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DIY Teacher Shadowbox

September 21, 2022 by Paula W

If you’re looking for a Cricut teacher gift idea, this is the one for you! This DIY Teacher Shadowbox is adorable teacher room decor that won’t break the bank. This is a great beginner print then cut tutorial too, because we’re using printable vinyl. If you want to impress the teacher in your life you’re sure to love this Cricut project.

Teacher Shadow Box

DIY Teacher Shadowbox

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Cut File Used:

Teach Compassion

Supply Links:

  • Cricut Maker
  • Our Favorite Cutting Mats
  • Measuring Tape
  • Cricut TruControl Knife
  • Our Favorite Weeding Tool
  • Scissors
  • Alcohol Pump Bottles
  • Our Favorite Printable Vinyl
  • CanonTS8320 Printer
  • Shadow Box
  • Rulers
  • Sanding Blocks
  • Pin Pen Tool
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • 12” by 12” Self Healing Mat
  • Utility Knife
  • Acrylic Ruler
  • Masking Tape
  • Sharpie
Teacher Shadow Box 300x200 1

Step-by-step Instructions:

  1. Upload your file in Design Space and change the color to red. Add an offset and change the color of it to white. Flatten both layers and sizes to fit your shadow box.
  2. Print, cut, and weed your design.
  3. Clean the glass on the frame then align and apply the printable vinyl.
  4. Mark the back of your rulers at 8” and cut them. Sand if needed.
  5. Glue all of the cut rulers onto the backing of the shadow box.
  6. Place the backing inside the shadowbox and enjoy.

Filed Under: Back to School Tagged With: Beginner, Cricut, Videos, Vinyl

Teacher Canvas Basket

September 18, 2022 by Paula W

We can all use a little help with teacher appreciation gift ideas, and this little teacher canvas basket can be used in a couple of different ways! Give to a teacher AS the gift, fill it with your teacher’s favorite things and gift cards, or use it as an adorable basket to place a potted plant!

No matter what way you decide to gift this layered HTV basket, your teachers will feel SO loved and appreciated.

Teacher Bag

Teacher Canvas Basket

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Cut File Used:

Home Sweet Classroom

Supply Links:

  • Cricut Maker
  • Lynn Lilly Glue Gun
  • Mini easy press
  • Easy press mat
  • PinPen Tool
  • Weeding tool
  • Canvas storage basket
  • Sun colored HTV
  • Wicked Purple colored HTV
  • Jade pom pom trim
Teacher Bag2 300x200 1

Step-by-step Instructions:

  1. Measure the canvas basket tote you will be using to determine the surface area you’ll be sizing your cut file to fit
  2. Import cut file
  3. Add a rectangle from basic shapes that will “fill” the ruler area of the cut file
  4. Change file colors to desired colors
  5. Select both layers and size to desired dimensions
  6. Click make it
  7. Choose iron-on as the material setting for both mats and mirror both mats
  8. Follow the Cricut prompts
  9. Once cuts are complete, weed excess vinyl from both mats
  10. Insert small easy press mat into the basket and use the mini easy press to layer HTV on canvas basket
  11. Use a glue gun with a precision tip to apply pom trimming to the canvas basket

Filed Under: Back to School Tagged With: Beginner, Cricut, Cricut EasyPress, Iron-on vinyl, Teacher Appreciation Gifts, Videos

DIY Teacher Lanyard

September 18, 2022 by Paula W

Looking for a quick teacher appreciation gift to personalize for your kiddo’s teacher? This teacher lanyard is a cute idea, and is a fantastic beginner project to learn about layering vinyl! In addition to layering vinyl, we also teach you a quick and easy way to seal paint on acrylic blanks!

Teacher Lanyard

DIY Teacher Lanyard

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Cut File Used:

Apple Frame

Supply Links:

  • Cricut Maker
  • StandardGrip Mat
  • Our favorite weeding tool
  • Burnishing tool/scraper
  • Masking Paper Transfer Tape
  • 3” Acrylic Round with two holes
  • Patterned paracord
  • Hexagon silicon beads
  • Turquoise Blue Acrylic Paint
  • Paint Brush
  • Spray Mod Podge Matte
  • White Vinyl
  • Red Vinyl
  • Needle
  • Jump Rings & Pliers
  • Key Ring
Teacher Lanyard 300x200 1

Step-by-step Instructions:

