You Rock Card - using FREE design of the week

Hiya, here's another quick card using this week's free design of the week in the Silhouette store You Rock! Flat Card: Design id#148162).

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Silhouette Cameo/Portrait
Silhouette Printable Silver Foil
Blue Pearlised Paper or Cardstock
Black Heavyweight Cardstock
Black Coated Cardstock 
Card Adhesive
You Rock! File Download (#148162)


Here are my construction steps:

• Make a rounded-edged square card blank in black heavy-weight black cardstock in the Silhouette Design software.
• Adhere a smaller rounded square cut in blue pearlised paper.
• In the software ungroup and re-arrange the elements to fit the blue square.
• Duplicate the sentiment and weld one copy. 
• Cut out the welded version of the sentiment in printable silver foil together with the small decorative elements.
• Cut out the smaller sentiment in coated black cardstock.
• Transfer the foil items to the card (I used vinyl transfer paper) .
• Adhere the black sentiment pieces on top.
• Card complete! 

This would be a great congratulations or birthday card for a teen or young-at-heart adult. Change out the colours or materials for a very different look.

The You Rock! design is available free in the Silhouette Design store for one week from 30th August 2016.

Vinyl Wall Clock - Shadow Tool

Hello again,  Today I'm thrilled to share a post over on the Silhouette UK Blog on making a vinyl wall clock. Since installing our clock at home some months ago I've had a number of requests asking how I made it. In the post I explain how to design your own vinyl wall clock using the Silhouette Studio software and a font from the Silhouette Store.

Unless you have a font with an offset shadow you'll find the tutorial on how to use the Shadow tool useful too. The tool is available in Silhouette Studio designer Edition (V.3.0 and higher). The tutorial uses Lori Whitlock's Friendly font. The font I actually used to make the clock already had a shadow and is called Langdon font and is available for free for personal and commercial use from XLN.

I made my clock some months ago from Oracal 631 Repositionable Vinyl, a vinyl film with a matte finish provided to me by Danielle at Crafty Cutter for review purposes. I applied the black and grey vinyl to the painted wall and it should remove easily when I eventually come to redecorate.  Some months on I've tested a corner and it peels away and re-sticks perfectly.  I also love the thicker, matte-look of this vinyl, it looks really classy!

I used regular transfer tape to move the vinyl from the backing sheet to the wall, and even the tiniest pieces transferred with no problem at all. As you can see my wall has a slightly textured painted finish (Dulux Matt Emulsion). It had been painted for more than 6 months before I installed the clock so was well cured and dry.

I purchased a good quality clock mechanism which claimed (correctly) to be silent. Cheaper versions come with a loud tick which I didn't want. This mechanism is called the Seiko high torque sweep clock movement with eye shaft, requiring special clock hands and a wall cup, all bought online from Mega-Quartz.

This is the largest vinyl project that I've attempted so far - my printed template extended to more than 12 sheets of A4 paper.  However, I'd really like to try something bigger now that I know how easy the vinyl is to use. The vinyl isn't available at Crafty Cutter just yet (but there are some lovely vinyls there - check out those beautiful colours of glitter HTV).  I can't wait to see the colour selection available (it should be in the store soon).

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Cameo 3 - a new arrival

Today I have welcomed a new baby into our home. I thought you might like a quick peek at some photos. She's so pretty!

The Cameo 3 is a little wider and a little deeper than the Cameo 1 (I don't have a Cameo 2 to compare it with).

 

This is what comes in the box, including that self adjusting blade.

I was reminded to follow the set up instructions that have been published online on the Silhouette America website to get your machine up and running. The address is on that big teal label in the first picture. You have the opportunity to register your machine and it takes you through the order in which you should do things.

Installation went smoothly, I won't bore you with details, but this is my first cut on my favourite cutting and printing cardstock (medium weight).

This was cut with that self adjusting blade. I used the recommended settings for cardstock, although I'd have set it deeper and with more pressure on my old machine. However, it cut beautifully - no complaints!  Now I need to go off and play! 

Are you planning to purchase a Cameo 3? Have you got one? What are your first impressions? Do post comments ... I'd love to hear how you get on.

