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!
kayla
August 23, 2010 at 6:20 pmThat machine is so cool. I love the option of using your own designs! I bet you’ll get other moms asking you where you got your custom family decal!!
Brenda
August 23, 2010 at 6:21 pmI would love to win the Silhouette!!
Mrs Soup
August 23, 2010 at 6:23 pmI LOVE the idea of using it to make a car decal! That is such a brilliant idea!
Sally S.
August 23, 2010 at 6:27 pmLove this! I would probably use it just to make art for around our home, though. :-) I’m kind of anti car decals. ;-)
Whitney
August 23, 2010 at 6:34 pmI’m not a huge fan of anything on my car, but yours is cute. I’d probably make art around the house.
Rebecca
August 23, 2010 at 6:38 pmI would love to win one! Thanks for the opportunity!
Margaret
August 23, 2010 at 6:38 pmI would love a silhouette machine! So perfect for making little framed face silhouettes like Eleanor’s for decorating :)
Paige
August 23, 2010 at 6:39 pmI’m a scrapbooker so I could make a lot of cute things with this for my pages. My favorite things are letters so the ideas would be endless! I love your car decal idea too. Thanks for the chance to win!
megan
August 23, 2010 at 6:40 pmthis should appease my affinity for silhouettes!
Marilyn
August 23, 2010 at 6:40 pmHere I am, #504. Probably can’t win but it’s worth a shot! I love your blog, your style, your cut baby. If I win, maybe I will be as cool as you are. :)
elisa
August 23, 2010 at 6:41 pmI love how you made it personal. I would love to make all sorts of projects with this!
Julie B
August 23, 2010 at 6:43 pmOhhhh, projects galore with this puppy!
Jen K
August 23, 2010 at 6:46 pmI LOVE the idea of this machine! I didn’t know it existed until now! Thank you so much for reviewing it for all of us. You inspired me to do a silhouette for my son’s first birthday coming up next month! Check it out…
http://www.eatplaylaughoften.blogspot.com
Shannon
August 23, 2010 at 6:47 pmToo many ideas to list. Hope I get picked!
Jennifer
August 23, 2010 at 6:47 pmOh my gosh, how awesome is this?! Love it!
Terrie E.
August 23, 2010 at 6:47 pmReally neat projects, love that you use Illustrator to make your own designs. This is a great idea for holiday one-of-a kind gifts.
Whitney
August 23, 2010 at 6:49 pmWould love to win! This is my 5th entry in a giveaway. It’s time to break down and pay the $249, me thinks.
Jamie
August 23, 2010 at 6:49 pm*crossing fingers*
I would love to use this to make cupcake wrappers! (Among so many other things, obviously!)
ellen
August 23, 2010 at 6:49 pmwould love one of these to play with vinyl!
Vanessa L
August 23, 2010 at 6:50 pmI would love to win this for my sister-in-law!
Jessica
August 23, 2010 at 6:50 pmI would absolutely love to win this! I would have to make a family car decal too..yours is super cute! Thanks for the chance to win ;)
Sam
August 23, 2010 at 6:51 pmI might make a decal of me and my cat. He’s my live-in family :)
Alissa
August 23, 2010 at 6:53 pmI would definitely use it for fun home projects. Love your take on the car decal. Thanks for the chance to win.
Jessica
August 23, 2010 at 6:54 pmThat looks so fun!
Melissa
August 23, 2010 at 6:56 pmi would love to win! great giveaway!
Erin
August 23, 2010 at 6:57 pmLove it! Looks like fun :)
Meghan
August 23, 2010 at 6:59 pmi would love to win! it looks like a lot of fun!
chrissy
August 23, 2010 at 7:00 pmlove the silhouette you did on your car! i can imagine so many possibilities with this!
Gaby
August 23, 2010 at 7:01 pmI would love to win this! My mind is already full of ideas for this little beauty, and that’s just the beginning.
Beth
August 23, 2010 at 7:04 pmyes yes, please! i think this thing is so cool and thought of a million ways i’d like to use this after i saw this on your blog. so so cool.
Leslie
August 23, 2010 at 7:10 pmIt would be great for decor and scrapbooking
Lindsey
August 23, 2010 at 7:12 pmThat looks like a great machine!
valerie ryan
August 23, 2010 at 7:15 pmlove this! amazing product! pick me!
Nicole
August 23, 2010 at 7:17 pmOhh what a great chance to win this Awesome giveaway, soo perfect to start my new hobby. I would totally rock your car decal soo different and modern Loves it :O)
Sham
August 23, 2010 at 7:18 pmThat is so cute! I would love to win one :)
jenn
August 23, 2010 at 7:20 pmlove this! would find so many cool things to do around the house w it!
