I won a Silhouette Portrait machine at Spraguefest (a conference of digital scrapbooking enthusiasts). My Portrait arrived mid-November and it sat in the box on the table for two months. I think I was intimidated about learning something new but I shouldn’t have been. The setup of the Portrait and the installation of the Silhouette Studio software was a breeze.
Getting Start With The Silhouette Portrait
Here’s what came in the box with my Portrait:
- A/C adapter and power cable
- USB cable
- Silhouette Studio software
- Instructional DVD
- 8″ x 12″ cutting mat
- blade with rachet cap
- getting started guide
- $10 credit to the Silhouette America online store
I opened up the getting started guide and followed the directions for connecting the Portrait to my laptop with the USB cable and for installation of the Silhouette Studio software. Once I opened the software, it told me there was a new version available at http://www.silhouetteamerica.
100 Days Card Tutorial
I decided to start with any easy project to create a 100 days card for my children’s teachers. The standup card would be the number 100. The front has patterned paper with base of the card outlining the number. Inside there would be a colorful mat for my kids to write their sentiment. I used the Impact font because it one of my favorites.
Select the text tool. Then choose Impact and a size of 400 pts. Individually add a 1, then a 0 and another 0.
Use the Select tool to select all 3 numbers. Then choose the Align Window and Align Bottom. The bottom of the numbers will be aligned so the card will stand up evenly.
Use the Select tool to select the first 0 and nudge it to the left so that it will overlap the one. Select and nudge the second 0 to overlap the first 0.
Select all three numbers, right click and then choose Copy from the pop-up menu. Then right click and choose Paste. (The keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V also work on PC.) Move the copied numbers below the first set of numbers.
From the top set of numbers, create the outline of the number 100 to be used on front of the card. Select the top 3 numbers and select the Modify Window. Select Weld. Weld creates one shape by combining all the overlapping shapes that are currently selected.
From the bottom set of numbers, create the mat for the inside of the card. The mat will have the holes in the zeros filled in. Select one zero and then select the Modify Window and then Release under Compound Paths. This will fill in the oval inside the zero. Right click and select Ungroup.
Select the oval inside the zero.
Hit the Delete key, Ctrl+X, or right click and select Delete to get rid of the oval. Repeat for the second zero.
Select all three number along the bottom. Open the Modify Window and select Weld. Save this as a Silhouette Studio file using the menu File -> Save.
Next create the base of the card. The base will have a 0.25 inch border around the 100 shape. Copy the welded 100 shape. Create a new Silhouette Studio document by going to the menu and select File -> New. Paste the welded shape into the new Silhouette Studio document.
Select the welded shape. Open the Offset Window. Select Offset and select an offset distance of 0.25. Then hit Apply.
Select the shape and the offset. Open the Modify Window and select Weld.
Copy the welded shape again (Ctrl+V or right click and select Copy). Then right click on the shape and select Paste In Front. This will paste a copy of the shape on top of the current shape. Select the top shape, right click on it and then select Flip Vertically from the pop-up menu. This will flip the front copy upside down.
Select the top shape and nudge the top shape upwards (using up arrow key) until there is just a little overlap between the zeros.
Select both shapes in the document. Open the Modify Window and then select Weld.
Select the papers you want to use and cut. I love the sound of the Portrait cutting. It is almost musical!
I made 3 cards for my children’s 3 teachers.
I ran the patterned paper and the inside mat through my Xyron 510 to apply adhesive on the back. Then I folded the card based and assembled the cards.
Click on the preview or here to download the Silhouette Studio cut files for this card.
I am sure this is the first of many Silhouette projects for me!
I love this!! Thank you so much 🙂
Hi Kelly,
Thanks for letting me feature your cute 100 Day card along with projects from our other partners in the Silhouette Portrait Giveaway, on http://www.peaceloveandjoyce.com today! I think people will really be excited when they see how fabulous projects can be when you’re first learning how to use the machine!
Peace, Love and Joy,
Joyce
Thank you for including me in your feature Joyce! The giveaway is working out really well for me and I hope it is the same for you.
