Hello everyone!  It’s Casharina here to bring you another fun, yet EASY hybrid project!  So for starters, just to refresh everyone’s memory, I am a scrapper who does not LOVE to cut things! Ha!  I cannot cut a straight line to save my life, I have been through three straight paper cutters, and will just about do ANYTHING to prevent me from “having” to cut things out!  I recently splurged on a new toy for myself the Cameo Silhouette.  I have only had it for about a week and I absolutely love it, I can see it becoming one of my favorite scrapping buddies <“wink”>!!  After playing a few days with it and knowing I had a hybrid post coming up, I was determined that I had to use the machine, and with Christmas just around the corner I wanted to create some Christmas décor!  With all the beautiful new products from the Shabby Shoppe I had lots of inspiration and most importantly, many things to choose from!  I decided to create a Decorative Charger to display on my counter.

Gathering materials:

•  Cutting Machine - any cutting machine that will allow you to design your own cutting files, OR you can choose to cut the design by hand (but you all know I “don’t” do cutting!)
• White Contact Paper - I bought a roll from Walmart for $5.99.  It was 18 inches wide, too wide for my machine so this is where my carpenter dad came in! ;)  He took a skil saw to it, making it around 13 inches, leaving a second roll of about 5 inches wide, which is perfect for using on the mat that goes along with my machine!  He also told me that a miter saw would be perfect for the job! ;)  (The edge is a little rough, but not too rough, and fed right through the machine without a problem.
• Software to create the cutting file.  For this project I used the silhouette software that is free and came with the machine.
• Wordart of your choice – I used the “Cookies for Santa” wordart from the Holiday Wordart and More collection.
• Plate or charger to decorate, or a sign for that matter, whatever you want to adhere the contact paper to.

Designing the cutting file:

If you’re cutting by hand you could simply print and trace the PNG file that comes in the kit.

If you’re cutting with a machine, you may want to modify it just a little.  For mine, I used the silhouette design software (the version that comes free with the machine).

Tracing a .png, graphic, etc. using the silhouette software:

• Drag the image into a new document.
• Click on the blue square icon (aka the Trace Window) in the top corner.
• Here you will choose the top box which will give you an arrow cursor.
• You will need to draw a box around your element that you want traced.  Make sure everything you want traced is in the grey part of the square.
• Next, uncheck the High Pass filter option, and then up the Threshold to around 80-100%.  It should fill in your whole design, if little pieces of it aren’t covered that’s okay.
• Lastly, you’ll select the Trace outer edge.  Now there should be red lines around the OUTSIDE of your letters.

Getting the insides of each letter:

•  Next, you’ll move the PNG file below the outline, leaving ONLY the outlined letters.  There will be NO inners for the letters so you’ll need to trace the original PNG again, following the same directions, but this time you need to click TRACE. Now the letters, as well as the insides of each letter should have red around it. Again, move the original PNG away from the trace lines.
• Right click on the new set of traced lines.
• Select Release Compound Path.
• Now you can select each individual little slither in the design.  (I didn’t want to worry with taking out each of the tiny cuts so I left those in the second design, but I used copy and paste to bring the inner portions of the letters into the top design, which will be the one I cut. I also chose to adjust a few of the inner designs, adding the small boxes to the I in cookies.  I also added the small star inside of the larger star so that it’d be cut out, but I left out the squiggly lines surrounding it.)
• Now the file is ready for cutting, so SAVE!  Now you can use it again for other projects!

 Tip: Directions to trace an object, any graphic can be traced in essentially the same way, making minor adjustments to the sliders to perfect it!

 As you can see in my design, I have also used the Candy Cane from the Sugarplum Dreams collection.  I adjusted it by taking out the “Pink” pieces of the candy cane following the directions above to create a red and white candy cane on my plate.

 Cutting the file:

For this one, I chose to use my smaller roll of contact paper.  Lay the vinyl on your mat, mine was approximately 5 inches tall by 12 inches wide.  When cutting vinyl you want a “KISS” cut.  This means you want to cut the top portion of the vinyl, but not the back part of it.  So you want to be able to peel away the extra vinyl, leaving the design still adhered to the backing paper.

On my machine I used the following settings:

• Blade set on 2
• Speed at 5
• Thickness at 3

Tip: Write down whatever settings work for your machine so that you can use them later!

 If you’re NOT using a mat, ensure that the Cutting Mat option is NOT checked, if you ARE using a mat, ensure that it IS checked.

•  Now click on the send to silhouette button.
• Follow the steps to ensure you have everything correct.
• Cut your file.

• Once the file is cut you’ll want to peel away the excess vinyl.  This is known as “weeding” the design.  This is the toughest part of the entire project; you have to make sure you get out all of the tiny pieces between the letters.  You can purchase a hook tool for this, but I have just been using a safety pin and it works GREAT!

Here’s another tip, instead of purchasing transfer tape, you can use contact paper, so that’s what I did.  I just grabbed a piece of contact paper, from the same roll and cut a big enough piece to cover the design.