Holly
August 23, 2010 at 7:20 pmI can think of about a thousand and one things I’d love to do with this!!! *crossing my fingers over here!!* :) Thanks for the chance to win this amazing machine!!
xoxox Holly
adrienne
August 23, 2010 at 7:21 pmOoooh… Silhouettes of my baby all over! Framed like yours, of course ;)
Kendall
August 23, 2010 at 7:23 pmI’d love to do a sihouette to iron on a tshirt with my 3 girls holding hands. Not sure if you can do that?
tammylee
August 23, 2010 at 7:24 pmThis is soooo cool! I can think of a million things to make with it… :)
Dyanna Littke
August 23, 2010 at 7:25 pmI actually Love your idea. It’s still cute and family oriented yet original. I would do the same on my car for sure. Also, I think it would be cute for windows or to personalize drinking cups perhaps?
Brittany
August 23, 2010 at 7:26 pmI love that silhouette decal you made, so completely you and your cute “think outside the box” way. I think it’d also be cute to do profile silhouettes on a car.
Laura Ingram
August 23, 2010 at 7:28 pmOoooh, I want!!! I love your little silhouette of your little girl that’s framed! Super fun!
ChanelD
August 23, 2010 at 7:29 pmi would love to win one. Plus Aug 31st is my B-DAY!
Kelly
August 23, 2010 at 7:29 pmwow, this thing looks very cool!
dawn
August 23, 2010 at 7:30 pmi have been wanting one of these sooooooooo bad. my friend has one and raves about it all of the time. i love your modern take on the sticker.
Emily
August 23, 2010 at 7:31 pmVery creative idea!! I love the things you can do!!
lori
August 23, 2010 at 7:33 pmWow, what a fabulous invention! It makes me have fantasies of opening a highly profitable etsy shop … Although that’s just a dream, I’d still love to play with Illustrator + vinyl. The car silhouettes are adorable! Way cooler than the Comic Sans-esque stick figures.
Eilis Byrnes
August 23, 2010 at 7:36 pmThis would be fab!!
Pam Decker
August 23, 2010 at 7:36 pmI’ve wanted one of these forever…planning on asking for one for Christmas, but maybe I won’t have to now! Love your blog and your home!
Laurie
August 23, 2010 at 7:38 pmSuper cool — sign me up! Love your take on the ubiquitous car sticker, btw.
ashley white
August 23, 2010 at 7:38 pmoh my goodness i would SO love to win this!
i could do so so much with it!
[but i totally realize i NEVER win anything!]ahh!
Susan Meads
August 23, 2010 at 7:39 pmOh my! I’m just beginning my diy wedding decor ideas and this is blowing my mind! What a revelation! I’m so excited by the prospect of winning a machine of my very own!!! :)
Breanna
August 23, 2010 at 7:39 pmNice! That would def be fun to play around with! Hope I win!
Cassidy
August 23, 2010 at 7:43 pmlove to win this. there are so many ways I could decorate
unabridged
August 23, 2010 at 7:46 pmVery cool! I hope they become more Mac-friendly soon!
Emily S
August 23, 2010 at 7:47 pmFingers crossed, fingers crossed!
Azra
August 23, 2010 at 7:50 pmVery interesting. I would love to get my hands on it.
Eleanor’s Silhouette looks very pretty.
Natalie
August 23, 2010 at 7:51 pmneed this!
Whitney
August 23, 2010 at 7:52 pmOohhhh I’ve been wanting one of these!!!
kristen
August 23, 2010 at 7:53 pmso many fun things to do with this!
I’d love to win!
Sarah
August 23, 2010 at 7:54 pmI want one of these SO BAD!
Linley
August 23, 2010 at 7:55 pmMy mom and I would be thrilled to be able to include this in our “DIY den”. My brother is leaving for college, and we’re turning his room into a crafting zone :D
Violet
August 23, 2010 at 7:55 pmI’d love one of these… I’d like to do some glass etching as well as fabric silhouettes for pillows. Thanks for the chance!
katrina
August 23, 2010 at 7:56 pmI’d like to create a stick-type family of Invader Zims for my minivan. That would be awesome.
