Category: Tutorial

Vintage Style Christmas Sign Tutorial with Brandie

 

Hi there! Brandie here with a tutorial on how I made this Christmas sign using the Sleigh Rides on Santa Claus Lane file. You can find it here in Loris shop and here in the Silhouette store.

After I got my image uploaded and sized accordingly I cut  out the image on vinyl to create a stencil. While my machine was cutting the images I painted the white layer on my barn wood square.

 

I painted one thin layer of white acrylic paint and did not go all the way to the edge of the wood to help give it an aged look.  While the paint was drying I weeded the vinyl. To create the stencil I removed the inside parts and kept the negative image.
To apply the stencil I cut the image into thirds  and applied to the dry painted wood. I am the queen of eye-balling things and did that here. But transfer tape would help with applying the stencil to the wood.
Once the vinyl was applied to the wood I rubbed everything down with the long flat side of a bone folder being careful not to gouge the wood. I used red acrylic paint and a stencil brush to apply the paint in thin layers.
After I had the color and coverage I wanted I gently pulled the vinyl off the wood.
I then used a hand-held sander and carefully went over the sign.
Here it is all ready to add to my Christmas décor. I love how it turned out and have plans to make another one with a  nativity file next.
Thanks for stopping by!
Brandie

Pumpkin Spice Everything with Mitsyana

Hello, Friends! How many of you are ready for Thanksgiving Day? Do you have a special feast planned? Any PUMPKIN on that menu?  Well, if you are like me you then you love all things Pumpkin Spice. In fact, you probably wait for this time of year to come just so you can kick up your heals and indulge in all things pumpkin spice related!!

Lately, I have really enjoyed coloring and find it very relaxing. So I used images from Lori Whitlock’s Pumpkin Pie Print & Cut Stamps set to create this CAS (Clean and Simple) Pumpkin Spice EVERYTHING card!

Image 1

I started by opening my ecal software and creating my digital card front by opening each image and adding it to my virtual “mat”.

To get your images centered perfectly within your card shape, highlight the group of images (everything you want to be centered) and click on the “Align” button. Here’s the tricky part…Click on “H Align” to align images vertically, meaning images will line up in a row from up to down/ down to up… and “V Align” for images to align horizontally, meaning the lineup side to side.

I’m making a long A10 sized card, so I want them to be centered/ lined up vertically so I click on the center “H Align”.

Once I get the layout of my virtual card to the way I like, I duplicate the image. I  do this because I can make multiples of the same card or I have a back up in case I butcher my first attempt I have a spare. LOL

Don’t worry about the lines being there, these were just guides to remind me where the parameters of the card are. I intend to trim this off.

Then, I print from directly inside my ecal software. Click “File” on the menu bar and select “Print”. Easy peasy! I printed my images onto kraft cardstock using a laser printer. I used a laser printer as opposed to an ink jet because the ink is automatically heat set and will not run when if you plan on using markers.

I colored the little whipped topping with a white opaque marker. This would’ve definitely re-activated the ink if it was an ink-jet printer and it would have created nasty smearing and smudging.

For this project, I chose to color the rest of the images with color pencils. I love the way color seems to pop when applied to a darker paper. They almost look like they are glowing!

I printed another set, this time on white cardstock. Then, I cut out the banner pieces.

I ran the banners through my Xyron Sticker maker.  I then attached them to their matching digis on the kraft print.

I cut the Kraft card down to measure 3.75″ x 9″. I mounted it onto mirror cardstock measuring 4″x 9.25″. Then layer it onto patterned paper measuring 4.25″ x 9.5″.

I attached my card front to a 4.25″ x 9.5″ (folded) card base.

And here is my finished card.

I really hope you enjoyed today’s project and hope you have a very memorable and delicious Thanksgiving!!

Happy Crafting!!

