Using a Cricut to customize backpacks is addicting!   The Cricut heat transfer iron on is magical to “weed” – I love seeing the images come to life.  If you’re looking for a fun way to make a backpack DIY be sure to keep reading.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cricut. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’ve never really thought about the fact that when most children enter Foster Care it’s a rushed emergency situation.  Sometimes all the children are able to take are the clothes on their back.  If they have time to gather some of their things, they are given trash bags to carry a few belongings.  Growing up my mom always took in kids who stayed with us; not as a part of the foster care system, but children who needed a safe place to stay.  And the thought of what if Kenny, Evan, or Sam and her baby Jacob carrying their belongings around in trash bags made me cry.  Kenny taught me how to draw a Nancy Drew cover, Evan how to throw a football, and I remember laying on the carpet staring in wonder at the ceiling fan with Jacob and giggling all the time.  

Today we are helping Cricut provide personalized backpacks for those children entering Foster Care. We wanted to make something special for these children to carry their precious belongings but will hopefully provide comfort during a very difficult transition.

If you’d like more info on this project be sure to check out Blue Ribbon Project.

How to use Cricut Iron On Vinyl on a Backpack DIY

Supplies:

•  Cricut Explore Air 2
• Cricut Easy Press 2 9×9 or Easy Press Mini
• Cricut Easy Press Mat
• Natalie Malan Cricut Iron On Vinyl Gray Blush
• Natalie Malan Cricut Iron On in Tidepool
• Design Space Files – I used the “Natalie Malan Butterfly” & the “Headphones”

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One of my best tips for using patterned Iron on Vinyl, is to pick a color that completely contrasts the colors in the vinyl.

 

I mocked up my designs by importing a photo I took of the backpacks as a print and cut.  After designing my files, I deleted the backpack images.

 

After cutting the images, I always weed the outside first.

Then I use my weeding tool to remove the rest of the vinyl.

 

Now I’m ready to apply it to the backpack!

 

I’m using the Cricut Easy press Mini to iron on my images.  It worked perfectly for this project because of it’s small size and easy maneuverability.

I set the Mini to the middle heat setting, and moved it around quickly on the backpack.  You can’t see it in this photo, but I have my easy press mat inside the backpack so that it absorbs the heat and gives a more uniform surface to iron onto.

I didn’t let it stay for more than 1-3 seconds in one place.  

The kids and I decided to do headphones for our 11 year old boy backpack.

I used the same technique mentioned above to design the image.

If you’re doing something with words be sure to mirror your image before cutting.

All weeded and ready to apply.

 

 

The kids and I thought about these designs for a long time, and had lots of fun coming up with new designs using all the Cricut Access images. 

 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

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