I have been trying to come up with some fun little stocking stuffers for the girls on Doug's side.  This is my solution for this year.

A few years ago we switched to just exchanging stocking stuffers in lieu of gifts, however, it's sort of become a homemade swap.  I hope these refrigerator magnets will be a fun addition to the stockings. 

I made serving trays as a larger gift for each of the families.  Now, what to make for the boys??!

Christmas Card

Another fun, but simple Christmas Card made with a tag and a few diecuts.  The tag is from the 12 Days of Christmas Collection by Heidi Swapp and Jessica Sprague.

Christmas Cards

I don't often make one dimensional cards.  I had printed this background last year and put it in a bag with Christmas Crafty stuff... this year I thought I'd see what I could do with it.  It is purely a printed digital image and I just glittered the trees and ground.  So simple.  It really sparkles!

I have traditionally made cards with non-traditional colors!  This one is no exception.  It's very simple, but I kind of like it that way.  Originally I had a scalloped book paper circle behind the tree, but decided it liked the simpler version.

Christmas Card

This card was made with a digital image by Nancie Rowe Janitz from her Joyeux Noel kit available at Jessica Sprague.com

Reindeer Christmas Card with Silhouette

I made both of these cards with the Silhouette and some cardstock I had on hand.  I love the unexpected splash of red the bird adds.  I got the inspiration for this card from a tag that I saw on Pinterest, unfortunately I can't find it now... but will post when I do.

Christmas Card 101 Cardmaking Class - Final Card

One last card from our class. 

Christmas Card

This is a hybrid Christmas Card.  The main sentiment and tag are from digital files and the remainder is traditional papers.

Christmas Countdown Calendar

I'm so stinking excited!   I have had this idea for a countdown calendar for a few days and haven't had the time to actually make it.  I made this countdown calendar from a picture frame!

The idea was born from Heidi Swapp's Memory File Stand and her awesome Christmas Freebies.  

I used a few ornaments and Christmas decorations I had laying around to dress up the frame and Voila, this little cutie was born.  The rings on the top allow the countdown tags to be flipped and you could even add some cute photo sleeves, or pictures right in between, a little journaling.

A fun way to do the December Daily and it fits right on your desktop.  I think the possibilities are endless.  Birthday Calendars, Recipe Stands, Just photos, Month to Month yearly calendar.  I'm so excited I can't stand it!  :)   

When I thought of this idea I called my awesome friend, Kathryn (aka WhimseyGirl.com) and told her what I was thinking.... look at this little cutie she whipped up!  I just love how she added Heidi's banners to hers and the cute Colorshined seam binding!   Kathryn is also a Heidi Swapp Retailer, go check her out!

This was actually the very first card we made in our Christmas Card 101 Cardmaking Class

Silhouette Tutorial - How to make circle text

Another Silhouette Video showing you how to make circle text, or a text path.

Christmas Card 101

Christmas Card 101 Cardmaking Class Continues!!!   This was my least favorite card of the class, but at the last minute we added the red snowflake which added a bit of jazz

Christmas Card 101 Card Making Class Continues

The 3rd card from our Christmas Card 101 Cardmaking Class.

Christmas Card 101 - Card 2

This is another card from the Christmas Card 101 cardmaking class I taught with my friend, Jodie. 

Silhouette Tutorial - How to Print and Cut ANY Clipart Image

Sandy asked me to make a video showing how to use an image from the internet and make it into a print and cut for the Silhouette.  This is a great option and the possibilities are endless!! 

I used  this same method to cut vinyl window clings for my son's car with the Cubs Logo, and his college logo for my car.  I also made a Dallas Cowboys window cling for a friend.   Just make sure when you are searching for images that you get something with decent resolution.... I'd say nothing less than 200 x 200, but preferably 400 x 400 or better, this particular image was over 1000 x 1000.

Have fun creating and as always I'd love to see what you made!

If there are any techniques that you'd like me to use in a video, please let me know.  I'm enjoying the requests and will try and get them uploaded as quickly as possible.

Christmas Card 101

My friend, Jodie, and I taught a Christmas Cardmaking 101 class.  It was a very basic card class.  I will be showing the other 5 cards over the next few days.  The cards were designed for students who have never made a card before, so we kept them pretty simple.  All of the supplies were precut.

Silhouette Print and Cut 101

This is a just a quick video that shows the very basic print and cut feature of the Silhouette.  I'll walk you through each step from blank mat to a perfectly printed and cut image.

