettering to convert a Bachmann Big Hauler set into a Halloween-themed train.Making a Ghost Train - from our FamilyGardenTrains.com site, using orange vinyl lettering cut on a Cricut Explore to relable a repainted Bachmann Big Hauler set for Halloween. It's mostly included here for tips about using craftcutters to label Large Scale rolling stock.

    Note: - This link will take you to an article on the FamilyGardenTrains.com web page.

  • Western-style business names in stencil-friendly lettering. Right-click to download the .svg file.Stencil-Friendly Western Business Names - Here are graphics from another page showing Western-style business names in stencil-friendly typefaces. To download the .svg versions of these graphics on a Windows PC, right-click on the links below and select the "Save link as" option. (Sorry, I don't remember the equivalent Apple command, but if you have an Apple, you probably know it already.)

We're just getting started on this part of the site, and we would love to see your examples. Please contact us if you have anything to share.

Conclusion

I realize that so far our reference material outweighs our project material, but we're just getting started. Hopefully, we've provided a necessary foundation for other articles and resources I hope to provide shortly.

In addition, if you've been thinking about getting a cutter for your own or your club's purposes, I hope this helps you avoid any critical mistakes.

Watch this page: more articles are in the works.

As always, we want to hear your suggestions, criticisms, additions, etc. Enjoy your hobbies, and especially any time you can spend with your family in the coming months!

Paul

Note: HobbyCutters.comTM, Family Garden TrainsTM, Garden Train StoreTM, Big Christmas TrainsTM, BIG Indoor TrainsTM, and BIG Train StoreTM are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 by Paul D. Race. Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically forbidden.
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Click to see new and vintage-style Lionel trains.
Click to see new and vintage-style Lionel trains

Click to see collectible Christmas villages and trains.

Visit related pages and affiliated sites:
- Trains and Hobbies -
Return to Family Garden Trains Home page
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 Garden Railroading Primer Articles: All about getting a Garden Railroad up and running well Big Indoor Trains Primer Articles: All about setting up and displaying indoor display trains and towns. Garden Train Store: Index to train, track, and other products for Garden RailroadingBig Christmas Trains: Directory of Large Scale and O Scale trains with holiday themes
On30 and O Gauge trains to go with indoor display villages and railroads
 Visit Lionel Trains. Click to see Thomas Kinkaded-inspired Holiday Trains and Villages. Big Christmas Train Primer: Choosing and using model trains with holiday themes Free Large Scale Signs and Graphics: Bring your railroad to life with street signs, business signs, and railroad signs Click to see HO scale trains with your favorite team's colors.
- Christmas Memories and Collectibles -
Visit the FamilyChristmasOnline site. Visit Howard Lamey's glitterhouse gallery, with free project plans, graphics, and instructions. Click to return to the Old Christmas Tree Lights Table of Contents Page Click to sign up for Maria Cudequest's craft and collectibles blog.
Click to visit Fred's Noel-Kat store.
 Visit the largest and most complete cardboard Christmas 'Putz' house resource on the Internet.
- Family Activities and Crafts -
Click to see reviews of our favorite family-friendly Christmas movies. Free, Family-Friendly Christmas Stories Decorate your tree the old-fashioned way with these kid-friendly projects. Free plans and instructions for starting a hobby building vintage-style cardboard Christmas houses. Click to find free, family-friendly Christmas poems and - in some cases - their stories. Traditional Home-Made Ornaments
- Music -
Heartland-inspired music, history, and acoustic instrument tips.
Best-loved railroad songs and the stories behind them.
 Visit musings about music on our sister site, School of the Rock With a few tools and an hour or two of work, you can make your guitar, banjo, or mandolin much more responsive. Instruments with movable bridges can have better-than-new intonation as well. Acoustic-based, traditional, singer-songwriter, and folk music with a Western focus. Check out our article on finding good used guitars.
Carols of many countries, including music, lyrics, and the story behind the songs. X and Y-generation Christians take Contemporary Christian music, including worship, for granted, but the first generation of Contemporary Christian musicians faced strong, and often bitter resistance. Different kinds of music call for different kinds of banjos. Just trying to steer you in the right direction. New, used, or vintage - tips for whatever your needs and preferences. Wax recordings from the early 1900s, mostly collected by George Nelson. Download them all for a 'period' album. Explains the various kinds of acoustic guitar and what to look for in each.
Look to Riverboat Music buyers' guide for descriptions of musical instruments by people who play musical instruments. Learn 5-string banjo at your own speed, with many examples and user-friendly explanations. Explains the various kinds of banjos and what each is good for. Learn more about our newsletter for roots-based and acoustic music. Folks with Bb or Eb instruments can contribute to worship services, but the WAY they do depends on the way the worship leader approaches the music. A page devoted to some of Paul's own music endeavors.