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!
Erin
August 26, 2010 at 2:00 pmPick me Pick me! So exciting
Kristina
August 26, 2010 at 4:14 pmSo many fun projects to be had with this little guy! I loved your nom nom nom brownies!
Trista
August 26, 2010 at 2:01 pmI love the family decal, I want one. I also want vinly lettering all over my house.
Amy
August 26, 2010 at 2:01 pmI want one of these! I’m planning my grandmother’s big 80th party and this would be so helpful.
Katie
August 26, 2010 at 2:02 pmI would absolutely love to win one of these bad boys!!!
jodi
August 26, 2010 at 2:05 pmthat is so awesome!! i love your family decal. so cool.
Lisa Casper
August 26, 2010 at 2:05 pmSuch a great giveaway! Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks so much!
Ashley
August 26, 2010 at 2:05 pmI have so many projects in mind and have been drooling over this baby for some time. I am crossing my fingers that I’ll get picked! Thanks for the giveaway!
Sarah
August 26, 2010 at 2:05 pmThis would be amazing for my girl’s birthday party planning!!
elli
August 26, 2010 at 2:06 pmwhat a nifty little gadget! and thanks for hosting such a great giveaway!
Lauren
August 26, 2010 at 2:07 pmWhat a cool concept! I’d love to win!
Karla
August 26, 2010 at 2:11 pmLove this and all that you have done with it!
Karla
whitney
August 26, 2010 at 2:13 pmso awesome, I love it!
Anne
August 26, 2010 at 2:13 pmoooh i would love one of these for my house (and it would be used in my library too)
Cheri
August 26, 2010 at 2:16 pmI am not the hugest fan of the family decal for my own vehicle. But it is 100x cuter than the stick figures! Yours is Nice and Sweet!
Nicki
August 26, 2010 at 2:16 pmI would seriously LOVE one of these! I’m a graphic designer and I’m just imagining how fun it would be to turn all of my designs into cut-outs, especially to make artwork for all my friends and fam.
Cheri
August 26, 2010 at 2:16 pmWith this I would make onesies, t shirts, cupcake wrappers, wall decals….oh it’s endless! Thanks for the chance to win one!
Lori
August 26, 2010 at 2:17 pmI would really love to win one of these.
thank you for the chance to.
Lori
Alan
August 26, 2010 at 2:18 pmMy wife would really like to win one of these but i secretly think i would too.
Alan
Wendy M
August 26, 2010 at 2:18 pmThis looks really fun! Thanks for the giveaway!
Brooke
August 26, 2010 at 2:20 pmI have been trying to win one of these forever. I have so many projects in mind I hardly know where to start, but I think I would figure it out! ;)
Sylvia
August 26, 2010 at 2:21 pmI would love one of these! I have entered about every contest (something like 23 of them) to win one because I will not afford one otherwise. Crossing my fingers on entry number 24! :)
Katie
August 26, 2010 at 2:22 pmlooks so handy!
shelly
August 26, 2010 at 2:28 pmooohhh i love it… what fun it would bring… thanks for the opportunity!!
Pam
August 26, 2010 at 2:31 pmThanks for the chance! I would be soooo thrilled to make some Christmas gifts this year!
Lori
August 26, 2010 at 2:34 pmLove it! You could do so much with that thing!
Marissa
August 26, 2010 at 2:34 pmWow! The possibilities are endless!
Alison
August 26, 2010 at 2:36 pmI didn’t think I would be able to use it until I saw your brownie idea. Now I’ve got a ton of projects in mind!
Cara Matthews
August 26, 2010 at 2:36 pmI just became the coach of the (very small) high school dance team…we are in desperate need of some uniforms, shirts, etc. I have so many ideas. This machine could be a lifesaver – we could afford to do all we want to do – without having to spend countless hours selling crap that nobody wants to raise enough money to buy shirts we only sorta like. I am so excited about this giveaway – this could be my chance! *fingers crossed*
Tera
August 26, 2010 at 2:36 pmThis would make the paintings I make a little easier! But I feel like I might be cheating… Here’s a sample… http://eyeheartorange.blogspot.com/2010/08/davis.html
Dana
August 26, 2010 at 2:37 pmI would love to get one of these to be able to make fancy cupcake liners for parties!!
Kelsey
August 26, 2010 at 2:41 pmThanks for a great giveaway! I’ve really been wanting to try my hand at vinyl.
kelseybehrend@hotmail.com
Mandy
August 26, 2010 at 2:48 pmSigh…how cute! I’d love to have one. *crosses fingers*
Jenni Goebel
August 26, 2010 at 2:49 pmReally, really. I just have never seen anything cuter than your “NOM NOM NOM NOM” brownies. I would have to make those first, no questions asked (especially because my husband says “Nom, Nom” all the time to his food).
What an unexpected treat! I do hope to win one!!
