I’m partnering with Xtool to bring you these fun laser cut crafts! You can read all about my review of the Xtool M1 smart laser here. All opinions are my own.

These cookies for Santa laser cut trays have been popping up all over Etsy for years. They are such a fun thing to have when you have young kids or even grandkids around. Putting out cookies and milk for Santa is one of our favorite traditions and my son is really excited to use his cookies for Santa tray this year!

I love that you can customize your board with your kids names or family name. There’s even an option to put “I’ve been very good this year” instead of “we” for families with one child. And to make it super easy to customize, I linked the font we used for our boards so that everything will match up nicely!

Depending on what cutting board you use (I’ve done this project with both this cutting board that is in this post and, my personal favorite, this cutting board) engraving on a thick board can be a little difficult, which means there’s a learning curve to it. If your board is thick you will need the Xtool Ruler (download it here) to help you measure the distance between the laser and the cutting board.

You’ll also need the honeycomb panel, because a thick board will be too tall for the laser to pass over. So you will need to lower the honeycomb panel in order for the laser to be able to engrave your image on the cutting board. And this is also why you’ll need the ruler to measure the distance, because auto measure does not work when you have to move the honeycomb panel down.

You may also need the triangular prisms in addition to the honeycomb panel! The cutting board was still a little too low for the laser to be able to etch so having the extra lift from the prisms helps bring the board up to the right height.

The board I used in this post is not thick enough to need the honeycomb panel. However, if you decide to use the Acacia Board you will need the honeycomb panel and the Xtool Ruler.

The instructions in this post are for a thick cutting board (because most cutting boards are too thick to use without the honeycomb panel). If you have a thinner board, ignore all instructions for a honeycomb panel and engrave like you normally would!

How to engrave a Cookies for Santa Laser Cut Tray

Why do you need the honeycomb panel to engrave a cutting board?

The board is too thick to sit in the top of the M1 for the laser to be able to engrave. The honeycomb panel adds another level to the machine so that you can move your material down and engrave thicker objects.

To do this, you need to follow the install for the honeycomb panel here.

Once you’ve installed the honeycomb panel, you can move your thicker materials down levels so that you can engrave or score on it.

How do you manually measure the distance between the cutting board and the laser?

You will need to download and cut the Xtool Ruler to manually measure!

First, make sure your machine is turned off. Then move the laser so that it sits over top the center of the board (you cannot move the laser when the machine is on which is why you need to turn it off first).

Then, take the ruler and measure from the top of the cutting board to the top of the laser. If the top of the laser does not meet any of the numbers on the ruler, you will need to put something underneath your cutting board to raise it up so that you can properly measure the distance.

Once you find the correct distance, put the number in the box and hit complete.

What settings do you need to engrave on a cutting board?

I highly suggest downloading this power and speed grid to find the perfect engrave settings for your wood. Find a scrap piece of wood and try the settings first. But make sure you’re in the room with it as it’s engraving. The higher numbers may burn the wood and you want to watch and make sure nothing catches fire.

I really liked the look of Power: 60, Speed: 125, Pass: 1, and Lines Per CM: 100.

I also decided to put a signature on the back of my boards so whomever I gave the board to would know who it is from. It was a good way to test if my settings worked and looked good before doing the entire design on the front of the board.

Do you need to use the air assist when you engrave?

It is not necessary but I did have it on when I did this project. Air assist helps move the air around so your wood doesn’t burn as you’re cutting it, and since you’re not cutting wood here it really isn’t necessary.

Some people say it just blows around all the dust from the engraving and it makes everything messy. I did not have this issue but it is up to you. It really doesn’t make a difference here if you have it on or not.

How do you clean off the cutting board after the machine is done engraving?

This is where the alcohol wipes come in to play! You will need a lot of them because they get dirty quickly. Don’t be afraid to rub hard on your design to clean it off. I continued to wipe until the wipes came away clean!

Once you wipe away all the dust your design won’t look as dark as it did when it first comes out of the machine. But you will see more of the wood color underneath instead of black.

Do you need to seal the cutting board after it’s been engraved?

Yes! Sealing it will help keep bacteria from getting in the groves made during the engraving process. I used mineral oil but you can also use food-safe epoxy.

Is a cutting board food safe after being engraved?

No! If you are going to eat off of it put a napkin down underneath the cookie to keep it safe for Santa.

You should never eat off of an engraved cutting board or cut vegetables and fruit on it. If you want to do this, turn the cutting board over and use the side that is not engraved. These types of cutting boards are really for display, you should use a different cutting board for food prep.

How to set up the Xtool M1 to engrave your cookies for Santa Laser Cut Tray

Where can you download the cookies for Santa SVG?

The Cookies for Santa SVG can be downloaded here! The file is also available as a PDF, Jpeg, PNG, SVG, DXF and XCS.

How do you import an SVG into the Xtool Creative Space Software?

Download the cookies for Santa SVG and drag it into the creative space software. Once it is in there you can play with the layers (you will not need to mess with layers for this project since the entire thing will be engraved) and choose whether or not you’re engraving, cutting or scoring your project.

What settings do you need for the cutting board?

Once you connect your computer to the M1 laser cutter you need to put your cutting board in the machine. Then hit REFRESH until you see your cutting board in the Creative Space Software.

Use your mouse and click the cutting board. You should see the cutting board settings on the right hand side of your screen.

Your settings for the board should be:

• Open Plane (you use this because you’re using the honeycomb riser),
• User Defined Material,
• Distance (you will measure this yourself and put the number in here!)
• Processing Path: Auto Planning.

Once you import your file, Group it. Then click on it.

Your settings for your svg file should be:

• Multiple Objects Selected: OUTPUT
• Processing Type: Engrave
• Setting: Manual Setting
• Power: 60%
• Speed: 125
• Pass: 1
• Lines per cm: 100
• Engraving Mode: Bi-directional

How do you center the file on the cutting board?

There are a few ways you can do this but my personal favorite is the same way I center my files in the Silhouette Software.

Use a rectangle that is the same size as the cutting board and line it up on your object in the software. Then put your file in the middle of it.

Click ALIGN on the top toolbar and select Center Horizontally and Vertically. Then delete your rectangle (or select it and then select Objects Selected – Ignore).

One thing I have learned with the Xtool Software is that the laser container doesn’t come all the way to the front of the machine because the box is so large, so you need to make your cut file a little smaller than your cutting board. The easy fix for this is to leave space on the sides for handles. Then your file will be smaller than your board and will center correctly!

Cookies for Santa Laser Cut Tray

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 3 hours

Additional Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Estimated Cost: $20

Download the free svg cut file to make your own Cookies for Santa laser cut tray!