~Mitsyana

Holiday Dog Bandanas with Anita

Hi:

Anita here with a fun and easy tutorial to make your furry friend a dog bandanna.  My son and daughter-in-law have three dogs and they like to include them in their Christmas photo.  I made some personalized bandannas for my fur grand dogs using some of Lori’s fun fonts and heart cut files.  For Lily and Sully’s bandannas, I used the Wide Marker font at 288.0 pt which can be found here in Lori’s store and here in the Silhouette store.    For Scout’s bandanna I used LW Thick at 288.0 pt which can be found here in Lori’s store and here in the Silhouette store.  The cut file for the hearts is called 4 hearts and can be found here in Lori’s store and here in the Silhouette store.   I found a doggie bandanna pattern on the internet from Sew Caroline and the free pattern is here.

Here are the supplies that I used for Lilly’s bandanna.  You can really use any heat transfer vinyl.

I measured across the part of the bandanna where I wanted to put the letters so that I would have a sense of how wide the name could be and fit nicely.

Lori’s fonts are so easy to find in your Silhouette font library and they start with the letters LW.

I had fun experimenting with some of Lori’s different fonts to see which one I liked the best.

 

Heat transfer vinyl has a clear plastic sheet which is sticky over the front of the vinyl which allows you to protect the vinyl while ironing it on.  You are going to want to place it with this clear/front side face down on your mat.  You can cut vinyl without a mat but I didn’t want to move my rollers so I put it on a mat.

As you can see from above there are many different types of heat transfer vinyl.  I chose to use a metallic one so that is what I selected in the cut settings.  Notice that the letters are not mirrored on my mat.

Isn’t Silhouette so smart?  They know I am cutting with vinyl and asked me if I wanted to mirror my design.  Given that I was cutting out letters I said to send them mirrored.  I also chose to do two passes as my blade isn’t brand new and I was asking it to cut through three layers.  I could also have mirrored it before sending it to cut.

Wows, my mat is looking well-loved.  Here are the letters cut out and the extra vinyl removed.  Don’t remove the top plastic sheet, you need it on until the letters are ironed down.

Everything is ironed down now.  I used a plastic pressing sheet and did not heat it for the 45-60 seconds as they recommend on the package because my iron runs really hot and I didn’t want to bubble the vinyl. I usually choose a middle point and put the first letter down there and then add the rest one at a time.  I find that things move less that way when ironing.  Apply even pressure, not steam and don’t move your iron back and forth.

I used Velcro circles on each corner point and stitched them down.  I used a seam ripper to gently peel away the top plastic piece, you could also use a pin.   If the vinyl starts to pull up then you might have to reheat it.  Be careful to not overheat it.

Here is Lily’s completed bandanna.

Here are all three bandannas.  Can’t wait to see how the Christmas photo turns out.

Hugs,

Anita

 

“Faux Stamping” with Dingbats Technique by Michelle

Cozy up with the Winter Dingbat Font and make these sweet little stocking-stuffer notebooks!  This is Michelle Zerull and I’d like to share a pocket sized project that can made in practically no time at all.  Perfect for stockings, classroom gifts and coworkers. Make one for yourself too!

For these mini notebooks, I used “A Perfect Winter” papers by Echo Park.  The colors and patterns are great for the holidays and beyond. For the “Faux Stamped” covers, I downloaded the Winter Dingbat Font which can be found in the Silhouette Design Store and also at Lori Whitlock’s SVG Shop.  The books themselves were made from the 2×2 Accordion Mini Album SVG files that can be found here in the Silhouette Design Store and also here at Lori Whitlock’s SVG Shop.  Lori has an excellent Tutorial Video where she shows how to assemble the books. Be sure to watch the seven minute video for Lori’s tips and tricks! I’ll show you here, how to use the adorable Winter Dingbat Font to make the book covers.

I’ve been a rubber stamper for over 20 years.  I love the look, but I hate stamping on my favorite patterned papers.  I’m always afraid that I’m going to get a bad impression and ruin them.  Sadly, it happens.  By using the Winter Dingbat Font, I know that I’m going to get a consistently perfect image every time without actually stamping.  The Winter Dingbat Font contain 26 images and phrases that can be cut, colored and printed in any size your heart desires!  Yes, that’s right…26 images…in ANY size!  This “Faux Stamping” technique is so easy to do with the print and cut feature on my Silhouette Cameo.  It’s my latest obsession!

