I never realized just how much fun (and how easy it was) to add vinyl images to fabric items. I have had my Cricut Easy Press for a week now and I am totally addicted. I walk through stores thinking...I could add htv to that, or that, or that! I am starting to worry about myself (well not really that much lol)
I have created quite a few projects in just one week.
Last week I shared my first pair of shoes. I did not stop there!!!
I love how this pillow turned out! I took a pumpkin image in Cricut Design space then sliced a lace image (also from Design Space) into it. It created this intricate pumpkin without much work. I used Cricut glitter htv ironed onto muslin. I then used a color coordinating leaf print to make the borders. I am ready for fall!
And speaking of fall, this past Thursday the Ohio State Buckeyes had their opening game against Indiana. The first half didn't go so great and Indiana taunted and teased the Buckeyes. Not really a good idea. The Bucks came roaring back and cleaned their clocks! LOL
I made myself a pair of Buckeye shoes for the occasion. The shoes came from Walmart. They have almost a t-shirt feel to them. I then used Siser Easyweed in black and Cricut glitter in red. Aren't they cute and cost me about $6! Try buying team logo shoes for under $50!
I seemed to have gotten on the 3D kick. lol
Hubby completed his 66 mile Route 66 race from https://yes.fit/ and I made him a hat to go with his medal. I used Cricut white htv, the black is Siser Easyweed.
It seems only fair that if he got a hat I should get one too!
Hello Kitty, butterfly and flower are all from the original Cricut Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge. Remember back in the day when Cricut cartridges cost about $80? Well this is one of them! It has been out of production for quite a while and people pay hundreds of dollars if they can find one. I am never parting with mine!!!
Anyway, I layered htv for the first time! It was way easier than I expected and everything adhered just fine.
BTW you can find the blank baseball caps at Walmart for $2.97...assuming I have not gotten to the store before you! I currently have about a dozen hats sitting on my table waiting for decoration. :-)
And look...I actually made a shirt today LOL That is normally the first thing people make. Not a project a week after they have been playing haha
This image is a single file in Cricut Design Space. Search for dragonflies - it has to be plural or you won't find it.
This is a 100% cotton Gildan shirt and Siser silver glitter htv. Again, no problems getting the htv to adhere. People in facebook keep saying there is no way the Easy Press can possible work because you don't have the extreme pressure you get with a heat press. I don't know anything about heat presses. What I do know is that the Easy Press is super easy to use and gives wonderful results every time. I have not had a single mishap!
And then someone asked.....can you do put htv on can koozies?
I had one in my stash to test that exact question. So I pulled it out, quickly thought up a design and gave it a try.
I used all Cricut glitter htv, I used the suggested settings for polyester. It came out perfect! Again, no mishaps!
But just a heads up, neoprene stinks when it gets hot! P-U!!!!!
When Cricut announced the Easy Press I was excited but so many people posted so many negative comments that when it was actually released, although their posts didn't stop me from ordering it in the first 5 minutes it was available, I was a bit nervous that it wouldn't perform as well as Cricut said it would.
All that worrying for nothing! It surpassed all my expectations! My family doesn't know this yet but I am pretty sure everyone is getting something with an ironed on design this year lol That's assuming I stop making fun projects for hubby and myself and actually start thinking about what others might want. HaHa!
Thank you for stopping by and Happy Crafting!!!
I will admit, heat transfer vinyl (HTV) has always scared me! The horror stories of getting burnt (or scorching the vinyl or fabrics) trying to apply it with your home iron or getting burnt from your big heat press....or even worse, spending all that time cutting the vinyl, weeding the vinyl, applying the vinyl...only to have it fall off!!! GASP!!!
So I avoided it. I have lived all these many years relatively happy. I had no idea that secretly I was longing to apply vinyl images to fabric items. And then Cricut introduced their EasyPress. A light weight, affordable, portable, fun way to create HTV projects at home. And it's really pretty too! They call it 'sky' I call it turquoise. Either way, I love the color!
Mine arrived yesterday morning at around 11 am. I didn't get off work until 3:30 pm. Talk about agony!!!
But the minute I clocked out I was running to the craft room (I work from home, it's a short run lol)
I skimmed the instructions, grabbed the sample materials and off I went.
The first thing you need (besides the EasyPress) is a heat safe, flat, sturdy surface. Cricut will be bringing out a silicone mat later this year but for now they recommend a folded towel or heavy wooden surface. Oddly enough, I have a huge, 1 inch thick, oak cutting board. I picked it up at an estate sale a few years back for only $1. It was out in the barn so I have no idea what they did with it thus I do not use it for food. I use it to cover my stove top when I have company and need more counter space.
Look at that puppy! It is big and weighs a ton! But it is definitely flat, sturdy and not going to catch on fire!
I did my sample project....I will let you be surprised when you get your own EasyPress. And I did my own project. I made a pillow with Glitter HTV. The iron-on came out great! My pillow was a bit wonky so I will spare you that mess lol
The real reason I brought you here today? Shoes!
Yep, basic, simple, canvas tennis shoes. Last night I was so antsy. All I wanted to do was cover things with HTV. But the t-shirts I ordered aren't here yet and I wasn't in the mood to make another pillow. Then it hit me, I have a couple pairs of tennis shoes under the bed....way under the bed! lol I bought them last summer for around $3 at Walmart. I think I wore them each once lol
So after work today I dug out the first pair I could reach. They were so dusty that I couldn't tell they were an eyelet fabric until I vacuumed them off. (I have never EVER said I was a good housekeeper lol)
The eyelet made me pause for a sec. Nothing like putting myself at a disadvantage right from the gate. But nothing ventured, nothing gained. Besides, they only cost me $3 and I obviously am not getting any use out of them right now lol
You need a firm surface to apply the EasyPress on. In case you haven't noticed, shoes are flat so I stuffed a small, rolled up dish towel into the toe of the shoe.
I had an old hand towel from the garage workbench to stuff into the rest of the shoe.
I had to apply heat several times since it is slightly rounded surface but they came out great!
I used the cotton/canvas setting of 270 degrees for 40 seconds. (you can set these on the EasyPress) It heats up really fast and beeps when ready. It also beeps when your timer runs out. It even has an auto shut-off feature just in case you forget to turn it off!
Once the toes were done I thought it needed just a bit more.
It may look like the vinyl is not adhered well but that is an illusion due to the eyelet texture. I tested all the edges and everything is nice and tight. I then bent the shoes all around and nothing popped loose.
I think I might be wearing some fancy tennis shoes tomorrow!
I think Cricut did an amazing job with the EasyPress. For those of us without room for a heat press, or are intimidated by the process of HTV, this is a great tool! I was able to use it with confidence and produce perfect results right out of the box.
Thank you Cricut and your amazing design team!
Thanks for stopping by and Happy Crafting!
