12 DIY Cricut Gift Ideas: Totes, Shirts, Bags, Crates, & More!

Instructions

STEP 1: GET MY FREE DIY CRICUT GIFT IDEAS SVG FILES

The first step is to download my DIY Cricut Gift Ideas designs from my free resource library -- it's design #362.

TIP: If you are not sure how to upload an SVG cut file to Cricut Design Space, watch this helpful video training series I made. If you are on an iPad or iPhone, here is how to download and upload SVG files to the Cricut Design Space app. This is what my DIY Cricut Gift Ideas SVG files look like when they are uploaded to Cricut Design Space.

STEP 2: PREPARE THE DIY CRICUT GIFT IDEAS SVGS FOR YOUR GIFTS

I’ve included two SVG file options for this project. If you want to keep it simple choose the one titled "diy-cricut-gift-ideas-jennifermaker-SVG.svg." All you need to do is ungroup, hide or delete what you don’t want, resize and make it. If you want to try something a little more advanced and use two or three colors in your designs I’ve also included individual design files. You will find those in the folder called "SVG Files for Layering" in the zip file.

There are many options to choose from in the DIY Cricut Gift Ideas SVG file! I'm going to show you just a few to help you get the skill set you need to make them all!

First, we are going to upload the main SVG file with all of the designs. We need to hide or delete all of the designs you are not making today. Your file should still be selected but if not, click once on your design and click Ungroup at the top of the Layers panel.

Once everything is ungrouped, you can now click on each design and then click the eye icon to hide the design or Delete at the top of the Layers panel to remove the design.

TIP: A quicker way to hide your designs is to drag the one(s) you want off to the side then click and drag a bounding box over the remaining designs and click “Group” at the top of the layers panel. Now you can either hide the group by clicking on the eye icon next to where it says “Group” in the layers panel or hit delete if you aren’t going to use them.

I'm going to hide all of the designs I don't want to make. I may want to make them another time!

You can take this tutorial and apply it to any of the designs but today, I'm going to show you how to apply holographic permanent vinyl to a ceramic mug and how to apply iron-on vinyl to a canvas sign and tote bag.

Now I have two designs left on my Cricut Design Space Canvas. These two are going to be cut in one color each. I am going to make the Merry & Bright design with green holographic permanent vinyl on a mug so I will change the color of that design. Click on the color picker in the top menu and select green.

I'll also show you how to apply iron-on to a canvas sign using the family design.

Lastly, I will make the adorable craft supplies design on a tote with two colors of vinyl. Let's upload that design next.

For the multi-colored design, upload the file from the "SVG Files for Layering" folder. The design for the craft supplies SVG is divided so that we can easily change the colors.

Click Upload on the left side of your canvas and then Upload Image. Click Browse to find your SVG file and click Open. Once uploaded, select it and click Add to Canvas.

On the canvas, click Ungroup at the top of the layers panel to separate the SVG. I am going to make "craft supplies" and the bow red. Select "craft supplies" and then press and hold the Shift key to also select the bow. With both selected, click on the Color Menu and change the color to red, or whatever color you'd like!

It will be helpful to cut these so that the two lines of each color stay in place. I'm going to select the red layers, if they aren't still selected, and click Attach. You'll want to do the same thing with the two black layers of this design. Now select the whole design and click “Group” so if you need to resize, everything gets resized together.

This design is ready to go but before we move on, we need to add the personalization to our canvas sign design.

HOW TO PERSONALIZE A DESIGN:

Click the Text icon and then choose your font from the dropdown font menu. I chose to personalize my canvas sign with the Times font but you can use any font you'd like.

Once your font is selected, type your family name in the text box. Click on any blank space on the canvas to exit the text editing mode. Click and drag your personalized name to your design to resize it. I found it better to unlock the text to resize it to get the right look. I used the resize handle on the lower right of the design to change the size.

