UPDATED: We are giving you the chance to win your very own Silhouette Machine. Go to the bottom of this post to see how you can win
I’ve been wanting a digital die cutting machine for awhile now so when the folks at Silhouette asked if I’d like to try one out obviously I jumped at the chance! and even better we get one to giveaway to 1 lucky Craftgossip.com reader.
What’s a Silhouette you might ask? Well the simple answer is it’s an electronic machine that hooks up to your computer and cuts out shapes, but it’s really so much more………..
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Setting it up: When my machine came I couldn’t wait to try it out but first I had to finish dinner and eat with my hubby, I tell you I couldn’t finish eating fast enough 🙂 Let me admit I’m not the most computer savvy person, I get by but I’m no expert, good thing I’m married to an IT guy, huh? But setting up the Silhouette was really simple, the software was easy to download (I just followed the prompts), plugged it into my laptop, plugged it into the wall, went through the steps in the software for setting up a cut, the instruction booklet took me through all the steps and pretty soon I was ready to start cutting. I was also surprised at how light weight it is, easy to carry from room to room or take to classes or crops. It even uses an SD card so you don’t need to take your computer with you!
There are very handy tutorials on the Silhouette website to help with any problems or questions. I found myself using it a couple of times at first and was glad to see all my answers were easy to find. Click here for their tutorials.
What it can do: The Silhouette can cut not only papers like card stock (even heavyweight like Bazzill) but pattern paper and vellum. In addition to paper it can cut vinyl (which comes in lots of great colors) so you can make your own cool wall art or home decor projects that are so hot right now! It can cut heat transfer material, also in lots of different colors which comes in smooth or flocked, for custom clothes and fabrics, how cool is that!? You tell the machine the thickness of what you’re cutting (this takes a little trial and error but I quickly got the hang of it) and there are three blade depths to choose from, changing the blade adjustment cap is quick and easy to do. Another neat feature are the sketch pens you can buy, you can replace the cutting blade with a colored sketch pen and instead of cutting out your image the Silhouette will draw it! And one of the coolest features has to be the print and cut feature, you can print images out on your computer and then use the Silhouette to cut them out. You can even use your own images or fonts to cut or print and cut, you really have complete control and freedom with this machine!
My favorite thing about the Silhouette is there is no need to go out and buy cartridges which might have lots of images you’ll never use, the software comes with a bunch of free images but when you’re ready for more you simply go to the online store and buy what you want and it’s instantly downloaded into your software! You can buy new images for only .99 cents each or they also offer subscriptions so you can save even more. Click here to visit the online store to see just a fraction of the thousands of images to choose from plus tools, vinyl and heat transfer material.
Another thing I like are the mats that come with the machine, they are already sticky, no need to spray adhesive on them. It comes with two to choose from depending on what you are cutting
My first project (shown below): If you know me you know I LOVE Alice in Wonderland so I was thrilled to see all the wonderful Alice images (I bought them all!) and so I decided to make a fun accordion fold card with all the cute images I cut with my Silhouette using card stocks and pattern paper. It was easy to customise my images and use only what I wanted, for instance Alice comes with a lollipop but I chose not to use it. It did take me awhile to learn that I could cut just the pieces that I wanted at a time, instead of having to cut all the pieces out each time from the same color, duh! Is there anything this machine can’t do? I adore how my card came out!
I want to sincerely thank the people at Silhouette for my new machine, I’m really enjoying it and can’t wait to make lots more great things with it. Be sure to watch for more project ideas from me using the Silhouette.
If your looking for ideas, inspiration and freebies don’t miss the Silhouette blog and also check out their Flickr group.
WIN WIN WIN
For your chance to win A Silhouette Machine (a $299.99 value)
And it includes…
- Silhouette machine
- Software for Windows XP/Vista
- Power cable, USB cable
- 2 Cutting mats (one for thick media, one for thin media)
- One cutting blade
- $10 gift card to the Silhouette Online Store
How to win: Simply leave a comment on this post
For extra chances (the more comments you leave, the more chances you have):
1. Tweet about this giveaway and make sure you come back and give us the link to your tweet via a comment. One extra point if you also decide to follow us – Make sure you mention that in your comment and if you already follow us, then let us know.
2. Share it on your Facebook wall and leave a comment here telling us you have done so (and link to it if possible).
3. Leave a comment on our Facebook wall and leave a comment here telling us so. Like our Facebook page and tell us.
4. Subscribe to our newsletter and leave a comment telling us you have done so. If you are already a subscriber, leave a comment saying so.
5. Link to CraftGossip. Leave a comment telling us where you have created the link to CraftGossip.
Competition Closes August 7th.
Competition Open to US winners only. Winner randomly drawn from all the comments and contacted via e-mail.
-Heather
(image by Heather Holbrook)
1) AWESOME PROMO (running from August 1st through August 9th at midnight)
Buy a machine and receive the following when you use promo code: GOSSIP
– $50 off the Silhouette Craft Cutter
– 2 rolls of vinyl (Valued at $15.98)
– 1 roll of transfer tape (Valued at $7.99)
– Scraper (Valued at $6.99)
– Home Décor CD (Valued at $50)
– $10 Gift Card to the Silhouette Download Store
– Cutting Blade
– 2 Cutting Mats
All for $249.99
A Savings of $130.96
Just think of how much you’ll save on gift giving this year!
2) GOOD PROMO (running from August 9th through August 14th at midnight)
Buy a machine and receive the following:
$50 off (receive for $249.99)
2 rolls of Heat transfer ($29.89 value)
$10 Gift Card to the Silhouette Download Store
Cutting Blade
2 Cutting Mats
All for $249.99
A savings of $79.98
follow this link to find out who won…………….Congrats!!
