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 ~

Wrapping Paper Rosettes

Hello Friends!

 

 

I spotted this wrapping paper at Target on Sunday. The colors caught my eye, of course. I also thought it would make very pretty rosette flowers. I wasn't sure how wrapping paper would hold up to the folding that's necessary to make rosettes but I thought I'd give it  a try.

 

The paper is 30 inches wide. I didn't want to make the rosettes that large so I cut the width in half and then cut one of those halves in half again. That left me with one 15 inch, and two 7.5 inch wide strips of paper. I folded them accordion-style, fanned them out, and taped them to make the rosette shape.

I  don't really care for the way the middle of the flowers look without some kind of center emblem so I designed a really simple one using the pink, yellow and green colors in the paper. After cutting them, I attached them easily to the center with hot glue.

The wrapping paper held up much better than I expected it to. I was afraid it might be too thin and tear easily when I used a bone folder to make the creases but I didn't encounter any problems with that.

I realized, after folding everything, that the flowers look a little off center because the stripes don't match up exactly; this paper has a large pronounced design. I'm okay (in this case) with everything being less than perfectly matched - they look cute anyway. Besides, I heard that less-than-perfect is the new perfect!

I'm thinking about making some of these rosettes for the wedding I'm doing in the fall but don't wait for a special occasion to make your own. They're a simple way to add interest, color, and even a little 'happy' to your space!

 

This also happened yesterday! I'm pretty excited about it. Just a few products now but the inventory will continue to grow. I'll be adding some paper kits, soon, and I hope (also) to thin the herd of vintage stock that resides in my closets, cupboards and cabinets.

 

Stay tuned.

 

~ M ~

Little Birds

Hello Friends!

If you've followed me at all, you know I really like garlands. But did you know that garlands can be used for so much more than draping mantels?

 

Found here on Pinterest



How about hung from a headboard in a child's bedroom? Draped over the mirror in a bathroom? Hung from a bookshelf? Strung across an entryway? Any one of those places would work great, and, I'm sure, several more that I haven't thought of.

 

Found here on Pinterest

Garlands can be made from so many things - fabric, cardstock, crepe paper, book pages, sheet music or even photographs. As with most creative things, you're only limited by your creativity and ingenuity and maybe, a pair of scissors.

 

The shape I made today is a little bird I designed for hanging beak-to-beak and tail-to-tail. I love them in yellow but make yours in your favorite color - I'm pretty sure having these little birds hanging around will make you happy. The '.studio' file is at the end of this post.

 

I'm going to a flea market this Saturday! I haven't been to one in so long, I'm not sure if I'll be able to sleep Friday night. I'm not in much of a buying mode - I'm trying to downsize in every area of our lives - but just looking at everything and learning it's history is so fun for me. It's a visual feast for my creative eyes. 

Okay, I've got to run...working on some flowers for tomorrow's post! Here's the file for the sweet birds. I hope you make one for you and one for a friend. Enjoy!

Stay tuned.

~ M ~

Gift Boxing - DIY

Hello Friends!

Another Friday just about gone, another weekend to look forward to! My plans this weekend include sprucing up Paisley Press a bit so things will be slightly different around here Monday. We'll see if anyone can tell what the changes are.

 

Sunday is the first of June and not long after that, Father's Day will be here. Today I designed a simple box for you to use when gifting the dad, or dads, in your life. Its a striped tie, which seems to be a universal 'dad' symbol (whether your dad wears one or not!), and I'll be offering both Silhouette and printable versions for you to download - hopefully on Monday.

 

Of course these boxes are customizable to fit the preference of your recipient. Just cut as many as you need from your preferred cardstock and then use a complementary or contrasting insert inside the box top to make the tie 'pop'.

 

I love the brown box with the stripe-on-stripe tie and I love the preppy yellow box with the blue insert and coordinating ribbon but I have to admit...I LOVE the black and white combination the best.

 

These boxes are great for gift cards, love notes, cash or candy. As a matter of fact, a new tie would fit perfectly in this box!

 

Whatever you use it for, I hope you enjoy giving it as much as the recipient will enjoy receiving it.

 

Have an exciting weekend  - see you here Monday!

 

~ M ~