FREE download of the week

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Well I made it back from Canada and had a great time.  Its fun to try new things and enjoy different aspects of my job.  LOVED it!  For most, school is probably already out and for others they might be ready to end soon, but I thought this would be a fun shape to give any time of the year.  There is never a bad time to say thank you to someone who has influenced and supported you.  I hope you had a great weekend.  Missed you all while I was gone!  Here's to getting back to reality!  *wink*

Fan Feature

I just had to show you this great card.  I feel like such a proud momma.  I love seeing your projects and fun techniques!  Take a look at this great card using the engraving technique shown in Monday's tutorial.

Thanks to Cristina for sharing your take on engraving paper!  It is so sweet and simple!

Here is what Cristina said"

Engraved Background using the silhouette.
Stamped sentiment from Hero Arts, Find Joy CL497
The background is a design for the silhouette from Hero Arts.

daisy_background_C01024_23067

Adhesive Backed-Cardstock

Well I'm off to Canada to present the Silhouette on the Shopping Channel...here is one of the projects I will be showing off.  I love our adhesive cardstock!  It is so nice to be able to just cut the cardstock and apply right to your project!!  I will have PDF's on how to create this and a few others on the website soon.  But for now here is a sneak peek!

Shapes:
file_folder_C00638_20509
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Font:
Impact

Guest Blogger Post: Amy w/ Positively Splendid

Hello, everyone! My name is Amy, and my corner of the blogging world is called Positively Splendid, a place where I share my passion for all things creative. I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to post on the Silhouette blog today! My goal is for my blog to be a little haven of crafting and DIY inspiration, and a place where creative people of all skill levels can come and feel right at home. Because I feel strongly that everyone should be equipped to create something beautiful on their own, each and every project at Positively Splendid is explained to the last detail with step-by-step photo tutorials. I like to think of each tutorial as sitting down with friends to learn something new together. I would love for you to stop in for a visit!

One tool that I absolutely could not live without is my beloved Silhouette. I love that it allows me to take my handmade creations and give them a truly professional look, and no product allows me to do just that better than the Silhouette Heat Transfer Material. I adore making embellished tees for my three kiddos like the one I'm sharing with you today, and the results I achieve by mixing that material with other fabrics and trims is swoon-worthy!

Today I'm going to give you a tutorial for how to create a Ruffled Birthday Cupcake Tee for a little birthday girl in your life.

For this project, you will need...

One Plain T-Shirt

Silhouette Heat Transfer Material

Cupcake File from the Silhouette Online Store (I used 3_cupcakes_C00366_20509)

Lightweight Fusible Interfacing

Washable Ink Marker

Assorted Ribbons and Trims

Invisible Thread

Basic Sewing Supplies (Machine, Shears, Etc.)

step 1 / Cut out a cupcake liner and birthday candle design with your Silhouette, and discard all of the negative space around and within your images. Note: I created my candle number 2 here using the Silhouette Studio software, but there are also candles available in the online store.

step 2 / Take a small piece of your fusible interfacing, and draw a cupcake top with your washable ink marker, making sure it is proportional to your heat transfer design elements. Line up your trims on top of your sketched shape until your achieve a look you like, making sure all portions of your cupcake top are covered. Stitch these pieces to your piece of interfacing with your invisible thread.

step 3 (optional) / If you want to add an extra touch to your tee, ruffle a couple of pieces of your ribbon before stitching them to your tee. You can do this very simply by using this shortcut ruffling technique. Stitch these ruffled pieces to your interfacing using your invisible thread. Note: When you are finished, no white space should be visible within the boundaries of your cupcake top.

step 4 / Flip your stitched cupcake top piece over, and carefully stitch along the line of the outer perimeter of your shape, as shown. Now, trim as closely as possible around this line of stitching, taking care not to snip through your stitches as you work. If desired, seal the edges of your finished cupcake top with some Fray Check.

step 5 / Stitch the cupcake top to the center of your tee. Iron your cupcake liner and birthday candle heat transfer embellishments above and below your cupcake piece. If desired, stitch a piece of trim along the bottom edge of your cupcake top piece.

You are finished!

I am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to share this project here today! Y'all are welcome at Positively Splendid any time!

FREE download of the week

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A few months ago we did a fun rhinestone promo and taught everyone how to use the Silhouette to create fun rhinestone projects. Today I am giving you a free rhinestone shape. I love the 16ss rhinestones they are the perfect size...aren't they gorgeous!  Pick up your free shape in the online store!

Tutorial: Engraving

After many requests on Friday I have decided to do a tutorial on the engraving technique that I used on the cloud/balloon card.

I started this project off with a 5x7.  I am going to make a little pirate invitation and I thought it would be fun to engrave a map onto the card.

After my sizing is ready I imported the map shape and arranged it on the card.

I then added some text inviting everyone to the party.  Filled it in with a color as well as added color to the "x".

To do this I ungroup the map shape and selected each piece and filled it in.

