I Love Paris In The Springtime (A Newbie Silhouette Cameo Tutorial)
I will show you how you can can make your own I love Paris in the springtime with a silhouette cameo machine!
I am so excited about this post today! Why?
Because I finally got a Silhouette Cameo machine!!! What is a Silhouette Cameo cutting machine? It’s an electronic cutting machine! It can cut paper, card stock, fabric, vinyl and there are sketch pens to draw designs as well. The ideas for using it are endless!
I’m joining The Silhouette Challenge bloggers to do a DIY project each month with my Silhouette machine. For the month of April, it’s anything spring related.
Because I’m in love with anything French and vintage, I made a cute little Eiffel tower artwork.
I’m a total newbie so if you have a Silhouette yourself but haven’t used it yet, you can follow me and we can make projects together. Hopefully we’ll get more advanced as time goes on. For now, I have a SUPER EASY I love Paris in springtime project for you.
Making Your Design
I wanted to try something really easy for my first Silhouette project so I decided to write a springtime saying then add a graphic. I Love Paris in the Springtime sounded perfect!
When you open your Silhouette studio program, a blank white page will pop up. You can also click the white paper in the top left-hand corner just like in Word.
Find the letter A icon on your left sidebar of your dashboard. Click it.
Now find the A icon on your top right sidebar. Click it and you’ll find a list of all the different types of fonts.
Click the blank page to start writing.
Next I wanted to add a design. When you click the book icon on the left sidebar of the dashboard, it will take you to your library of designs that come free with your Silhouette Cameo.
When you click the blue S icon on the left sidebar, it will take you to their online store where you can order more design patterns and fonts (most are 99 cents). There are sooo many designs, it’s incredible.
I downloaded a few Eiffel towers. Double-click the design you want and it will automatically display on your white page.
You can then move around and play with the words and shapes on your blank page.
Now you’re going to get your machine ready for sketching!
Loading The Silhouette Cameo
Here is my beautiful Silhouette Cameo!
Make sure to follow the instructions for set up. It’s pretty easy, just plugging a few cords in and one goes to your computer.
Press power button on and this screen will pop up:
Load Cutting Mat
Load Media
Using the arrows, make sure it’s on Load Cutting Mat.
Here is the little black Sketch Pen I used.
It goes in the same area of the blade. Turn the blue dial to the left to release, take the blade out if it is in there, pop in the pen and turn the blue dial to the right to lock.
This is the adhesive kraft paper I chose for the project.
Make sure to line up your paper product to the left hand top corner of your cutting mat.
The first time you use the cutting mat it will be super sticky. Try rubbing the mat on a T-shirt or carpet to add some lint to it so it’s not super sticky as the paper might tear when you are peeling it off the cutting mat.
You want to line up your cutting mat with that little line and two arrows.
Slide it in just under those white plastic covers on the metal bar. Then click enter on the Silhouette machine and your cutting mat will load.
Now go back to your computer and click the pencil icon to prepare for sketching.
Select which type of product you are using, in this case it was Silhouette Adhesive Kraft Paper.
Click the sketch pen icon then click cut.
Now sit back and watch the Silhouette Cameo in action!
Once it’s done, you’ll see ‘unload’ on the Silhouette’s screen. Click the enter button and it will release the cutting mat.
And here is how it looks!
The sketch pens seem to have a tiny bit of glitter in them which I love!
I added glue to the Eiffel tower so I could glitter it up!
Over a drop cloth, I sprinkled a lot of silver glitter then shook the excess off onto a paper plate.
And here it is! Voila!
I taped it on my kitchen chalkboard with washi tape.
And because the kraft paper is adhesive, later I can peel the back off and stick it on a frame or book for a fun home decor idea.
Want to Check Out More Silhouette Projects?
My Silhouette Challenge buddies and I are all sharing projects on our blogs today, so peruse the projects below for a wealth of Silhouette inspiration!
