3 “WOW” Make The Cut Features!

Lattice, Jigsaw Puzzle Generator, and Conical Warp

In my continuing series of 25 reasons to check out MTC, I have quite a show for you today! Three features in Make The Cut provide some out-of-the ordinary designing functions that may be of interest to many of you. I’ve made videos for all of them and I encourage you to download the trial version of MTC and play along! So, getting started….

Reason #7: Lattice Feature

This simple-to-use feature involves selecting your shape and then clicking on the Lattice icon on the Magic Toolbar. The following window opens and you can begin playing with the various settings:

As with most other features in Make The Cut, you can see what you’re creating before accepting those settings. In the video, I encourage you to go to the extremes with these settings so you can fully grasp the range of different looks you can achieve with your lattice. I also explain the difference between the regular and the inverse lattice, the latter of the two being the most commonly used in my experience of helping KNK customers in their designing. Note that preferred settings can be saved to apply to future shapes.

Video: Using The Lattice Function

Reason #8: Jigsaw Puzzle Generator

The MTC Jigsaw Puzzle Generator launches as a separate program. First, make sure you have installed Version 3.3.3 of MTC and then click on your Windows start button, select All Programs, and locate your Make The Cut folder. You should find the Jigsaw Puzzle Generator located there and ready to be selected.

Once again, we have a simple-to-use application where you can create a jigsaw puzzle with the options to:

  • Set the overall dimensions of the puzzle (i.e., width and height)
  • Set the row and column numbers of pieces you want, such as 4 x 4 for 16 pieces, 4 x 9 for 36 pieces or even 20 x 50 for 1000 pieces!
  • Round the four corner pieces of the puzzle from 0% to 100%


  • Even further, you can actually modify the shapes of the pieces themselves! By clicking on the Advanced tab and playing with the settings, I was able to create some really wonky looking pieces!


  • Just like with the Lattice feature, settings can be saved for future use. And don’t worry… if you mess up those advanced settings and want to return to the defaults, just close the Jigsaw Puzzle Generator and reopen!

    To then use your jigsaw puzzle design in MTC, you click on the Export Puzzle button, save the design as an SVG file, and then import into MTC. Note that the design can the be resized, if necessary, for your application.

    To see how I used the Jigsaw Puzzle Generator to set up a print and cut application in MTC, watch this video:

    Video: Jigsaw Puzzle Generator

    Reason #9: Conical Warp

    Last but definitely NOT least, have a look at the conical warp feature, which is a new addition to the latest free update of MTC. It was added with two specific designing applications in mind – tumbler wraps and cupcake wrappers. The basic settings involve entering the top and bottom diameters of the object you are wanting to fit your images/lettering to, along with the height of your object. Further, there are settings for shifting your object’s location on the wrap and even resizing (scaling) without returning to the main window:

    But then… wow oh wow… have a look at what happens when you click on the Rolled View tab:

    You get an advanced 3D look at the wrap you’re designing! Further you can still tweak settings in this view and observe the changes! (A personal note to Andy – you outdid yourself on this one, dude!!!) To see in detail how to use the conical warp, watch this video:

    Video: Conical Warp for Tumbler Wrap Designing

    And if you’re into cupcake wrapper designing, then grab Judy Keating’s cupcake wrapper template file, open that up in MTC and then watch my video on how I combined the conical warp feature with her wrapper template and easily created a cupcake wrapper!

    Video: Conical Warp for Cupcake Wrapper Designing

    Finally… warp versus wrap? Yep… two different words! And in all likelihood, I probably got mixed up somewhere in those videos and said “conical wrap” and “tumbler warp!” lol But you know what I meant!

    Stay tuned for more of the list soon. Again, if you’re interested in purchasing Make The Cut, it’s sold for $58.36 under my Shop tab above.

    Free Files: Cupcake Wrappers in KNK, SVG, AI Format


    With graduation just around the corner and a few recent posts by readers here inquiring about the cupcake wrappers, I decided to post new links for downloading these terrific files. All of these particular cupcake wrappers were designed and shared by Judy Keating, a very talented and successful owner of a Klic-N-Kut Maxx. She designs these wrappers in KNK Studio but also has exported the files in both AI and SVG formats. Those of you needing the files in DXF, should be able to use Inkscape (free from Inkscape.org) to open the SVG’s and then save as DXF for your particular software program.

    As with ALL cutting files you buy or download for free, test cut them first from inexpensive cardstock. In particular, with the cupcake wrappers, be sure to check the sizing. You may need to increase or decrease to fit the actual cupcakes you make or buy. Many of these designs are quite intricate, so use a clean sticky mat to keep your paper or cardstock firmly pressed down during cutting.

