I make labels all over my house thanks to the convenience of the Cricut Joy. It’s a portable cutting machine that you can take anywhere. I created the labels for my baking storage with the Cricut Joy using black vinyl and I used a font that I found at DaFont called Valentime.  Now is a great time to pick up a Cricut Joy because it is priced at just $99.  They also have a few Cricut Joy Bundle Kits that also give you some supplies to get started and those are priced at $119.99.

I also used the same font to label The Home Edit bins I used to store art, office supplies and more. It’s so handy! And they look so good! Of course, you can use the Cricut Joy for more than just labels. I used my Cricut Joy to embellish these cosmetic bags. If you want a bigger machine that can do larger projects, all Cricut machines are on sale right now!  This Cricut Explore Air 2 + Everything Bundle is a super deal! If you have any questions about the different machines, I am happy to help. I have owned different Cricut machines over the last 15 years and I am happy to help!

I’m going to let you in on a little tip when purchasing through Cricut, if you sign up for Cricut Access you will receive 10% off your order.   Cricut Access is $9.99 for the monthly plan and you can cancel at anytime.  If you purchase Cricut Access before or when you purchase your machine, you will receive and extra 10% off.

Cricut Joy $169.99 (reg $179)

Cricut Joy + Smart Vinyl Bundle $189.99 (reg $247)

Cricut Explore Air 2 $199.99 (reg $250)

Cricut Explore Air 2, Mint + Everything Bundle $279.99 (reg $497)

Cricut Explore 3 + Essentials Materials Bundle $369.99 (reg $486)

Cricut Maker 3 + Essentials Materials Bundle $419.99 (reg $586)

The post Make Labels with Cricut Joy appeared first on Gather Lemons.

I love using my Cricut machine to make custom gifts and personalized items for me and my family. I used the Cricut Joy to make 3 bags to hold different things like travel supplies, make-up and markers.  If you are interested in getting a Cricut machine but don’t know which one is best for you, I recommend checking out this post where I highlight the benefits if each specific machine.  I have owned all three versions of the Cricut machines now and I think all of them are a great options for different reasons.

I think the Cricut Explore Air 2 Craft Cutting Machine is the perfect all-around machine. Right now you can score a great deal on the Cricut Explore Air 2 Bundle it’s priced at $259. I am loving the convenience and portability of the Cricut Joy too. You can get FREE shipping with code DECSHIP.

Here is a peek at the supplies I used in order to create these fun bags using the Cricut 3pk Cosmetic Bags.

For this bag I used the image My Happy Face Compact (#M175786CA) from Cricut Design Space and the Cricut Joy Holographic Smart Iron-On  in Dahlia.  I love how the holographic nature of the iron on makes it look like different shades depending on how the light hits it.  

I finally used Infusible Ink for the first time ever and I am hooked!   For this one I used the Cricut 2pk Joy Patterned Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets  in warm splashpad and cool splashpad.  Unlike an iron-on transfer or vinyl application, where artwork is attached on top of a the material using adhesive, Infusible Ink heat transfer becomes one with the material itself.  It’s so cool!  For this project I used the Spark Joy (#M228E788B) image from Cricut Design Space.

Lastly, I created a bag that was perfect for all my travels to hold things like charging cords, power adapters and things like that.  I used the Wanderlust Adventure Awaits (#M3AC9627) image from Cricut Design space and use the Cricut Joy Everyday Smart Iron-On in black and parchment.

For regular iron-ons an iron will work, but if you are looking to use Infusible Ink or to just make things easier the Cricut EasyPress 2 9″x9″ is something you will want.  The Cricut Joy Starter Tool Set is a handy thing to have too!

The Cricut Joy is a great option for labeling too!  You could use it to create labels in your kitchen like I did for my baking supplies.

The post DIY Cosmetic Bags with Cricut appeared first on Gather Lemons.

Have you been wanting to get a Cricut machine, but don’t know which one is right for you? I am sharing the benefits of each machine so you can decide which will work best for your situation. Overall, I think the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the best overall machine for everyone. However, if you are an avid sewer and you want to expand what your Cricut can do, consider the Cricut Maker. Short on space or like to craft on-the-go, then the Cricut Joy may be perfect for you. Here is the run down on each machine and the best deals you can find on each one.

