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!
Rachael Olson
August 23, 2010 at 2:47 pmAwesome giveaway!!! I want one so bad!
Nicki
August 23, 2010 at 2:48 pmI’ve been waiting so long for them Silhouette to come up with Mac software! that day has finally come.. now I’m just hoping to win! :)
Katie Mac
August 23, 2010 at 2:48 pmI have TOTALLY had my eye on this tool! I can only start to imagine all the possibilities a vector cutter could open when it comes to all things crafty and creative! I love the idea of ps on brownies!! Will have to try! Love your blog, hun! it always brightens my day! Cheers!
Andi
August 23, 2010 at 2:49 pmWhat a cool machine, I totally want one. I’m a scrapbooker so I could always use another gadget/tool.
Lexie
August 23, 2010 at 2:49 pmI would love to win one of these! There are so many things you can do with them!! I love the vinyl cutout you did for your car! And the framed silhouette is precious! Having one of my very own would be awesome!
molly
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmOh, what fun! This looks like a fabulous machine that I’d love to add to my arsenal of craft supplies!
Mattie
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmI had never heard of it but now I NEED it!! How cool!
Leslie
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmI would love to have one of these machines, they look so neat!
Laurie @ Little Blue Chairs
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmToo many ideas already running through my head. I could use one of these.
Lindsay
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmi want one!!
Deborah
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmthis is awesome and looks like so much fun!
Rachel Malone
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmLove your creativity Nicole!
Darci
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmOh wow, if I win this I will have silhouettes framed all over the house! Fingers crossed…
darah
August 23, 2010 at 2:50 pmhow very awesome. oh the fun things that could be done!
Trish T.
August 23, 2010 at 2:51 pmThis is such a fun giveaway – I love the car decal, so fab!
Liz Oller
August 23, 2010 at 2:52 pmWhat an amazing device!!
Crissy
August 23, 2010 at 2:52 pmThis is so cool! I can see myself getting obsessed.
Buggin
August 23, 2010 at 2:53 pmAdorable! I’m also working on getting photos into albums, so I’d use this to make silhouettes to attach to album spines. Silhouettes of husband and I solo, pregnancy time frame, us and our son . . . .
tm
August 23, 2010 at 2:54 pmLOVE. want. :)
Corey
August 23, 2010 at 2:54 pmOooh! I want one! And not to make stick figures. First up would be a decal for the outside of my laptop.
Megan
August 23, 2010 at 2:54 pmOkay now I want one to make a family silhouette for our car.
Stephanie
August 23, 2010 at 2:54 pmThis is awesome! I love your car cutout – I’d love to make one of my hubby, our pup and I. So cute!
Christin Kreml
August 23, 2010 at 2:54 pmI’ve been wanting one of these for a while! What an awesome giveaway.
Stacy @ Design Something Better
August 23, 2010 at 2:55 pmOoooh, ooh, ooh! Pick me!
I would love make some leaf graphics for the back of our bookshelves! Wouldn’t that be fun?
Thanks for sharing, Nicole – I love your car graphic! It’s a nice departure from the stick people I always see.
Yay!
Sarah Smith
August 23, 2010 at 2:55 pmWhat an awesome machine! Also, I love the car decal…so creative!
Katie
August 23, 2010 at 2:56 pmYou really got my wheels turning on the brownie decoration thought…what a great idea to incorporate this into so many household activities!!
Lindsey Rockers
August 23, 2010 at 2:57 pmhave been coveting one of these for a while. keeping my fingers crossed!
Sasha
August 23, 2010 at 2:57 pmWow, I would love one of these. Just saw one in action last week and, of course, now I want one too.
I saw the magnet paper on Silhouette’s website and I’d enjoy making something to distract the eye from our messy looking stainless steel fridge door.
Ahran
August 23, 2010 at 2:58 pmOh my! I’m a new-ish reader of your blog and this is so cool! I’m now going to check out your post on your daughter’s silhouette. I would love something similar for my daughter’s room.
Emily
August 23, 2010 at 2:58 pmI am been trying to get my hands on one of these beauties for months! I am crossing my my fingers AND toes!
Eunice Chou
August 23, 2010 at 2:59 pmThis machine seems amazing! The possibilities are endless! I’d definitely be using it all the time!
CJ
August 23, 2010 at 2:59 pmThat’s amazing! I love your family silhouette, so chic.
Laura
August 23, 2010 at 2:59 pmOh, what a dreamy machine! Love the decal you made (and I don’t like the stick figure ones, so that’s sayin’ somethin’!) :)
Lisa
August 23, 2010 at 3:00 pmOh me, oh me! Or someone really nice!
