Happy New Year

The close of 2010 is finally here.  It came incredibly fast don't you think?  Usually it feels awkward to write the new date for the first time, but for me this year feels like it has run right into 2011.  A new year full of new beginnings and I love new beginnings!  I always have goals and feel so great every time I accomplish one.  But honestly my favorite part of the new year is to look back and reflect on all the blessings and people I love who have come into my life.  That is why the new year feels so amazing to me.  What new adventures will I be taken on and what experiences will become a part of who I am.  I hope you all have a super fun and amazing New Year holiday...Cheers to 2011!

Shape
kapow_C02666_1(this was a free shape a while ago, so most of you should have this already *wink*)I simply welded it to a 4.5x6 card to give me that super cute kapowy shaped card!

Ketchup and Mustard...the perfect clearance combo!

Sometimes you need mustard just like you need ketchup.  In my opinion, you can't do without either when eating a corn dog!  When I was going through the clearance shapes, I saw the ketchup and mustard bottle shape.  I immediately thought of my girlfriends back in AZ and truly how inseperable we all were.  I wanted to create a layout using this shape so I  went to one of my friends blogs to see if she would happen to have any great pics.  I came across this one of my friends boys together and it fit perfect!  This is exactly what I mean.  Inseperable!

Clearance Shapes:

Bottle_0741

long_rectangle_shadow_C00073_23067

Fonts:
CK Stenography
Jailbird Jenna

FREE download of the week

3d_lantern_C02774_1

This weeks free shape is super fun and can be festive for so many events.  When I think of New Years, I always think of "Chinese New Year".  I think it is because of all the colorful characters and gorgeous lanterns; it seems like an incredibly festive and fun time.  So I thought the lantern to would be a great shape to ring in the New Year.  I am using it like you would a banner, but you could use it for many fun events. 

The instructions are simple.  Cut out your lantern and then adhere one end to the other and fold at perforations you may have to "squish" it together a little.  This will allow it to hold its shape.  Have a great Tuesday!

Tuesday Tutorial: Compound Paths and the Slice tool.

oHi everyone, long time no see, I hope you all had a great little holiday vaca...Last week I showed you a tutorial on how you can use the text on a path feature now.  A few of your requested I show you how to use the slice tool as shown in that tutorial.  SO, today I am going to be doing a tutorial similar to the December 20th post.

Start out with the size you want your circle to be.  I am going to be working with a 4.25" circle.  This will be important later on.

Once I have that ready to go, I choose my font and type out the text I want.  From here I will drag the arrow toggle on top of the circle, where it will drop right onto the path.  If you do not see and arrow toggle, make sure to download the latest version of the software 1.3.0.  I have two separate texts that I am using so I will need to type both out separately. Of course both need to be dropped onto the path using the arrow toggle.

Now that I have them in position, I want to get rid of my "gray" path circle.  To do this I simply select both texts and right click to select make compound path.

A compound path is a shape created by a grouping of shapes that allow holes to appear where paths overlap.

You can see here that I have moved the gray circle from the text and my text holds the shape of the circle.  You can now delete the circle path.

This is where you will want to remember what size your circle was.  Create another circle, in my case a 4.25" circle.  Then create a an internal offset of the circle and apply.  Once you have both circles created, select them both together and right click to select "make compound path".  This will allow you to slice the circles together. I added stars as well to embellish the circle.

Grab your slice tool, You will want to zoom in to see the spots you want to slice a little closer.  If you try to slice while unable to see each point clearly you could end up slicing some of you font which will not produce a desired effect.

Once you have each point sliced, remove and delete the pieces you don't want welded to your shape and then weld all the pieces together.  You may ask why I did not just weld the text to the circles.  I did not want each letter to be welded with a line through it, so I only connected the circle to the text where I felt a line would be appropriate.  I do hope this tutorial has been helpful and a little more user friendly while you are learning to use the Silhouette.  Have a great day and check in tomorrow for the free shape of the week.

Font:
CK Stenography

Happy Holidays!

 We hope you have a Happy Holiday with your shiny new Silhouette toy!