Print

Materials

• Xtool Ruler XCS File
• Wood Cutting Board
• More Dreams Font
• Alcohol Wipes
• Cookies for Santa SVG

Tools

• Xtool M1 with Air Assist
• Honeycomb Panel for Xtool M1
• Xtool Smoke Purifier

Instructions

1. Turn on your machine, the smoke purifier and air assist. Connect your computer to your M1.
2. Move the honeycomb panel to the top shelf in the riser. Put your cutting board on the honeycomb panel and hit refresh in the right hand corner in the Creative Space Software. You should now be able to see the cutting board in the software.
3. Click on the cutting board and adjust your settings in the toolbar on the right side of your screen. Make sure you click OPEN PLANE for the honeycomb panel.
4. For distance, you will have to manually measure the distance between the laser and the cutting board using the Xtool ruler. Put the number you get after measuring in the DISTANCE box.
5. Drag and drop your cut file into the software and then size it to however big you want it.
6. To center the design, draw a large box that is the same size as your cutting board. Select the box and the cut file and align it horizontally and vertically. You can either delete the box or select and hit IGNORE under Output in the toolbar on the right hand side.
7. Click on the design and adjust all of your settings. Remember to hit ENGRAVE for Processing Type. If you've done the test grid, input the numbers for Power and Speed that look the best from your test grid. The numbers I used were POWER: 60 and SPEED: 125.
8. If everything looks good to you, hit PROCESS. Then hit START. Remember, do not leave your machine unattended while it engraves!
9. Once it is done remove the cutting board from your machine.
10. Use alcohol wipes to scrub the surface of your cutting board to remove all the dirt. You'll use a lot of wipes because you want to keep doing this until they come off clean!
11. Follow the directions on the back of your food-safe mineral oil. After you finish this step your board is ready to use!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  xTool Laser Cutter and Engraver
• 
  Honeycomb Panel
• 
  Xtool Smoke Purifier
• 
  Acacia Wood Cutting Board
• 
  Alcohol Wipes
• 
  Food Grade Mineral Oil

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Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Cookies for Santa Laser Cut Tray appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

The one material I was very excited to cut with my Xtool was acrylic. It isn’t something that you can cut with a Silhouette machine which is why I haven’t used acrylic for a lot of projects before. Other than making acrylic ornaments last year, but all I had to do was add vinyl to those!

I wanted to try something pretty simple for the first time using it and acrylic bats seemed simple enough. I was really excited to try cutting acrylic with my new Xtool M1 laser, and for the most part it was a pretty easy material to work with!

Before trying to cut acrylic with the M1, there are a few things you need to know. The laser on the Xtool M1 is a diode laser and this type of laser cannot cut clear acrylic. It also has an issue with blue acrylic or any type of lighter color. A great rule of thumb is that if light passes through it, a diode laser cannot cut it.

Acrylic also takes a long time to cut. You do not want to leave your machine while it is cutting any type of material, so make sure you have carved out enough time to be in the same room with the machine while it is on and cutting your material.

You can and should use the air assist while cutting acrylic as well. The air assist will clear away debris as you cut, that way you’ll get a deeper and cleaner cut.

How to cut acrylic with the Xtool M1 Smart Laser

What type of acrylic can you use with the Xtool M1 smart laser and blade cutter?

I was sent a materials box with my Xtool M1 that had two sheets of black acrylic in it. This is what I used for these laser cut acrylic spider web bats. Xtool has a lot of acrylic on their website, you just need to check the machine compatibility to make sure the acrylic works with your laser!

I’ve also ordered Ugly Duckling acrylic from Houston Acrylics, and I loved how easy the orange cut for these bats. It also gave me a very clean cut whereas the black acrylic from Xtool had lots of little shavings that you had to brush off – even with the air assist on during the cut!

Pro Tip: Always do a test cut first when using a new material! Make sure that your machine can cut through the material before you cut your big design and potentially waste an entire sheet. Acrylic is expensive, do the test cut first.

Remember: Diode lasers cannot cut blue, lighter colored or clear acrylic so choosing darker colors is what you should go for when trying out acrylic for the first time.

What are the cut settings for the acrylic spider web bats?

Xtool Creative Space Software has recommended cut settings for 3mm Black Acrylic.

Power: 100
Speed: 3
Pass: 2

These settings worked for me with both the orange and black so I didn’t see the need to tweak them.

Can you burn acrylic when cutting it?

Yes you can! If the laser makes the material too hot (which usually happens when the laser moves slowly over the material and heats it up too much) it can melt or even burn. Upping the speed will help stop this from happening.

Can you use the air assist when cutting acrylic?

Yes you can! The air assist will keep the material clear of debris which means you’ll get a cleaner cut.

How do you know the laser cut through the acrylic?

Any time you cut acrylic you need to set it on either the triangular prisms or (if you’re using the honeycomb panel) quarters – one in each corner. Propping up the material will give the cut acrylic just enough room to fall slightly so you can tell that it has cut all the way through.

If you choose not to use quarters or the prisms then the only way to know if it cut through is to pick up the acrylic sheet. If you pick it up to check you cannot recut in the same spot again, so it is best to leave it where it is if you can. That’s why you want to use quarters or the prisms!

Do you need the honeycomb panel when cutting acrylic?

No you do not! I love the honeycomb panel because it allows air to move more freely while you’re using your laser but you do not need it. You’ll just need to use the triangular prisms instead so that your material isn’t sitting on the baseplate and trapping air underneath as you cut it.

Do you leave the paper on when cutting acrylic?

Yes! You will remove it after you’re done cutting the acrylic.

How do you remove the protective paper once you’ve cut out the acrylic spider web bats?

I had a hard time removing the protective paper on the acrylic spider web bats. Picking at it with my nails to get it started did not work, so I took my craft exacto-knife and cut a line near the corner of the wing to get it started. After that I was able to pull the paper off! Once I got the paper off the front side I did the same thing to the back.

How to make your own acrylic spider web bats

Where can you download the acrylic spider web bats cut file?

You can download the cut file here! It’s available in SVG, PDF, DXF, PNG and JPEG and free for personal use! If you don’t have a laser this file would look great as layered paper on a wreath, door or for party decor.

How do you open the cut file in the Xtool Creative Space software?

You can drag and drop the SVG, PNG or Jpeg into the software! If you drag and drop a PNG or Jpeg it will prompt you to trace the image first, before you can cut it.

How do you make sure the acrylic sheet doesn’t move while you cut it?

The Xtool M1 honeycomb panel comes with magnets to keep your material in place. You will use these to lock the acrylic sheet in place so that it doesn’t move as it’s cutting.

Head to this post to check out the short video tutorial that shows you how to set up a file to cut!

Paper side up or paper side down?

When you put the acrylic sheet in your Xtool M1, put the paper side up!

Can you layer the acrylic after cutting it?

You can definitely layer the spider web bat on top of the solid bat if you want to! I would use E6000 glue because it is a strong bond and will hold the pieces together.

Laser Cut Acrylic Spider Web Bats

Yield: 3

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $15

Download the bat svg and make these laser cut acrylic spider web bats for Halloween!

Print

Materials

• Acrylic Sheets
• E6000 Glue

Tools

• Xtool M1 Smart Laser
• Xtool M1 Air Assist

Instructions

1. Download the spider web bats svg cut file here.
2. Place the material in your machine and use the magnets to hold it in place. Remember to put either the triangular prisms or quarters underneath the acrylic to prop it up while you cut it. (See note #1)
3. Select 3mm Black Acrylic under material and do a test cut first before you get your file ready to cut!
4. Then, open the spider web bats file and resize it. Make sure you have the correct settings on your machine before you hit Process.
5. Once the bats are cut out, remove them from the machine. Tear the protective paper off of them and clean up any shavings left on the acrylic.
6. Then, using E6000 glue with a precision tip, glue the spider web bats onto the solid bats for a 3D effect!

Notes

1. If you use triangular prisms you will not need to use the magnets. The magnets come with the honeycomb panel and only work when laying the material flat on the panel.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Xtool M1
• 
  Xtool M1 Air Assist
• 
  Acrylic Sheets
• 
  E6000 Glue

Did you make this project?

Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Laser Cut Acrylic Spider Web Bats appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

The machine was provided by Xtool, but all opinions are my own!

I’ve had my eye on a laser machine for a while now but I just didn’t want to pull the trigger. First because the Glowforge was so expensive and I didn’t want to spend that much money on something I wasn’t sure I was going to like. And then I was pregnant and was worried about ventilation so I never pulled the trigger.

Xtool reached out to me in May to ask if I’d like to review their Xtool M1 smart laser engraver and vinyl cutter and I was very excited to try it! I love my Silhouette Cameo but I was really intrigued that the Xtool could engrave and cut vinyl in one, and I was excited to compare the vinyl blade to the blade on my Silhouette Cameo machine.

