One of the things I have wanted to do for years is to combine my digital scrapping and designing with the ability to cut out my designs. I was so excited when I first heard about the Cricut Imagine machine because I thought that it would make this possible. Unfortunately, the machine does not allow you to think of a design, draw the shapes you need to make the design and then fill them with whatever digital papers you want to use. While you can make some wonderful projects with the Imagine, it is a closed system and the only content you can use for shapes and fills is content on Cricut cartridges (regular and Imagine).
Today I want to show you a birthday card that I designed and created using only plain white cardstock, my home printer and my Silhouette SD machine. I'll go into more detail about how I did this in another post. I made a very similar card for my sister-in-law and delivered it this weekend so I can now show you the card without spoiling the surprise for her!
I was able to use the Silhouette Studio software to create a file for an A2 card with the "Happy Birthday To You" sentiment repeated three times in a circle (using a font on my computer). Next, I created the card base with a circle cut out inside the sentiment ring. I then created a matching layer to frame the sentiment and filled it with some digital paper in a pretty floral pattern. I drew a circle that would fit inside the cutout to create the turning piece in the center. I filled each side with digital paper and added a flower embellishment on one side and the frame with more words on a second circle to adhere to the flower circle and create the spinner.
I created a larger frame for the inside of the card front to cover the cord that holds the spinner in the card.
Once I had all of this designed in the software, I printed two pieces of white 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock with registration marks and then used the Silhouette SD machine to cut all of the pieces precisely. The digital kit I used is one that I got a while ago as a freebie from Bonnie Blou Designs and it is called "Sprinkled Flowers."
This card was my prototype for many more that will be similar but will have different sentiments and papers. The possibilities are truly endless with this system for printing and cutting. I'd love to hear what you think of this type of card and whether those of you with a Silhouette machine have tried to do something like this.
We'll be driving home today so I won't be online much - I will do my best to catch up on email once I am home, I know that there are some unanswered items in my inbox...
Have a wonderful Monday!
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Ooooo....I like! So what you did was print the designs on your cardstock and then the Silhouette knew exactly where to cut the different parts. I made baby shower invites with my Cricut and had many steps trying to figure out where to print on my cardstock and then put it in my Cricut just right so the party info was cut so the party info was inside the invite. Does this make sense?
ReplyDeleteI've put the Silhouette Cameo on my wish list for Christmas. I love the print & cut feature and have been frustrated by PC's pathetic responses to consumer demand. Keep the projects coming so folks can see that Cricut isn't the only machine in town! Just try doing this project on the Cricut... ha!
ReplyDeletethanks so much for sharing a project using the silhouette. i have pre-ordered the new cameo and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival. i'm becoming increasingly less fond of cricut every day. i'm hoping silhouette has better customer service. anyway, i hope you share more projects cut with the silhouette in the future.
ReplyDeleteMe too!!! Love the Silhouette SD.
ReplyDeleteDiane, I love this card. So creative! I have had my Silhouette for a few months, but have not tried anything like this although I have found the print and cut feature to work beautifully. I will have to try this, Thanks so much for sharing!DebbyS
ReplyDeleteWhat an impressive card. I'm beginning to like what I see more and more. Keep up the projects only not such complicated ones all the time for us novices!
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly why I want a Silhouette Cameo for Christmas....or possibly a Zing. The Imagine is great for printing papers, and for cutting some of the cartridge images, but it is too limiting. If I had to make the purchase again, I wouldn't (since I have limited space available for crafting machines not to mention funds)
ReplyDeleteThis card is beautiful. I look forward to a future post with more details about how you made this!!
ReplyDeleteLove the bright blue flowered paper!
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