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!
Lindsay
August 28, 2010 at 10:32 pmThis is amazing! Thank you so much for this giveaway opportunity! I really hope I’m the lucky winner, I would do EVERYTHING with this machine!!!
Renee Weaver
August 28, 2010 at 10:45 pmWow would I love one of these!
Kimberly Eagle
August 28, 2010 at 10:47 pmThis machine would be amazing to own! I would love to win this. Thanks for hosting a giveaway. :)
elizabeth
August 28, 2010 at 11:10 pmWow — adorable! I would love to do the same!
Gail Griner Golden
August 28, 2010 at 11:28 pmWhat an amazing machine. I WANT ONE!!! So many ideas to use it for. Please enter me.
Jeni
August 28, 2010 at 11:39 pmI would LOVE to win this!
Katie Joe
August 29, 2010 at 12:28 amHaving a silhouette would be so much fun!!!
Leslie Rabbitt
August 29, 2010 at 8:02 amLove your decal. Winning the silhouette would make my day, week, month, year!! New grandbabies need cute onesies!
Julie
August 29, 2010 at 8:12 amHey Nicole, I am in :) Good giveaway!
Maryanne @Crafty Mommy Diva
August 29, 2010 at 10:12 amI love your car decal. I’d love to try vinyl more too if I won, but mostly it would be used for scrapbooking especially fonts.
emily sontag
August 29, 2010 at 10:27 amthe brownie stencil is adorable, and the car decal is so cool, love the creative twist you spin on making silhouettes! I want one!
Aimie
August 29, 2010 at 12:19 pmOOOHHHH!! I have been dreaming about one of these machines forever!!! Thanks for the giveaway!! :D
Intisar
August 29, 2010 at 1:28 pmJust saw your brownie post. Too cute! I would love to win a Silhouette machine!
amanda
August 29, 2010 at 1:36 pmI have never heard of this machine, but what a fantastic idea! And so many possibilities. Would love to have one – would be great for personal use as well as professional use (I’m a teacher). Congrats on the second baby, by the way!
Belinda
August 29, 2010 at 1:44 pmI would love this machine I have wanted one for a long time and never have the extra income so I hope I win!!!!! Thanks
Ann
August 29, 2010 at 2:38 pmYes please! Want.
nicole
August 29, 2010 at 2:46 pmI adore the cutouts for the car window! I could SO use this for the school fundraiser bazaar in the spring- they would be unique!
Jackie
August 29, 2010 at 2:51 pmWhat a great giveaway!! I love the idea of the car silhouette!
Adrienne
August 29, 2010 at 3:50 pmI have been trying to do a lot of these same things using a Cricut and software that lets you free your cricut from the terror of awful “design” cartridges. I am dying to compare with the Silhouette. Also I could use some good news these days. Tough times are always made better by new stuff, right? Let it be me.
Nicole Parkinson
August 29, 2010 at 3:50 pmWould LOVE to win this
Annicka Miles
August 29, 2010 at 3:55 pmOooo winning this would be epic! I do alot of screen printing and this would be amazing to have handy! Your family decal is to die for BTW!
Lisa
August 29, 2010 at 4:01 pmwooohooo!! I’m so glad to see that you are a mac user with a silhouette because that would be me too!! If I win! I hope I win! Thanks for doing the giveaway!!
Melinda
August 29, 2010 at 4:23 pmWhat a great giveaway!
kmdavis
August 29, 2010 at 4:33 pmI’m so excited about this machine. I can never find the clipart and printables I’m looking for so this will allow me to create my own. I’d love to have a Silhouette!!
Randi
August 29, 2010 at 4:34 pmI love your car decals, and yes, much better than stick figures. How original! I would also love to learn to do the glass etching I saw on their site. Thank you for the review and giveaway!
Jen
August 29, 2010 at 4:38 pmSo awesome! I would love one! :)
Tina
August 29, 2010 at 5:04 pmOhhhh how I want one of these! I had been planning on buying one at the beginning of September! But maybe, just maybe, I’ll get lucky and win one instead! Fingers crossed!!
Holly N
August 29, 2010 at 5:23 pmI want one soooooo bad! This is like the 6th contest I have entered. Please Please dont make me wait for my birthday! I could do so many things with this. Home decor, applique, scrapbooking, just to name a few of the endless possibilities.
lynne
August 29, 2010 at 5:44 pmI so want to win this! I want to help my son’s new eagle -scout frat make t-shirts for rush. This will make them look professional and Not home made.