  1. Using acrylic paint and a paintbrush, paint two coats of paint on the back of a clear acrylic disc. (Allow some dry time between layers)
  2. Insert the cut file into the design space and size accordingly. Insert text box and type in desired name or initials. Place on top of apple design and size. Use the die-cut machine to cut vinyls. Weed and apply a transfer tape.
  3. Once the paint is completely dry, flip acrylic round front side up and layer vinyl on round.
  4. Flip acrylic round paint side up and spray two coats of Mod Podge over the entire back of the acrylic round. (Allow first coat to dry before applying second coat) Let dry completely.
  5. Cut paracord to desired lanyard length and string silicone beads on paracord.
  6. Install jump ring to lanyard and acrylic round.
  7. Install jump ring to acrylic round and key ring.
  8. Knot lanyard at the top using sliding knots

Filed Under: Back to School Tagged With: Cricut, Intermediate, Teacher Appreciation Gifts, Videos

Stenciled Denim Lunchbag

September 18, 2022 by Paula W

Sometimes we love finding alternatives to using HTV on fabric projects, and this lunch bag is a fantastic project for getting your feet wet in the screen print world! We used scrap vinyl to create a stencil for our tote and use screen print ink to create an adorable and long-lasting text on this lunch bag!

Stenciled Denim Lunchbag

Stenciled Denim Lunchbag

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Font Used:

Conscience

Supply Links:

  • Cricut Maker
  • 8×10 recycled canvas tote
  • Scrap vinyl for stencil
  • Masking Paper Transfer Tape
  • Magenta Screen Print Ink
  • Paintbrush
  • Butchers paper
  • 12×10” Cricut Easy Press
  • 16×20” Easy press mat
  • Becca’s favorite weeding tool
  • Burnishing tool/scraper
Stenciled Lunch Bag With Screen Printing Ink2 300x200 1

Step-by-step Instructions:

  1. Measure the area on your tote where you want the graphic
  2. Using basic shapes in the design space, add a basic shape that is sized to represent your tote
  3. Insert a text box. Select the MGL’s “Conscience” font and type the text “WHEN’S LUNCH?”
  4. Place text on top of basic shape and size text to fit
  5. Weld text so that it is one layer
  6. To create a stencil, select the basic shape and welded text layers (2 layers total) and press slice
  7. Delete yielded slice results that you do not need
  8. Press make it
  9. Choose a premium vinyl setting, load mad with vinyl, load mat into the die-cut machine and let Cricut cut
  10. Unload mat and weed vinyl
  11. Apply transfer tape to vinyl, and use a squeegee tool to burnish
  12. Remove the mat from the vinyl and burnish vinyl from the back
  13. Remove backing and place vinyl on the tote
  14. Burnish vinyl (may also want to use fingers for this to make sure stencil has adhered well to tote)
  15. Remove transfer tape
  16. Use a paintbrush to apply screen print ink to the tote. Use up and down motions so that the ink does not move the stencil. Use small amounts of ink so that excess ink does not seep underneath the stencil
  17. Once you are happy with ink coverage, remove the vinyl stencil
  18. Allow screen print ink to dry 24 hours (or at least overnight)
  19. Place butcher paper over screen print ink and heat set with the large easy press. (Make sure to protect whatever surface you’re working on by placing a large easy press mat underneath your tote)

Filed Under: Back to School Tagged With: Beginner, Cricut, Fabric Crafts, Stenciled Crafts, Videos

Classroom Birthday Sign

September 15, 2022 by Paula W

This is an adorable multi-layer vinyl project for beginners! If you are a teacher or know a teacher, this is a great idea for any classroom. Cricut teacher project ideas like these are fun and easy to make. Learn how to make a Classroom Birthday Sign with your Cricut in this fun video.

Classroom Birthday Sign

Classroom Birthday Sign

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Cut File Used:

Sweet Birthdays!

Supply Links:

  • Cricut Maker
  • Our Favorite Cutting Mats
  • Measuring Tape
  • Cricut TruControl Knife
  • Our Favorite Weeding Tool 
  • Scissors
  • Wood Piece (ours was 22” by 7.25”)
  • Masking Paper Transfer Tape
  • 12” x 24” StandardGrip Cricut Mats
  • Hot Glue Gun
  • White Chalky Finish Paint
  • Paint Brushes
  • Ribbon
  • Black Vinyl
  • White Vinyl
  • Beige Vinyl
  • Red Vinyl
  • Pink Vinyl
  • Hot Pink Vinyl
  • Plum Vinyl
  • Lilac Vinyl
  • Teal Vinyl
  • Royal Blue Vinyl
  • Mint Green Vinyl
  • Lime Green
  • Yellow Vinyl
  • Old Gold Vinyl
  • Red Orange Vinyl
Classroom Birthday Sign 300x200 1

Step-by-step Instructions:

  1. Measure, cut, sand, paint, and seal your wood. We cut ours at 22” by 7.25”. We painted ours with 2 coats of white paint.
  2. Upload cut file and manipulate until desired designs are achieved. See the video for a detailed tutorial on how we created our project.
  3. Cut, weed, and add transfer tape to all of your mats.
  4. Measure, line up, and apply your vinyl layers down. First the “sweet birthdays” sentiment, then the lollipop stick layer, then the months of the year, then the top of the lollipops, then the white lollipop accents.
  5. Cut your ribbon to your desired length, add hot glue, and glue each one to the back of your wood board centered at each month.