I truly love my Cricut machine, is is one of my all-time favorite purchases I have made. I use it to make gifts, custom tees for our Disney trips, home decor and more.

I’m going to let you in on a little tip when purchasing through Cricut, if you sign up for Cricut Access you will receive 10% off your order.   Cricut Access is $9.99 for the monthly plan and you can cancel at anytime.  If you purchase Cricut Access before or while you purchase your machine, you will receive and extra 10% off.

The Cricut Maker is the ultimate craft cutting machine!  In addition to cutting cardstock, vinyl and iron-ons, it also cuts fabric and thicker materials up to 3/32″. The Cricut maker has an adaptive tool system, so your machine can do even more things as new tools are released.  Using the knife blade attachment you can cut balsa wood and thick leather.  They recently released a Foil Transfer blade so you can add Foil Transfer with your Maker now too!  The retail price on this machine is $399. Recently we’ve seen some great sale prices on the Cricut Maker.

Here are some current deals we’ve found on the Cricut Maker:

Cricut – Cricut Maker $249.99 (reg $399.99)

Cricut – Cricut Maker + Essentials Bundle $309.99 ($533.42)

Cricut – Cricut Maker + Everything Materials Bundle $329.99 (reg $647.82)

HSN – Cricut Maker with Vinyl, Iron-on and Tool Bundle $299.95 (reg $399.95)
(New customers $20 off with code HSN2021) 

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is a great machine for crafting!  You can cut paper, vinyl, faux leather, and tons of other materials.  It can’t cut thicker materials like the Maker can, but this machine is the perfect option for so may crafters.  This is the machine I would personally recommend if you are planning to cut cardstock, vinyl or iron-ons.  It really can do so many things!  This machine also comes in a variety of colors to match your decor.

Check out the following deals on the Cricut Explore Air 2:

Cricut – Cricut Explore Air 2 $199.99 (reg $249.99)

Cricut – Cricut Explore Air 2 + Essentials Bundle $259.99 (reg $383.42)

Cricut – Cricut Explore Air 2 + Everything Bundle $279.99 (reg $383.42)

HSN – Cricut Explore Air 2 with Vinyl Variety, Tape and Weeder $169.99 (reg $227.99)
(New customers $20 off with code HSN2021)

Target – Cricut Explore Air 2 Craft Cutting Machine $149.99 ($227.99)

The Cricut Joy is great if you don’t have a ton of space or if you want to craft on-the-go.  With the Cricut Joy you can cut continuous shapes up to 4 inches wide and 4 feet long.  One of the best features is mat-free cutting which means you can cut up to 20′ of Smart Vinyl in a one shot. If you are nervous about getting started with a Cricut machine, short on space or like to craft on-the-go, this machine would be perfect for you.  The retail price of this machine is $179.  Since this is a new machine, we probably won’t find big discounts on it right now.

Pick up the Cricut Joy at the following retailers:

Cricut – Cricut Joy $169.99 (reg $179.99)

Cricut – Cricut Joy + Essentials Bundle $189.99 (reg $238.93)

HSN – Cricut Joy  $129.00 (reg $159.00)
(New customers $20 off with code HSN2021)

QVC – Cricut Joy $129.00 (reg $159.00)
(New customers $15 off first order with code HOLIDAY)

QVC – Cricut Joy Smart Cutting Machine & 17-pc Accessory Kit $199.99 
(New customers $15 off first order with code HOLIDAY)

Here are some examples of projects you can create with your Cricut machine.

Custom Disney Tees

Return these Books book bag

Faux Leather Keychains

Disney Treat Coin Purses

Make-up Bag

The post Which Cricut Machine Is Best + Best Deals appeared first on Gather Lemons.

When we planned our kitchen remodel we made sure to map out every cupboard & drawer so we would know where things would go and what kind of storage we would need.  I knew I wanted to have a drawer for my spices in my island as well as a drawer that I could keep all my flour, sugar and baking staples .  I recently finished organizing & labeling the drawer and I wanted to share it with you!  I have been using it for a couple of months now and I love how convenient it is having everything at my fingertips instead of having to walk over to the pantry for everything.  I love it!