Haha – my Silhouette was opened in about one month! Beat ya! Love the card you made – and I love how easy the Silhouette is..
You might not have opened it if I hadn’t been hounding you about it! 😉 Glad you finally got it out of the box. Now you can start having more crafty fun! 🙂
Super cute card and clever craft to do with the kids! I love my Xyron too!
Thank you Katie! I use my Xyron for almost everything.
this is a marvelous result for your first attempt – I wasn’t that brave!! thank you for sharing your talents.
Thank you for your kind words Elizabeth! I tried to figure out just a few things the first time out. Hope to learn something new with every project.
Love your card. You did a great job. Keep it up.
Thank you Sarah!
Here from the FB group! You are so brave! I have not done any paper projects because it intimidates me so for this to be your first project is awesome!! Great job!!
Hi Casey. Thanks for taking a look at my project. I am a scrapbooker so I am most comfortable with paper. I have no experience with anything else so it will be brave of me to try other media!
You go girl! Seriously.. I’m looking to you for help when I get my Silhouette! Keep the good projects comming 🙂
Hi Wendi. Lauren heads up a great group on Facebook that will really help you get motivated! 🙂 Can’t wait for you to get your silhouette.
Kelly,
Welcome to the creative world of Silhouette. You are a natural. I have had my Cameo for slightly more than a year. I have used many regular porducts but, I too color outside the lines adapting and learning by trying and playing. This week is 60 Table numbers for an Fundraiser Auction I am chairing this weekend. They are baseball shaped but have to be visable in a room of about 500 people. Last year I made them and the parents took them home as a keepsake with their son’s number on them. I guess they liked them if they took them home right! I am sure the teacher was grateful to be celebrated with 100 Day.
Teachers are unsung heroes. You did so much on your first project I can not wait to see what comes nexr?
Hi Karen. The table numbers sound great! I am sure the parents appreciated them. 60 sounds like a lot of work!
Kelly – – you went above and beyond for your first project, lady! Seriously, great things lie ahead if this is where you’re starting off! I’m so impressed. And a free cut file, too. Thanks, girlfriend!
Thanks Lauren. My mind is reeling from all the nice comments I have received on the FB group. You have a great group of ladies on there! I look forward to participating there! Thanks for inviting me!
Of course! I’m so glad you feel the love. (The gals are incredibly supportive, aren’t they? Whenever I need a lil ego boost, I just post one of my projects there. They deliver every time!)
Hi Kelly,
Welcome to the Silhouette Challenge Facebook group. I think this card is FANTASTIC!!! I’m so impressed with the tutorial you wrote! I just finished my 6th project on my Silhouette and I love, love, LOVE this machine!!! I’ve posted a couple of my Silhouette projects on my website at http://www.peaceloveandjoyce.com if you’d like to visit.
Peace, Love and Joy,
Joyce
Hi Joyce. I checked out your blog. I love your blog look and your table top card.
from the sil challenge group too. I love your card and pinned it! thanks for the tutorial in welding too. I’ve been meaning to figure that out!
Hi Danielle. I am glad you got something out of the tutorial. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
Hi Kelly! I am from the FB group also. I have just cut my first vinyl. You did a fantastic job providing instructions along with your first project. I can’t remember some of how I got to where I am, so there would be a lot of long pauses in my teaching. I didn’t laugh.
Hi Anne. I think I learned a lot more since I tried to capture each step for the tutorial. I repeated the step several times just to make sure I knew what I was doing. I can’t wait to cut vinyl!
Hey, Kelly! I’m stopping by from the Facebook group. Are you kidding me? This is a FABULOUS first project! I have not attempted anything this complex. I’m not very patient, so I haven’t looked at the getting started CD. Perhaps I should do that… Thanks for sharing! I pinned it for my boy’s Kindergarten next year.
Hi Heather! The 100 days celebration is big in kindergarten so I know your son will appreciate you making the card. Thanks for your kind words.
Very nice job.
Thank you Stephanie. Thanks for stopping by the blog and taking the time to comment.