A Personal Note..and Free Breast Cancer "Radiating Hope" Design File

Each Friday we give away a free file here on Silhouette School and this one is near and dear to my heart... quite literally. 

When I shared a single image of the wood ornament I made with this "Radiating Hope" file I designed, I did not expect the comments and response I got.  Some of you welcomed me to your pink sister club. Some of you shared you had no idea I was going through this (more on that in a second), some of you told me you rang that bell decades ago and some of you shared you were on round two or three...

Not only did you share your stories of facing breast cancer head on, but you asked me over and over again to share the file.  You can grab the file free below...but I hope you'll also share a minute with me as I share a moment in my life with you. 

September 11 Never Forget (Free Silhouette Studio Cut File)

It's hard to believe it's been 19 years since September 11, 2001.  I know we all know exactly where we were the moment we heard the unthinkable.  I was on a treadmill in the fitness center, a junior, at Ithaca College.  Even as I write this post on September 10 and I'm tearing up as all the emotions of that day coming flooding back. It's the same feelings I felt standing in Shanksville, PA at the Flight 93 crash site on the 5th anniversary of the attacks working as a television news producer for a local NBC affiliate.  It's always raw emotion.  I think the unthinkable does that to us.

So Fontsy's 1st Anniverary! Daily Deals All Week and Big Ol' Giveaway!!

Last week we celebrated Silhouette School's 5th anniversary with a huge week-long giveaway!

Apparently I like to start businesses in January because this week we're celebrating the first anniversary of our sister site, So Fontsy!! We're celebrating with 24 hour daily deals all week and another week-long giveaway.

HUGE Silhouette School Celebration: 5 Years and 200k Follower GIVEAWAY!!!

We've got lots to celebrate at Silhouette School because this week marks our 5th blogiversary and we recently hit a huge milestone on Silhouette School's Facebook page...200,000 202,000 followers!

We are celebrating with an epic 5 day giveaway worth $3800!  That means five days and give giveaways and five winners!

I say it every year, but it's sooooo crazy to think that five years ago this week, I launched Silhouette School on a whim after receiving a Silhouette Portrait for Christmas.  I've been sharing free Silhouette tutorials, Silhouette product reviews, troubleshooting advice, and much more every day since.

To date, more than 45 million people around the world have read Silhouette School's more than 1,500 free Silhouette tutorials.  Our premium membership site, Silhouette U, has more than 5200 active members, more than 100,000 copies of our (13) Ultimate Silhouette Guides have been sold and next week our sister site So Fontsy will celebrate its 1 year anniversary!  We'll have a huge week long celebration over there next week...I couldn't handle two at once and manage to stay somewhat sane.

Chevron Cell Phone Charger Wrap (Free Silhouette Studio Cut File)

It's Friday and I hope, by now, you all know what that means at Silhouette School!

Yup, another Freebie Friday where I give you a free Silhouette .Studio cut file just for being awesome and loyal readers.

This week I've got a very useful file for you. At least it's come in very handy for me!

If you're like us, with a house full of electronics someone is bound to snag your charger. So last year I made everyone monogram labels for their laptops, cell phone chargers, computer charges, you name it! This year I'm extending the line, (oh I sound soooo official ha) and have created a cell phone charger wrap.

Lucky for all of you, I'm giving it to you for free. 

Just add a single letter monogram or a circle monogram inside to personalize it even further and then  it on vinyl and apply with transfer tape or paper. 

As always, all free .studio cut files on Silhouette School are for personal use only - they can't be sold or used on a product that's sold.  Please don't let me find these for sale on Etsy or elsewhere...

Download - Charger Wrap

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing products through my links, I receive a small commission. That's what helps fund Silhouette School so I can keep buying new Silhouette-related products to show you how to get the most out of your machine! 

Free Silhouette School Workshops with Siser NA at SGIA

If you've peeked at the Silhouette School Events page lately you may have noticed that I'll be in New Orleans this fall where I'll be teaching free Silhouette workshops for basically three days straight.

I'm so excited to be able to share the details of this event - which I've partnered up with Siser North America for - with you!

22 More Silhouette CAMEO Tutorials (including V4), Tips and Freebies

And just like that the Silhouette School archives have grown by 22 tutorials, tips and tricks. June has been the busiest month ever for Silhouette School from launching the new Ultimate Silhouette Guide Second Edition for V4 ecourse to hitting 150k followers on Facebook to introducing you to Silhouette Studio V4 to oh, you know moving our family, life, and business across the country.

