Fabric Interfacing: Creating hair clippies!

You have all heard me rave about our fabric interfacing but I just love how amazing it is.  The Silhouette can truly cut out anything you want it to and it doesn't just stop at paper and vinyl.  Cutting fabric in the machine is one of my favorite media types.  I love the gratification I get every time one of the lovely fabric creations comes together.

Here is just another way you can use the Silhouette to create one of a kind lovelies!

I cut out scalloped circles and a star with a heart cut out of it.  Then I did a little stitching and stuffed the center.  This was a quick and easy hair clippie ready for the 4th festivities!

Shapes:
nesting_scallop_rings_C00091_24282
folk_heart__star_C00932_20509
scallop_stars-set_of_2_C00077_24282

Fan Feature

I love the spirit our country shares especially this time of year.  I love the sea of red, white, and blue that you can see everywhere during our Independence Day celebrations.  I also am so grateful for what it symbolizes.  How can we thank those men and women who have sacrificed for us so selflessly, knowing the price that would/could be paid. I thank them and of course my heart is also with their families.  I was thrilled to see this on our flickr site and had to share.  Take a look at these beautiful cards Samantha has shared with us!

This is what she had to say:

"I finally cut fabric with my Silhouette! The stars are linen. These cards (and a box of about 50 others) will be going to some very deserving men and women of our armed forces through Operation Write Home."

The paper is from MME's American Made line.

You can check out more of her great work at: www.taylorstamped.blogspot.com 
Thank you so much Samantha for sharing this with us!

FREE download of the week

firecracker_rhinestone_C02935_1

Well since we are fast approaching the 4th of July, I figured you might like a little firecracker love!  So for your crafting pleasure your very own rhinestone firecracker.  This will add the perfect amount of bling to your festive 4th of July outfits!  Its all about the sparkle here!  This shape is 5.25" tall and approx 2.75" at the widest point.

See ya tomorrow! Happy Tuesday!

Tutorial: Multiple layered Heat Transfer designs

I get asked all the time how I create my layered Heat Transfer projects...so today is your lucky day!  You will be thrilled with how easy it is to do!.  Lets get started!!!

As with any project I create I always lay it out in Silhouette Studio before I cut it out!  Import your shapes and arrange the way you want it to look on your project.

Then you will separate you design by colors.  I will be using three colors today smooth white, smooth gray, and flocked gray.

Make sure your images are mirrored since we will be using the heat transfer and then cut out each piece!

Now that you are all cut out and weeded, lets take it over to the ironing board and start layering!  Lay down the bottom layer.  Because I cut the chevrons out with my little motocross guy I first cut the tow shapes apart from each other.

Then iron down that layer.

Next add each layer individually on top of one another and iron down.  You can see from the image below I layered the white heat transfer and then the smooth gray...again ironing one by one on top of the other layer.

This next image is just showing you the final layer I will iron on to all the others!

And here is the end result.  Super simple right??!!

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope this gets you excited to try this technique out!!!

Frosted Vinyl

With the fourth of July around the corner everyone is prepping for a fun vacay filled with celebration and I if you are trying to find ways to adorn your home with festive decor, why not try revamping an old decor piece with vinyl. Here I have used an old lantern we have laying around and have changed its look completely by using our Premium Frosted Vinyl.

I love this stuff because while the look of etched glass is gorgeous, it is also permanent.  If you are anything like me, you love to change with the seasons too and this little lantern will be due for another makeover soon.  This was an easy project that makes all the difference!

Shapes:
4th_of_july_subway_art_C01059_22157
patriotic_star_two_C00557_20508

Fan Feature

Oh my gracious!  Have you seen this on the Flickr page.  I flipped when I saw this.  How fun is this Momma and how creative is she!!!  My kiddos would love this on our hardwood floor!  I think this is ingenious!!!  I believe that a little magic in our kiddos life is so worth it.  Some of our very best friends have the most amazing slide in their home.  It goes from the main floor down to the basement.  Their children range from age 10 up to 19 so it wasn't built for toddlers (ok, maybe some grand-babies in mind).  As she was showing me through her home, she hopped on the slide and said let me show you the basement, follow me!  I LOVED it, yes my goal now is to somehow find a way to add a slide in my next home, it was truly magical!

Cori Said: "Hopscotch court down our hallway with black vinyl.
My little girls love it and I love that it's temporary."

Thank you so much for sharing this with us Cori!!! Check out more of her amazing work!

Glorious Clearance Shapes

A while back we introduced our Clearance Shape section in the online store.  These are the shapes that somehow get tucked away in the back of all those thousands of shapes long forgotten.  Well, we have reinvented them!  Each week we give you a new set of shapes to browse through and collect all for $0.50 cents! Yep, you heard it right.  These are all really great shapes and you can use them in, as you all know, millions of ways.  So, I'm thinking you may want to get your hands on them, while they are hot!!!

