My New Toy/Silhouette Cameo

In September my bff and I attended a class at Archivers (a great scrapbooking store) about how to use the Silhouette Cameo. I feel in love and purchased one. It is a cutting machine that runs from a computer program and needs to be connected to your computer. It's similar to the Cricut except the Cricut uses cartridges, that are expensive to purchase, and online images, no computer is needed.  The Cameo uses only online images, most are only .99, the weekly clearance designs are .50, and they offer one free image each week. It cuts any font that you have installed, it can print an image and then cut it out, images found online can be traced and cut. It can cut nearly everything: paper, adhesive vinyl, fabric, heat transfer material, magnet paper, temporary tattoo paper. I think it is really versatile.

My scrapbooking/stamping career started many, many years ago. I have always taken a lot of photos and 'back in the day' I put my photos in an album as soon as I had them developed. Now???? I take 100's of photos, have some on memory cards and lots more on snapfish. I don't print them unless I am going to scrap them. Anywho......I attended a retreat and a consultant from a scrapbooking company was there....Perfect.....I'll start scrapbooking! But I started stamping and making cards, I enjoy the immediate gratification. For many years I exchanged cards with several people. Now, about 20 years later, I am making few cards and concentrating on scrapbooks. I thought the Cameo would be perfect. I wouldn't need to buy dies for my Vagabond or cards for my Slice (I like my gadgets) and I could cut any size I desired.

I feel bad because friends are having stamping parties and I don't attend or purchase anything. Just like all paper crafters, I have LOTS of supplies and don't need anything. I am also trying to cut back on spending, the Cameo was not cheap and I have to learn to live on cash only.....in less than 6 months I won't be working anymore. I'm happy (?) to say I passed up a nice pair of leather boots that were 'today's special value' on QVC the other day. They were everything I wanted, including wide width. I also did not succomb to the 'free' makeup (with purchase) at the Estee Lauder counter last month.

I don't have any fabulous pages to show you.....I have cut out a few things. I designed something and cut it but the paper didn't cut well. Certain papers are too fibrous and tear, so now I am keeping track of what paper I buy. I have been spending a lot of time with my laptop on my lap (nice and warm now that it is getting colder) looking for free files and have found quite a few.

 I made designed the FUN WITH AVA title.

Another FUN below, using the letters cut from above. The circles are just punched and glued onto a gold thread, can be used as a border or a photo or journaling can be on the larger ones.

 The control area template is one of the many free designs that come with the Cameo.

Thanks for reading this long winded post. If you have any questions or comments about the Cameo please leave a comment. I hope to have some pages to share in the upcoming weeks.

The weekend is almost here...........enjoy!