Business Marketing and Sales Part 1 with Dr. Carina Gardner

Carina Gardner

Carina Gardner, Ph.D. is a fabric designer for Riley Blake and designer for Silhouette. Her designs have appeared in Michaels, Hobby Lobby, My Mind's Eye, Northcott Fabrics, Riley Blake Designs, Deseret Books, Cartabella Paper, Echo Park Paper to name a few. Carina Gardner Inc's children's brand MiniLou has appeared in Nordstrom, Peek Clothing, and over 500 independent toy stores and museums in the United States.

Ask Carina Gardner your questions in the Event Community.

Paper Blooms for Spring

Terri Johnson

 Bring spring indoors by making layered paper flowers from start to finish. This class walks you through shaping, layering, and assembling flowers you’ll love to display or gift.

As a sewing and crafting instructor with over 30 years of experience, you'll find that Terri has a wealth of knowledge & passion for crafting, which she loves to share with others. Her long-standing relationship with Silhouette America & years of teaching others makes her the perfect person to break down projects in an easy-to-understand approach. With over a decade of experience in working with cutting machines and software, she has recently explored incorporating AI generated images into cutting machines projects.

Ask Terri Johnson your questions in the Event Community.

Reverse Gilding & Bold Finishes with SVG Letter Art

Heidi Ulery

Heidi Ulery is a designer and long-time maker based in Nashville, Tennessee. She creates SVG files designed to work seamlessly across cutting machines and laser cutters, including Cricut, Silhouette, and Siser cutters, as well as Glowforge, xTool, and Thunder Laser machines. Her work is known for its layered construction, cross-machine versatility, and bold finishes that transform digital files into gallery-style statement pieces.

With a creative practice rooted in experimentation, Heidi enjoys showing how a single design can be interpreted in many ways across different materials and tools. Her teaching style leans toward inspiration and exploration, encouraging makers to think beyond one finished outcome and instead see each file as a starting point for creative discovery. She especially enjoys creating for mixed-tool makers who like to move fluidly between machines, materials, and techniques.

In addition to digital design, Heidi specializes in fiber arts, including traditional Japanese Temari balls, which influence her attention to structure, pattern, and craftsmanship. Through her designs and classes, she hopes to give makers the confidence to experiment, adapt, and approach techniques with curiosity rather than hesitation.

Threadling Doll

Maile Alicia Ogden

Meet the Threadling Doll, a soft‑sculpted companion born from stitches, story, and imagination. Each Threadling begins as a handful of carefully chosen fabrics and transforms; through thoughtful design and hand‑finished details, into a tiny character with a personality all its own.
Lightweight, expressive, and full of charm, a Threadling Doll is made to be held, displayed, and cherished. Its gentle features and stitched accents celebrate the beauty of handmade craft, while its whimsical proportions give it a storybook presence that feels instantly familiar.
Whether perched on a bed, tucked into a pocket for adventures, or gifted as a keepsake, every Threadling carries the quiet magic of something made with love. Soft enough for little hands, artful enough for collectors, and timeless enough to become an heirloom, a Threadling Doll is more than a toy; it’s a companion stitched from joy.

Make Your Own Threadling Doll
Create a small fabric doll with a hand‑sewn face, yarn or fabric hair, and endless personality; totally custom made by you. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the art of rag doll making step by step. From stitching expressive faces to choosing hair textures and fabrics, every detail is guided so you can design a doll that reflects your creativity. These handmade fabric dolls are perfect for little ones, pockets, and keepsakes; tiny friends that spark imagination and hold your handmade love.

Maile Alicia is a mixed media artist and the founder of Maile Alicia Designs, a heritage craft studio where heirloom techniques meet whimsical storytelling. She creates embroidery patterns, fabrics, quilts, layered paper SVGs, and tutorials that honor tradition while infusing each piece with quirky, colorful charm. Her work blends vintage sensibility with playful modernity, inviting makers of all ages to stitch, cut, and create with intention. Through her growing library of tutorials and motif‑rich designs, Maile aims to spark creativity, connect fabric and thread to story, and nurture a community of makers who value beauty, memory, and joy in every handmade project.