Jenni
Brittany
August 26, 2010 at 2:49 pmsuch a great giveaway! pick me!
Julie
August 26, 2010 at 2:50 pmPerfect for gifts. ADORE THIS GIVEAWAY!
Rita
August 26, 2010 at 2:50 pmSign me up!
Michelle
August 26, 2010 at 2:52 pmThis is neat. I wish I had one, and that is why I am commenting right now.
Ashley
August 26, 2010 at 2:52 pmAwesome giveaway. Can’t wait to see what can be done with it!
Samantha Pedersen
August 26, 2010 at 2:53 pmThanks for the chance to win! I would do all of my Christmas present with this machine, and cover my walls with vinyl lettering.
Heidi
August 26, 2010 at 2:56 pmHow cool! All the great things you can do with one of those!
Alisia
August 26, 2010 at 2:57 pmOh my, this is the ultimate crafting tool! I can’t believe all the things I could make for/with my five kiddos with this silhouette! Irresistable
Annie Sisneros
August 26, 2010 at 3:01 pmThis is the best giveaway ever!!! I really hope I win!!!
Kelli
August 26, 2010 at 3:03 pmOoooh what a super giveaway!! The possibilities are endless with this gadget.
Beth
August 26, 2010 at 3:05 pmthis is great! fingers crossed
Mandy
August 26, 2010 at 3:05 pmI was just thinking I wanted a vinyl cut out to put on some cork . . . this would be great for that.
christy marcelino
August 26, 2010 at 3:05 pmohhhh i love your family decal!!! i hope i win so i can try to create something that awesome!
Erin
August 26, 2010 at 3:10 pmI really wasn’t convinced to enter until I saw your brownies! That looks so much easier than doing the stencils by hand!
Tracy F
August 26, 2010 at 3:14 pmI would love to win one of these. I bought the cutest water bottles at Dollar Tree and I could personalize them myself for gifts if I had a Silhouette.
Tracy
Manders
August 26, 2010 at 3:16 pmOh my gosh! I love the car decal! I think that if I don’t win I’m going to need to get a Silhouette anyway! They could not be more incredible. (Oh, PS, I love your blog, so cute!)
Alba
August 26, 2010 at 3:19 pmWhat a great giveaway! I’ve been longing for the Silhouette for quite some time now. Would love to use it for fun etching and vinyl home decor stuff! P.S. The vinyl car decal of your family is very sweet–I’ve never seen that done before!
Ann Walker Smalley
August 26, 2010 at 3:22 pmLooks like a useful tool–although Mac software would make it ever more useful:-)
Love the blog and the adorable Eleanor.
Adrienne B
August 26, 2010 at 3:23 pmNOM NOM NOM… I would like some brownies with fun saying on them, too. If I win, will you send some brownies along as well? KTHX! :)
Emily
August 26, 2010 at 3:23 pmWhat a great giveaway! I could use it everywhere!
Brittany
August 26, 2010 at 3:25 pmI have soooooooo many projects that I NEED this for. I need to win!
Dawn
August 26, 2010 at 3:27 pmAaah, I can see projects aplenty coming to fruition with one of these. Count me in!
Shelby Goodman
August 26, 2010 at 3:27 pmoooo…I have so many ideas for this! pick me! pick me!
Beth F
August 26, 2010 at 3:27 pmOhhhh how I want this! I heart this machine and what it can do – I just need one of my own!
Donna
August 26, 2010 at 3:29 pmMINE, MINE, MINE – Oh the things I could do with this….Yep, you can see them too, huh?!!!!!! Thanks for the chance to win one of the GREATEST things since microwave popcorn.
Jessica
August 26, 2010 at 3:30 pmI would love one of these to make encouraging verses on the walls!
meta
August 26, 2010 at 3:32 pmpick me!
paula
August 26, 2010 at 3:36 pmI so doubt I’ll win, but…just in case. I would love to put some family silhouettes in the hallway, and this would make it so easy to update them every year.
Janet Kenealy
August 26, 2010 at 3:37 pmI would love to win the Silhouette — thanks!
Salena Langston
August 26, 2010 at 3:39 pmoh oh I want one! I really really do!!
Emily
August 26, 2010 at 3:40 pmThat is fantastic. I must own one!
Carly
August 26, 2010 at 3:42 pmMy friend’s band is called the Tulsa Skull Swingers, and I always bring cupcakes to their shows. I’ve been wanting to do powdered sugar skulls on top but I’m too lazy to cut the stencil myself, so this would be perfect!
Tiffany
August 26, 2010 at 3:42 pmI would love to own one. Vinyl decorations, here I come!
Sarah Litty
August 26, 2010 at 3:43 pmVinyl lettering for my shop window that says something like “no soliciting” in large letters and underneath, “this means I don’t want the useless crap you are selling” OR “all solicitors must pay a disturbance fee” – now THAT would make my day more productive already.
