Silhouette Cameo

[Jo Ham]

Thought I would start a discussion about the Silhouette Cameo.

 

Here are a few questions to get us started.

 

1. Do you own a Silhouette or Silhouette Cameo?
   1. If you answered No are you planning on getting one and when?
   2. If you answered Yes, what do you like about the machine?
   3. Have you taken classes on using it? If so which one(s)
   4. What do you create with your machine?
   5. Out of the items that you create do you sell any of them?
   6. What has been your favorite creation that you have made using the Silhouette/Cameo?
   7. If you had to do it all over again would you purchase again.
   8. What is your favorite place to purchase your supplies for you machine.

 

Please feel free to share pictures of some of your projects that you have made using your Silhouette/Cameo.

[Colleen Holmes]

Hello! Thank you for starting this Jo:)

I do own a Cameo and have had it since March. Unfortunately, I have not had time to really play with it.  What I love about the machine is you can do so much and save money. Your machine is connected to an online store where you can purchase anything you can imagine from words, pop-up cards, boxes, envelopes, any silhouette, embellishments ...the list is endless. Each purchase is 99 cents but you can join a monthly club and for 15.99 - I believe you receive  50 credits and each credit = 99 cents. My favorite is the ability to fussy cut any digi you own  and the lines are perfect and smooth. In fact!! The current issue  Through The Craft Room Door has a wonderful article with step by step instructions how to cut a digi by Stephanie Mino. 

I have taken 3 online classes, well,  I signed up for three classes and have not had the time to do the lessons. All three classes are lifetime so you can always go back and review something you have learned or do it at your own pace. My pace is label snail!! 

A Cut Above by Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Warner

Silhouette: by Kerri Bradford 

So far I created with my silhouette is a pop-up heart card. So cool!! Scrolls, Two digi's, words, butterflies.

In a manner of speaking I have sold. I have cut out scrolls, corners and pop-up that I use on cards for my customers. 

Digi cut-out  and pop-up card has been my favorite.

Yes, I would buy it all over again.

I purchase everything through Amazon. 

One thing I did not know and it is a cost factor. The mat and blade has to be replaced every so often.

[Jo Ham]

I am so excited about the thought of getting the Cameo. I tried Stephanie tutorial in the new issue since you can download the software from the Cameo's site. It worked perfect well up until the cutting part since I can't do that yet. :-) I would recommend it to anyone, very easy to follow. 

[sandihug]

Jo where do you go to play with the cameo? I would like to give it a try before I order mine and also what exactly do I order with it.

[Jo Ham]

Here you go Sandi. You do pretty much everything but up to the cut. http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software.aspx

[Lisa (ThePurplePlace)]

I own and absolutely LOVE my Silhouette Cameo!   I upgraded to the Silhouette Cameo (a former Cricut user) when it was released, in November.  I knew I wanted to make a chance and was about to buy an SD,  when I heard a new upgraded version was coming out (The Cameo) and I waited for it to be released and then bought it right way.   I shopped around for prices and at that time, I found the best price from Craft e Corner.   I had promo code and free shipping and paid about $249, at that time.   Now that it's been out longer, you can find even better prices, so be sure to shop around!!   

I have taken two different online classes and my absolute favorite was the A Cut Above Class that Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire teach in their online classroom.  Like Colleen, I also took a beginner class with Kerri Bradford, which was good, but I found I learned even more from the A Cut Above class, which came out shortly after I took Kerri's class.    When I first started using it I also joined a few online forums for support and guidance and still visit form time to time, if have any questions or feel lost.  The best one I found was at this link - Silhouette Plus!   You can also find tons of helpful videos on YouTube and on the Silhouette Blog.!

I primarily use my machine in my cardmaking, making the actual cards or elements for my cards.  But, I would love to expand into Vinyl and other projects and know there is much more I still need to learn and try.  I also have a monthly subscription to the online store and bought it during a sale.  For $15.99 per month (sale price) I get $150.00 in store credits every month to use for buy new images/files.   A great value and when this runs out (1 yr)...I will definitely buy again.  The normal price of each file is 99 cents, and they also have one free weekly file and clearance sales.   If you sign up for the Newsletter they also have additional sales throughout the year for supplies and such too!