The next steps are the most important.  Because I am wanting to print the font I of course need to add registration marks  and print out the text.  This will also be helpful because each time you send the paper through the Silhouette, the sensor will cut everything exact.

Now that I have my sheet printed I am ready to send it through.  I have to change a few of the cutline settings so that I only cut/engrave what I want, instead of engraving it all.  Remember I only want the map engraved.

So I simply go to the cut style settings and select the shape I want engraved and make sure the lines are selected as "cut" and then select the other shapes to have a "no cut" cutline.

 

Once this is done, click on the cut settings.  Here is where we will be able to make it engrave instead of cut out.  Select the cardstock setting and alter the settings to be a speed of 3 and a thickness of 25.  Depending on the thickness of your paper you may need to do this with a lesser thickness.  Next step is to change your blade cap to the blue cap.

Place your paper on to your carrier sheet and load into the Silhouette.  The Silhouette will then detect the registration marks and then engrave the map.  Then cut out the invite.

As you can see, the engraved shape is not visible, I like to chalk the lines to reveal the shape.

My last little step in the invite was to add a red mat on the back of the map invite and then add a little pop-dotted ship.

 
Shapes:
treasure_map_C00558_19007
pirate_ship_C00055_2158

Font:
Alias

Thinking of you!

This post is definitely indulgent, but you will still love me right???

Lots of things are racing through my mind today...I am feeling a little small today, but feeling so grateful.  9 years ago today, the sun was shining and it was warm and beautiful outside.  I remember feeling so filled with life and had a great enthusiasm for the day.  A little later that day a sense of urgency filled my heart.  I had a strange desire to call home.  I wasn't ready for the conversation I would have.  I immediately flew home and was rushed to the hospital...where I was told the news.  My life changed...forever.  A new me would emerge and a new perspective on my life would exist. On this day 9 years ago my Dad passed away. It was sudden and so unforeseen, he was young and left my mom with 3 boys still at home...life would have to be different.   I am so thankful for the sweet memories of him and the way he tenderly raised me.  He was my cheerleader and loyal supporter of every crazy notion I had.  I had big dreams and to him nothing was too big.  I honor him today and am grateful for another reason to celebrate my life...he truly gave me a gift. Love you daddy!

I created this card using an engraving technique.  I place my white paper in the silhouette and used the blue cap on a thinner setting and just engraved the clouds.  I then used some chalk and rubbed it into the grooves to create the wispy look.  Such a fun way to use the Silhouette.

shapes:
5_clouds_C00679_20509
balloons_C00009_28466

Fan Feature

I stumbled across this little guy and could get enough of his cut little jammies.  Momma Heather McDonald uploaded this photo to the facebook page.  Absolutely darling!  She used heat transfer and fabric interfacing combined.  I love that!  Just take a look!

Heather used: white is heat transfer and the orange and black wheels are fabric withe the interfacing. And white buttons. :)  Thank you so much for sharing.  What a great way to jazz up this little guys outfit!


Shape:
dumptruck_C00052_48353

Guest Blogger Post: Heather w/ Whipper Berry

I’m so excited to be guest posting today here at the Silhouette blog… giddy really! I’m Heather the founder of WhipperBerry, a fun, crafty, DIY blog. We specialize in anything that makes life tasty, fancy or fun! One of our favorite products EVER is the Silhouette. We have been working with it for quite some time now and have really fallen in love. I have recently started working with the heat transfer material and my stars… what a great design element.

With the summer approaching I decided to make a Chore Ribbon for my kiddos…

This is kind of a non traditional approach to the chore chart. I used the silhouette vinyl for the hanger and then used the heat transfer material to place my girl’s names directly on the jute ribbon. Here’s how I did it…

First, I created my girl’s names in the Silhouette software with the LD Charming Bold font that I purchased from the Silhouette store. Keep in mind when using the heat transfer material you need to create a mirror image to place on your fabric.

I then cut the heat transfer material according to the package instructions. Next, I carefully peeled the excess heat transfer material away from the plastic…

I flipped the image over and placed it on the jute ribbon…

… with the image right facing and the plastic sheet on top of the heat transfer material.

Next, I place a thin cloth over the ribbon and the image and ironed according to the package instructions. After it has cooled for a few minutes carefully remove the plastic covering and voila…

…the heat transfer material in now firmly affixed to the jute ribbon. To finish the project I added vinyl cut with the Silhouette using the same font to the wooden hanger…

… now isn’t that cheerier than a chore chart? There is a “need to do side” and a “finished” side to the ribbon with all of the jobs on labeled clothes pins. Place the clothes pins on the appropriate side of the ribbon with a reward section an the bottom to track their rewards.

Hang from a covenant door and you and your kiddos have a fun way to track what they have accomplished for the day.

Come on over to WhipperBerry we have a few more Silhouette inspired project that we think are quite dandy. Thanks Silhouette for this fun opportunity to share our Silhouette love with your fans!!