1. Dream a Little Bigger // 2. So Much Better With Age // 3. Adventures in All Things Food // 4. Creative Carnival // 5. The Kim Six Fix // 6. feto soap // 7. One Dog Woof // 8. The Experimental Home // 9. From Wine to Whine // 10. Architecture of a Mom // 11. Grey Luster Girl // 12. Minted Strawberry // 13. Designed Decor // 14. Tried & True // 15. Silhouette School // 16. Bringing Creativity 2 Life // 17. Weekend Craft // 18. Practically Functional // 19. Please Excuse My Craftermath… // 20. McCall Manor // 21. unOriginal Mom // 22. Creative Ramblings // 23. A Tossed Salad Life // 24. A Glimpse Into Barb’s Life // 25. Kate’s Paper Creations // 26. Simply Kelly Designs // 27. Cutesy Crafts // 28. Persia Lou // 29. Whats Next Ma // 30. Two Purple Couches // 31. The Frill of Life // 32. Nearly Handmade // 33. Get Silvered // 34. Ginger Snap Crafts // 35. Life After Laundry // 36. The Sensory Emporium // 37. Monograms & Cake // 38. The Thinking Closet // 39. My Paper Craze // 40. Chicken Scratch NY
How sweet! I love this. So adorable. I noticed that you have the ratchet lid sitting in that hole that seems too small for anything… Check out my post today (#31) to find out what that hole is for! Took me forever to figure it out, but I’m so glad I did! Glad you’re joining us. This is my third month to participate and I’m so excited every month when I get to! See ya on FB!
Thanks so much for the tip, Heather!
What a perfect quote for this challenge 🙂 I love that you filled in the Eiffel Tower with glitter for extra sparkle! Nice work on your first project! I’m still trying to figure out all the potential my Cameo holds! It’s a little overwhelming at times 😉
Thanks so much, Emily 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
I’ve never been to Paris but your artwork inspires me to imagine beautiful visions of what it must look like this time of year. Great project!
Thanks so much 😉
Awesome newbie tutorial. I love how you used glue to “fill in” the outline your Cameo had drawn! Awesome job!
Thanks so much, Rachel 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
What a great post! I love how you “painted” with the glue to create a glitter tower.
Thanks Kristy 😉
What a fabulous project and your tutorial was excellent! Great instructions that were easy to follow. Looking forward to your future projects! I am wishing I owned one now because you made it look pretty easy!
Thanks so much, Thea 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
Thanks for sharing. Love the blingy of the eiffle tower. Great job!
Thanks Sara 😉
Really pretty, Jamie. I love how you added the glitter! I think I love Paris anytime of year 🙂 – Melissa
I agree, Melissa, Paris anytime of the year!
Hugs,
Jamie
I love it! I need to try to use the pens on a project soon!
The pens are so easy, that’s why I tried them first 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
Great first project. And welcome to the silhouette challenge. I haven’t been to Paris is the springtime, but I’m sure I would love it too.
Thanks so much, Valerie!
Hugs,
Jamie
I do love Paris in the Springtime! Wish I could spend every spring there! Love this and anything with glitter!
Thanks so much, Michelle 😉
Such a fun spring quote, Jamie! And it’s just so YOU! I love that you used glitter in this project…and I think hanging up your poster with pink washi is so whimsical. Well done, my dear. So glad you joined us for this month’s Silhouette Challenge, girl. Way to kick things off with a bang!
Thanks girl, means a lot coming from YOU!
Hugs,
Jamie
Love it, Jamie! Welcome to the Silhouette club – it’s impossible not to be addicted! Love your Parisian print this month – can’t wait to see what else you create with this fab machine!
Thanks Tara! Yes, getting slowly addicted 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
This is great Jamie! I know a lot of ladies who don’t even use their machine because they are too intimidated to start. This kind of tutorial is perfect! It is broken down into easy to follow steps plus it is super cute! Well done!
Thanks Lisa! I love your blog 😉
Hugs,
Jamie
What a great project to kick off with. The glittery Eiffel Tower looks great against the Kraft paper
Thanks so much 😉
Your art turned out so great! I got a Silhouette for Christmas and have been using it a lot but I have not used the sketch pens. I need to give them a try, it looks like fun. Thanks for the easy tutorial.