Sunday, February 19, 2012

Design Inspiration from a Weathervane


Saturday was a beautiful day so we went out to have a few adventures!  After a quick stop at my favorite stamping and crafting store, we had lunch and then headed out to the Fruitlands Museum to see a new art show in one of the museum buildings.


Fruitlands was the site of the short-lived utopian community that Bronson Alcott (father of Louisa May Alcott who wrote Little Women) and Charles Lane attempted in 1843.  If you'd like to know more about it, you can read an earlier post about Fruitlands where you will find a link to the official site.


There are several buildings that house various parts of an eclectic collection (Shaker, Native American, paintings...) in addition to this farmhouse where the Alcotts stayed during their attempt at living off the fruit of the land.

You may wonder what this has to do with papercrafting...

The title to the blog post from a couple of years ago was "Inspiration is Everywhere".  I have said that often in the time I have been writing this blog.  You never know what you will see that will inspire a new project, so you just have to keep your eyes and mind open to the possibilities.

A lot of people have been writing to me with questions about the Silhouette machines that I have been using since last spring.  I do find that they cut more precisely than my Cricut machines but the main reason I enjoy using them is the freedom I have to create my own images in the Silhouette Studio software.


I liked the weathervane on one of the buildings at the museum.  The design of the weather vane is interesting - I think it looks like an ornate clock hand.


I zoomed in on my image and then took a screen shot of the portion of the design that interested me.  Then I could drag that image into my Silhouette Studio software (the free version included with the purchase of the machine) and do a trace of the shape.


The post that supports the weathervane wouldn't work for my design so I needed to edit the image after tracing.


Another great feature is the ability to edit the image point by point.  I was able to delete points to take away the central post of the weathervane.


For my purpose, I wanted a totally symmetrical image so I did some additional editing to make the shape symmetrical above and below the horizontal line.


With the base image ready to go, I mirrored and rotated it.  Then I added a shadow behind the delicate lacy design.  This screen shot shows the image I created using the weathervane shape.  I haven't had a chance to try cutting it yet and I may make a few alterations before I try to cut it out with my Silhouette Cameo.

Would you know by looking at the design that it started from a weathervane?
Do you like the idea of making designs this way or does it seem like too much work!


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25 comments:

  1. wauw, love your picture. and love your project.

    Has to be so cool to see all thoose nice buildings.

    thanks for sharing.

    Eveline

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  2. Love this design. I like seeing/doing things like this; I only have CDS and SCAL. Sometimes I try them but is really so time consuming and I no longer have the tie.
    Still, I enjoy you giving us so much inspiration.
    Thanks, P

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  3. Love that your post is always the first that I see in my email. Such great travel info. Your explanation for using the Silhouette Studio is awesome. I would not have tried this and really love your design. Thanks so much. Happy Sunday to you.

    (Boy these word verifications are getting harder and harder to read.)

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  4. Very neat Diane! How did you drag the photo image into the silhouette? I have the designer ed. of silhouette also.

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  5. Wow, I wish I had the computer knowledge that you have. And your photography is beautiful. I love the weathervane design you created. You, my friend, are a genius......

    Dianne Bell - Sewpro92@Aol.com

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  6. I agree Trisha. The word verification is definitelty a challenge. And some I cannot read. Thanks for mentioning that.

    Dianne Bell - Sewpro02@Aol.com

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  7. Love it, and I do do things like that but I prefer to use the Make The Cut software and cut it either to my silhuette cameo or my zing cutter. That is what's so cool about those computer programs where you can freely design and cut out on your cutter.

    I don't think, no scratch that, I KNOW that I am not as creative as you are! The weather vane would not have turned into a snowflake at my house! It would most likely just have been the weather vane plain to grace a scrap book page layout about a visit to that museum for example.

    You are amazing Diane.

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  8. Holy Cow that is amazing! I love it! You are a master at the Silhouette!!! This is beautiful. It would be great if the Silhouette has a way to use the Cricut cartridges. I have 80+ and I feel guilty not using them. Well I already feel that way because who could use all of them. LOL

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  9. Showing this step by step really gives me a better idea about the capabilities of that software. Wow!

