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!
Gamma Jean
August 27, 2010 at 6:59 pmI would love to have this. I have 3 beautiful grandkids, and teach Special Education — so many ways to use!!!!
Courtney B
August 27, 2010 at 7:12 pmYOu have a fabulous blog. I found you through “How Does She?”
Congrats on your growing family. :)
Julee
August 27, 2010 at 7:25 pmI love this item. Your blog is amazing. Thanks for doing this giveaway!
Erica
August 27, 2010 at 7:28 pmI would love to win one of these! Your ideas for the brownies and the silhouettes were awesome! I love reading your blog.
Sarah in Indiana
August 27, 2010 at 7:39 pmI love your projects–I think the car decal is really cool. My single brother wants a stick figure of himself for his little hatchback. I might make him one if I won this cool machine. Seems like there’d be tons of fun things to do with it. I’m a big cupcake fan, so I’d probably do stencils for those.
Eden
August 27, 2010 at 7:43 pmI’m a frequent follower of your blog & big fan of your projects. This is a fantastic giveaway!
amy
August 27, 2010 at 8:03 pmwould love to win. my daughter’s first bday is just around the corner! thanks!
Mary Ann Koonce
August 27, 2010 at 8:16 pmI really would like to win a Silhouette. I thought of many things to use it for like vinyl lettering and heat transfers on clothes, but I loved the vinyl on the car window! That is so neat!
Odessia Ayers
August 27, 2010 at 8:28 pmI live in Alabama where we are craft deprived. Please consider me to win so I can enter the crafting world in style.
Barbara Crawford
August 27, 2010 at 8:31 pmI so want to win this awesome machine. Have many ideas of what I’d use it for, but first, I’d cut out designs & words for use in my scrapbook I’m making to display my cross stitch projects.
Natalie
August 27, 2010 at 8:35 pmLove the vinyl decals you made! Such a great idea! I’d use the silhouette to make pretty cupcake wrappers for my sister’s upcoming Bridal Shower :)
Jenny
August 27, 2010 at 8:40 pmAmazing giveaway! I just started crafting and would love to try this out!
Ania
August 27, 2010 at 8:42 pmSomething to help me be a little bit creative. I would love it.
Erin
August 27, 2010 at 8:48 pmLOVE it! Would love to make a silhouette for my car window!!
Amber
August 27, 2010 at 8:49 pmWow, such a neat giveaway!!!!
Nancy
August 27, 2010 at 9:12 pmI really want to win! Pick me pretty please with a cherry on top.
Josh
August 27, 2010 at 9:15 pmoh my gosh! i would die for one of these!
Stuart
August 27, 2010 at 9:17 pmI really must win this for my wife. It would really cheer her up. Please! :)
Kathleen Stidham
August 27, 2010 at 9:33 pmThis is a nifty device. I like the things you have already made with it, and am thinking that it would be a good tool for a teacher.
Carmen
August 27, 2010 at 9:35 pmI would love love to win one of these. Oh what fun I could have.
Melissa Mae
August 27, 2010 at 9:49 pmI would love one! YAY!
erin
August 27, 2010 at 9:56 pmi have never seen such a fun toy! i would love this.
Lisa P
August 27, 2010 at 9:59 pmI want one soooo bad!! Great giveaway
Heather Nolting
August 27, 2010 at 10:16 pmMy mind is racing with ideas. I would love to win the Silhouette SD. Thank you.
Kalah
August 27, 2010 at 10:22 pmThat looks amazing!!! I would LOVE to win this!
LF
August 27, 2010 at 10:34 pmThis looks like so much fun! I would really like to win!
crafty p
August 27, 2010 at 10:37 pmthat window decal rocks! fabulous idea (way better than stick people!)
I would have soooo much fun with vinyl….if only!
Bitter Knitter
August 27, 2010 at 10:55 pmDefinitely love the custom decal. Homemade > bought any day! I’d love to do some cut outs using vintage wallpaper or cool Japanese paper for my new baby girl’s room!
Chrissy Roecker
August 27, 2010 at 10:56 pmGreen with envy. I want one!!
So much fun!
LeeAnnParkinson
August 27, 2010 at 11:08 pmI thought that I wanted it for scrapbooking, but all of the ideas shown got me thinking of all of the home decor projects. I want one!!!
young c-m
August 27, 2010 at 11:11 pmPick me, pick me!
Mary
August 27, 2010 at 11:20 pmLove this! I hope I win.
Kimberly L.C.
August 27, 2010 at 11:52 pmI’ve wanted one for so long. I hope I win!
Abby
August 27, 2010 at 11:58 pmI want one of these!!
jlim in SA
August 28, 2010 at 12:33 amThis is just what I need to spruce up my place.
Shari
August 28, 2010 at 12:33 amI NEEEEED one of these!!!
Mz. NezzleDezzle
August 28, 2010 at 1:12 amOh how I would love to win a Silhouette! I’ve just finished my craft room and have a perfect spot picked out for it! ;)
shel
August 28, 2010 at 3:32 amI’m smitten with the Silhouette; I’m dying to try the heat transfer and make a Pottery Barn knock-off of their vintage typewriters on canvas first then I want to do some Subway sign art and the Silhouette would make it so much easier!
