Silhouette Savvy Series – Back to Basics

 

Hello everyone!

How is your Summer going?   We hope you are relaxing and enjoying the  wonderful weather.   Today’s tutorial is a bit of a  refresher / learning on a few basics on the Silhouette Software basics. The new updates to the Silhouette Software have made it easier to import and design cut files in their platform.

 

 

Just in case you missed any of the commands, here is small list of them:

To import cut files into the Silhouette Library

• Import and open the zipfile containing the cut file
• open your Silhouette Software, and set it on the Library tab ( you can easily create a new  file by right clicking  your mouse on the library file, under your user name account)
• open your recently unzipped cut file (you will have three images to chose from)
• click on the image that does not have a watermark on it, and use your mouse to drag it to the Silhouette library.   The software will automatically make a copy of the cut file in their library

To trace cut files in the Silhouette Software

• Open the cut file you want to use in the Silhouette Design window
• click on the Trace menu in the Design window (fifth image on the right hand side pannel)
• select trace an image on the menu
• use your mouse to select the are of the cut file you want to use
• on the trace menu click on “trace”,  the red lines will show behind the cut file once you have properly traced it.
• If there are part of another image you do not want to use, then highlight the entire image, right click on the mouse, and chose “release path” on the menu.   Delete all the unwanted lines  in the cut file, and then highlight all the image you want to cut (make sure you highlight all the little details inside the cut), right click on the mouse and select “create compound path”
• send to the Silhouette software to cut.

 

Once you have seen the video, you will realize how easy you can import and trace a cut file in the SIlhouette Software.  The one that was used for the tutorial comes from the Let Sunshine in and it  is featured in this Traveler’s Notebook along with  Doodlebug Designs’ Hello Collection.

 

As always please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions related to this tutorial.  I will be more than happy to walk you through the steps.

Take care,

 

Doodlebug Design – Hello Collection kit, Chit chat die cuts, cardstock stickers

Pinkfresh Studio – The Mix 1 collection – Gold shapes foam stickers

Simple Stories – Hello Summer Collection – Cardstock Stickers, collection kit

Webster’s Pages – Traveler’s Notebook insert

 

Let The Sunshine in Cut file

 

 

 

 

New Free Cutfile – Pretty Petals

Hello there!

It is time for a new free cut file! YAY!!!

Our friends at the Cut Shoppe have created the Pretty Petals cut file just in time for Spring. The florals in this design are fun, and so easy to combine to document your  memories, at any time or season of the year.

I took advantage of the floral designs in the cut file to create a cascade of flowers in my layout that celebrates Sister Love.

 

Using the Silhouette Software, the floral motifs were sized to be at the largest 2.5 in.  Once the florals and the leaf pair were sized, a few extra leaves from the Fall Faves cut file  were also added to the file, and all cut from white textured cardstock.

 

 

All the flowers were backed using papers from Pink Paislee’s Pick Me Up collection,  however not the entire cut out was glued to the paper.  Instead glue was just added to the center of the cut out, so that the  petals of the flowers will lift, thus creating movement in the page.

 

 

The two flower design were backed with the same papers, so that they could be evenly spread on the page.

 

 

To back the leaves, a combination of papers from the Pick Me Up and Turn The Page collections were used – all leaves were backed with a diferent shade of green paper-.   The leaves cut outs wre glued fully to the paper, unlike the flower ones.

 

 

Before adding the flowers to the paper, a bit of mixed media was added using some white acrylic paint, and Jane Davenport’s Mermaid markers.  Once the background was dried, the picture was propped on some fun foam.

 

 

The flowers were then glued to the page to form  a cascade (half moon) around the picture.  Foam adhesive and strong glue were used so that there is dimension and movement in the page.  Since there is so much detail added to the page, just a few extra embellishments were necessary.   These chipboard pieces, sequins and stickers all come from Paige Evans’ Pick Me Up collection.

 

 

To complete this page, a title was created using a combination of chipboard stickersm and small alpha stickers wre used.  A few drops of gold ink, and journal lines complete this page.

 

 

The floral design and color in this page are the perfect way to celebrate sister love at its best.  Now it is your turn to put the cut file to work in a project of your own.  Stop by Scrapbook Nerd to get a free download of the file.

