> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://shapesinc-4644c49f-cursor-docs-product-refresh-1067.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Skill Ideas & Recipes

> Fun ways to put Shape Skills to work: connect your apps, automate the boring stuff, and find new kinds of play. Recipes that turn a chat companion into a real collaborator.

Skills give your Shape hands. With them, it can *do* things, not only talk. Connect the apps you already use, like Notion, Gmail, Spotify, Google Drive, and GitHub, and your Shape gets real work done.

<Note>
  This page is the inspiration. For the full, verified list of what a Shape can do and how to switch each one on, see the [Capabilities catalog](/capabilities).
</Note>

## It's genuinely fun

The best part is watching a Shape reach for a tool on its own: pulling up a song that fits the mood, saving a note mid-roleplay, or grabbing the morning news because that's just what it does. With the right skills, a Shape can:

* Build and keep a **Lorebook in Notion** that it uses throughout a roleplay.
* **Sort your inbox** and draft replies in Gmail.
* Add a song to a **Spotify** playlist that matches the vibe of the chat.
* Search the web and turn what it finds into a **Google Slides** outline.
* Whip up a quick **webpage**, a meme, or a soundtrack for your story.

## Add a custom skill in two minutes

Beyond the built-ins, you can give a Shape brand-new tools through **MCP** providers like [Smithery](https://smithery.ai). ("MCP" is just a standard way to plug an outside tool into an AI.) Here's the flow, using a meme maker as the example:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open AI Configurations">
    In a chat you own, open **Chat Settings → AI Configurations**, scroll to **Custom Skills**, and turn it on.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Grab an endpoint URL">
    On [smithery.ai](https://smithery.ai), find a tool (search "meme"), connect any account it needs, and choose **"Get URL with keys"** to copy your endpoint URL.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste it into Shapes">
    Back in **Custom Skills**, paste the URL and give the skill a clear name, like *Imgflip Memes*.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Just ask">
    Your Shape now has the tool. Talk to it normally, like "make me a meme about Mondays," and it'll use the skill in its own voice.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/shapesinc-4644c49f-cursor-docs-product-refresh-1067/ENuuocxBUYvRALF1/images/Smitherygeturl.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ENuuocxBUYvRALF1&q=85&s=adabbd2cffce6236ec8dee860fbc49b2" alt="Adding a custom MCP skill" width="2048" height="1408" data-path="images/Smitherygeturl.png" />

<Tip>
  Good ready-made MCP servers also live on [composio.dev](https://composio.dev) and [zapier.com](https://zapier.com). Any MCP-compatible endpoint works.
</Tip>

## Recipes to steal

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Lorebook keeper (Notion)" icon="book">
    Connect Notion and have your Shape keep a living Lorebook for your roleplay: characters, places, plot threads. It updates as the story grows. Ask it to "add Mara to the lore" or "remind me what happened at the docks."
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Group DJ (Spotify)" icon="music">
    Connect Spotify and let your Shape build a playlist around the mood of the chat, or drop in the perfect track when someone sets a scene.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Inbox helper (Gmail)" icon="envelope">
    Have your Shape summarize your inbox, point out what needs a reply, and draft responses in your voice, all from a chat.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Research to slides" icon="chalkboard">
    Ask your Shape to search the web on a topic, sum up what it finds, and turn it into a Google Slides outline you can build on.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Concept art on demand" icon="palette">
    With image generation, ask for avatars, scene art, or mood boards mid-conversation. Set an image preset so it matches your Shape's look.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Build a webpage" icon="code">
    With the code skill, a Shape can write and run code in a sandbox to prototype a script or a small web page on the spot.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Which engines can use skills?

Tool use depends on the model. Look for the **Tools** badge on the [engines page](https://shapes.inc/engines), and use [Which Model Should I Use?](/choosing-a-model) to pick one that's good at it. If a skill isn't firing, switch to a Tools-capable engine first.

## Tips for great results

* **Name skills clearly** so you remember what each one does.
* **Try different engines.** Not every model uses tools the same way.
* **Mix skills with personality.** A roleplay Shape that quietly keeps a Notion Lorebook feels alive in a way a plain bot never will.
* **Skills are experimental.** Some third-party tools can be flaky. If one misbehaves, check that it's enabled and that your engine supports tools.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="The full capability catalog" icon="clone" href="/capabilities">
    Everything a Shape can do, and how to turn it on.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Design a Shape that uses them well" icon="lightbulb" href="/designing-shapes">
    Skills land best on a character with a clear point of view.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

[Try skills on Shapes](https://shapes.inc)