A lot of people are confused by the Print and Cut feature.  The Silhouette cannot print.  How the print and cut feature works is through the printer you have connected to your computer.  Mine is a regular inkjet HP printer.  When you are in the Silhouette Studio software, there is a button called "send to printer".  This will send the image on your mat to the printer connected to your computer.  You will use that printed image, place it on your mat and insert it into the Silhouette for cutting.

Hope this helps a few of the questions that have been rolling in. 

Silhouette Cameo Tutorial - Another video showing how to make a print and cut

Nancy asked me to specifically show how to take this cute Heart House by Sweet Alton and turn it into a flat printable file.  This is a little more complicated than the last because it involves compound paths.  It's very doable... don't let the term Compound Path scare you.  It just means a image that has multiple cut line within one image. 

Silhouette Tutorial - How to make any Silhouette Store File a Print and Cut

For this video I wanted to quickly walk you through an easy way to take those Silhouette Files that come in as just blank cut files and turn them into what the sample picture looks like.  For instance, I took this file

 And made it into this:

Based on the Echo Park Sample in the Store

Here is a video showing you my process:

Christmas Card 101 with the Silhouette - Card #5

Isn't this a super simple, but super cute card??  I just love how it turned out.  I made an insert for the inside to make writing, stamping, or adding a greeting easier to see.

This is the 5th card in our Silhouette 101 Christmas Card series.  It's pretty simple and focuses on using a simple element and making it into a fun shaped card.  The only item I bought from the Silhouette Store for this card was the front greeting by Echo Park.  If you go right now you can get this for $0.50 with their Holiday Store sale.  It also comes with two other super cute elements that could be made into similar cards using the same method described in my video below.

I hope you enjoyed this series and make lots of fun Christmas Cards for your friends and family.  I'd love to see what you make, leave me a comment and a link to your creation!


Here's a quick video tutorial showing you how to make this card.

Memory File Christmas Album with the SIlhouette

I've been MIA for awhile.  Last week I was taking two different classes.  The first was Mo'tography with Heidi Swapp and Jessica Sprague.  It was a class designed to teach you how to use various phone apps and your camera phone to create some awesome photos and hybrid projects.  So much fun!  The second class I was taking was the Heidi Swapp Memory Files Live class.  So much fun and so many possibilities.  I'll be posting those projects soon, but the kids are here for the weekend (both at the same time...never happens).  They are upstairs sound asleep this morning, so I thought I'd do a little prep work for a Christmas Album I have in mind.  Aren't these just the cutest folders ever?  I made them all with the Silhouette, some K & CO paper that I picked up at Target.  I cannot wait to put this together.  I'm going to use some ideas from the classes I took this week.

Besides the two amazing classes last week, I also had a super fun "secret project" I've been working on due.  I gave you a little sneak peak a few days ago.  I'll be posting those fun projects, too!  I need to finish up my Silhouette 101 Christmas Card Series as well.  I hope to be back to regular posting this coming week. 

Color Shine by Heidi Swapp, the Silhouette and a Sunday Afternoon

I've been playing today!  I am currently taking the Memory Files Live class with Heidi Swapp.  We've been playing with Mini File Folders and I am in love!  I was thinking today that I could use Heidi's ColorMagic Paper, the Silhouette and make my own Mini File Folder.  Well Here it is... (SWOON).  I love, love, love it!

After the first success above, I thought I'd try some Color Resist Papers I had from the Old Artisian
 Collection by Pink Paislee.  LOVE IT!  The top one was misted with ColorShine in Mustard.  The bottom one was misted in Georgia Peach.  These are just the cutest size.  If you haven't taken any of Heidi's memory files class.... you must!  It's such a great concept.  I cannot wait to put these babies to work. 

PS:  For the ColorMagic Paper on the Silhouette I used the following settings
Blade Setting 5, thickness 33, and speed 5 (Double Cut). 

Silhouette Cameo Blade Settings

I made a printable pdf that you can print on 8-1/2 x 11 (landscape), cut it out and tape it right inside the lid of of your Silhouette Cameo for the blade settings for various materials.  I don't get credit for all this wonderful information.  I got the information from Doodling Debbie on the Silhouette Plus messageboard.  There is so much information over there, if you haven't already, sign up.  It's a great environment if you have questions, need inspiration and/or just want to share your creations.

 I just took her list and made it into something that would fit into my Cameo for easy access.  You can get the pdf here.  Isn't it fun to know that you CAN cut foam, Chipboard, Shrink Plastic!!   Have fun Ladies!!