Nan
August 26, 2010 at 3:43 pmWould I ever love to win a silhoutte! The possibilities are endless with this wonderful machine and I love that you can use your own fonts and clip art. Thanks!
Liz Brown
August 26, 2010 at 3:43 pmLove your car decal…so classy. I’d love to own a Silhouette, thanks for the chance to enter!
Debren
August 26, 2010 at 3:45 pmWe go all out for Halloween. I’m envisioning lots of custom creepy silhouettes. Ooooh! Can’t wait.
Melissa
August 26, 2010 at 3:46 pmThis would be perfect for so many projects! :)
Rachel L
August 26, 2010 at 3:48 pmI have so many ideas, what an awesome giveaway.
Gina
August 26, 2010 at 3:51 pmOh, this would be so much fun for so many projects!!
Kerry
August 26, 2010 at 3:51 pmThe car decal is too cute. I so want a silhouette. Thanks for the giveaway!
erin f
August 26, 2010 at 3:52 pmenter me enter me!!too many uses to count.
Kati
August 26, 2010 at 3:53 pmI hadn’t seen a car decal yet! LOVE LOVE LOVE your family one! :)
Jessica
August 26, 2010 at 3:53 pmI love this machine…how much fun! I would love to try those heated transfers..Thanks for the chance to win~
Melissa
August 26, 2010 at 3:53 pmI want one just to make a nom cake!!!!!!!!!!!
Becky
August 26, 2010 at 3:57 pmThis is awesome! So many cool projects…especially the brownie decorating…mmmmm…brownies!
Melanie H.
August 26, 2010 at 3:59 pmOh.my.goodness, I totally LOVE your fresh take on the vinyl “stick family” decals! Kudos for the great idea!
There are SO many cool projects that I would LOVE to try with a Silhouette, I mean how can you pick just one? The glass etching & heat transfer seem particularly cool though!
Amanda
August 26, 2010 at 4:01 pmI’m not sure where I’d start with one! Would be fun to own, that’s for sure!
Kat
August 26, 2010 at 4:03 pmI want to win one of these so badly!!! And what can I say, I have and love my little stick family. Although I love your take on it also!
Bethany
August 26, 2010 at 4:11 pmI am not exactly a fan of the stick families but yours is fabulous! What a great idea!
Kimberly
August 26, 2010 at 4:13 pmYay! I want a silouette so bad! Thanks for the give away!
Lisa Casey
August 26, 2010 at 4:14 pmThere is nothing that I don’t like about this machine!! I have an entire bookmark folder dedicated to “Things to Make with the Silhouette” that includes all the amazing projects I’ve seen featured!
lisainnevada(at)gmail(dot)com
Robin
August 26, 2010 at 4:14 pmI LOVE Eleanor’s framed sillouette!
angela
August 26, 2010 at 4:15 pmooooh, i would be in monogram heaven with one of these babies! thank you for sharing. xo
Candi
August 26, 2010 at 4:19 pmI would use it for the cute decals on my car, plus use it for stencils for fabulous desserts. I am sure I could find lots more uses for it. I am overwhelmed thinking about it.
Maritel
August 26, 2010 at 4:19 pmI love you family decal!! I can’t wait to make one of my own!!
Becky
August 26, 2010 at 4:20 pmOooh love this! I like your take on the “stick figures” I would probably want to do something like that. I also like the child’s silhouette – would definitely do that for my daughter!
Laura
August 26, 2010 at 4:20 pmI would love to win this oh the fun I would have!!!!
Leigha
August 26, 2010 at 4:22 pmI could do so much stuff with the silhouette!!! From birthday party stuff to decorations in my house to stuff for my kids and dogs!!! I think it is really awesome that you guys are able to make one person happy and give them such a great gift!!! Thank you for giving us the oppertunity to try to win!!
melissa
August 26, 2010 at 4:24 pmoh, wow! this is awesome! i’d probably use it to make cut outs for my son’s 1st bday party invites- but that’s a while off. i’m sure i’d find lots of uses!
Linda
August 26, 2010 at 4:25 pmMy daughter wants one and I would love to win one for her.
Pam Harris
August 26, 2010 at 4:27 pmI would love to win this machine, as the possibilities are limitless!
Kate
August 26, 2010 at 4:33 pmI would love to get my hands on one! Great giveaway and by the way, I really enjoy reading your site! :)
sara
August 26, 2010 at 4:36 pmi would love this!!!!!
Heather
August 26, 2010 at 4:41 pmI need to get my hands on one of these crafty cutters. I have been looking for something like this for a couple years now!
shiori
August 26, 2010 at 4:44 pmWhat couldn’t you do with the Silhouette? I’m so excited!
david
August 26, 2010 at 4:44 pmI would love to win this as a gift for my daughter. She has a small paper business but they are pretty pricey.