EasyPress

May 2, 2018 by Sydney Leave a Comment

Fun Star Wars Shirts with Cricut

Some posts may contain affiliate links. For more information please see the disclosure page.

Make these shirts for May The Fourth or anytime you want to show your love for the Star Wars films.

I have to admit, I haven’t always been a Star Wars fan. It wasn’t until we watched Episodes 4-6 with my boys and saw how excited my boys got watching that I really started liking the movies. Since then, every time we walk past the Star Wars toy aisle, or they see a Star Wars movie on TV we have to stop. So I wasn’t the only one excited when Cricut announced their new Star Wars images into Design Space.

It was the perfect time too – since May The Fourth is this week! I made these shirts for my kids and I don’t know who was more excited, me or them! They didn’t take long to make thanks to my Cricut Maker and EasyPress.

I used Cricut’s Foil Iron On for these shirts and you can get all the colors I used here in the Bejewled Sampler. When ordering from Cricut.com, use code TFRUGAL to save 10% and get FREE shipping!

To get these same designs for shirts, pillows, home decor or whatever you want to add them to click here.

Which design are you most excited about?!

April 13, 2018 by Sydney Leave a Comment

April Showers Bring May Flowers Wood Sign With Iron On Vinyl

Some posts may contain affiliate links. For more information please see the disclosure page.

Make this bright and fun spring sign in minutes with iron on vinyl and the new Cricut Iron On Designs.

Doesn’t it drive you crazy that as soon as you wash your car it seems like it rains the next day?! It drives me nuts and the SAME thing happened when I made this sign. When I was working on this project it was 70° outside, sunny and perfect weather. The next day…. it SNOWED! All I have to say is the flowers in May better be extra beautiful for all the rain and snow we’re getting.

That being said, I love spring time. The trees and flowers blooming, birds chirping, warmer weather and of course more light in the day to do crafts! If you’ve been reading the blog for anytime at all you know how much I LOVE working with Cricut Iron On Vinyl. It’s by far my favorite material to craft with because it’s so easy to work with and the results last.

Did you know you can use iron on vinyl on wood?! Yep, you can and it makes it stand up better to the elements outside. I used glitter iron on for this sign. I started with glitter for the clouds and rain drops and then foil for the wording BUT I had a really hard time getting the foil to stick. So I covered it with glitter and it turned out great!

And you see those flowers down at the bottom? Those are one of the NEW Cricut Iron On Designs! You may have saw the teacher tote bag I shared yesterday with another Iron On Design, and these are quickly becoming my favorite way to personalize gifts, home decor and more.

They are SO easy to use. All you have to do is take them out of the package and iron them on – easy peasy right?! You can use them alone or combine them with other iron on like I did hear to create a custom look. Right now there are over 50 designs available with lots more to come! I’ll be sharing a few more crafts with these in the next few weeks. But for now let me show you how to make this sign!

SUPPLIES:

Wood Shadow Box (I got this one from Joann)

Glitter Iron On (I used silver, blue and pink)

Small Flower Iron On Design

https://design.cricut.com/#/design/new/projects?category=My%20ProjectsCricut EasyPress

StandardGrip Cutting Mat

Essential Tool Set

Cricut Maker or Explore Air Machine

**If you’re ordering supplies from Cricut.com, make sure to use promo code TFRUGAL to get 10% off and score FREE shipping!**

DIRECTIONS:

Open up this design in design space and send it to be cut. Make sure to mirror your image when using iron on vinyl.

Select glitter iron on from the drop down menu of materials.

Load your StandardGrip mat with your iron on vinyl shiny side down.

Cut and weed your designs.

Heat your EasyPress to 340°F.

Preheat wood for 10 seconds.

Line up designs and make sure there is no plastic underneath any of the iron on. You can have plastic touching plastic but if you have iron on vinyl over plastic it will get pressed on to the plastic not the material.

Use EasyPress and press with medium firm pressure for 50 seconds.

Peel glitter iron on right away. Wait 1-2 minutes to peel iron on design.

