Dog Birthday Card using Faux Leather Paper

Looking for a fun birthday card for a dog lover? I made this one for my daughter as he SO resembles our family pet!

For this project I tried out the Silhouette Faux Leather Paper for the first time. I used it in a very basic way, just touching on the possibilities for using this intriguing product. 

Supplies Needed:

• Silhouette Cameo or Portrait, and Curio (optional, for the tag)
• Silhouette Faux Leather Paper (black)
• Kraft Card
• Silver Mirror Card
• Metal Jump Ring (to attach tag)
• Coloured Paper (red and cream)
• Silhouette 16ss Rhinestones (metallic)
• Silhouette Rhinestone Setter
• Brown Ink Pad
• Silhouette Sketch Pen (red)

The designer has helpfully provided a link to the assembly tutorial for the card which I followed as far as assembling the head, but initially omitting the nose and collar.

I used a single colour of Kraft card and distressed the edges of the card pieces with stamping ink, and added some custom paws. The bone, cut from cream card,  had a sentiment added with the red sketch pen in place of the cutting blade. I made the shaped card by making an offset of all the elements together, which I cut in red, and then welding a pair of further offsets in Kraft made the shaped card base.  I love to make shaped cards and will post a tutorial on how to designed shaped cards for yourself.  Meantime, it would be equally attractive to make and mount the dog's head onto the card base included with the design.

Here's what I did to make the tagged and bejewelled collar from faux leather.

Step 1 - Preparing the collar

In the software I placed the collar piece on the mat and using the Ellipse shape drew a small oval just big enough to accommodate my jump ring (which you'll use to attach a tag, if you choose to make one).

I coloured the oval white so that I could see it better, and then moved it into position on the collar (selected both shapes and in Align Window, choose Align Centre).

Then I made a second copy of the collar (selected collar, opened Replicate Window, selected Duplicate Below).

I then made some holes the exact size for the 16ss rhinestones. If you have the Designer Edition of the software, open the Rhinestone Window, set rhinestone size to 16ss, and Spacing to Single Click. Simply click where you want your rhinestones to be. If you don't have DE, then just draw a circle of diameter 0.13"/3.31mm, and make 3 more copies, placing them as shown in the picture below. 

Next I chose the default settings for Faux Leather Paper in the Cut Settings Window. The test cut didn't quite cut through, so I increased the blade depth by one (my mat has lost some stickiness). You may not need to, so use the test cut function on any new material you try.

Step 2 - Preparing and Cutting the Faux Leather Paper

I attached a piece of faux leather a little larger than I needed to cut the pieces together and attached it to the mat with decorator's tape.

The faux leather cut cleanly and the pieces removed easily

Step 3 - Finishing the Collar

I stuck the two collar pieces together with the one with the extra holes on the top.

I attached 4 of the metallic rhinestones into the holes with the Rhinestone Setter.  I allowed the setter to heat up for a few seconds in the 'on' position and then held it lightly to each individual stone until they adhered.

This left the stones inset into the collar a little, reducing the likelihood of small fingers picking them off. (warning: young relatives love playing with these cards)!

Then, using the jump ring, I attached a small tag that I'd cut and embossed with my Curio from mirror card, bearing our dog's initial.  If you don't have a Curio you can just cut a circle of mirror card of about 0.7"/17mm on your cutting machine and customise it as you choose.

Finally I attached all the pieces, including a faux leather nose, to the offset and shaped card. Job done!

Using the faux leather is a great way to embellish a regular card, transforming it into a special keep-sake.

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DESIGNS USED:

Schnauzer Card Design #120773

Animal Bone (free shape with original Cameo)

Sketch Font

PRODUCTS USED:

Mother's Day Scratch Off Card

I've been having lots of fun with Silhouette's scratch-off sticker sheets and wanted to share a cute Mother's Day card that uses them.

Using the Silhouette, the stickers can be cut into any shape you like and then placed over the message you'd like to hide.  When scratched, the opaque coating is removed and your message is revealed, in much the same way as a a lottery scratch card.

