Saturday, November 17, 2012

DIY Printed Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)


This one is for all of my Silhouette using friends! A few days ago I was looking for a stamp to coordinate with a card I was working on and didn't like what I had. I also didn't feel like going out and buying one... I needed it like NOW! So I had an aha moment... Why not make one digitally? I figured I had all the tools I needed. So here is how I was able to create my perfect stamp... The possibilities are endless, and it's was all at my fingertips!

Here is the card I made, the file comes from CLARA'S CHRISTMAS EVE KIT here. Isn't it pretty??? Look at the stamp! What a perfect match, don't you think?  Wanna see how I made it? Follow my instructions below. Super easy! It just looks lengthy... I probably should have made a video... not a road I want to go down right now... I'd probably crash! LOL! Ok, back to how I did it...

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

The first thing I did was go onto dafont.com. Since I was wanting to create a Christmas stamp, I needed Christmas images.  I then searched for holiday fonts or images known as wingdings. Here is the font I chose. The next thing I did was install it onto my computer, that way when I open up the Silhouette program it would automatically show up in the text box. (I chose to use a font/wingding but your possibilities are endless, use any image you have or find on the web!)

Next, I opened up my Silhouette Designer Studio Edition. Selected the text box, which brought up the text style box on the right-hand side. Scrolled down until I found the font I just installed  (Xmas tfb Christmas)
Because I had no idea of what the images were when each letter was typed I just type the whole alphabet out starting with upper case and then lower case letters.

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

Here are the images from this font. The next thing I did was change the outline color of the images to black. (I don't know why, but they look more like stamps when they are black)

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

The next thing I did was select all my images and ungroup them. Then I chose some of the images I thought I would like a stamp of. I'll just focus on a few for this post!


So here are some snowflakes I chose. Now, for some reason, the Silhouette software doesn't recognize this font. It will just print blank for you. All you need to do is fill the image in. Yes, it's that simple! Highlight the image and with the fill color option, change the color of the inside of your image. It won't print the outline, not sure why :( . I chose to make my snowflakes blue.

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

 Now you can get creative... Add other fonts, quotes, resize the images, basically do whatever you like! Here is what I did... (Remember to fill in the color your fonts or else you will end up with the outline of the letters)

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

Once you arrange your images the way you like, group them together. The next thing I did was select each image and create an off-set for them.

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

Now if you look closely you will notice that if I leave the image this way when it is sent to the cutter it will cut all the little spaces in between my image. Since I don't want that to happen, I will first highlight the inside image, right-click and copy. Then highlight it again and right-click and delete the image. (don't worry) You should be left at this point with only an outline. Look something like this...

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

Now highlight this image and right-click and select Release Compound Path. Go ahead and delete all the little pieces from the inside of the image. Like I did below.

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

Next, highlight the image again, right-click and select Paste in Front. That should bring your image back. Note! Very important... DO NOT drag your image or move it on the screen or else it might not line up. Phew!!! I managed to keep it still!  Here's what it should look like now.

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

Notice that the offset outline is black, if left this way the outline might be visible when you cut it with your machine. I changed the outline in mine by just selecting the outline portion of the image and changing it to a very light grey. Make sure you group the outline now and the image together!

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

Time to select your cut style. Since I want just the out-line cut, I've selected the cut edge option. If you wanted to at this point you could go ahead a send this to your printer. This image is actually too large at this point for my liking, so I will re-size it and I would like to make a few more copies. I only want 5, but you can fill so many more on one sheet. I will be printing on an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper. Here is what my sheet looks like.

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

Now you are ready to send it to your printer and then cut it out with your Silhouette machine. Make sure you save your work. 

DIY Stamps on the Silhouette! (Part 1)

If you want to see how I created the shadow cutout for my stamp (blue piece behind the stamp), check out the next post. Part 2 DIY Stamp Shadows on the Silhouette

Hope this post was helpful and hopefully not too complicated to follow :) 
Thanks for following and if you like this post leave me some love in the comments below!
Happy stamp-making!





Entering this card in:

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20 comments:

  1. The card and stamp co-ordinate perfectly. Great job. Thanks for the tutorial, I'll be bookmarking this page.

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    1. Would love to see with what you come up with Gwen! Thanks for coming by!!!

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  2. Beautiful card and photo Ilda and a great tutorial!!

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    1. Thanks Brigit!!! Means a lot coming from an "expertista" Card Maker! Learn so much from you... Thanks so much!!!

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  3. Your card turned out beautiful - love the use of the different blue on the white! Thanks for stopping by my blog today too!

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  4. Beautiful co-ordination of colours hun..

    And a lovely project too!

    Hugs & HaPPy Crafting!
    Karen.xx

    http://kraftykarens.blogspot.com/

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  5. Hi Ilda....so glad you have entered into our monochromatic challenge at Unstampabelles. This is a wonderful creation, terrific shape and great layering. To be eligible for the draw we will need a link to the Unstampabelles challenge in your post. Thanks :-)

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  6. Hi Claire! Just stopped by and linked up a few of my projects! Thanks so much for stopping by! Am now following your feed! :)

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  7. This is wonderful! I love all the layers and the cute little buttons. Thanks for joining us at UnstampaBelles.

    (P.S. Thanks for the tutorial too!)

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    1. Thanks so much Jan! I'm now following the little red wagon! :)

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  8. How fascinating. This is making me curious about those electric cutters! Thanks for joining in the fun at Unstampabelles Mono challenge.

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    1. Thanks Susan! They can be a little overwhelming at first, but the results are so worth it! Thanks for stopping by!

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  9. Cute snowflake! Thanks for sharing @ Submarine Sunday Ilda!

    T'onna
    Submarine Sunday Link Party @ http://navywifeypeters.blogspot.com/2012/11/submarine-sunday-8.html

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  10. This is over my head since I don't have a Silhouette yet. I'm waiting, not too patiently, for it to come in the mail. Your card shape is really eye-catching, so great job!

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    1. Robin you are definitely going to love it! So excited for you! Thanks so much for stopping by :)

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  11. Wow, all those layers of the snowflake look fantastic! Thanks for sharing at Unstampabelles.

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Thanks so much for taking the time and leaving me a comment! I always love hearing from you and I appreciate you stopping by! Hugs, Ilda