Monogram Canvas Tote Bags

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If there is one thing I adore on Etsy its all the monogrammed swag you can buy for yourself and your maids for your wedding! I love monogrammed items, but have always been nervous to try it myself because I assumed it would be difficult. Luckily, that was not the case! :)

I ended up finding a free monogram font (that I reference below) and it took all of 15 minutes of playing around with the software for my Cricut to easily make oodles of monograms, so I started with tote bags! Tote bags, especially canvas ones like these, are great for your wedding party for a beach or destination wedding where your maids will want a beach bag to throw their things in. :)

In this tutorial, I’ll go step by step to show you how to make monograms in your Cricut software for tote bags of your own or whatever else you want to monogram! :)

Supplies:
Blank Tote Bags
Easyweed Heat Transfer Vinyl or Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl
Craft Cutter and Tool set
Adhesive Mat
Iron and Ironing Mat

Designing Your Monogram:

1. First, if you don't already own a Monogram style font, download one. The font I used is called Free Monogram Font from DaFont.com and it worked perfectly for what I wanted, and as the name implies its totally free!

2. Now, open a new project in your Cricut design software and create a text box. Select the Monogram font from your font choices and use it to type the initials for your monogram.

3. If you are using the font I mentioned, for smaller side letters you use lower case letters and for the center letter you use uppercase letters. For example, my initials on the monogram shown are typed in as "aCl" .

4. Next, overlap your letters by changing the letter spacing of your font. I chose -2 for the spacing of my letters but it is better to mess with it a little bit to find out what looks best to you.

5. Once all your letters are spaced to your satisfaction, select the "Weld" tool to combine your letters into a single set of cutting curves. 

6. Now,  you can size your monogram to whatever size you like best. For the small monograms, I made them 3" wide and for the large monograms, I made them 10.5" wide.

7. Finally, cut the monograms on your choice of vinyl. I used the Iron On+ setting for Glitter HTV and the Standard Iron On Setting for regular Easyweed Vinyl. Make sure that you select the "Mirror" Function and load your Iron On material Shiny side down so that your design cuts correctly! :)

Transferring your Design

8. Once your design is cut, weed away the extra material, leaving only your monogram.

9. Iron your Tote Bag to remove any creases, then arrange the Monogram where you want to transfer it on your tote. For large monograms I put it in the middle and for smaller monograms I preferred the lower right corner. Arrange the design shiny side up, then cover with parchment paper. Make sure to keep the parchment paper between the design and the iron.

10. Set your Iron to the second Highest setting and press the the iron down firmly on the design, not ironing but rather using it as a small heat press. I worked from the upper left to lower right on the design, pressing the iron on each part of the design for at least 30 seconds, then overlapping the last position as you move the iron across the design.

11. Remove the backing from the design, leaving the Monogram on the Tote Bag. Repeat with all the remaining Totes.

I was very pleasantly surprised with how easy these were to make and now have several other monogram projects in the wings to show bunches of different monogrammed projects! :) What are your favorite monogrammed items?

DIY Bride Tribe Iron On Tank Tops

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These are the first bridal party tank tops I’ve designed and I love how then turned out! :) They can be easily given as bridesmaid invitations, bachelorette tank tops or even getting ready tank tops! I adore this design and it would work equally well on tote bags or tshirts.

While I’ve worked a good amount with adhesive vinyl, this was the first time I worked with HTV, and I was very nervous! Luckily there wasn’t much to be worried about. :) Other than making sure the design gets mirrored (which you do before cutting) the only other question was how to best “iron it on.” As it turns out, the best way is to use your iron as a mini heat press, pressing it to part of the design, then lifting it and pressing the next piece, until the design has all been heat pressed.

Supplies:
Blank Tank Tops
Easyweed Heat Transfer Vinyl or Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl
Craft Cutter and Tool Set
Adhesive Mat
Parchment Paper
Tank Top Design Cut Files

1. After downloading the cut files, import them into the Cricut Software. After creating a new project, select Upload Image. Select the file you wish to upload and it will automatically take you to the final upload screen, where you can name the file the select Save. The SVG Files are sized so that they will automatically cut to the size you see in the photos, but if you want to change the size you can do so to fit the tank tops the way you like.