AJ
August 28, 2010 at 4:31 amThis would be so amazing, I have all kinds of unfinished projects this would help me complete!
dayle
August 28, 2010 at 4:54 amI have been so curious about this machine. It looks really cool. I could use it for a lot of crafty projects.
Aimee Gaston
August 28, 2010 at 7:03 amI hope I’m the lucky winner!!
Tiffany S
August 28, 2010 at 7:15 amI would absolutely LOVE to win this! :-)
sangeetha
August 28, 2010 at 7:15 amNice – would really like to win this machine
Jackie
August 28, 2010 at 8:34 amI’ve always wondered how these are made. How fun it would be to own one of the machines!
Julia Daniel
August 28, 2010 at 8:41 amCrossing my fingers! What a great giveaway!
angie smith
August 28, 2010 at 8:48 amI have been dying to get my hands on one of these!! Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!
Christy
August 28, 2010 at 9:11 amI would LOVE a Silhouette! I would make all kinds of stuff with it! Mostly I’d love to make window stickers for my daughter’s Cheer team and son’s football team. After that I’d make some wall stickers to decorate my boring white walls! Thanks for the opportunity!
Joy
August 28, 2010 at 9:13 amI would love the win your silhouette! The possiblities are endless!
Joy
Alicia C.
August 28, 2010 at 9:35 amI can’t believe I am so late to the party! I love your take on the stick figures. They kill me! But your family silhouette is gorgeous! I would rock that if I won. Plus I have wanted to do some picts/designs of my doggies so this would be perfect.
Courtney Tipping
August 28, 2010 at 9:49 amLove the Silhouette and would love to use it for all my papercraft and christmas cards this year!
erika
August 28, 2010 at 10:00 amI love the stencil you made for your brownies, so cute. I have a million ideas for using the silhouette in my classroom, I may have to add it to my Christmas list.
Caitlyn
August 28, 2010 at 10:10 amI would make some gifts with the heat transfer
Jeanette Kirkham
August 28, 2010 at 10:13 amI would love to win one of these. Awesome to see what you have done with it with a mac. I heard that in another month or so the software will be mac friendly!! The heat transfer material looks awesome to try out!
Amy
August 28, 2010 at 11:06 amI want this! :-) (Pretty please!!!)…plus love your blog! :-)
Amy in CA
Nicole F.
August 28, 2010 at 12:02 pmI’d love to win this! Your take on the car decal is awesome! I could also use this in my classroom… the possibilities are endless!
Staisha K
August 28, 2010 at 12:24 pmI can dream, can’t I? Winning would be wonderful.
Jennifer Juniper
August 28, 2010 at 12:36 pmI have had my eye on this machine for about a month when I learned about it. Your family sticker is much more my style, but the temporary tattoo thing would be a big hit with my boys!
Lisa Frank
August 28, 2010 at 12:49 pmI love your framed silhouette of your daughter. I’d love to make side-by-side silhouettes of my daughter and son, since they look so much alike right now! I think I’d mostly use the Silhouette machine to make party goods…cupcake liners, banners, party hats, goodie bags, and it would definitely come in handy with my scrapbooking habit!
Amy Chambers
August 28, 2010 at 1:11 pmLove your site….and have wanted a silhouette for EVER!!!
I hope I am the winner! Finger crossed!
Rachel R.
August 28, 2010 at 1:41 pmOh I would love one of these! There are so many options and I like that you can cut vinyl! :)
Suzan
August 28, 2010 at 1:54 pmMercy! I want one of these so badly I can barely stand it. I would love to etch some glassware for Christmas gifts!
Amber
August 28, 2010 at 1:54 pmI have been eyeing a Silhouette for a long time – I would love to get my hands on one! Thanks for a great giveaway!
Amanda @ Serenity Now
August 28, 2010 at 2:19 pmOh, I’ve been wishing for a Silhouette machine for ages. Hoping it might be my lucky day! :) Great Giveaway. :)
Maryann @ Domestically-Speaking
August 28, 2010 at 2:31 pmI have been wanting one since I first saw it… AMAZING machine!
Lorri
August 28, 2010 at 2:42 pmOh Pick me! How fun would that be. I love vinyl and would love to cut my own. Cute car decals!
Kristy
August 28, 2010 at 2:50 pmPick me!
Liz
August 28, 2010 at 2:57 pmI would love to have one! Please pick me!!!
Angela D. Smith
August 28, 2010 at 3:16 pmI have been wanting one of these for so long! Crossing everything I can!
Danelle
August 28, 2010 at 3:18 pmI am LOVING all of these Silhouette giveaways-so generous! My mind is exploding thinking of all the things I could use this for!
Maryjt
August 28, 2010 at 3:25 pmHow did we ever craft before the Silhouette machine came into our lives! I have a jillion ideas to use this little gem.
Lisi
August 28, 2010 at 3:39 pmI would love to win this. I would use it for scrapbooking and putting vinyl all over my walls.