My card uses a retro flower design, which I find very reminiscent of Orla Kiely.  I chose the message 'If mothers were flowers, I'd pick you', hiding the second part behind the scratch off panels on the flowers.
  
What you’ll need:

• Silhouette CAMEO
• Silhouette Scratch-Off Sticker Sheets
• Silhouette pen holder or sketch pens
• Paper
• Card

STEP ONE: Create the sticker shapes

The centre shapes within the three middle flowers will have the words "I'd", "pick" and "you" written on them.  We will then cover this message with the scratch-off stickers.

First, we need to separate these centre shapes from the remainder of the card overlay.  To do this, we use Release the Compound Path via the Modify window. 

Select and group the scratch-off shapes.  Fill the shapes and colour the lines grey to help visualise.
The outside shapes have lots of gaps, so won't fully cover the words.  Use the Offset tool to thicken the shape.  You could also replace with simple circles if you prefer.

Now that we have the scratch-off shapes complete, move them to the side.  Set the file and line colour to green for the paper overlay.  The design will be hard to see because we released the path, so lets Make Compound Path again via right-click or the Modify window.  The design should look like this:

STEP TWO: Write the Sentiment

The message is written a Sketch pens, so I opted for the Golden Rule Sketch font.  This is a very clean and simple font, so matches the mid-century style.  I set the line colour to black.

I also wanted to write 'scratch me!' underneath the centre panel, as the stickers look so good my mum might not realise that it she needs to scratch it.  The text needs to be curved, which is actually pretty easy in Silhouette Studio.

Double-click the text to enter text-edit mode and you'll see a green boundary box and little circle with a cross in it at the start of your word.  This circle can be dragged to any shape and the text will 'snap' to it and curve around that shape.

Once you are happy, right click and Convert to Path.  This will lock the text into the curved and can be moved away from the shape.

Now create a backing card to the same dimensions as the paper overlay.  As the first half of the sentiment "If mothers were flowers" will be written on the Card, move this over too, as shown below.

STEP FOUR: Cut Settings

The line and fill colours have been used to help visualise the card, but they also help for cut settings.  I used the default blade settings for each material and the cuts were great, but always do a test cut when using new media.

The file is now ready to go, sketch the sentiments, cut the paper design, backing card and scratch-off stickers and assemble.  Top tip - use tweezers to apply the stickers in exactly the right spot.

THE FINISHED PRODUCT

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DESIGNS USED:

PRODUCTS USED:

Design Team Introduction :: Karen Moss

Hello, hello.  My name is Karen and I live in Essex with my lovely husband of 30 years.  We have one daughter – Gracia and a Golden Retriever – Kiera, Gracia and Kiera are the main focus of my scrapbook pages.   I have been scrapbooking for about 10 years, having been introduced to it by my best friend and during that time have been published most UK scrapbook magazines and have been on the design teams for Scrapagogo and Shimelle.  I am currently on the design team for A Trip Down Memory Lane.

I have loved to craft since my grandma taught me to knit and sew when I was five and have been ‘making stuff’ ever since.  Once I discovered scrapbooking all other crafts fell by the wayside. My style is very layered and full on and my friends joke that if you can get more than one of my pages into a page protector then it can’t be finished yet.  My style is constantly evolving with each new challenge. 

Crafting is an inherent part of my everyday life – I have to do something creative every day or my day doesn’t feel complete.  I like to scrap my frustrations, my triumphs, my love of life and my family, I like to record the sad, funny, ordinary and just plain weird things that happen in our everyday life, I scrap the everyday.  I am not an acid free scrapper as I like to add all sorts to my pages. 

I bought a Cameo three years ago and never looked back.  Now almost every one of my projects uses it to some degree or other and I am constantly finding new ways to utilise this amazing machine.  As I run a Rainbow Pack it is so useful for cutting out quick projects for the girls to make.

