I’ve gotten a TON of emails asking if the Silhouette can cut fabric.
Guess what?
It can now!
I haven’t tried it yet, but you KNOW I’m gonna.
Valentine’s Day Bunting
January 19, 2011 By 67 Comments
The color palette was once again inspired by the same Target table runner that I used to make my Valentine’s canvas.
I traced a heart template (that’s mine, but feel free to make your own) on some fusible web (Wonder Under, Heat n Bond, whatever you like) 16 times. That’s enough for each letter plus a spacer heart between BE and MINE. I fused it to the back of the pink houndstooth fabric following the manufacturers directions and then cut out all 16 hearts.
To put the lettering on the hearts, I cut freezer paper with my Silhouette (the font is Madfont). Remember if you cut freezer paper with your Silhouette that you’ll need to put the shiny side up and reverse your text. I also have to use the green mat, but your mats may still be more sticky than mine are.
Then I turned Macy loose with some Tulip Fabric Paint and a sponge brush.
You could also use iron on lettering or cut freezer paper by hand or even paint the letters on…whatever works for you!
Next, I fused each heart (again with the manufacturers directions) to a 7” square piece of backing fabric. I ripped mine, because I’m lazy. And then I stitched the hearts in place.
Macy put a matching 7” square on top and sewed 3 edges (leaving the tops open) using 1/4” seams.
Then we clipped the corners…
and turned right side out and pressed.
Once all 16 squares were finished, I laid them out in order to make sure everything looked good. Then I grabbed some extra wide double fold bias tape. Decide how long of a “tail” you’ll want for hanging and mark with a pin.
Start sewing (I zig zagged) at the end and go until you get to your pin.
Stick in one of your squares and keep on sewing.
And when you get to the end, stick in another square, and so on and so on and so on.
After the last square, keep sewing for an amount equal to the “tail” you left at the beginning.
And then hang it!
Etch some glass, without the commitment
January 17, 2011 By 16 Comments
I’ve had a couple of glass beverage jars ever since Macy’s cupcake party one and a half years ago. I’ve toyed around with the idea of etching something on them like 100 times. I considered a monogram (let’s face it….C is the most boring monogram EVER), but I couldn’t commit! And what if I screwed up?!?!? Etching cream scares me. It’d be a shame to ruin a perfectly good beverage jar, right?
Silhouette sent me some of their new frosted glass premium vinyl to try. And I LOVE it. It’s the perfect way to fancy up your glassware without any sort of commitment.
See?
(That kinda looks like a urine sample.)
Also?
And, I couldn’t get a good shot of this one, but I think it’s my favorite:
Silhouette is offering 2 promotions for January:
25% off all premium vinyl
and/or
A Silhouette SD, 2 rolls of premium vinyl, 1 roll of transfer tape, a home décor CD for $225 (a $395 value!!!)
Use code “CRAP” to take advantage of either of these offers now through the 22nd!
Recalcitrant
January 10, 2011 By 48 Comments
We’re trying to potty train Bennett.
You’d think by the 4th kid (one of which has Asperger’s) this would be old hat.
You’d be wrong.
Last week, this was my Facebook status:
“I think Bennett’s going to be 10 before he decides to use the toilet.”
Emily, my CWTS partner, posted:
“Quinn too.”
And then I replied:
“Did Quinn rip off the pair of Thomas underpants you put on him and then hide them under the bed when you weren’t looking so you couldn’t possibly make him put them back on?”
I left off the part where he yelled “YOU’LL NEVER FIND THEM NOW!”, a la Swiper on Dora.
So, I made him a little something.
(I used my Silhouette to cut the heat transfer material. The font is Blazed. The shirt is from Target. I seam rippered the pocket off.)
Now, before you start sending me mean emails about my kids needing therapy on account of me being their mother, let me just point out that I made myself a little something, too.
(Again, used my Silhouette to cut the heat transfer material. The font is Joint. Yes, there does appear to be an illegal substance font theme going on here.)
I think we’re even.
No Silhouette under your tree?
December 27, 2010 By 6 Comments
Let’s pretend for just a minute that you opened all your presents yesterday only to discover that your spouse/boyfriend/mom/whatever did NOT come through with the Silhouette that was on your Christmas list.
Dry your eyes and listen up, because HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU!
From right now through the end of the month, you can buy your very own Silhouette SD for $175…if you subscribe to the online store. Subscriptions start at $9.99/month (and that gets you TWENTY FIVE dollars of download credit which rolls over if you don’t use it all)!
So, return those ugly sweaters, cash the check from your grandma, look under the couch cushions for change and get what you REALLY wanted!
Use code “CRAP” at checkout over at Silhouette to cash in on this deal!
Pimp My Violin, part 2
December 17, 2010 By 3 Comments
***Don’t forget to enter the Say It On The Wall giveaway here.***
(Part 1 is here.)
Between Pier 1 events on Wednesday (more on that later), we put the finishing touches on Macy’s violin.
