We have two posts going on today. Scroll down to see our "Cards On Thursday" post!
Silhouette's March Promotion went live today, and we are excited to help them spread the news, while sharing some new project inspiration along the way.
We were encouraged to use the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software in the creation of our projects. We set up two of our layout designers, Gina Lideros and Becki Adams, with this new software and in a little over 24 hours, they came up with some fabulous layouts to share with you today, along with a few peeks into how they used the sofware in their design process.
“Fashionista”, by Gina Lideros.
I wanted to create a layout that was as fun and fresh as my daughter's fashion sense. I started my layout by creating a triangular file in Silhouette and using the designer edition software to modify it. After I cut my Freestyle Sophisticates paper (Peep) I placed alternating strips of designer tape under my paper and then stitched on top. I added in pieces from the Engaged At Last collection and finished off my layout with some fabulous Bella feathers.
First I created a triangular shaped background using the polygon tool. I used the copy and paste feature to repeat the pattern. After I was done creating my triangle background I used the group feature to group my background together.
Next, I selected the Shear tool that comes with the designer edition software. I then selected the Horizontal shear 30 degree angle from the box on the right side. This gave my triangles an elongated look. After getting the desired angle that I wanted I sent cut my file and then used it as a background for my layout.
Supplies:
Engaged At Last Collection: Bachelor Extras, Alpha+Bits Stickers; Sand &
Surf Collection: Borders; Freestyle Sophisticates: Freestyle Peep, Freestyle
Scallop; Feathers: Bell Pepper, Oreo Black; Designer Tape: Gray Chevron, Ice
Stripe, Gray Dot, Combo
“Dream Big”, by Gina Lideros.
I had this self portrait of my daughter that she took using her camera phone. I just loved the way the sun rays reflected on her in the background. I used that as my inspiration to create my title. I used the designer edition software for Silhouette to modify a title "dream big" that I had purchased in the Silhouette online store. Bella Blvd's Sand & Surf collection was perfect for the theme of my layout. I kept the background of my layout simple so that the focus could be on the title work and the photo. I finished off my layout by adding in a fun mix of Bella feathers, buttons and designer tape.
To get started, I opened up a file that I had purchased in the Silhouette online store (Dream big by KI Memories). I sized my title to the dimensions that I wanted and then selected the advanced knife tool that comes with the designer edition software.
When selected the knife tool will open up a window on the right side. The advanced knife tool comes with 11 different blades. This is a great feature of the designer edition. I selected the straight edge knife and positioned my blade in the bottom right hand corner of my title. I then sliced into my title in an upwards angle.
After I cut the first angle I continued making more cuts in an upward angle until it appeared to look like a sunburst. After I achieved the desired sunburst effect, I cut out my title out of different pieces of pattern paper from Bella's Sand & Surf collection. And then I pieced them together on my layout.
Supplies:
Sand & Surf Collection: Flying High, Paradise, Surf's Up, Borders, Under
The Coconuts, Cute Cuts, Miniatures Stickers; Flags: Sand & Surf; Freestyle
Sophisticates: Freestyle Pickle Juice; Feathers: Pickle Juice, Pony; Designer
Tape: Yellow Chevron, Ice Stripe; Button Market: Checkers, Bursts
“Summer Treats”, by Becki Adams.
For this layout I wanted to create one of my very own designs from scratch. So I started with a rectangle. The rulers that come with the Designer Edition were so helpful with this design because everything needed to line up perfectly in order for it to look right.
I used the shear feature to make the rectangles into parallelograms. I then copied and pasted the design several times along the bottom and left hand side of the page.
After cutting my design I attached the negative space to a piece of cardstock that had decorative tape on it. I finished the layout with lots of goodies from the Sand & Surf line. I'm so excited to have a layout created with my own design using the Designer Edition software.
Supplies:
Sand & Surf: Surfs Up, Paradise, Sand & Surf Chipboard Icons, Miniatures
Stickers; High Five Alpha Stickers: Gulf; Sienna Chipboard Alphas: Pony; Designer
Tapes: Hot Pink Dot Tape, Yellow Chevron Tape; Ciao Chip: Clouds
“Heartbreaker”, by Becki Adams.
I started my first project with a heart from Echo Park out of the Silhouette store. I knew I wanted the title of my page to be heartbreaker so I tried out one of the different knife features on the designer software.
I used the triangular knife to cut the center heart and make it look broken by cutting down the center and moving the right half of the heart slightly to the right and down.
For this particular design I used the negative space and backed it with cardstock that I had covered with decorative tapes. I wanted more attention drawn to the hearts so I used my black pen to create some faux stitching around the hearts. I wanted this layout to be about how my little guy has such blue eyes and blond hair that he's sure to be a heartbreaker when he gets a little older. I love how it turned out and how easy it was to create in the Silhouette Designer Software.
