Sunday, February 13, 2011

FYI Silhouette Users

For those of you who have a Silhouette machine and are still using the Craft ROBO, there is something better. As awesome as this software is, there is better (like I said before). Somehow, I was out of the loop and did not know that Silhouette had put out their own version of software. I was very confused when I looked at other peoples tutorials and their software looked completely different! Duh! They upgraded! Somehow I stumbled across it last week and I thought I would share it with whomever is interested. Here is where you go to download the new software. And if I haven't mentioned it yet, it is so much better! All those things that you wished you could do in Craft ROBO (like erasing, cutting, viewing the image dimensions, etc.) you can do now! And, the even better part is it's FREE! And all your purchased images are transferable! It's a win-win! I haven't played with the new software a whole lot, but I am going to go back through those tutes that I passed over because I didn't have the same software. I hope this makes at least one person's life a little easier!

And on to a few more projects. This I have shared before, but I added a little more to it. It was to simple for me like it was, so I added a few fabric rosettes. I think it finishes it off quite well.

Lovely!

This picture is hanging in our kitchen. We have a phone outlet in our kitchen that doesn't screw into the wall very well. It sometimes just hangs there and it is kind of an eye sore so this painting is covering that up. It is another frame I had and just painted black. I picked out some scrapbook paper that I liked and put it in the frame. The saying and the flourish I did myself on the Silhouette. I cut it out on some vinyl and applied it to the outside of the frame. Because I change my mind quite often, I put the vinyl on the glass. That way I can change the paper out whenever I want!

Looking back, I should have made the words a little bigger, but over all, I love how it turned out.
I see this picture everday, multiple times a day. This phrase is a constant reminder to find joy in whatever season I am in. No matter what trials, uncertainties, or problems I am having, it is a reminder to rejoice and find joy because our lives are a journey to a much better place. We are just passing through this life. Where we end up is undescribable. I am also reminded of Romans 8:18, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is be revealed to us." (Thanks Krissy for sharing that verse with me) I have so much to be thankful for and even though I will encounter trials, I will learn to rejoice through them!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Me and my new best friend...

I am constantly amazed at what this thing can do! It is awesome. We have been spending a lot of time together. Probably time I should be cleaning, organizing, or exercising. But this is much more fun! This morning I have been doing lots with it. I still haven't mastered the fabric cutting, but I hope to be able to spend some more time on it soon. Here are a few things that I have done.

These are some frames (the two smaller ones) I have had put away for a while. They were boxed up when we were "staging" our house to sell. They could use a painting, but for now thew will do.

This was a sketch done with the Silhouette pen! I love this thing. I just ordered the metallic pens and I can't wait to see how they turn out. I don't have very much, actually none at all, Valentines decorations. So I figured I could make a few. These were quick and easy! My kind of craft!

The first blooms from my Camellia bush! I had to include it in the picture. I can't wait for the rest to bloom!
There is a narrow wall behind our couch that needed a little something. Looking at it now, it kind of looks like it should be in a diner with the diamond background. Oh well. There again, it was cheap and easy. The frame was a light brown wood. I repainted it mixing a green and white I already had.
This was a birthday gift. The buckle was cut out with the Silhouette. I think it really dresses up the gift.
Of course, card making is made much simpler. I have made a few other cards, but I was in a super hurry and did not take pictures. I have a bad habit of that.


I hope to be posting more projects! I hope you have a great day!

Friday, January 21, 2011

I am Back!!!

It has been a while since I could really sit down at the computer and have time to blog. I hope you all had a great Christmas! Ours was wonderful. Busy, quick, but very nice. I got to spend some time with my sisters (who are amazing, I think I have the best sisters in the world!) and my niece and nephew. It is always a joy to be around little ones during this season. Abby the youngest is about to turn 2 is into everything. She tried to pick up a dog's toy from their "toy box" with her mouth! She is too cute. And Manny was all over Pops and his airplane book.

But getting on to one of the most amazing parts of my Christmas.... Remember I said I had two amazing sisters. Well, they are so amazing and thoughtful, they gave me one of these for my gift!

I was so surprised and thankful! And excited! And speechless! They way over did themselves with this one!

The other amazing part of my Christmas was going skiing with my hubs out west. We had a blast skiing 4 days and resting in between. We definitely didn't need a vacation from our vacation when we got home. When we did get home we hit the ground running and haven't slowed down much.

I started watching a friend's two children 3 1/2 days a week. It is very enjoyable, but needless to say I haven't had much "craft/sewing time." Once I get use to the working schedule I hope to reserve Fridays for such a thing.

I have been able to play with my Silhouette and experiment with it a bit. I am trying to cut fabric with it, but haven't been 100% successful. Any tips or suggestions will be very much appreciated! I have many projects floating around in my head and hope to post on them soon. I have some vinyl and Silhouette pins on the way! I can't wait to start using them!

Even though it is a little late, Happy New Year and God Bless!