After downloading your font and SVG design, open up your design area and type in the alphabet using your dingbat font.  Look at all of those images! The hard part is choosing which ones to use!  For this project, I’m going to use three of the phrases. I clicked on the designs, clicked on the fill tool and chose the color black.  I ungrouped all 26 images and deleted the images that I was not going to use.

Next, I opened the 2×2 Accordion Mini Album files. I’m going to cut them all eventually, but right now, I’m working with the covers. I ungrouped the pieces and set them off to the side for later.

I copied the teal front cover piece and made three covers. (I made a lot of little books!)  Move your phrases to the front of the covers and remove the cut lines by selecting “no cut.” Important! Remember to remove the teal color from your pieces and change it to transparent. At this time, I also changed my page setup.  I don’t have a 12×12 printer, so I am going to cut my 12×12 patterned paper down to 8.5×11 so it will feed through my printer.  In order for the Silhouette to read the registration marks, you will need to choose a light colored patterned paper.

Add your registration marks to your letter sized page setup.  Place your light colored 8.5×11 patterned paper in your printer and hit “print.” Voila! Perfectly printed on patterned paper!  Now you can put this sheet through the Silhouette Cameo for perfectly cut book covers that already have the phrases printed, or “Faux Stamped”on them.

Cut and assemble the other pieces like Lori shows in the tutorial video. Instead of using designer paper for the pages, I chose to use plain white pages so I could make them into mini notebooks.

I hope that you enjoyed my “Faux Stamping” with Dingbats technique. The dingbat fonts are so fun to play with!

Give Thanks Pumpkin Card

Hi, Crafty Friends!! Creative Team Member, Mitsyana Wright, here. It’s a new month and I’m not going to lie, I’m missing Halloween already.  It’s ok, I have lots to look forward to and lots to be thankful for. And speaking of thankful… Today, I’m bringing you this Give Thanks, Pumpkin Card.

Let me show you how I made it…

Here are the supplies you need:

  • Pumpkin Mini Album (here in the Silhouette Store)
  • Give Thanks (here in the Silhouette Store)
  • Patterned Cardstock (Autumn Leaves Stack- DCWV)
  • Xyron Creative Station
  • Tim Holtz Distress Ink- Vintage Photo
  • Hemp Twine
  • Glue Pen

I used Lori Whitlock’s Pumpkin Mini Album to create my card base.

I opened the SVG file using my ecal software.

Then “UNGROUP”ed the holes from that are in the pumpkin base and files.

Then, I cut and pasted the window base onto a new page.

I made a mirror image then slightly had them overlap at the center. Then I highlighted the whole and “WELDED” the two pumpkins together.

Once the welded pumpkins were cut, I used my bone folder to crease my card.

Then I die cut the panel pieces, stem, and accessories that come with the file.

Next, I ran the patterned paper through my Xyron Creative Station Lite. Then I inked up the edges with Tim Holtz’ in Vintage Photo. Then All I simply did was peel and stick! Easy-Peasy!!

I also used Lori Whitlock’s Give Thanks Title for my cards sentiment.

I sized it to fit the pumpkin cover in my ecal software. Then opened a new window and cut and pasted it there.

After cutting these words out, I left them in their negative space and inked the edges. Keeping them in the negative space helps to reduce bends and tears.

I used a glue pen to attached my sentiment onto the front cover.

Then, I  added the leaves and button. I  fastened them together with hemp twine.

I also used a micron pen to add details to the words and swirls for a little definition.

And here is my finished card…

Now, it’s ready to give to someone I am very thankful for…

It’s so hard to choose!! I’m going to have to make more!! There are too many people I am incredibly thankful for! I guess that is a good problem to have!

Hope you all enjoyed my project for today!! See you soon!!

~Mitsyana