From my first impression I definitely think the Xtool M1 is a great beginner hobbiest machine to start out with. I love the price point and I like all of the features. I also love that the software is very user friendly and getting everything set up is a breeze.

But, let’s talk more about all of those points (and more!) below! If you want to jump to a specific section just click on the text in the table of contents below, and it’ll take you straight to the section you’re looking for.

What is the Xtool M1 smart laser engraver and vinyl cutter?

The Xtool M1 is an enclosed laser engraver that also has a blade that can cut vinyl, leather, craft paper, felt and more.

There are three different machine bundles you can buy:

• M1 Basic – comes with the M1 machine and $97.98 worth of free material gifts.
• M1 Deluxe – comes with the machine, the RA2 Pro rotary attachment and $286.97 worth of free material gifts.
• M1 Ultra Deluxe – comes withe the machine, RA2 Pro rotary attachment, air assist, riser base with honeycomb and $346.96 worth of free material gifts.

I was gifted the M1 Basic with the air assist.

I also own the riser base with the honeycomb panel, the RA2 Pro rotary attachment and the smoke purifier. All of these items were purchased by me so that I could upgrade my machine and do more with it! I’ll go over these attachments in a different post!

What comes in the box?

When you open the box you’ll find the Xtool M1 machine, cutting mats to use with the blade to cut vinyl and a small pack of materials to get you started.

The machine is mostly put together, there are just a few things you’ll have to do to get it in working order which we will talk more about below.

How to download the software

The Xtool comes with it’s own software for you to use and I’ve been playing around with it for the last week. I’ve found it’s very user friendly and if you have a basic knowledge of the Silhouette or Cricut software the Xtool Creative Space software will be easy to pick up!

To download the software, click here!

I’ve been using a combination of the Silhouette Software and the Xtool Creative Space software to make cut files and it’s been very easy to go between the two. I’ll have another post up next week about the software and showing you how to use it!

How to set up the Xtool M1 Laser Engraver and Vinyl Cutter

When it comes to the written directions for how to set-up the Xtool M1, I found the instructions lacking. I’m a visual person so I typically gravitate towards Instructional videos or even pictures in the instruction manual to help me put something together. But both the written instructions and pictures weren’t cutting it for me with the Xtool.

Because of this I went online and found their set-up video to help me. It was much easier for me to follow the video instructions to set up the machine and it only took ten minutes from start to finish! The most time consuming part was putting the vent hose on

Click here for set-up instructions, troubleshooting tips and more!

The air assist instructions are a little more complex so I waited for Chris to help me with it. There were more steps for set-up and I felt comfortable having an extra set of eyes while putting it together. There is some measuring involved and you have to be precise when measuring, so having no distractions is a must when installing the air assist!

What materials can you cut with the Xtool M1?

The Xtool M1 is a hybrid cutting and engraving machine. This hybrid machine is a laser engraver and vinyl cutter in one. It can engrave and cut thicker materials like acrylic and basswood, etch on glass, tumblers, ornaments and cut vinyl, felt and leather.

If you want to etch on tumblers or ornaments, you will need the rotary attachment. You cannot etch on them without it!

What type of files can you use with the Xtool M1 smart laser engraver and vinyl cutter?

You can open many different file types in the Xtool Creative Software!

• JPG
• Jpeg
• Gif
• PNG
• BMP
• SVG
• DXF
• WEBP

Making the first cut

For my first cut I cut out a wood star with the basswood. The first cut I did was without the air assist, and you can see the burnt edges of the star. After installing the air assist I tried again and you can definitely tell a difference! The edges aren’t burnt at all, the star looks much cleaner overall.

To set up your machine to cut (we’re using wood in this example) you must first open the software. On the right side of the screen you want to make sure Laser Flat is selected (select open plane only if you are using the honeycomb panel!). Next select your material – I am using 3mm Basswood Plywood. After selecting the material the thickness should auto-populate. If it does not, click the ruler next to it.

Under height raised it pre-selects no. I like using the triangular prisms when using Laser Flat because it allows air flow underneath your material, but you do not have to use them. If you decide not to use them, keep it on no. For processing path you can keep it auto planning. I’ve actually never used it by layer but you can if you’re cutting out multiple layers!

Next you’ll want to add the star to your mat. A new tab will come up on the right side of you screen with settings that are specific to what you are cutting. For the star, I made sure to click Cut for processing type and Reference for the setting.

Once you have all of that done you will connect your Xtool to your computer – I chose to connect via USB for the first cut.

Then you will want to put your basswood in your machine and hit REFRESH underneath the Xtool M1 at the top right side. Once you hit refresh you’ll see the bed of your machine with the material in it on your screen. You can move the star around at this point so you can choose where the laser cuts it.

Now you’re ready to cut! Hit Process, Start and then press the blinking blue button on your Xtool machine.

Silhouette Cameo vs. the Xtool M1 Vinyl Cutter

This was the big test for me. Which one had the cleaner cut? Which one was faster? Would I choose one over the other for vinyl projects?

I did a test cut on both the Silhouette and the Xtool and I was surprised that I actually preferred the Xtool! The preset settings on the Xtool cut the vinyl faster, cleaner and on the first pass. My Silhouette preset settings did not work on my vinyl. I had to adjust the settings and cut it three times, and even then it didn’t cut every letter all the way through. My blade is new so I’m not sure what the issue was, but for this test cut the Xtool was the clear winner.

This doesn’t mean that I won’t reach for my Silhouette Cameo anymore, because I do love my machine and use it for a lot of different things! But I may find myself reaching for the Xtool when it comes to vinyl more than I thought I would, just because my blade is a little more fickle on the Silhouette.

The nice thing about having both machines is that I can cut duplicates of a design at once, cutting that part of the process in half. This will come in handy the most when making shirts for Disney vacations! I’m really excited about that part!

First impressions and thoughts

I honestly love this machine and am very excited to have it in my craft room! It’s a powerful little machine that can handle a lot of different materials which opens the door on different crafts I can try. Even Chris is already talking about highjacking it to make some things for a cooperative card game that he likes to play.

The one negative about the machine is how long it takes to cut/engrave. It’s not a deal breaker by any means but if you are looking to use this machine for a small business, you may want to look into their more powerful laser cutters instead (like the Xtool P2 laser!). This little machine is perfect for crafters/hobbiest who are looking to dip their toes into laser cutters.

The post A Beginners Guide to the Xtool M1 Smart Laser Engraver and Vinyl Cutter appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

This post was last updated on November 20, 2022

Christmas crafts are my absolute favorite things to make, especially if they’re for other people!

But sometimes I find something I just need in my home and this merry and bright svg file deserved a spot near my Christmas tree this year!

I really love projects that can be used for multiple things. So even though I used this merry and bright svg file on a wood sign, it would also look awesome on a sweatshirt (perfect for lounging!), coffee mug or tumbler, pillows, ornaments, and more!

If you’re going to put this merry and bright svg file on a wood sign you can either make your own or buy one from Etsy (you can also find them at Hobby Lobby or Michaels).

I bought my wood sign from this seller on Etsy and was really impressed with the quality and cost. Plus, it was nice not to have to make my own!

If you’re buying a premade sign it’s usually better to use either stencil vinyl or adhesive vinyl for these projects. Heat transfer vinyl would be hard because you’d have to use a heat press and work around the wood frame — it’s easier just to use a stencil vinyl or adhesive vinyl and not have to worry about a heat press.

How to put vinyl on wood to make this Merry & Bright Christmas Sign

What types of vinyl can I use on wood?