I use the Prepworks Prokeepers Storage Set for storing my flours and sugars and I love how they are designed.  The flour keeper has a device to help you level your flour when it’s in the measuring cup, the brown sugar keeper has a terra cotta disc to help keep your brown sugar fresh.  They truly have thought of everything.  If you have a Costco nearby, I highly recommend checking to see if they have the 6-pc set in stock.  I got one of my sets there when it was on sale for $23.99.  Their normal price is $29.99, which is a steal because the regular price for the set is $59.99. Here are a few other places you can pick up the containers:

• Amazon
• Wayfair
• Walmart

I own 2 of the 6 piece sets and I bought an additional flour keeper because I wanted my sugar storage to be the same size as the flour containers.  I use the extra containers in my pantry for items that don’t get used as much like oats, corn meal, cinnamon sugar, etc.

To make things easy for me,  I labeled the top of each container.  I used my Cricut to cut out black vinyl and adhere it to the top of each container.  I used a font that I found at DaFont called Valentime.  My Cricut is one of my favorite things I own, you can do so many things with it, like make custom tees, create holiday decor, make faux leather keychains and of course you can use it for labeling and so much more!  The Cricut has been a huge help when it comes to labeling and organizing my home.

Other things I have in the drawer are a salt cellar, garlic keeper, mini prep bowls and I have a pepper cellar coming soon. Having all the supplies I need for baking and making marinades stored in my island has made baking and dinner prep so much more efficient.  I have more kitchen organization planned for the refrigerator and a complete pantry overhaul. If you have any organizational tips for the kitchen, I’d love to hear them!

The post Baking Supplies Organization appeared first on Gather Lemons.

It’s probably common knowledge that our family loves our Disneyland vacations. We also love to make fun Disney tees for our trips. If you own a Cricut machine, customizing your own Disney tees is such an easy thing to do. It can also be pretty cheap!  I’ve made lots of our Disney tees out of t-shirts that I’ve picked up at the Dollar Store (for a dollar) or tees that I found on clearance at Target for 70% off.

Cricut has several licensed Disney and Star Wars designs, but I also like to search Etsy for some creative Disney svg designs that I can use on our vacation tees too.  You do not have to purchase images, you can make your own or use free svg images found on the internet.

I recommend the Cricut Explore Air 2, it’s an excellent machine to start you on your crafting journey. If you love to sew you may want to look into the Cricut Maker as an option, it cuts fabrics, leather, balsa wood and more with the expandable suite of tools.  I also suggest getting one of the Cricut Air + Everything Bundle because it will truly give you everything you need to get started on making a bunch of different projects.

When it comes to purchasing my iron-ons, I buy from several location and I usually always wait for a sale when I am buying from Cricut or Michaels

Cricut – watch for sales!

Michaels – I purchase both the Cricut brand & Siser HTV

Etsy – I purchase here when I want several different color sheets

Here is a peek at several shirts I made for the next time we visit the Disney parks.

Oh Boy Mickey Tee

• Mickey Mouse Oh Boy! svg from Etsy
• Cricut black glitter iron-on
• Cricut red glitter iron-on

I’m Here for the Churros Tee

• I’m Here for the Churros svg from Etsy
• Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl Cream
• Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl Tan
• Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl Brown
• Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl Chocolate Brown

Mos Eisley’s Cantina Tee

• Mos Eisley’s svg from Etsy
• Cricut black iron-on

Fixer Upper Tee

• Fixer Upper svg from Etsy
• Cricut navy iron-on
• Cricut burgandy iron-on

Space Ranger Tee

• Deluxe Space Ranger svg from Cricut Disney – Toy Story 4 set
• Cricut Teal iron-on
• Cricut Green Apple iron-on

Here is a quick peek at how easy it s to make your own custom tees with the help of the Cricut machine.

You upload your design to the Cricut Design Space, it will pretty much walk you through the entire process. Most of the designs I chose used more than one color of vinyl so I will show you how to do multiple layers if you aren’t familiar with how it works.

You can select what color you want each part of the design to be and design space will tell you when you need to load that color vinyl into your Cricut machine.  When making iron on projects you need to always make sure you mirror the image, so it will be the correct direction after it is ironed onto your fabric.  When laying your iron on vinyl on your Cricut mat, place the glossy side down.  I like to cut the image out with cardstock first to make sure I have the correct size I want.  This way I’m not wasting any vinyl.