Hang and enjoy! Every time I see this sign as I walk out our front door it makes me smile and patiently wait for warmer weather with lots of flowers.

If you’d like to check out more ways you can use your Cricut check out these posts! Need help with your Cricut? Join our Cricut Support Facebook Group!

I’m excited to join some super talented bloggers today as part of the Inspire My Creativity Link Party! The second Wednesday of every month (I was a few days late this month) we will be posting our projects and you can link your projects up too!

Shani | Sunshine & Munchkins Anna | Practical and Pretty Ali | Home Crafts by Ali

Cathy | A Boy and His Mom Christine | Swordfights & Starry Nights Meg | The Kusi Life

Candice | She’s Crafty Lauren | A Life of Love and Joy Amy | Leap of Faith Crafting

Jaclyn | The Dotted Nest Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled Sydney | Tastefully Frugal

Lindsay | See Lindsay Julia | The Quiet Grove Pam | P.S. I Love You Crafts Marie | The Inspiration Vault

Check out the other spring projects these talented ladies made here:

Loading InLinkz ...

April 12, 2018 by Sydney 1 Comment

Teacher Appreciation Tote Bag And Tumbler

Some posts may contain affiliate links. For more information please see the disclosure page.

Need some ideas for teacher appreciation week? Check out this fun tote bag and cup and other fun ideas you can score at the Dollar Store. PLUS print your FREE Teacher’s Favorites List and give it to your teacher so you can make sure you gift her things she will love.

Can you believe we’re almost done with school?! I feel like it was just last week I dropped Rohrl off for his first day and now we’re getting ready for teacher appreciation week. Between work, school and family I haven’t had much time to make gifts for his teachers but I wanted to do something special for them.

Before I went out and bought (or made) gifts they wouldn’t like or use, I made this My Favorites List and gave it to them. This way I can actually gift them things they will use! You can download your FREE Checklist here.

After I got their lists back, I headed to Dollar Tree where they actually have a ton of really great gift ideas! I picked up some bath bombs (I picked a few up for me too and they actually are really nice), some coconut oil lotion, their favorite candy and some cute nail files. Because I’m buying for multiple teachers, I feel like I can do more for each teacher at Dollar Tree.

Then I headed home to make this tumbler and gift bag. They both were SO easy to make thanks to my Cricut Maker and EasyPress. The tote bag I actually didn’t even need my Maker for! Have you seen Cricut’s new Iron On Designs?! There are over 50 styles and designs available and all you need to use them is an EasyPress (or an iron).

TOTE BAG

SUPPLIES:

Tote Bag

Iron On Design

Cricut EasyPress and EasyPress Mat

**If you’re ordering supplies from Cricut.com, make sure to use promo code TFRUGAL to get 10% off and score FREE shipping!**

DIRECTIONS:

Heat EasyPress to 340°F

Place EasyPress Mat inside tote bag (this way the tote bag doesn’t get stuck to itself on the inside)

Preheat tote bag for 10-15 seconds.

Place design on tote bag and press with medium firm pressure on EasyPress for 50 seconds.

Turn tote bag over, remove EasyPress mat, and heat for 15 seconds.

Let cool for 1-2 minutes before removing the plastic.

TEACHER FUEL TUMBLER

SUPPLIES:

Tumbler

FREE Teacher Fuel SVG File

Red and Black Vinyl

Transfer Tape

StandardGrip Cutting Mat

Essential Tool Set

Cricut Maker or Explore Air Machine

DIRECTIONS:

Upload Teacher Fuel SVG to Cricut Design Space. Resize to fit tumbler (I had my design at 3.5″ tall)

Send to machine to be cut.

Weed excess vinyl from designs and apply transfer tape.

In layers, apply design to tumbler. I did the black first and then the red.

And there you have it!

I had everything I needed to make the tote and tumbler already so I spent less than $10 per teacher to make these gifts!

If you’d like to check out more ways you can use your Cricut check out these posts! Need help with your Cricut? Join our Cricut Support Facebook Group!

