Make It and Love It

Free and Inspirational Do-It-Yourself Crafting/Sewing Tutorials

Vinyl Projects….a whole bunch of them.

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I just have to show you some of the things I’ve been doing with the Silhouette over the last few days.
It may be a sickness……but I can’t get enough of this little machine.
She has made my life a whole lot easier. (Can it be a she?)
And detailed.
..
But let me show you some of the ideas that I came up with.
Starting with slapping a little fancy on this laptop.
 
(And okay, this is my husband’s laptop and he is on a week break from school.  He said it must be removed before he returns to school.  Fine.  You win.  But I love how it looks in the meantime.  I’ll just use it exclusively while he’s home. Ha!)
But laptops are such a personal space.  Your own little area…..dedicated to you, your work, your inspiration, etc.  So make it your own.
The flower is from Silhouette and is code: flower_C00593_2581 05/10/2010
 
I even put some little tea cups on the inside.  Right next to the mouse pad area.
It was empty.  And needed love.
(The photo is washed out, but the teacups are just as vibrant as the green flowers on the front.) 
The teacups code is: 4_flourished_tea_cup_set_C00656_19210 04/20/2010
Along the electronics theme, I had to show the same love to my ipod.  This little lady has served me well for over 4 years……and has given me no reason to upgrade.
(Other than than thousands of new features that apple has come out with since then.)
But this blazin’ pink ipod goes everywhere with me.  And even keeps me company while I’m humming along on the sewing machine.
So I attached a leafy vine along the back……
…..and wrapped the tip around to the front.
It charmed her up just a bit.
The vine code is: leaf_1033
 
Now, off to the bathroom…
 
Remember when I worked on this bathroom here and here?
Well, I added a few damask cutouts right above the toilet.

 

The damask code is: damask_0852 

Love how they turned out.

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Then I hopped to the kids room.
I decided to add a little growth chart to the wall.
I’m always curious where they’re at.


 
With fun letters that really pop.
The code for the phrase is: growing_like_a_weed_title_C00186_19547 03/01/2010
 
And little grass/weeds and dandelions along the bottom, all trying to grow.
The code for the short grass is: grass_1027
The codes for the dandelions are: vinyl_art_1170 03/12/2009,  vinyl_art_1171 03/12/2009, vinyl_art_1172 03/12/2009

 

The long blade of grass that’s growing up the wall…….marks each foot of growth.
And the plan is to mark the height of both kids on one blade of grass and use their initials to distinguish them. 
(We’re only renting, and hopefully won’t need a taller piece of grass before we leave. Ha!)
(I just cut the tall piece of grass freehand, out of some green vinyl.)
I also though it would look cute to put as many blades of grass as you have children, and keep them all separate.  Or even use flower stems as the measured growth…..or whatever.


But the growth chart is tucked nicely beside a toy shelf……and not too far from the corner.
Kind of an empty spot, where nothing bulky could be placed.
Worked great!

 

All of the vinyl used today was purchased through Expressions Vinyl.

 

I can’t say enough good things about their customer service and their prices.  There’s no need to overpay for sheets of plain ‘ol vinyl.  And even if they weren’t sponsors of mine, I would still recommend them….because their high quality/low priced vinyl has kept me a very happy vinyl user.  Yay!
And did you already see the glass etchings shown here?
And how about the post where I transformed some kid clothing, using the fabric heat transfer shown here?
Both were made by using the Silhouette to cut out the images.

 



With all of these projects, I loaded my vinyl sheets or rolls into the Silhouette the same way. 
(The lid is open to show you how it’s working…)

 

Look at that thing cut.  Now that’s precision.
Once it’s done, just peel back the negative space, stick your transfer paper right to the top, peel off the backing, and then stick your vinyl to your object.  (But this photo is the heat transfer that comes with a clear backing.)
So I flipped it onto the side of my little girls shirt.  (Finished project shown here.)
Then I placed a towel over the top, ironed it on nice and hot, then removed the plastic sheet.  Done.
And that was just a few of the Silhouette ideas rolling around in my head this week.
There are more ideas that involve more fabric, but I’ll show you as I do them. 
And if you end up winning the free Silhouette, have one of your own, or purchase one using the special code from the post here………….join me as I make more things with this mighty little machine.
And thanks again to Silhouette for offering the machine to one of you readers, and for the other great promos that will be available for a few more weeks.
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Comments

  2. You are making me so jealous! I love all your projects! My husband says he is conflicted. He would love for me to win but he's concerned I would cover the house with little decals! I told him not to worry! I'll use big ones too! :)

    • I just love your comment! Sounds like you have overheard my husband and I talking about my craft addictions!! LOL
      “I’ll use big ones too!” You cracked me up! Thanks for putting a bright spot in my day!

  3. I love your growth chart! I would love to win or purchase one of these machines, but I am so behind on my sewing list I wonder how much futher I would get if I had two such wonderful toys, LOL!

  4. Ashley, I wish you were my neighbor and we could do classes! I love it all!

    Giveaway by The Pillow Mint is on my site!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

  6. Wow! I love this idea for the laptop decals! My Macbook is getting very scratched and could use some covering up! lol

  8. Geez, now you make me want one even worse than I did before! Love everything that you have done so far!

  10. I tried to post this comment on the giveway post, and always got an error. Anyway, I was mainly interested in your advice fro my question. (Although, it would have been great to be entered in the giveaway. Here's my comment from that post:)

    I would totally use this machine to make a vinyl sticker for my van that says, "HELP! Dad farted and we can't get out!"

    Question: I have some vinyl lettering and will have to take it down when we move. Any suggestions for the way I pack it so the letters don't lose their shape when I get to my new house?

  13. Ok it's official I need this. Not want, need! :) Maybe that's a little dramatic but I love what you can do with it. I love all the great personalizing ideas you have come up with. So wonderful!

