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!
Amber
August 23, 2010 at 4:32 pmPlease, please, please pick me! I have been dying to get one of these but it just isn’t in the budget right now. I LOVE your car decal so much cooler than the stick figures!
Sheila
August 23, 2010 at 4:33 pmVery cute, I would love to have one
Rosemary
August 23, 2010 at 4:33 pmIt would be like christmas to win this. I would love to make some chalkboard labels for jars to get started!
sara jane
August 23, 2010 at 4:33 pmpick me pick me! would love it, AND love your blog. xoxxo
Michelle
August 23, 2010 at 4:34 pmFun! Please consider me entered! I love the decal you made.
Lilly
August 23, 2010 at 4:34 pmi want one sooo bad! Your silhouette sticker is awesome!!
Laura
August 23, 2010 at 4:34 pmThis is ahhhmazing! I’ve been itching to do some frame silhouette art, but I’m loving the possibilities beyond that, like your vinyl decals. I’d also really like to try my hand at making silhouette pillows – too cute!
Tarah
August 23, 2010 at 4:34 pmOh so cute projects – love the car decal!!
Would love to have a machine of my own………
Ashey
August 23, 2010 at 4:35 pmadorable! Thanks!
Karen
August 23, 2010 at 4:35 pmOh, what a joy it would be to have a Silhouette SD! As a new pre-K teacher the ideas are endless and the machine would make them effortless! Here’s fingers crossed!
Kelly
August 23, 2010 at 4:37 pmGreat silhouette – I like it so much more than anything I’ve seen around here. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I win. Maybe since today is my birthday I’ll have a little extra luck :-)
Julie
August 23, 2010 at 4:39 pmI would love to have this to make awesome things! :)
Kim
August 23, 2010 at 4:39 pmI wanna win!!! :)
Marianne
August 23, 2010 at 4:40 pmLove the car decal. I wildly covet one of these machines!
Mary Beth
August 23, 2010 at 4:43 pmI heart cutting machines!!!
Sarah
August 23, 2010 at 4:43 pmYour family silhouette for your car is really cute–you could definetly market those! The silhouette machine would be really fun for wall decals and garlands, too!
Rose
August 23, 2010 at 4:45 pmthis is pretty cool. I’d love to make some cut outs of our whole family for a family tree of sorts.
Doni
August 23, 2010 at 4:49 pmThis would be so great to be creative with!
Pam McMullen
August 23, 2010 at 4:50 pmYou have totally inspired me to tackle a Christmas project for my son & daughter-in-law using silhouettes. The framed image of Eleanor is so sweet. The possibilities are endless. So hoping that I’ll win!
ashley
August 23, 2010 at 4:51 pmThanks for the review. I would love to try a silhouette against a pattern background. Yours look great.
Jamie G.
August 23, 2010 at 4:51 pmI would love to use this!
Karina
August 23, 2010 at 4:52 pmFinally a family silhoutte I like!!!
heather f
August 23, 2010 at 4:52 pmthis could be such a fun way to capture my new grandbabies!
Tashia
August 23, 2010 at 4:55 pmI would LOVE this!
Beth In Utah
August 23, 2010 at 4:55 pmPick me! Pick me!
Kate Allison
August 23, 2010 at 4:56 pmI would love one of these. It would complete my gear fetish.
Anna
August 23, 2010 at 4:57 pmHOLY CANOLI!
this would be an awesome addition to my craft room. PLease random gods, let me be lucky!
Kristy
August 23, 2010 at 4:58 pmI’m actually not sure what you mean by the reference to stick figures on suburban cars (maybe I’m missing this because I haven’t been to the suburbs in ages), but I do love your family silhoutte!
I would LOVE to win this. I can think of so many fun projects to do.
Maya
August 23, 2010 at 5:02 pmooh! been wanting one of these for a while. so many fun projects I can think of!
Jovanna R
August 23, 2010 at 5:03 pmI’ve been wanting one…without the price tag. So many things that I have already thought of doing with one I only need to get my hands on one ;-)
kelly
August 23, 2010 at 5:03 pmI have always wanted to do make silhouettes of my children’s profile when they were babes but didn’t know how to go about it. How fulfilling it would be to do it now!
Jennifer
August 23, 2010 at 5:06 pmYour car decal is just perfect, much better than those generic stick figure ones! What a great idea!
Kristin
August 23, 2010 at 5:06 pmwow what an amazing giveaway! I love your car silhouette.