I joined a few of my blog buddies this week to share ways your Cricut Machine can help make Teacher Appreciation Gifts and End Of Year activities easier! Check out all the ideas here:

An InLinkz Link-up

April 4, 2018 by Sydney 1 Comment

Heart Outfit With The New Cricut Patterned Iron On

Some posts may contain affiliate links. For more information please see the disclosure page.

Make a cute coordinating outfit for you little one in minutes thanks to Cricut’s new Patterned Iron On.

I knew as soon as the doctor’s told me I was having a little girl that I was going to have so much fun dressing her up. Don’t get me wrong, I loved dressing my boys in cute outfits too, but there are so many more cute options for girls (and way more cute ways to customize them too). When Cricut released their Patterned Iron On last month, those possibilities grew even more.

Not only are there are a ton of really cute styles but they come together in sampler packs with coordinating colors/patterns. It makes it really easy to make coordinating designs in different patterns.

When I was making this outfit I designed a dress and some nursery art with the Patterned Iron On in mind too, so keep an eye out for those in the coming weeks. You can check out the 9 Patterned Iron On Samplers here.

In addition to this new Patterned Iron On, I’m obsessed with Cricut’s new EasyPress Mat. I talked about it a little bit last week, but seriously guys this is a game changer! It makes applying iron on with your EasyPress much easier and it protects your table (or countertop) from the heat that comes out of your EasyPress. I didn’t really realize how much heat the EasyPress puts out until I felt my counter underneath where I had pressed a few shirts and it burnt my fingers to the touch. Thanks to the EasyPress Mat know I don’t have to worry about my kiddos getting burnt after mama crafts.

Now that you’ve heard all about my obsession, let’s talk about this cute outfit! I love getting my blank tops and leggings for Mahle’s outfits at either Walmart or Old Navy or The Children’s Place when they have a sale. I got this top at Walmart for $2.88 and the leggings are from Old Navy and I think I got them for $3 – so $5 for the whole outfit; not too shabby! Let me show you how easy these were to make.

SUPPLIES:

Cricut Patterned Iron On (I used the Chantilly Patterned Iron On Sampler)

Plain White Shirt (this is the one I used)

Plain Colored Leggings (these are the ones I used)

Cricut EasyPress and EasyPress Mat

StandardGrip Cutting Mat

Essential Tool Set (the weeding tool makes removing the extra iron on SO much easier and the paper cutter is perfect for slicing the heart and dumbell in half)

Cricut Maker or Explore Air Machine

**If you’re ordering supplies from Cricut.com, make sure to use promo code TFRUGAL to get 10% off and score FREE shipping!**

DIRECTIONS:

Open up this design in design space and size your design to fit your shirt. I measured from seam to seam to determine the width for my shirt. Also, measure your leggings from seam to seam to determine how big you need your bigger hearts.

Send your design to the mat. *make sure to Mirror your design.

Select Patterned Iron On in the drop down menu for materials.

Load your Patterned Iron On design side facing your mat and cut design.

Weed excess vinyl.

FOR PATTERNED IRON ON, YOU’LL WANT TO HEAT YOUR EASYPRESS TO 340°F AND PRESS FOR 30 SECONDS ON THE FRONT AND 15 SECONDS ON THE BACK. IT IS ALSO A COLD PEEL. THAT MEANS YOU’LL WANT TO WAIT ABOUT 45 SECONDS AFTER YOUR PRESS YOUR SHIRT TO PEEL THE PLASTIC BACKING OFF. This chart is super helpful for determining the temperature you need based on the material your pressing and the type of iron on.

Once your EasyPress is up to temperature, place your shirt on the EasyPress Mat and preheat the area you’re putting your design for 5-10 seconds.

Line up your hearts and make sure they are equally spaced from the seams.

Press for 30 seconds with medium firm pressure.

Flip your shirt over and press for 15 seconds.

Let cool for 45 seconds to 1 minute and then slowly peel at an angle.

Repeat with the larger hearts on the leggings.

Isn’t Mahle so cute in this outfit?! What Patterned Iron On Sampler are you most excited to try?! Let me know in the comments!