When you use layers you will want to iron on the bottom layer first and then work your way up.  With the Buzz Lightyear shirt that means I need to iron on the green part first.

I lined up the next layer (the teal one) on top of the green one and ironed that on.  You can use a regular iron or the Cricut Easy Press.   Once all layers are added, you are done!  You have a cute Disney tee that was customized by you with the exact design and colors you want!  Making Disney tees is almost as addicting as Disney vacations!

Take a peek a few of my other Cricut creations.

Library Book Bag

Faux Leather Key Chains

Disney Treat Coin Purse

The post DIY Custom Disney Tees appeared first on Gather Lemons.

I love the fact that my kids are older so they can be in charge of their own stuff on our Disneyland trips and other vacations. My youngest prefers to carry a drawstring bag over a backpack, so we decided to make a special one for our most recent Disneyland trip. He’s a big Star Wars fan and Cricut has some cool Star Wars designs, so this Darth Vader image was an easy choice.

I love how quickly you can customize a project with the Cricut Air 2 or Cricut Maker machines.  The Cricut machine is so user-friendly.  It knows which items need to be cut in layers and it does all the thinking for you.  You can customize what colors you want to use and it will tell you what color of iron on needs to be loaded into the machine.  

I was able to make this Darth Vader drawstring bag in under 20 minutes.   Here’s what you need to do to make one too.

• Drawstring bag (I bought mine at Hobby Lobby)
• Black Iron-On
• Silver Iron-On
• Darth Vader Cricut Design (You can buy the images individually in Design Space, you don’t have to buy them all).

Add the Darth Vader image to Design Space and make it the size you want to fit your backpack.  I often cut the image on cardstock first to make sure I have the correct size.  This way I am not wasting iron-on material.

Simply follow the directions on your in Design Space and on your Cricut machine.  Always make sure to “mirror image” when you are working with iron-ons, this will ensure your image comes out the correct direction once it is ironed on to your project.  I have (and love) the Cricut Easy Press that I use for ironing on my designs.  It’s so much easier to use than and iron because it has a digital read out so you know when it’s the correct temperature and the large square base makes it easier to iron the entire design.  First you iron on the silver material and then lay the black on top and iron that on.  It’s really that easy!  It’s so much fun customizing gifts and items for you home.  Here are a few other projects I’ve created with my Cricut.

Faux Leather Key Chains

Disney Treat Coin Purse

The post DIY Darth Vader Drawstring Bag appeared first on Gather Lemons.

You can makes these fun coin purses representing your favorite Disney treats.  Just use blank canvas coin purses and use your Cricut to embellish them with Disney treats, like Dole Whip, Mickey ice cream bars or popcorn.  I love how quick and easy it is to customize items with the Cricut Air 2 and the Cricut Maker.

My favorite snack is the Dole Whip!  Which one is yours? Here is everything you will need to makes these cute coin purses.

• Cricut Machine
• Round Canvas Coin Purse
• Iron-On Vinyl (I bought this variety pack via Amazon)
• Cricut Easy Press or Iron
• Disney Treat svgs from Etsy (see below for each specific image  I used)

Disney Dole Whip

Mickey Popcorn

Mickey Ice Cream Treat Bar

Here is the quick and easy process to making these fun coin purses.  Start with the canvas coin bag.

Use your Cricut machine to cut out the iron on pieces.  Make sure you set your Cricut to mirror image so the images will be correct when you iron them on.   I love how the Cricut know which colors and stages to cut things out for the design.  I had everything I needed for this project with three cuts.

First I ironed on the red portion of the popcorn bucket.

Next I added the yellow for the popcorn.

Lastly, I aded the Mickey and popcorn word.  I have said this before, but I absolutely love my Cricut machine because it helps me make customized shirts, home decor and more.  It’s especially fun to make Disney inspired items.

The post DIY Disney Treat Coin Purses appeared first on Gather Lemons.

I fell in love with this jewelry dish that Analisa made over at All Things Target and I knew I wanted to make one for myself.  I love that the dish only costs $1.99.  I made mine using my Cricut, if you don’t have a craft cutting machine you can use rub-ons or stickers instead.

