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Finished "My Llama Ate My Homework" pencil box on yellow background
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PENCIL BOX CRICUT DECAL PROJECT

Want to use your Cricut to make vinyl decals? Follow these instructions to make a cute pencil box.
Keyword: decals, Pencil Box
Author: Cori George

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Before you begin, make sure you have the correct machine selected in the upper right of Cricut Design Space. Cricut Explore 3 is being used for this project, so Cricut Explore Family was selected.
    Start by opening the Cricut Design Space file. You can edit this file if you'd like, changing the colors or even choosing a different animal in the Image Library. For this project the font BFC Birthday Party was used.
    Design Space: My Llama Ate My Homework image
  • From there, re-size your utensils to fit on your pencil case using the Size tool in the edit bar at the top. Mine ended up being 3″ tall.
    Design Space: My Llama Ate My Homework image, resized to 6" across
  • You will see a pop-up screen that asks for your mat load type. You can cut regular vinyl on a mat, or you can use Smart Vinyl, which doesn’t require a mat. For this project regular vinyl is being used, so On Mat was chosen.
    Design Space: Mat load screen with On Mat selected.
  • In the Prepare screen you'll see all of your layers on the different Cricut mats.
    Design Space: Prepare Screen showing two mats.
  • Make sure everything looks good and click Continue to go to the Make screen. In the Make Screen, set your material to Premium Vinyl - Permanent Glossy (if you are using permanent vinyl. If you are using something else, set the material accordingly).
    Design Space: Make Screen showing Permanent Vinyl as the material.
  • Once you select your material, you will be prompted to insert your blade into your machine if it’s not there already.
    Place your vinyl on the mat, with the color side up. A brayer helps if you are having issues with the vinyl lying flat or having bubbles.
    White vinyl on mat with brayer.
  • Insert your mat into your Cricut, and press the blinking button to cut your material!
    White vinyl on mat in Cricut Explore 3
  • Then either click Go in Cricut Design Space (Cricut Joy) or the blinking C (Explore or Maker). Your Cricut will quickly cut your material!
    Now it’s time to put this newly cut decal on your pencil case. First you will weed away the extra vinyl around your llama and words. Again, read Weeding Adhesive Vinyl for tips and tricks!
    Two weeded images for pencil box.
  • Cut a piece of transfer tape slightly larger than your final decal and peel off the backing paper. Then place it sticky-side down on top of your larger decal.
    Hands placing transfer tape on decal
  • Use a scraper to burnish the transfer tape to your decal, and then peel back the backing sheet so your vinyl sticks to the transfer tape.
    Hands peeling back the backing sheet from a Cricut design
  • Then carefully place your transfer tape on the second decal, lining up the pieces on the llama so they align perfectly.
    Hands placing transfer tape on second decal
  • Again, burnish using your scraper and peel the backing off the transfer tape. You should have both images on a single piece of transfer tape now.
    Clean your pencil case with rubbing alcohol. Make sure the case is completely dry before proceeding.
    Hands cleaning the pencil box with alcohol.
  • Carefully center the image on your pencil case and press down.
    Hands placing the Cricut decal on the pencil case.
  • Use the scraper to burnish your image to the pencil case.
    Hands using the scraper to burnish the decal
  • Then peel back the transfer tape.
    Hands peeling back transfer tape.
  • Your decal should stick to the pencil case!
    Finished "My Llama Ate My Homework" pencil box on yellow background