I did some research on both the Cricut system and the Silhouette system. Both have their positives and negatives. But for me, having the Adobe programs that I use that help me create fun graphics and fonts was the reason I chose the one I did. With the Cricut, you cannot print your own creations. You have to buy packages of cut-outs, packages, not just one. And you cannot import your own graphics. With the Silhouette, you can. So I chose that one. (And you can buy 1 design at a time for about $1, not $10 for a package of 10 when you only need the 1 design.) With the Silhouette, you have to pay $60 more for the "extended" version of the software that lets you import your own content. But its worth it. It takes a little bit of knowledge about "vector" files and how to work around that type of software, but I'm used to it, so the software came easy to me. I know there are so many things that I can't even comprehend to create or know how to work, but its going to be fun.
On to the fun project. I've always wanted to put something above our towel hooks in our hallway bathroom. Something fun, graphic, a quote, etc. This will be our kids bathroom, so the more fun... yet classic, the better. So I created a stencil of a fun lyrics verse. You'll know it when you see it.
I was able to create the text in Adobe Illustrator, then save it as a .svg file and import it into the Silhouette software. Then I loaded the vinyl adhesive backed paper into the machine and pressed "cut". (There is more to that, but Silhouette American has a great blog with lots of tutorials, so if you're interested, go there! http://blog.silhouetteamerica.com/)
And here is the process to make it all happen.
The printer/cutter cuts the vinyl so that it doesn't go through the backing layer. This image shows the vinyl after I peeled the "positive" off. Because I was making a stencil, the part that created the negative was what I wanted.
vinyl stencil
Then you have to apply the "transfer paper" to the front of the vinyl, which makes it easier to apply to the wall. If you don't do this, there is the high potential for intricate designs like this to get distorted by your human hands when applying to the wall. So place the sticky side of the transfer paper to the front of the vinyl.
Then, peel the backing off of the vinyl sheet. Exposing the adhesive that will stick the stencil to the wall. Then place the pieces as you need. Its all a process of layers and essentially getting only the vinyl "sticker" onto the wall that becomes your stencil.
I found that I should have cut around the letters more, because the transfer paper is super sticky and peeling it off of the front of the vinyl was a little cumbersome. You'll see that I peeled it off in smaller sections to help.
Vinyl stencil only, transfer paper removed, ready to paint. I will say that its advisable to go back and rub all the edges of the graphic with a tongue depressor or your finger with a white hand towel. The more the edges are pressed down to the wall, especially with a high texture wall, the better.
Paint. I used a sponge stamper pouncer thing. (I'm crafty, but I'm not going to spend the time to know the names of all the crap/tools.)
I forgot the first rule of stenciling! Paint the original wall color first. In this case, I should have gone and gotten a little bit of our existing wall color, and painted that over the whole design. This seals the edges, and bleeds into any crevices so that the accent/colored paint won't. But I was in too much of a hurry and I'm not the most patient person in the world.
Final product. I may do something more to it. Possibly add a painted frame around it or have David create a wooden pallet wood frame, but for now its fun.
