Ashbee Design Silhouette Projects

1.13.2014

3D Valentine Tea Light Luminaries

Note:
The files are up. Here are the links:

3D Valentine Luminaire - Tall here.
3D Valentine Luminaire - Medium here.
3D Valentine Luminaire - Small here.

Important Note: If you purchased the Tall Luminaire before 1/22/14, you got a second copy of the medium one. There was a mix-up at the store. If you need the tall one, you can restore it through your Silhouette Download History on your My Account page, or email me directly at my email address in the side bar below.

Project Description:
Using some classic Scandinavian motifs as inspiration, I have designed three tea light luminaries to grace a Valentine table or mantle. Add an LED tea light to each. All three are made the same way but each cutting file is different in size and base decoration. The tallest is 11.5 inches tall, middle is 9.5 inches tall and the shortest is 8.25 inches high. They make an attractive grouping together.

Valentine Tea Light Luminaire Tutorial:

Tutorial assembled using Silhouette Software Release 2.7.18. This tutorial assumes you already know how to use the Silhouette and Silhouette software. It can be cut on both Cameo and Portrait Silhouette machines.

Supplies Needed:

Template from Silhouette On-Line Store
Paper glue
Silhouette Cameo or Portrait
Card Stock
LED Tea Light ( Do not use real candles!)

Steps for completing the Valentine Luminaire:

1. Download the cutting file for your Silhouette Cutting machine from the Silhouette Online Store. There are three separate files:

3D Valentine Luminaire - Tall here.
3D Valentine Luminaire - Medium here.
3D Valentine Luminaire - Small here.

2. Prepare and cut the file.

For Portrait Users:
All pieces fit within an 8 x10 cutting area but you will have to rearrange them to do so.

For Both Cameo and Portrait users:

The parts will need to be separated by paper color. I used 8.5 x 11 card stock and split them up according to this diagram.
I know the view is tiny but if you look on the actual cut file, I provided some simple instructions on which groups need to be cut from which color. Of course you can be creative and try something different as well!
Note: If the file is grouped together, select it by clicking on it, go up to the OBJECT MENU in the Silhouette software, and down to the UNGROUP command. This will allow you to copy individual elements and paste in a new file (FILE MENU to NEW).

3. Assemble the base.

For the base you need the following pieces:

4 red bases pieces
White trim hearts (different in each design).

Glue the trim hearts up the center of each base piece.

Repeat on all 4 base pieces.

Fold back all the tabs on the edges of the two bases. They get folded away from the white design just added.

Apply paper glue to all the tabs on one base piece.
Align the top edge of a tabbed base piece to the dotted fold line of an untabbed piece and start gluing the tabs in place. Work your way down the base keeping the edges aligned. The base will start to curve as you glue the two curved edges together.

Here is the first edge glued together....

Add the next base piece to the other side again gluing the tabs and matching the seam.Tabbed edges are always glued to untabbed ones. Here 3 are together.......

Watch the curved edges and keep pressing them as the glue dries.

Add the fourth base piece and bring it around to connect altogether.

Fold over the tabs on one top piece, add glue and glue it down inside the column.

Fold over the remaining top piece and glue in place.

4. Now glue the top lantern area together.

Collect all the pieces. You need:

4 vellum hearts
2 sets of connected red hearts
2 sets of connected white hearts
cross shaped base piece
tabbed strip and circle for candle holder

Here are the parts:

Start by gluing the vellum into the center hearts of all 4 red hearts.

The white hearts will cover the edges of the vellum but the order that you glue them is very important because they are staggered.
Line up the two pairs of red hearts. The first pair of white hearts will be glued over the right heart of the first pair and the left heart of the second pair. The 4 red hearts will now be connected in one strip with the white hearts holding them in place.

Now glue the left white heart of the last group to the farthest right red heart on the strip. There will be nothing under the last white heart.

Fold the strip of hearts along all the dotted fold lines to form a square,
The last white heart wraps around and gets glued inside the first red heart.