Ask Maile Alicia Ogden your questions in the Event Community.

Planning: Build Your Own Discbound System with a Silhouette Cameo 5 & Electrostatic Mat

Veronica Lopez

Unlock the full potential of your Silhouette machine and your creativity. This presentation demonstrates how to cut custom planner components from SVG files using an electrostatic mat, choose the right papers, and assemble a polished discbound planner that blends beauty, function, and spiritual reflection. Participants will walk away with practical techniques and fresh inspiration for designing meaningful planning tools.

Veronica is a designer and creative guide whose work lives at the intersection of clarity, curiosity, and spiritual exploration. With more than twenty years of experience as a GIS specialist and ten years moonlighting as a wildland fire dispatcher, she brings a rare blend of precision, resilience, and deep connection to the natural world into everything she creates.

Her transition from mapping landscapes to designing intentional planning tools was sparked by her lifelong interest in organizing her life through planning and her own spiritual journey. Now pursuing a master’s in art and design, Veronica channels her passion for organization, creativity, and personal growth into crafting customizable discbound planners, pages, and bundles that support both structure and self-discovery.

Through her brand, Creative Sight Designs, she designs products that merge practicality with a touch of magic—tools that help people organize their lives, nurture imagination, and cultivate meaningful reflection. Whether guiding others through project planning, easing daily overwhelm, or inspiring spiritual insight, Veronica’s work invites individuals to bring more clarity, creativity, and connection into their everyday lives.

Ask Veronica Lopez your questions in the Event Community.

From Stencil to Story: Creating an Intuitive Art Journal Page with Claudette Agustin

Claudette Agustin

In this session, I teach the audience how to use a digital stencil I designed by cutting it from an SVG file on a Silhouette cutting machine, then applying it as a foundation for creating an intuitive mixed-media art journal page. I walk step by step through my process, from preparing and cutting the stencil, to working inside a recycled book I have converted into an art journal, to layering paint, marks, and materials in a way that is expressive and personal.

I share this process as a designer and mixed-media artist who uses artmaking and crafting as part of my own wellness practice. While the techniques are practical and accessible, my intention is to show how thoughtfully designed tools can support creative confidence, reduce perfectionism, and help people reconnect with their creativity in a meaningful way.

For a visual reference to my teaching style and creative approach, you may view a short example of my work here:
https://youtu.be/_G9oG6OZNOk

By teaching both the technical use of the stencil and the intuitive art journaling process, I aim to give participants a reusable creative tool and a way of working they can return to again and again. In an era shaped by AI and automation, I believe practices like this help us stay connected to our humanity, our stories, our hands, and what makes us feel alive.

Det Agustin is a mixed-media artist, designer, and creative educator who uses art as a pathway for healing, self-connection, and creative exploration. She is the founder of Umindak, a wearable art brand inspired by aerialists, dancers, and expressive movement, and Paru Paro Studios, a creative platform devoted to nurturing creativity as a wellness practice. Det creates digital art, original mixed-media pieces, and one-of-a-kind works that serve as invitations, tools that help others channel their own creativity.

By bringing together traditional art techniques with crafting technology, Det teaches in an approachable way that feels genuine and intuitive, allowing space for self-discovery rather than perfection. Drawing from her own experience using art to move through life’s disappointments and challenges, she guides others toward curiosity, confidence, and becoming through accessible creative processes.

Ask Claudette Agustin your questions in the Event Community.

A Spring Appreciation Gift Bag Craft for Classrooms & Celebrations

Michelle Ward

A Spring Appreciation Gift Bag Craft for Classrooms & Celebrations is a flexible, inclusive paper craft designed for a wide range of settings—from classrooms and family activities to parties, gatherings, and spring events.