Our goal was to plan far enough ahead that we could make the move without any interruption to the blog or Silhouette U. While we feel it was a win, we certainly hope you do too.  In case your life was crazy too and you missed a few new Silhouette CAMEO tutorials or Silhouette Studio V4 tips or free design downloads on Silhouette School in June, here's a look back at everything we covered.

Moving Update...'Cause the Questions Keep on Coming (and the Emotions are High)!

Today I'm taking a break from what I normally do here on Silhouette School - teaching you how to use your Silhouette cutting machines and the software - to take you on a little behind the scenes detour.

This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.

I've made it no secret we're moving...in fact we're making a huge move from the East Coast to the West Coast. It's been months...literally MONTHS of planning, organizing, logistics, even some tears, frustrations, a lot of excitement and a million and one questions. So...prepare yourselves because emotional ol' me is having trouble not rambling as I reminisce.

Wait...What Happened to the Ultimate Silhouette Sticker Guide?!

And just like that the Ultimate Silhouette Sticker Guide is gone...kinda. But not really.  After a lot of thought we've decided to re-brand my second full-length ebook with a new title and some additional content.

You see the "sticker" reference just wasn't doing this 48 54 page ebook justice. After all, stickers are print and cut, but not every Silhouette user who does print and cut wants to make stickers.  We thought the title of this Silhouette guide was not making it obvious to those who might be interested in other forms of print and cut that this is the ebook for them, too!

Watch My Rachael Ray Show Segment (Plus Some Background and the Gift I Gave Rach)

So in case you missed it...I was on Rachael Ray. Like the nationally syndicated TV show.  We threw it back a few years and talked more about my DIY roots than what it's developed into in more recent years (aka Silhouette School!)

So here's the thing...before I started Silhouette School - I had a DIY blog called Two It Yourself.  I also had a relatively new-to-us house that needed some DIY TLC.  The powder room on the main floor was on my list of rooms that needed a makeover.  I decided a $100 budget would not only be challenging, but would force me to think outside the box, shop my own, and get crafty.

Top 10 Silhouette School Behind the Scenes Secrets

As we continue Top 10 week here on Silhouette School, I thought you might enjoy a few secrets from behind the scenes.  Let's be honest there's a whole lot that you, the readers, don't see.

You see the best photos that have been edited, cropped and re-touched. You see the Silhouette tutorial with perfect cut settings - not the 14 cuts it took me to find those perfect cut settings. You see my office looking neat, styled and orderly - not the hurricane that just went through my craft room as I worked through crafting, photographing and then editing three projects at the same time for the blog.

And since I know there's a lot of curiosity about what it takes to run a blog (with your husband) - especially one that's a full time gig for both of us - I figured I'd give you a little insight. 

I am Thankful for You! (A Free Silhouette Studio Design AND a Black Friday Sneak Peek)

Every year on Thanksgiving I take a pause from the regular Silhouette tutorials to thank all of you.  There's no doubt Silhouette School would not be nearly what it is today without all of your support. And for that I am so thankful for each of you!!!

Every single one of you!

Dark Dining Room To Bright Home Office Makeover Reveal

I am so thrilled to finally reveal a project we've been working on at Silhouette School headquarters for months!!!  Together with Wayfair as our sponsor, we have transformed our dark red dining room into a light and bright home office that I consider industrial-masculine-chic.

Many of you know that a few months back my husband, Bob left his job in Corporate America to join me full time on the blog (read about our journey blogging full time as a couple on our other site Boss Lady and Bob).  In less than three years, Silhouette School has grown from a blog into a full fledged business with a whole series of books, a membership site in the works, speaking engagements, and more - and so we decided going into business together would be best for our family.  What is not best for our family or relationship or business...is sharing an office.  When it comes to working - I need my own space.  In other words: Bob needed his own office.

It was pretty evident that our barely-used red dining room was on the chopping block.  I have to admit, I did not shed a tear to see it go...so take a good ol' look at the 'before' because the difference is pretty shocking!

Big Changes and a 'Big' Silhouette Book Announcement

As some of you may know we have lots of exciting changes going behind the scenes at Silhouette School!

For exactly two and a half years, I have been blogging on Silhouette School...growing it from "just" a blog to a small business that includes a blog.  It's been a truly amazing, exciting, and humbling ride...but there's so much more I'd like to do (like finally finish another 'big' book!!!)!  Only problem is I can't do it on my own....and I can't figure out how to clone myself.