If you assembled them correctly all red and white hearts are now connected into the lantern top.

Fold down the 4 tabs on the cross base piece. Add glue to one of the points.
It gets glued inside the square, at the base with the cross points lining up with the bottom points on the hearts

Glue the opposite corner in place working to keep this platform level.

Glue the last two points in place and allow to dry.

5. Add the candle holder inside

Wrap the tabbed strip around a Tea light loosely and glue in a loop. You want to be able to easily slide the tea light in and out.

Fold in all tabs on the strip and glue them to the bottom of the red circle. The red circle goes inside the collar and the tabs are visible on the bottom.
Glue this into the center of the luminaire lantern top base thus covering the tabs. Allow to dry.

Glue this onto the top of the base being careful to center it.

Add a tea light and you are done!
How about making the other two coordinating Valentine Luminaries as well?

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Sharing this post at some of these link parties. They are worth checking out for other ideas.

1.12.2014

3D Valentine Tree

Note: The cutting file has been submitted to Silhouette and can be downloaded here. Tother styles of Valentine trees for paper cutting are available here. here is a solid heart version as well and it can be downloaded here.

Project Description:
Here is another 3D tree design, this time for Valentines Day. I designed and made this shortly after getting my Silhouette about a year ago. It is a complex cut with easy construction afterwards! I have uploaded two different patterns for this tutorial, one has solid hearts and the other is open. You can resize the pattern and make a collection in various sizes and shades of red, pink and white for a stunning centerpiece. It is both Cameo and Portrait friendly.

Valentine Tree Tutorial:

Tutorial assembled using Silhouette Software Release 2.7.18. This tutorial assumes you already know how to use the Silhouette and Silhouette software. It can be cut on both Cameo and Portrait Silhouette machines.

Supplies Needed:

Template from Silhouette On-Line Store here.
Paper Glue
Silhouette Cameo or Portrait
Card Stock
Small binder clips

Steps for completing the Valentine Tree project:

1. Download the cutting file for your Silhouette Cutting machine from the Silhouette Online Store. This is what the file looks like.

2. Prepare and cut the file.

Cut 3 times from card stock. I have also cut white hearts and suspended them in the center using red ribbon. That is an optional step. I added the extra heart pattern to the Silhouette file incase you want to put hearts in the center as well.

3. Assemble the tree.

Apply paper glue to the tips of all hearts on ONE edge of one tree. Don't go in further than 1/4" from the edge.

Place a second tree on top and press together.

Clip with mini binder clips to hold until dry. You can proceed with the other sides as it is drying.

Turn back the top tree from the open side and apply glue to the first couple of tips again only going in about 1/4"

Place the third tree against them working it between the two trees already together. They will bow apart.
Quickly add tiny binder clips to hold them in place while the glue dries.
It is easiest to work a few ends at a time on each side and slowly move up the tree.
Glue the third seam together and add binder clips to it as well.

Allow the tree to dry and then remove all the binder clips.
And the first tree is done!

Try the other cutting pattern with the solid hearts but also try re-sizing and creating a forest.

Here is a pair I cut in white index stock. One has a red heart hanging in the center. The other has a string of red wooden beads. Be creative!

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Sharing this post at some of these link parties. They are worth checking out for other ideas.

1.05.2014

DIY Valentines • Accordion Cards

Note:
The Heart Accordion Card cutting file is available now here.
The XOX Accordion Card cutting file is here.

Project Description:
I have modified my 2013 Christmas Card design for several Valentine applications. All are based on the same two layer accordion fold technique. This tutorial covers both the Valentine accordion variations - the XOX and the Heart. Here are the finished designs. They are sized to fit in a standard A2 Invitation envelope.

Accordion Valentine Card Tutorial:

Tutorial assembled using Silhouette Software Release 2.7.18. This tutorial assumes you already know how to use the Silhouette and Silhouette software. It can be cut on both Cameo and Portrait Silhouette machines.