Sneak Peak with Heidi Swapp Vintage Chic. Pink Paislee Shabby Sugarland and the Silhouette

I have been working on a special project. I have to admit that every aspect of this project has been out together, torn apart, redesigned multiple times. I have used a lot of Pink Paislee Sugarland and Heidi Swapp Vintage Chic on this project. More photos to come later.

Love is Forever Card

This card was made from the negatives of yesterday's card.  I do this alot.  I think this could be used as a valentine card or just because I love you card. 

Christmas Card

Just playing around with some scraps that I had out.

Christmas Card 101 with the Silhouette - Card #4

For this week's card we will be working with a digital kit to create this cute multi-layered card with the Silhouette.  I will be posting a video of the Silhouette Studio portion of how I put this card together.

Christmas Card 101 with the Silhouette - Card #3

 This is the 3rd card in our Christmas Cards 101 with the Silhouette.  For this card we used the Print and Cut Feature.

 Only two items were required from the Silhouette Store.  The Christmas Diamond Paper and the Vintage Ornaments

I made the snowflake paper in Photoshop, you can download it here if you like.

I will post a video shortly of how I created this card in the Silhouette Studio.  Just remember to add those special touches.  I added a bit of stitching, some twine, inked around the edges.  This video, tutorial makes the card front.  I just attached it to a piece of 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 piece of white cardstock folded in the middle for a standard A2 card.

Simply Happy Digital Layout with Pink Paislee Praire Hills Collection

I made this digital layout using Pink Paislee Prairie Hill Collection which will be available soon at JessicaSprague.com    I just love the soft, calming colors of this collection!

Christmas Cards 101 with the Silhouette (Card 2)

This week we will alter a premade template from the Silhouette shop and make it look completely different.

There are two videos, the first part is the Silhouette design, and the second part is the card assembly. Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know what I can do to make the series better, what would you like to see/learn? am I going too fast?  too slow?  I appreciate the feedback.

Halloween Card

Yes, I know, I said I was finished with Halloween Cards, but when I went upstairs to clean up my Halloween mess, I started messing around and before I knew it, this card was born.  I know not what I do! 

Christmas Cards 101 with the Silhouette

I am going to do a series of Christmas Cards with the Silhouette starting with this very basic card (above) using a template from the Silhouette store and working our way up to designing your own one of a kind Christmas card.  I hope you play along and link your creations in the comments.

Christmas Card with Silhouette

My first Christmas Card of the year!  I know, it's only October, but I am already finished with Halloween.  I made this card completely with the Silhouette print and cut feature.  I used the digital kit by Heidi Swapp and Jessica Sprague called Winter Wonderland available at jessicasprague.com

Scrapbook Layout

I switched gears and made a digital layout.  I told you I was finished with Halloween cards!  I made this layout with a digital kit by Pink Paislee available at JessicaSprague.com

Address Book with Silhouette Cameo

 

My daughter has been looking for a nice address book that she can keep through the years. I've always had one and they aren't that easy to find anymore.  I thought I'd give it a try at making one.  This is what I came up with.  I made all of the dividers with the Sihouette.   I used chipboard that I covered with some cute papers and my Cinch to bind it together.

Silhouette Halloween Card

Halloween Card with the Silhouette.  I think I'm done now. 

Halloween Card with Silhouette

Here's ANOTHER Halloween Card I made yesterday using the Silhouette for the cuts, some random items from my stash and cardstock.

Halloween Card - Happy World Cardmaking Day

Happy World Cardmaking day, friends!  Are you making cards today?  I actually only had time for two today.  I'll post the other one tomorrow.  It's been a busy weekend.  Hope you are "getting your craft on" this weekend!

Halloween Card

Just when I thought I was all finished making Halloween cards, I had a local gift shop agree to "try out" selling my cards.  Guess which ones she wanted to start with?  Yep, ALL of my Halloween cards, so I have none left to send to friends.  I think I'm going to have to start all over!  Hope you can stand a few more Halloween posts!

Halloween Card with Silhouette..... Again!

Here is another Halloween card I made with the Silhouette and some papers from my stash.  I cut the owl, bat and the scallop rectangle with the Silhouette, stitched around the card base, added a dash of lace and the sentiment.  I am in love with the black and white chevron paper!

Halloween Card with Silhouette

Another Halloween card using Samantha Walker's digital cut file from JessicaSprague.com and Pink Paislee's Phantom digital kit. 

Halloween Card with Sihouette

I made this card using Samantha Walkers cut file for the Silhouette and Pink Paislee's digital kit called Phantom - both available soon at JessicaSprague.com