Miss Mew says
Oh my gosh! I would make tons of cards with this fantastic machine. Thank you!!
Joyce says
What an awesome giveaway! I love the doily cut and the card is amazing!!
Thanks for the chance to win!
Anne says
I am salivating,I have seen this online and have pains for wanting it so bad! So many family members who would love to share in my good fortune if I were to win!
ninad says
Sounds so much better than the insect-named cutting machine with annoying infomercials …the possabilities are endless
EternalSunshine says
Oh, the things I could do with that!!!
Linda F. says
This looks amazing…thanks for the chance to win it!
Retha says
wow! I can’t believe this giveaway! I’ve had my eye on this for some time. fingers crossed!
Melinda R says
wow – I really, really hope I win this
Eva says
WOW Iwould love to be able to cut vinyl!
Darlene Demell says
I could make my whole house look so great with one of these machines. Every wall would have a brand new look to it. I would love one.
Thanks for the opportunity to try and win.
Nicky says
What a lot of possibilities! Your card looks great. An amazing giveaway.
Marcia Wood says
That is freaking cool! I love it and I want it!
Dawnll says
How awesome is this machine? I have been wanting to try one out. Glad you got to play .Would be over the top if I won one. Thanks for a chance.
Lynn says
Fantastic machine! I would love to have a cutting machine – I’ve been researching them for a long time (who has money? LOL). I didn’t know about this one. Super fantastic that it connects to the computer and you don’t have to buy the expensive cartridges. 🙂 Thanks much for the chance to win one.
Nicole G. says
I would make very good use of that little machine! 😉
Theron Willis says
I would use the Silhouette Machine to cut out paper representations of dinosaur fossils.
Hope to win!
darlane says
This machine is awsome. It can be used for so many things. Thanks for the chance to win.
Megan says
I would love one of these. Thanks for the giveaway!
Tina S. says
Would love to have this little gem! I’ve been wanting a Silhouette for quite some time now. Thanks for such a great giveaway!
Denise says
I could get so MUCH crafting done with this baby. Thanks for the chance! 🙂
Nan says
Oh, I too have wanted a digi cutter forever but with two kids in college, it has to be put on the back burner. I would be overjoyed to win this Silhouette! Thanks for giving us chance to win.
Rosalinda says
Oh My! How awesome – I could use it for my fund raising for abandoned horses in making interesting signs, and horese accrutuments to sell…..love it!
Denise (Dee) Toomey says
Oh my! This is exactly what I have been wanting. Other cutter systems are nice and I’ve been looking at them for a long time, but I find needing a cartridge limiting…I can only do things designed by others. What I have been wanting is a cutter that can interface with my computer so creativity is unlimited…and I think this is just the gadget! I want one! Please enter me in the give away. Much thanks.
Deanna Bures says
Wow – what a fantastic machine. The possibilities are endless!!!
Ashlee says
I have seen these all over the internet lately and I want one so bad! I hope I win!
Ashlee
Deb says
Sweet giveaway! You have to be in it to win it!! Thanks for the chance.
Teresa Novak says
What an awesome giveaway! I have wanted one of these for a while now. Thanks for the chance to win one.
DebbieKL says
Neat! So much you could do with this!
Stacia Daniels says
SI would love to enter your giveaway!!! Hope I win. good luck to all who enterd. 🙂
nangy says
WOW!!!! What a wonderful prize giveaway! Me and my grands would put it to good use,thanks for the chance to win.
Karol B. says
I would love to win this machine. I could do so much for the people I volunteer with at the nursing homes and the church. Also I would love to do scrapbooking. Please let me win. I have wanted one of these so long and not having to buy cartridges is fantastic.
Karly L. says
What a great item! This could help me when packaging sales for our business!
Victoria says
Great giveaway! I’m keeping my fingers crossed, I love this machine!
Lisa Elms says
OHHHH! The things I could do, just let me know when you mail it to me so I can watch for the UPS guy!
egater says
Wow, I would love to win this! I haven’t seen these machines here.
Monique Rizzo says
This looks like so much fun!!
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
Page@ThriftyNiftyWise says
Pick me, pick me!
Brooke says
thanks for the giveaway. The Silhouette is so super cool. I am geeking out about the heat transfer option.
Tara McCartney says
I love your card, and the Alice in Wonderland images are simply fantastic. How I would love to own one of these machines!
susan varney says
i really could use this mverno@roadrunner.com
Emily says
Amazing!
Jessica Halsell says
I hope I win this. I have wanted one of these forever now
Terri Hogan says
What a great giveaway. Hope I win 😀
Monika Iszard says
That is totally awesome-I can imagine all the things that I can do with this.It sure would come in handy.
Susan Nel says
this is such a fantastic giveaway that i couldnt turn a blind eye,, i think this will make someone very happy,,,lets hope its me,,,
Sondra says
WOW! This machine is amazing! Thanks for the opportunity to win one!!!
Jenn Bartlett says
I’ve been eyeing the competition for a while, but this looks nicer!
Arnetta Jones says
I’m always looking for a different die cut machine. Thanks for the chance to win one.
Holly says
I would love to win this! It seems like a must-have product for scrapbooking, card making and general crafts!! Looks like a lot of fun too!
Jenny says
I LOVE this! What a great giveaway! I would love to win this. There are so many projects that I would love to be able to do and this would really help. Thanks! 🙂