Once you have your personalization just right, you can use the alignment tool to center it just to be sure. Select both your personalization and the family design by clicking and dragging your mouse over both or by pressing the shift key as you select both layers. When both are selected, click Align and Center Horizontally.

Once you have it aligned, you need to attach your layers. Again, if both layers aren't still selected, select both and click Attach.

NOTE: If you'd like to cut the personalization in a different color, then you would not attach it to your design.

Now that you have your designs ready, we need to make sure they are sized correctly.

HOW TO RESIZE A DESIGN:

In order to share all of my designs, some are smaller then you'd typically use to apply to a gift. You'll definitely want to make sure you measure the blank space on your gift before sizing your design.

Based on my measurements, I chose to make my mug design 3" tall, my tote design 11.5" wide, and my canvas design 12.5" wide.

NOTE: If you plan to make your canvas design more than 11.5" wide, you will need a 24" mat or reference this tutorial for a larger than mat project. Additionally, if you are using a Cricut Maker 3 or Explore 3, you can use Smart Materials.

Once you have sized all of your designs, you're almost ready to cut your designs.

IMPORTANT: If you have any designs that are the same color on your canvas and plan to cut them on different types of vinyl, you need to change their colors (otherwise they will appear on the same mat on the next screen). It doesn't matter what color they are on your canvas because you choose the vinyl you put on the cutting mat.

When your colors are set, make sure you have the correct machine selected and click Make It.

STEP 3: CUT AND WEED YOUR VINYL DESIGNS

If you are using a Maker 3, Explore 3, or Joy, you will be asked if you will be cutting your designs without a mat, with a mat, or multiple ways. I will be using multiple materials on the Maker 3 so I will select Multiple Ways and click Continue.

On the Prepare screen, you will see a preview of the designs you are about to cut. If you are using the Maker 3 or Explore 3, this is where you can select On Mat or Without Mat for each of your mats (if you chose Multiple Ways like me). If you are making any of the designs with iron-on vinyl, it is important that you toggle mirror ON. Permanent vinyl does not need to be mirrored.

I am making two of my designs with iron-on so I will toggle those to mirror ON.

Once your designs are prepared, click Continue on the bottom right.

Now it's time to select your material. Design Space chooses the cut order so first, I'm going to cut the red part of the tote design in glitter iron-on vinyl. Find your material and select More Pressure.

NOTE: If you do not see your material as an option on the screen, click Browse All Materials to search for it

We need to load the material with the shiny side down. Then start the cut.

NOTE: Glitter iron-on can sometimes be tricky. I recommend a test cut to make sure your settings will cut through your vinyl. For other Cricut tips and tricks, check out this blog post!

Next, we will cut the mug design, I'm going to select Cricut Holographic Permanent Vinyl in green. Remember, if you don't see your material on the screen, click Browse All Materials and search for your material.

Like before, I prefer to cut with more pressure to help with a cleaner cut.

Place your vinyl on your mat with the liner against the mat and the pretty side up. Load your mat into your Cricut and cut your vinyl.

Lastly, I'm going to cut my canvas sign design and the rest of the tote design on Cricut Smart Iron-On in Black Matte. If you're using Smart Iron-On, make sure you cut a long enough piece. Design Space tells you just how much you need! If you choose to use the Roll Holder, there is no need to cut your vinyl, just make sure your roll is long enough and you can trim the vinyl after the cut. Select the material and more pressure.

Load your material, shiny side down and the matte side up, and cut your material.

When your Cricut is done, unload your vinyl by pressing the arrows button on the Cricut.

Once your designs are cut, use your weeding tool to carefully remove the excess vinyl from your designs.

STEP 4: APPLY YOUR VINYL DESIGNS

APPLYING HOLOGRAPHIC VINYL TO MUG:

Now for the exciting part! Your designs are weeded and ready to apply! First we'll apply the permanent vinyl design to the mug. Cut a piece of transfer tape the same size or slightly larger than your design. Remove the backing from the transfer tape. Apply the transfer tape to your vinyl design by holding the transfer tape in the shape of a taco, a "U" shape, then put the bottom of your “taco” onto the middle of your vinyl design.