I am thrilled to be part of this ultra talented group of girls who will be showcasing their amazing projects over the next year.

Some of my favourite projects. 

Free Design of the Week Project - Cardinal

Hello, hello - Karen here and today I am sharing with you a frame I made using a custom background paper and vinyl.  I must confess, I have never used vinyl before and believe me it cuts like butter and goes onto the glass like a dream.

Supplies needed:

Silhouette Cameo

Printer

8in x 10in Frame

Silhouette Vinyl

STEP ONE - Create custom background paper.

• Open up an A4 page, open the bird design and resize to 1 inch high.
• Drag your bird to the top left of your page and , in the Replicate window choose Row of Three  and then Row of Four - you should now have a row of seven birds across the top of your page.
• Next select all of the birds and us the Duplicate Below option 8 times.

• Drag around alternate rows of birds, go to the Object menu, choose Mirror then choose Flip Horizontally.

• Drag a box around all of your birds and group them (Ctrl g).
• Change the line colour to one of your choice. 

• Change the line width to 1 point.

• Send to print and trim to fit into your frame.  Adhere a 3 inch square photo to the top right of your backing paper.

STEP TWO - Cutting vinyl and finishing your frame.

• Open your bird shape and resize to 7.5 inches wide.  Also open the Bird Subway Art and resize to 5 inches wide.  Cut these out from vinyl using the standard Silhouette vinyl cut settings.
• I adhered the vinyl to the front of the glass to give a little bit of space between the background paper and the design.  In my Silhouette software, I decided where I wanted the shapes to go, made the lines black and 1.0 points, as before, and printed this out.  I then laid the glass from my frame onto this so that I could accurately position my vinyl.

I hope that, if like me, you have never used vinyl before, I have given you an idea and you will give it a go.

Designs used for this project.

Design Team Introduction :: Hilary Milne

I live in N.E Scotland on a small farm, with my husband and two dogs. Last year i was lucky enough to turn Sixty and my best decision was to stop dying my hair, which saved a lot of money which could be spent on more craft supplies! Since my husband built himself and aircraft hanger to house his hobbies (only a slight exaggeration), I got my own small, dedicated craft workshop in an outbuilding and I have been selling imported Greek beads online since 2005.

I love computer technology and over the past 20+ years , I have become quite proficient at website design, Photo Shop Elements and many other graphics programs. three years ago I at last found my true love among crafts, creating many of my own designs with my side kicks: my Silhouette Cameo, my computers and my iPad. Colour and fun are all important in my designs. I go to sleep at night with colours and patterns swirling in my thoughts, and first thing in the morning, I can't wait to get to my Silhouette Cameo and start creating! My interests move on quickly, but at the moment (i.e. this week) I am leaning towards experimenting with more geometric designs. 

I make stickers for small businesses and a lot of cards,  but I also make paper collages, etch, print and cut fabric for sewing, print and iron on transfers, and cut vinyl. Until this year, these things were mainly made for friends and family, but having just started an etsy shop I am hoping to start selling more of my own designs and design files this year if I can find the time!

To anyone out there who thinks they cannot draw, I want to say my art teacher at school never encouraged me. To this day I could never say I am an artist, but with all the encouragement I got from my Mum, I definitely could utter the words "I am a crafter"! When I was little I would act out being a Blue Peter presenter in front of a mirror, so I was over the moon to be picked for this year's design team. The Silhouette software is fabulous, and I hope that I will be able to encourage some of you to make your very own designs this year. It is so satisfying. I will be attempting my first video tutorials. I am looking forward to a Fun year (note the capital). I hope the makes by the Design Team will sweep you off your feet and that we can carry you along with our enthusiasm!

Here is a taster of what I do:

Challenge :: Free Design of the Week - Cardinal

Welcome to this weeks challenge

I really love this weeks free shape and can not wait to have a play around with this little guy!

Our super talented design team member Janet has created the beautiful watering can below, I really hope it inspires you to join in too

Please stop by Janet's blog for more of her stunning makes