Free Christmas Cards Courtesy of Silhouette

Yesterday my mother asked me to print out some pictures of the kids to send her relatives. This sounds easy enough but it can be deceivingly complicated.

First, she didn't want to buy any cards and asked if I could just print some out for her. After some thought I wanted to try to make them out of leftover cardstock from the advent boxes and use my Silhouette machine. I don't like to waste printer ink (which I'll come to later).

I know that with the Silhouette you can make some pretty impressive things but I just wanted something I wouldn't have to fuss much with so I picked a simple candy cane template for 75¢ and cut 10 cards out of 12"x12" cardstock 6"x4.5" large.
Then I realized that I didn't have any envelopes to fit the cards into properly so I downloaded an envelope template and cut 10 custom sized envelopes out of light weight 12"x12" paper. Done! Without having to spend a penny (I had a Silhouette gift card). And they looked pretty good too!

I used my 2-way zig glue to fasten the envelopes together. But I think the really neat part was the scalloped edge of my envelope flap. Imagine how much money you could save if you made your own wedding invitations with the Silhouette! The template I downloaded also had an option for contrasting lining but I didn't want to bother with it. Still, would be nice for fancy invites.

Finally, I had to print out the Christmas pics. So last night I got the girls in front of the tree and attempted to take a group photo. It's a good thing my life didn't depend on it because I would be dead. Eloise would NOT sit in front of the girls. She insisted on standing to my right watching the action from the sidelines. And when Lily was smiling, Molly was looking the other way. Anyone else feel my pain this season? So I had to take three separate photos and Photoshop them into one. Is it terribly obvious? MERRY JUMBLED CHRISTMAS!

At any rate, I finished editing the photo and went to print them out when my printer said my cyan was empty. So today I went out and bought the cartridge at Office Max. When I got back and printed out two photos it said my Magenta now had to be replaced too and wouldn't let me print anymore. Brother printers have this insidious feature that won't allow you to print when it senses that the cartridge is supposedly 'empty'.Last I checked the Magenta was 1/4 full and now after one printed page with two photos it said it was completely empty?! I was really mad. Aside from not wanting to spend $11 on another cartridge I didn't have the time or energy to make another trip to Office Max. So I did some research and found this little article. 

And guess what, it worked! It kind of makes me mad that I threw away so many cartridges before this. How much money do you think Brother is profiting from their so called "low ink" feature?

At any rate, cards are now FINISHED! After all was said and done, I only $11 spent on a new ink cartridge which I needed anyway. I'm feeling pretty good:)