Happy Holidays from the clearance section

Hi lovelies...it is almost that time...ooooh *squeal*  I am so excited.  I love watching my children's faces as they open their gifts.  We have been so blessed this year.  I'm not sure I can remember very many holidays that have felt as special as this one.  We just have had an overwhelming amount of support and love given to our little family.  It will be a quiet Christmas for us.  We live out of state from our families so we will be able to enjoy just us!  However, later in the afternoon my brother and sister-in-law who just moved here will join us for dinner and it will be just lovely!  I am sooo excited.  I pray the magic never leaves me. 

Of course we have our clearance shapes this week and there really are so many great ones.  I used the diamond background shape and turned it into the perfect card for my little snowman.  Ahhh.  Happy Holidays everyone!

Clearance Shape:

diamond_floral_scallop_one_side_background_C00219_20387

Other Shapes:
1_snowman_C00804_20509
happy_holidays_phrase_C00812_20509

Give the gift of Loooove (you must say this in a Barry White sort of way)

Ok a girlfriend of mine told me she was giving mistletoe to her friends for Christmas this year.  I have to say what a stroke of genius!!!  Iabsolutely love the idea and because everything she touches turns to gold...naturally I was excited! 

I purchased the mistletoe in the grocery store for $1.99 they came in a really sad little baggy and of course I could not give it away in that...oh no...how about a marvelous transparent box.  *ding, ding, ding!*  It looks so great now.  I do have to say, there is nothing better than the gift of love at Christmas time!  Who doesn't want to sit and smooch their sweetie? Mistletoe or not ;) 

Shapes:
christmas_gift_box_C20090921144302_20509
merry_christmas_word_phrase_C00983_19210

FREE download of the week

 star_threading_card_C02773_1

Christmas break is here and you know what that means a lot more hustle and bustle.  My kiddos are out of school until the beginning of January.  I know they are going to need quite a few crafts to keep them busy while they await the arrival of the big guy.  So, I created this little card.  I used it as ornaments for the tree.  I am not quite sure what you wold call it exactly but it is a threaded star card.  Have your children weave in and out of the notches to create their very own star.  What a great way to keep them busy for a little bit.

Also, if you will just humor me for a bit, here in utah it is snowing like crazy.  It started as rain
and now snow...what I am trying to say here is...HOLY MOLY.  I can not remember the last time I have ever witnessed, experienced, seen, driven...in this much snow.  I feel like a little kid.  Its so white and powdery.  I want to plant myself right in the middle of my front yard and make a snow angel. It really is so Christmasy and lovely, everything is sparkling and white.  Oh goodness, just beautiful!  Here is a picture from my front door.  Somewhere under there is a road.  Isn't it gorgeous.  I know I may get tired of it, but right now it is so magical!  Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Monday Tutorial: Text on a path

Yes!!!  It is finally here, the ability to type text on a path.  You all will be blown away at how easy it is!!!  I promise you will use it constantly!  YAY!

Ok so start with a basic circle.  I am making a gift tag so I am choosing a specific size for it, but of course whatever size you need for your project will be perfect!

Now that we have a circle click your text tool and type out your text.  Ok super easy right, now for the magic!!

Do you see this little arrow toggle to the left of the text?  grab that little guy and drag it on to your circle. Holy cow right?  Move it around and you can place it wherever you want it.

So right now your text is on the outside of the circle.  You will see a slider bar to the left of the text now that you are on a path.  You can move it up and down to choose where you want the text placed on your path. You can also use the character spacing slider to provide the appropriate spacing while creating this as well.

Ok so now I have it exactly how I want it.  You now have your text all set up to cut out.  The path "circle" has turned gray.  This lets you know that it will not cut out the path used.  You can see this by clicking on your cut settings tool as well

I am creating a circular gift tag so I am going to make a ring that the "Happy Holidays" text will weld with.

To create this look drag your arched text to the ring.

Slice the ring just inside the "Happy Holidays" text on either side of it.

Weld the ring and "Happy Holidays" text together.  There you have it, wasn't that super easy!  Have a great day and play away!

 

Shapes:

medallion_1_C00744_23067

Rhinestones!!

