Step 1: Create Your Design
1- Open up Cricut Design Space
2- From the Home page click the New Project button in the top right. This will open up your canvas screen.
3- With the blank canvas open, click Upload towards the bottom of the left hand Design Panel.
4- Click Upload Image
5- Click Browse
6- Go to your Downloads folder, find the file you saved and Open it.
7- Give the file a name, then click Upload in the bottom right.
8- Select the image and then click Add To Canvas in the bottom right.
The image has been added to your canvas
The next step is to resize it so that it fits your mug correctly.
The Cricut ceramic white mug blanks have a face that measures 3.38 x 4.33 inches. We’ll want to make it smaller than that so we can see the whole design in one go.
We’ll change the width to 3”.
9- Click Select All in the Edit Bar. Navigate to the Size tab, make sure the padlock is locked. Then type in 3 into the W input box (assuming you’re working in inches). Press Enter.
10- The next step is to Attach all of the layers together so they stay in the same position when being cut.
Now, let’s save the project.
11- Click Save in the Header Bar.
12- Give it a memorable name and click Save
Great work – your project is saved and ready to go!
Step 2: Cutting and Weeding Your Design
1- Click Make in the top right corner
2- Select how you will load your material. If in doubt, follow the settings below:
3- On the Prepare screen, make sure your design looks correct. If the parts have been repositioned then you did not Attach the layers together. Go back to Step 10 from the previous section. If it all looks correct then, click Continue.
4- Make sure you’ve selected the correct material. In this case we’re using Vinyl. Then make sure the Fine-Point Blade is in the correct clamp.
Now we need to get the mat set up correctly.
5- Peel away the protective sheet of plastic from the StandardGrip (green) mat.
6- Pre-cut a square from your vinyl. We’re going to cut 6 x 6”.
7- Stick your vinyl to the top left of your Mat and load your mat into your cricut so it’s in contact with the rollers
8- Now gently push the mat into your Cricut and press the flashing load button. Your Cricut will move slightly and the rollers will bring the mat into the Cricut slightly. If the mat is not fed into the Cricut at all then you’ll need to reload it. Make sure you’re pushing it in slightly.
9- Now press the flashing Go button.
Your Cricut will begin to cut out the design. Once it’s done you can unload the mat via the Mat button. You should just be able to make out the cuts in the vinyl.
10- Place the mat upside down and then begin to peel the mat upwards and away from the vinyl, keeping the vinyl as flat as possible.
Once you’re done, you’ll have the original square of vinyl.
11- The next step is to now gently peel the surrounding areas of the vinyl away from the main design.
12- Now use your weeding tool to remove the inner pieces of vinyl. The best way to use the weeding tool is to try to catch the piece of vinyl right at its uppermost edge. You don’t want to try to catch it from the center.
Now you’re left with your finished vinyl design. The next step is to use transfer tape to apply it to your mug which we’ll cover in the next Lesson.
Step 3: Transferring and Applying The Design
1- Trim the excess vinyl from around your design and then cut a piece of transfer tape that is slightly larger than your design.
2- Peel the backing from the transfer tape.
3- Now apply the transfer tape to the vinyl. Start from the corner and move diagonally so you don’t get bubbles or creases.
4- Use a scraping tool to make sure it’s stuck down properly. Use it on the front face and the back face.
5- Clean the surface of your mug first with 91% isopropyl alcohol.
6- Now place the transfer tape face down and peel the vinyl backing upwards and away. This can be tricky. Try to keep the transfer tape flat and have the vinyl backing peel off at an angle. The vinyl lettering should stay stuck onto the transfer tape.
Now you have the vinyl lettering on the transfer tape, it’s time to apply it to your mug.
7- Hold the transfer tape above your mug, trying to keep it level. Lower one edge to the mug and slowly lower the rest of the tape whilst making sure to keep it taught so there are no creases or bubbles.
8- Use the scraper to apply the vinyl properly.
9- Peel the transfer tape away slowly.
10- All done!
Congratulations! Now mark this lesson complete and go share your creation in the Forum!
Last Step: Share Your Win!
A core value of Crafty Club is celebrating wins and championing each other. That’s why the last step is to share your win with the Community! Head over to the Forum and tell everyone about your win! Here’s how:
1 – Visit the Share Your Wins forum here: https://craftyclub.com/forums/forum/share-your-wins/
2 – Click the New Discussion button in the top right.
3 – In the popup add a title, then add some information about the project(eg. what it is, what challenged you and what you learnt). Finally, add a photo of your completed project, tick the ‘Notify me of new replies‘ box and then click Post in the bottom right.
Congrats on completing your project and sharing your win with the Community!
By sharing your win you’ve been entered into the Monthly Prize Giveaway. Winners will be announced at the start of next month via email so keep a look out for that!