A FREE Silhouette Craft Cutter {Giveaway!}

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THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED
Good Promo good until Aug 14 (see below)
winner will be announced on Mon Aug 9


Ok, I can't stand it any more!

I've been keeping a secret!......a HUGE.....$300 secret!!

Remember yesterday how I mention my new toy?
Well I was just so darn excited when my sweet friends at How Does She? set me up with this fantastic craft tool for myself AND one to give to one lucky TidyMom reader!!!

This incredible little machine is sleek and compact.
It makes me look like......well, a "crafty gal" with little effort on my part.
Her name is........Silhouette
(just rolls off the tongue doesn't it? ♥)

Take a look at her!.....She's so SLIM and beautiful!

I have heard a lot about all of the craft cutters out there, and honestly, I didn't know if I'd really use it........I thought it would be too complicated for me.
........Remember, I like SIMPLE projects!!

Well, I couldn't have been more wrong!!

You can cut vinyl

cut/make the cutest cards

cut outs for your scrapbooking

Huge assortment of paper cut outs

It did take me a little time to understand how to use my Silhouette, but their website is full of help, and their customer service number is awesome!........they didn't even get annoyed with me when I called 4 times in one afternoon! lol

The Silhouette hooks up to your computer and cuts out the shapes/letters that you tell it to. It's THAT easy! So all you need is your Silhouette machine, your computer, the cords and your imagination! You can even use an SD card and take your Silhouette wherever you go!

It comes with a nice library of shape and cutout files to get you started! And, what I LOVE is, you can use all of the letter fonts (True Type) from your own computer, to design your own cut outs. Hello!!! I can choose ANY font I want? Do you know how many FREE fonts there are out there?!! You can even create your own shapes and cutouts for your projects!!--I LOVE that!

No cartridges to buy!

They do have an online image store, where you can browse and purchase from a huge assortment of different shapes, letters, phrases, cutouts, etc......and upload them instantly to your computer. The images are just $.99 each and they offer membership plans and options for bulk-buying where they can cost even less than this. Each week, they also feature a free download on their site that you can add to your library. Love those freebies!
In no time I was making........

cupcake wrappers
(frosting recipe )



Sunshine help me cut out and iron on her school mascot on a pair of shorts
(I can't believe she starts high school in a few weeks!)

I even made a mug just for ME!!



I gave my knife block a fresh new look!



I even made this cute canvas tote bag with the help of my Silhouette!
(will post a tutorial soon)

and I'm STILL working on another project!!!

Later in the week I will share some "how-to's"
I can’t wait to show off more projects that you can create with this cutter.
But enough about me, let’s talk about this giveaway!

**This giveaway is only open to those in the states**

Here's how to enter to win:

1. Leave a comment by Sat Aug 7th at 9PM CST and tell me what is your favorite feature that the Silhouette has to offer.
   
2. Go over to Silhouette’s site and check things out. Then, come back here and leave a comment telling me how you would use the Silhouette machine! (ie, scrapbooking, vinyl, card making....EVERYTHING)
   
3. Blog about it with a link back to this post, then come back and leave a comment with the link.
4. Mention it on Twitter or Facebook- I want to win a Silhouette Craft Cutter from @TidyMom http://bit.ly/c7hiJy #giveaway (be sure to leave a comment letting me know)
5. Subscribe to TidyMom.net ...leave a comment letting me know you did or if you already do.
   