Amy
August 29, 2010 at 6:08 pmOH. MY. WORD. I want one so bad! My birthday is coming up, what a perfect b-day present this would be for me! I have so many signs and vinyl wall decals I want to make!
Nikki in CT
August 29, 2010 at 6:37 pmI love the silhouette in the frame. As a elementary school teacher I would use this SO much.
Jess
August 29, 2010 at 6:54 pmi would love to win this! it would definitely enhance my crafting projects!
Tracy
August 29, 2010 at 7:05 pmWhat a great giveaway! I love the decal you did for your car…I too am not a stick figure kind of girl. I would definitely love using the Silhouette to make silhouettes of my two little punkins.
Tami
August 29, 2010 at 7:06 pmI would love one of these! Thank you for giving one away:)
Anni
August 29, 2010 at 7:08 pmCrossing my fingers…and toes! My list is long and endless of what I could create!
Robin
August 29, 2010 at 7:42 pmWhat a wonderful giveaway! I would love to win!
Amber
August 29, 2010 at 7:58 pmI love the Silhouette and have been wanting one for a long time! Thanks!
Amanda Fellers
August 29, 2010 at 8:08 pmI can think of about a thousand things I could do w/ this product! Thanks!
Kay
August 29, 2010 at 8:14 pmI would love this! You have such great ideas on your blog. You are a great inspiration for many. I really love the passion you have for your family and home. This nifty gadget would help me do the same for mine!
Keep blogging and I’ll keep reading.
Thank you.
Lesley
August 29, 2010 at 8:16 pmWow, what a dream it would be to win something like this. Very cool.
Courtney
August 29, 2010 at 8:18 pmThe family decals on cars normally make me shudder, but yours is so charming! A Silhouette is definitely on the crafty wish list – amazing machine!
Noelle Mink
August 29, 2010 at 8:25 pmWow that would be amazing to win!!! I could make all my Christmas presents with that!!!
Ariana Tollefson
August 29, 2010 at 8:32 pmI would love to win the Silhouette!
Cara
August 29, 2010 at 8:39 pmI am already putting togehter my list of 101 ways to use the Silhouette
Bronwyn
August 29, 2010 at 8:48 pmI want one of these so bad. I hope it wil be my lucky day!!!
LeeLa
August 29, 2010 at 9:17 pmOh my would I love have this amazing machine!! I love the ability to take simple products and dress them up. I’m newly married and my husband is in Law School. I would love to have the Silhoutte to help me with our Christmas presents extraordinary on the slim budget. I love the art on square canvas. You would be paying hundreds for this at a modern home store. The Silhoutte would help cut those cost to a fraction.
If we had young ones, I would definitely rock the modern silhouettes. I think I will definitely do a cling of my precious rescue pooch until we are ready to start our family. I also LOVE the brownies. My office would die if I brought those to the next staff lunch.
Thanks for this amazing giveaway. I’m so crossing my fingers for this one.
Celeste Waters
August 29, 2010 at 9:44 pmI am sooo excited about this giveaway! I have really gotten into crafting lately and I cannot imagine everything I could do with this!
dana
August 29, 2010 at 9:52 pmWe have been scoping one of these out for ages – I am so tired of the xacto knife and cutting mat for making stencils and cute signs – I love what you did with the brownies – super cute!
wendy
August 29, 2010 at 11:08 pmOh my, the possibilities are ENDLESS! My mind is already racing for b-day gifts, christmas gifts, gifts for no reason…..
Flavia Alvarez
August 29, 2010 at 11:32 pmI would LOVE LOVE LOVE one of these because the possibilities without cartridges are endless!
I currently own a Cricut and feel so limited by the cartridges :(
Sandye
August 30, 2010 at 12:06 amI love silhouettes, so many things to do with them. I would love a grouping of colorful silhouettes of my girls (doggie and two cats); an actual photo of that group will never happen.
MMW
August 30, 2010 at 12:18 amOhhhh. Here’s what I did with a BORROWED silhouette SD. I’d love one of my own to make more and more SILHOUETTES.
http://never-without.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-silhouette-photo-wall-part-v.html
Amber B
August 30, 2010 at 12:22 amI would love one of these! So many project ideas!! Thanks!
Amnah
August 30, 2010 at 12:24 amCool! Oh the possibilities!
Shaun Stevenson
August 30, 2010 at 12:39 amI 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 :)
Christy
August 30, 2010 at 1:24 amThe 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!
Beth
August 30, 2010 at 1:51 amI’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!
Karen
August 30, 2010 at 8:10 amOh goody….I would love another reason to craft and silhouette sounds like hte Mac Daddy of the crafting world! Pick me!!! THanKS!