Supplies:

• Dip Bowl ($1.99 at Target or Target.com)
• Cricut Gold Adhesive Foil(also available at Amazon)
• Cricut Transfer Tape (also available at Amazon)
• Hello Lovely SVG file from SVGOriginals at Etsy (or any image you choose)

Cutting out the image is super easy!  Once I loaded the image into Cricut Design space I sent the project over to my Cricut Explore Air.   Simple cut a piece of adhesive foil big enough for your project and select “custom” on the dial of your machine.   Select Adhesive Foil via Cricut Design Space and cut.

In order to transfer the image you will need to use the Cricut Transfer tape an add it to the top of your image.  Use the scraper to make sure the image attaches to the tape.

Pull off the tape and your image will be attached.  Voila!  It’s just like magic.

Lastly, add the image to the dip bowl.   It is amazing how easy this is, the transfer tape came off easily and the image stay put.

I now have a custom made Ring Dish!  My daughter and I are thinking about making these for several of her friends for Christmas.  You can customize them anyway you want, with initials, images, or sayings.

If you are looking to get a Cricut machine now is a great time to buy, they have some great markdowns.  Plus, you can get FREE economy shipping on orders of $99 or more with code JULSHIP through 7/31.  You can check out all of the Cricut Explore Air machine deals or the deals on the new Cricut Explore Air 2 (the only difference is it cuts up to 2 times as fast as the previous model).   Here is one deal for you to check out:

Cricut Explore Air 2 + Essentials Bundle $259.99 ($383.42)
+ FREE shipping on orders of $99 with code AUGSHIP

• Cricut Explore Air 2 machine 
• Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing 
• Fine Point Pen, Black 
• LightGrip Mat, 12\” x 12\” (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm) 
• Welcome Book 
• USB cable 
• Power adapter 
• Free trial membership to Cricut Access (for new subscribers) 
• 50 ready-to-make projects 
• Materials for a practice project

Bundled with:

• Everyday Iron-On Sampler, Elegance
• Premium Vinyl Sampler Removable, Elegance
• Iron-On Protective Sheet
• Transfer Tape
• True Control Knife, Blue
• Cutting Mat Varietry Pack, 12\” x 12\” 3 pk
• Tools Basic Set
•  Portable Trimmer

Check out more Cricut deals and project ideas.

If you want to learn more about the Cricut Explore Air, check out the 15 reasons to love the Cricut Explore Air.

The post DIY Ring Dish + Current Cricut Deals appeared first on Gather Lemons.

My daughter needed several gifts for a church camp she was attending and she thought some baseball caps would be fun. We stopped by the Dollar Store and picked up several baseball caps for only $1. We dressed them up by finding an inspirational quote and image on Etsy and made an iron-on with gold foil using the Cricut. They came together super quick and they looked great too!

For this project I used the following:

• Dollar Store Hat
• Faith Can Move Mountains SVG
• Light Gold Foil Iron-on

Using iron-ons is one of my favorite things to do with my Cricut.   To make sure your image comes out properly, you want to lay the shiny side down on the cutting mat.  One it is attached you will see the white backing of the iron-on.   Before you cut your image, make sure you check the “mirror image” box so it reverses the image to ensure it’s cut correctly.  Cricut Design Space will remind you if you have it set on “iron-on” so it’s easy to remember.

Once the image is cut you will “weed” all the extra pieces of the image that you don’t want as part of the iron-on.

Here is what the image looks like before I iron it on.

I put the hat on the end of my ironing board and used the tip of my iron to iron on the image.    I love the look of the gold foil against the forest green hat!

I love how you can take a simple items from the Dollar Store and really dress it up with the Cricut.   You can also check out the Dollar Store Travel Notebooks I made too.

Don’t have a Cricut machine and you are wondering which Cricut Machine is right for you?    Here are the different types of machines listed from the oldest model to the newest.

Cricut Explore One – This machine needs to be hooked up to your computer (unless you buy the bluetooth adapter).  It does not cut and write at the same time.  If you are looking for a the most inexpensive option, this would be a great option.

Cricut Explore Air – This machine is wireless, you do not need to be connected to your computer.  It will cut and write at the same time.   This would be my recommendation if you just plan on doing paper crafts and vinyl.

Cricut Explore Air 2– This machine is the same as the Cricut Explore Air, the only difference is it cuts up to 2X faster.  

