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

So Shrinky Dinks are still a thing

While looking for craft ideas on Pinterest I stumbled upon lots of cool jewelry made with Shrinky Dinks. I totally forgot about those! I never tried them as a kid but they looked like something that would work in my Cricut Explore. 

I went to Michael's to get them and I found there's lot of different kinds. I ended up getting the white printable pack. They were more expensive than the other ones but I had a coupon. I always have a coupon.

For my first project I wanted to make a birthday gift for a friend at my powerlifting gym. We both crochet and powerlift, which is some what of a strange combo. So we joke that we need to make club for the crocheting powerlifters. 

I designed us a sweet logo, then lightened the colors by 50% as it said to in the instructions. It looks really weird, but I promise it turns out okay. Then I uploaded it into Cricut Design Space. I also added a 1/8" hole to the top so I could add a keyring later, but a standard hole punch would have worked too. 

For cutting the Shrinky Dink material I made a custom material setting. I cranked the cut pressure to 340 and changed the multicut to 3x. I used my standard mat and standard blade for cutting. 

I hit GO and printed my design on the material and proceeded with the cut. It cut out really well. There was just one or two places where it didn't cut all the way though but it was really easy to snap right out. 

I then followed the instructions on the Shrinky Dink package on how to bake it. I set my oven to 350°, lined a cookie sheet with parchment paper and baked it printed side up. The instructions said to bake for 3-5 minutes but mine took a few minutes longer to completely flatten out. I'm so happy with how it turned out! Just to be safe I added a layer of matte acrylic sealer over it to make sure the ink doesn't wear off. I also cut out a cute little gift bag to put it in. I found the bag design in the Cricut subscription of images.

This made a really affordable and easy gift. I can't wait to make more things out of Shrinky Dinks! I've got to make up for all the time I never made them as a kid.