Remember to tag the store #scrapbooknerdca wheneever  you share your finished project on social media,  We would love to see your take on this file.  Have Fun!!!

 

 

Pink Paislee – Turn the Page collection – 12×12 paper pad

Pink Paislee – Pick Me Up collectioon – 6×6 paper pad, 12×12 paper pad, Chipboard stickers, Cardstock Stickers, Haberdashery set, Happy Life alpha set

Jane Davenport – Mermaid Markers

Heidi Swapp – Color shine in Gold Lame

 

Silhouette Savvy Series – Creating your cut files by welding simple images

 

Hello Nerds!

 

Nathalie with you today bringing you a new entry to the Silhouette Savvy Series.   Though most of us like to collect pre made cut files, and alter them so that they fit the project you are working on.   I wanted to show you an easy way to increase your cut file library, and at the same time create one of a kind cut files.

Cut files are created in many different ways, some come from drawings, others are alterations of an original images, but there are also others that are created by welding simple images together.  The following video will showcase how the Happy Mini Frames cut file (available for free at Scrapbook Nerd) was created:

 

As you can see, creating a cut file by welding simple images together takes no time, and can be easily be achieved.  The key is to make sure that each image that is welded has been converted to a “Compound Path’ so that when the images intersect/touch each other they can be welded together.

 

 

But now that you see how the cut out can be created, let’s put it to work in a new layout that uses Dear Lizzy’s newest collections, and Jane Davenport’s mixed media (all available at the Scrapbook Nerd Store)

 

 

All the fun colors of the watercolor background help bring our the details of the cut out (which has been backed with papers from both Dear Lizzy’s collections)

 

 

All the embellishments from the collections are perfect to tell the story of the picture.   The different die cuts and stickers are clustered in each of the picture frames, thus ensuring that the viewer’s eye travels throughout the entire layout.

 

 

The title of this page was kept simple (though the word die cut is covered in glitter) but propped with some foam adhesive so that it won’t get lost in the page.

 

Now it is your turn to create your own cut files or use the new freebie one – just click here to be taken to the store for a free download –  to create a new page of your own.   Remember to tag us #scrapbooknerdca whenever you share your projects using this cut file on social media.

I am always a comment away if you have questions on how this came together or to help you with the Silhouette tutorial.

See you all around!!!

 

 

Materials used:

Dear Lizzy – Star Gazer collection – Ephemera, 6×6 paper pad, flair

Dear Lizzy – Stay Colorful collection – Ephemera, 12×12 paper pad, puffy stickers, cardstock stickers, glittered die cut words.

Pinfresh Studio – The Mix 2 collection – Epoxy stickers

Crate Paper – Carousel collection – Chipboard stickers

Jane Davenport – Memaid Markers

 

New Free Cut File – Shattered Glass

 

Hello friends and fans!!

It is the beginning of a new month, which means time for a new cut file release!   YAY!!!

This month, our friends over at the Cut Shoppe  have created a super fun cut file,
“Shattered Glass”. This cut file is so fun and versatile, you will want to use it for your next
project.

Some of our creative team members have been playing with this cut file, and you are going to see how versatile it can be in the next projects.  First up is Nathalie.

 

She used the Silhouette Software to create the background for her scrapbook page by welding a polygon and the cut file.  The blank space in the middle of the background now becomes the perfect place to add her picture.

 

 

 

She used the colors and papers in Vicki Boutin’s All The Good Things collection to back some of the cut out empty spaces, and to create a bit of mixed media where the picture would be placed.  Then embellished the page with the coordinating add-ons from the All The Good Things collection from American Crafts.

 

 

Now before you run to the store for your free download, let’s take a look at what Joy created with this cut file:

Joy was inspired to create some masculine cards with this cut file. After cutting the file at approximately 8.5″x11″ she used it like a stencil with some Distress Inks. 

One of the perks of cutting paper stencils is that you can use the cut for a project when you’re doing with the inking. If you use the stencil with paint the paint will dry and create a protective layer on your paper stencil and make it more durable to use again and again. 

Joy created a big enough panel to make two cards from this one piece of cardstock.