(fingers crossed)
Liz
August 23, 2010 at 3:01 pmWould love to win! I used to work in a t-shirt/sign shop and we cut vinyl all the time. I loved making awesome stuff and would love to be able to create things now that I’ve moved on!
Trish
August 23, 2010 at 3:01 pmWhat a fantastic gadget! I’ve been itching to try it … cute cutouts!
nancy
August 23, 2010 at 3:01 pmAlready dreaming of all the projects I could do if I won!
JenO
August 23, 2010 at 3:02 pmI would love one of these so that I can make some fantastic big sis things before baby #2 arrives. Love the family decal for your car by the way!
McCaulie
August 23, 2010 at 3:02 pmOh yeah . . . I’ve had my eyes on this for some time now :)
Ashley
August 23, 2010 at 3:04 pmOh my goodness! That is too adorable. I need one. :)
Andrea
August 23, 2010 at 3:04 pmI’ve loved everything I’ve seen this machine make. I would love to have one!
Sarah Viola
August 23, 2010 at 3:05 pmI love your family decal! Way cooler than stick-figures. And yes, I would rock one pretty hard, too, but like you, I’d have to update mine pretty soon to a family of four.
I’m working on a shared room/nursery now, and I love the idea of silhouettes for each of my babes’ sides of the room. Would love to win!
Kelly
August 23, 2010 at 3:05 pmI’m a little bummed that it’s not Mac friendly, but it sounds like you can work around it. I am up for the challenge and have a list of potential projects!!!
CourtneyM
August 23, 2010 at 3:05 pmI have been wanting to do silhouettes of my children for a long time now. This would be the perfect excuse to get started!
natalie
August 23, 2010 at 3:07 pmI love when people use this machine paired with etching solution on glass! so many possibilities!
dari
August 23, 2010 at 3:07 pmWhat an awesome giveaway! I would love to win one of these!
Veronica
August 23, 2010 at 3:07 pmLove this!! So many things I could do with it!!
Meggan
August 23, 2010 at 3:08 pmLove silos, I’ve had my daughters done every year, but updated with color and patterns. Would love to have this fancy gizmo!
Bri
August 23, 2010 at 3:08 pmLOVE the decal on your car. I always see the ubiquitous cartoons or the multiple sizes of flip flops, but yours is representative and interesting!
I would love to have one for myself, but I doubt I’d be as creative as you. I’d probably just run around labeling everything in the house with pretty letters. But that’s just me. :P
Erin
August 23, 2010 at 3:08 pmI was just thinking today how the car silhouettes are cute but need a but of a kick. You hit the nail on the head with yours. I want to make one of those too!!
Alicia
August 23, 2010 at 3:08 pmSO fun! I would definitely have a fun time making cards with this little toy!
PaperDoll
August 23, 2010 at 3:09 pmI would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to win!!
Leslie H.
August 23, 2010 at 3:09 pmI’ve been seeing the Silhouette all over and have been wanting to get one. Would love the win!
Pam Burrus
August 23, 2010 at 3:10 pmOHHHHH MY – I’ve been doing my research on ‘die cutting machines’ for the past 2 weeks and decided the silhouette was for me. I’m currently trying to ‘save up’ for one – but would LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE to win one….. [fingers crossed] – SO much I can do with this and LOVE that I can make my own designs.
Leslie
August 23, 2010 at 3:10 pmWhat an awesome giveaway! Would love to be a new owner! Wish me luck!!
Caroline H.
August 23, 2010 at 3:10 pmThis would be great- I am imagining doing something mailbox-related with this. Not sure what though, but the possibilities are endless!
mjb
August 23, 2010 at 3:10 pmI’d make an outline of my dog for my car for sure!
Tara
August 23, 2010 at 3:12 pmWow! That decal is way cute, and something that I would actually put on my car, as opposed to stick figures of my kids. :)
Staci Mikelle
August 23, 2010 at 3:12 pmCrossing my fingers!
Dori
August 23, 2010 at 3:13 pmI would love one. I would decal my world!
Valentina
August 23, 2010 at 3:13 pmNow I want to be a US resident!! I would looooove to have the Silhouette SD. Sooooo sad!
I loved Eleanors silhouette, it’s a great idea! I think I could do some really nice things with that little and great machine… Something for my shadowboxes for example.
Arghhh! I want to be a US resident!
Great giveaway! Best!
lily
August 23, 2010 at 3:13 pmfun! i’d like to make pretty labels for all of my kitchen containers.
Susan H
August 23, 2010 at 3:13 pmI’d love to win this! I’ve been wanting one!
R Chan
August 23, 2010 at 3:13 pmThe family silhouette is a great idea!