There are three types of vinyl you can use on wood signs:

• Heat transfer vinyl,
• Adhesive vinyl (must be permanent 651 vinyl), or
• Stencil vinyl

Heat Transfer Vinyl –

Heat transfer vinyl gives you the look of paint without actually having to paint anything! The heat helps the vinyl “melt” into the wood so that you don’t have a raised design if you touch it.

HTV works well on a flat piece of wood. This might be a little hard if you’re using a framed wood sign because the frame may get in the way of laying your Cricut EasyPress or heat press flat on the wood. But if you’re using a smaller Cricut EasyPress then you’ll be able to get a nice flat press on a 12×12 sign.

You can read all about using heat transfer vinyl on wood here (there’s a how-to video to watch as well!).

And yes, patterned heat transfer vinyl can be used on wood too!

Adhesive Vinyl –

Adhesive vinyl is what I used for this wood sign!

There are two types of adhesive vinyl: permanent and removeable. You will want to make sure you use permanent vinyl (also called 651 vinyl). Permanent vinyl will last for years and won’t peel off the wood.

Since it sits on top of the wood it will give you a raised look to your design. You also do not need to seal the vinyl on your wood sign if it’s going to be indoors. Always seal your signs if you’re setting them outside though!

Stencil Vinyl –

I use stencil vinyl the most when making wood signs so that I can use multiple colors without worrying about layering vinyl. My favorite and the only kind I recommend is Oramask 813. I’ve also used removable vinyl but I just don’t like it as much.

In order to get clean paint lines you will need to seal the stencil before painting.

Don’t worry though, it’s not complicated! I have a whole post that shows you two ways to seal your stencil so your paint doesn’t bleed!

Where can I find craft blanks to put this file on?

There are so many places to find craft blanks but I’ll narrow it down to three that I frequently buy from (like, a lot).

Target Dollar Spot – seriously, this little area in Target is always a good place to find craft blanks! This Rae Dunn Holiday Wood Sign came from there. So did these cute little mailboxes I made over for Valentines Day!

Etsy – Not only do I buy a large amount of SVG files from Etsy but they also have great craft blanks too! I bought this wooden sign from Etsy and am really happy with it!

Amazon – any list of craft blanks isn’t complete unless you mention Amazon. It’s really good if you’re looking for a bulk order of something…but if you don’t need 25+ acrylic craft blanks it might not be the place for you.

I’ve had good luck with 143vinyl.com if Amazon doesn’t have exactly what I need!

And if you’re looking for t-shirts, sweatshirts, or kids shirts…Jiffy Shirts is my favorite place to buy from! Bella Canvas for women is the best shirt option in my opinion. Though Walmart also has very comfy womens sweatshirts that are somewhat inexpensive you can use too!

12 FREE CHRISTMAS SVG’S TO DOWNLOAD!

Each month I get together with the SVG design squad to bring you free SVG files. This month we all came together to offer you free Christmas SVG files for you to use on all of your holiday projects – including my Merry and Bright SVG file.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that Tamara from Tam’s Sweet Life no longer has an active blog. Her cut file is no longer available, sorry for the inconvenience!

Christmas Unicorn SVG from Crafts of a Different Shade

Colorful Christmas Luminaries from Oh Yay Studio

Christmas Countdown from Poofy Cheeks

I’ll Be Home For Covid 2020 from Kayla Makes

Is it Christmas yet? from Polka Dotted Blue Jay

Wise men still seek Him from Chameleon Cuttables

Christmas Pun Here Ornament Print & Cut Card from MightE Made It

Merry and Bright SVG File from Simply Made Fun

Christmas Stocking Banner from Sunshine and Munchkins

Your Favorite Wrapper T-Shirt from The Craft Print

Merry Mail Sticker Designs from Crafting Overload

It’s beginning to cost alot like Christmas from Tams Sweet Life

Other Christmas Crafts We Love:

• Rae Dunn Inspired Christmas Ornaments
• Handlettered Rudolph Wood Sign
• Faux Suede Christmas Tree Earrings
• How to Use Heat Transfer Vinyl on Wooden Christmas Ornaments
• Embroidery Hoop Christmas Wreath

Merry and Bright Wooden Sign Tutorial

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $30

This hand lettered merry and bright svg file makes the perfect addition to your holiday decor! It is a simple and modern design that looks great on wood signs, tea towels, pillows, sweatshirts and more!

Print

Materials

• Merry and Bright SVG File
• Adhesive Vinyl
• Weeding Tool
• Transfer Tape
• Wooden Sign

Tools

• Silhouette Cameo

Instructions

Download the Merry and Bright SVG File.

1. Open the SVG file in your Silhouette software (there is a video tutorial on how to do that in this post).
2. Put your vinyl on a mat and then load it into your machine.
3. Make sure you have the correct cut settings (VINYL: MATTE, BLADE: 1, SPEED: 5, FORCE: 10).
4. Hit cut.
5. Weed your design and then place transfer tape on top. Pick up your vinyl design with the transfer tape.
6. Make sure your design in centered on your wood sign before you press down.
7. Remove the transfer tape and admire your new sign!

Notes

It took me 10 minutes to cut this SVG file. The reason was my cut settings:

BLADE: 2
FORCE: 20
SPEED: 1

I like to slow down my speed and up the force and blade for the Matte Vinyl settings on projects like this because of the smaller pieces. The snowflakes are somewhat intricate and slowing my speed down helps ensure that they will cut properly.

Instead of upping your force or blade you could just up the PASSES to 2, but I like changing up my force and blade better.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Silhouette Cameo
• 
  Oracle 651 Adhesive Vinyl
• 
  Weeding Tool
• 
  Paper Transfer Tape

Did you make this project?

Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Merry and Bright SVG File appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

This post was last updated on November 17, 2022

Have you ever wondered how crafters are able to make vinyl projects that have multiple colors in them?

Lining up vinyl colors can be a bit intimidating if you’ve never done it before, but we’ll teach you the trick to it so that you can figure it out easily and quickly!

Our favorite way to do this includes using our heat transfer vinyl sizing and placement guide, which you can download here!

The best way to set yourself up for success when trying to line up heat transfer vinyl is to take steps inside your Silhouette Software before you cut anything out.

My favorite way to do this is to draw a small box around my design and then center both the box and the vinyl design on the page.

This really helps when you go to line your cut design onto your material, because everything will be lined up perfectly before you even get to this point!

How to use the Thanksgiving Gather and Give Thanks SVG file

What types of files come with the Gather and Give Thanks svg file?

The types of files available for this svg file are: SVG, PNG, DXF, JPEG, and PDF. These files are compatible with the Silhouette, Cricut, and other cutting machines.

You can use the link below to get access to all of the download options:

Grab the Thanksgiving Gather and Give Thanks svg file

How do you open the file in your cutting machine software?

Download the type of file that works best with your machine. Then click FILE >OPEN and select the file you want to open up in your software.

If you are using the Silhouette Software you might have to trace your image in order to use it. The Business Edition of the software lets you open up SVG’S and cut them immediately without tracing. If you do not have the business edition you will need to trace the image.

Learn how to trace a file in the Silhouette Software here.

What vinyl should you use on flour sacks?

Heat transfer vinyl is the best type of vinyl to use on flour sacks. I love Siser Easyweed because (true to it’s name) it is incredibly easy to weed! It’s also very easy to cut.

You should never use adhesive vinyl on any type of fabric (tea towel, pillow, blankets, shirts, etc) because it won’t hold up for the long haul and you cannot wash it.

If vinyl isn’t your thing you can also do sublimation or even screen printing!

Should you use a Heat press or Iron?

Either works for this project but I personally prefer my Cricut EasyPress over an iron. And iron has holes in the bottom for steam which means you will not get an even press with it. You’ll have to move the iron all around in order to make sure every piece of your heat transfer vinyl has stuck to the flour sack.