    Also note that there is also a link below to download a template/pattern file so that you can add your own words and images to weld to the same base framse used by Judy in her designs. If you would like to share your own design with all of the other readers here or just a photo of your custom wrapper, please send it to me at smccauley45@cox.net .

    Judy’s Cupcake Wrappers in KNK Format

    Judy’s Cupcake Wrappers in SVG Format

    Judy’s Cupcake Wrappers in AI Format

    Design your own!

    *** New *** Cupcake Wrapper Templates for Designing in KNK, MTC, SVG, EPS, PDF, and Studio formats

    (Big thanks to Judy Keating for sharing her designs and to Gayle Galura-Scott for converting to .Studio for the Silhouette owners!)

    Thanks, once again, Judy for your generous contribution to the cutting world! : )

    MORE Cupcake Wrappers!

    Valentine's Cupcake Wrapper by Judy

    Valentine's Cupcake Wrapper by Judy

    I’ve had more response to the Cupcake Wrapper post from last fall than any other single post at this site. Thus, I’m sharing some photos and files from a very talented and generous Klic-N-Kut designer, Judy Keating. She started with my original base file and took cupcake-wrapper designing  to a whole new level!  She’s been creating new files for several months now and sharing them at the various Klic-N-Kut Yahoo groups I own or moderate. The response to these files has been incredible and, as you can see from the photos below, it’s not surprising.  These are so adorable and they cut beautifully on both the original Klic-N-Kut die cutters and also on the newer KNK Maxx, Groove, and Groove-E machines.  Judy also has given me permisson to share the .knk files here for those of you who would like to download them and cut your own from Klic-N-Kut Studio. 

    Thanks so VERY much, Judy, for the time and effort you put into these designs. We eagerly look forward to each new release and I promise the readers of this site to share them again, when Judy has new ones available.

    Currently, the cupcake wrapper files can be downloaded from links at this newer post:

    Judy’s Cupcake Wrappers in Other Formats

    Note that Judy designs them for both full sized cupcakes and mini cupcakes.

    Cupcake Wrappers for Valentine's Day and a Floral Pattern2

    Cupcake Wrappers for Valentine's Day and a Floral Pattern

    Birthday Cupcake Wrapper

    Birthday Cupcake Wrapper

    St. Patrick's Day Cupcake Wrapper

    St. Patrick's Day Cupcake Wrapper

    Easter Cupcake Wrappers

    Easter Cupcake Wrappers

    More Easter Cupcake Wrappers

    More Easter Cupcake Wrappers

    easter-3_resize3

    And another Easter one

    And the final in the Easter series

    And the final in the Easter series

    Cupcake Wrappers for Weddings and Engagements

    Cupcake Wrappers for Weddings and Engagements

    Mother's Day Cupcake Wrappers

    Mother's Day Cupcake Wrappers

    Graduation Cupcake Wrappers

    Graduation Cupcake Wrappers

    Cupcake wrappers to Honor Teachers

    Cupcake wrappers to Honor Teachers

    And last, but not least... Cupcake Wrappers to honor Nurses...

    And last, but not least... Cupcake Wrappers to honor Nurses...

    Design your own!

    *** New *** Cupcake Wrapper Templates for Designing in KNK, MTC, SVG, EPS, PDF, and Studio formats

    (Big thanks to Judy Keating for sharing her designs and to Gayle Galura-Scott for converting to .Studio for the Silhouette owners!)

    Free Files! Cupcake Wrappers!

    I was contacted by a bakery owner in Florida interested in a Klic-N-Kut if she could design and cut her own cupcake wrappers. She sent me to a web site selling some very elaborate designs and I instantly became obsessed with creating a basic file that could then be modified to fit any celebration or any holiday. Once we had a basic scan of a pattern, it was easy to recreate the shape and then simply create words and images to weld to the top, such as this simple Happy Birthday prototype I created:

    Then I decided to try a few Christmas designs and they were fun to make as well. Obviously, the possiblities are limitless! Note that you don’t bake the cupcakes with these cutouts… they are meant to be applied after the cupcake is complete with icing and decorations… simply wrap around a cupcake, fold up a tab, insert tab into a cut slit, and reopen the tab.

    Here are two links to help you in your own designing. And I promise to not to tell anyone if you prefer to buy the cupcakes from your local grocery store and just cut out your own wrappers to make them look like YOUR OWN CREATIONS! 😛

    Link to free zip with KNK files for simple Happy Birthday, Noel, and Basic Pattern for Cupcake Wrapper

    *** New *** Cupcake Wrapper Templates for Designing in KNK, MTC, SVG, EPS, PDF, and Studio formats

    (Big thanks to Judy Keating for sharing her designs and to Gayle Galura-Scott for converting to .Studio for the Silhouette owners!)

    Link to web site selling cupcake wrappers – get some GREAT ideas here!