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Hello Card using the FREE Design of the Week

Hiya - here's a pretty card using this week's free design of the week from the Silhouette store - the  Hello phrase: Design id #145991). I mixed it up with another file from the store, the Floral Congrats card from Jennifer Wambach and an extra word made from the Grassy Meadow font by Sweet Elsie. This one is all about the dimension!

WHAT I USED:
Silhouette Cameo/Portrait
White Cardstock (cover weight)
White Cardstock (printable weight)
Black Cardstock
Card Adhesive
Adhesive foam tape
Glossy Accents
Clear Wink of Stella pen
Grassy Meadow Font Download (#119456)
Hello File Download (#145991)
Floral Congrats 5 x 7 Card (#145256)


Here are my construction steps:

• Open the Congrats card in the Silhouette Design software and resize all to approximately 5.5" x 7.7"
• Make a card blank to fit
• Open the Hello file and copy in the flowers from the Congrats card
• Write the word 'friend' in Grassy Meadow font
• Make up a print and cut sheet with the 'Hello" letters, flowers, centres and friend word, making duplicates as required (and some extras for insurance)

• Cut and Print and Cut all pieces
• Assemble layering friend pieces and flowers.
• Use a guide to align the 'Hello' letters (see my Perfect Letter Placement post for more tips) using foam tape for some dimension

• Attach everything with card glue and add some glitter to the petals and centres with the Wink of Stella pen
• Finish with some Glossy Accents in the flower centres.
• Job done!

The Hello phrase  is available free in the Silhouette Design store for one week from 17th August 2016.

I hope you like this one.

Pencil Door Sign for a Teacher Gift

Today I'd like to share a layered paper crafting project with you using the Pencil Monogram svg cutting file from Sanqunetti Design. I used the file to make a dimensional door hanger which would make a great back to school or teacher gift.

STEP 1: Colour the File
I coloured all the pattern pieces in accordance with the accompanying jpg file; necessary because, in the current version of the Silhouette software, SVGs from certain design software display in black. I opened the jpg version in the design window and use the colour picker (eye dropper) to 'copy' the colours onto the svg.

STEP 2: Adapt the Monogram
Instead of adding a monogram I added text using Laura Worthington's Ed's Market font.

STEP 3: Preparing the item for hanging

I made an offset of the entire pencil to cut from heavy-weight card to provide a strong backing for hanging the item. Then I made matching holes in the eraser end (pink) and the backing piece to provide attachment points for the hanging ribbon.

STEP 4: I set up a print and cut page for the monogram piece and 2 copies of the backing piece to print on the printer and then cut on the Silhouette.

STEP 5: I cut the remainder of the pieces from the appropriate colours of American Crafts textured card stock, and the bow centre and wording from vinyl (the colour of the printed version had turned out to be a poor match). The centre of the pencil was abandoned in favour of score lines and dimensional sticky pads. The other pieces and layers were adhered using liquid 3-in-1 paper glue. 

STEP 6: It then only remained to tie on a matching ribbon and to adhere the bow.

Variation: With the addition of an extra hole, a set of matching card pieces to form a back cover, some pages and three hinge rings, this same svg file could easily be transformed into a great little album for school photos.

The file is available now from the Sanqunetti Design store. 

I think it looks quite cute. I hope you like it too.

Beauty, Brains and Muscles Glam T-Shirt

This week's SVG release from Sanqunetti Design provides a great way of glamorizing your workout wear. 

I used three kinds of specialist heat transfer vinyl in silver to decorate this t-shirt,  cutting the pattern pieces on my Silhouette Cameo. The vinyl was applied in three stages with an iron (this design was too big for my tiny heat press). 

I love the effect of the holographic patterns.

The SVG Cutting File is a single design available from Sanqunetti Design.

FREE Design of the Week - Medal Card

Hiya - here's a quick card using this week's free design of the week in the Silhouette store Medals: Design id #144956).