• Place the sticky side on TOP of your design.  Using an old credit card (or one that you’ve had in a drawer FOREVER and didn’t call and activate it! ;) like I did here!) press down on your design to make sure it’s all “STUCK” to the new contact paper.
• Pull the original piece of contact paper away from the back of the new piece.  Ensure that ALL of the letters (and the small pieces, dots of the i’s, periods, etc.) are also sticking to the new contact paper.  This makes the design backwards when looking at it, but it gives you a way to transfer the design in tact without having to place it one letter at a time on your new surface

Adhereing it to the Plate:

• Now take the piece of contact paper and place it where you want it on your decoration.  Again, using your credit card, press down hard enough to ensure that the letters will come OFF the vinyl and go onto the decoration.
• Begin peeling up the “transfer tape/contact paper”.  This time the design should be adhering to your charger or plate.  Make sure you are SLOWWWW in this process, ensuring that each piece is sticking.  I had a little trouble only on the last bracket; it didn’t want to stick as well. I just used the credit card to pull it down on the plate and once it stuck, the whole piece stuck!
•  Now, do the same process to the candy cane, if you decided to add one!

 And you’re finished; you’ve got a new beautiful decoration!!  Just remember if you use contact paper, it will NOT be water proof, so no washing, and I’m not sure how long it’ll hold up, but I’m thinking if it’s just left on display it should last quite a while!

I plan to make a few of these using the monograms from the carousel monogramkit for friends and family!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this project!  If you’ve got any questions feel free to post, I’ll try my best to help you out!!  It is really an easy process once you get into it though.  Check back in with us on Monday for another Layout of the Week!  Enjoy your weekend!!

CasharinaHybrid Projects, Uncategorized 2 Comments

Hello blog friends!  It’s Kim here today with a little bit of scrapping inspiration!  There have been several times recently that I have gone back to some of my favorite kits and realized there are still a few elements in them I have never used.  I know there are times that I really love an element when I see it, yet somehow it never seems to “fit in” to any of my layouts.  Does this ever happen to you??  You mean to use that pretty paper or that fun banner or that unique flower and you just never get to it?

I challenged the Shabby Team to find an SP element that they have never used before and create a layout with it.  I love the results and hearing how they enjoyed the challenge.  Let’s see what inspiration we have today!!  First of all, I took the challenge too and created this layout with mostly the Clementine kit.  I absolutely loved this kit at first sight and go back to it often.  But I have no idea how I’ve waited this long to use the stitched flowers and paper button!  I knew these elements could inspire a layout, and here’s the layout I made when I started working with them.

Next up are layouts from Rosy and lego.  Rosy said that she’s always felt the Fun Flash Cards would also make good elements for a layout but had never used them that way before.  I like how she picked the “i” and “s” cards by the photo to highlight the initials of her son and his special animal.  Lego really stepped up to the challenge and made a layout entirely of elements she has not used before.  Wow!!  She said the result feels “a bit alien”, but she likes it.  I do too!!

These next layouts are from Amber and Emily.  Amber used a frame, sparkle swirl and some papers for the first time.  And I think that frame is just perfect for a layout like this!  I like that she stapled and taped it down in just the right spots so it truly looks like it’s bending off the page.  Emily decided to use the Gracie medallion paper and Autumn Word Whimsy for her layout.  She also wanted to challenge herself to use the leaves in a little different way than before.  I think the result is beautiful!  I love all the different kinds of leaves – both realistic and whimsical – together in that cluster.

Aubrey and Kylie’s layouts are up next.  Aubrey used the photo sleeve from Gracie as well as other elements she had never used.  I love the large stamp in the background and the zipper with stitching.  She put all the pieces together perfectly in this one!  Now Kylie, who has worked with SP for a long time, was truly challenged to find an element she has not used before!!  But she says she is 99.9% sure this is the first time she has used the red button flower from Twirl!  Her layout is a masterpiece of fun and girly drama, which I know about in my own house too!

Our last piece of inspiration comes from Lindsay.  She says that the paper clouds and epoxy buttons from Giggle Box are part of the reason she loves the kit, but this is the first time she’s put them into a layout.  I love that she chose the grays to make the yellow and aqua really pop.  And it all so perfectly makes sense with the saying of her layout.

Thanks everyone for all the inspiration and for being willing to do something a little different!!  If you want to see more details of their layouts, they will be posting them in the gallery.  And of course, we always love to see what you do with the inspiration as well, so post your own layouts there too!!  Bye bye for today, but see you here tomorrow as Casharina shares a hybrid project.

KimInspiration, Uncategorized 5 Comments

Hi everyone!! :o)  Kylie here to share the new (and free) desktop for DECEMBER!  I loved working with the brand new & festively fun Nutcracker Collection for the last desktop for 2012!  We hope it brings you lots of joy throughout the month :o)

CLICK HERE to download the 1920 x 1080 version

CLICK HERE to download the 1280 x 800 version

As a quick reminder – your download will be blank where my sweet pic is, of course :o)  That way – you can customize it with your own photos and messages.  And remember that you can always find our latest free desktop by clicking the FREE DESKTOPS category located on the right side of the blog!