Filed Under: Back to School Tagged With: Cricut, Teacher Appreciation Gifts, Videos, Vinyl

DIY Glitter Epoxy Pen

September 14, 2022 by Paula W

If you love making epoxy tumblers with your Cricut, you’re sure to love this tutorial as well. This is a fun tutorial on how to make a Glitter Epoxy Pen You will love the Cricut hacks and craft tips revealed in this video.

Diy Epoxy Glitter Pen

DIY Glitter Epoxy Pen

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Font Used:

Possessions

Supply Links:

  • Cricut Maker
  • Our Favorite Cutting Mats
  • Measuring Tape
  • Cricut TruControl Knife
  • Our Favorite Weeding Tool
  • Scissors
  • Tumbler Turner
  • Pens
  • Straws
  • Floral Foam
  • Minwax Polyurethane Clear Satin Spray Sealer
  • White Spray Paint
  • Sanding Blocks
  • Vinyl Gloves
  • Our Favorite Epoxy Resin
  • Small Cups
  • Craft Sticks
  • Alcohol Pump Bottles
  • Cricut StandardGrip Transfer Tape
  • Masking Tape
  • Black Matte 12”x12” Sheet of Vinyl
  • Long Nose Pliers
  • Paint Brushes
  • Small Plates
  • Pink Paint
  • Brown Paint
  • Yellow Paint
  • Pink Flamingo Glitter
  • Sunbathe Glitter
  • Itty Bitty Bikini Yellow Glitter
  • Swordfish Silver Glitter
Diy Epoxy Glitter Pen For Teachers2 300x200 1

Step-by-step Instructions:

  1. Remove pen parts and pull off the pen clip. Sand the entire pen.
  2. Spray paint the pen white.
  3. Paint and glitter the different parts of your pen in your chosen design. Refer to the video for a detailed tutorial on how we painted ours to look like a classic pencil.
  4. Once dry, spray polyurethane on the pen and allow it to dry.
  5. Mix and apply epoxy on your pen once attached to the tumbler turner, and allow it to turn for 6-8 hours. Allow to spin or set to dry for an additional 6-8 hours.
  6. Sand, clean, and apply vinyl to the pen. Repeat step 5.
  7. Re-assemble your pen and enjoy!

Filed Under: Back to School Tagged With: Cricut, Intermediate, Resin Crafts, Teacher Appreciation Gifts

DIY CRICUT GRADUATION GIFT – ONE SMART COOKIE MUG

April 25, 2019 by Paula W

It’s nearly that time of year. Graduation! What an exciting time for any friends and family who are of the graduating class of 2019. Maybe you’ve been struggling with what to give the graduate in your life as a gift. After all, we teens don’t always have tons of money to spend on gifts. And if you’ve got multiple friends graduating at once, what are you going to do? Why not make them a super thoughtful homemade gift that’s sure to make them smile? This DIY Cricut Graduation Gift – One Smart Cookie Mug is the ideal solution. You can make one for every graduate in your life. You just know they’ll love it. The handmade touch is always appreciated especially when it’s this adorable. We got this super cute cut file from our ultimate crafting membership site, Makers Gonna Learn. We have more than 150 amazing cut file designs to choose from. There is something there for every occasion in your life. It’s a die-cutting crafter’s dream! I just know you will love learning how to make this fun mug.

  • White Mug
  • Black Premium Outdoor Vinyl
  • Blue Premium Outdoor Vinyl
  • Cricut Maker
  • Weeding Tool Set
  • Cricut Transfer Tape
  • “One Smart Cookie” Cut File
  1. With your Cricut maker cut out your file in the different colors you’d like. We used black and blue. It’s important to make sure you use Premium Outdoor Vinyl when you’re applying it to something like a mug that you’ll use often and handwash, to make sure you have the most durable vinyl.
  2. Once your design is cut add transfer tape to each of them and add the designs separately and carefully to your mug, making sure the vinyl has well adhered to the surface.
  3. Once you’re done you’ve got a great homemade graduation gift. You could even take the DIY a step further and full the mug with gift cards or the recipients’ favorite candy, just get creative!
DIY Graduation Gift - One Smart Cookie Mug

I told you this project was a keeper! I thought it was so cute. I was so excited to give them to my graduating friends. I hope you enjoyed learning how to make this mug. I hope you get creative and are able to make them yourself. It’s a lot easier than you think.

DIY Graduation Gift - One Smart Cookie Mug

Filed Under: Back to School

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