FREE Shape of the Week...

3d_airplane_C03108_1

This week's free shape is one of my absolute favorites! Since yesterday's mobile was feminine,  I figured  I'd share a more masculine one today.

I'm in L.O.V.E with this little plane! This is a photo clip mobile that's easily transformed into a whimsical baby mobile using this week's free shape and 3-d cloud from the online store. Besides being used for  a mobile, I could see this shape used as is for simple entertainment for your little one... or shrunk down a bit and put it on the front of a card. Or... how fun would these be extra large and hanging from the ceiling at a birthday party? Hmmm as cute cupcake toppers too!

I'd love to see what YOU create with this week's shape... send me an email if you feel like sharing.

Shapes:
3d_cloud_C01896_17986 

*Photo clip mobile is from Kikkerland Design Inc. where you can either purchase it online directly from them, or go to their "find a store" link to see if there's a store near you that carries them. I found mine at the BYU Museum of Art store.

Fabric Mobile - create your own stuffed shapes

This little mobile was so much fun to make! With the fabric interfacing, and the cute elephant shape it's a lot easier than it looks. Zero cutting by hand... yes please!

I love how the stuffed elephants turned out! To create a "stuffed" shape of almost any kind,  open the shape in Silhouette Studio. Then, mirror the shape by opening the Replicate Window and selecting one of the mirror options. In this example I selected Mirror Right.

Once the shapes are cut you'll put the fabric interfacing sides together and sew almost all the way around the edge, leaving just a small opening to stuff the batting. Then, once it's sufficiently fluffy, sew it closed. Easy peasy! I think I'm going to try this with some of the paper doll shapes next...

Shapes:
little_oneelephant_pop-up_series_C00093_96084

Friday Feature & Custom Color Tutorial

Today's feature is from Cyndi of Blue Star Antiques. Using vinyl birds on a wire she gussied up this old window pane... adorable!

Thanks for sharing Cyndi...LOVE it!

 *  *  *

There have been a lot of questions submitted asking how to custom color shapes for printing/cutting. So, today's tutorial is a quick custom color how-to.  I use this technique quite a bit,  especially when I'm creating scrapbook layouts.  It allows me to bring colors from my photos into other elements of my page.

Here's the skinny...

 

I wanted to create a print and cut title to match the bright colors of the lollipop in this darling photo of my friend's daughter. So, first I opened the photo in Silhouette Studio.

Then, I typed my title and ungrouped it so that I could select each letter individually.

Next, to color the first letter I opened the Fill Color window. Then, with the letter selected, I clicked on the eye dropper tool and then clicked on the blue swirl in the lollipop. 

I repeated the same process with all of the letters, selecting a different color from the lollipop each time. Voila... fun, bright title that will coordinate perfectly with my picture!

As you drag the eye dropper across the photo you'll be able to see all kinds of colors you can pull from it.  Here are some other really pretty colors taken from the same photo...

I've also found it super handy to have a .studio file to store all my favorite color swatches. Like the ones I've pulled from the photo above. I won't be using them in the layout I'm working on, but I really like the dusty colors from the photos so I'll save them in my swatch file to use another time.  Mine looks like this...

If you'd like to submit a project or have a tutorial request... click the "submit a project" flag in the side bar for details.

p.s. There are some great new video tutorials up on our You Tube channel... so if you haven't checked it out lately head on over.

Have a great weekend!

Shaped card bases

This little flower card, including it's base was made from just one shape. Convenient right? Today's tutorial can be used with just about any shape in the store. Here's how...

Once you've opened your shape, open the Offset Window and click Offset. Depending on how much of border you want around your shape you can change the amount of the offset with the Offset Distance toggle.

Then, delete the original shape and open the replicate window.

With the new shape selected, click on Mirror Right.

Then, using the arrow keys on your keyboard, move that shape to the left until it overlaps the other one just a little bit.  {by using the arrow keys as opposed to the mouse, you ensure that they stay aligned}

Lastly, with both shapes selected open the Modify window and select Weld. Once you've cut it out it's a perfect base for your original shape. Lot's of possibilities here... have fun! :)

Shape:
3d_flower_C01710_20509 

DIY Wedding Invitations

This week some of the Silhouette gang is off to New York for a stationary show. Paper and New York City... sounds lovely to me! It's been fun to make some of the projects for the show, like this wedding invitation set...

I designed them in Adobe Illustrator, then imported them into Silhouette Studio for cutting. {great tutorial for that here} Using another design program isn't necessary though, you can also create your print and cut designs right in the software following this tutorial. There's loads of potential for uniquely shaped invites, envelopes, thank you cards and save the date reminders.

Have a great Wednesday!

Shapes:
baronial_envelope_with_liner_C00035_41853
treat_box_C03090_1

FREE Shape of the Week... DIY Rhinestone Apparel

rhinestone_anchor_C03107_1

This rhinestone anchor is such a fun shape for summer bags and apparel! I paired the rhinestones with some flocked heat transfer to make this cute shirt... Things are just more fun when you add a little bling!

If you haven't used the heat transfer or rhinestones before, here are some tutorials to get you started...
Heat Transfer Tutorial
Rhinestone Tutorial

Decorative Pillow Cover - Smooth Heat Transfer

The other day I was browsing new shapes in the online store and saw a cute little tandem bicycle. It made me think of my friend Lynley, and I promptly sent her the link. :) She and her hubby go on rides around town on their cute yellow tandem bicycle for date night. Fun right?

 {source}

This picture was the inspiration for today's project...heat transfer his and hers decorative pillows.

To create your own... Open the tandem bicycle shape in Silhouette Studio and in the Page Tools window change the width to 9", the width of the heat transfer.

Then, as with all heat transfer projects you want to mirror the design. You can do this a couple of different ways. With the shape selected go to the replicate window and select mirror image. Then delete the original shape.



Or, you can select the shape and  right click (ctrl+click if using a Mac) then select flip horizontally.

Once the shape is flipped resize the shape to fit the size of your pillow cover.  Once you have it the desired size, select the knife tool, hold down the shift key and slice the image in half creating two separate shapes.

Now the images are ready to be cut... so you'll load the heat transfer into your machine, shiny side down. Then go to the Silhouette Cut Settings window and select Silhouette Heat Transfer, adjust your blade accordingly and then click cut.

Once your shapes are cut, use the hook tool to weed out the negative space of the design off the plastic backing leaving only the design you want to transfer.

Then you'll place the designs on your pillow covers face down so it looks like your original shape before mirroring. I placed mine about 1/2" from the inside edge so they looked right sitting next to each other once the pillows were insterted.

Next, place a cloth over the design and press firmly with your iron for about 45 seconds. 

Then, carefully remove the clear plastic transfer sheet, insert your pillows, toss them on the bed and you're done! 

Shapes:
couple_on_tandem_bicycle_C01507_20387