Since the Cricut EasyPress has a solid iron on the bottom (with no holes) you will get an even press every time.

I have since upgraded to the CraftPro Heat Press from HeatPress Nation. I absolutely love it and recommend a traditional heat press if you have the space/budget for one. You’ll get even pressure each and every time with a heat press and depending on the size you get it’s more bang for your buck than a Cricut EasyPress.

FAQ’S TO HELP YOU LINE UP YOUR HEAT TRANSFER VINYL DESIGN!

How do you find the center of your design in the Silhouette Studio?

I like to draw a box around my entire design in the Silhouette Studio and then center the box and the design in the Software before I hit cut. This will help me later on once the entire design is cut and ready to be pressed!

Do you need the Business Edition of the Silhouette Studio when cutting multiple colors of vinyl?

No you don’t, but it does make things easier!

I like the Business Edition because I can cut by fill, line and layer. For projects like this gather and give thanks svg, I cut by fill and it makes it very easy to cut each color out.

Once you cut out all your colors, how do you line them up on your tea towel?

I talk about lining up vinyl in this post, and I use this simple trick all of the time!

Because we’ve already centered our design and the box in the Silhouette Software, after it’s cut you can fold the design in half on the carrier sheet (make sure the sticky sides are facing out towards you).

You will also need to fold your tea towel in half an use your heat press to iron a crease down the center. You’ll use that line and the line you just made on your carrier sheet to line every single piece up in the center of your towel!

You’ll need to fold every piece of vinyl and use the crease in your shirt to line them up before you use your heat press. It’s my favorite trick to get your designs straight and lined up every single time!

How do you make sure there are no gaps in the layers?

Sometimes you’ll notice a small gap in-between layers of vinyl where the material of your shirt or tea towel show through.

One way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to offset your bottom layer by 0.015 in the software. That way if the vinyl shrinks at all under the heat you’ll have a bit of a cushion where there won’t be any gaps.

12 FREE THANKSGIVING SVG CUT FILES

Each month I get together with a group of crafty friends to bring you free svg files. This month we all came together to off you free Thanksgiving svg files for you to use on all of your holiday projects – including my Thanksgiving Gather and Give Thanks svg file.

Scroll down to the bottom of this post to grab all the free svg files!

DISCLAIMER: Please note that Tamara from Tam’s Sweet Life no longer has an active blog. Her cut file is no longer available, sorry for the inconvenience!

Monogram Turkey SVG from Crafts of a Different Shade

Thanksgiving Free Cut File from Crafting Overload

Turkey Thanksgiving Cut File from Poofy Cheeks

Sprinkle a Little Thanks on It from Mighte Made It

Grateful Napkin Rings from Polka Dotted Blue Jay

Fall Leaf Stencil from Oh Yay Studios

I Can’t Eat Another Bite SVG from Sunshine and Munchkins

Grateful and Blessed SVG from Chameleon Cuttables

There is Always Something To Be Thankful For from My Design In the Chaos

DIY Thankful Coaster from The Craft Print

Gather and Give Thanks SVG from Simply Made Fun

WTF Thanksgiving File from Tams Sweet Life

Gather and Give Thanks Tea Towel

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $10

Download this free gather and give thanks svg and use it on t-shirts, tea towels, pillows, wood signs and more!

Print

Materials

• Flour Sack Towel
• Heat Transfer Vinyl
• Weeding Tools
• Teflon Sheet
• Pressing Pillow

Tools

• Silhouette Cameo
• Cricut EasyPress
• Silhouette Studio Business Edition

Instructions

Sign up to grab the Gather and Give Thanks svg file!

1. Open the file in your software. If you do not have the Business Edition of the Silhouette Software you will need to trace the image. (SEE NOTE #1)
2. Make sure you right click your image and click FLIP HORIZONTAL before you cut it out. Then hit cut.
3. Use your weeding tools and weed out all the small parts of the design. While you're doing this heat up your Cricut EasyPress or iron.
4. Unfold your flour sack and iron it out with your EasyPress. Then fold it in half and iron the crease. This will help you find the center of the towel so that your vinyl decal will be straight when you press it on.
5. Put a pressing pillow underneath your flour sack.
6. Lay your vinyl design on the flour sack, place a teflon sheet on top, and then press with your EasyPress for 30 seconds.
7. Remove the teflon sheet and carrier sheet from the vinyl. Go slowly to make sure your vinyl is stuck to the flour sack. If it isn't, lay the carrier sheet and teflon sheet back down on the vinyl and press for another 10 seconds. Continue to do this until the entire decal is stuck to your flour sack.
8. Hang it on the door of your oven for your Thanksgiving feast!

Notes

1. The Business Edition of the Silhouette Software allows you to open SVG files in the program and cut them without tracing first.

*** You do not need the Business Edition of the Silhouette Software for this project! You can use the free version of the software to make your own tea towel. I have used (and love!) the Business Edition of the software but please know it is not necessary for you. Especially if you are a casual crafter.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Silhouette Studio Business Edition
• 
  Silhouette Cameo
• 
  Easyweed HTV
• 
  Weeding Tool
• 
  Cricut EasyPress 2
• 
  Pressing Pillow

Did you make this project?

Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Free Thanksgiving Gather and Give Thanks SVG appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

This post was last updated on November 10, 2022

Putting vinyl decals on mugs is such a fun way to customize them and make them your own. They make the perfect gift and are such an easy beginners craft project to try!

The only problem with putting vinyl decals on mugs is that the designs are small and it can be a little tough to put the decal on a rounded surface.

But we’re going to teach you how to take this craft vinyl hoarder svg cut file and put it on a mug the easy way!

Two big concerns with putting vinyl on a mug are getting bubbles in your design or losing letters/design elements when weeding.

For this svg cut file we’re going to show you how to reverse weed the image and how to use the dry hinge method to line up the image on your mug!

So let’s get started and use this craft vinyl hoarder svg cut file to make a custom mug!

Common questions about this Craft Vinyl Hoarder SVG cut file!

Where can I find this free cut file?

You can download this free file at The Craft Room!

There are five file types to choose from:

• SVG,
• PNG,
• JPEG,
• DXF, and
• PDF

How big should a decal be to fit on a coffee mug?

It depends on the type of mug, but I tend to like getting fat mugs so that I can cut a bigger decal. Especially when the design has smaller letters on it!

I would measure your mug across to see how big the decal can be. Most mugs I use can fit a decal at least 2.5 inches wide, for this one I did 3 inches.

How to make a vinyl decal lay flat on a mug?

Whenever you lay a vinyl decal on a round surface, using the dry hinge method helps the decal lay flat and straight!

Learn how to use the dry hinge method here!

You can also cut small strips in the transfer paper around the design to help lay the decal flat. Make sure you don’t accidentally cut vinyl though!

You can see how we cut the transfer tape in this video!

The circle lines won’t lay straight, how do I fix that?

If you’re cutting thin lines it can be really hard to get them to line up straight.

I’ve been trying to figure out a way for years to fix this, but the only thing I know to do is to make the lines thicker in the Silhouette Studio.

When you download this design I went ahead and made the lines thicker for you so you don’t have to worry about it.

FAQ’s for making this craft vinyl hoarder coffee mug!

How do you get bubbles out of a vinyl decal?

If you lay vinyl on a mug and you get bubbles in your decal, you can use direct heat to get them out.

Use a hairdryer and heat up your vinyl, then use your finger to rub the bubbles out.

Where can you buy blank mugs?

You can find them anywhere!

The Dollar Tree has the cheapest blank mugs you can find. But you can also find them at Hobby Lobby, Target, Walmart or anywhere else you can buy mugs at!

Reverse weeding or traditional weeding?