Joy used a fine black marker to create a sketchy look on the stenciled paper to give the pattern a bit of pop and because she was going to use black cardstock on each of the cards.
These cards are fun and slightly snarky will used for her husbands birthday week.

Letting the background do most of the work Joy kept the sentiments simple and she did not use much to embellish the cards fronts.  

Head over to the shop to download you FREE Shattered Glass cut file today.

Now it is your turn to use the cut file on a project of your own.  Remember to tag us #scrapbooknerdca when you share one of your pages using one of our cut files.  We love to see how you use them on your projects.

Stop by the store to pick up a free download copy of this and many cut files. Thanks for stopping by.

Materials Used:

Vicki Boutin’s 12×12 and 7×10  All The Good Things Collection paper pads,   

Vicki Boutin  –  All The Good Things Alphas and word foam thickers

Vicki Boutin –  Finishing embellishments, watercolor stickers, cardstock stickers, frames ephemera, icons ephemera

Tim Holtz Distress Ink & Oxide Inks

Tonic Studios Mini Blender Brushes

 

Nerd Girl Friday Digest

It’s Friday, where did the week go? This week’s creative team projects…

Hello all you wonderful scrappy Nerds, it’s Gisele here to bring you this week’s all things scrappy from our creative team.  We have some wonderful Valentine themed projects for you, so let’s get started. 

I had a tutorial earlier this week, where I made this card. I used Crate Paper Main Squeeze collection. You can check Monday’s post to check out the tutorial. 

I also added a little bonus treat bag using same collection and a Silhouette cut file.

We have a super card sketch my Milena.

Milena used Prismacolor Pencil Crayons with some Gamsol for blending on the Otterly Love You stamp set by Lawn Fawn and the sentiment stamp from the same collection to make this Valentine’s Day card. The background is a blend of Cracked Pistachio, Salty Ocean and Broken China Distress Oxide Inks. It’s finished off with a die cut heart and some waterdrop embellishments to give the card a watery feel.

Such a sweet card, “otterly delicious” card 🙂

 

My LO this week was using some Christmas pictures but using them for a Valentine LO instead. I used the Crate Paper Good Vibes collection. I loved the pompom frames, one is cut in half to frame the top left photo so as to draw your eye to the right bottom framed picture. I also used a Silhouette file and when cut, used the opposite side of that paper to bring in more patterned paper. Some enamel dots for the visual triangle, chipboard heart and stickers added as well. A few layers under the bottom left and also some tags with floss attached to them. Heart stickers and word phrases are from Crate Paper Main Squeeze, and a few drops of Heidi Swapp gold colour shine to finish it up. 

First photo looks at the title Squeeze Fun, using a chipboard piece and an ephemera.

The cut file of welded hearts is by Silhouette. I used the reverse side of the cut hearts to fill some. To tie in the gold on the frames, i splattered Heidi Swapp Colour Shine in gold and matted my LO with pink to tie in the pink of the layout itself.

Mari created this amazing TN (Traveler’s Notebook) spread using the Simple Stories inserts. A variety of products from the Crate Paper Good Vibes collection were used in the spread to embellish. The right side of the layout has some Vicki Boutin Gold Glaze applied through the Carta Bella Prairie Floral stencil. Some loose text was added with a fine black gel pen to add detail and of course, the journaling.

 

Nathalie created this stunning page to show her love for her family. She started by adding some Prima Watercolor confections in Pastel Dreams to the background. Then used a Felicity Jane cut file and Crate Paper’s Main Squeeze collection to complete the title. Nathalie also combined a JustNick studio cut file, floral motifs from Crate Paper’s Heart Day collection, and a few embellishments from Crate Paper’s Main Squeeze collection to frame the picture of her family.

Title work…

Full layout…

Thank you so much for joining us on our themed week: Valentine’s. We hope you were inspired by the team’s projects and hope you create some Valentine themed projects of your own. Until next time, check out our store as lots of new things are arriving for all your scrappy projects and needs. Love you all. 

PS: In case you need something new for your project we have an exclusive free cut file in our store too. Check it out.

 

 

 

 

 

Reveal Day – A New Cut file!

Today’s the day!
Say hello to our newest cut file, Love Story. This month’s cut file is perfect for everyday moments and for your special valentine. This fun new FREE cut file was designed by Ashley Horton from over at The Cut Shoppe.

