Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Silhouette Tutorial - How to create your own art from a drawing

Hey Everybody!

Today I want to share with you how to create your own art from a drawing! I'll show you how to go from a hand drawn sketch to the beautiful piece of art below step by step using the Silhouette Designer Edition. Super easy once you know how :)


I made this as a gift for our Cousins that travelled from Portugal to join us on a road trip we took this summer!


Here is a close up of the mountain scene, which I had hand drawn while driving through Jasper. So happy with how it turned out!


Here is the HOW TO...
  • Using a sharpie marker create any image you want (pen or pencil lines are too thin). Make sure the lines all connect with each other or it will be difficult to break each piece apart. (Maybe use a ruler, and create straight lines if possible it might save you some work!)
  • Take a picture of the drawing, as straight on top of it as possible. (I just used my cell phone, to make things easier and quicker, then email the picture to myself).
  • Locate the picture on the computer and open it up in the Silhouette's work space (see image below).

  • Next thing you need to do is trace the drawing, by highlighting the trace area (I increased the high pass filter value to 50 and then clicked on the trace function). Refer to next image.



  • Once you have traced the image you will be left with the outline of the drawing. Move the outlines off the drawing.
  • Right click on the image and select Release Compound Path. (This will break up your image in to many different pieces). 
  • Delete any unnecessary pieces. (Just like the little lines on the outside of the drawing below).


  • Next thing I did was remove the outside square of the drawing as it was all crocked, and replaced it with a square I created with the square drawing tool. (This is where using a ruler when creating your drawing may have helped a little!)
  • Now this is where the work really begins. Clean up time! Highlight each piece of the drawing and using the edit point tool (top left hand, image below) simplify and delete any points that make the lines smoother for your machine to cut. Don't worry about deleting the wrong points as you can just use the undo function and start again. Drag outside points of each piece to make the outer lines parallel to the square you created. See image below.


  • Once you are satisfied with the image and your lines all look fairly straight, group all pieces together and resize it to fit the frame you are going to use. 
  • Ungroup the image again.
  • Before sending each piece to be cut out, I like to visualize what it will look like with color. (This will also help you when selecting your cardstock).
  • To add color to your image, I first copied the image and pasted it it next to it. Then simply selected each piece by highlighting it and used the fill color and line function. Group the colored image together and use it refer back to it when assembling the pieces back together.
  • You are now ready to cut!
  • Once you have all the pieces cut out glue them back onto the square, reproducing the color image created below. 
  • Emboss and embellish as desired!


Hope this tutorial has inspired you to create your own art work! Now that you know how and aren't limited to files you have purchased the possibilities are endless! Sometimes the best things in life are FREE, well with a little bit of work and patience that is!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Crafting  :)

Sharing this with my Crafty Peeps!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Pencil Treat Box and Classroom Clipboard for Teachers | SVGCuts

Are you all doing the happy dance?!

Today my kiddos went back to school! Yippee!!! Don't get me wrong I loved having them home for the Summer but honestly, it will be nice to have routine again and some quiet time! Hopefully, it won't be too stressful for the teachers ;) Thank-YOU teachers!

Hopefully, some treats will make the teacher's day a little better! 

Here is the Pencil Treat Box I made for my son's Teacher! Perfect gift box for the first day of school.

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The file for the Pencil Box comes from SVG Cuts School Days SVG Kit, papers by Fancy Pants Designs.

Here's what it looks like when the box is opened up.

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Next up is the Classroom Clipboard I made for my daughter's teacher, my latest SVG Cuts DT Project

How cute will that look in the classroom?! Love the oversized glasses on the cuties!


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Even though the kids have only been gone for a little while I'm already looking forward to picking them up and hearing all about their first day back! Hopefully, they weren't too much for the teachers to handle!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Crafting  :)

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Rose Heart Shadow Box | SVGCuts

Recently one of my high school besties Daniele was in town for a post destination wedding celebration. Haven't seen much of her in years since she moved to London, England after University. We did get to see her and her man a few summers ago when we visited London. This summer she married her best friend Benni in a gorgeous villa in Tuscany! 

Today I want to share with you the gift I made them. Since I am in love with shadowboxes, I thought I would make the happy couple a Rose Heart Shadow Box as a little wedding gift from us.

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For examples of other shadow boxes I've made, click here, here, here and here.

Below is a close up of the roses and the word love etched on the glass. Click here for a previous etching tutorial.