2. After selecting “Make It” Make sure to select the Mirror Mode on the cutting screen. Cut the design(s) in your choice of heat transfer vinyl (I used Gold Confetti Glitter HTV) with the Iron On (for Easyweed Vinyl) or Iron On+ (for Glitter Vinyl) Setting on your Cricut, with the shiny side of the material down.

3. Weed the additional material off of the backing material so that, looking down with the shiny side up, you can see your design with the correct orientation.

4. Iron your tank top to remove any creases, then center the design over the top half of the tank top. Arrange the design shiny side up, then cover with parchment paper. Make sure to keep the parchment paper between the design and the iron.

5. Set your Iron to the second Highest setting and press the the iron down firmly on the design, not ironing but rather using it as a small heat press. I worked from the upper left to lower right on the design, pressing the iron on each part of the design for at least 30 seconds, then overlapping the last position as you move the iron across the design.

6. Remove the backing from the design, leaving the design on the tank top. Repeat with all the remaining tank tops.

DIY Bridesmaid Wine Glasses

This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click on a link I will recieve a small comission. This costs you nothing extra and I only promote products I use and love! You can read our full disclosure here

One of my favorite things to make for bridal parties are themed glasses, whether for DIY Nights, Bachelorette Parties, Bridal Showers, or Getting ready on the big day! I will be posting on how to make your own personalized glasses in a bit, but these are more generic and can be easily used for all wedding events by your girls. 

I cut out mine using a Champagne Glitter Vinyl, but there are many options to choose from if it's not quite right for wedding party. Also worth noting, when I designed the cut files I kept the text black on a blank canvas, so on my computer then tend to be on a black background and can't be seen very well, you can right click to either copy the file or save it and it should be black text with a clear background. :)

Supplies:
Stemless Wine Glasses
Permanent Adhesive Vinyl
Craft Cutter and Tool Set
Adhesive Mat
Transfer Tape
Bridesmaid Cut File
Maid of Honor Cut File

1. Download the Bridesmaid and Maid of Honor Cut File by clicking the links above, which will open the file into a new tab. right click on the picture and select "Save Picture as".  

2. Import the files into the Cricut software. You can do this by going to the software; and, after making a new project, click the "Upload Button." Then Select Upload Image

3. Click "Browse" and select the file you want to cut from your saved files. Once the file is selected, a new screen will appear to choose cut complexity. I generally find the best results on the "Moderately Complex" Setting. Click your setting of choice then click "Continue."

4. You will now be on the "Select and Erase Screen." In this case, there is nothing to erase so just press continue to go to the final screen. Here you can choose whether is is a "Print to cut" file or regular "Cut" File. Select the Cut file, then press "Save."

5. Back on the Upload Screen, Repeat Steps 1 - 4 on the "Maid of Honor" image. Once both images have been uploaded, select them from the main "Upload Screen" and click "Insert Images."

6. Both the "Bridesmaid" and "Maid of Honor" Decals should be on your Project Screen. Size your "Bridesmaid" Image to 4.5" wide and the "Maid of Honor" image to 3" tall to have them be a similar size to the glasses pictured. Then copy and paste additional decals as needed from these resizes ones. Press Continue to go to the Cut Screen.

7. On the Prepare Screen, confirm that your designs are arranged as you would like them on the cutting mat, then press "Continue." You can move any object by dragging and dropping it on the mat. Finally, load your vinyl of choice, select "Vinyl" on your machine, load your craft cutter, then press the Cricut "C" button on the cutter when it blinks.

8. Cut out your files on the adhesive vinyl of your choice and weed the extra vinyl from the design.

9. Press transfer tape along the design, aligning the text with the grid lines of the transfer tape. Use a smoother tool to release any air bubbles and the get the vinyl to stick to the tape.

10. Slowly remove the tape from the vinyl design, making sure that the design transfers from the vinyl backing to the tape.

11. Angle your text such that it leaves about an inch around the top of the glass and stick the middle of the design on the wine glass. From the middle of the glass, smooth the design along the curve of the glass from the middle to the edges. The transfer tape won't perfectly lay on the glass due to its curved surface, but the text can be smoothed on without much fuss.

12. Once design has been pressed onto the glass, slowly remove the transfer tape, confirming that the design transfers from the tape to the glass. Repeat with all your remaining glasses.