In this session, I’ll walk through a customizable treat bag project that can be made using cutting machines or simple print-and-cut templates, making it accessible for classrooms or hosts with limited time, tools, or experience. Participants will learn how to use a single base bag design and personalize it with mix-and-match paper flowers, allowing each finished piece to feel unique.

This project is intentionally open-ended and text-optional, so children and adults alike can create a gift for someone special—a caregiver, loved one, teacher, or guest—without assumptions about family structure. I’ll share ideas for adapting the craft for different age groups, prep levels, and event types, including classroom use, caregiver appreciation, and elegant spring celebrations.

Michelle Ward is a graphic designer and paper craft designer known for playful, thoughtfully engineered SVG projects and printable designs. Her work blends storytelling, structure, and a little bit of creative chaos, with a focus on designs that feel imaginative, hands-on, and genuinely fun to make.

Michelle’s creative practice centers on character-driven designs and graphic elements that translate across paper crafts, vinyl, apparel, and other creative products. From favor bags and 3D builds to cut-file illustrations and surface patterns, her work balances whimsy with strong construction and clear visual language.

She is currently completing her MFA in Digital Design and Business while building a creative brand that celebrates curiosity, experimentation, and what she calls crafting with chaos—where creativity is allowed to be human, playful, and a little bit messy.

Ask Michelle Ward your questions in the Event Community.

Spring Rabbit Card

Carla Locke

 Make this Easy Layered Easter Bunny Card for someone special this holiday season using your die-cutting machine. Learn how to make the card as shown, or customize it to make it uniquely yours. As a bonus, VIP members can get a matching Bunny Cupcake Topper SVG.

Carla Locke draws inspiration from a lifelong connection to nature. Raised by avid photographers and shaped by studies in biology and art, she developed a deep appreciation for the quiet details found in the natural world. That same sense of curiosity and calm guides her creative process today.

At Flowingcreek, Carla channels her love of color, pattern, and thoughtful design into SVGs for papercrafts, including cards, gift tags, bookmarks, boxes, and decorative flat designs. She enjoys exploring endless combinations of shapes and textures, creating pieces that are both artistic and practical for everyday crafting.

Carla’s work reflects her desire to bring beauty, serenity, and a touch of nature into daily life. She hopes her SVGs inspire makers to play, create, and discover their own artistic joy.

Ask Carla Locke your questions in the Event Community.

Simple Systems That Save Time (Even If You’re a Solo Creative)

Cori George

Running a creative business can feel overwhelming—especially when everything lives in your head! In this class, Cori George shares simple, low-pressure systems that help creative entrepreneurs save time, reduce decision fatigue, and get more done without burnout.

You’ll learn how to use easy checklists, templates, and repeatable routines to bring more structure to your business—no complicated software or tech skills required. This class is designed for solo creatives and small business owners who want their business to feel more manageable and sustainable.

You’ll walk away with practical ideas you can implement immediately, plus the confidence to create systems that support your creativity instead of stifling it!

Cori George is a creative entrepreneur, educator, and the founder of Hey, Let’s Make Stuff, a popular crafting brand that helps makers create with confidence and grow sustainable creative businesses. She’s also the owner of Chapter & Craft, a book-loving shop inspired by her lifelong love of reading and handmade design. Cori believes running a creative business should support your life, not be your life!

Ask Cori George your questions in the Event Community.

Laser-Cut Love: A Mother’s Day Project That Blooms with Meaning

Randal Smith

Mother’s Day is the perfect time to create something meaningful by hand. In this session, I’ll walk you through a laser-cut Mother’s Day project that combines simple materials with thoughtful design to create a gift that lasts far beyond the holiday.
You’ll learn how floral symbolism—especially birth flowers—can add personal meaning to handmade projects, how digital designs translate into beautiful laser-cut pieces, and how small creative details can turn a simple idea into a keepsake. This session is designed to spark creativity and encourage you to make the project your own.

🌸 Perfect for makers who love creating with intention and gifting from the heart.

