I'm really excited to participate in today's Silhouette Blog Hop (which officially begins at 9 a.m., but I'm heading out in a bit)! Are you ready to be awed and inspired? (Ok, that sounded conceited. What I mean to say is that by the time you're done with your hop, you're SURE to be awed and inspired--even if it wasn't by me. LOL!)

Why do I love the Silhouette?

I'll be honest. I wasn't sure I needed another die cut machine. (I will admit at this point that I already owned three other die cut machines.) So when I had the opportunity to get the Silhouette I was worried I couldn't justify the acquisition to the hubby. Boy was I WRONG!! Once I figured out the software (I really recommend reading the helpful tutorials on the Silhouette website), I started with just the basic shapes.

Wait!!

I can change the shape size just by dragging my mouse!

No way!!

I can flip and rotate the image just like that.

Seriously?!!

I can add shapes within shapes within shapes or take away part of the shape.

DUDE!!

Ok, at that point I was hooked.

And if that wasn't enough reason to love my Silhouette, the fabulous designs alone would have sucked me right in--designs by amazing product designers within the scrapbook industry. (And shhhh, but they're super cheap to purchase!!).

I use my Silhouette nearly every day, whether it's for the fabulous TrueType font cutting feature or for a shape that works perfectly with my project. I really do LOVE my Silhouette Machine.

To show you a little more why I LOVE this machine, I created a layout for today's project. For this layout, I used several die cut shapes (some altered and portions of the shapes removed), and I used a print & cut owl because I've been wanting to use him for quite some time. LOL!

Supplies:
* Cardstock: Die Cuts with a View, Provo Craft, Bazzill, Prism
* Pattern Paper: KI Memories, Pebbles, Inc., Heidi Grace
* Stamps: Hero Arts, Hampton Art
* Stamping Ink: Versamark
* Embossing Powder: American Crafts
* Mini Brads: Karen Foster Design
* Button: JoAnn's
* Craft Twine: craft supply
* Photo Corners: Canson
* Letter stickers: American Crafts
* Fonts: Vintage Typewriter (www.scrapvillage.com); 2Peas Tasklist (www.twopeasinabucket.com)
* 2 Piece Frame die cut:

* Conversation Bubbles:

* Negative Frame:

* Fancy Frame:

* Alpha Border:

* Animal Owls Print and Cut:

* Circle Border:

* Nesting Hearts:

If you've arrived from Nichol Magourik's blog, then you're on the right track and have already been wowed. From here you can visit Robyn Werlich's blog where I KNOW she'll awe and inspire you. (These girls have that affect on me EVERY day!)

If you get lost, just check out the Silhouette Blog for more instructions. And while you're there follow the link to the fabulous designs available for just $.75 this week, as well as a few other fabulous promotions.