Supplies Needed:

Template from Silhouette On-Line Store.
Paper glue
Silhouette Cameo or Portrait
Card Stock

Steps for completing the Accordion Card:

1. Download the cutting file for your Silhouette Cutting machine from the Silhouette Online Store. This is how the file is set-up. It almost completely fills 1 8.5 x 11 sheet. If working on a Portrait Silhouette you will need to copy each half to its own file and rotate it to fit it within the 8" cutting width. It does not require resizing. More detailed instructions below.

The Heart Accordion Valentine File - download here (coming soon).

The XOXt Accordion Valentine File - download here (coming soon).

2. Prepare and cut the file.
For Cameo users it is set to cut.

If you cut the entire file once in red card stock, and once in white, you will end up with pieces for two cards in alternating colors.
In my samples above I have cut the design both with and without the Hugs & Kisses text. One is visually simpler and quicker to cut. I like one better, my husband likes the other better. Your choice. You can leave or remove the text. To remove UNGROUP the design. Click on just the text and delete.

For Portrait users do the following:

Note: If the file is grouped together, select it by clicking on it, go up to the OBJECT MENU in the Silhouette software, and down to the UNGROUP command. This will allow you to copy individual elements and paste in a new file (FILE MENU to NEW).
Copy and paste each card half (Plus all enclosed parts) into a new file and rotate it 90º.
Here are the cut parts for the XOX card in all red.

Here are the cut parts for the heart card. It has the two added extra hearts with a flat side.

Variations of both cards can be made using a variety of papers including prints.

3. Fold the each piece as shown in the photos below.

Fold along the dotted fold lines. These folds are the same for both card designs.
The front piece folds back on the center fold and up on the two side folds as shown. (Valley-Mountain-Valley folds).

The back piece folds the opposite way, forward on the center fold and back on the two side folds as shown below. (Mountain-Valley-Mountain).
It is important to remember tops and fronts. The X's of XOX are smaller on the top and the designs will not line up if you flip one around.

Practice intertwining the two halves together BEFORE you apply adhesive. You want to understand how they nest together so you can accurately place them once glued.
The front goes over the back. The two side designs (either X's or hearts) on the back protrude through the front layer.

4. Now glue the two layers together.

I used Zig Memory Systems paper glue but others will do.
Apply glue to the back of the front piece - on only one end flap at a time, and glue that in place.
Placement is key. The outside corners do not line up.
For the XOX design, line up the X edges BUT, the front X is slightly larger than the back X so you will see a small (less than 1/16" border) of the back color showing through. (This is to prevent the X from getting stuck when passing through.)

For the heart design, the hearts are the same size so just line up the left panel using the inside heart curve as a guide.

On both designs, glue one end panel in place, and then glue the other end panel in place. There is no glue on the center 2 panels.

The XOX card is complete at this point but there is more to do for the heart design.

5. Completing the Heart Accordion Valentine:

Fold each of the hearts in the center forward along the dotted fold line.

Add glue to 1/2 of the heart with the slice off the side. The glue goes on the half with the slice missing.
Line up the top of the heart and the bottom of the heart with the one you just folded forward and glue onto the back.
The flat edge goes toward the center so as to not show through the center heart.

Repeat with the other side as well.
Here is a back view with both extra hearts glued in place.

That completes the Heart Accordion card.

If you cut the designs twice on the Cameo you will now have a second set to assemble another card in an alternating color scheme.

Then decide who to send them to!

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Sharing this post at some of these link parties. They are worth checking out for other ideas.

Pages

1.13.2014

3D Valentine Tea Light Luminaries

Valentine Tea Light Luminaire Tutorial:

Supplies Needed:

Steps for completing the Valentine Luminaire:

1.12.2014

3D Valentine Tree

Valentine Tree Tutorial:

Supplies Needed:

Steps for completing the Valentine Tree project:

1.05.2014

DIY Valentines • Accordion Cards

Accordion Valentine Card Tutorial:

Supplies Needed:

Steps for completing the Accordion Card: