Oh Cricut, Thanks for Making Awesome Personalized Teacher Gifts, Signs & More
Are you busy momming so hard like me?🙋
You may already know that I love the Cricut for decorative crafts, but today I’m showing you all how I enjoy using my Cricut Explore Air cutting machine in my everyday mom life for more practical tasks! From labeling my kids’ school supplies and sports equipment to making signs for the PTA, I feel like I use it more and more each day!
I bought my Criciut Explore Air about 9 months ago and it has saved the day for making last minute personalized gifts. The first day it arrived, I brought my Cricut machine to the kitchen so I could do some multitasking 😉 – make dinner, help with homework, cut letters for a PTA sign, and embellish a lunch bag for a teacher! Yes, all at the same time! LOL
Here are a few more of my favorite real life Cricut project examples!
Need Labels?
My son wanted some of his school notebooks labeled with his name so we used adhesive vinyl to make these simple labels. I love how neat and organized it makes everything!
Volunteer at School?
I cut these letters out of neon card stock to make a large sign for a PTA event at our school! We used it as a fun photo background at Mother/Son Dodge-Ball!
Play Sports?
Even my kids’ sports equipment gets labeled with vinyl! 😃 I try to use a strong outdoor vinyl such as Oracle 651 for these type of projects, so It doesn’t come off.
In Cub Scouts?
I made some decals with adhesive vinyl to customize my son’s Pinewood Derby car! So fun. You could do any theme or colors you’d like!
Need Birthday Gifts?
One of my favorite gifts to give when my kids get invited to a birthday are personalized water bottles using permanent/outdoor vinyl for their friends!
Need Teacher Gifts?
I recently ironed on sizer brand heat transfer vinyl to an insulated lunch box for a fun and easy to make personalized birthday gift. My daughter gets all excited when she sees her teacher using it! This could also work for your child’s lunch box.
It has been really fun to learn how to use my Cricut!
I’m definitely obsessed with my purchase and would recommend getting one if you’re interesting in doing any of these projects! If you’re new to Cricut or thinking of getting one, consider joining the Cricut Newbies & Pros for Explorer Facebook group. It’s full of wonderful inspiration and helpful people who share their real life projects!
Want more inspiration?! Have you seen my other Cricut posts?
- Easily Create Personalized Teacher Gifts with Your Cricut Machine
- How Cute Are These Disney Shirts? Grab Your Cricut Machine & YOU Can Make Them Too!
Note from Lina:
This is just an honest post that was not sponsored by the manufacturer. I just really like using this product & wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!
I don’t have a Cricut but now I want one. These are really cute ideas! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Nancy!
I have one but never used. Show me the ways
Me too! 😂
What’s the price range on these contraptions.
Machines start around $170 and then there are different starter packages with craft supplies. Hope that helps. 😀
Do they just make a simple one that will cut out of paper like card stock to make flowers and butterflies etc.?
I just got a cricut about a month ago and i LOVE it!!! i just need to find more time to be able to and make stuff😊
I love my Silhouette Cameo (similar to a cricut). Total game changer. These machines have so many possibilities.
Go Boilers! That’s pretty cool.
So i have an older cricut that you need the cartridges for, which get expensive when you do different projects. With the newer cricuts do you still need cartridges? I thought that I heard somewhere that you can cut images from online. Does this mean you need to buy a software program or a membership or something from them? Seems like there should be something or they would be loosing a lot of money in cartridge sales! Just debating if I should upgrade my Cricut.
Ya it’s different -there’s no cartridges now. You can make your own designs in design space – free online software, or purchase from Cricut. They do have a membership for fonts and some images. I honesty am using mine for personal use only so import from online or design myself. Plus in the Cricut facebook group, people share images!
So no hidden fees per say. If i buy the air 2 i can cut images from online without purchasing anything more?
No. If you want certain fonts and images in the design space then there is. You can import your own images and use your own fonts if wanted. I don’t have any type of membership.
You’ll need a mat and vinyl supplies though. Hope that helps!
And if i alrady have font cartridges will these work with the newer ones?
There is a place to put cartridges. I think there’s a way to upload them now. I’m not really sure how it works since I don’t use cartridges… but there is a place to attach them and I’ve read that they’re still usable. Hope that helps!
You can also make designs on your own using free software and import it into design space. That’s what I do the most. I find seeing space a little limiting. But that’s just me!
Yes I import my own images also! Very easy to do that 👍🏻
Thank you!
Love these kinds of posts! Really considering purchasing one!
Thanks Abby!
Love my air explore- cute projects thank you for sharing!
Love my cricut that I got from a deal here a year ago!! It’s a blast coming up with fun gifts and home decor.
Emailing a link to this right this second for my Christmas wish list haha. He was just getting mad that I never like what he buys and never give him a solid list of what I want!
Solid choice! Ha 👊
Great post! Does anyone have strong opinions on the cricut vs silhouette and/or best model for uses similar to what’s mentioned in this post? Thanks!!
I have a silhouette and feel the software is definitely user friendly! I have the cameo 1 cameo 3, and the curio. The cameo 3 is the best. It has dual cartridges so you can cut and write without having to resend or change mats. Give the silhouette some serious thought. Just my opinion, but I feel the software is more versatile and user friendly.
Thanks for your advice!