Liz
August 23, 2010 at 5:08 pmI would love to use this to create negatives for screenprinting…oh please pick me!
Sarah K
August 23, 2010 at 5:08 pmAdorable decal! I’d love one of these!
Heather
August 23, 2010 at 5:09 pmNEED! Okay…want!!!! Really bad! My new baby could use a few silhouettes around the house!
Janet
August 23, 2010 at 5:09 pmI would love to win and share it with my sisters! Thanks for the chance!
Hazel
August 23, 2010 at 5:12 pmI’m preggers with my first kumquat and can’t wait to try some of these projects.
I check your blog daily, and what a lovely surprise to see such a generous giveaway!
I’ll have to rub the Buddha belly for good luck :)
Amanda
August 23, 2010 at 5:14 pmI’ve been wanting one of these for months, just don’t have the funds right now! I would probably start off by making some artwork for the house and some cute vinyl cutouts!
Katie
August 23, 2010 at 5:15 pmVery cute!
I’ve been dying over this! My husband and I think it would be great to use to make a quick template for screen printing.
Christine P
August 23, 2010 at 5:17 pmLove it
Melissa
August 23, 2010 at 5:17 pmI would love to win and try out some of these projects with my little ones.
Amy
August 23, 2010 at 5:18 pmI love what you have done with it, and I’d love to see what I could do with one!
Rebecca
August 23, 2010 at 5:19 pmI would love to make some cute die cuts to stick around my kids rooms. And maybe something cute to cover up the cheesy tiles in our rental kitchen!
Ailie
August 23, 2010 at 5:20 pmI have been pining for a Silhouette . . . I would use it to make numerous projects, but the first would be some vinyl decals to spice up my walls (we’re renting)!
denise
August 23, 2010 at 5:20 pmAwesome giveaway! I love how your family silhouette turned out. Making your own vinyl stickers sounds like so much fun!
Heather
August 23, 2010 at 5:26 pmI think the stick figures are kind of cute! With the pets too… being from Utah I see a lot of minivans/suburbans with 12+ little stick figures on the back. I would love the Silhouette!! I want to make freezer paper stencils!!
erika
August 23, 2010 at 5:27 pmSo awesome!! How fun! Thanks for the giveaway!
Melitacita
August 23, 2010 at 5:29 pmMe!!
Jaimie
August 23, 2010 at 5:30 pmOh goodness, that family decal for the car is awesome.
Sarah
August 23, 2010 at 5:32 pmI’d love a chance to win one of these! I’ve been seeing some great silhouette pieces on Etsy and it would be fab to make my own!
Lisa
August 23, 2010 at 5:32 pmFamily silhouette…so cute!
Sandra
August 23, 2010 at 5:33 pmThe vinyl car decal is fantastic! The framed silhouette picture is definitely something I want to do.
Sonia
August 23, 2010 at 5:33 pmI love this idea! I am not one for stickers on cars but this has definitely changed my mind.
PrettyNicola
August 23, 2010 at 5:34 pmI think your decal is an adorable take! Much more unique than stick figures.
Jessica J
August 23, 2010 at 5:34 pmI’d love to win one of these! I’m loving the projects you came up with already!
Amanda
August 23, 2010 at 5:35 pmI’ve been drooling over this for months! I was going to buy one as a birthday gift for myself but we bought a house and that seems to be where all of our extra money is going. So…I would love to win as a belated birthday!
Ellen
August 23, 2010 at 5:36 pmI love the framed silhouette. I would enjoy making similar ones of my family, including the dog (if I can get her to stay still enough to pose).
Christy
August 23, 2010 at 5:36 pmI would LOVE to win one, and I love your family decals. So much cuter than the “other” ones.
Tadara
August 23, 2010 at 5:36 pmI would love one of these. My first project would be new house numbers for my mailbox and front door.
Mara
August 23, 2010 at 5:36 pmThanks for answering the Illustrator questions I’ve had about the Silhouette. I’ve been dying to try this machine out!
Jody
August 23, 2010 at 5:38 pmWow, I can think of so many great projects that this would be perfect for!
ashley e
August 23, 2010 at 5:38 pmOh what a coincidence. I have been searching craft stores in my area for one of these, unsuccessfully. I always balk at s&h. I love the ability to create your own designs without having to buy cartridges but that you can buy images if you need to! Too bad it’s not totally mac compatible yet. Oh well. Can’t wait to see what else you create with yours.