I tried so hard to reverse weed with this design.

Reverse weeding is when you put a piece of transfer tape on top of your vinyl decal after cutting it, peeling off the paper backing and then weeding the design. The purpose of this is to keep all of your small pieces on the transfer paper so they don’t come up as you weed your design.

I cut this design 10 different times before switching to traditional weeding for this design. It’s what worked for me and I suggest doing what works for you!

GRAB 18 FREE CUT FILES FOR CRAFTERS!

Every month I team up with a group of amazingly talented crafters to bring you a bundle of free svg cut files! This month’s theme was crafts, which is pretty perfect since we’re all a crafty bunch here! You can download all of these awesome files by visiting the blog posts (links are underneath the image). All svg cut files are free to use for personal use only and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram (#svgdesignsquad) if you make one of our projects and share it!

• Just Keep Crafting by Persia Lou

• Crafting+Diet Coke by Crafting Overload

• Paint Palette Mini Pinata by Studio Xtine

• I am not messy… I’m crafty by Polka Dotted Blue Jay

• Floral yarn ball SVG by Oh Yay Studio

• Never Underestimate a Crafty Gal by Gina C. Creates

• Craftaholic Hat by Pen + Posh

• Crazy Craft Lady by Poofy Cheeks

• Craft All the Things by Crafty Life Mom

• Caffeine Craft Repeat by Liz on Call

• Crafty Friends Card by The Bearded Housewife

• I like crafting and like three people by The Walnut Street House

• Life is short. Do the crafting by Sunshine and Munchkins

• I Can Totally Make That! by Lettered by Stephanie

• Creativity in Progress Craft Room Sign by Spot of Tea Designs

• They See Me Rollin’ by Craftara Creates

• Vinyl Hoarder by Simply Made Fun

• Coffee & Crafts by Tried & True Creative

More Adhesive Vinyl Crafts!

• How to layer vinyl decals
• Beginners guide to HTV and Adhesive Vinyl
• How to apply vinyl to wrapping paper
• How to use transfer tape with adhesive vinyl
• Rae Dunn inspired Christmas ornaments

Vinyl Hoarder Coffee Mug

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Difficulty: Medium

Estimated Cost: $10

Download this free vinyl hoarder svg cut file and use adhesive vinyl to make a gift for your favorite crafty friend!

Print

Materials

• Cutting Mat
• Adhesive Vinyl
• Transfer Tape
• Vinyl Hoarder SVG Cut File
• Painters Tape
• Blank Coffee Mug

Tools

• Silhouette Cameo
• Silhouette Cameo 4 Autoblade

Instructions

1. Download the Vinyl Hoarder svg cut file. Open it up in your Silhouette Software.
2. Measure the width of your mug and resize your cut file in the software.
3. Load your adhesive vinyl onto your cutting mat and hit SEND in your software.
4. Once the vinyl is cut, cut a small piece of transfer tape and lay it over your image.
5. Rub the transfer tape onto your vinyl.
6. Turn your vinyl over so that the backside (paper) is facing you and then start to weed it.
7. Once you've weeded all of your design, put it back on the paper backing.
8. Grab your mug and decide where you want to put your decal.
9. Put the decal with the paper backing on your mug. Make sure it's straight then use the blue painters tape to tape it in place.
10. Grab a pair of scissors and cut off half of your paper backing.
11. Slowly lay your vinyl decal on the mug, working from the middle out so that you don't get any air bubbles underneath your design.
12. Then, remove the rest of the paper backing and your blue painters tape. Slowly put the rest of the design on your mug.
13. If you have air bubbles, use a hair dryer to heat the vinyl and then gently try to push the bubbles out.

Notes

DO NOT PUT YOUR MUGS IN THE DISHWASHER!

Remember to hand wash your mugs with vinyl on them only. Do not let them soak in warm water either! Hand washing ensures that the vinyl will last on your mug.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Silhouette Cameo
• 
  Cameo 4 Autoblade
• 
  Cutting Mats
• 
  Weeding Tool
• 
  Oracle 651 Adhesive Vinyl
• 
  Gridlined Transfer Tape

Did you make this project?

Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Craft Vinyl Hoarder SVG Cut File appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

I’m always looking for things to decorate my bookshelf with and I love homemade signs.

There are three different ways you can make signs like these: painting a sign with stencil vinyl, using adhesive vinyl or using heat transfer vinyl.

The easiest way is to use adhesive vinyl on wood and it’s the way I suggest you do it if you’re a beginner.

Using stencil vinyl on wood is a more complicated way to do it but I love the final result. It does take some trial and error though to figure out how much paint is too much and how to stop paint from bleeding through the stencil.

Using heat transfer vinyl on wood is similar to using adhesive vinyl, expect that you’re using heat to adhere the vinyl to the wood. I really like this method too because once you heat up the vinyl it melts into the wood and looks similar to paint.

For this sign I decided to use adhesive vinyl, solely because I had all the colors I needed. I didn’t want to have to go to the store and shop for vinyl or paint!

I also didn’t want to have to use stencil vinyl on my wood sign. Signs from Hobby Lobby don’t do well with stencil vinyl in my experience, the vinyl always pulls up the paint.

I’ve found that if you’re using a sign you’ve painted…chalk paint is less likely to come up with your vinyl/transfer tape. Acrylic paint also works, but chalk paint is my personal preference.

COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT USING ADHESIVE VINYL ON WOOD!

What type of adhesive vinyl can you use on wood?

There are two types of adhesive vinyl: permanent (oracal 651) and removable (oracal 631). Always use permanent vinyl on any type of wood sign.

Permanent vinyl can last up to 6 years if it is well taken care of so this is definitely what you want to use on a wood sign!

What type of transfer tape do you use with adhesive vinyl?

I typically use gridlined transfer tape, the clear kind!

I like it because it’s easier to see where you’re putting your vinyl decal and lining it up on your material is a breeze.

But any kind will work. The best thing to do is use all different kinds to see which one you like working with best.

Can transfer tape pull up the paint on your wood piece?

I have only found a problem with this if I am using a pre-finished Hobby Lobby sign.

If you’re painting your own you shouldn’t have this issue, at least, I never have!

If you’re worried, you can unstick your transfer tape a bit by putting it on a cotton t-shirt. It’ll still be sticky but it won’t be too sticky to where it’ll pull off paint.

I suggest taking a small piece of transfer tape and putting it on the wood first. Rub it down like you’re putting vinyl on the wood. If you pull it up and the tape doesn’t come with it you should be safe to transfer the entire vinyl design to your wood piece!

Do you need to seal the wood after putting the vinyl on it?

I never do.

Sometimes the sealant can cause the vinyl to yellow (especially if you’re using white vinyl) after a time so it’s not worth it to me.

Unless you’re putting your sign outside where it’ll be exposed to the elements you do not need to seal it.

FAQ’S ABOUT THIS FALL IS BOOKED SVG CUT FILE

How can I download this free svg cut file?

If you are an email subscriber you have access to all of our free svg’s through The Craft Room! Every email we send has the password to get into our free resource library and you can grab the file any time you want (it’s lifetime access!).

If you are not an email subscriber, you can sign up here and get access to all of our past, current and future svg’s!

What types of cut files are included?

We offer this cut file as an:

• svg,
• png,
• dxf,
• pdf and
• jpeg

You can use our cut files with any software that opens these types of files!

more Fall crafts!

• Camping Outside Coffee Mug (free cut file!),
• I Love Fall Most of All Sweatshirt (free cut file!),
• Hello Pumpkin Wood Sign (free cut file!),
• Football Y’all Shirt (free cut file!) and
• Gather & Give Thanks Tea Towel (free cut file!)

GRAB 20 FREE FALL CUT FILES!