Jenna McAdam
August 28, 2010 at 3:40 pmMy best friend recently got me hooked on card making. I was looking for a machine that would do your own designs and this looks perfect. I’ve been going back and forth between Silhouette and a few others but your review is really making me feel comfortable in wanting to go with Silhouette.
This would be perfect for decorating some of my work rooms, my classroom, and just creating all kinds of original gifts for friends in family in the coming holiday months. Not only that but, for my family reunion I can do a lot of creative extras to add some decorative flare to my family research. I totally love the vinyl cutout for your car. I would love to make something original like that for my car or even for windows for the changing seasons. It really gets me excited to think about all the things you can do with this machine.
renata
August 28, 2010 at 3:46 pmOH, I LOVE the car decal, I have seen the stick ones and well, let’s just say you’ve taken the idea to a new, greater level!!! The machine sounds like so much fun!!! thanks for the chance to win!!!!
Holly
August 28, 2010 at 3:58 pmThanks for such a fabulous blog. Would be great to win! Thanks for having the drawing!
Beth
August 28, 2010 at 4:04 pmWhat a wonderful giveaway! My fiancée and I are going through all of our old things, de-cluttering, and organizing EVERYTHING. I know a silhouette would be a huge help there, as well as with all my homemade gifts.
Not to mention the wedding. Good gracious, one of these would be an absolute hand-saver with all the decorations I have planned. :)
Here’s to hoping!
Cimarron
August 28, 2010 at 4:09 pmI would love, love, love to win this. My crafty time is limited with a 3yr old and a 2mo old, and this would make it so much easier and less time consuming to follow through and complete all these great ideas roaming around in my head. :)
Kris
August 28, 2010 at 4:17 pmI would love to win!
Amanda
August 28, 2010 at 4:59 pmLove the family silhouette of your car! Would love to experiment with that machine.
paula
August 28, 2010 at 5:38 pmi reaaaally want to try the silhouette!!!!! it would really help me to start my etsy shop!
Suzanne
August 28, 2010 at 5:56 pmWow, I would love that for scrapbooking and more!
Julie
August 28, 2010 at 6:26 pmPlease, please, oh pretty please pick me!!! I would love this with my crafting as well as my classroom!!!
Eliza
August 28, 2010 at 6:37 pmI love your window decal–so much cuter than stick figures. Making a window sticker of my family would be funny–both kids are now taller than the parents.
Kelly
August 28, 2010 at 6:43 pmThis is so cool!
Rachel
August 28, 2010 at 7:07 pmI would love nothing more than to win this machine! I think it would be ah.maze.ing! I love the decal for the car. So much better than the stick people. And as a side note, I once saw someone’s car with more cats and dogs than people…that’s just wrong. :)
Little Wonders' Days
August 28, 2010 at 7:25 pmCan you imagine all the wonderful, fun things you could do with this machine! I would love it.
Katherine {Sevi Designs}
August 28, 2010 at 7:27 pmI WANT one of these so BAD!
Jenn
August 28, 2010 at 7:36 pmLove the Silhouette. I think I will be dreaming of it. I will have to steal your family silhouette idea. So much better than stick figures. My brain is reeling from the possibilities!
Becca
August 28, 2010 at 7:38 pmI would love to win this! I could do so many things with it. I would love to make a silhouette of my dog like the one you did of your daughter, as well as heat transfers for onesies and tshirts.
Jennifer
August 28, 2010 at 7:48 pmOh goodness… I just love this machine! The things you can do with it are endless!! :)
April Johnson
August 28, 2010 at 7:50 pmI would love this! Looks like fun :)
Addie
August 28, 2010 at 7:51 pmI would love to win one of these. I have been waiting for something like this to come out for a long time!
kim coleman
August 28, 2010 at 8:27 pmWhat an amazing machine. I would love to share this with my mom and sister. I can imagine the fun we would have making projects together. Thanks for the opportunity to win it!
andrea cseh
August 28, 2010 at 8:30 pmOh my – this would be such an amazing win! Thanks for offering it up! I never would have thought of the custom image for your car window either! That’s adorable!!!
Cecily T
August 28, 2010 at 8:38 pmI love these. I saw them on another blog too, and I really want one, especially when my oldest goes to preschool in 2 weeks, b/c I’ll have time to use it! Love the car silhouettes!
ElaineMicheline
August 28, 2010 at 9:47 pmPick me…pick me…my fingers are crossed :-)
Emily
August 28, 2010 at 9:57 pmThis wonderful invention would put my xacto cutting to shame!! I have so many great ideas for this little thing.
Mary
August 28, 2010 at 10:18 pmHow cool! I’d love to try one out!! Thanks for the chance!
Lisa
August 28, 2010 at 10:25 pmOh how I would love to get my hands on this crafty machine! Thanks for the giveaway!
Ashriel
August 28, 2010 at 10:30 pmI’ve been wanting one of these! I painstakingly cut out each and every shape and letter for my daughter’s birthday banner this last year and would love to make a new version for next year’s party without wasting so much time!! :)
Lisa
August 28, 2010 at 10:31 pmI would love to win this machine. Please ohh please pick me. Just kiddin. But you really could choose me if you want.
Lisa