Black Friday/Cyber Monday Silhouette Deals~

Just wanted to pop in and let you all know about a fabulous Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal from one of my affiliates - Silhouette - that is going on until tonight at midnight!

Right now everything in the Silhouette online store (except the new CAMEO, subscriptions, download cards, and gift cards) is 30% off!  BUT if you enter the discount SHABBY...you will actually receive 40% off instead! (except on those items previously noted)

You can also receive a nice discount on the new CAMEO - which is selling for $249.99 -  by using the code SHABBY, but you won't find the CAMEO on the regular page, only on the secret Black Friday page located here.  But hurry because they are expecting the CAMEO to sell out!
And finally, all shapes are HALF OFF! 

Whew! That's a lot of great deals...so hurry on over because the deals end tonight!!

June Silhouette Promotion~

Happy Tuesday everybody. 

Today is the beginning of June's Silhouette Promotion!  And what is this month's promo, you ask?  This month's promo is pure fun and silliness...temporary tattoos!! 

My kids just love the fact that I can make temporary tattoos for them!  The first time I tried the temporary tattoo paper was for the Princess' spa birthday party back in February when I created these cute "spa girl" tattoos for all her guests.

When I received  my fresh batch of temporary tattoo paper for this promotion, I made some good old-fashioned skull and crossbones tattoos for the boys...they just love pirates!

The temporary tattoos are so easy to make, and put on!  The boys are begging for more!

Here's what Silhouette is offering for this month's promo...

1 Silhouette SD and
2 Packages Temporary Tattoo paper

for only $199 (That's $120 in savings!)

And if you already have a Silhouette machine, they are offering 25% off all other products in the Silhouette Shop (with the exception of gift cards and download codes.)

As always just use the code "SHABBY" at checkout to get your discount!

The promo runs from today through June 29!

Silhouette review and GIVEAWAY!

The below post is a review, as well as a giveaway event that is now over.
I hope you find the review helpful!

 Congrats Rachelle!

You've been watching me make my vintage styled signs. If you wish you had a gadget to help you achieve the same pro like output, you don't have to wait any longer. You have a chance at winning and purchasing one for a great deal this week!

Step right up and let me show you around the wonderful world of the...

  Silhouette!

What is it?

 

 The Silhouette is a digital cutting tool.  It connects to your computer just like a printer, but instead of printing designs it cuts them with a small blade. With the machine connected to your computer, you have access to all your fonts plus all kinds of designs from the Silhouette Online Store. This allows you to create your own custom designs.

What can it make?

What intrigued me most was the fact that this little machine is a major multi-tasker.  While my own pro sign making equipment can only make decals, this can create:

• Scrapbook pages
• Cards
• Custom apparel
• Vinyl décor
• Etched glass
• Sketch designs
• Temporary tattoos
• Paper crafts

How does it work?

 

Whatever you draw on your computer screen transfers to the cutting machine. The results are quick and VERY professional.

Is it easy to use?

 Yes, it's easy, but it's a little involved.

As someone that uses drawing programs all the time, I know how innovative cutting software can be. Even me knowing what I'm doing had me wowing and having to read about all the possibilities this little machine is packed with.

There is a learning curve on how the software works. But it's just like anything else. Read, play and learn it. It isn't hard. It just requires a bit of your time and experimentation. The manual is very well written and instructional DVD is exceptional and easy to understand so that is a massive bonus.

The unit is both PC and Mac compatible. And it was a breeze to install and hook up on my mac. Massive bonus! I'm so not a geek. I actually got all giddy when I got it to run first try...

 Contents

It came with:

cutting blade and special caps
all the cords necessary (USB hookup)
dvd software
dvd instructions
two special cutting mats
and a 'monthly special' bonus material of some type if you purchase during a promo event

This unit is compact! It's smaller than a printer so it can easily sit beside a computer without issue.

And I just love that it was ready to to plug and play. No extra wires were needed for purchase. LOVE that.

How it works

Let's do a paper sample. I'd have done a tattoo sample (this month's promo) but the stock is stuck in our current mail strike. Ah well. Anyway...

The DVD got watched, the unit got plugged in and the software got loaded. The paper was put into the machine and the drawing began.

And yes, it was straight forward enough for my 12 yr old son to figure out. :)

This is called a paper carrier. You peel back this liner and place your chosen material (in this case card stock) on the clear part which is sticky. This is what keeps your own chosen paper in place while you feed it through the machine.

 This is what the software looks like on a 27" monitor. You type in what you desire and play around. 

ie: I broke up the letters in Funky Junk so I could bounce each one.

But let's start a little simpler.

 I typed out cody. When you click on the red outline of the text, the size is revealed.

Resizing is easy. You click on a corner, then pull out.

 

The screen now reveals your new size. You will cut the exact size of your drawing.

This is the cutting result. Your paper is stuck to that sticky liner keeping everything in place. Perfectly clean cuts!

And cutting paper is only a start. There's all kinds of other things the machine cuts as well, including vinyl! No worries... I'll be showing you what I make as I try things out.

My summary

Wow. I still have lots to learn. So much so that I didn't get anything cool made with the unit yet. I'm only half way through the dvd!