**PLEASE make sure you leave your email address if it's not linked to your account (so I can contact you if you win) also, be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry

The contest ends on Saturday Aug 7, 2010 at 9PM CST. I will announce & contact the winner on Monday Aug 9, 2010

The Giveaway includes:

A Silhouette Machine

(a $299.99 value)

And it includes…

• Silhouette machine
• Software for Windows XP/Vista
• Power cable, USB cable
• 2 Cutting mats (one for thick media, one for thin media)
• One cutting blade
• $10 gift card to the Silhouette Online Store

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If you are interested in purchasing a Silhouette, there is an exclusive TidyMom promo code. Use the promo code TidyMomRocks to take advantage of these two promotions! (After you put in the code all the discounts and freebies will show up in the basket)

#1 AWESOME PROMO (running from August 1st through August 9th at midnight)

Buy a machine and receive the following:

- $50 off the Silhouette Craft Cutter

- 2 rolls of vinyl (Valued at $15.98)

- 1 roll of transfer tape (Valued at $7.99)

- Scraper (Valued at $6.99)

- Home Décor CD (Valued at $50)

- $10 Gift Card to the Silhouette Download Store

- Cutting Blade

- 2 Cutting Mats

All for $249.99

A Savings of $130.96

Just think of how much you’ll save on gift giving this year!

#2 GOOD PROMO (running from August 9th through August 14th at midnight)

Buy a machine and receive the following:

$50 off (receive for $249.99)

2 rolls of Heat transfer ($29.89 value)

$10 Gift Card to the Silhouette Download Store

Cutting Blade

2 Cutting Mats

All for $249.99

A savings of $79.98

Good Luck Everyone!!

Have fun!

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Disclaimer: I was provided with my own Silhouette, I was in no other way compensated to publish this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed my own and have no reflection on receiving the product.

Easy Photo Editing Tutorial {Guest Post-Amanda Padgett}

Meet Amanda! She is a "Pioneer Woman" of sorts, although, she says she's not nearly as talented, witty or culinarily gifted as the real one. Amanda grew up in the suburbs or on military bases, but ended up in the country on a cattle and chicken farm an hour from any sizeable town. She is an amazing stay-at-home, homeschooling mom to four children, ages 11 to 4.

Amanda and I really "clicked" as we started our photography journey about the same time, last spring, and it has quickly become a passion for both of us! Most of her subjects are her beautiful kids, the cows, her mother-in-law's flowers and her weeds ("they're prettier in a picture than in real life", she claims). She enjoys editing (with PSE 7) and continues to learn daily. The tutorials she writes are very basic and well documented so that brand new users can learn how to use their editing software. Amanda's tutorials have been an amazing resource for me!! I had owned PSE for years and rarely ever used it because I didn't know how.

Amanda has recently started Everyday Elements, online workshops and video tutorials for PSE users. Also, she has a photography resource blog, PhotographyHaven where you can find lots of free actions, tutorials, workshops and more. You can view her personal pictures at Moving Forward or her Flickr stream.

Today Amanda is going to share one of her basic tutorials that can be used for any picture!

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Hi there! I am thrilled to be guest posting here at TidyMom! Cheryl invited me to do a guest post and after my initial excitement, I started thinking about what to share. I tried to think of a quick, "tidy" trick to share with you and I hope this one hits the spot.

Whether you shoot with a DSLR or a point and shoot, I recommend getting some a photo editing program. There is so much you can do with your images, regardless of the camera used to capture them. The program I am using today is Photoshop Elements, but this tutorial will work in regular Photoshop (CS5 or earlier versions) just as well.

With almost every picture I edit, I do this edit trick which provides light while also boosting color and contrast.

Step 1: Open your image in PSE or PS. Create a Gradient Map adjustment layer by clicking on the half black/half white circle (see "1st"). Then choose 'Gradient Map.'


Step 2: Once the Gradient Map options pop up, navigate until you see the B&W option, click on it. If you don't see this menu, click where the * is and another fly-out menu will appear, then choose 'Default.'


Step 3: Click on the Blend Mode menu box (1st). A menu will either pop up or pop down. Choose 'Soft Light' (2nd).


Step 4: Lower the layer opacity to suit. For portraits, I usually lower this down to between 15% and 25%. For still life, I usually keep it higher.


Here is a before/after shot, with nothing else done to it, not even sharpening. I wanted to show the effect


Here is a little tidbit - I use this technique with 98% of my edits. Never right at the beginning, but usually before I finish with an image, I will have used it. I love it and I think it adds just the right amount of definition to most shots.

