3D Pop-up Flower Card

You know what I like about this project? It's a way to enjoy spring whether it has come to your part of the world yet or not. Thumbs up to that! The other thing about it that just BLOWS MY MIND is that this little pop up card FOLDS UP into an A2 (standard size) envelope! Say what?! Yeah, I know. Mind blowing. It really does work though. Amazing!

I'm using paper from the Athenaeum 12x12 Creative Pack by SEI. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love double sided paper packs. Why? They make me look like I'm good at coordinating because everything already goes together.

There are ways to create a 3D pop up card like this without using a machine. I've never done it so I went the easy route and used this svg file from the Silhouette store.

These papers are so pretty!

One of the flower tabs gets glued in facing forward, the other one faces backward. It's part of what helps the whole card fold flat.

This stamp comes from the Joy's Life Tag You're It Two stamp set.

Now grab some SEI paper and make a pretty bouquet to send to a friend!

Joy

St. Patrick's Day 3D Pot of Gold

I love to make 3D projects! Today I'm using my Silhouette Cameo along with the SEI Azalea paper pack to create this fun pot of gold.

You can find the Pot 'o Gold svg file I'm using in the Silhouette Store. It cuts like a dream with SEI's papers!

This pot of gold is made even more special by the addition of paper wrapped gold candies. I'm using Hershey’s Nugget Candy because it has a pretty gold wrapper.

To give the candies a customized look that matches the rest of my project, I'm covering them with SEI's "Loaded Luggage" paper from the Azalea pack. To make your own candy covers size your labels at 1" wide x 3" long. They will cover the nugget candy perfectly. Then just stick them down using Craft Glue Dots.

I used twine and adhesive gems from SEI's Yesteryear sundries to tie on a four leaf clover and the sign. The paper creating the sign is the reverse side of the paper used to make the pot of gold.

I'm using Versafine Spanish Moss ink and Joy's Life You're So Punny stamps to create a St. Patrick's Day themed tag.

Create your own grass for this project by running paper through a strip cut shredder!

Happy Crafting!

Joy

Silhouette Project + Special Offer!

We are excited to partner with Silhouette America this week and give you guys a KILLER discount! Are you ready?

------------------------------------UPDATE!------------------------------------

Promotion extended through March 10th! Get on it!

With Spring in the air, we wanted to show you a fun and unique decoration! We used the Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software and traced an egg shape with tiny little circles. Then we traced a loopy pattern within the egg! Then we sent it through our silhouette and dusted off the tiny circles that it cut. We used 7 total different colors of embroidery thread and stitched the pattern out. Then we finished by outlining the egg with white. We love it on our Mia Bella paper!

Using the Silhouette couldn't be easier, and we LOVE having the Cameo in the art room. It makes designing and creating even more fun! Want to get one of your own?

Visit THIS Silhouette Studio page and add your desired products to your cart. Then when checking out, use code SEI to receive your discount! Simple as that. Here are the offers Silhouette is generously providing:

(1)  1 Silhouette Portrait™ and the Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software for $179.99

(2)  1 Silhouette CAMEO® and the Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software for $269.99

(3)  The Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software for $24.99-assuming the customer already owns one of our two Silhouette cutting machines.

What would you use a Silhouette for?

Silhouette Advent Calendar + Winner

You guys! Have you seen the new Silhouette Advent Calendars? Oh my coolness. The amazing folks over at Silhouette sent us one to play with, and we are in love!

Sometimes it's nice to just have traditional Christmas colors, no? We used some of our favorite Holiday Cheer papers along with Silver Valley stickers for the numbers. Those little circles that back the numbers? Cut outs from the boxes themselves! You see, the calendar comes with a free download card for all these drawers, AND just as many super cute gift boxes that fit in the slots as well. They were so straight forward and easy to do. Of course whenever you're using this cutting machine, it's that way anyway! Our machine gets some serious loving. We think this advent calendar would be great for lots of other uses, too! Jewelry holder, craft supplies drawers, desk organizer, etc. Don't just think Christmas. This will have a purpose all year round.

And here's a little secret for you guys...Silhouette is giving you this fabulous little package for $29.99 with the promo code SEI! That's $10 off! Wow. Hurry now, this is good only through November 11th. That way you have time to make it and get ready for all your adventing, right?

And don't forget the winner for our October challenge! As selected by random.org is #2...
JODI RELEFORD!

Congratulations, Jodi. Please send us an e-mail at seiblog{at}shopsei{dot}com to claim your $25 gift card.

Thanks everyone who participated in our link parties and challenges.

Gift Giving

How often do you guys make 3-D projects? They kind of intimidate me! Lots of planning and scoring and folding oh my. It gets intense. So I got really excited when I saw all the cool 3-D downloads on the Silhouette Store. I had to try some!

My Mom has a drawer in the laundry room full of little gifts so she's always prepared. I've gained that same habit and now love having cute packaging around too. These two projects would be great for quick and impressive gifts. Seriously, I will take anything wrapped in this lattice box!


paper: on the coast plankton
embellishment: juliette ribbon
shape: box_lace_cube_tent_top_C00579_19210

We always have gift cards lying around, and they make great thank you gifts. This box is the perfect size for them! It doesn't even need embellishing with that lovely lid, but I thought I would play a little anyway.


paper: on the coast lagoon
embellishments: on the coast borders, on the coast chiplet, juliette ribbon
shape: adorable_box_5_C00378_20509

Our giveaway today is absolutely fantastic! We have a Rhinestone Starter Kit for you! I know you all love a little bling, so don't be shy. To enter, leave a comment telling us what has been wonderful about your week! This giveaway ends Sunday at midnight. And don't forget to go to the Silhouette Blog for a free download of the shapes from my projects monday!
-Mandi

Vinyl Delight

When I see strips of vinyl words made to attach to walls or plaques I imagine a huge, expensive, high-tech machine creating them. I thought I would just leave it to the pros and hire someone to make one for me. Boy, was I wrong! It is really quite simple to make your own vinyl designs. The machine you need is the Silhouette and it's not scary to use at all.


Pick your designs from the library or make your own, then size them, load your vinyl and the machine does the rest. When it's finished just peel away the extra vinyl, place transfer paper on your design and go to town rubbing it off on different materials. I especially love the way it looks on acrylic albums and glass.


Papers: Bridgeport, Jocelyn, & On the Coast
Embellishments: Stickers, Petals, Ribbons & Brads
Album Shapes: delightful_phrase_C00534_20509, elegant_flower_C00066_27011, rough_flourish_C00013_27011 & flourish_1019
Jar Shapes: blossom_C00049_27011 & decorative_leaves_C00065_27011

Do you want some vinyl? Lucky you. Silhouette has provided us with 2 rolls of vinyl and 1 roll of transfer paper to giveaway! To enter, just leave a comment on this post with an idea of how to use the vinyl (with or without the machine). You have until Sunday at midnight. Be sure to enter the giveaway we are sponsoring on their blog too. It's an On The Coast assortment pack!
-Maria

Welcome, Projects, Giveaway!

Welcome to a very special week here at SEI Lifestyle! We have teamed up with the amazing Silhouette Team and are going to be bringing you some goodies we think you will love! Each day we'll be giving away product on both of our blogs, along with fabulous projects to inspire you!

Happy Monday friends! Can I start out by telling you all how much I love this machine? This thing is the coolest. It die-cuts like a dream...so crisp, so clean, it's just lovely to watch it hum along as it works. I am impressed.

We thought we'd start out the week with a layout! Easy peasy and fun. Remember when Maria mentioned she saw me using a photo to make a layout? Well, this is it! I'm constantly inspired by A Creative Mint's clean, well thought out photos and it was the perfect grid for my project with Silhouette.

I'm generally a 12"x12" kinda girl, so I just imagined some extra space on the sides. Not hard! As I started laying it out, I realized there were some cool elements that I wanted on my own layout. Enter the Silhouette SD. Paper clips made out of paper? Done. File folder shapes? Got it. Custom text? No problem! I hopped onto Illustrator and got to work, and a few minutes later my layout was practically done. Efficiency is so cool.

papers: happy day, bronze shimmer, my romeo, guava cardstock, & exquisite
embellishments: claire petals, claire metal accents, claire chiplets, claire + jocelyn designer brads, juliette ribbon, juliette stickers, & lovebirds epoxy stickers
shapes: custom (coming soon!), nameplates_C00022_27011

And see those cut-out letters? The cool part about this machine is your get the positive and negative space of your cut-outs. Two home sweet homes for me! Yipee! We were having some guests over for the weekend, so I whipped out a frame and made two custom cut mats for it (with the Silhouette, of course) a-la Miss Jennifer and ta-da! Some art for our guest room.

Now, I know you're looking at all those shapes and wishing you had them. Well, if you win the $25 Download Card Silhouette has so sweetly donated, they could be yours! To enter the giveaway tell us what you want to buy with it in a comment by Sunday, June 13th at midnight MST. That's it!

Next stop? The Silhouette Blog, who is featuring our brand new line On the Coast, and another giveaway! Thanks for playing and come back tomorrow for even more Silhouette goodness!
-Mandi