Here is a fun project I made using one of the clearance shapes from this weeks batch.  The United States has our Independence Day coming up and I am super excited to give my kids their fun little goodie box for this 4th of July.  I thought this pouch would be a great way to give them one of my fave candies, Pop Rocks.  They are a fun little explosion in your mouth, perfect for watching fireworks! 

Here are the shapes you will need to make yours!

Shapes:
sunburst_frame_C00348_18816
3-d_seed_packet_C00700_19210
pop_pop_pop_C00426_18816

FREE Download of the week

 popcorn_box_C02934_1

This weeks free shape is from a user suggestion that was given a while back.  I personally was thrilled to create it for her.  First, I love popcorn...Second, I love the thought of using this for a party for individual servings of popcorn...Third, how cute would this be as a goody bag to give away at a party oooh or a gift box for a friend!  Oh I love this shape.

I think its time for me to enjoy some of this delicious treat.  Enjoy everyone! Happy Tuesday.

Tutorials: Heat Transfer

I know there have been a lot of questions on how use the heat transfer material so here is a great PDF tutorial to keep stashed away for future projects! Click here to download!

Also if you are wanting to do multiple layers, cut out each shape in the color you want and iron each individual piece one after the other.  Allowing time to cool between layers.  Heat transfer is a fun an quick way to transform your projects!

Happy Fathers Day!!

Well its the last week day before we have the Father's Day weekend.  I was inspired by so many great little crafts and thought of my own rendition of the 6-pack.  We have quite a few Dad's here in the Silhouette office and I'm thinking the majority of them would love this kind of 6-pack. 

So here is a Happy Father's Day to all of our men!  Ladies, lets make this a relaxing and loving day for these guys who make life so much more wonderful.  I am so grateful for my own father and his example in my life.  I also want to give a shout out to my sweet hubby, who loves me more than I ever hoped for and is truly an amazing father.  We have some pretty lucky kiddos ;)  Hugs to you all!

Fabric Alpha Decor

If you are a blog lover I am sure you have heard of pinterest. It is full of great inspiration from Design and photography to food and parties.  I was playing around the other day and fell in love with all the fun Alphabet decor, so I thought I would pick up some great fabrics and create a custom alphabet decor piece.  I wrapped an mdf board with canvas and then cut out all my alphabets from the fabric using the clean cut fabric interfacing and ironed them on.  Iadded the finishing touch using a sponge to distress and ink the edges to acheive that cool antique look.  This was a fast project and I'm just sayin' I kinda love it!  I hope this inspires you too!  Happy Thursday sweet friends!

Guest Blogger Post: Linda w/ Craftaholics Anonymous

hello there crafters! my name is linda and i'm the craft addict behind the blog, Craftaholics Anonymous. i love all things crafty and creative and fill my blog chock full of crafts, tutorials, recipes, home decor, and..... anything i find pretty :) oh and i also have this great new series where crafters show off their Crafty Spaces {creative nooks, craft rooms, crafty closet or wherever creativity happens} so many great organizing ideas for all those crafting supplies.

ANYWAYS, i am really excited to share my adorable little memo board with you today!

i am always forgetting things.

i like to call it "mom brain". seems like every since i had kids, i've lost my mind and forget EVERY*thing! so i made this little memo board to jot down notes and things i need to remember. {like birthdays. i am the worst at remembering birthdays.} i love that my little rosette memo board stands up {with the help of a dowel}so i can find it easily...... instead of getting buried under toys or fabric or something.

i added a scattering of brightly colored rosettes and a couple of rhinestones to add a little pretty to my memo board. awww, perfect!

i cut the vinyl with my Silhouette SD so that the wording is on the back of the glass so i can write all over the glass surface with a dry erase marker.

here's a quick little tutorial on how to cut your vinyl so the sticky side of the vinyl is on the front of the lettering:

add your text to your Silhouette Studio document. the font i used is Annoying Kettle. i like to show the grid lines when i am creating with my Silhouette SD. it makes it easier to cut the correct size.

hold down the Shift key and click on all text/image boxes to select them all. then right click and select Group.

select your design, right click again and select Mirror Horizontally and this will flip your image so that when it cuts, the sticky side of the lettering will be on top. cut your vinyl out as normal.

using transfer paper, apply the vinyl to one side of the glass making sure that you apply it so that it reads backwards.

i then cut a piece of white fabric and put it in place of a picture. then embellished with rolled fabric rosettes and rhinestones and applied with a glue gun. if you want your frame to sit on a table, drill a small hole in the back and put a dowel in it.

thanks for letting come and play today! i'd love it if you stopped by Craftaholics Anonymous and say hi..... and while you're there, check out the ruffled tote bag that i made to carry my Silhouette in. it's to die for!

happy crafting!

linda

FREE download of the week

oval_leaf_pattern_C02933_1

I adore all the modern patterns that are floating around the design scene.  There is something about a good symmetrical pattern that makes me feel a little more put together.  I love the clean simple feeling of them.  I'm sure you will find some great ways to use this shape, maybe a sketch design or heat transfer like I used, print and cut, or good ole' paper.