Judith
August 23, 2010 at 3:13 pmI’ve been wanting a die-cut machine for awhile. I’m planning my wedding and I think one would come in handy for the various projects I have in mind, like paper goods.
And I want to make silhouettes of my cats. for me. because I love my kitties.
Rachel W
August 23, 2010 at 3:16 pmGREAT giveaway! I’d love to be a winner :)
Katie @ explanation required
August 23, 2010 at 3:17 pmLove the car decal!!
Susan
August 23, 2010 at 3:17 pmBest car decal I’ve seen! I’d love to have a die-cut machine–silhouettes and cameos everywhere!
Vanessa
August 23, 2010 at 3:18 pmneat-o! i can think of so many ways to put this to good use. :) thanks for the opportunity.
Georgianna
August 23, 2010 at 3:19 pmI want one! Please and Thank you
Kelly
August 23, 2010 at 3:19 pmI WANT! It would help me so much in upcoming school projects!
Jennifer S.
August 23, 2010 at 3:19 pmI would love to win one!! thank you.
hallie
August 23, 2010 at 3:19 pmhi!
i would love to win this! so exciting!
Alice C.
August 23, 2010 at 3:20 pmOh my gosh! love love love your family. :)
Amanda
August 23, 2010 at 3:20 pmO! There are so many things I would love to make with this little machine. All my fingers and toes are crossed!
Cherie
August 23, 2010 at 3:20 pmWHAT!?! FREE? I was going to be
excited about a free Pinklovesbrown
paper suitcase!
Autumn P.
August 23, 2010 at 3:20 pmI would love this machine!! Really like your family silhouetter. So Cute!!
Allison
August 23, 2010 at 3:20 pmI would use it to make a paper cut-out of my baby boy’s hand and foot prints, among other things!
Autumn
August 23, 2010 at 3:22 pmOoohhh. This would be so fun. I would start with animal silhouettes to match the nursery for our first baby – due to arrive in October :)
Kayduh
August 23, 2010 at 3:22 pmwhat a great giveaway, so many possibilities!
Amanda
August 23, 2010 at 3:22 pmThis would be awesome to win!
Katy
August 23, 2010 at 3:23 pmYour silhouettes are so cute! I’d love to win one of these!
Laura F.
August 23, 2010 at 3:24 pmI knew I started learning Illustrator for a reason… this looks like a fantastic machine! Great giveaway, Nicole. :)
Jen B.
August 23, 2010 at 3:24 pmLove your silhouette stickers – MUCH better than the stick people!
Christina
August 23, 2010 at 3:24 pmI would absolutely LOVE to win this one!!!! And, btw, I love the one of you and the family on the car :)
Lisa
August 23, 2010 at 3:24 pmOh, this looks like so much fun! I love your projects so far and know I’d be forever finding fun new things to silhouette if I win.
Yuliya
August 23, 2010 at 3:24 pmI would love to design something fun for my daughter’s first birthday!
Jackie
August 23, 2010 at 3:25 pmOh I would love to win this! Love what you did btw, very cute =)
Amanda
August 23, 2010 at 3:25 pmWedding favors and decorations!
Shelley
August 23, 2010 at 3:26 pmI want one of these soooo bad, but just can’t justify spending the $$. Still, I dream of heat transferred t-shirts for my little boys and vinyl wall decals. Someday…. sigh.
beth
August 23, 2010 at 3:26 pmi think this would be super handy for decorating my not so baby boy’s second bday party and my baby girl’s first.
Ellen
August 23, 2010 at 3:27 pmCute family decal on the car, it is a modern version of the cartoonish ones I see. I would really like one to utilize in the decorating of my daughter’s room and the organization of her toys.
Teresa Fairbank
August 23, 2010 at 3:27 pmwhat an awesome give away! you’re window decal is too cute!
Laura
August 23, 2010 at 3:27 pmWow! there are so many things I could do with this!
GinnyRit
August 23, 2010 at 3:27 pmEeeee! That family vinyl is darling! Thanks for sharing.
Katrina
August 23, 2010 at 3:28 pmI would so love to own one of these!! Would love to make a few silhouette: wedding pics, my son and our dog first. Then I’d make a whole bunch….what a wonderful giveaway! :)
This would be so much fun for Halloween…and beyond! :)
Mary Ann
August 23, 2010 at 3:29 pmthis sure beats cutting them out by hand!
Amy
August 23, 2010 at 3:29 pmI would use it to help create the invitations for my brother’s upcoming wedding! Love your family decal!
Devon
August 23, 2010 at 3:29 pmthe silhouette on your car is SO WONDERFUL!
and yes, count me in as one of the bajillion people who would like one of these.
jen
August 23, 2010 at 3:29 pmhooray!