If you’d like to check out more ways you can use your Cricut check out these posts! Need help with your Cricut? Join our Cricut Support Facebook Group!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

March 28, 2018 by Sydney 2 Comments

Workout Buddies Tees With The New Cricut SportFlex Iron On

Some posts may contain affiliate links. For more information please see the disclosure page.

Customizing workout shirts and activewear has never been easier thanks to the new Cricut SportFlex Iron On! You can make these workout buddies tees for you and your bestie with the Cricut Maker and EasyPress.

You guys I am SO excited to tell you about the newest Cricut Iron On – SportFlex Iron On! It’s a flexible, stretchy iron on that’s perfect for nylon and polyester fabrics (like workout tees, tanks and leggings)! It’s also super light weight – you can feel the difference when you take it off the roll! And when I say stretchy I mean STRETTCCHHYYY! You can see in this picture I can stretch it without any wrinkling or bending. It also features Cricut’s new StrongBond Guarantee!

This SportFlex Iron On is obviously great for activewear but it’s also great for shirts that need a little extra stretch, like maternity shirts or shirts for us ladies that have a bigger bust. I’m working on a series of shirts with references from my favorite chick flicks and this SportFlex is definitely a game changer with those shirts too!

Along with the new SportFlex Iron On, I got to use the new EasyPress Mat when I made these shirts and it is a total game changer too! This 5 layer mat helps eliminate moisture, protects your surface (countertop, tabletop, etc.) from heat damage and makes sure the heat from your EasyPress goes directly on to your shirt. You place the mat under your shirt (or whatever you’re pressing) and you’re good to go.

Since I’ve been using the EasyPress Mat, I’ve noticed I don’t have to put as much pressure on my EasyPress and I’m getting the same, if not better results. Before I would do a final press for 5-10 seconds after I peeled the backing off and now I don’t have to do that.

Now that I’ve told you all about these new products let me show you how to make these fun shirts!

SUPPLIES:

SportFlex Iron On (I used Fuschia)

Workout Tee or Tank (I found these on clearance at Target for $5)

StandardGrip Cutting Mat

Cricut EasyPress and EasyPress Mat

Essential Tool Set (the weeding tool makes removing the extra iron on SO much easier and the paper cutter is perfect for slicing the heart and dumbell in half)

Cricut Maker or Explore Air Machine

**If you’re ordering supplies from Cricut.com, make sure to use promo code TFRUGAL to get 10% off and score FREE shipping!**

DIRECTIONS:

Open up this design in Design Space.

Send to mat. Make sure to mirror your image.

On the next screen select Choose Material and select SportFlex Iron On.

Send to your machine – you’ll want to make sure the white side is facing up on the mat.

Cut and weed your design.

Use your paper cutter to cut the heart and dumbell in half (you’ll want one half for each shirt).

FOR SPORTFLEX IRON ON, YOU’LL WANT TO HEAT YOUR EASYPRESS TO 305°F AND PRESS FOR 30 SECONDS ON THE FRONT AND 15 SECONDS ON THE BACK. IT IS ALSO A COLD PEEL. THAT MEANS YOU’LL WANT TO WAIT ABOUT 45 SECONDS AFTER YOUR PRESS YOUR SHIRT TO PEEL THE PLASTIC BACKING OFF.

Once your EasyPress is up to temperature, place your shirt on the EasyPress Mat and preheat the area you’re putting your design for 5-10 seconds.

Line up half of the heart where you want it and press for 30 seconds. Since I did multiple presses I only did the back press on the last layer. Remove plastic backing after 45 seconds.

Next you’ll want to line up your broken heart and press it for 30 seconds. Remove plastic backing after 45 seconds.

Lastly you’ll add your word and the dumbbell and press for 30 seconds. Then flip the shirt over and press on the back for 15 seconds. Remove plastic backing after 45 seconds.

Aren’t these shirts so fun?! Whose your workout bestie? Can you see the two of you wearing these at the gym?!

