Today I’m excited to bring you a new Silhouette promotion, project, and a Silhouette Portrait GIVEAWAY. Silhouette sent me some sketch pens to play with and I really love what I came up with to show you.
I created some butterfly word art. I looked up how to say the word butterfly in 10 different languages, and then used those words over and over again to create a butterfly shape. I will walking you through the whole process, so you can make a butterfly or really any shape that you want.
All you really need for this project is card stock, and some Silhouette sketch pens. Let’s get started.
- Choose a thin font for the writing. I used Play Date which is available free from dafont.com. The pens outline the letters, so a nice thin font makes the letter look filled in and more like natural handwriting.
- Write your words in a relatively small size, I used 16 pt. My words were “butterfly, borboleta, mariposa, sommerfug, paruparo, fluture, papillon, drugelis, farfalla, schmetterling.” If any of those are incorrect, I’m blaming Google. 🙂 Repeat them over and over again until they fill up a large space. You can use the Character spacing and line spacing function in the text style window to make sure your lines and characters are nice and close together. Having all those words started to slow down my computer a bit so just be aware. You might need a bit of patience.
- Once you have your words how you want them, use the arrow to make sure your text object is selected. Right click on the text and select ‘Convert to path.’ You will no longer be able to edit the text. Right click again and select ‘Compound Path’. That will convert all of the individual little letters into one big object.
- Now you are ready for your butterfly object. I used the capital B from the Butterflies font at FontSpace. Get your shape the size that you want it and drag it right over the middle of your words.
- At this point, make a copy of your butterfly shape. Just drag it over to the side. You don’t need it yet.
- Now, select the butterfly shape and the words. In the modify window, select the Crop option. It will remove everything where the butterfly and words are not overlapping. You should be left with just the words in the shape of the butterfly.
- When you crop the image, it is going to take all the letters and turn them into individual objects. You will want to select all those objects and select group. Here’s what it looks like as individual objects. It’s a big old mess of little boxes. If you don’t group it back up, you can move each one of those boxes separately and potentially mess up your pretty butterfly.
- Remember that extra butterfly you moved over to the side? Well now is the time to move it back if you want. I liked having the outline to give the shape some more definition.
- Almost time to sketch! Head over to the cut line window. It looks like a pair of scissors. I decided to have the outline and words be different colors. So, I had to make sure that the cut lines for the outline was set to No Cut and the words were set to Cut. The second picture shows what it looks like when the cut lines are off for the words, but on for the outline.
- Time to send to the Silhouette. In your Silhouette Cut Settings window, make sure you have Sketch Pen selected. Also be sure that you have removed your blade from the Silhouette and put in the sketch pen. Once you are happy with your settings and your machine is all set, select the Cut button.
- Your Silhouette should be off and running now. It takes a while to do all of that intricate writing. If you are doing the outline separately from the words, make sure you DO NOT REMOVE THE MAT between sketches. It will be impossible to get it in exactly the same spot again. Simply change your cut lines like we discussed in Step 9, switch you sketch pen to a different color, and then draw the outline. Here’s the sketch pen in action.
Here’s a shot of the butterfly without the outline. Forgive me if it is hard to read. I used the pink glitter sketch pen, which is beautiful in person, but a little difficult to photograph. It really is shimmery.
Here’s the finished product. After I sketched the butterfly outline in silver.
I popped it in a fun little swirly frame that I painted silver. I think I’m going to hang it in my daughter’s bedroom. She really LOVES butterflies. If you have any questions about how to make this yourself, please don’t hesitate to ask. I will do my best to help you out!
Okay, so now I bet you are super excited to try out some sketch pens for yourself. Well, Silhouette has a great deal going from August 21-29. You can buy the sketch pens starter pack for just $19.99.