Every month I team up with a group of amazingly talented crafters to bring you a bundle of free svg cut files! This month’s theme was Fall and there 20 free files for you to use! Download all of these awesome files by visiting the blog posts (links are underneath the image). All svg cut files are free to use for personal use only and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram (#svgdesignsquad) if you make one of our projects and share it!

Best Free Fall SVGs | Abbi Kirsten Collections

“I Love Fall So Mush” Mushroom SVG | Persia Lou

Fall Circle Design | Crafting Overload

Spice Spice Baby | Brooklyn Berry Designs

Layered Pumpkin Shadow Box | Gina C. Creates

Adorable Hello Fall SVG | Color Me Crafty

Pumpkin Spice Vibes | The Denver Housewife

Fall for You… | The Quiet Grove

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice | Dinosaur Mama

6 Fall Faux Leather Earring Designs | Kiy’s Craftroom

Girl Who Loves Fall | Crafty Life Mom

Sweater Weather | Artsy-Fartsy Mama

Hello Fall | Liz on Call

Fall-elujah | Simple Made Pretty

Fall Slimline Card | The Bearded Housewife

Pumpkin Vibes Baby | The Walnut Street House

Fall Leaves Heart | Sunshine and Munchkins

Gather and Give Thanks Cake Topper | Craftara Creates

Fall Is Booked | Simply Made Fun

Whatever Spices Your Pumpkin | Tried & True Creative

Fall is Booked Bookish Fall Sign

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $15

Use adhesive vinyl to make this Fall is booked bookish Fall sign with your Silhouette Cameo.

Print

Materials

• Wood Sign from Hobby Lobby (or you can make your own!)
• Adhesive Vinyl
• Transfer Tape

Tools

• Silhouette Cameo
• Weeding Tools
• Scraper Tool

Instructions

1. Download your free Fall is booked svg cut file here.
2. Open the file in your cutting machines software (we use the Silhouette Studio).
3. Resize your design and cut by color.
4. Weed your design.
5. Pick up each color one by one, leaving the black outline of the pumpkin for last, with transfer tape.
6. Transfer the design onto your wood sign.

Notes

1. The best way to line up adhesive vinyl is to use boxes to line your design up. You can see how we did that here!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Silhouette Cameo
• 
  Cutting Mat
• 
  Oracle 651 Adhesive Vinyl
• 
  Gridlined Transfer Tape
• 
  Weeding Tool

Did you make this project?

Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Fall is Booked Bookish Fall Sign appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

I don’t know about you but I am ready for cute Halloween decor to come out.

I don’t like spooky Halloween stuff so I tend to gravitate towards cutesy ghosts, bats, and pumpkins.

So I decided to make a cutesy Halloween cut file and this Spooky Vibes svg is perfect!

Last year I bought some wood rounds from Hobby Lobby (a pack of three) and used one of the smaller rounds for this project.

I decided to paint it black (because, Halloween vibes!) and used acrylic paint I already had on hand.

You can use any type of paint but my favorite is chalk paint on wood. It just has better coverage and holds up to transfer paper better. Acrylic paint seems to peel more when using adhesive vinyl and transfer paper!

To put the design on the wood round you can do it three ways:

• use adhesive vinyl (this is what I did),
• heat transfer vinyl, or
• stencil vinyl

I decided on adhesive vinyl because it’s faster and I didn’t want to mess around with my heat press or painting a stencil.

If you do decide to use stencil vinyl, this post will teach you how to prep your stencil so the paint doesn’t bleed through!

Common Questions about using adhesive vinyl on wood!

Do you have to prep your wood before painting and putting vinyl on it?

A light sanding never hurt anyone!

Usually the finished wood at craft stores is fine to use as-is, and the wood I used was finished so I didn’t prep it (prepping wood is when you do a light sand on it to smooth out the wood so your vinyl will stick better).

However, if you’re using unfinished wood you must sand it first before anything else! Otherwise your vinyl won’t stick.

You can check out the steps on how to prep your wood for this Easter Bunny sign!

What type of adhesive vinyl can you use on wood?

There are two types of adhesive vinyl: permanent (oracal 651) and removable (oracal 631). Always use permanent vinyl on any type of wood sign.

Permanent vinyl can last up to 6 years if it is well taken care of so this is definitely what you want to use on a wood sign!

What type of transfer tape do you use with adhesive vinyl?

For this project I used gridlined transfer tape but I wouldn’t recommend it.

I would use the clear transfer tape like this instead, because if you’re layering vinyl on top of each other it’s easier to see and line up correctly!

I had a heck of a time trying to see where to line up the words ‘spooky vibes’ on the purple vinyl with the gridlined transfer tape!

Can transfer tape pull up the paint on your wood piece?

I have only found a problem with this if I am using a pre-finished Hobby Lobby sign.

If you’re painting your own you shouldn’t have this issue, at least, I never have!

If you’re worried, you can unstick your transfer tape a bit by putting it on a cotton t-shirt. It’ll still be sticky but it won’t be too sticky to where it’ll pull off paint.

I suggest taking a small piece of transfer tape and putting it on the wood first. Rub it down like you’re putting vinyl on the wood. If you pull it up and the tape doesn’t come with it you should be safe to transfer the entire vinyl design to your wood piece!

Do you need to seal the wood after putting the vinyl on it?

I never do.

Sometimes the sealant can cause the vinyl to yellow (especially if you’re using white vinyl) after a time so it’s not worth it to me.

Unless you’re putting your sign outside where it’ll be exposed to the elements you do not need to seal it.

OUR FAVORITE HALLOWEEN CRAFTS TO MAKE!

• Layered Ghost Earrings (free file included!)
• Paper Spider Webs (free file included!)
• Monsters Inc Family Costumes
• Spooktacular Halloween Gift Tags (updated free file included!)
• Nightmare Before Christmas Trick or Treat Bag

Spooky Vibes Halloween Wood Sign

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Difficulty: Intermediate

Estimated Cost: $10

Use this free spooky vibes svg for all your Halloween craft projects! Put it on a shirt, wood sign, pillow and more for cute Halloween decor!

Print

Materials

• Wood Round from Hobby Lobby
• Black Chalk Paint
• Paint Brush
• Adhesive Vinyl
• Transfer Tape
• Ribbon (optional)
• Free Spooky Vibes SVG Cut File

Tools

• Silhouette Cameo
• Weeding Tools

Instructions

1. Paint your wood round your desired color (we used black). Set it aside and let it dry.
2. While it's drying cut out your svg with your Silhouette Cameo.
3. Weed your design then cut a piece of transfer tape that's the same size as your design.
4. Lay the transfer tape on top of the vinyl design and use a scraper tool to rub the transfer tape onto the vinyl.
5. Pick up the vinyl design off the paper backing.
6. Check to see if your wood round is dry, if it is then go to the next step. If it's not, wait a little longer before proceeding!
7. Place the vinyl design on your wood round and peel up the transfer tape!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Silhouette Cameo
• 
  Oracle 651 Adhesive Vinyl
• 
  Gridlined Transfer Tape

Did you make this project?

Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Spooky Vibes SVG Cut File appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

It’s time for another free svg cut file roundup with all of my creative friends and this month is perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors. These camping cut files are all perfect for those nights spent under the stars in tents or rv’s!

I absolutely love our cut file on a mug, because I can just picture someone sipping on their coffee by a campfire while drinking out of this mug. But it would also look so cute on a wood sign inside of an RV or on a t-shirt/sweatshirt!

TIPS TO MAKE THIS CAMPING OUTSIDE COFFEE MUG

What type of vinyl do you use on coffee mugs?

Any time you use vinyl on coffee mugs or tumblers you should be using permanent adhesive vinyl.