    And I have to agree with the other posts - I can't read the word verification much of the time now. I've learned to copy my post in case I mess up.

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  10. I WOULD like to be able to use software to create my own designs, and am seriously considering purchasing a silhouette as my next machine. I currently have four Cricut machines as well as a Gypsy, and close to 200 cartridges and I love them all. I am a cart junkie and will continue to collect them even if I buy a silhouette next. It's too bad Provo Craft didn't partner with the third party software companies to allow us to be more creative with the Cricut. I love seeing what you create with the silhouette. Please continue to share your creations and observations with us. Thanks!

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  11. What a beautiful image. I would never have thought to turn it into a snowfake but you love snowflakes so that I see where you were inspired. This is such a wonderful way to save an image from history. I am intimadated by computer programs but am slowly learning a few things thanks to you and others whose blogs I read. If I had more time to play with said programs they maight come easier and I do thank you for showing me what they can do.

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  12. I would have never guessed that weathervane could turn into a snowflake. I'm so glad talent like yours isn't wasted. You always amaze me Diane with your creativity. I probabaly will never do anything like that since retirement and the economy haven't been kind to us, but I love waking up every morning and seeing what amazing projects you have posted. I'm content with my Expression and StampinUp! products.

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  13. Diane, you are a master with graphic art design and your cutting machine!! While yes, I would love to have the time and ability to do this, I know (from having used MTC, SCAL and Fairy Cut) that this takes much more time and talent than you let on. You ARE genius, and I don't know how you ever find time to do it all AND travel AND have a life. THANK YOU so much for sharing and giving us something to hope for in our distant futures.

    Fondly,
    Ellen ♥ CardMonkey
    http://cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com
    E-mail: cardmonkey@comcast.net

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  14. P.S. ... I agree about the word verification being increasingly difficult to manage. To post the comment above, it took 3 tries with different words. Grrrrr. Now this one .....??? Can you consider some other type of word verification to prove I'm not a robot?

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  15. I knew it! When I saw the photo at the top I had a sneeky suspicion you'd turn it into a snowflake! LOVE it!!! I got a Cameo a couple months ago and have to say there is such a small learning curve to it that I'm now designing images and lacey papers with just a few clicks. The Cricut fans would be blown away by a video showing how easy it is to duplicate, replicate, mirror, etc. I still squeal like a little girl when I fill a page with an image... Silhouette owners know what I mean. Designing anything in CDS was "too much work", but designing with the Silhouette is a breeze!

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  16. Hi Dianne,
    Like yourself I have so much money tied up in the Cricut machines and cartridges but I am really getting tempted to buy the Silhouette Cameo
    What do you think? Love your snowflake, had a feeling that was what it was going to be.

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  17. Diane, I only hope I can learn how to use my Cameo/Silhouette software to be able to do all the neat things I know it can do. I love how you created this snowflake. It's beautiful! I love doilies and would love to be able to create some of my own....

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  18. awesome design!! and seeing it through your eyes makes such sense this has encourged me to try and try again till I conquer this software....and the pics are great luv the counrty view... now to conquer this verification..it also takes me three trys....LOL

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  19. This is amazing Diane! Thank you for sharing with us as well as yesterday's post on de Washi tape, have a wonderful rest of your Sunday.
    Liz

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  20. I love seeing how you created the design - it is great work! I can hardly wait until I have my Cameo in my house!

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  21. I love seeing where you get your ideas. Because then I know I'm not the only one who sees designs everywhere!

    Kris in Alaska
    funamom at yahoo dot com

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  22. Love, the image you created with your sil. And to think it came from a picture. I have traced the outline of some clear stamps that I have, but hadn't even thought of doing it with a photo. Great idea.

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  23. I don't know if I would have seen a snowflake in that weathervane, Diane ;- ) but I do love that weathervane and I do love watching other people's creativity. TFS!

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  24. Beyond amazing! methinks I'll have to brave the new Silhouette that has me so chicken. Thanks so much for sharing your fabulous creativity.

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  25. I think it's great the technology is there, but I don't see myself using it. It's still fun to see other's creations.

    pawprints...

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