Kim
August 30, 2010 at 8:49 amI have always wanted to try this! I have hand cut silouhettes and it is easy but this just looks like fun to use!
Staci
August 30, 2010 at 9:39 amoooh, my birthday is the 31st! what an awesome gift this would be.
Kelly
August 30, 2010 at 9:49 amI’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!!
Kristin
August 30, 2010 at 9:59 amLOVE this! I just found out about these recently and have been wanting one so badly… so many craft ideas for this. Fingers crossed!
Jules
August 30, 2010 at 10:22 amI had no idea this machine even existed! I would Love to own one!
Jeran McConnel
August 30, 2010 at 10:27 amI 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.
Deece
August 30, 2010 at 10:31 amI 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.
Brittany Anderson
August 30, 2010 at 10:43 amLove 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!
Kaylee
August 30, 2010 at 10:44 amOh I would LOVE this! I would use it for so many projects!!!
Susan O
August 30, 2010 at 11:14 amOoh this looks like fun…lots of fun projects come to mind!
Bonnie M
August 30, 2010 at 11:21 amI’m obsessed! I love how unique and creative this machine allows you to be.
If I think it, it will come!
Andrea Iensen
August 30, 2010 at 11:25 amI 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!
Karly
August 30, 2010 at 11:28 amOH!!!! I NEED/WANT this sooooo badly! Hope I win!
Btw…I have an Eleanor too!!
Michelle
August 30, 2010 at 11:35 amOh, I really want one! Where to begin with all of the ideas in my head? This would be crafting heaven!
Melissa M.
August 30, 2010 at 11:45 amThat machine looks fabulous! Love what you did with the silhouette window decal. :)
Callie
August 30, 2010 at 11:46 amI love this machine!! Can’t wait to get one!
~Callie
Kelly
August 30, 2010 at 12:20 pmI would LOVE to win! How exciting!
Bonnie
August 30, 2010 at 12:22 pmOh my goodness…the possibilities are endless! I am loving the vinyl cutouts!
Ashley Baker
August 30, 2010 at 12:30 pmI 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. :)
Jen M.
August 30, 2010 at 12:52 pmI would love to win this! There is so much you could do with it.
Becky
August 30, 2010 at 12:52 pmI’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.
Amy
August 30, 2010 at 12:55 pmI would love this machine! I love the silhoutte you made, very neat! There a 1,000 ways I could use this!!
Amy B.!
syndi
August 30, 2010 at 12:56 pmI would SO love a Silhouette! I love the flexibility and wide range of things you can create. I’m keeping my fingers crossed xxx
Katie
August 30, 2010 at 12:59 pmwant want want. this would be so fun to own. xoxo
Morgan
August 30, 2010 at 12:59 pmI would love this machine for my scrapbooks! Thanks Nicole!
Sarah
August 30, 2010 at 1:01 pmOh, this would be so awesome, I don’t even know what all I would do with it!
Kayla Wagstaff
August 30, 2010 at 1:26 pmOh 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
Susi
August 30, 2010 at 1:37 pmI 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.
Melanie
August 30, 2010 at 1:37 pmGreat prize!! it would be great!!
Gina
August 30, 2010 at 1:39 pmI want to make a vinyl sticker for my Saab of my husband, my cat and me :)
Renanda
August 30, 2010 at 1:58 pmThanks so much for the giveaway! I want one of these so bad!
Found you via Hope Studios.
Paola
August 30, 2010 at 2:01 pmI would love to win this prize. I hope I win :)
kelli
August 30, 2010 at 2:07 pmpick me!!!
amy b
August 30, 2010 at 3:06 pmfingers crossed…so many projects, so little time
Cheryl
August 30, 2010 at 3:41 pmI would love to win. I so want one of these things.!
Kelli
August 30, 2010 at 3:54 pmThank 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)
Kelli
August 30, 2010 at 3:57 pmI 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.
Lindsay
August 30, 2010 at 4:17 pmPick me….pick me! I have visions of projects dancing in my head! :) Thanks so much for the giveaway!
molly
August 30, 2010 at 4:17 pmohmilordy! 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.
:)
Ashleigh
August 30, 2010 at 4:25 pmLove it! Hope to win!!! Looks like sooo much fun!!
Some Lucky Dog
August 30, 2010 at 4:45 pmI love your projects! I prefer your decal overt the stick figures. I’d love to do glass etching! Thanks for the chance to win!
Liz
August 30, 2010 at 4:56 pmI 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!