Cricut Maker – Brand new machine has an expandable suite of tools and advanced Rotary and Knife blades. Cricut Maker cuts hundreds of materials, from the most delicate fabric and paper to matboard and leather.  If you like to sew too, this might be your best option.  (Discounts are valid on the new machine)

Make sure you check out this post for current Cricut coupon codes.    They often have FREE shipping codes and sometimes codes for an additional 10% off.

The post DIY Faith Can Move Mountains Dollar Store Hat appeared first on Gather Lemons.

We’ve been doing lots of traveling this summer and my daughter loves to document her adventures. I picked up a couple of inexpensive notebooks from the Dollar Store and embellished them with the help of my Cricut machine. They turned out so cute!

Here are the supplies I used to great the brown travel notebook:

• Brown Dollar Store Notebook
• Not All Who Wander Are Lost SVG
• Stainless Gold Adhesive Foil

The project came together super quick (and cheap)!    I used the Stainless Gold Adhesive Foil and cut the Not All Who Wander Are Lost SVG with my Cricut.   You don’t have to pay for images with the Cricut, they have plenty of images you can use.  Plus there are several sites with FREE svg images you an use.  I just really like some of the images on Etsy, I have a gift card and I like to support the crafty folks over there, so I often buy special images for some of my projects.

Once the image was cut and I weeded out all the extra pieces of the image I added a piece of clear transfer paper to the top of the image.

Then I simply pulled of the backing so the foil was ready to adhere to the notebook.

This is what the image looked like before it was ready to be applied.

This went on super easy!    I love the gold against the brown notebook!

Ahhh, I love it!   It turned out better than I imaged.   The image is perfect.

I also make a version with black notebook and used the following supplies:

• Black Dollar Store Notebook
• Adventure is out There SVG
• Stainless Silver Adhesive Foil

I’m so please with how they turned out and they were so quick and easy!   I love that you can take something inexpensive and personalize it with the help of the Cricut.

Don’t have a Cricut machine and you are wondering which Cricut Machine is right for you?    Here are the different types of machines:

Cricut Explore Air 2–This machine is wireless, you do not need to be connected to your computer.  It will cut and write at the same time.   This would be my recommendation if you just plan on doing paper crafts and vinyl. This machine is the same as the previous Cricut Explore Air, the only difference is it cuts up to 2X faster.  

Cricut Maker – Brand new machine has an expandable suite of tools and advanced Rotary and Knife blades. Cricut Maker cuts hundreds of materials, from the most delicate fabric and paper to matboard and leather.  If you like to sew too, this might be your best option.  (Discounts are valid on the new machine)

Make sure you check out this post for current Cricut coupon codes.    They often have FREE shipping codes and sometimes codes for an additional 10% off.

The post DIY Dollar Store Travel Notebook appeared first on Gather Lemons.

I made this fun game of Mickey Tic Tac Toe for our family (and a couple for gifts). They are great for on-the-go fun because everything stores inside the bag and the playing board is on one of the sides of the bag.  I used my Cricut machine for the vinyl and iron-on pieces.  The Cricut really is one of my favorite and most used crafting tools.

All of the playing pieces for the Tic Tac Toe game store inside the pouch.

On the reverse side of the pouch is the Tic Tac Toe board game.

Here are the non-Cricut supplies & tools you will need:

• Muslin Bag (mine were 4.75 x 6)
• 1 inch wooden discs (10-12)
• Paint
• Paint brush

Here are the supplies I used with my Cricut machine

• Black Iron-On transfer
• Black Vinyl
• Mickey Mouse Symbol (#M42CE0)

To cut the image of the iron-on material, I bought the Mickey Mouse image from the Cricut store (it was $1.49).  I imported my own image for the Tic Tac Toe board and I used a solid font for the words.  In order to make sure the iron on turned out correctly I had to mirror the image so it was cut backwards.  You always want to remember this step when creating iron ons.

Ironing on the image was super easy!   I set my iron on the cotton setting and turned off the steam.  I warmed up the muslin bag first for about 15 seconds then I added the image I wanted to iron on.   I laid a light flour sack towel over the image and placed the iron on top for about 20 second intervals.  I made sure to lift and press the iron instead of dragging it across the image.   It came out perfect!

Next up, I painted the discs, I painted 1/2 red and 1/2 yellow.    I decided to go with colors to distinguish between the 2 different playing pieces instead of “x” and “o”.