Have you been trying to figure out all the finishing touches for your projects?  My favorite details are the rhinestones.  I love to mix and match the sizes as well as colors.  Dresden, one of our artists here at Silhouette also has a love of sewing.  So with not too much persuasion we asked her to work with me on a project.  She created this gorgeous bag that could show off all that bling.  If you haven't been able to put your finger on that last little touch...try the rhinestones.  Have a great weekend!

Stockings hung

I have been so busy with life and projects lately that getting all the decorations up for Christmas has become quite a challenge this year.  My sweet kiddos asked me Monday if we could finally hang the stockings.  Seriously I was thinking that we had plenty of time and then yes it hit me...12 days to Christmas!  Agh! 12 lords a leaping and visions of sugar plums were dancing in my head......my goodness I have a ton of work to do before the big day arrives.

So this is a little tribute to my babes...this time of year is still magical for them even if all the big people in their lives are too busy to remember.  They put it back into perspective for me.  Life is to live...stockings need to be hung!

Happy day everyone...time to get those stockings up!

Shapes:
 Christmas_stocking_2330
snowflake_C00120_28466
stockings_hung_with_care_C00751_19547

Clearance Shapes & Magnet Paper

This is one of those great little filler gifts for your children or grandchildren...maybe even the neighbors children.  Creat your own magnet dolls.  I have brought this concept to you before, but in todays clearance section the ballet dress for some of the ballerina dolls is available.  You can customize this outfit with many shapes!

Using any of the patterns you can add them to the dress and fill them in with custom colors.  Here I have used the circle tool from the tool bar to make polka dots on the top of the dress and then I used the beautiful lace shape on the bottom of the other outfit.

This is a fast way to come up with a little Christmas gift that is sure to be a big hit with any little girl!

Clearance Shape:
little_ballerina_clothing_C00464_2581
Other Shapes:
little_ballerina_C00456_2581
beautiful_lace_C00285_20509

FREE download of the week!!

 chandelier_ornament_C02768_1

I love today's free shape, it is a gorgeous chandelier shaped ornament.  You can make these and  hang them as an accessory to your other ornaments or use them as an embellishment for all the holiday treats you will be giving to friends and family.  I added a few rhinestones to the ornament and hung a crystal on the bottom.  The perfect finishing touch to all your holiday projects!

New Software Update & Monday Tutorial

I am so excited about the software update, I too have been waiting patiently for it.  There are so many great new features that are a part of it.  I will of course bring you tutorials every Monday teaching you how to use each of the functions.  The one that I have been waiting for is my go to "Inset and Offset" buttons.  I use them all the time and I use them often together.  We had offset capabilities earlier but i just needed to the inset.  So today I am going to show you how to create a holiday tag using these features.

I first imported the tag I was going to use and resized it.

 I then brought in this darling little scroll book end.  I love the detail in it and thought it would be so pretty at the end of a tag.  I then resized it to match the tag size.

Because of this detail I thought it would be a nice touch to have it outlined.  So what I started with was using the internal offset button I created a smaller tag on the inside of my original tag. As you can see in the images below, I used my slider to change the size of  inset that I wanted. Once you have the sizing to your liking

So right now I could weld these pieces together And have a lovely card but I want the scroll to have a mat around it as well.  So I Selected the scroll and using the offset button I created a slightly larger scroll.  Again using the slider I decided the size.

Now I need to weld the pieces together to create the mat for the tag and the tag itself.  You will want to make sure you duplicate the original tag so that you can have your two separate pieces.  Selecting the original scroll, one of the original tags, and the tag inset weld them together using the weld button. I moved the other original tag shape and the inset down for you to see the two pieces

You will do the same for the outline tag scroll.  Select the other original tag shape, the inset tag, and the original scroll and weld them together.  Here I also moved the outline scroll tag to show you the pieces.

For this project I am creating tags for my Christmas packages.  Each of my children receive four gifts at Christmas.  They always know not to expect more.  A girlfriend introduced me to this method.  Want It, Need It, Wear It, Read It.  A know last year it was big sensation on blogs all over internet-dom.  So, this is my version *wink*