  16. How fun! I would love one of these machines. This is the first I have heard of this particular machine. She's a beauty.

  18. How did you get someone to send you a product to test? I would love to test products and tell the company my thoughts. That would be an awesome job.

  19. I'm thinking very positively that I'll be able to go vinyl-crazy very soon!

    Love the projects!!!

  20. I love the flowers on your laptop.

    I featured you on my blog. I hope others come your way to see all of your great ideas.

  21. Wow!! I love your vinyl projects! What a bunch of great ideas. I'm having the same fun with my Cricut Expressions and now you've given me even more ideas. lol

  22. I've never even heard of one…but now I really must have it – well, someday anyway! :)

  23. I blog on the same laptop…although mind doesn't have rock'n accents! Totally need one of those :)

  24. Ah, I want some! I agree with Karena I wish we were neighbors too! The ones on the computer are so fun! I think they would be fun on my Kindle since the covers are so expensive! You are very creative!

  25. Marisa – from what I understand, once you take it off the walls, it can't be reused. Sorry about that. Oh, and I can enter your comment in for the giveaway.

    Ashley

  27. I sell uppercaseliving but would love to not have to meet quotas if I had this machine.

  29. Oh so jealous!! I want to play! I love the growth chart, that is too cute and a great present idea. All of my sisters have kids and would love one of these.

  30. SO cute! I can't wait to win that! Lol.
    And just so you know, ANYTHING that makes your life easier is considered a "she." It just makes sense doesn't it? :)

  31. You are very inspiring. I am a recent adict of your blog but have enjoyed it greatly and have even tried some on your projects. I would love one of those amazing machines. :)

  32. Very cute!! I just got a Cricut Expression and you are just giving me TONS of new ideas to use it for. Very creative and fun!

  37. I have silhouette machine too, but didn't try it yet, now I wonder your projects and I'm going to try my machine! :)

  38. If I don't win that fabulous giveaway I'm going to try and talk hubby into this for Christmas. It would be so fun!

  40. You are so creative!!! I hope I can get one and get my creative juices flowing. Thank you for sharing your crafts, and inspiring our crafting! :)

  41. Love this, especially the laptop and bathroom cut outs. You are making me really want one of these machines!

  43. I love your blog… I tried to make your red white and blue cake but the cake mix was toooo runny and ran together, any suggestions?

  45. So many great projects!! I love vinyl!! I'll be following your blog to see what else you create!! :)

  46. You always make it, and I always LOVE it! Keep up the good work and inspirations!

  47. My kids and I would use this for everything! Would love to use it on clothes, walls, glass, mirrors,….

  48. Oh the possibilities are endless, aren't they? I agree Ashley, this machine has to be female – only a female could handle this amount of creativity! I am salivating thinking about the heat transfers. I'd love to enhance some boring shirts for the kids and grownups! I think the vinyl decals would be fun too!

  49. I love your site! I found it when I was looking for directions to make a Peter Pan hat & found SO much more here!

    I love all the ideas with the Silhouette! Mine is being COMPLETELY underutilized.Thank you.

  50. This is my third time to read your blog. My husband said that I need to find something or hobby to do when he and my son are in school in China. I thought that I need to help make money but I can not work there due to the visa issue. I tell him that I will open online or blogging business to do with crafting. The little majic marchine will do ton of thing for me. I love your blog. You got talent.

  52. Wow! That has got to be the coolest machine ever. I love all the things you've done with it.

  54. I see that you bought your vinyl rolls from that website you link to, but which ones are you using? What's the difference between outdoor vinyl – and do you have to use rolls specifically for the silouette? Thanks!

  55. Amber, I buy the ones specifically for the silhouette because they are the right width. Otherwise, I'm not sure if it would mess up the machine to have it a little too wide. (But I may try it once, just to see!) Also, the outdoor vinyl is a more permanent adhesive and will stay on through the heat and rain. Great for house numners, mailbox designs, etc. I've also heard it stays on pretty well through the dishwasher too. I need to order some of that as well. Good luck!

  56. I have had the silhouette for a little over a month now. Here's what I've learned. Hobby Lobby carries the same rolls of vinyl that the silhouette website has. They regularly have 40% coupons so you can get them for $4.79. They only have 4 colors (tan, light blue, pink and deep red). However, I figured out I can paint the vinyl any color I want. Problem solved! I am considering trying contact paper/shelf liner this afternoon to see how it does. What do you think?

  57. Great tip Emily, I didn't know Hobby Lobby carried the vinyl. And wow…..painting it sounds like an excellent idea. Great idea!!!

    Also, I'm not sure about the contact paper, but it's definitely worth a try. Let me know how it goes!

    Thanks!
    Ashley
    makeitandloveit@gmail.com

  59. I would like to try making the growing like a weed. I have a Silhouette and have been wanting to try vinyl, but I'm sure what what I need to buy to make it work, do you have to buy the vinyl and something else to help you transfer it to the wall? How do you know what to buy? And when you put the vinyl through the Silhouette, do you use the cutting mat provided or do you not need to use it with the vinyl? I have tried to find directions on how to do this and can't find anything that's super clear. I just don't want to waste a bunch of material trying to figure it out. Do you have any other tutorials about using vinyl for wall decals?

  61. I love it! I am planning to make one for my girls when my Expression gets here…its one of the first projects I want to complete, along with a giant US map mural for our homeschool space. Thanks for sharing all your projects!

  62. i was wondering if i was to make a design for my laptop using the vinyl from the website you gave, if it would leave a sticky residue or damage my laptop. Because i really like this but not sure if i should try it

    thanks Corey

  64. what the heck is the name of this heavenly machine and where can i get one please? and yea it can def be a she :)
    I gotta make on of those growth charts