Randal Smith is the founder and creative force behind C3 Designs Studio, specializing in digital design files for lasers and other cutting machines. Her work focuses on creating projects that bring people together through art, craft, and making.
Inspired by early experiences quilting and crafting with her gram, mom, and friends, Randal believes that creativity is about more than the finished piece—it’s about the memories created along the way. Today, she designs files and activities that help makers create meaningful moments with family and loved ones, encouraging connection, creativity, and memory-making through thoughtful design.

Ask Randal Smith your questions in the Event Community.

Wrapped In Blooms SVG Birthday Card 

Denise Levy

In this class, you’ll create a charming die-cut greeting card featuring a whimsical floral bouquet wrapped in paper and tied with a sweet bow. Each flower is thoughtfully designed with multiple layers and shapes, adding beautiful dimension, texture, and visual interest. The design also includes a coordinating Happy Birthday tag to complete the look. In addition you’ll learn how to use the floral elements separately for gift tags or scrapbook projects.

The completed card measures 5 x 7 inches and fits a standard A7 envelope

Denise Levy is an artist and designer known for her whimsical style. As a designer Denise specializes in designing high-quality craft die cut files or SVGs, focusing mainly on greeting cards and print & cut stickers. Denise combines traditional drawing & painting with her digital work, either on her iPad or in Adobe Illustrator, which make her designs unique. Denise has a BFA in Art History and a MA in Education.

You can find Denise’s work at www.deniselevystudio.com and www.deniselevyart.com.

Ask Denise Levy your questions in the Event Community.

Stacked paper Chicken Lantern Cards

Coleen S. Rood

Join Coleen Rood Designs as Coleen walks you through the construction of the Chicken Card, a playful layered 5” × 7” stacked paper project designed just for makers who love to cut, stack, and glow.

This freebie project features six thoughtfully layered pieces of cardstock and vellum, built in warm, cozy neutrals that feel both modern and delightfully handmade. Designed as an approachable stacked project, the Chicken Card is perfect for beginners while still offering satisfying depth and detail for experienced paper crafters.

The finished card is designed to be softly illuminated with an LED tea light, allowing the vellum layers to glow. It can stand alone as a dimensional lighted card or be paired with other 5” × 7” card panels inside a coordinating Lantern Frame for an expanded display.

The Chicken Card is the first design in Coleen’s Chicken Series, created with humor, charm, and paper-loving intention. As a special Sweet Life of a Designer experience, the Barn Lantern Frame will be available exclusively to VIP participants.

Grab your cardstock, a little vellum, and some glue—this quirky chicken is ready to shine.

Coleen Rood is a Seattle-based graphic designer, paper artist, and the creative force behind Coleen Rood Designs, where she helps quirky people play with paper. A graduate of Carina Gardner’s University of Arts & Design, Coleen blends formal design training with hands-on making, turning thoughtful concepts into joyful, cut-it-yourself experiences.
Her design background spans corporate graphic design, freelance work, small-business branding, event marketing, and museum exhibits—but paper is where her heart landed. Today, she designs layered SVGs, 3D paper lanterns, cards, and decorative projects for makers through Etsy and the Silhouette Design Store, with a strong focus on accessibility, clarity, and creative confidence.
Inspired by life in the Pacific Northwest, a deep love of books, travel, and community, Coleen’s process is both structured and playful. She moves from research and sketching to Adobe Illustrator, always with an eye toward how a flat file becomes a tactile, dimensional object in real hands. Her work ranges from clean and simple to delightfully complex, often infused with humor, whimsy, and a little gothic charm—all brought to life with cardstock, vellum, glue, and curiosity.
At heart, Coleen designs to invite others in: to try, to learn, to make a mess, and to discover that creativity is for everyone.

Ask Coleen Rood your questions in the Event Community.