This card was created for a sweet friend of mine who's husband tragically passed away this past week.  He left she and their cutie, little 3 year old man.  What a sweet family.  My heart and thoughts are with her and the extended family. Love ya!

I used the white flocked heat transfer and ironed it directly to the paper.  I love this technique it is so fun and gives you the same look as all those gorgeous flocked papers!  You should try it out sometime!

Shapes:
with_sympathy_C20091102152417_18816

Tutorial: Adhesive Cardstock

In the month of May I showed this little project I had created for the Shopping Channel in Canada and I promised you a tutorial.  The day has final arrived!  This was a fun layout that was quick and easy and of course if you were so lucky you have a free shape from an earlier month you could use with it.  Click here to get the PDF version!

Watch tomorrow for another free shape and later in the week a great guest blog from one of our faves!  I hope you have a great Monday and an awesome start to your week.

Gorgeous shapes!

I'm not sure if you have seen some of the new shapes in the store, but they are utterly fabulous!  We have such talented artists that contribute shapes to the store.  They are always so thoughtful, clever, gorgeous, ingenious and ever so current!

Of course I browse through the store daily and I love this simple cut out card shape from designer Jennifer Wambach.  I loved the eye chart feel of it!

I created this simple card using her design.  I offset the outside of the rectangle and sandwiched a piece of transparency between the two for a great translucent look.  I love creating simple, clean cards when the time is just right...and for all of the men out there, I'm not thinking anything fussy is what they are yearning to receive, hehe ;)  So, i made it simple!

Shape:
dads_day_eye_chart_C00313_31857

PS. The stunning glitter paper is from American Crafts.  If you haven't already gotten your hands on some, you MUST!

Another fun Father's Day gift

Ok this may be a little cliche in the ole' Father's Day gift idea department, but it is still fun!  Design a one of a kind, custom apron for your guy.  Use your favorite heat transfer and an apron and you are done in no time flat.  This would be a great project to include your kids in, its simple and easy.  I hope this has gotten your creative juices going...what are you going to create I would love to see!

Shape:
bbq_grill_C00296_20508

Font:
survivor font

Fan Feature

OH MY GOODNESS!!!  How cute is this project?  It is simple and so retro cute!  I absolutely adore everything about this fun little pillow.  Thank you so much to midwestern sewing girl for sharing her talent with us!  Her projects on our flickr page are to die for!  GO check it out!

Here is how she made it! "I cut this image out onto white cotton w/fabric interfacing, dyed a canvas pillow cover & sewed the image on...easy-peasy"  Thanks again woman!

Shape:
bicycle_C00306_18816

FREE download of the week

 i_heart_dad_C02932_1

With Fathers Day coming up I thought it would be fun to give you a father's day shape.  I love the cool indie style and thought it would be super fun to have a really funky shape.  I love everything mustache graphic-style so this is a little Traci indulgent.  I used it as a print and cut but you can use it as a regular cut if you want.  There are always great ways to use the free shapes!  I hope you find a fun way to use this design!

Tutorial: Fathers Day Gift Idea

Today's tutorial is fun and unique.  Are you trying to figure out what to give as a gift this fathers day?  How about customized golf balls?  I am using the tattoo paper to create one of a kind golf balls that any guy would love...I mean what man doesn't want to be out on the course?

I started with shape: 1_dad_C00241_24282
 

I then ungrouped it so I could fill it in with different colors.

Then of course select the shapes and fill them in.

I then grouped it together and resized it to the size I needed on the golf ball.

From here place them all over your page, of course don't forget your registration marks.

After this is done lets make sure the cut line is only around the outside.  To do that go to your cut style options and select cut edge.

Now that you are ready to cut, lets make on last adjustment by mirroring the shapes.  You will need to mirror them so that when you adhere it to the balls it will read the correct way!

The tattoo paper kit comes with a white sheet and a green sheet.  Place the white sheet glossy side to be printed on and print out your design.

Once this is done remove the green backing on your sticky sheet and place on the printed designs.  You will want to make sure you use the scraper tool to scrape hard.  You really want to make sure the sticky stuff is down good!

Next send it through your Silhouette on your mat and cut that puppy out!

Now is the fun part.  Remove the clear plastic layer you will see the adhesive stuck on your design.

Next place the design image side down on to your golf ball.  Using a wet paper towel cover the paper and wet for approx 10-15 seconds.  Remove paper towel and peel away the paper to reveal the amazing coolness called a tattooed golf ball.

Isn't this a super fun gift?  Good luck and have fun!  Happy Monday!

Shape:
1_dad_C00241_24282