More Tips on Cutting Freezer Paper With The Cricut Explore

A while back I wrote a post on how to cut freezer paper with the Cricut Explore. You can read that post here: How to Cut Freezer Paper with the Cricut Explore  It's still one of my favorite ways to use my Cricut but since then I've learned a few more tricks on how to make it easier to transfer my design to the shirt. 

My secret: Drywall Tape! 
You can buy it lots of places but I picked up a roll at Home Dept. 

The Process

I cut out my design just like I did in my first freezer paper tutorial, weeded out the parts I needed but then left my design on my cutting mat and placed pieces of drywall tape over the center of the letters that would normally not be connected to the design any more after cutting. This keeps everything attached to the sheet so when I move my design over to my shirt I don't have to try to place and re-aline the center of my Rs, D, and &.

Then I iron the freezer paper to my shirt and very slowly pull back the drywall tape while my iron is holding down the freezer paper. 

It works like a dream and I no longer dread trying to do a freezer paper designs with a lot of type! To finish my shirt I wanted to add a little something fun so I created this design an laser cut it on the back. I love how my new gym shirt turned out. 

For The Love Of All Things Pumpkin

This isn't a surprise to those who know me but I love all things fall and pumpkin. I would have a pumpkin spiced latte every day if they had them all year round. And with it being Fall it just puts me in the mood to crochet. A few of my friends also have a love of coffee and pumpkins so I made one for everyone and I cut out a little cuff card with my Cricut Explore. These are so easy and addictive to make. I might have to make different cuffs for every season.

Baby Shower Crafts

I love getting to craft for new babies! My sister-in-law is due at the end of the month and I can't wait to finally get to meet him! I whipped up a few onesies and a monthly stat board. I hope she loves everything.

How to Cut Freezer Paper with the Cricut Explore

I always wanted to get in to screen printing but there's just so many steps and lots of things to buy to get started. A few years ago I heard about freezer paper and how to use it to make stencils for t-shirts. Back then I had to use an Exacto knife to cut out my designs. It's so much easier now being able to do it with my Cricut. And it is really easy, I promise.

Here's what you need:
1. Freezer Paper
   – I bought mine at the grocery store in the storage bag/foil isle but you can also get it on Amazon.

2. Fabric Paint
   – I used actual fabric screen printing ink. I found mine at Dick Blick but again Amazon is your friend. Just make sure you're buying ink for fabric not paper.

4. Foam Craft Brush
   – I picked mine up at Jo-Ann's.

3. Standard Grip Cricut Mat
   – It's my go to for cutting all things really

4. An item to print on
   – I got this shirt from Forever21 for $4 and it worked great! I've also used this method on canvas tote bags.

• First, cut out your freezer paper to fit on your mat. Then you'll place the freezer paper SHINY SIDE DOWN on the mat. So no need to mirror your design. 

• Send your design to cut and change your material to Paper, Parchment - 0.04mm

• Then weed out your design and place it on your shirt (SHINY SIDE DOWN). Iron the freezer paper to your shirt. I used the cotton setting on my iron. Make sure it's totally adhered, with no gaping between the stencil and the shirt. You don't want any ink bleeding around your cut lines.

• Next place something in between the layers of the shirt. You don't want ink to bleed through to the other side. Then paint your ink on using your foam brush.

• I let mine dry for about 30 minutes just so the ink was dry enough that peeling the paper back wouldn't smear it around.

• The last step is to heat set it with the iron again to make sure the ink is good and set. 

I LOVE my new shirt! I can't wait to wear it to the next pow wow! I really like the look of actual ink instead of HTV. It has a softness that is so different from HTV. I already have more ideas of things I want to make next.

I'd love to see your freezer paper projects! Tag me on Instagram, @MeanRightHookDesign, so I can see what you've been making! 

Check out the latest digital designs in my shop

DIY Piggy Terrarium

I've fallen in love with all the cute little terrariums I've been seeing around online and in a lot of stores. But man are they expensive! I've seen some run about $50! So I decided to try to make one myself. I definitely do not have a green thumb. I've never been able to keep a plant alive very long, but these seem pretty low maintenance. 

Here's what you need:

1. Cactus Potting Mix
2. Planting Charcoal
3. Gravel
4. Cute Container
5. Moss
6. Succulents
*optional: decorative miniatures* I got my little piggy from a craft fair. 

• Start by adding a layer of gravel at the bottom of your container for drainage
• Then add a layer of charcoal and enough potting soil to be able to completely over the roots of your plants
• Plant your succulents in the soil
• Add your moss over the top of the soil and any decorations you like
• Lastly spritz your plants with a little water

I found everything to make my terrarium at Home Depot except my container. I found that at Jo-Ann's. I love how it turned out and it looks so cute in my bathroom! I totally need to make more now that I have all the supplies. These would make really cute gifts and it only took me about 30 minutes to do.
I'd love to see any terrariums that you make. Tag me in your instagram photos at @MeanRightHookDesigns