I hope you find this helpful. If you give it a try, let me know your blog address or Flickr stream so I can go take a peek.

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Thanks again Amanda, you are SOOOO generous with your knowledge and I learn something every time I talk to you or read one of your posts!!


Seriously people, if want to learn more about editing, head over to Amanda's sites and even consider taking some of her online workshops, they're VERY affordable and you will be amazed at how much you will learn!! The Everyday Elements Facebook page is another thing you don't want to miss........she has been known to "give out" free actions and more to those who "like" her!!

This tip "works for me".....so I'm linking up at We Are That Family's Works For Me Wednesday

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I'm Lovin' It! - Trash to Treasure

Welcome to the Party!!

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While my daughter's and I are heading to The Windy City, one of my favorite bloggers has accepted my invitation to host I'm Lovin' It this week!!! Amanda is a creative mom who blogs about her life as a Christian mom and wife at i am mommy and does amazing things with food and her camera at i am baker. Amanda is one of those super funny people, who is every bit as sweet as she is funny.

So today while I'm Lovin' Chicago, and Amanda being here.......Amanda is going to share what SHE is Lovin'...........Enjoy!!........I think I see a cupcake with MY name on it down there......

I am so, so, so honored to be able to hang out at Tidymom's blog today! Hers is much cleaner then mine, and I have a feeling her kitchen always smells good... fresh cupcakes and fruit roll ups and Gooey Upside Down German Chocolate Cake? Um, yes please!

But anyway... since it is Friday and all, I thought I would share with you somethin' that I love. Ya know, for I'm Lovin' It Friday!

One thing that I love is finding a 'trash' and making it a 'treasure'.

I have a little baking blog and I really struggled to find ways to photograph cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. Cake stands are gorgeous, but can be so expensive! So one day at the thrift store, I spotted a candle stick for less then a $1 and an idea hit me. I would make my own!

I have made about 20 so far, and every single one is white! So I needed something new.

I picked up these little diddies at my local thrift store.

They are ok on their own, but not as pretty as I would like, and certainly not functional. Although I am drawn to all things shiny, these just dont work when trying to photograph a scrumptious dessert. Who wants to see me and my camera in the reflection?

I decided to spray paint these black. I normally choose satin, but I was drawn to the semi-gloss this time.

Since it has been so hot, it took all of 15 minutes to complete.

Wanna see how everything turned out???

(insert dramatic drum roll here please. What? I cant do that? Can someone please figure out a html code for dramatic drum roll and email it to me? Thanks.)

I painted this base white. Its perfect for those extra special cupcakes!

The black plate turned out beautifully if I dont say so myself.

And I love my little cupcake stand! (and apparently I heart Tidymom too!) :)

But my favorite it using the plate and cupcake stand as a cake pedestal!

Now.

I want you to know, since this is just spray paint, I wouldn't actually serve food off of them. These are more for decorative purposes, or for props. You certainly could use them for serving! You just purchase a special paint at home improvement and craft stores that seals the paint and is safe for eating off of.

So there you have it! Something that I'm Lovin'!

Thanks you SO much Cheryl for having me over... next time lets sample some of your refreshing Strawberry Lemonade drinks... its hot out there! :)

Thanks again Amanda the cupcake was D.E.L.C.I.O.U.S!! LOL......and after this post I can't WAIT to hit the resale shops with a new eye when I get back!

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Now it’s your turn, let us know what you’re lovin' this week! If you have something to share with us on your blog, add your link below.

What is I'm Lovin' It Fridays? get all the info, how to's and button here

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WFMW - Blogger HMTL Gadget Help

If you are on Blogger, you may have noticed a recent annoying change with your gadgets.

Are you getting this error when you try and post an HTML/Java Script Gadget with out a title?

As of last week, Blogger made an update to the HTML/Javascript Gadget making the Title field required - meaning you can not post an HTML Gadget with out a title.

Thanks to twitter, when I called out my complaint, Krystyn of Krizzy Designs was quick to offer a suggestion....and it WORKED!!

just place this code

in the title box then click "Save"

This code will allow you to post your Gadget without a title.