The sketch pen starter pack includes:
- Silhouette sketch pen starter pack
- 10 sketch pens: black, red, pink, navy, green, purple, yellow, orange
- Silhouette glitter sketch pen pack
- 4 glitter sketch pens: black, green, aqua, pink
- Silhouette metallic sketch pen pack
- 4 metallic sketch pens: gold, copper, silver, white
- Pen holder
If you are in the market for a Silhouette, they also have great bundle deals. I personally recommend the Cameo bundle, because that is what I have and love. To get your deal. you just need to head over to the Silhouette America Promotion page and use code CUTEFOX to get your discount.
Did I say something about a giveaway? Yes I did! I am giving away Silhouette Portrait digital cutting machine. You can enter the giveaway below in the rafflecopter form. Good luck to everyone!
I would give the pens to my daughter-she is the real artist and would love them
You know, I got some sketch pens and have never tried them. That is gonna change! The butterfly project is darling. I am totally amazed. Clearly I need to spend a little more time with my silhouette! !!
I would use them in tshirt design
I love your butterfly with text! I’d love to try something like that using a silhouette of my daughter’s head.
I would give it to my son who is a very good artist . he woulld make some beautiful things
I would make a card and gift tags for my daughter’s birthday next month!
Love your creative Butterfly. What a great idea. I would use the sketch pens for card making. Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
I would use the sketch pen to do all my grand children’s names to frame for their rooms.
I would make art for my babies room.
I’d draw some lettering for my kids.
I would use would the sketch pens for design and outline.
I would use them to make background paper for my scrapbook layouts!
~Stacey Brucale
I’d use them on a scrap book.
I would use them for the Wedding Invitations to daughters wedding
I would use for make a lot of cards!!!
I would love to use the pens for some scrapbooking pages
I’m expecting our first baby and would love to make monogrammed art for her nursery!
Thanks!
I would use the pens in some sort of birthday princess art for my daughter’s bedroom, pink and brown 🙂
Zoe lee
I would make cards and gift tags and I’m sure I can find many other things to make!
I would give it to my brother 🙂
I want to CREATEALLTHETHINGS!!
After seeing your post I’d love to try making that butterfly 🙂
I’d use them for scrapbooking projects.
my best friend is an artist. she could do some amazing stuff.
dani marie ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would use them to sketch some art for my kitchen.
I would use them scrapbooking as well
I would use them for making cards!
I would use them to decorate my apartment.
I would love to make something like this for both of my girls. Using words about them, like birthday, where they were born and there favorite things. The shape being one thing they like my oldest would be the shape of a horse.
I would use them to make cards.
My sister is an artist, so I would pass this on to her, so she could draw for me, and make things…like Zombies.
if i win, i would use these sketch pens to add some flair to my annual homemade christmas cards! what a neat product-thanks for the chance to win such a grand and extrememly useful prize!
I would use these pens to add to my scrapping pages, especially for the kids pages.
Greeting cards would be a great use for it
I would make gift tags, cards and whatever else I could think of.
scrapbooking
I would make gift tags, cards and whatever else I could think of.
I would make name frames for all my kids and family!
I would utilize the sketch pens in my art program for my son.
I would use them to outline and color my die-cuts.
Probably my daughters room. Its so cute!
I’d give them to my middle son to use. He’s quite the artist!
I would love to make a football sign for my boys
I would use them to make cards.
rounder9834 @yahoo.com
My daugter would love these
I would use it for tags for my son’s birthday and christmas gifts!
I would use them for scrapbooking
name on rafflecopter: amanda sakovitz
I’d make cute Christmas word art!
I’d love to try them on something like you did…such a great idea. I love it.
How cute! i’d love to experiment with sketch pens…I think I’d start by making some ‘thinking of you’ cards.
Some labels and tags for around the house.
lots of things having to do with music music makes the world go round!
I would give this my daughter. She loves to be crafty, and I hope she would make something as lovely as you did! scain54 (at) aol (dot) com
I’d give them to my aunt, who loves her Silhouette.
I would use the sketch pens to create cards…. but let’s be honest, knowing me, if I won, I would give them to my daughter as she is the artist is the family.
I would use them to make a Dr.Seuss quote for my son’s bedroom.
I would use the sketch pens on my handmade cards
Why the word art that you just showed me how to do! For College decorations!! Yeah!