I can't say I have one favorite thing....I really LOVE the machine itself and how wonderful each of the cuts are, so MUCH better than anything I ever tried to cut with either of my Cricuts (Baby Bug and Expression).  I also love not having to buy cartridges and that I can convent any image into a cut file.  (I own the Designer Edition).

Yes...you bet, I would buy again....in a heartbeat and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to purchase a digital/electronic Die Cut machine. 

I shop for sales and shop around for the best prices and then stock up.  I have bought supplies from small online stores, from Amazon and even Silhouette when they have sales.  I'm frugal and always search for the best prices.

Here are just a couple of pics of some of the most recent cards I created and they are all very easy!!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Cameo!!

   The possibilities with the Cameo (Silhouette) ... are truly endless -- there is SOOOO much more you can do with this machine---and I'm excited to be learning something new every day!!    LOVE IT!!!

[Jo Ham]

Wow Lisa, your cards look amazing. I am in all with the word "smile" at how thin of a cut that is. I hope when the time comes they will have another sale on their subscriptions again. :-)

[Omega Brooks]

Hi Lisa,

Your cards a so pretty.  I love my Cameo too.  I can't wait to do more projects.

Enjoy!

[Ann Marie Governale]

Hi Lisa:

LOVE your cards... I am waiting on my Silhouette to arrive!!! So excited. Just wanted to thank you for all the info here. I am definitely looking into the classes you recommended as well as the online sites for help!!! THanks SOOO much for taking the time to list it all.  I am sharing with all my buddies who, like me, fell in love with this machine and what it can do! Can't wait to play!

[Jo Ham]

I don't have a Cameo yet. I say yet because I have used it as a personal goal for something and I am very close to that goal. As long as I hit that goal by Oct 4th (my B-day). I will be the proud owner of the Cameo. 

I haven't taken any classes as of yet. But thank you Colleen and Lisa for posting the ones you did. I think I may take the one with Jennifer McGuire as a first class her videos on You Tube are always easy to follow. 

Since I don't create yet. Things I would like to create are some of the card templates. Love your Mr & Mrs pop up Lisa. All the "die" shapes rather then spending 12-30 dollars for the steel dies. Heck 99 cents or less is a much better deal. I have "liked" the facebook page of "All things Shilhouette Cameo & SD" and boy do they have a lot going on there. There has been a lot of vinyl projects. I think I would like to give some of them a go. 

As far as selling, I think mine would be more for gifts but never say never.

At this point I have to skip 6,7 and 8. 

I do hope everyone will consider posting projects and sharing tips and tricks here I would love to learn more while I am waiting for my B-Day. 

[Ann Marie Governale]

I just bought the cameo and am waiting to get it home!  I have not taken classes.  I purchase supplies from all over. I am looking forward to reading the discussion entries and learning!! 

[Jo Ham]

I can't wait to get mine. Just a little longer :-) Hope you will share some of your projects here.

[Omega Brooks]

Hi all,

I've had my Silhouette for about 4 months now.  I've made a few things but most of all I love the potential of the creative ability.  I upgraded to the designer version right away to expand the type of cut files I could use.  So far I love it and still learning how to use it.  I took classes through http://www.jessicasprague.com/ taught by Kerri Bradford, they are self paced and you can go back to review the class indefinantly. I've completed the first set of classes and sitll have to go through the 2nd set of classes.  I love, love love my Cameo, if I had it to do over I still choose the SIlhouette Cameo hands down.  Here are a few things that I've made...

Here is a card I did using my Silhouette, I cut the white swirly background overlay here.

 

 

 

 

Also I cut this house warming card

 

 

 

 

I made this card for one of my teenage nephews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I spent a lot of time doing my research and I'm totally happy with this machine.

I purchased it from Overstock.com, I also purchased some supplies at Overstock.com.

There are also lots of free cut file available online too.