The software program itself is pretty amazing and can do many MANY of the same steps my own sign software costing hundreds of dollars does. This machine is a really good price for what it does! The software alone is worth the dollar amount IMO.

Pros

- the manual is well written and easy to use

- the instructional dvd is a must to view and is quite thorough, although lengthly

- the unit is compact enough to have next to your computer without issue

- seamless operation to the online store within the software... that's cool.

- the Silhouette is also available in Canada. You can check availability HERE.

Cons

 - you will need to spend some time playing. Not all the possibilities are documented which I think would be impossible anyway

- I'm thinking size restriction may be a tricky factor if you like working on BIG projects but I'm not that far yet. I'll update this as I learn how to do more.

- online videos would be cool, but I suppose that's what the dvd is for. :)

- no monthly sales promotion for Canada

Monthly specials

Each month, Silhouette puts on specials allowing you to get the machine at a huge discount. (US only) They also generally include some kind of materials to play with as well. This month was temporary tattoos. :) 

This month's special

1 Silhouette SD

2 Packages Temporary Tattoo Paper

for $199 

(US only)

  

That’s a $120 savings! Plus...

25% off all other products 

in the Silhouette shop (excluding gift cards and download codes) 

The promo will run June 21-29.  

Use code FUNKY JUNK to get the deal.

Giveaway!

Silhouette is generously offering you a  

Silhouette SD cutting machine kit 
and 2 sheets of tattoo paper!

US AND Canada this round! Thanks Silhouette!

How to enter

 Tell me in comments why you'd like to win a Silhouette and you're in!

  "Like" Silhouette on Facebook and comment to enter again!

Blog, tweet or facebook about the giveaway and comment to enter again!

The giveaway will run June 21 - 27 midnight Pacific.

The winner will be drawn by random.org and will be announced on the 28th.

Didn't win? You still have an extra day to purchase one at that hot deal!

The winner must have an email activated in their blog profile. 

If you don't have a blog, please include your email with your comment.

Learn how to activate your email HERE

Good luck friends!

Silhouette gave me this machine so I could try it out. All my opinions are truthful and my own. I took it on in hopes of finding an affordable pro solution for the DIY crowd.


This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all that have entered!

May's Silhouette Deal~

This is the week for the May Silhouette promotion.  And I hate to admit it but, my uber-fabulous, amazing project that I was going to share with you, has yet to be created. (ahem.)   But for anyone that is interested I don't want you to miss out on this month's great deal...

So here's the Silhouette Promo for May...

• A Silhouette SD cutter
• 3 Rolls of heat transfer material
• All for only $219

That's a saving of over $125!!

Simply go to this link to purchase, and use the code "SHABBY" at checkout for your discount.

If you already have a Silhouette, you can still receive 25% off all heat transfer material!

And just for a little example of what you can make with heat transfer fabric, a few  months back, I made these darling shirts for my kiddos using Silhouette's White Flocked Heat Transfer fabric.  They're so fun! 

May's Promotion runs from Now thru May 25th!

Happy Crafting~

Rhinestones~

Hey out there in blogland!

This month, the good people at Silhouette sent me their rhinestone starter kit to try out. I must admit, I wasn't so sure about how it would work out...but let me tell you...after making the shirt I'm about to show you for the Princess, I was hooked. No really. I've got some other fun ideas cooking in this little old brain of mine now.

So without further ado, I present the Princess' blingy pennant tee shirt. How cute is that?

And seriously, by simply following the directions included with the kit, I made the whole thing in just about 20 minutes.

The Silhouette cuts a rhinestone template for you, then you just use the included brush and this amazing little tool called the Pick Me Up to position the rhinestones.





(seriously...if you are a paper crafter or use little crafting doodads like rhinestones...this tool is A.MAZ.ING. Love it!! It uses this sticky gum that reminds me of that adhesive stuff you can use on walls to help you pick up tiny little whatzits.)

After that you use the sticky rhinestone transfer paper - so well photographed below - to lift the rhinestones from the template and place them on whatever you want to transfer them to. It doesn't have to be fabric either...you can use them on paper if you want.

Iron them on and VOILA!

Love it!

If you'd like to try the rhinestones yourself, here is the fabulous deal Silhouette is running this month. A perfect Mother's Gift, might I add.

This Rhinestone Bundle includes:

The Silhouette SD
2 sheets of rhinestone template material
2 sheets of rhinestone transfer tape
2 rhinestone backing boards
1 rhinestone placement brush
1 CD of rhinestone images
1 pack of clear 10ss rhinestones
1 pack of clear 16ss rhinestones
1 pack of clear 20ss rhinestones
1 pack of pink 10ss rhinestones
and
1 Pick-Me-Up tool
ALL FOR $229!

This is an incredible deal worth $125 in savings!

Click here to purchase, then click on the special bundle icon and use the code "SHABBY" to receive your discount.

If you already have a Silhouette Machine and want to try the rhinestones, Silhouette is offering 30% off all things rhinestone! You don't need a special code to receive this discount.

Happy Crafting!!

Frugal Friday goes live tonight at 10:00 pm EST as usual...See you there!!