If you’d like to check out more ways you can use your Cricut check out these posts! Need help with your Cricut? Join our Cricut Support Facebook Group!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

January 19, 2018 by Sydney Leave a Comment

DIY Baptism Pillow + How To Make Subway Art With Cricut

Some posts may contain affiliate links. For more information please see the disclosure page.

If you’ve got an 8 year old being baptized soon, make them this personalized baptism pillow as a gift they can cherish forever.

I married into a big family and we are lucky enough that our kids have cousins the same age. In fact all of his siblings had kids around the same time so when milestones come up they happen in multiples. Baby showers, graduations, baptisms. The last 6 months we’ve had several of our nieces and nephews get baptized. When I was thinking of gifts we could give I wanted to make something special the kids could keep and remember the day every time they saw it. After a search on google I decided these baptism pillows would be perfect!

Not only are these pillows super cute but they are super affordable too! I used my favorite IKEA pillow inserts and covers and spent less than $7 on the pillow. The hardest part of making these pillows was the design but lucky you I have the design saved in Design Space so you don’t have to do that part! All you have to do is change the name and date and you’re set.

If you don’t have anyone being baptized but still want to know how to make this type of subway art you’re in luck too…I’m sharing the full tutorial for those too! Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES:

**When ordering from Cricut.com make sure to use promo code TFRUGAL to get 10% off and score FREE shipping!**

Pillow Cover (I used the Gurli Pillow Cover from IKEA)

Pillow Insert (also from IKEA)

Iron On Vinyl (I asked my niece and nephews what their favorite colors were and went with those colors)

Cricut Maker or Explore Air

StandardGrip (Green) Cutting Mat – 12″ x 24″

BrightPad (not required but makes it SO much easier to weed)

Tool Kit (again not required but makes weeding a lot easier)

EasyPress or Iron

DIRECTIONS:

If you are making this pillow open up this design in Design Space.

If you want to make your own subway art you’ll want to start by making a square (or rectangle if you want it to be a rectangle) in Design Space. I also like to change the color of the square to white so it’s easier to see the text. You won’t cut the square you’re just using it as a canvas for your design.

Start by adding the top line of your subway art. Adjust the size so it fits the width of your square.

Next, you’ll want to do the bottom line. Just like the top line, fit the text so it fits the entire width of the square.

You’ll want to do the center-ish word next. Size it so that there is equal space on either side.

I found it was easiest to get all the words/phrases going the same direction in first. This is where you can play around with fonts and sizes. To add some dimension make sure each phrase is a different size.

Then you’ll want to add your words/phrases that go a different direction. To do this add your text then click ROTATE in the top menu and type 90.

Size your text to fit in between the rest of your phrases. Repeat for the other side.

Change all the text colors so they are the same.

Remove the square from your canvas.

If you attach your whole design now it will be too big to cut on the Cricut (the design for this is 14″x14″ and Cricut can only cut up to 12″ wide. So you’ll want to attach each part in sections. I leave the name separate and attach everything else. You may need to move the name up so it doesn’t get selected in the attachment.

Click MAKE IT and send to your Cricut. ***Make sure to click MIRROR on the preview page***

Cut your design out of iron on. You will have two pieces. One with the top line and the second, larger piece, with everything else.

Weed your design. It is easiest to start in one corner (I usually start in the bottom left) and work up at an angle. I like to use the BrightPad, especially on big jobs like this, to make sure I don’t miss anything.

Iron your pillow case to get all the wrinkles out.

Line up your two pieces and cut off any excess plastic.

Preheat your EasyPress to 305°F and the time to 30 seconds.

Preheat your pillow with your EasyPress

Line up your designs on the pillow case again and start your EasyPress in the top left corner. Add firm pressure and press the green C button to start the timer. For more detailed instructions on how to use the EasyPress check out this post.

Repeat 3 more times (move to the right first, then to the bottom left and lastly the bottom right).

Turn the pillow case over and repeat the last two steps.

Slowly peel the plastic backing away from your pillow at a 90° angle.

Insert your pillow and you’re done!

My niece and nephews have LOVED their pillows. One of them didn’t put it down his entire dinner after he got baptized! If you’d like to check out more ways you can use your Cricut check out these posts! Need help with your Cricut? Join our Cricut Support Facebook Group!

