'F' for Freebies Crafty (& Handy)

Silhouette SD Cutting Machine (Review and Giveaway)

I mentioned wanting a Silhouette SD a few months ago after reading Melissa’s review of it, and much to my delight the company sent one to me to try out. Well I’ve been having so much fun with mine that I thought you might want one too, so I’m giving one away! Details are at the end of this post, but first let me show you a couple of things that I’ve made with it and tell you about my experience with the machine.

You know the little vinyl stick figure families that mark the back windows of minivans throughout suburbia? Yeah, this is my take on that. More modern, less cutesy.

Family Silhouette Car Decal

I used Adobe Illustrator to trace a silhouette of us, basing it on a photo from the shoot by James Julius. Of course, it’s only going to be accurate for another six months and then I’ll have to make a new one for my family of four.

I also framed Eleanor’s silhouette (the same silhouette I drew for her first birthday invitations) against a sheet of patterned paper.

Eleanor's Silhouette

So cute, right? And I could think of a million more things to make too… I especially like the idea of using it to make a stencil for decorating a pan of brownies with powdered sugar, but I think that’s just because I’ve been craving chocolate lately. ;)

My Review of the Silhouette SD

The machine itself is small, sleek, and well-designed. The interface is easy, and I had no problems following the directions to get the machine up and running. The software is not Mac friendly, but there is an Adobe Illustrator plugin for Mac users (and a helpful tutorial here). I like to make my own designs anyway, so the Illustrator compatibility is perfect for me.

I was impressed by the Silhouette SD’s accuracy and ability to cut finely detailed images. I found only two drawbacks: the machine is noisy when cutting, and the sticky cutting mats attract hair and dust particles like crazy. Certainly not deal breakers, but worth mentioning.

I’m pretty excited about all of the things I can make, so I’m really pleased with the machine. There are tons of ideas and tips on the Silhouette SD site, shop, and blog. I’m not sure how the PC software works, but if you use Adobe Illustrator like I do then you can use any font or vector image you like. Nice.

Enter to Win a Silhouette SD

If you would like to win a Silhouette SD of your own, just leave a comment on this post (one entry per person). This giveaway, open to US residents only, includes: A Silhouette Machine (a $299.99 value), software for Windows XP/Vista, power cable and USB cable, two cutting mats (one for thick media, one for thin media), one cutting blade, $10 gift card to the Silhouette Online Store. One winner will be chosen randomly on August 31.

And if you just can’t wait to see if you’ve won, I also have an awesome promo for you (good from August 23 through September 1 at midnight). If you buy a Silhouette cutting machine and enter the discount code “lovely“, you’ll get all of the above plus the following for $249.99: $50 off the Silhouette Craft Cutter, fuzzy white vinyl (valued at $7.99), light blue smooth heat transfer (valued at 14.99), yellow flocked heat transfer (valued at $14.99), and a home décor CD (valued at $50). That’s a total savings of $137.97!

You can also use the code “lovely” from September 2 through September 4 for a good discount of $50 off your machine, two cutting mats (one for thick media, one for thin media), one cutting blade, $10 gift card to the Silhouette Online Store, plus two free rolls of heat transfer (a total savings of $79.98).

Good luck! I’d love to know what you’d make with your Silhouette SD. And what did you think of my projects? Would you rock a family car decal like mine? Too close to the ubiquitous stick figures? Or do you (gasp) prefer the stick figures?

August 31: Comments (and entries) are now closed. The randomly chosen winner is Renanda (renparks). Congratulations, Renanda!

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  • Lucia M
    August 30, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    This project is just awesome! Great idea to use it on the car and thank you for the giveaway:)

  • Lora Joy
    August 30, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    I’ve been wanting this soooooo bad! I would love to WIN! pretty please! hehe!

  • deborah
    August 30, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    THanks for the chance to win the awesome giveaway and for the inspiration!

  • Ellen
    August 30, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    This is great! I could have so much fun with this with my students. :-) Thanks!

  • Eva
    August 30, 2010 at 6:10 pm

    I would love one of these!!! Thanks for the great give away!

  • Jessi
    August 30, 2010 at 6:18 pm

    I would love to make heat transfers all day long for my daughter’s preschool wardrobe. These look like too much fun.

  • Jessica
    August 30, 2010 at 6:36 pm

    I would love to win, I need to label totes in the basement and label the school items that will travel along with the kiddo.

  • Martina
    August 30, 2010 at 7:02 pm

    So cute! Love all the ideas the silhouette offers! I’m dying to get one now!

  • shelley
    August 30, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    I would love to create with one of these!

  • Susan K.
    August 30, 2010 at 8:39 pm

    Would love to own a Silhouette SD. Thanks for having this giveaway!

  • courtney
    August 30, 2010 at 9:01 pm

    this would be awesome!!

  • Emily
    August 30, 2010 at 9:32 pm

    This would be so much easier than tracing and cutting by hand!

  • Ashley
    August 30, 2010 at 9:38 pm

    All the walls in my house are blank!!!!!! This would help change that :)

  • Chris Burrus
    August 30, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    REALLY hopes to win this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • powwlita
    August 30, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    gimme gimme! Please, of course :D

  • Megan
    August 30, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    What a cool prize! Hope I win!

  • Andrea
    August 30, 2010 at 9:57 pm

    That is awesome! I could do some real damage with that! :)

  • Christina Harger
    August 30, 2010 at 9:58 pm

    Wow! That’s cool! How fun…thanks for the giveaway!

  • Karen
    August 30, 2010 at 10:21 pm

    Love this things….I would love to make some vinyl subways signs….I would try everything…..I would have words and birds EVERYWHERE…..really

  • Lindsay
    August 30, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    I would LOVE to win, I really want to start an etsy shop and this would get me there! Love the giveaway!

  • Lacy Cox
    August 30, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    I really really want this beautiful little machine….my life would totally be complete!!!

  • angela r j
    August 30, 2010 at 11:01 pm

    Thanks for the great giveaway. I love all the possibilities that a Silhouette would open up for me and my home decor, which is seriously lacking…

  • Jenni
    August 30, 2010 at 11:28 pm

    yes, yes, yes please! been wanting one so baaaad! :)

  • Julie
    August 31, 2010 at 3:59 am

    my girls would love me for the tattoooss

  • Jennifer S
    August 31, 2010 at 4:39 am

    My students and I would have so much fun using this in my art classroom.

  • kristen
    August 31, 2010 at 7:14 am

    This giveaway is for the brownies right?? I don’t like prints with a lot of detail so I have plenty of projects for the Silhouette SD.

  • Danielle
    August 31, 2010 at 7:37 am

    I really want to try the vinyl decorative stuff with the Silhouette. My sister is having a little girl and wants butterflies around the nursery. Of course I have lots of ideas of how to use it for my business – would love to try to make cupcake wrappers!
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    Danielle

  • Olivia D
    August 31, 2010 at 7:50 am

    Well, this is just the coolest thing ever, how fun! Oh, the possibilities are endless:)

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