You will have to do it every time you update the gadget -

Blogger says -
"based upon user feedback, we will soon be removing that requirement."

But until they fix it, you can work around it this way!!

I'm linking this up at We Are That Family's Works For Me Wednesday



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Now thru midnight EST on Friday July 2, 2010 you can
use the discount code FRIEND at checkout, you will get 10% off any subscription,
or coupon code LOVECM for 20% off a lifetime subscription.

Don't miss a post subscribe via Rss Reader or by E-Mail

Red White & Blue Cupcakes!

Some people like to celebrate the 4th of July with barbecues and fireworks....I say,

"Let's celebrate with cupcakes!!"




If you are looking for an impressive treat for your 4th of July celebration, look no further. These Patriotic Cupcakes are too cute, a box cake mix makes it easy and they are sure to be a hit with the kids. Disclaimer - yes, I've heard all the "evil" about food coloring in food.....if this bother's you, please just close this post.

I've seen these cupcakes around the web for a while, like here and here and I've been looking forward to trying them myself! I will to say that I was thrilled with the results! They turned out even cuter than I had hoped for.

Here's what you do:

Mix up a batch of white cake batter, using The Perfect Cupcakes (using a mix)

Divide your white cake mix into 3 bowls.

Add red gel coloring to one, and blue to another.

I highly recommend using the gel-paste food coloring. The color is concentrated, so it does not require a lot to achieve the hue you’re going for. The liquid food coloring from the grocery store will "water down" your batter.

Spoon a little of each color into your cupcake liners, filling about 1/2 full.

Bake at 350° for 20 mins. and let cool.

Next I made a batch of Glory's Frosting

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
(from Glorious Treats)

Ingredients:
½ cup butter, at room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups powdered sugar
1 to 4 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Directions:

• *Place butter in a large mixing bowl and blend slightly. Add cream cheese and blend until combined, about 30 seconds.

• Add vanilla and sugar and blend on low until combined. Increase to medium speed and beat until it begins to get fluffy. (*I used clear vanilla to keep my frosting nice and white)
  

• Slowly add the cream a little at a time until desired consistency is met. (Don't add too much if you want the frosting to stay in place when piped on cupcakes.)

• I added some bright white gel coloring at this point to make my frosting nice and white.
  

• Beat until fluffy, about 1 minute.

• Pipe onto cupcakes!

To make my icing multi colored, I tried something new this time.

I bought the Wilton Holiday Gels in red and blue and lined the inside of my pastry/decorating bag with 2 stripes of each.



I then filled the bag with my white frosting and piped my cupcakes using my Wilton 1M tip.

I did add some fun patriotic sprinkles to some, that I found in the Dollar Spot at Target a while back, and topped all of them with these little red pin-wheel toppers I picked up at WalMart.

See how fun they look when you bite in!

I'm going to make these again this weekend as our family all gather's at our family log home.

If you more the adventurous type, you may want to pop over to i am baker, and see the incredible cake Amanda "whipped up" *you're in for a treat when she makes an appearance here on TidyMom soon with a fabulous guest post for you guys!!

While we celebrate with yummy food, I cannot help but think about the life of freedom we have today that is due to all of the people who gave (and are still giving) the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect our country. I appreciate their dedication and sacrifices from the bottom of my heart. It is because of them and their families that we can fly our flags high and be thankful that we live in the U.S.A.

I'm sharing this recipe at
Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam, Mouth Watering Mondays and Tuesdays at the Table, Tuesday Tastes, Tasty Tuesday, 4th of July Party, Get Your Craft On and Cupcake Tuesday
CSI Project on Tuesday for this week's challenge of Red White and Blue!
and Stars and Stripes Party at Centsational Girl

Now thru midnight EST on Friday July 2, 2010 you can
use the discount code FRIEND at checkout, you will get 10% off any subscription, or coupon code LOVECM for 20% off a lifetime subscription.

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