Monogrammed Outdoor Candles: Summer Party Hostess Gift
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I got a Silhouette…
Look what I made!
If you don’t know what a Silhouette is – it is one very cool crafting and 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.
I can’t wait to try creating something using fabric next.
So many possibilities…
You can get the following deals when you head to the Silhouette website and enter the promo code OWNSTYLE at checkout to get the promotional prices. If you already own a Silhouette, you can buy the Designer Edition at 50% off.
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!!