You can download your copy by clicking on the image below.

Joy created a few projects with Love Story, first a simple gift tag.
The heart was cut twice so there would be a front and back side so she could hide the red pattern paper she used to fill in and highlight the LOVE. The heart on the back plain so a message can be written.

Next, Joy created a card with her husband in mind but this sentiment would be great for anyone or any current favourite. Joy used Dylusions Lond Blue spray ink on some watercolour paper to create the background for this card. Once the spray was dry, she flicked some of the spray ink for a splattered look. A simple cork heart finished off this masculine valentine.

The sweetheart die-cut was added to the inside of the card for a fun sentiment.

 

Next up, Nathalie created a beautiful layout by combining two of the shapes from the Love Story cut file. You can see how Nathalie welded the two cut files here in a Silhouette Savvy tutorial.

Isn’t that watercolour paper beautiful?
Nathalie also created that unique paper using Yupo paper and some
Prima Marketing Confections watercolour pans.

Thank you for stopping by the SN blog today, we hope you love using the new Love Story cut file. You can download your copy here from the SN shop.

Happy crafting!

Silhouette Savvy Series: Welding Cut Files

 

Hi there!

Hope you are doing well!

We are heading into February (time is flying!), and that means “Valentine’s day”.    The store will be releasing a few free cut files, this month.  The Love Story cut file is available now and the rest will follow on Feb, 1st.

I wanted to show you an easy way to manipulate the cut file to create a one-of-a-kind cut out by welding some of the cut file images.  So sit back, and take notes on how to weld cut file images together:

 

 

Here is a small cheat sheet on the steps to follow:

• Open and trace each of the images you will be using.  Make sure that the image is converted into a Compound Path (highlight the entire image -only what will be used in the cut out-, right click on the mouse, and chose “Make Compound Path”
• Move the image so that it is intersecting?touching the other image/images that it will be welded to
• Highlight the all the images to be weld, right click the mouse, and chose “Weld”  or chose the Modify window, and click on the “Weld”comand.

It is that simple!  Two things to  remember are:

1. Make sure you are only selecting the image that you will be welding together  ( you can always get rid of any extra images by releasing the path, and then deleting any unwanted pieces.  Don’t forget to convert the  cleaned image back to a Compound path).
2. The images being welded have to intersect/touch for this comand to function correctly

 

 

Now let me show you how this page came together using the cut out created in the previous video, a bit of mixed media, and the beautiful “ROMANCE” collection from Simple Stories. SO  sit and enjoy the nex few minutes:

 

 

 

As you see, I used a bit of watercolor and Yupo transluscent paper to create my own marble paper to back the cut file.

 

 

 

All the embellishments from the “Romance” collection complement the picture of my husband and I while watching tv.

 

I hope this inspires you to bring out your Silhouette machines, and create a one-of-a-kind cut out by simply welding some images together.

Let me know if you have questions about how this came together.

Take care!

Yupo Transluscent watercolor paper pad

Prima Marketing watercolor palettes – The Classics, The Tropicals, Pastel Dreams, and Odyssey

Simple Stories  – Romance collection – kit

, stickers, chipboard stickers, die cut pieces

Simple Stories – High Style paper pad

Scrapbook Nerd Creative Team Weekly Digest

 

Hello Everyone!

Can you believe it is December already!!!  Time has flown by, and now we are heading towards Christmas and a new year.

As usual, the Creative team has been active this week, bringing lots of inspiration and beautiful projects.  Here is a recap of what the Nerdy girls have been up to.

First up is GIsele;  she is already in the Christmas mood with this beautiful layout that features  her little nieces in some cute poses.

 

 

Gisele is using Crate Paper’s FA LA LA collection (the acrylic stars come from her stash) to document those adorable pictures…   Just beautiful and festive, Gisele!

 

Mari is up next with this beautiful Fall inspired pocket page.   She has combined papers and cut-apart cards from Carta Bella’s Hello Fall collection to document some of her family’s Fall activities.

 

Just love how she has combined the papers and embellishments from the Hello Fall collection in this lovely page.  Always inspiring to see pocket pages!