December 4, 2017 by Sydney 1 Comment

Buffalo Plaid No Sew Reindeer Pillow With The Cricut Maker

Some posts may contain affiliate links. For more information please see the disclosure page.

This post is sponsored by Cricut. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

Make this fun buffalo plaid reindeer pillow in 5 minutes or less with the Cricut Maker – no sewing skills needed!

I have always loved buffalo plaid but I’m especially loving it this holiday season! I have seen so many cute ways to dress up Christmas trees, mantles, front porches and more with buffalo plaid. If it was up to me, my whole home would be red and black checks – but I know my hubby wouldn’t be a fan. So I’ve decided to add a few pieces here and there. The first piece I made was this cute reindeer pillow.

This was SO easy to make! And super affordable too! I used my favorite IKEA pillow inserts and covers that cost less than $7 for both and the fabric I had leftover from another project – remember how I said I love buffalo plaid! I also had Heat’n’Bond left over from my no-sew towels this summer. I’ve seen similar pillows online for $30+ so this cost me less than 1/3 of what it would have cost to buy it. Plus making is so much more fun than buying!

Thanks to the Cricut Maker and EasyPress it took me less than 5 minutes to put this pillow together! I found the reindeer in Cricut Design Space and thanks to the rotary blade in the Maker, it was cut out in less than a minute! The rotary blade makes cutting fabric so much easier! I remember when I was younger my grandma loved to sew but she hated cutting out the patterns; she always said it took twice as long to cut the pattern as it did to sew it! I wish she was here today to see and use the Maker. There are also 50 free projects available with the maker and several more available for purchase from Simplicity, Riley Blake Designs and more!

I’ve never learned how to sew but now with the Maker I’m starting! Not only are there patterns on Cricut Design Space but also step by step instructions on how to make each project! So even if you’re a beginner, like me, you can still make these projects. They even have projects broken down for different skill levels so you if you are new to sewing you don’t get yourself into a project that may be a little more difficult. I can’t wait to share with you my first sewing project a little later this week too! Can you guess what fabric I’ll be using?! 😂 But first let me show you how to make this pillow!

Supplies:

Buffalo Plaid Fabric (I got mine from Joann’s)

Pillow Cover (I used the Gurli Pillow Cover from IKEA)

Pillow Insert (also from IKEA)

Heat’n’Bond Ultra Hold

Cricut Maker

12″x24″ Pink Cutting Mat (if you’re using a smaller pillow you can use a 12″x12″ pink mat)

Cricut EasyPress

Directions:

Open up this project in Design Space and adjust the size of your reindeer if needed. My pillow was 20″x20″ so my reindeer is about 9″x14″. TIP- when trying to decide how big to make an image, go in to TEMPLATES and pick from over 100 different options including pillows, shirts, doors, windows, flip flops and more!

Measure a few inches extra (I did 10″x15″) and cut a piece of Heat’n’Bond. Attach to the back of your fabric with the paper side away from your fabric. I used my EasyPress set at 300° for 25 seconds to attach the Heat’n’Bond to my fabric.

Attach the fabric with Heat’n’Bond to your pink cutting mat fabric side up.

Send project to be cut. **Make sure you have your rotary blade in the B clamp on your Maker**

Preheat your pillow case with your EasyPress for about 5-10 seconds.

Place your reindeer on your pillowcase and use a ruler to measure center.

Apply EasyPress with medium pressure to your reindeer and apply (300° for 30 seconds). If your reindeer is larger than 9″x9″ you’ll have to do this step twice, once for the top, once for the bottom. **Make sure you are doing this on a strong surface, like kitchen countertops**

Flip pillowcase over and repeat previous step.

Insert pillow and enjoy!

Are you a fan of buffalo plaid? How do you incorporate it into your decor?! I’d love to see pictures! Share in the comments or over on our Facebook page, Tastefully Frugal. Looking for my Cricut tips, tricks or just a place to show off your projects? Join our Cricut Support Group on Facebook!