{Guest Post} Holly's Thursday Tutorial: How to make a postcard with Silhouette Studio

I always enjoy looking at what others have created with their LD files. When Holly Wood shared her postcards on my Facebook page, I loved the idea so much I asked if she would share a tutorial on the blog. I was super excited when she agreed!

In today's tutorial, Holly will show you how you can make some of these postcards using Silhouette Studio. Follow the easy how-to below and try making some of these post cards for yourself.

~ Jin

My name is Holly and I came to paper crafts via scrapbooking when I felt my life was zooming by. I couldn't find the elements I wanted and eventually got frustrated enough that I purchased a Silhouette Cameo (I did the proverbial "gulp" when I placed my order).

When looking for files, I found Under A Cherry Tree and that was when I started to really began to experiment. Last year before vacation, I wanted to include some family that was unable to go with us, and I wanted it to be personal, so I learned to make my photos into postcards. I think next time, I would not print my own photos at home, but would get them printed commercially as the top coat or finish might hold up better to the rollers in the US Postal Service. Maybe if I only had a few to send out, I might ask to have them hand stamped.

Enjoy!

Holly
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How to make a postcard with Silhouette Studio

1. Open a new file and draw a box that is about the same size as the photo. Most standard photos are 4x6 so that is what I used.

2. Next, draw a line that is about ½' shorter that your height (so mine was 3.5”) and make sure the line style is .50 or .75 and fill with color. Select all and group.

3. Next you need to choose a topper, in my case it was the letter “L” from Lettering Delights' “Chill Out” doodlebat font. You can find interesting dingbats at places like Dafont and 1001 font. I used the doodlebats from Lettering Delights because I can release the compound path and use just a portion of the design.

4. I released the compound path, then released it a second time and pulled the swirl out of the doodlebat.

5. Rotate the swirl 180 degrees and mirror to the right. Group the images.

6. Fill with color and change the outline if you want.

7. Move the doodlebat to the top of the line. Don't group at this point.

8. Make a 1x1 square (this will represent the approx size of a postage stamp), place where a stamp would go, then resize the topper if necessary. You can keep the square or delete it and group the rest of the project.

9. Choose a font and write Post Card, arrange above the fancy work, draw lines for the address on the right and if you choose, add a graphic on the left, then lower the transparency to desired level.

Here are some additional postcard ideas from Holly:

This one used Banner Day Fun from LD.

Florality topper from dingbat at Dafont, re-colored

Campfire graphic from Fayette Designs/Pickleberry Pop

Thank you, Holly for the great tutorial! If you enjoyed today's tutorial, please let Holly know by leaving a comment below or on my Facebook page. If you have a project that was inspired by a tutorial on this blog, you are welcome to share it on my Facebook page.