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.
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.
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!
'F' for Freebies, Crafty (& Handy)
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2,034 Comments
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August 23, 2010
I would love one of these! So many project ideas!! Thanks!
Cool! Oh the possibilities!
I would love to win this machine. I’m already planning the 101 cards I need to send and DIY home projects. I can’t even begin to wonder how awesome my classroom would look using this machine. Crossing my fingers :)
The Silhouette is amazing! I want one SO bad! I would make window stickers for my daughter’s cheer and son’s football teams. I would also make wall stickers to decorate my boring white walls! I’d also love to try the glass etching! If I had a Silhouette, I’d be busy with it for weeks! :) Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
I’d love to win this. After reading about it I have so many ideas running through my head of fun projects that I want to make with it!
Oh goody….I would love another reason to craft and silhouette sounds like hte Mac Daddy of the crafting world! Pick me!!! THanKS!
I have always wanted to try this! I have hand cut silouhettes and it is easy but this just looks like fun to use!
oooh, my birthday is the 31st! what an awesome gift this would be.
I’m in love!! I’d be heaven with one of these! This excited me to pieces!!
Thanks for the chance! I’m loving this giveaway and i’m new to your blog!!
LOVE this! I just found out about these recently and have been wanting one so badly… so many craft ideas for this. Fingers crossed!
I had no idea this machine even existed! I would Love to own one!
I love how you have used the silhouette. My fave might be the car sticky. I’m so sick of the micky ears, and cartoon figures – yours is way too cute.
I am so impressed with the Silhouette! I love your family decal! Just this morning on our way to school, my daughter told me she would like a sticker of our name on our car. If I could be so blessed to win this, I would definitely be doing some glass etching, some stencils for printing on clothes, vinyl decals. Can the Silhouette cut fabric? Because if it can, I would use it for appliqué too. Aw yeah.
Love it! I’ve been asking my husband to let me have one for months, I hope I win! I LOVE your vinyl family decal, adorable!
Oh I would LOVE this! I would use it for so many projects!!!
Ooh this looks like fun…lots of fun projects come to mind!
I’m obsessed! I love how unique and creative this machine allows you to be.
If I think it, it will come!
I loved your projects and Silhouette SD possibilities, awesome! I want to start my own businnes as a party planner so I’d love to have one of those! I’d use all of it’s possibilities on my projects. I really want to win!
OH!!!! I NEED/WANT this sooooo badly! Hope I win!
Btw…I have an Eleanor too!!
Oh, I really want one! Where to begin with all of the ideas in my head? This would be crafting heaven!
That machine looks fabulous! Love what you did with the silhouette window decal. :)
I love this machine!! Can’t wait to get one!
~Callie
I would LOVE to win! How exciting!
Oh my goodness…the possibilities are endless! I am loving the vinyl cutouts!
I would love to try this machine out! It looks really great and I have so many ideas that would make my home so cute! It’d be great for parties. I really want to learn to etch glass. :)
I would love to win this! There is so much you could do with it.
I’ve seen these giveaways all over the blogosphere. How lucky you are to be chosen! I’d love to have one to call my own.
I would love this machine! I love the silhoutte you made, very neat! There a 1,000 ways I could use this!!
Amy B.!
I would SO love a Silhouette! I love the flexibility and wide range of things you can create. I’m keeping my fingers crossed xxx
want want want. this would be so fun to own. xoxo
I would love this machine for my scrapbooks! Thanks Nicole!
Oh, this would be so awesome, I don’t even know what all I would do with it!
Oh my goodness, the framed silhouette of Eleanor is sooo adorable! (Her name is so pretty, too!) I would be in HEAVEN if I won this amazing machine! I can already see myself pulling many all-nighters getting my craft on! Thanks for the opporunity to enter!
mybelleboutique@hotmail.com
I would love to win a Silhouette! I would use it in my scrapbooking, cardmaking, making stencils for home decor and gifts, and probably a zillion other creative projects. Thank you for the opportunity to win. I love the modern family window decal you made.
Great prize!! it would be great!!
I want to make a vinyl sticker for my Saab of my husband, my cat and me :)
Thanks so much for the giveaway! I want one of these so bad!
Found you via Hope Studios.
I would love to win this prize. I hope I win :)
pick me!!!
fingers crossed…so many projects, so little time
I would love to win. I so want one of these things.!
Thank you for the opportunity to win a silhouette! I have wanted one for a long time! I would love to have one of my own (although I would share with my daughter and daughter inlaw)
I have been to the Silhouette site and dreamed of all the goodies that I would be able to create, and I think the first would be the etched glass, or maybe the vinyl wall art, oh with so many possiblites it is hare to decide.
Pick me….pick me! I have visions of projects dancing in my head! :) Thanks so much for the giveaway!
ohmilordy! the competition is FIERCE! :) i would so love to win one of these. that silhouette of your daughter is just too sweet. i’m in LOVE.
p.s. i vote the car sticker is cute. so there.
:)
Love it! Hope to win!!! Looks like sooo much fun!!
I love your projects! I prefer your decal overt the stick figures. I’d love to do glass etching! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love seeing your fun project ideas! I would love to win this giveaway so much–I have too many project ideas rolling around in my head that need doing. Thanks for the chance to win!
This project is just awesome! Great idea to use it on the car and thank you for the giveaway:)
I’ve been wanting this soooooo bad! I would love to WIN! pretty please! hehe!