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
Square Card Blank
Silhouette Cameo/Portrait
Silhouette Printable Gold Foil
Ribbon
Gold Paper
White Wood Grain Paper
Black Cardstock
Card Adhesive
Silhouette Black Sketch Pen
Paprika Font Download (#40924)
Medals File Download (#144956)


Here are my construction steps:

• Cover the card blank with gold paper.
• Make a square in the Silhouette Design software and type on the sentiment.
• Load wood grain paper into the Silhouette and sketch the sentiment with the black pen.
• Cut the square and mount it on the covered card blank. 
• In the software make the top layer of the gold medal into a compound path.
• Cut out the two medal layers in printable gold foil.
• Cut out some black circles and adhere them between the medal layers and behind the medal.
• Thread ribbon though the medal and tuck the ends behind the woodgrain square.
• Card complete! 

I'm sure you know a heap of folk who deserve a medal - and here is a super easy card just for them!

The medals design is available free in the Silhouette Design store for one week from 10th August 2016.

Easy Rhinestone Project - Bella Makeup Bag

Have you ever tried using rhinestones with your Silhouette? If you haven't you should! Today I have  a tutorial on the Silhouette UK bog introducing a simple first rhinestone project.

The Silhouette Rhinestone Kit has great instructions and almost everything you need to get started. What's more, if you use a design from the Silhouette Design Store you can use the basic edition of the Silhouette Studio software.

This pretty makeup bag uses the Bella rhinestone file by Sarah Bailey. In the post I show you how to make this project from start to finish and give some hits and tips that I picked up along the way.

Although the design used 3 sizes of stones it isn't difficult.  Just gently brush the rhinestones into the holes. Start with the largest stones and brush excess stones away and return them to the pack. Add missing stones with a pick-up tool. Then tip on the middle-size stones, brush them into the holes and then brush away the excess. Finally repeat with the smallest stones.

To complete the project use the Silhouette rhinestone setter to apply three of the larger stones to the zip pull tab.

There, the project is complete. Pretty isn't it?

You can make your own rhinestone designs too. The Designer Edition of the Silhouette Studio software gives you design options for a number of different fill patterns and for up to 4 sizes of rhinestones. Why not give it a try?

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Custom Colour Fabric Designs - a Pincushion

Hello folks,

Today on the Silhouette UK Blog I show how to make a custom-coloured piece of fabric, ideal for projects requiring small amounts of material. The tutorial shows how to colour a cut file in the Silhouette Studio software to create a uniquely coloured fabric design.

I needed a 5.5" fabric square for a no-sew project which I printed on to Silhouette Printable Cotton, along with registration marks and then cut out with the Silhouette.

I like to use background designs from the Silhouette Design store as they cover a good sized area of the design space (often 12" x12"). You can find them by selecting Search Designs, adding criteria to the Browse Designs box (I wanted a roses pattern so added 'roses background') and then filter by Cut Type, choosing Regular Cut.

In the tutorial I show you how to colour the background using a colour swatch ...

... and add a white outline to enhance the design.

Using the software's print and cut feature I printed the design onto the Silhouette printable fabric on my printer, and then cut it on the Silhouette Cameo.

With the square of printed fabric I made up this pin cushion kit that I bought online.

I added a little vinyl around the base.

And voila! 

I think I might make more of these as gifts for sewing friends. What projects could you make with 5.5" squares of fabric in your favouire colours?

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FREE Design of the Week - Enjoy the Ride Mug

I was so pleased to see the lovely free design (Design ID #144689) in the Silhouette Design store this week and knew I had to make something with it. 

I decided that I'd decorate a mug in vinyl with the design and only had to re-jig it a little to make it work. 

These are the main changes I made:

• Reduced the size to fit my mug (to approximately 82mm x 66mm).
• Ungrouped the lettering so that I could re-arrange it around the bike.
• Released the compound path on the bike to delete some of the smaller pieces and the basket work.

The advanced cut feature made for easy selection of the five different colours of vinyl for cutting. 

I was lazy and didn't use an alignment shape as I usually do, I just aligned each piece with the top and left hand edge of the cutting box. I picked up each cut colour with the transfer tape in turn until all the colours were on the tape. Then I transferred the complete vinyl decal to the mug.

Here's the original design. It will be free from the store until next Tuesday morning (August 9th 2016). 

Have I tempted you to make something with the free design? I do hope so.