Showing posts with label Silhouette Cameo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Silhouette Cameo. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Tuesday Morning Sketches #335 Card

Yeah yeah, I know yesterday was officially "Blue Monday" - and it affects me in a big way and I have to work very hard to dispel the heavy mantle of mid-winterness - full on here in (supposed to be) Sunny Osoyoos BC.  I think I've seen the sun peep out only twice in the the past two weeks.  I feel like I'm wearing dark glasses and my head feels full of cotton and weight presses on my eyes.  I refuse to give in, I make some small manageable goals each day and stick to them.  I can't change the weather but I don't have to be controlled by it either.

One thing which is brings a bit of sparkle into my day and which I thoroughly enjoy is creating - so my reward for reaching my goals in any day is to allow myself to play!  Today I teamed up with my Sister in Law Judy as we took the

Tuesday Morning Sketches #335 Card Challenge 


Lots of scallops and shapes to work with, loving layers too!  


I chose to go with an embossed white background - to be fair I should always mark my folders... I don't know but I think this one is by Elizabeth Craft.  The scallop cuts were created on my Silhouette Cameo.  Both stamps are Stampin' Up.  I embossed the bloom and embossed it with a gold glitter.  


I have been waiting to use these sparkly washi tapes forever and a day... well cloudy, gloomy doomy day was today, and it really did chase my blues away!  I punched the two tiny hearts out of the scraps!  

I wish you sunshine wherever you are (and please send me some too!)  



Thursday, January 23, 2014

Freshly Made Sketches No. 120 Challenge Card - “You’re a STAR!”

TOTALLY loved this sketch for this challenge:

Freshly Made Sketches No. 120:

Straight away I “saw STARS” and -

FMS-120-1-Barb-Derksen

 

I appreciated the simplicity of this sketch - this card flew right out of my head and onto cardstock!

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock

Designer Paper - Recollections from Michael’s

Stamps - Studio G (various alphabet stamps - ♥ those things, they come in SO handy!)

Vinyl - chrome look

Foam Tape

Ribbon

FMS-120-2-Barb-Derksen

I added a bit of sparkly black cardstock behind the word STAR to punch it up a bit. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit and/or comment (and if you do both then I pinch your cheeks and tell you you de BEST!

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Friday Mashup No. 142 Challenge card

Wow, another card, can you dig it? 

When I saw the word “twine” in the choices one could use for this challenge I new immediately I was going to attempt an idea that has been rattling around in the back of my brain for quite some time. 

FM142-1_Barb-Derksen

 

SUPPLIES:

Designer Paper - “Blank Canvas” by Kristin Cronin Barrow

Coloring Page Image - “Vase with Flowers” I traced this coloring page image from HERE using my Silhouette Designer Edition Software

Silhouette Sketch Pen - black

TomBow Markers - 025, 685, 443, 158, N00

Twine

Ribbon

Pearl Gems

Diamond Glaze

FM142-3_Barb-Derksen

I used “twine” to wrap the vase!

FM142-2_Barb-Derksen

*note: I used a TomBow marker to color one of the pearls because I did not have different coloured centers… it worked wonderful, allowing the shimmer of the pearl to shine through!

1-small-thing

Today’s “1 small THING” is to share a technique I use to make some “line art” images with my Silhouette Designer Edition software. 

Sometimes when I can’t find the stamp I want in my messy, jumbled craft drawers I  would like to find a different image, clean and simple, to work with.  I ♥ my Silhouette Sketch Pens and they can do some beautiful line work as well.  So, I will just use Google and search for “Coloring Page” with “” (the item I’m looking for - in this instance a vase with flowers)  Once you find the image of your dreams you can often simply right click and “copy” and then “paste” directly into your Silhouette program.  And you end up with it like this:

Color Page Trace 1

Then you just trace it using the Trace tool  in the program:

Color Page Trace 2

Once you have that selected you “trace” (click, pull and drag the mouse) around the flower and vase. You will wind up with an image like this:

Color Page Trace 3

The software got MOST of the trace but not all.  Generally, in a nice black and white line art image like this one, you just need to click, or un-click,  a box (and sometimes adjust a slider or two) to get a nice crisp trace:

Color Page Trace 4

 

In this instance I clicked the High Pass Filter Box off and I bumped the slider under Threshold up a bit - now my image looks solid, like this:

Color Page Trace 5

I want both the inside petals etc and the outside of the line art so I will choose the follwing trace setting (in the panel on the right of the screen)

Color Page Trace 6

Your trace will now make your image appear like this:

Color Page Trace 7

I don’t want to print this image at all so I just click and grab the trace lines and move them off of the image and delete the original image.

Color Page Trace 8

now I am ready to sketch and cut. 

Now I am going to be the first to tell you I probably go about the next step different than most folk.  Most folk would use the “cut line” settings but in a case like this (because the outside line is purely for cutting, while the inside lines are for the sketch pen, but here’s what I would do next:

Once you have deleted the original image, click on the traced image.  Size it to how big or small you want it and then move it to a corner of the matt where you will sketch and cut it.  Now, click on the image and then

Color Page Trace 9

You really may have to hit that “Release” command twice while to make it take effect.  You will know its worked if the pieces of the image are now in separate bits - try moving one - then hit undo to get it back to normal if you move a petal or something by mistake.  if you moved the outside line you are good to go for the next step.

Color Page Trace 10

 

If you now have the outside line moved off the other bits, you can now simply select the outside line and hit DELETE to remove the outside line.  We want to just sketch the inside lines.  Load up your Cameo with cardstock and a Silhouette Sketch Pen and using the appropriate Sketch Pen setting then allow your Cammy to “draw” the image. 

Once you have done this, then change the Setting on your machine to “Cardstock” setting for the cutting blade, adjust that if it needs to be twisted to “3” and then hit the UNDO button in your software until the sketch is whole again, with all the lines visible. 

Now, click onto all the inside bits, leaving just the outside line.  Now ask your Cameo to actually cut out, and it should cut this all out nicely.  You will wind up with the sketched image nicely inside the cut out edge.  Voila! 

If I want to save the image as a .studio Silhouette file, I will then do “undo” until all the bits are back and then save the image for future projects.

I hope my instructions might be of use to you.  Don’t be afraid to leave a comment/ask a question. 

Thursday, January 09, 2014

FREE Thread Keeper Cutting File and Freshly Made #118 Card

I usually ‘toss’ my crafts area first thing in the New Year, but this year my (mega-talented) Mr. is recording and mastering a music album with a friend and he needed pin drop, don’t breathe absolute quiet when that was happening.  No flushing toilet, no shutting doors, no phones - even the furnace gets shut down so the fan can’t interfere.  (brrrrrr!)  You will hear more about this in the future…

What does this have to do with the title of my blog?  Well, now that the recording week is over and I can make ALL THE NOISE I WANT, my thoughts are once again niggling on ways to make my craft room more efficient.  One area that needs serious attention is all the bits and bobs of wool, twine and ribbon.

Thread-Keeper-2_Barb-Derksen

I once picked up this whole container of bits of embroidery thread at a thrift store for $5.  I really liked the way these can be organized and labeled.  So I have modeled my own cut file to make more.

What to do with the little snippets one picks up, or gets via “sharesies” with a friend or family?  Solution:

Thread-Keeper_Barb-Derksen

DOWNLOAD

Personal Use

(zipped file with TOU)

Please PINterest my cutting files, or tweet, FB, shout out from your own blog (meaning don’t pirate my design but just point here, please)  Every link helps fuel my desire to keep creating!  Thank you in advance.

I will be giving you two Silhouette .studio cutting files, one today, the next in a day or two So stay tuned.

Freshly Made Challenge #118

Here is the sketch posted to base our cards off of:

and then MY take…

Freshly-Made-Sketches-118-1_Barb-Derksen

SUPPLIES: - 133, 177, 158, 743

Designer Paper - Crate Paper

Markers - Tombow 

Stamp - Fiskars (I’m pretty sure)

Grommets - Recollections

Gems

Glossy Accents

Ribbon

Freshly-Made-Sketches-118-2_Barb-Derksen

Isn’t this critter just the cutest? 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Family Challenge - (PICTURE WINDOW) & FREE .silhouette file

Hope my fellow Canadians enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving this past weekend.  Now I’m back on track and so…

Once again my talented family have challenged me to be creative.  Ah, I might complain but I do manage to get it done.  The challenge NINA put out was to create a “WINDOW” card like in the following video tutorial.

I’m a bit of a rebel, for sure for sure, so I created my own cut file for the “window frame” - making this for a birthday greeting. 

