a crafty little tote bag

Hi, everyone!

I wanted to share a quick and easy project today. But the final product doesn’t look quick and easy – it looks like it is time consuming and complicated!

 

You will need:

your Cricut Machine

Cheerful Seasons Cricut Cartridge

a fat quarter of a fun fabric

Heat-n-Bond (available at the fabric or craft store)

a blank canvas tote (available for a few dollars at any craft store)

Yep. I just listed fabric, not paper, and a Cricut. I have an old school Cricut. I think it is 4 years old, and I’ve used it a TON. But just recently, I learned I could cut fabric with my beloved digital cutter. Yes, FABRIC!

So let’s do it.

First, apply the Heat-n-Bond to your fabric, following the directions on the packaging. Make sure it is adhered really, really, really, really well. This is the key to getting great fabric cuts.

Then place your Heat-n-Bond fabric (with the paper backing still on it) on the Cricut mat, fabric side up. Load the mat into the Cricut – make sure your Cheerful cartridge is inserted. Choose the Cheerful Font.

Now here’s my big tip: swap out the Cheerful plastic thingie that covers the keys for the plastic thingie that came with your machine. Mine happens to be Plantin. See? Now you can just type letters without referring to your guide book.

 

 Type in your word.

Set the Cricut to the slowest speed

 

and the maximum pressure.

 

Push cut, and sit back and let the magic happen.

Ta-da! A perfectly smooth “b” and round “o”’s. Yes, you could do this by hand, but my hand cutting looks like … hand cutting. Not like this. If the cuts doesn’t catch all of the threads in a few spots, just snip them with a scissors.

Now grab that canvas tote. Place the letters where you want them to go, and iron those babies down.

 

That’s it. The Heat-n-Bond should keep them in place. If you plan on washing it, you might want to stitch down the edges of the letters. Totally up to you.

 

You can also add more designs, like the leaves under the word. Fill it up and head off to the library!

 

 

Comments

[cindy]

oh Jen, this is wonderful & what a great gift idea, too!!! love it!

[Natalie McBroom]

This is just awesome! I will have to incorporate this into a cool workshop activity! And kudos on the alpha tip!

[kathy]

Great idea- thanks for sharing!

[Tanya Chanter]

So you said Old school cricut. I have the 6" cricut, can it cut fabric or just the 12" expressions?

[Sandy Eberly]

Very cute and what a great idea for quick / easy / inexpensive xmas gifts for all of my female family !!!!! Thank You

[Sushila Renfro]

Woo hoo! I love this step by step that is so clear even I can understand it and not get confused! Thank you for the tip on the fonts, I didn't know that it was the same for every cartridge! What a help that is for anything in the future we cut out!