 

 

This week’s tutorial was a new, and updated version of an old Silhouette Savvy Series.  Nathalie showed us in her video tutorial how to create the stitching guide of her layout using the new Silhouette software version.

 

 

She opted to handstitch and water color the title to match all the colorful papers and embellishments from Bella Blvd’s Advent collection.   Remember to check the  previous blog post to see how you can add stitching to your pages, too!

 

Finally, it is the first of the month, that means a new free cut file is available at the store.   The JOY cut file is perfect to document your Holiday season, and/or all those especial winter memories.

 

 

Nathalie has created this layout using My Mind’s Eye “Oh What Fun” collection, and Simple Stories Winter Wonderland paper (as the base for the layout).    Her little niece just shines in this page.   Don’t forget to stop by the store to pick up your free cut file download.

 

Thank you all for joining us today.   Now to start our Holiday season!!!

 

Free Cut File | JOY – scrapbook layout and cards

Hello everyone!

It is the first of the month, that means Free Cut file time here at Scrapbook Nerd; YAY!!!.   This month we wanted to offer you a file that could be used to document your Holiday memories and/or Winter memories, too.

 

Nathalie has designed the JOY cut file (available at the store now!)  so that it can be used as a background on a page, but you will also find the individual shapes so that you can create your own unique designs.

 

For her project, Nathalie is using a paper from Simple Stories Winter Wonderland as a base for the project.

 

To bring the festive colors to the page, she is using My Mind’s Eye “Oh What Fun” collection to add details and back the title of her page.  Here is her final project:

 

We just loved how the picture pops from the soft snowflake background.  Remember to stop by the store to pick your free copy of the download.  Now it is Joy’s turn to show you what the cut file inspired her to create.

Joy used the extra pieces included in the Holiday Joy cut file to create her card. Joy welded 2 of the snowflakes to the JOY sentiment and cut some extra snowflakes. Using some watercolour paper and some Dylusions spray mist, Joy made the blue background and misted the interior cuts of the JOY sentiment pink.

The misted background has some ink splatter in the same colour mist for some added interest.

We hope you find some inspiration in today’s post, head over to the SN shop top download your FREE copy of the Holiday Joy cut file.

Happy crafting!!

Scrapbook Nerd Creative Team Weekly Digest

This week the creative team has been having fun creating an interesting assortment of fun and cool projects.

Up first we have Nathalie. Nathalie loves to document stories about her children; the focus of this layout is her son!

Nathalie used papers and embellishments from the new Pinkfresh Studio’s “Boy Fort” collection which is perfect for documenting this story. The gorgeous mixed media was created with the Decadent Pies palette from Prima Marketing.

The title comes from the Pinkfresh Studio The Mix1 puffy stickers combo.

Next we have Gisele’s fun project.

Gisele created a 12×12 layout using the 6×6 paper pad and ephemera from Pink Paislee “Spellcast”.

She also used some Little B washi feather tape, a web shaped cut file from the Silhouette online shop, a leaf punch (used on “Creekside” from One Canoe Two).  The bats were a Dollarama find!

The fun details to this layout are so awesome!!  The photos are precious…such a fun story to document!

Mari created a tutorial project earlier this week, demonstrating ways to mix up the size of layouts in scrapbooking albums.  This is a 9×12 layout. This size can be mixed in with other layouts in the 12×12 album.

This project was created using papers and embellishments from Pink Pailee “Turn the Page”.  A patterned paper vertical strip on the left and then a perpendicular horizontal strip attached creates a place for the photo, journaling, and title to sit. The title “Latte” was created with Pink Fresh Studio puffy alphas.

This collection has so many fun pieces, including die cuts and phrase pieces to create fun clusters on projects.  This is a simple and easy design to create…especially for the times when perhaps simple and easy is what fits into the plan.

Next, Nathalie created this wonderful layout using the free cut file Stellar Shapes new to the shop this week. This layout is absolutely stunning!! Click here for the cut file.

The mixed media behind the cut file and photo adds so much interest to this layout!

The addition of the handwritten journaling in white is perfect beside the photo!

Mari created a fun little card project using the MFT Happy Pawliday and Handwritten Holiday stamp sets and the Knit Picky 6×6 paper pad from Lawn Fawn.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today!!