Smooth the transfer tape over the decal from the center outward. This minimizes wrinkles and bubbles. With the transfer tape in place, use a scraper tool or other hard and flat-edged item (like a store loyalty card) to transfer the vinyl decal design to the transfer tape. It’s important to scrape it well to transfer the vinyl decal.

Flip over the vinyl and gently peel away the backing of the vinyl.

Before we apply the vinyl, we will clean the mug with Isopropyl Alcohol and a lint-free cloth to remove any dirt or dust. Then I will rest my mug on a roll of tape to hold it in place while I apply the vinyl.

Align your vinyl design on your mug and then press down on the vinyl from the inside outward. You can use your scraper tool to help.

Gently peel the transfer tape away from the vinyl and mug. How simple and pretty to make such beautiful gift mug to gift.

APPLYING REGULAR AND GLITTER IRON-ON TO TOTE:

The totes I am using are cotton canvas material. If you are using something different, be sure to check what material your tote is made out of so you can apply the appropriate settings to your EasyPress. Here is a quick reference to EasyPress settings.

We have two different types of iron-on vinyl to apply. I'm going to start with the hotter setting for the regular Smart Iron-on Vinyl. I preheated my EasyPress 2 to 340° for the first application. Lay your tote flat across your EasyPress Mat. If you don't have a mat, you can use a folded towel under your tote.

Preheat the tote for 5 seconds. Lay your design on your tote. with the cut vinyl against the material. The shiny side will be facing up.

TIP: If you are having trouble centering your design, you can fold your design in half to line up the right and left edges. Make a slight crease down the center of your vinyl. This will not hurt the vinyl.

Place your EasyPress over your design and press your design with light pressure for 30 seconds.

Remove your EasyPress and gently flip over the tote. Press the design from the back for 15 more seconds.

Flip the tote back to the front side and when the liner is cool to touch, gently peel it away from the tote.

Next we will press the glitter iron-on vinyl. Lower your Easy Press temperature to 270°. While it cools, line up the design over the black vinyl. To help align the red, you can use the center of the bow as a reference to center the red layer over the black.

IMPORTANT: If the carrier sheet of the vinyl does not completely cover the black, you will need to cover the exposed black vinyl with parchment paper or the vinyl will melt against the Easy Press.

Once your Easy Press has cooled to the correct setting, press the design for 30 seconds with light pressure. When done, flip the tote and press it for another 15 seconds from the back. Flip it back and when the liner is cool to touch, gently peel it away from your tote.

TIP: Cricut Smart and Glitter Iron-On are cool peel vinyls. If you try to remove the liner too soon, the vinyl will come up. Patience is key for good adhesion to your tote. If your glitter iron-on vinyl still does not stick once it is cool, you can repress it with a little more pressure.

APPLYING CRICUT SMART IRON-ON TO CANVAS SIGN:

Now it is time to make our last DIY gift, a personalized canvas sign! Pressing to a stretched, raised canvas can be a little tricky because the canvas gives a little when pressure is applied. I recommend folding a towel and placing it under your canvas to help provide pressure under the canvas. A book works well too. If using the same canvas signs as me, you'll want to remove the canvas from the frame before pressing the vinyl.

Again, refer to the Cricut Heat Guide to make sure you are using the correct settings for your materials. Preheat the EasyPress to 340° and then preheat the canvas sign for 5 seconds and align your weeded design over your canvas sign and gently press it against the canvas.

Press the design for 30 seconds. Once done, flip the canvas sign and press it from the back for 15 seconds.

Once pressed, allow the liner to cool to touch and gently remove it from your design.

STEP 5: SHOW IT OFF

How fun and easy was it to make those three gifts? You can use these techniques to apply permanent or iron-on vinyl to many different gifts this holiday season. Here are all the great DIY gifts that I made!