Just so you know. You can download the Silhouette software for free and try it out before buying either machine. That way you can see what works for you. Major difference for me was not needing the internet. The Silhouette software is downloaded to your computer the Cricut software is web based.
That’s really helpful advice! Thank you!
Thanks!
Love mine! I got the cricut air 2 last Christmas. Very easy to use!
I. Need. This.
Boiler Up!!
Yes! My husband went to Purdue 👍🏻
YES! Boiler Up. My hubby also went to Purdue. I’m a Texas girl so he had to move here with me. lol
Super cute projects – oh I want one!!!
Aw man…now I have to add this to my wish list!🙄 (Whiny voice, foot stomp) thanks a lot, hip2save! lol! I LOVE personalizing stuff so this sounds like an awesome tool to have! Look forward to getting one! 😊😊😊😊
Oh you’d love it!
Thank you so much for this post!! This was so helpful, showing examples of what you made along with exactly what type vinyl etc. you used. This was amazing and I would love more posts like these. You’ve just pushed me over the edge and I will be ordering one now!! Thanks!
Oh how exciting! Keep us posted on what you make! ❤️
I have a Cricut air 2 that I bought (maybe 2 years ago!) from a deal on this site and I have yet to use it!!! I would love to make all kinds of stuff, even label my kids stuff but I don’t even know where to start. I’m going to check out the fb group mentioned here. Thanks for the motivation to take it out of the box! Can’t wait to use it!!
You can do it! Just start out small by typing out a name in design space and cut it on basic vinyl. I’m sure you’ll be hooked too. 😊
I have the cricket expression and I love mine. I hate the extra cost of the cartridges but I already have a bunch and now you can buy them a lot cheaper. Cuts vinyl too and already bought a software pkg to get online fonts for it so I will stick with the one I have. They are a lot of fun though!
You can find cartridges for the older model on Craigslist all the time! I also use Adobe Illustrator to design in them import.
I make all kinds of things, signs, tshirts, flour sack towels, my favorite is huge canvas bags with personalized Christmas pics & sayings to hold all my grandkids gifts in….well most of them anyways. Takes some learning to become well versed in designing for people like me with zero craftiness but love it!
Wow!!! Super cool!!!! Personalized gifts are the best!!! Thanks for sharing! I would love to get one, but worried it might end up sitting in the closet collecting dust. 😧 Kudos to all the crafters!!!
I think I just found something to add to my Christmas list.
So, this is Lina? I can finally put a face to her name😀 Thank you for all your posts!
Yes! Oh you’re welcome. Thanks for reading 😊
I have one and have never use it. I checked you tube, but I need an easier way to use it. Is there a place that I can sign up to learn
Ahhhhh! I want one!! Does the vinyl get pricey?? I’d also make cards.
Boiler up! I saw someone buy the ozark mugs when they were super cheap in school colors and put a school logo on them and sold them for a killing. Wish I’d thought of it first!
Yes those are very popular right now! I love my ozark cup with vinyl 👍🏻
Hi do you know how to get certain logos? I thought you cant print those? Newbie to cricut just need some tips =)
Thanks
To embellish a cup you would need to cut the vinyl and place it on cup using transfer tape. Converting a logo image in design space is easy to a CUT file. Then just cut it out in desired color of vinyl.
I can’t live without my cricut!! The possibilities are endless…..:)
I can relate! 😬
Hi, Lina! I’m intrigued by your comment about getting the machine out and working on projects the day you got it. I’ve always held off buying one, bc I was afraid of the learning curve. Sounds like it may not be so bad? Any advice for someone who has never used this type of machine?
I guess I should clarify what type of advice I meant….Advice about how steep the learning curve is for someone who has never used one…..
Thanks for the great post!
It comes with a a small project that walks you how to proceed step by step and prompts you to load the mat and is very visual and hands on.
I would encourage you to google any beginner videos and tips online. And also the facebook group is helpful to ask questions to.
https://help.cricut.com/video-tutorials
I watched some of these tutorials as well!
Hope that helps!
I’ll second that there is a slight learning curve but if you watch YouTube videos and join online groups you will be making stuff straight away.
I’ve had the Cricut air explore two for just about a month now and I love it. I made personalized cutting boards, key racks, shadow boxes and mugs. I haven’t tried the heat transfer vinyl yet (iron on to make clothes and the bag she showed) but after Halloween I will.
Thanks Christy! You’ll love the HTV 👍🏻
Thank you, Christy!
Awesome! Thanks for the help!
We have been watching for the Sihouette Cameo 3 bundles tyo go on sale. We have done 3 a sign paainti my parties and they was the Silhouette because you can make bigger stencils. I am really hoping Amazon has a special on them around Black Friday. I have a bunch of Windows I want to make decals for them for Christmas gifts
Oh fun!
I have the cuttlebug and love making cards. Do you recommend one of these for card making? Or is it just mainly for vinyl? Thanks.
Off topic but I have a coupon for 10% off one item at Best Buy when you use Best Buy credit card. Will trade for $10 gc. Please email sanatauseef at gmail dot com
Cameo silhouette 3 on sale at zulilly 199.99 bundle pack
Boiler Up! Nice logo on the derby car.
Ha thanks! 👍🏻
What Vinyl did you use to make the gold Hip 2 Save symbol? Are you able to link to it in here?