First Silhouette Project! 3-2-1 Blast Off Shirt

Several weeks ago, I shared my Silhouette Cameo Confession: even though I finally bought the cutting machine last November, I had yet to make a single project with it. I was too intimidated. Since my brain injury, I learn best by doing, with someone showing me until I build my confidence. Fortunately, for me, my "Silhouette Someone" is Lauren from The Thinking Closet. We were recently in Orlando, I stalked her online  asked her to show me the ropes. So what was my first project? A space shuttle shirt for our space-obsessed four-year-old!

Lauren very graciously invited the entire de Jong family over for the day. Marissa entertained D and Niels spent his off-conference day working from Lauren's gorgeous backyard. 

Lauren and I had actually met up the day before to collect our supplies. 

After getting my Silhouette unpacked, Lauren gave me an overview of all the bells and whistles before we got started. (Lauren was working on these pretty jar labels). 

The first thing I had to do was find an image of a space shuttle. I didn't find exactly what I wanted on the Silhouette Online Store, but one of the reasons I chose the Silhouette over the also-popular Cricut was so that I could use online images. I found the winning image at Clker.com. (Thank you Google image search!). 

I measured the front of my son's t-shirt (which I bought at Hobby Lobby for super cheap!) to get an idea of the size I need my image to be. 

I knew that I would use "3-2-1 Blast Off!" as the text because our son says this all.the.time as he's busy playing with his space shuttle toys...or any toy, really. I chose Aharoni as the font. I reversed the text because it was an iron on. If I've followed directions correctly, you can download my Silhouette file here. (Please let me know if you can't download the file).

I forgot to take a photo, but I used Silhouette's yellow flocked heat transfer material. 

Lauren said, "If you buy nothing else from the Silhouette site, you should at least buy a weeding hook." A funny time for a tool used to dig out the material not needed, but after using it, I have to agree with the need for one! (I bought one that night and it was waiting for me when we arrived home from vacation). 

If I was a smarter girl, I would have selected an easier first design. I was very grateful that I was using Lauren's weeding hook.

Once the weeding was done, I was ready to iron!

I lined up the "two" of the text with the label on the shirt to center it on the tee-shirt.

The instructions didn't say to cover the iron-on, but we did, just to be on the safe side. 

It took a lot longer than I thought it would for the transfer to adhere. Every few minutes, I would carefully lift the backing to see if the image was holding to the shirt. After ten minutes, I was putting a little muscle in it! That seemed to do the trick!

And it's done!

My first of many Silhouette projects! 

The best part of this project--other than spending the day with my new blogging buddy--was D's reaction. He loved it!  

D has no interest in The Mouse, but he was super excited to visit his Disneyland, NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Guess what he wanted to wear?

My favorite picture of him in his blast off shirt is this one, where he is blasting off in the car while I was in JoAnn's.

A big thanks to Lauren for hosting this Silhouette newbie, and letting me take pictures and drool over my favorite of your projects.  

1  DIY Birthday and Anniversary Calendar (I think she's an honorary Dutchie) 2 Ticket Stub Memory Box (You can see my version here) 3 Hot Drinks Station 4 Filing Fabric 5 Wood Pallet Sign 6 White on White Canvas Art 7 Meal Planner 8 Pallet Christmas Card Holder 9 Exercise Challenge

This post is my first entry in the Silhouette Challenge, where some fellow blogger friends and I are attempting to complete and blog about a new Silhouette project each month. Click on the links below to see what other creative bloggers have been working on this month. 

DIY Business Cards {Silhouette Tutorial} by Create & Babble

Make Your Own "Rubber" Stamps by Coley's Corner

Where Home Is: A Gift for a Military Family by Suburble

This Month's Facebook Silhouette Challenge by Tanya's Creative Space

3D Tea Gift Box Download by Creative Turn

File Cabinet Makeover by Super Sweet Life

Jewelry Box Creation by Joy & Gladness of Heart

Retro Chair Silhouette by Tried & True

Toddler Train T-Shirt by The Thinking Closet

Placecard & Card Medley by An Elegant Touch

Using my Silhouette in the Shower (Bathroom Organization) by Whole New Leaf

Pretty & Personal Birthday Bundle by The House on Hillbrook

Linked to:
Fluster Buster * I Heart Naptime * Not Just a Housewife * On Sutton Place * Sew Can Do * This Silly Girl's Life * SNAP! *  Tutus & Tea Parties