For those reasons, I'm thrilled to introduce you all to my new partner - my husband, Bob!  Yup, the guy who asked me to senior prom and 15 years later bought me a Silhouette Portrait for Christmas (and who I can safely assure you never dreamed it would result in him walking away from his longtime career in pharmaceuticals) starts this week! #wishusluck

Bob will be working full time along with me doing a bunch of boring super important stuff behind the scenes!  Don't tell him I said they're boring...he likes strategizing and analytics and financials...I like being crafty and writing Silhouette CAMEO tutorials so I think we're gonna be an awesome team.

The Ultimate Silhouette Guide eBook - 15 Page Free Update Now Available

UPDATE: If you purchased the ebook version and have not received a link to download it in your email, please email me to request it! - Melissa

Tomorrow I'm headed to Salt Lake City for the three day blogging conference, Snap!.  I'll not only be attending sessions on everything from winning the social media game to being an organized, efficient blogger to how use a scroll saw (with Silhouette!) (gotta love Virgina Fynes of Fynes Designs)...but also speaking as a presenter.   Myself, alongside Abby from Just a Girl and her Blog and Dawn Nicole from By Dawn Nicole will be speaking to a large group of bloggers and influencers on writing and marketing ebooks.

Apparently they think I have something insightful to say about writing ebooks, despite the fact that I only put my first one out about a year ago.  In that year a lot has happened in the Silhouette world...there've been a few updates in the Silhouette software and a new mobile app has launched.  Those changes have lead me to write a 15 page free update to my original ebook The Ultimate Silhouette Guide.

13,000 Thank You's...The Ultimate Silhouette Guide 1st Anniversary

I will never forget March 13, 2015.  A year ago today everything changed for me and my blog, Silhouette School. I was

no longer soley a blogger, I was now a self-published author and and a small business owner.

I remember a few days prior to Release Day I was talking with my husband.  We thought we'd be thrilled if 800 people bought The Ultimate Silhouette Guide.  I thought, "Wow, what if that many people actually cared enough about what I had to say - about a craft machine, no less - that they actually spent their hard-earned for the information I was sharing." 

So as I sat on my couch, exactly a year ago today around 2:20 in the afternoon, with a GIANT knot in my stomach, a lump in my throat and palms so sweaty I could barely press 'Publish', I had no idea how much was about to change.  Life, blogging, business, opportunities...

Within seconds...literally seconds... I was brought to tears.  My email went 'ding' and I was notified of my first sale.  I can't remember the name of the first lady who bought my first ebook, but my gosh at that second I wanted to reach through the computer and give her a HUGE hug. She believed in me and the feeling was like nothing I'd ever felt.  

I had literally spent months - endured shingles, a wrist injury, publishing delays, the regular grinds of motherhood, and the stress of being a full time blogger and small business owner - writing this book. It really did feel like I birthed my third baby. 

Silhouette School Returns to All Things Silhouette Conference November 2016

Guess who's headed south again to speak at the third All Things Silhouette Conference? This girl right here! Terri Johnson, who organizes the amazing two day conference about all things Silhouette, has just opened up registration for the November 2016 conference which will be held November 5 and 6 outside of Atlanta.

The Ultimate Silhouette Sticker Guide ebook - It's (Officially) Release Day and a GIVEAWAY!

I don't know if you've heard the news or not but I released a new ebook - never did I think I would write three ebooks in one year...but ya know writing and blogging and creating and life planning happens and I can't stop, won't stop as long as there's Silhouetting to do.

Seriously though Friday was supposed to be the soft release of The Ultimate Silhouette Sticker Guide, but since then more than 950 copies have sold already -  soft-schmoft! You guys are HARD CORE and I LOVE IT!!  It's pretty unbelievable considering, until now, I hadn't even announced the release of the Sticker guide on the blog!

All Things Silhouette Conference Recap and More Conference Dates!

As many of you know, I took Silhouette School on the road for the first time last weekend to speak at the All Things Silhouette Conference in Peachtree City, Georgia - about 30 minutes outside Atlanta.  First let me clear one thing up - I can take NO credit for organizing this massive undertaking - that was all Terri Johnson of Terri Johnson Creates.

What I can tell you is Terri called me earlier this year and said, "I have this crazy idea to put on a one-of-a-kind Silhouette conference and I want you to be the keynote. Would you do it?"  Does this lady I know I blog in my pajamas from my couch while switching loads of laundry and cleaning up milk spills? 

Silhouette School Readers: Facebook Doesn't Want You to See This!

I bet you didn't know Silhouette School posts to Facebook every three hours from 7 am EST to 10pm EST every.single.day.  Yup.  I bet you didn't know because Facebook is most likely not showing you any, if not all, of Silhouette School's posts.

How do I know this? Well let's just say 55,000 people have 'liked' the Silhouette School FB page yet this is how many people FB is serving individual posts to....not good!