Lisa
August 23, 2010 at 7:59 pmI would love one of these! I adore the silhouette you did of your daughter on the patterned paper. I have the perfect spot…
Dana
August 23, 2010 at 8:00 pmI LOVE your car decal! But for now, my family consists of just my fiance and I. Someday, if I ever win one of these babies, I’ll be all over it like white on rice. Handmade cards (or maybe even our wedding invitations!), vinyl decals, brownie stencils and so much more. I really love the brownie stencil idea…
Sandy
August 23, 2010 at 8:02 pmI love your car decal – what a great idea! Now I want one too!
Michaela
August 23, 2010 at 8:04 pmI would use it to make silhouettes of my 1 yr old…and her stuffed animals!!!
Bethany
August 23, 2010 at 8:07 pmThis is an amazing machine! I can just imagine all the possible craft items I could try including the car decal.
Emily
August 23, 2010 at 8:09 pmWOW!!! I would LOVE to win this.
Ali
August 23, 2010 at 8:09 pmvery cute!
Vivian P
August 23, 2010 at 8:10 pmi would love one of these! i mostly use it for making art for my home… probably something with birds or trees. i love them both lately
Megan
August 23, 2010 at 8:14 pmI’ve been dying for this machine!
Blythe
August 23, 2010 at 8:15 pmI’m a teacher, so the possibilities for using this in my classroom are endless.
Alisa
August 23, 2010 at 8:15 pmI would LoVe a Silhouette – oh the cards, decals, and embelishments I could make :)
rebecca
August 23, 2010 at 8:18 pmlove it! i have so many ideas! i am an awful drawer so this will help alot!
rwvanvoorhis at gmail dot com
Jenny G
August 23, 2010 at 8:18 pmSo many fun things to use it for!
Jan
August 23, 2010 at 8:24 pmoooo! this looks so neat! thanks for the opporunity to win! :)
nikki
August 23, 2010 at 8:28 pmSo fun! I would definitely use it for art around my house…and maybe some fun homemade gifts for friends and family at Christmas!
Crystal
August 23, 2010 at 8:29 pmOoooh! Yes, please!
Heather Byrne
August 23, 2010 at 8:31 pmHey so I want the Silhouette SD please and thanks
sarah
August 23, 2010 at 8:33 pmLove this! We inherited an old house, the house my husband grew up in and I’m trying to re-purpose a lot of antique frames. Using the Silhouette SD would come in handy! Turning old photos into modern pieces of art…awesome :)
Jenny
August 23, 2010 at 8:34 pmThe possibilities are endless – I would love to tackle my daughter’s silhouette! Amazing giveaway!
Kelly
August 23, 2010 at 8:34 pmGreat giveaway! Love this for all the crafting possibilities!
Jaleen
August 23, 2010 at 8:35 pmThis looks so wonderful and I would love to win!
cottage of stone
August 23, 2010 at 8:36 pmDo want! Count it me!
–puck
Tikki
August 23, 2010 at 8:38 pmWow, what a cool give away. I would totally make patterns for cards, for presents, and ooh, the things I could do for parties! limitless fun. :)
Julie Anne
August 23, 2010 at 8:39 pmI’m a big fan of wall graphics, and would prolly make a bunch of those, but your verbal image of a powdered sugar stencil on chocolate cake has my mouth watering!
Karen B.
August 23, 2010 at 8:40 pmMy goodness how awesome is this machine! Love the ideas you have given (the car decal is fabulous) Thank you for having this contest! Hope I win :) I have a cute little chihuahua who wants her silhouette created.
haydee yanez
August 23, 2010 at 8:42 pmLove it!!! Too cute for words. Thanks for the contest…can’t wait :)
Loriana
August 23, 2010 at 8:42 pmI would love one!!
Lindsay
August 23, 2010 at 8:44 pmOh man, I could have some fun with that!
Katie G.
August 23, 2010 at 8:44 pmI love the silhouette in the frame! I would love to do that!!
Kirstin
August 23, 2010 at 8:45 pmI love your car decal! I am already thinking of all kinds of fun things to do with that machine.
Shoshana
August 23, 2010 at 8:46 pmMy chances are low but this looks like a fun machine.
Lisa
August 23, 2010 at 8:48 pmI have instantly thought of a million things I could make and use in my kindergarten room! This would be awesome to have!!!
Ashley
August 23, 2010 at 8:52 pmWow! I would love to win one of those! I’m planning my wedding and obsessed with silhouettes! I already have so many ideas brewing for it!
Tammy
August 23, 2010 at 8:55 pmI’m so glad you are doing this giveaway! I soooo want one. I would love to make some artwork for the walls and personalize some of our glassware.
Vanessa
August 23, 2010 at 8:56 pmI would love a silhouette cutter.