Paula
August 23, 2010 at 5:38 pmWould love to win this! I would never stop using it!!
morgan
August 23, 2010 at 5:38 pmOk gotta enter, super cute!
lily s.
August 23, 2010 at 5:40 pmthe decal is SO much better than the normal stick figures… crossing my fingers!!
Kelli
August 23, 2010 at 5:40 pmLove what you did with this!! I have had this on my wish list for a while now!
Suzy
August 23, 2010 at 5:43 pmHow funny! I was just thinking about wanting a machine like that! Very cool. I might just have to put it on my Christmas wish list.
Love the car decal! I wonder how many people will notice that it’s actually your family?
Janna
August 23, 2010 at 5:43 pmI would love to win this! Your family decal is fantastic!
Michelle
August 23, 2010 at 5:44 pmI would love to win! I want to make a cute little silhouette of my daughter like the one you have of Eleanor!
anna ransdell
August 23, 2010 at 5:46 pmyou have given me some great ideas on how to make my first place, well – mine :P i love how you mix mid century modern and easier to find items!
decoriadore
August 23, 2010 at 5:48 pmI’ve been wanting the stick figures for our car but my husband refuses to get them! I think this would convince him cause its a bit more sophisticated!!! I would love to win!!!!
Julie
August 23, 2010 at 5:48 pmYour car decal is brilliant. So much better than the generic cutesy ones!
elizabeth Hefley
August 23, 2010 at 5:49 pmI would love to make all kinds of items for my baby girl, the possibilites are ENDLESS!!!
erin g
August 23, 2010 at 5:50 pmplease oh please pick me! i have been wanting one of these for a while… i really want to try the glass etching!
mimi
August 23, 2010 at 5:50 pmI would love to win this, the possibilities are endless!
Michelle
August 23, 2010 at 5:50 pmLove the car decal. Originality is always best. Your house..and family..are adorable!
Laura W
August 23, 2010 at 5:51 pmthis little contraption is EVERYWHERE right now. I just had a baby so my stretched thin wallet is hoping i win this little beauty!
Nikki
August 23, 2010 at 5:54 pmso cool. I would love this!
robin
August 23, 2010 at 5:56 pmI would absolutely love one! I can feel my creative juices beginning to flow.
Brooke
August 23, 2010 at 5:57 pmGreat giveaway! Crafty ideas are dancing in my head… I anticipate winning might lead to some unexpected vacation from work to play!
cindy willingham
August 23, 2010 at 5:58 pmI hope this is the lucky one!!
Carly
August 23, 2010 at 5:59 pmI would just love to win this! xo
Heidi
August 23, 2010 at 6:02 pmWhat fun this would be to have!!!
Siska
August 23, 2010 at 6:03 pmOoooh, I would love to win this!
Christine P
August 23, 2010 at 6:05 pmI can only imagine the thousands of ways you can use this machine!
Lisa
August 23, 2010 at 6:06 pmWould LOVE to win this!!!
Val
August 23, 2010 at 6:07 pmYour car decal came out awesome!! There are so many possibilities with this machine!
rachel
August 23, 2010 at 6:07 pmhorray for free stuff!!
love your blog ;)
Jenni
August 23, 2010 at 6:07 pmwhat a wonderful giveaway! my crafty self could put this to excellent use. It’s kind of disappointing that its not mac compatible, but good to know there’s an adobe plug-in to use in place of the software.
Kris Mays
August 23, 2010 at 6:08 pmWould absolutely ADORE having this! I wonder if my family would even fit on my minivan? LOL!
Kris in OPR
Melissa
August 23, 2010 at 6:09 pmI have been wanting one of these things like crazy, i would love to win!
Lauren
August 23, 2010 at 6:10 pmFingers Crossed!
Ashley
August 23, 2010 at 6:10 pmSo much fun! I love this giveaway. I would totally make silhouettes of my dogs.
Elvina
August 23, 2010 at 6:11 pmWhat a great invention! I would love to win!
marcy
August 23, 2010 at 6:17 pmmmmm….it’s been on my wish list for a while now.
so fun!
Chelsea
August 23, 2010 at 6:17 pmumm… YES PLEASE! :)
Sarah O
August 23, 2010 at 6:17 pmAmazing– I would dearly love to win this.
Kara
August 23, 2010 at 6:19 pmI have my fingers crossed
Kate S.
August 23, 2010 at 6:20 pmThis is so neat! I never even thought that this could be something that you could do at home! Love it!