I would give this to my sister who is an artist! 🙂
If they will work on glass, I would use them for labeling and decorating jars along with Silhouette products.
I would use the sketch pens to make pretty greeting cards!
I’d start with making some birthday cards 🙂
I’d sketch a cute little picture for my daughters room
I would use the sketch pens for some old poetry from my deceased brother to make like your butterfly,maybe a different shape like a star. Loved your post! Great review and a neat idea for gifts especially with Christmas coming up!
I would give them to my daughter’s to make cards & other creative things.
I’d like to use sketch pins to make teacher gifts for Christmas… not quite sure yet but probably something involving each teacher’s name somehow… probably put in a painted frame.
I’d like to use sketch pins to make teacher gifts for Christmas… not quite sure yet but probably something involving each teacher’s name somehow… probably put in a painted frame.
I would use them for cards and for scrapbooking.
For my girl scouts
I would use the sketch pens to decorate the nursery walls with prints and Seth’s name. I would also use them to create beautiful invitations.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
My oldest is starting kindergarten this year and I’ve signed up to be his room mother and on the PTO, so I know there will be a ton of great uses for that. I also teach kids at church on Wednesday night and we love to do crafts with different verses and this would really help us get the actually finished 😀
Thank you
I would love to scrapbook and make b-day cards for my daughter
I would use them to make amazing gifts for the holidays
I would use the sketch pens to make some t-shirts for my son.
tderosa142 at gmail dot com
For birthday invitations.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
I would make so many things! Tshirts, cards, pallet signs! Anything really!
The list is endless – would probably start with some cards and move on from there 🙂
to copy your adorable butterfly!
would use to make beautiful things like your butterfly. WOuld like to do one of our pets too,
brich22 at earthlink dot net
I would use with my scrapbooks.
Love the word art idea!
I would use it to make decorations for my daughter’s room.
bbrittbrat1398@yahoo.com Brittney House
I would love to win a silhouette!! I would use the pens for greeting cards and decor!
I pinned the butterfly, I will be making a version for my twins’ room (firetruck and race car) as soon as I get my hands on one of these:) !! Thanks!
I would use these pens to make my own cards such as birthdays, weddings, etc (:
Wow–I hadn’t seen the sketch pens. Those are amazing! If I had a Silhouette, I would probably use the pens for cardmaking. There are just so many wonderful things one can craft with a Silhouette! I love your butterfly art!
–Gypsi
I’d use it for a canvas craft I’ve been thinking about doing
I think I would use them to make pictures for each of my children and grandchildren for christmas
I’d probably use them for Christmas tags.
Awesome giveaway! I would use it to make cards!
I would use them to make unique Christmas cards 🙂
ssgsweeps @ hotmail.com
I would use them for writing out invitations.
I would use them for Art in my classroom!
i would use these to making cards
I would use them to make my Christmas cards
vikki.billings@yahoo.com
I would use them when I scrapbook. I also make cards, to they would come in handy!
That is so cool!!! I would use the sketch pen to create invitations to a special tea.
Entered under Jill
I would use them for making cards
gjfalk@yahoo.com
I love the butterfly idea, but as I have little boys, I’m thinking an outline of one of their favorite cars with all of the names of the Pixar Cars characters would be fun…or maybe family names in a tree for a family tree would be fun too!
I don’t know! So many ideas. I can only imagine all I could do with this! Something for scrapbooking probably.
i think i could make some really pretty christmas gift tags with them! reallyneat!
*kelly
kelly-tillotson@hotmail.com
i’d use the sketch pens for – 1) shamelessly copying your butterfly idea; 2) wall art football schedule; 3)room mom stuff thanks for the great giveaway! 10750coupons at gmail
I would use them for a project similar to yours , but something super-hero related for my boys’ room.
I would give to my 13 year old daughter who loves to draw.
I love this! I would love to make word art with the Silhouette in the shape of a pumpkin for Halloween and maybe a turkey for Thanksgiving! And an ornament for Christmas! You have got my wheels turning on other ways to use it! 🙂