Tiny Tea Light Houses

Hello, this week I've been making some new Christmas Tree decorations using Silhouette's Faux Leather Paper. The natural shade is perfect to use for gingerbread-look projects and I really enjoyed using it to make these miniature Tealight Houses. The design used is the Tiny Gingerbread House by Amanda McGee from the Silhouette Design Store. This year I'll be giving these as to friends - as "from our house to your's" gifts.

What I Used
Silhouette Faux Leather Paper in White and Natural
Oracal 651 Premium vinyl in White and Red
Clear Application Tape
Beacon Fabri Tac Adhesive
6mm Silver Organza Ribbon
Silhouette CAMEO® 3
Silhouette Black Ratchet Blade
Silhouette 12" x 12" Cutting Mat

The post over on the Silhouette UK Blog includes instructions on how to cut the faux leather paper on a Silhouette together with a load of hints and tips. Once assembled a regular tea light fits inside and can be accessed through a flap in the rear of the gingerbread house.

Bear Pocket Bags - Combining Felt and Flocked Heat Transfer

Hello Janet here again.
Today I'm sharing a felt project with you over on the Silhouette UK Blog, turning a paper pocket file into a cute felt bag.  It also includes instructions for a no-sew technique for adding fine details to ANY felt project.

Many of the files in the Silhouette Design Store, designed to be used for paper, can be made into felt projects. Felt cuts much more easily on the Silhouette CAMEO®3 if it is first backed with a stabiliser. I used the Silhouette Clean Cut  Fusible Fabric Stabiliser, rather than the Cut and Sew type, as this project wouldn't require any machine sewing. In fact, it requires no sewing at all.

For detailed instructions on how to cut felt backed with stabiliser I recommend that you read my recent post on the Silhouette  UK blog called Cutting Felt with Cameo®3.  I also recommend using a wool/viscose felt mix, rather than a completely synthetic felt. Not only does it cut more easily, but it retains its softness and dimension, whereas synthetic felt can, once pressed, compress and fuse with the layer beneath, losing depth and texture.

In order to make the smaller and more detailed pieces I used my favourite cheat - Flocked Heat Transfer Material. Once incorporated into the the project its velvety texture looks like felt, but more intricate cuts can be made with a level of detail not possible from felt.


What You'll Need
Felt Sheets in Brown Shades (preferably a  30% wool, 70% viscose blend)
Cotton Fabric for Lining
Fusible Fabric Stabiliser (Clean Cut)
Black Flocked Heat Transfer Material 
Iron (on a non-steam setting)
Fabric Adhesive (Beacon Fabri-tac is my favourite)
Ribbon, Cord, or Similar (for a strap)
Downloaded file Bear Hug Candy Pocket by J M Rush (#172324)
Downloaded Bow File, I used (#16778) by Alaa' K

The file's designer, J M Rush, gives full instructions on how to make up the pocket. These instructions can be accessed in 3 ways:

• From the file's details in the Silhouette Design Store,
• Using the Show Properties facility in your software Downloads Library, and
• Directly from this link.

I hope you like these cute bears, I loved making them and LOVE my Silhouette too!

Hello,
Today I have a simple but useful post on the Silhouette UK Blog about adding a hanging loop to your own designs or those bought in the Store to make gift tags, present decorations, tree ornaments and banner elements.

To demonstrate how easy hanging loops are to design I included a step-by-step tutorial using snowflake files from the Store designed by Lori Whitlock. Just pop over to Silhouette UK Blog for the instructions.


KEY FOBS: Snowflake decorations cut from faux leather to be used on a festive key chain, or as an embellishment on a handbag or a zipped bag. These are double-layered snowflakes with the silver vinyl trapped between and all stuck with Beacon Fabri-tac (great for sticking faux leather).

GIFT TAGS: Weld a hanging loop to the background of this snowflake design to make pretty gift tags.

SLIDERS: Add elonganted loops to make sliders to decorate a parcel or a card. 

LETTER TAGS: Add loops to letters using Lori Whitlock's Splendid font to make decorative letters to enhance your parcels using glitter heat transfer vinyl and faux leather paper. These were cut from faux leather and layered 3 or 4 thick with Beacon Fabri-tac. The glittery layer is Glitter HTV from this fantastic supplier.

I'm sure you'll find lots more uses for your new hanging loops.

Cutting Chipboard with the Silhouette Cameo - Wall Decor Arrows

This week I've been playing with the Silhouette chipboard and have shared some tips and a quick tutorial with you over on the Silhouette UK Blog.

If you haven't used the silhouette chipboard before you might be surprised! It has a very smooth surface and looks like greyboard but is less fibrous and not as thick. It's very versatile and is fantastic for layering and makes strong and dimensional home decor items.  In the post I show you a quick tutorial on how to make a set of arrows and demonstrate how versatile it is by showing you some alternative finishes.

To make the project I used the Arrows file (#53730) designed by Sweet Afton from the Silhouette Design Store. There are many alternative arrow styles to choose from, visit the store, you'll be spoilt for choice.

The trick to using the Silhouette chipboard is to layer up the identical layers. I adhered six layers with a strong adhesive, Beacon 3-in-1 craft glue.

I finished the front surface with a now discontinued Graphic 45 patterned paper - a tribal pattern that I'd had in my stash for years - perfect for these arrows and gives them an almost wooden carved look. On the reverse I used the Silhouette faux leather for a classy finish  adhered with Beacon Fabri-tac.

Do visit the Silhouette UK Blog. There is a new project or tutorial on the blog EVERY day of the week.

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Make decorative panels for your 3D projects - a folk art jar

Hi! I have a blog post on the Silhouette UK Blog today - a tutorial on how to make decorative panels for your 3D projects

It also uses
Faux Leather Paper to make durable 3D items AND
Heat Transfer Material pressed onto Faux Leather Paper.

Faux leather paper makes 3D items much stronger and more durable. Items last longer and are more practical for regular use. I used Lori Whitlock's Curvy Container (Design id #123167) as it has such lovely lines.

Heat transfer material can be cut into very intricate shapes and irons beautifully onto the faux leather paper. I made decorative panels for the curve container using an existing cutout design, by using the container's panels as a template. I used this lovely folk art flower cutout design from the Silhouette Design Store by Emily Dyer (Design id #59889).

The tutorial ion the blog is a step-by-step on how to make the panels - I call the technique "Modifying a pattern to fit a shape", the shape here being the jar side panel. The technique can be used with many of the store's backgrounds, stencils, masks and cutouts. I hope you find it useful.







I love combining files together to make something unique.

Here are some of the steps to make the jar. I used a heat press, but an iron will do the job too - you just have to have a surface that you can press hard onto (your ironing board may not be up to the task)







The faux leather quite a strong material and needs a good adhesive to stick it. I like to use the Beacon Fabri-Tac. It has a quick grab and some wiggle time (not as much as 3-in-1, but it is stronger and maintains some flexibility too).





There you have it - a pretty and useful storage jar!

Do pop over to the blog and try it out!

SILHOUETTE DESIGNS USED: