Monarch Butterfly Garland - Free Silhouette File

Hello Friends!

Actually, I probably should have called that picture Monday cheat since this post was meant to be up on Friday afternoon and here it is Monday. I've been working on so many projects at once...I'm afraid this one was neglected so it's the last post and official end of Butterfly Week...on Monday!

This butterfly is slightly different than the other monarch butterflies - I removed some of the finer detail around the edges so that the smaller size would cut cleanly and with few problems. I also used a different pattern to fill this butterfly but I stuck with the black-and-white color scheme.

 

I called this project a garland, though I'm not sure it meets the technical criteria for a garland, among which I think is 'something hanging'. Obviously these butterflies are hanging from nothing; I taped them to the face of the fireplace using washi tape (just enough 'stick' but not too much); I like the free form look of the butterflies without any twine or ribbon.

Although there is less detail in this smaller size, I think there's still enough to identify them as monarch butterflies. These pictures don't quite do this paper version justice - I think I like these danaus plexippus' almost as much as the real thing!

Here's the '.studio' file to download for you Silhouette peeps.

~ M ~

Monarch Butterfly Card

Hello Friends!

 

Just a very quick note today - and I mean that! I promised you files by Thursday at the latest and here it is Thursday at the latest. Just under the wire...

 

This is the third version of a monarch butterfly project; a card that's pretty in pink (or whatever color you decide to use!). Cut on the Silhouette Cameo, there are actually two files that are required to make this project. So simple: the base card is white cardstock and the overlay - the pink shape - is a cardstock I found at Target awhile ago. I attached the overlay with a piece of foam tape in the center. That's pretty simple, isn't it?

Love, love this card. It might get my vote for favorite project of the week tomorrow. Of course, that depends on what tomorrow's project is! Any guesses?

 

Here are the files for you...hope you get a chance to make a few of these cards:

butterfly detail .studio file

butterfly card .studio file

 

~ M ~

Monarch Butterfly

Hello Friends!

 

 

It's butterfly week here at Paisley Press. I know I've designed a few butterflies before but this one, this monarch butterfly, is my favorite yet. Designed in two layers, one is intricate and the other simple, creating a layered butterfly with all kinds of design potential.

 

To create this design, I traced (with software) a monarch butterfly from a clipart original and then turned it into a Silhouette cut file. The first time I cut the intricate layer, the detail was much too small for a clean cut. I enlarged the design and removed some of the tiniest details. The next cut was clean and precise.

 

You can see, by the picture variations, that there are a multitude of ways to produce this butterfly. The black on white is my favorite, although the blue and white design is lovely, too. I'll be using this monarch butterfly in a few more projects this week - already making plans for what's going to be next - so be sure to check back for new stuff! 

 

I'm working, too, on a design for a printable version of this butterfly - one that doesn't require a Silhouette to make. Hopefully, I'll have that for you, and a cut file for Silhouette peeps, by Thursday at the latest.

 

Stay tuned.

 

~ M ~

Pattern-On-Pattern Please!

Hello Friends!

 

 

In keeping with all of the monogram talk around here, lately, I have a fast and easy way to add a cute, quick, and custom touch to your home - and it just happens to be a monogram.

 

I cut this with my Silhouette but I would have been able to do it almost as easily without it - I'll tell you how in a minute. For this project, I entered a 'B' in the type design tool, enlarged it to the size I wanted, filled it with a houndstooth pattern and then sent it to cut. After that was done, I trimmed the backing paper down to fit inside the frame and taped the letter, with two-sided tape, to the backing paper, centering it first. I placed the paper down on the glass, put the backing on the frame and put it up on the mantel for a glamour shot!

Pattern-on-pattern design and decorating isn't for everyone - I know it feels way too busy to some people. I love it, but it SO has to be the right mix to work. These colors go well together - a classic combination - and neither one of the patterns is overbearing. This project took me no more than 5 minutes; you could make several of these monograms in an afternoon, hang them on the wall, and have a custom collection of artwork that not only adds a personal touch, but costs about $25 for everything.

 

Here's how to do it: Get paper: wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, book pages, cardstock. The Dollar Store has lots of wrapping paper for, you guessed it, $1 a roll. You could mix and match patterns, use the same backing for each one and change out the design for the monogram...get creative with yourself. Get frames: thrift stores, garage sales, rummage sales. They can be as little as $1-2 dollars at a thrift store. I suggest, for one wall, 5-7 frames. Get a can of spray paint: You'll need it to spray your frames all one color; I'd do all of mine in matte black. This helps the monogram - or artwork - stand out and become more of the focus. Cut your letters: print your letter in several different fonts and cut them out. Trace the letters on the back of the paper you want to cut - be sure to flip them before you cut - and cut them out. Cut your backing paper to fit your frames, assemble your custom monograms, and hang them on the wall. Pat yourself on the back!

 

 

The picture above is a cheat sheet for some fonts that I have on my machine. They have decorative characters and I can't begin to remember what each character is and in what font it lives. I printed these out, labeled them with the font name and then wrote, for each character, the associated key on the keyboard. Now I can put them in a binder and use them as quick reference for designing.

 

I hope to post tomorrow - check in if you find a quiet spot in your 4th of July celebration. Enjoy the day!

 

~ M ~

Stars, Stripes, and Freedom

Hello Friends!

 

 

Wow, have I been busy! Lots of catching up to do here at Paisley Press so I'm just jumping in. Organization, design, redesign and more red, white and blue coming your way.

 

Remember this? I took care of that mess in no time; the picture above is the after. I'm much happier with this clean and easy-to-access storage 'system'. Organization, although tedious at times, is always so worth it in the end! Don't you think so?

In that same post, I created my first project with adhesive vinyl: two acrylic mugs. The more I looked at them, the more I thought they needed to be redone. So I stripped the vinyl off the mugs and created a few new designs.

After the designs are cut, the excess vinyl in the design needs to be removed before the vinyl is transferred. I, however, removed the actual monogram itself. Whaaaaat? Epic fail! Needless to say, I recut the design and left the monogram intact while removing all of the extraneous bits.

Once all of the extra vinyl was removed, I used clear contact paper to transfer the vinyl to the mugs. Using white cardstock in the mugs to take these pictures shows the completed designs much better than trying to photograph them empty. So much happier with the new looks! 

 

Now it's time to bring on the 4th of July! I designed new cupcake flags, bunting tags and a Freedom banner that are all starred and striped to celebrate the holiday in style.

The bunting tags are just separate cardstock shapes that I cut out and then attached to the cake plate with two-sided tape. They aren't perfectly spaced or perfectly even but I love the way they dress up the plate. I covered the edges with plain white ribbon to give the bunting a finished look.

The cupcake picks are the same as the bunting - just longer and two-sided so they're patriotic from every angle. Again, so easy to make, just cut and glue and these picks are ready for dressing up any cupcake that comes their way.

The Freedom garland was created using the same stars-and-stripes pattern as the bunting and picks - they're all coordinated for decorating ease. Using my go-to baker's twine and glittered red clothespins are just the finishing touches needed to put this little garland over the top.

 

Don't be too disappointed but I don't have files to share today! I have a few issues with my file sharing platform so I'll get those straightened out and make the files available as soon as possible. I'm even going to work on it tomorrow - hopefully I can resolve it quickly!

 

Stay tuned.

 

~ M ~