Adhesive vinyl will have a shelf life of 5 (or more) years if you care for it properly!

Where can you buy adhesive vinyl from?

My favorite place to buy vinyl from is Expressions Vinyl. They always have deals going on and their shipping is fast.

Any time you buy vinyl, the Siser brand is the best. So no matter what company you ultimately buy from make sure you’re buying Siser brand!

What type of transfer tape can you use with adhesive vinyl?

My favorite type of transfer tape is Gridlined Transfer Paper because I like the use the grid to line up my design properly on the cup!

How do you get your vinyl straight on your mug?

If you use Gridlined Transfer Tape you can use the lines to line up your vinyl decal on the coffee mug.

We also have a few tips on how to put vinyl decals on a curved surface that is really helpful when putting vinyl on mugs, tumblers, Christmas ornaments and more.

Or you can use the dry hinge method which also works really well on mugs!

GRAB 19 FREE CAMPING CUT FILES!

Every month I team up with a group of amazingly talented crafters to bring you a bundle of free svg cut files! This month’s theme was camping and there 19 free files for you to use! Download all of these awesome files by visiting the blog posts (links are underneath the image). All svg cut files are free to use for personal use only and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram (#svgdesignsquad) if you make one of our projects and share it!

The Fun of Camping | Abbi Kirsten Collections

Adventure is Out There | Persia Lou

Camp More | Brooklyn Berry Designs

Home is Where You Park It | Brooklyn Berry Designs

Life’s Better Around the Campfire | Gina C. Creates

Happy Camper | Color Me Crafty

Welcome to Our Campsite | The Denver Housewife

I Sleep Around RV | The Quiet Grove

Give Me S’more | Dinosaur Mama

Let’s Camp S’more | Kiy’s Craftroom

Let’s Sleep Under the Stars | Crafty Life Mom

Camping is in Tents | Artsy Fartsy Mama

I’m a Glamper, Not a Camper | Liz on Call

Camp Wander Explore | Simple Made Pretty

Camper Box Card | The Bearded Housewife

I’m Going Camping and I’m Taking | The Walnut Street House

Queen of the Camper | Sunshine and Munchkins

Make S’more Memories | Craftara Creates

Camping Outside | Simply Made Fun

Adventure Awaits | Tried & True Creative

MORE ADHESIVE VINYL CRAFTS!

• How to layer vinyl decals
• Beginners guide to HTV and Adhesive Vinyl
• How to apply vinyl to wrapping paper
• How to use transfer tape with adhesive vinyl
• Rae Dunn inspired Christmas ornaments

Camping Outside Coffee Mug

Yield: 1

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Estimated Cost: $10

Learn how to put an adhesive vinyl decal on a coffee mug!

Print

Materials

• Light Grip Cutting Mat
• Adhesive Vinyl
• Transfer Tape
• Coffee Mug

Tools

• Silhouette Cameo

Instructions

1. Wipe down your coffee mug with rubbing alcohol and set it aside to dry.
2. Place your adhesive vinyl onto your mat and load it into your machine.
3. Hit cut.
4. Weed the vinyl.
5. Cut a piece of transfer tape and place it on top of your weeded vinyl design.
6. Use the dry hinge method to line up your vinyl decal so that it's straight on your mug.
   Then remove the transfer tape from the mug!
   

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Silhouette Cameo
• 
  LightGrip Cutting Mat
• 
  Oracle 651 Adhesive Vinyl
• 
  Gridlined Transfer Tape

Did you make this project?

Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Camping Outside Coffee Mug appeared first on Simply Made Fun.

It’s time for another free svg cut file roundup with all of my creative friends and this month is perfect for foodies. These summer bbq files are all perfect for those afternoon bbq’s with family and friends. And they can be used on potholders, aprons, wood signs and more!

I love our file on a potholder but it would also look really cool on a cutting board (using a laser to cut the design – you cannot put food on top of vinyl because it’s toxic!). It also works on a tea towel and apron!

FAQ’S ABOUT USING THIS LET’S EAT POTHOLDER SVG

What type of heat transfer vinyl can you use on a potholder?

I love Siser Easyweed Heat Transfer Vinyl for most of my heat transfer vinyl projects. Stretch htv would be a good idea just because you can put your hand in the potholder and might stretch it a bit!

How long do you press each layer for a multi-colored design?

With the CraftPro Heat Press I heated it up to 315 and pressed each layer for 10 seconds.

It’s a bit of trial and error depending on what type of heat press you’re using. The best thing to do is to try to press for 5 seconds and then see if your vinyl has adhered to your shirt by lifting up the transfer sheet. If your vinyl design comes up with the transfer sheet then you need to press for a little bit longer.

Keep doing this until you find the amount of time that works for you!

Once you have every layer adhered onto your shirt, do one final press for the full amount of time (mine was 20 seconds).

Do you need to use a pressing pillow with a potholder?

Yes! You’ll need a small one to put in the pocket so that you get an even press. I love these from HeatPress Nation because they come in so many different sizes!

GRAB 17 FREE BBQ CUT FILES!

Every month I team up with a group of amazingly talented crafters to bring you a bundle of free svg cut files! This month’s theme was summer bbq’s and there 17 free files for you to use! Download all of these awesome files by visiting the blog posts (links are underneath the image). All svg cut files are free to use for personal use only and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram (#svgdesignsquad) if you make one of our projects and share it!

BBQ Patio Sign – Abbi Kirsten Collections

Hot Grill Summer – Persia Lou

Smoke Show – Crafting Overload

I Do BBQ Wedding Tags – Gina C. Creates

Smokin Hot Grill Master – Color Me Crafty

I’d Grill That – The Denver Housewife

Hot Stuff BBQ – The Quiet Grove

Hangin’ with my Grill Friend – Kiy’s Craftroom

BBQ SVG – Crafty Life Mom

Serial Griller – Artsy-Fartsy Mama

Grillin and Chillin – Liz On Call

I Turn Grills On – Simple Made Pretty

BBQ Grill Box Card – The Beaded Housewife

Grills Well With Others – The Walnut Street House

Marinate Grill Eat Repeat – Sunshine and Munchkins

Let’s Eat Potholder – Simply Made Fun

Let’s Chill & Grill – Tried & True Creative

more heat transfer vinyl crafts to make!

• How to use heat transfer vinyl
• How to remove heat transfer vinyl
• Little Firecracker T-shirt (and a free file!)
• Mermaid Essentials Beach Bag
• Just Keep Swimming Swim Bag

Let's Eat Potholder

Yield: 1

Use this let’s eat potholder for your next summer bbq! Download this free svg and put it on potholders, tea towels, aprons and more!

Print

Materials

• Blank Potholder
• LightGrip Cutting Mat
• Heat Transfer Vinyl
• Pressing Pillows

Tools

• Silhouette Cameo
• Cameo 4 Autoblade
• Heat Press

Instructions

1. Open the SVG file in the Silhouette Software.
2. Cut by color then weed them.
3. Turn on your heat press and heat it up.
4. Grab your potholder and put a small pressing pillow inside the pocket.
5. Put the bottom layer of your design on the potholder, then press it for 5-10 seconds. Pull up the carrier sheet, if the vinyl design stays on the potholder, add the next layer and press again.
6. Repeat step 5 until all layers of your design are on the potholder.
7. Do a final press for 20 seconds, then you're done!

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Silhouette Cameo
• 
  Cameo 4 Autoblade
• 
  LightGrip Cutting Mat
• 
  Heat Transfer Vinyl
• 
  CraftPro Heat Press
• 
  Pressing Pillow

Did you make this project?

Share it! Make sure to tag @simplymadefun or use #smfcrafts

The post Let’s Eat Potholder appeared first on Simply Made Fun.