Monogrammed Outdoor Candles: Summer Party Hostess Gift
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How to use a Silhouette vinyl cutting machine to make a monogram to make hostess gifts.
Look what I made!
If you don’t know what a Silhouette or Cricut is – it is one very cool crafting and vinyl cutting machine! It came on the creative scene a few years ago to cut vinyl for décor and embellishing items as well as paper for scrapbooks, but it can do so much more.
It can cut ANY image and every font on your computer on vinyl, paper, and fabric! There are no cartridges involved. You can also use the Silhouette software to trace your own designs, or purchase individual designs from the extensive Silhouette Online Store to create and decorate with.
I cannot believe I did not have one sooner. It is an incredible addition to the creative tools in my DIY arsenal.
Recently when shopping at Walmart, I saw these colorful citronella candle buckets for $5.00. I like to sit outside every night in my backyard and always light a citronella candle so the bugs don’t chase me back inside. I liked that the candles had a lid to keep out rain water. I put a white one in my cart.
Then I got the idea to buy one in each color so I could personalize them with names, initials, and monograms that I could easily make on my new Silhouette Cameo.
I used these fonts: From left to right: White bucket – Modern No. 20, Green bucket – Pottery Barn, Red bucket – EcuyerDAX, Blue bucket – Centeria Script, Yellow bucket – SNF Ambroisa bold and Trajan Pro (Ambrosia bold gets more flourishes for some reason when you use the Silhouette. I can’t get the “d” that way when I am using Photoshop. )
If you would like to know how to to get the free fonts I used. You can find out where to get them and how to download them to your computer in these posts.
Personalizing the candles makes them a perfect summer party hostess gift for friends and family when I am invited to BBQ’s, picnics, and parties at their homes this summer.
Creating the initials and monograms is super easy with the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software.
It is very similar to working in a word processing program but geared to images instead of words.
You do all the designing on your computer, and then hook up the Silhouette via a USB port as you would a printer, and then watch the magic happen. I used white, black, pink, and navy vinyl to make the initials and monograms for the candle buckets.
Once the vinyl is cut (it only takes a few minutes) you pull off the excess vinyl around the cut image. You then transfer it using a low tack tape to your project.
When I worked in display I worked with vinyl every day – but words, logos, and images on a very large scale. The machine was about 4 feet long, not tabletop size.
One very easy and stylish way to personalize mass merchandised items. Now the candles look like I bought them at a chic boutique.
So many possibilities…
Hi- I just found your blog! i love it!! what is that pretty paper looking stuff behind you silhouette machine?
Thanks-Chelsa
Thanks Chelsea – It is a gift wrap organizer. I wrote a post about it, you can find it here: https://inmyownstyle.com/2012/03/how-to-organize-gift-wrap.html
What a great gift to give! I can’t wait to bring one to my next BBQ Hostess! By chance could you tell me the size of font you use or how large you make the monograms. Thanks so much
Hi Meredith –
Each one is a different size to fit into a 3″ x 3″ square space. The pink monogram is 3″ high x 4″ wide. When I put the font and size into the Designer Edition software, I then made it smaller or bigger as needed using the sizing handles around the 3″ x 3″ text box in the Silhouette interface. Hope this helps.
Awesome discount!! I’ve been wanting the Designer Edition, and I think now just might be the time! I order my vinyl from several different places online. The prices are great, and the selection is awesome–a lot more colors/patterns than most craft stores! My Vinyl Direct & Expressions Vinyl have same day shipping, but Craft Vinyl has the biggest selection.
Hi Melissa – thanks for sharing this. I will check the sites out. I want to get a wider variety of colors – sounds like I will find lots to choose from at both sites.
For the monogram font, is that a font you already had on your computer? I have a Silhouette, but can’t figure out how to get the pink font or the block H letter.
Hi Allison –
I have a series of posts on how to download the free downloadable fonts.
The monogram font is called KK Monogram. The block letter is EcuyerDAX. You can read about how to download them here: https://inmyownstyle.com/2013/03/free-monogram-fonts.html
There are links to the other font posts I have written in this post, too. You can also find them in my blog sidebar. There are images with “My Favorite Fonts” on them that you can click on and will be taken to the posts.
I am unsure I could really do this. It looks difficult yet I am intrigued. I think I would need a tutorial with lots of visuals or a utube video! I truly love the effect of the lettering on the candles you made. Very clever.
Hi Kim – There are many YouTube Videos on how to use the Silhouette. Just type it into a Google or Bing. I looked at a few to get familiar with the machine and the software when I first got it. Once you understand how it works – it is very easy. Like using a computer printer. I had a few trial runs with loading the vinyl into it, but then I got that A-ha! moment. Once the vinyl is cut and out of the machine – super easy to apply to any surface you desire.
I can’t believe you have not had a Silhouette sooner myself….. cause if anyone in the world deserves a Silhouette…… it is YOU!
And I love the candles… I think anyone would be really elated to get such a great & personalized hostess gift. I know I would.
I love this machine! It’s so cool. And what a great way to personalize such a practical and, likely, welcomed gift.
Love how you made those so special looking and something I’d want to have out on my deck! (as opposed to hiding in the corners) LOL – Super cute!!
What a great idea! I have a Cricut and imagine I could do something very similar, as it cuts vinyl as well. Question, could you go into more detail about the “low tack” tape step? Is the tape applied to the tin, or to the letters? And if so, unless the tape is the same shape as the letters, doesn’t it show? Is there such a thing as adhesive-backed vinyl? Thanks!
Hi Rhonda – I will try to add a photo of the tape step in the post. Yes there is adhesive backed vinyl. The backing is very shiny. I bought a few rolls at Michaels and AC Moore. There are a few brands and you can even buy it directly from the Silhouette site online in many colors. When using adhesive backed vinyl – after you cut out the image on the machine, you remove all the excess vinyl around your image with a pointy hook. This exposes the shiny backing all around the vinyl image. The tape is placed over the image. Gently smooth it down with your fingers. Now the front of the image is under the tape and is sticking to the tape. Remove the shiny backing (it will come off easily) and then place your image where you want it to go. Make sure you get it aligned just right. Press it down on the surface and smooth. Carefully remove the low-tack tape.
Sweet!!!!!
Seriously? What a super awesome summer party gift!! Love it!
brilliant idea!!