If you are interested in our free desktops, but have no idea how to insert your own photos – please visit our TUTORIALS page and refer to the USING THE PIECE-A-CAKE .PNG FILES TO CREATE AN ALBUM titles :o)  We offer this tutorial in both screen shot and video format, for both Photoshop and Photoshop Elements.  And, while the tutorial is not specifically for the desktops – the concepts are very much the same…and should help out a lot!

Thanks so much for stopping by today…Kim will be here tomorrow with a fun inspiration post!

KylieFree Desktops, Uncategorized 10 Comments

Hello Shabby Shoppe-ers and Happy Holidays!!  Aubrey here and I am so pleased to be bringing you the next Product Spotlight!  Even though we are in full swing of the holidays, I am sure many of you (me included!) are still scrapbooking pictures from this fall and Thanksgiving time!  Because of this, I decided to highlight a kit that works great for this purpose despite being a “girl” kit.  I love Olivia for its rustic feel and warm, subtle colors!  The first time I saw this kit spotlighted I fell instantly in love with its charm and beauty!  I love how versatile it can be as well.  It can be used for anything from spring to fall, girl to boy, children to adult, and so much more!  If you are new to this kit, I am so pleased to be introducing you to such a sweet kit!  If you have seen it, or even have it, just sit back and enjoy the lovely eye candy to come!

For a limited time, the Olivia collection will be on SALE at the Shabby Shoppe for ONLY $5.50!  That’s over 30% off!!

Want more?! :o)  Also on SALE is the beautiful Olivia Piece-a-cake album for ONLY $5.95 and the very pretty BLOGwear banner for ONLY $1.50!

Now, this is where normally I put my own page, but alas, I have an external hard drive that has died and taken my page with it (*sniff*) so I will currently move on to the beautiful pages created by our wonderful team!!! All of these pages are so diverse in their subject matters and times of year that it really shows how diverse this kit can be!

First we have Amber’s page with adorable pictures of her daughter in the spring.  I love the block pattern with the clusters tucked in behind!  Just gorgeous!  And beside it we have a very fun and playful page from Casharina.  I love how this sweet kit can transform into a playful one to be used for a trip to the park!

Summer comes with Rosy’s camping trip with friends.  I love her very subtle hint of paper on the side, leaving you to really pay attention to the pictures.  And that stitched circle picture in the corner: how precious is that!  Fall pictures work so well with this kit and Kim’s page definitely shows that off.  I LOVE the paper pieced sun with the picture of her two sweet kids in the middle!  Such a wonderful page and perfect for fall!

Lego’s wintery page has subtle hints from the Olivia Collection.  This just shows how you can take anything from any kit and really make it work for what you’re doing!  This is such a stunning page with just a pop of red in the ditsy floral paper!  Baby pages are gorgeous as well and Emily has a gorgeous example.  I am so in love with the page with the strips of paper to the clusters of paper flowers!   And who couldn’t love that face!!

Of course this kit works totally for little girls of all ages!  Lindsay’s little 1 year old.  And this precious little 2 year old page by Kylie.  They are just perfect for any little princess!

The Olivia collection is great for boys as well, unfortunately my son’s page is unattainable…hopefully I will soon get access and be able to add it to the Gallery for fun!!

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you enjoyed looking at these beautiful pages as much as I did!  Kylie will be here tomorrow with your FREE December desktop!

AubreyProduct Spotlight, Uncategorized 2 Comments

Hello everyone!  Lindsay here, and I am SO excited to bring you this week’s super-cute and adorable Layout of the Week!  I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things to do on Monday morning (after I’ve fed the kiddies their breakfast, of course!) is to grab my cup of coffee, head to the computer, and see which beautiful layout has been chosen for this fun and fabulous honor!  And I now I get to pick from all your gorgeous pages – which is not an easy task, by the way!  This week’s winner is amycoffeypt with her darling layout Ellie!

If you haven’t seen this sweet page in the gallery yet, you must check it out!  It is full of wonderfully chosen papers and elements from the Penelope kit, and they perfectly highlight her precious photos of baby Ellie being welcomed into the world by her smiling family!  I LOVE new babies, and this page just fills you with all the happiness and excitement their arrival brings, doesn’t it?  And how beautiful is that baby!?!?!

So, congratulations, amycoffeypt!  Have fun shoppe-ing with your $10 gift certificate, which has been emailed to you!  (Don’t forget to check your spam folder if you don’t see it!!!)  And thanks so much for sharing such a special moment in your family’s life with us!

Thanks to EVERYONE for posting your beautiful creations in the gallery ~ hope you all have a great week!  Be sure to swing back by tomorrow, when Aubrey will be here with a beautiful Product Spotlight!

LindsayLayout of the Week, Uncategorized 3 Comments