Family-Challenge-6-1_Barb-Derksen

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock

Designer Paper - Yearbook Collection by Studio Calico

Gems

Glitter Modge Podge

canvas sheet - dollar store

Sentiment Stick On - Creative Memories

Birthday Pic Window frame .studio file - Barb Derksen

I designed and cut the card face, frame and backing. 

DOWNLOAD

.studio file for this project

(please credit me and link back when using my files)

(PS pls - PIN-terest me, FB me and Twitter me too!)

for your Cameo, Silhouette or Portrait

 

Family-Challenge-6-3_Barb-Derksen

I glued the canvas behind the window, then put it together on the front of the cardstock base.  I rubbed the sentiment sticker onto the canvas. 

 

Family-Challenge-6-2_Barb-Derksen

I painted the body of the candle shape with glitter Modge Podge and lastly added some bling!

PS - the cut-out birthday candle shape left over from the Birthday window cut is a perfect accent to glue inside the card!

I hope you enjoyed this little show and tell and you will pop right over to Nina’s and Judy’s to see what they created for this challenge too!

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Brilliant Lollipop Themed Card & FREE .studio Cutting file!

I’m just a “sucker” for simple and bright card and I am on a real kick for using vinyl lately so I decided to try out a simple design I had in mind. 

I am the queen of frugal, (because I choose to stay at home and try to live out my dream to create, create and create but it does not make me rich by any means)  When I make it to “real” high end craft stores I can often but drool over some supplies I’d like to have but accept that within my budget its not going to happen.  Out of this is born so many of my greatest ideas and designs. 

One of the wonderful things I felt attracted to in the stores were the Elizabeth Craft Designs Peel off Stickers.  They are fun and wonderful and I totally think they are worth the asking price.  I have bought a few packages when my Mr. came with me and he said I should treat myself. 

They are wonderful to stick and fill with ultra fine glitter or even just paint or ink.  But there are two limitations I found (besides the price for me)  The first thing is they are all sort of the same size - so here’s me who likes to custom tailor almost everything…

and the other thing is there are only so many designs (which are very nice, indeed) but again, I’m a rebel and I like a huuuuuge variety and I like to size it to fit whatever project want to do. 

So… I have been playing around with vinyl! 

Supplies:

Designer Paper - I used a Colorbok Specialty Paper Pack - Bright

Watercolour paper - Arches 140 lb

Vinyl - black

Ribbon - random

 

Lollipop1_Barb-Derksen

Lillipop Card

4.25 x 5.5 inch

 

Ok, so I’m telling you right off the bat my card is not warped, my photo of the card is warped… and I’d given the card away in the meantime. But you get the picture (pun intended) 

I designed this simple vinyl cut, and I use a high quality watercolour paper to transfer it onto - 140 lb arches in this case.  I cut the vinyl image, then I “weed” out the bits I don’t need and I use Contact Paper (the clear kind you can line shelves in your kitchen with) to transfer the image to the arches paper.

You must work delicately but you definitely get a pretty fine image!  I save (and have friends save) old credit cards or gift cards that have been used up and use them to smooth my vinyl over the paper.  First I position it over the paper where I think I would like it and then I fix one end down and slooooooowwwwly stick it down to the paper, all the time smooshing it in a straight path with the long side of the credit card.  After you have done it a few times and you gain confidence it becomes easier.

 

Lollipop2_Barb-Derksen

 

Once you have the vinyl outline stuck on then you can paint.  Now, once again I must stress that your finished product is only as good as the materials you use - and so in this case, though you will pay a healthy price for both arches paper (though it cuts down into many MANY projects) and a good set of watercolours or watercolour pencils - I believe these are essential.  The colors are so brilliant! 

I like to use an aqua brush, it means you don’t have to constantly rinse brushes out etc.  I simply swipe mine on a rag in between colors. 

I began painting in the middle and worked out, changing colors and blending them together into a little bit of an overlap to achieve a rainbow effect. 

 

Lollipop3_Barb-Derksen

 

The finishing touch is a pretty pink bow, a perfect touch for a sweet little girl. 

You might also (which I will be showing in an upcoming tutorial, use fine scissors and trim around your lollipop - turning it into an element which you could then “pop” up with foam tape. I have created this file to be sized for a standard 4.25 x 5.5 card, if you were to make “elements” from this file the vinyl might get pretty tiny to work with.  You may have to experiment.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this project.  I’d love to see what YOU make and feature your project here on my blog Smile

LOLLIPOP .studio FILE

(personal use unless you seek permission from me for any commercial use)

DOWNLOAD

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