To replicate your own Rose Heart Shadow Box you will need:

The rose file from - Crush On You Boxes SVG Kit cut at various sizes.
Cut on the Silhouette Cameo.
8 X 8 Shadow Box (purchased from IKEA.
Etching cream

Yes, that is it! Simple and easy, yet elegant results!

Once again, congratulations Daniele and Benni! It was so nice to see you both again, I really enjoyed our afternoon together! Wish you both a lifetime of love and happiness!!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Crafting  :)

Monday, August 25, 2014

Wine Barrel Birthday Cake

Wine anyone? OK then, now how about some cake to go with that wine?

Today I am sharing with you a wine barrel cake I made for my father's 60th Birthday party. As you've may have guessed he love his homemade wine. So I thought this would be perfect  cake for him. Actually one of my earliest memories was of my dad stomping grapes with his feet the old fashioned way as they did back in Portugal, I think I was about 3 or 4!


This cake was made up up 3 layers - 1 vanilla and 2 chocolate. Baked in 6 inch pans. All frosted with vanilla butter cream icing and covered with fondant.

To create the wood grain look, I just scratched up the fondant using a fork and painted it with brown icing gel.


The label and the number 60 was created using my Silhouette Cameo. So much easier than having to make it out of fondant and icing!


Hope you liked my dad's Wine Barrel Birthday Cake!
Happy Birthday Dad, LOVE YOU!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Crafting  :)

Sharing this with my Crafty Peeps!

Monday, August 4, 2014

Laundry Room Bin Organizers

Hello my crafty friends!

It's been a while since my last post. Just seems I can't get any crafting done while the kids are home for the summer. I did manage to do a quick home organizational project and thought I would share it with you all. Check out my new Laundry Room Bin Organizers!

A few years ago we installed this floating shelf above the counter in our laundry just so that the counter would stay clear of clutter when I needed the counter space for folding and ironing my laundry. For a while everyone in the house had a different coloured fabric box that sat on the shelf. With all the abuse they got, the boxes started falling apart and becoming an eye sore. Last week I found these great plastic bins at the Dollar Store. They were the perfect sized containers to store all the little seasonal accessories. The only problem I had was that they were all red and difficult to distinguish between whose bin was whose?

Vinyl to the rescue!


Here's a few pics of my process.

First, I cut out my vinyl words on the Silhouette Cameo. Then I weeded the negative space around the words. For those interested the font I used was called Kayleigh.


I didn't have any transfer paper but I did have some painters tape handy.
I placed the tape directly over the wording and pressed it just enough to lift the word off.


Below is what the wording should look like once removed from the paper backing.


I then centred the word as best as possible on the plastic bin, and voila!
Super quick and easy, and if you shop like me super cheap too!!!
(I actually bought my vinyl at the Dollar Store too, woohoo!)


Love how doing something so simple can make a space look and work better!


Hope that these Laundry Room Bin Organizers have inspired you to organize your own space with a little vinyl!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Crafting  :)

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Fleurette Bloom's DT Blog Hop - Picnic Dress and Purse


Hello!

If you are looking for the Craftin Desert Diva's stamp release blog hop, you have come to the right place! Just keep scrolling down to my earlier post! Two hops in one day, yay!!! But hey, you can all join in the fun here too!

So welcome to our July Design Team Blog Hop! We have some fun and creative projects to share with you. Hop to the blogs listed below and check out what we have created for you. Be sure and enter to win a $10.00 gift card to the Fleurette Bloom SVG Shop! You have a chance to win at each Design Team Members Blog, just by leaving a comment at each stop of the hop, and become a follower if you are not already! Good Luck!

Here are my creations for the hop...
A Super CUTE Picnic Dress - Shaped Card and the Matching Purse - Gift Box! 


To make this Dress you will need...



NOW...

Enter to win a $10.00 Gift Card to the Fleurette Bloom SVG Shop!

Just post a comment on this blog post and become a follower of this blog (if you are not already) It's that easy!

A winner from each blog on this hop will be selected. 
So, you have multiple chances to Win!
Thanks for hopping with us and good luck!



Thanks for stopping by hope you have enjoyed and were inspired by my projects today!!!
Happy Crafting  :)



Thursday, July 24, 2014

Lemon Tree Card - CDD Sneak Peek Guest Post

Hello Everyone!!!

Today I'm joining the Craftin Desert Divas July Stamp Release.