Supplies:
Love And Marriage: Smokeys In Love, Just Write Journaling Stickers; Sand &
Surf: Alpha+Bits; Designer Tape: Cotton Candy Chevron, Hot Pink Dot, Piggy Pink
Stripe; High Five Alpha Stickers: Piggy-Punch, Blue
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Silhouette makes some amazing products, and scrappers everywhere are addicted to these machines. If you've been thinking about purchasing either the Silhouette Portrait or the Silhouette CAMEO, now is a great time to make it happen. Please click HERE (make sure to use this link, as it's the only place our promo code will work) to take advantage of this month’s discount and don’t forget to enter "BELLA" as the promo code to get these special offers.
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Silhouette is so incredibily generous that they are providing us with a Silhouette Portrait to give away to one of our lucky blog readers!!! If you don't already own one of these amazing machines, just leave us a comment to be entered in our random drawing. Comments will remain open until Sunday evening, and we will announce a winner on Monday, March 4th. Good luck everyone!
Awesome giveaway !!! Thanks for the chance !!!
Posted by: Karina | February 28, 2013 at 02:44 PM
Amazing layouts! Love the intricate, geometric designs! Thanks so much to you and Sihouette for the chance to win!
Posted by: Miriam Prantner | February 28, 2013 at 02:48 PM
What an AWESOME giveaway!!! I would love to win this and put it immediately to creative use!!
Posted by: kath White | February 28, 2013 at 02:52 PM
I would love to win a machine!
Posted by: marianne b | February 28, 2013 at 02:56 PM
Love the layouts...they make it look so easy! I've been wanting a digital cutting machine forever, too!
Posted by: AnnaMarie | February 28, 2013 at 03:00 PM
HOLY COW! What a great giveaway. I am waiting to get me one of these amazing machine. It would be awesome to win.
Posted by: Michelle Magana | February 28, 2013 at 03:13 PM
I love what I've seen the Silhouette do and really would love to own one! Super layouts and examples today.
Posted by: Lisa P | February 28, 2013 at 03:26 PM
Amazing giveaway! Would so love to win one of these. Love all the inspiration. Thanks for the chance :)
Posted by: Melissa S | February 28, 2013 at 03:52 PM
I am a recent widow and money is tight. I can't begin to express what it would mean to win this!
Posted by: Janet Cobb | February 28, 2013 at 04:20 PM
Wow! I'd love to win the Silhouette Portrait! Great giveaway.
Carla from Utah
Posted by: Carla Hundley | February 28, 2013 at 04:59 PM
I LOVE my Cameo and would love to surprise my new-to-scrapping friend with such a fabulous gift!!!
Posted by: Fran Bollinger | February 28, 2013 at 05:05 PM
great giveaway and layouts! still crazy about those feathers, too. :)
Posted by: Kelly Roberts | February 28, 2013 at 05:27 PM
Oh my gosh! Love the layouts! Would love to win this!!!
Posted by: Betty Sue | February 28, 2013 at 05:34 PM
Wow! What an amazing giveaway!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
Posted by: Tracey | February 28, 2013 at 05:50 PM
Beautiful layouts. I'd love to win a Silhouette.
Posted by: Celeste B. | February 28, 2013 at 06:00 PM
Amazing giveaway! I have wanted a Silhouette cutter for a long time. I really want to make wall art for my grand children's bedrooms.
Posted by: Carol Douglass | February 28, 2013 at 07:09 PM
This would be the prize to win.The possabilities are endless with this machine.The layouts I have seen created with Sillouette machines are totally awesome.I'm crossing my fingers,toes,arms and legs.Thanks at the chance for such an awesome prize and thanks to the design team for sharing.
Posted by: Christy Geiser | February 28, 2013 at 07:11 PM
Oh, love what you can do with this machine, what a "beyond wonderful" giveaway!!!
Posted by: Kim M | February 28, 2013 at 07:24 PM
I've dreamed about owning one of these! Thanks for the opportunity~! Penny
Posted by: Penny Arnold | February 28, 2013 at 07:28 PM
fabulous giveaway! thanks!
Posted by: Kelly Massman | February 28, 2013 at 07:37 PM
Wow! So very generous and creative and amazing. I'd love to get this. I loved those arrows.
Posted by: Angela Himes | February 28, 2013 at 08:03 PM
Awesome giveaway! I do not own a Silhouette but I would love one!!
Posted by: Robin B. | February 28, 2013 at 08:06 PM
What an awesome giveaway! I would love to win one of these machines.
Posted by: Nita K. | February 28, 2013 at 09:17 PM
Wonderful tutorial. I will definitely bookmark this for when I win the Fabulous Silhouette! Well ... I can dream can't I?
Posted by: Jean Bullock | February 28, 2013 at 09:31 PM
WOW! Is that ever generous on both accounts. One, for giving a Silhouette to your office. Two, for you actually letting it go out the door!! LOL What a great prize to win! Thanks for the chance and good luck everyone!
Posted by: emmaeh | February 28, 2013 at 09:36 PM