Creative Calm: Making a Triskele Paper Orb

Kelly Wayment

Discover a simple yet satisfying paper craft with plenty of room for personal creativity. In this online presentation, Kelly Wayment will guide you through creating a triskele paper orb—a relaxing project that’s beautiful displayed either hanging or sitting. You’ll explore decorating ideas, then learn how to fold and assemble the orb step by step. This project can be cut using a Silhouette machine or created entirely by hand, making it accessible for all skill levels.

Kelly Wayment has been educating and inspiring Silhouette users since 2009. With a deep passion for all kinds of crafts, Kelly seamlessly integrates her Silhouette machines into nearly every hobby she pursues. Her extensive experience and creative approach have made her a trusted resource in the crafting community, where she continually shares her knowledge and enthusiasm for crafting with others.

Ask Kelly Wayment your questions in the Event Community.

Make a Cute Spring Felt Banner

Toni Imlay

Make a cute Spring Banner with me using felt!  I will be teaching you how to use freezer paper and felt…along with your Silhouette Cameo or a pair of scissors and some floss (and embellishments if you choose), to make an easy banner to decorate your home or space for Spring.  

Meet Toni Imlay!
She is a busy wife, mom to seven daughters, five sons (in-law) so far, and a darling bunch of grandkids. Toni is always thinking up stuff to make for her family & friends. She loves adventures, travel, reading, and teaching about all things craft related!
You can often find Toni in her craft room making all the stuff! She especially loves paper, watercolor, drawing, sewing, fabric, stamps, working with wood…and being out in nature, via…walks, hiking, biking, and taking pictures!

Ask Toni Imlay your questions in the Event Community

What I Wish I Knew About AI 

Cheryl Kuchek

If you've been in the sublimation world for any length of time, you already know that not all substrates are equal. Some are easy to press, and others are a bit of a challenge. I would put slate in the latter category. What is amazing about slate is that when finished, it is stunning to look at and has a high perceived value. Slate is unique and sells for a premium. Learn to master slate, and you'll be offering something most of your competitors aren’t able to deliver.

Cheryl Kuchek is a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Just My Imagination DeZigns, Inc., with over two decades in the personalization industry. An expert in sublimation, DTF, DTG, and UV printing, she is recognized for her hands-on knowledge and innovative approach. Cheryl co-founded Sublimation University and created the popular Facebook group Creative Makers Academy, both dedicated to empowering makers and advancing the craft.


Ask Cheryl Kuchek your questions in the Event Community.

Floral Layout Magic: Create Designs That Feel Effortless & Joyful

Aja Fillmore

In this class, you’ll design right along with me as I build a floral layout from a blank canvas to a finished piece. I’ll show you how I decide where things go, how I keep florals feeling balanced (without overthinking it), and what I tweak when something feels “off.” You’ll walk away with an easy, repeatable approach to floral layouts that feels calm, fun, and way less intimidating—and works for cards, printables, and surface designs.

Aja Fillmore is a designer who loves drawing flowers and keeping design simple. She creates illustrations, digital products, and classes that help creatives make things that feel good to create and easy to use. Most days, you’ll find her sketching florals, playing with layouts, and figuring out how to make design feel a little less complicated.

Ask Aja Fillmore your questions in the Event Community.

Shaker Butterfly Tags with Michelle Price of 12x12 Cardstock Shop

Michelle Price

In this class we will cover how to get the right cut settings for various types of cardstock. We'll finish off the class by making a fun Shaker Butterfly Tags.

Ask Michelle Price your questions in the Event Community.

Michelle Price is offering a promotion for the event:
Promo Code: SHINE15
Gets you 15% off ALL Encore Brand Papers
Valid: March 9 - March 14, 2026

Click the link below for the eligible products. 
https://www.12x12cardstock.shop/collections/encore-brand-paper

12x12 Cardstock Shop is your go-to source for cardstock! We've made it our business to track down cardstock and specialty papers that cut great on an electronic cutting machine. We have over 4000 different products in our shop, so you can stock your craft room with exactly what you need.

Ask Michelle Price your questions in the Event Community.