If the Shoe Fits - Halloween Card with Silhouette

I designed this card by combining a couple of different elements from the Silhouette store.  I thought it was pretty cute.  I rarely make "Cutsy" cards because I don't have any little ones in my family at the moment.

Halloween Card "Enter if you Dare"

I was anxious to break out a new Halloween patterned paper pack that I picked up this weekend at Michaels.  This is a very simple card using only the papers from the pad and one $1 stamp from last year.

Halloween Card with Silhouette

ANOTHER Halloween card.  I designed this card using two different files from the Silhouette online store, the cat was an image I downloaded from the internet and the bat is a die cut for the cuttlebug.  Again, not my usual style, but a fun card.

Silhouette Cameo Halloween Card with Digital Kit by Echo Park

I made this card using the digital kit by Echo Park "Apothecary".  I designed the elements in the Silhouette software, then filled them with papers from the kit, printed and cut with the Silhouette.  I've made a video below if you are interested in learning how to design with digital kits and the Silhoeutte.

Banners!!! Free Banner cut files for the Silhouette

As promised.  I made you some banner cut files for the Silhouette.  I also used digital papers that I created for the patterns, so if you want to print and cut you can.  Of course, you can use your own digital papers or just cut the designs with that huge stash of pretty papers you have in your craftroom!

You can find the patterned download HERE... WARNING LARGE FILE!

You can find the black and white which you can fill with your own pattern or use patterned paper HERE... very manageable file size.

Enjoy and have a great day!

Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic, Just Because Hybrid Card

Heidi Swapp gave away the cute "Just Because" digital freebie the other day.  I knew I wanted to make a card with it.  I used her Digital Sugar Chic files, my Silhouette and came up with this card. 

Halloween Card with Silhouette and free Silhouette Cut File

I made a cut file for the Silhouette for you.  You can Download it HERE.  There are several options included in the cut file (i.e. cats, bats, moon/owl, pumpkins).  I'd love to see how yours turns out, please post a link here of your creation.  I ended up putting a banner on this card that is not included in the cutfile because it was not mine to give away.  I am in the process of making my own banners which I will make available very soon!

Quick Birthday Card

Another quick birthday card for one of my BFF's.  Happy Birthday Lori and Jodie!  Love you guys!

Cricut Vs. Silhouette Cameo (Part 2....almost a year later)

It’s been about a year since I made the switch from the Cricut Expression to the Silhouette Cameo. I still LOVE my Silhouette and I still use it at least every other time I craft.

Since my original review back in March of 2012, I have made vinyl window clings, several hybrid cards, I’ve cut fabric, made holiday gift boxes, stencils, cut out my own handwriting as well as just simple die cuts. You can see a lot of my Silhouette projects here.

I am still using my original blade and I can still use my original mat, but I have “re-sticky’d” it one time. I do find that the Cricut Mats (the original ones with green border and white middle) work just fine in the Silhouette and at times I prefer the Cricut mat. I think it stays sticky longer, and I can get them easily at a number of local retailers.

My opinion remains. I choose the Silhouette Cameo over any of the Cricut machines. The Silhouette far out cuts the Cricut machines. The intricate detail of the cuts, the clean lines as well as the vast number of media the Silhouette will handle amazes me everytime I use it. This past weekend I cut out a pretty small detailed word and a few small elements out of glitter paper. The Silhouette cut all of it flawlessly. I could never get my Cricut to cut glitter paper without tearing.

I do a lot of printing and cutting of my own elements. As part of the creative design team at Jessica Sprague I have tons of digital elements which I use to create projects. The Silhouette software always opens the jpg, png, pdf files without a problem. I am able to resize, weld, stamp, etc the elements in the software, print and finally cut.

Designing your own elements is quite easy as well. That being said, you can almost find any shape, design, etc. you are looking for by doing a Google search and bringing that element into the software. I made my son a Cubs window sticker for his car, and a college logo sticker for my car and a Dallas Cowboys logo for someone else’s car just by Googling the images and cutting with the Silhouette.

There are no cartridges to keep buying. I do have a subscription to the Silhouette Store that costs me less than $15 a month and buys me $50 worth of shapes (I have never used my entire allowance in one month – it will roll over to the next month). I get a free shape every single week at the Silhouette store. I collect only images that I want and only images I think I will use, instead of a cartridge full of items that don’t fit my needs. If I am doing a specific project and think “I need a stop sign”, I just click on the store, search stop sign and within seconds I have it ready to use. I don’t have to run to the store to get an entire cartridge for the stop sign, I don’t have to stop my creative process – it’s right there at my fingertips. If I can’t find what I need in the store, I can Google stop sign, find a shape and import it into the software just as quickly.

My printer is always loaded and ready. I’ve had my Silhouette since the beginning of October 2011, I use the print and cut feature A LOT. I’ve only gone through one set of printer cartridges in that time frame. I also use my printer for many, many other things. You can also just CUT without printing using your stash of pretty papers and cardstock.

The Silhouette is also able to cut objects in layered pieces if you like to paper piece, or it can print/cut in one dimension.

The Silhouette Software vs. the Cricut Craftroom and/or the Gypsy. The software works somewhat similarly in both. If you are familiar with one, the other one will not be an issue for you. The options like cut, weld, delete, etc are pretty much the same. I think the Silhouette Studio Software offers several more options. I really like the feature that I can color the objects on my mat to match the color of card stock I want to use, so that when I am placing the papers on my mat I can easily remember which pieces cut in which color. This feature also comes in handy if you want a “preview” of what your layer color choices are going to look like when they are assembled (i.e. if you would like to cut a word and have the word cut in pink and the mat to cut in black you simple fill the letter on the screen with the appropriate color and then lay them on top of each other to see if you like that color combo before you waste your paper). Also, the ultra easy one button method which allows you to shadow/mat any image is great. The software for the Silhouette is 100% free. You can download it before you buy a Silhouette to experiment with and it comes with many free shapes.


The Silhouette is lighter, takes up less space, is easily transportable. You do need a computer to operate it, but there is an SD slot on the machine, which enables you to save your design to the card if you are going to a crop and don’t want to take your laptop. You cannot manipulate the image without a computer, but if you save it the way you want it, you can cut without a laptop.

Customer service at Silhouette America is amazing.  I have never heard or read a complaint about them.  I cannot say the same for Provocraft Customer Service.  My experience with Customer Service and Provocraft consisted of LONG Wait times, no response, multiple fixes.  I've not had any issues with my Silhouette, but have contacted them a few times with questions, I've always gotten timely responses by people who know their product.  I do not know of anyone who has had a return their Silhouette Cameo, or had a faulty one.  I know of several faulty Imagine Machines, Gypsy machines and several faulty mats with the Expressions.

As I said in my original review, I’ve owned two Expressions, the Gypsy, I had the original Cricut software, I had 75+ cartridges the last time I counted, I used the Cricut craftroom, I lived on the Cricut messageboard for a couple of years. My friends have Cricuts (Create, Expressions, Gypsy and the Imagine), if they asked me if they should switch, I’d say in a heartbeat!  

Quick Birthday Card with Silhouette

I made this very simple and quick birthday card with the Silhouette Cameo, a birthday candle and a little bling. 

Halloween Card

Halloween card Again!  Can you tell I really love making Halloween cards.  Not sure why that is, but I always get on a role about this time of year.  This card was made using papers from an old stash, hand cut (no Silhouette on this one), and a nestability for the scallop circle. 

Halloween Swing Card with Silhouette and Digi papers

I made this swing card using Carina Gardners Haunting Collection available at Jessica Sprague.com Lori Whitlock's cut file and my Silhouette Cameo  It's really a fun style of card.  The circle rotates as you open the card

make animated gifs like this at MakeAGif

Halloween Card with Silhouette Cameo and Lori Whitlock Digi Papers

Hi there!  Yes, you guessed it... ANOTHER Halloween project.  I just love crafting for Halloween.  I made this card using the Silhouette Cameo and digital kit by Lori Whitlock called "Happy Halloween".  It's available Here.  Such a fun collection.  I also used Lori's new masking template shapes for the black funky scallop circle which I brought into the Silhouette Software and cut with Black Glitter Paper.  The bat was also cut with the black glitter paper.  It's very sparkly.  I love how intricately the Silhouette cuts.  Look at that bad.  He is very, very small and there is not one rough edge or tear and that is on glittered paper, which is not the easiest thing to cut.

Halloween Treat Box with Silhouette

 I made this cute little double milk carton and holder using my Silhouette Cameo, cardstock and patterned paper.  Then added just a little bling to kick it up a notch.  I think this would be so fun for Halloween gifts for my 20 year old Goblins! (Wink).  I will fill with Candy Corn. 

I used the cut files by Lori Whitlock available in the Silhouette Store.

Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic Envelope Mini Album using the Silhouette

I made this easy quick envelope mini album using a mixture of Heidi Swapp Papers, Elements and Digital Elements with the Silhouette

Fancy Pants October 31 Halloween Collection, Halloween Cards

I made these fun Halloween cards using the Digital Kit by Fancy Pants called October 31 Halloween Collection.  It will be available at JessicaSprague.com soon!!  I also used various cardstock, Big Shot and miscellaneous ribbon. 

Echo Park Very Merry Digital Christmas Layout

I made this using the Very Merry Christmas Digital Kit by Echo Park.  What a fantastic digi kit!  I just love Echo Park.  I can't wait to get my hands on the paper kit as well.  I'll be looking for it at Hobby Lobby.

Echo Park Chillingsworth Manor - Halloween Layout

I used the fun Halloween Kit by Echo Park called Chillingsworth Manor to create this "Spooky" digital layout.  I had a rough time finding my kids Halloween photos to scan for digital.  A few years ago I made a mini album with all of the their Halloween photos, apparently I used the originals.  I had to lift this one out of the album and scan.

Halloween Cards!

Thought I'd post a few of my favorite Halloween cards from the past few years.  I love making and sending Halloween cards almost as much as Christmas Cards.  Do you send Halloween cards out to friends and family?

Double Pocket Fold Card with Tutorial

If you'd like instructions to make your own double pocket card, I've included a video.

Heidi Swapp Digital No Limits

I have been playing with the Heidi Swapp digital supplies I bought in her online store today.  Most of the items on this page are from a combination of her "No Limits" collections.  The word outstanding is from her "adjectives".  I'm loving it!!!

Baby Mini Album using Kathy Orta Build a Page

This album was so much fun to make.  I hope you'll take the time to check it out.  Pictures just wouldn't show how interactive this album is.  I used Kathy Orta's tutorial to make it, tweaking only a few of the pages from her original instructions.   I just LOVE it!!!