Her orchestra teacher is a DARLING lady who puts her heart and soul (and eardrums) into teaching elementary kids how to play. She’s got patience I can only dream of and is always happy and positive and encouraging. So, here’s what we did:
I think Bonnie liked it. She made Macy take off the shoulder rest and hold the violin up during the performance. And I heard she took a picture of it, too.
I used my Silhouette to cut the vinyl. The tree and star are a download and the heart comes with the machine. I love that it’s so easy to stretch/change a design to fit your space…even if that space is the bottom of a violin. 
Silhouette is offering 10% off all vinyl purchases using code “CRAP” through the end of the month.
Simple Neighbor Gift Idea
December 3, 2010 By 33 Comments
I’m over at UCreate today sharing this neighbor gift idea.
Don’t forget about the Nativity Parade I’m hosting beginning TUESDAY!
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I don’t know about you all, but the sheer number of neighbor gifts we give out every year (35 or so 
) forces me to keep it really simple and cheap. I also like to keep it low calorie. And, the punny-er the better.
The gift in all of this is quite simply the soap. What makes it fun is the packaging! You could use dollar store soap or WalMart soap or make your own from the milk of the goats you keep in your backyard…just get some soap! For illustration purposes, I’ll be using Twisted Peppermint from Bath & Body Works. I love that place. The year that we actually did this for neighbors, I stacked enough coupon codes to get the soaps for around $1.72 each, so keep your eyes open for deals!
Supplies:
Soap
Papers for the tag
Glue stick
Distress Ink (optional)
Hole punch
Sharpie, pen, marker…something to write with
Ribbon
Adhesive roller (optional)
You’re going to make a tag that says “Wishing you a holiday full of peace, joy, and hope!” You can make this however you want. I used the print and cut feature on my Silhouette for the first time ever and I’m in love. I then cut a slightly larger background paper (again with my Silhouette).
Take your Distress Ink and ink up the edges, if you want. I wanted.
(Note: This is the same piece of cardstock. I just decided I liked the pattern on the back better half way through.)
Glue your text piece to your background paper with your glue stick and punch a hole in the top.
Brace yourselves because here’s the part where we get CRAZY:
Take your Sharpie and cross out the word hope.
Just do it.
Now write the word “soap” in its place.
See? Punny!
This next part is a little trick I use pretty much any time I need to tie a ribbon to something and don’t want it slipping or turning.
Take your adhesive roller and roll some right down the center of the middle section of your ribbon (the part that will be wrapped around the soap bottle).
Stick the ribbon on your bottle.
Repeat with other colors of ribbon, if you’re using them.
See how those ribbons just stick there nicely? You won’t need a buddy to come put their finger in the knot!
Tie it up and attach the tag and then trim the ribbons as desired.
And you’re done!
Family News Chalkboard
December 2, 2010 By 9 Comments
***Don’t forget to enter the Expressions Vinyl giveaway here.***
You all know of my love for the IKEA as-is section, right? When I picked up the cabinet door for this project, I also found a whole shopping cart full of smooth black cabinet doors. And they were 99 cents a piece. I bought 3 in assorted sizes and decided I’d figure out what I was going to do with them later. BC was thrilled! 
I tried to come up with a newspaper-y title for our board. Coester Chronicles was as good as it got. I cut out some white vinyl with my Silhouette and applied it to the top of the board (the font is Cloister Black). I put a saw tooth picture hanger on the back and hung it up right next to the front door.
Remember those wet erase chalk markers I mentioned a week or two ago? They work like a dream on my cabinet door turned chalkboard.
Vinyl-ize your ornaments
November 30, 2010 By 16 Comments
***Today is THE LAST day to get the best deal in the history of Silhouette deals ($199 for the machine and a bunch of goodies). Use code “CRAP” at check out and they’ll be added to your cart automatically.***
In honor of the Expressions Vinyl giveaway this week (go here to enter), I have another vinyl project for you today.
You don’t need a vinyl cutter to do these. You can use a craft punch (my recommendation) or scissors or an Exacto knife or whatever.
My Christmas tree this year looks like a whole lot of crazy threw up on it. I let the kids go nuts with it….and I kind of like it. OK, I really like it. Here’s a little glimpse of the crazy:
Regular ornaments? Obviously not quite our style.
(Green ornament with red vinyl circles punched in various sizes)
(Aqua ornament with red vinyl snowflake)
(Green ornament with red vinyl snowflakes. Also? A prime example of why you shouldn’t worry about getting out or the reflection…you’ll just look like an idiot squatting and holding the camera like that!)
What about a red ornament with a black vinyl “belt” and a little gold buckle?
Think of the possibilities!
Snowflake Lamps
November 28, 2010 By 16 Comments
Are you familiar with these GRONO lamps from IKEA?
They’re $14.99 for the 2 pack. I like them, but wanted to perk them up a bit.
I cut some vinyl with my Silhouette ($100 off through the end of the month using code “CRAP” 
) into snowflake shapes and applied it to the inside of the glass. You could do the outside, but I wanted a little more subtle look.
Here it is turned off:
And illuminated:
