Black Friday with Silhouette

Are you an avid crafter like me? I love creating things for my home, classroom, and as gifts.  But one thing I hate is cutting things out.  It takes forever and makes my hand tired (I'm a lefty, so I blame all those non-left handed scissors I've been forced to endure! :)

Thank goodness Silhouette is having a Black Friday sale! Here are the sales they have going on, then scroll to the bottom to see my first project with my new Silhouette Portrait machine!

Bundle #1: a Portrait machine with 1 free year to Club Silhouette for $179.99

Bundle #2: Cameo machine, Designer Edition software upgrade, Dust cover, 4 tools, and $25 download card to the Silhouette Design Store for $269.99

Bundle #3: Cameo machine, Design Edition software upgrade and 1 free year to Club Silhouette for $299.99

Bundle #4: Cameo machine AND Portrait machine (one for you and one for a friend! ;) plus 2 $25 download cards to Silhouette Design Store for $299.99

Maybe you are like me and already have a Silhouette machine.  There are great deals for you, too! Use my code (TEACH) to receive 40% off at SillhouetteAmerica.com! Machines, design downloads, download cards, subscriptions, and gift cards aren't included, sorry! But, there is free shipping on all orders over $25 in the continental US.  If you are interested in designs, you can get 50% off all designs at SilhouetteDesignStore.com and there is no code needed! Woot!

Here are the deets:
The sale lasts from Thursday, November 26th at 10pm MST until Monday, December 8th at 11:59pm MST.
Code for sale prices: TEACH

The kind people at Silhouette sent me a Portrait machine to play around with and I'm in love! I already have a Cricut, but I feel so stifled by their design cartridges.  I've made some cute things, but I'd rather be able to cut the clipart and fonts I already own on my computer.

When I read about Denise's Student of the Month hanger, I knew I needed to make one for my room! My Star Student fills out an All About Me poster each month that I hang up.  But it keeps blowing off the wall from the fans in our room.  This hanger was brilliant and a perfect first project for my Portrait!

First, I got the Portrait machine all set up and downloaded my free images it comes with.  I even watched the instructional DVD! #nerdalert

Then I started playing around with the software.  I LOVE that I can see how it will cut on the page and that I can use my own fonts.

 Here is my completed hanger! I prepped (wiped with liquid deglosser, then sanded smooth), and painted with acrylic paint (Liquitex Bright Aqua Green mixed with a little white).  I rubbed the metal part with some steel wool because it had some rust on it.  Then I cut out my words and the stars with blue and gold vinyl that I already had.  The way the Portrait works is the same as the Cricut, but I feel like I have more control.  With the Cricut, I never knew how much paper it would use or how the letters would sit on the page.  With the Portrait, I get to choose.  I love it!

What would you make?

Disclaimer: I received a Portrait machine for free, but the ideas and opinions are entirely my own.