Welcome to Day 5 of Craftin Desert Divas July stamp release party!! Each day the CDD DT will be giving you a sneak peek at one of the five new stamp sets. Then, on Friday and Saturday, they will have a blog hop with prizes each day. There are some amazing creations being shared today during this stamp release.
Today we are showcasing the Blooming For You stamp set.
All of the new stamps are 4x6 and Made in the USA. Stamps will be available to order on Friday.
We hope you will stop by the Craftin Desert Divas Shop and the Craftin Desert Divas Gallery Facebook group. We would love for you to join us and share your creations with us using Craftin Desert Diva's stamps. In this group we show previews first, have giveaways and much more!!
Here's the project I created:


The SVG files I used for this card, come from Fleurette Bloom's Tranquil Tree and Fruit Friends. Really simple and quick to put together!

Stamp - Blooming For You




Are you ready for the Sneak Peek Giveaway!!
All you have to do is leave a comment below!
Tara will announce today's winner tomorrow. The winner will be picked from a different blog every day, so be sure to leave a comment.
Thank you also much for joining me today and I hope you will join them tomorrow for the blog hop. I will be joining the blog hop on Saturday. Hope to see you there!


Friday, July 11, 2014

Birthday Ribbon Cards

Hope you all are enjoying the Summer so far! We here are enjoying a heat wave, can't complain because in these parts before you know it the white stuff will be back! :(

Today I have a really cute project to share with you guys, Birthday Ribbon Cards! I have a few birthdays coming up and I thought these ribbons would make the perfect ribbon/card for the Bday Kids! Years ago one of my favorite Paper Artists Thienly Azim created something similar, and as soon as I saw the Ribbon in Fleurette Bloom's latest kit I knew I had to combine the two!



The files for the ribbon and card I used come from Fleurette Bloom's latest Motorcycle Racing 3D SVG Kit. The rosette I used comes from her Lucky Day 3D SVG Kit (Note: to create a fuller rosette as I did, I cut out 3 strips... only 2 are included in the rosette file)

All cut on the Silhouette Cameo.


 Here is what the inside of the card looks like.
Check out how I meshed the ribbon and card! Clever, right?!

First, make your ribbon then punch a hole at the top of your card to slip the fastener through. Use some sticky dots or foam tape to allow for easy removal of the ribbon from the card. It's that simple and easy!!!


I love the patterned papers I used for the rosettes. The paper comes from Hazel & Ruby - Gone TYPO collection pack.


Stamps come from Studio G.


Hope this little project inspires you to create a ribbon/card for your next Birthday Boy or Girl!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Crafting  :)

Sharing this with my Crafty Peeps!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Christmas Candle Centerpiece | SVGCuts

Hello Everybody!!!

Today I have a Christmas project to share with you all. WHAT?! I know it's crazy to think about Christmas yet, especially today when the weather here is the hottest it's been all year! No, I haven't completely lost my marbles... it's my latest SVG Cuts DT project for Christmas in July! Perfect for those crafters that like to get a head start on their Christmas ideas :)

Here is my Christmas Candle Centerpiece! Isn't it purdy? 


For those of you that want to know what SVGCuts kits I've used, here is my list:


All cut on the Silhouette Cameo

Make the 4th Candle and you have yourself an advent wreath!

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Ooooooo, Aaaaaaaa... just look how they light up! Beautiful!!!


Hey if you're not wanting to wait to make these for Christmas, make them for whatever occasion or holiday you need. Coordinate them to go with your decor and personalize them as much as you like! 


I hope you've enjoyed this little Christmas inspiration! If you do make this please share it over on the SVG Cuts Facebook Fan page, I would love to see your creations! :)

Thanks for stopping by,
Happy Crafting  :)

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Summer Love Shadow Box | SVGCuts


Remember the Autumn Love Shadow Box I made last Fall? Here is the Summer Love version I recently made for a friend! Click here for detailed how-to instructions on a similar project. 

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For those interested in the files I used to create this here is your list:

3D Flowers SVG Kit
B Is For Birthday SVG Kit
Breezy Meadow Butterflies SVG Collection
Crush On You Boxes SVG Kit
Happy Birthday to You SVG Kit
Love Always SVG Kit
Mom's Garden Gifts SVG Kit

Cut out on the Silhouette Cameo.


Love the little butterfly!


This Summer Love Shadow Box makes a great decor piece. It also makes a great Wedding,  Anniversary, Birthday, or just because gift! Hope this inspires you to make one for yourself!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Crafting  :)