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. 

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

How to cut Fabric With Your Cricut Explore

When I first bought my Cricut last year I knew I wanted to use it for cutting things like fabric and felt but from all the things I read on the internet it was difficult to do and it never came out right. After reading tons of blogs and watching countless YouTube videos I set out to cut fabric. Turns out it is super simple and it took me no time at all to make an awesome fabric appliqué.

Here’s a little step by step on how to do it yourself.
Things you need:
1. Heat N’ Bond Ultra hold - I picked up a package of this at Jo-ann’s

2. Fabric - I used regular quilting fabric

3. Regular cutting blade - I’ve had my machine for 8 months and haven’t changed the blade yet and it cut just fine. Just make sure there’s nothing stuck to it or the housing.

4. Standard Cutting Mat

5. An Iron and a sturdy surface to iron on - My ironing board is super flimsy so I iron on a scrap piece of wood I have lying around my craft room.

1. Cut out your fabric. Make it bigger than your design.

2. Place your piece of fabric on your Heat N’ Bond and cut around it.

3. Iron on the Heat N’ Bond to the wrong side of your fabric. Make sure to read the instructions on the packaging.

4. Once it’s completely adhered, place it Heat N’ Bond side DOWN on your cutting mat. Your mat needs to be sticky to hold your fabric in place. If it’s not your fabric could catch the blade and shift around.

5. Cut out your design! I used the Fabric, Printable setting in the custom cut settings.

6. Once it’s cut out, remove the paper backing from the Heat N’ Bond and iron it on to your garment. That’s all it takes! 

Bonus: To make my fabric edges look more finished I cut an outline layer of glitter HTV and ironed that over the top of the fabric.

I can’t wait to give this to my friend and her new baby. I’d love to see your fabric projects your make with your Cricut! Or let me know if you have any questions. Just leave a comment below. 

Christmas Gift Round Up

The holidays are finally over and I can now resume my normal crafting. :) Here are just a few gifts I made this Christmas season.

I etched glass mason jars, crocheted ear warmers, made my own sugar scrubs for 15 of my friends at the gym and design their packaging, personalized stockings and made my husband a t-shirt. Whooo! And that's not even all the gift I made. I was certainly busy the month of December. I can't wait to get started on new projects this year!