I used my Cricut machine to cut out the small Mickey images out of vinyl so I could easily adhere them to the top of each disc.

Here are the playing pieces all finished with paint and the Mickey’s attached.

I was super pleased with how it turned out and how quick it was to make. You can make so many things with the Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker you can customize this game with any character or image you want.   If you have kids that love Disney’s Frozen you could make one with a Frozen them.   Your options are endless!

I was provided with a Cricut Explore Air.   All thoughts and opinions are my own and honest and true.  Affiliate links have been used, so if you buy a Cricut or supplies through my links I will earn a small commission.

The post Mickey Tic Tac Toe in a Bag appeared first on Gather Lemons.

An electronic cutting machine has been my favorite crafting tool for years.   My very first machine was the original Cricut, with this machine you needed to have cartridges to cut things out.   Several years ago I wanted to update to a new machine that had the capability of cutting 12×12.   I decided to go with the Silhouette because it also had the option to just buy single images. Fast forward to today where I have once again upgraded my machine and this time I have gone with the Cricut Explore Air.  I am outlining a few of the reasons why I love this machine and why it’s great for beginners or experts.

It’s gorgeous! – It really is a pretty piece of machinery.  I don’t mind leaving it out on my desk because it looks so good.

Precision – The Cricut Explore Air cuts very precise.   You will get a great cut even when the design has very small detail.   I was very impressed with the cuts I got with this machine.

Ingenious design –  You can tell a lot of thought went into this machine.  They really have thought of everything.   They have made it easy to have everything you need right at your fingertips.   The tray that comes down has a compartment where you can store your Cricut Tools and your extra blades.  They’ve even made part of the blade storage magnetic so you don’t lose the tiny blades. Genius!

Ease of use – This is one of my favorite features of the Cricut Explore.  When you are cutting a different type of material you simple change the dial to the type of material you are cutting.  There is no need to change the depth of the blade.  I adore this feature!

Versatile – There are so many different types of material you can cut with the Cricut Explore Air, paper, vinyl, fabric, cardstock and more.

Set up is a breeze – Taking the machine out of the box and setting it up was quick and super easy.   There are on screen prompts that walk you through the entire process.   Even if you are not very tech savvy you will be able to get the Cricut up and running in no time.

Loading is easy – One feature that I love that I have not previously had on any cutting machines is the guide for the cutting mat.  This ensures the mat is always loaded properly.  This is just another feature that makes using this machine a piece of cake.

Starter project – The Cricut Explore Air even comes with a starter project for you to try.   You are provided with the paper for the project right inside the box.   I made this hello card with the items that came with my Cricut.

Cut & write in one step  – This is brilliant!   You can cut and write at the same time!  There is no need to take out the blade and switch it for a pen. There are two separate housings, one for a pen and one for a blade.  This card was made with both the cut and write features.   In addition to cutting and writing there is also an optional scoring blade.

It’s wireless!!!  – Let me say that again, the Cricut Explore Air is wireless and I love it!!   Thanks to Bluetooth technology inside the machine you can cut without having to hook up your computer, phone or tablet.   This is by far one of my favorite features.

Cricut app –  There is a Cricut Design Space app that I can use on my iPhone and iPad that makes designing and cutting a piece of cake.   If I work on a project on my computer and save it, it will be waiting for me in the app on my iPhone too.

Cricut Design Space – At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to get a lot of use the pre-made projects in the Cricut Design Space.  I’m not sure what I was thinking because I love that I can just pick a project, click a few buttons and have the design sent to my Cricut.   It’s so much fun and I love that all the design work has been done for you.  The majority of the time when I am cutting something out it’s usually for a last minute project or gift so I love that there are already hundreds of ideas ready to go.

Use your own designs – You don’t have to use the “make it now” designs that are available from Cricut you can upload your own images and cut out whatever your heart desires.

You can still use cartridges – If you are like me and you own some Cricut Cartridges you can still use them with this machine.  There is a door right above the “open” button that you can use it insert your Cricut Cartridge.

Disney themed images – I love that Cricut has hundreds of Disney themed images, which comes in handy since we are big Disney fans.    There’s Disney classics, Princess, Cars, Frozen and more.

I’m going to show you a quick project I did that took me less than 30 minutes to put together.    I used the Cricut Design Space app on my phone and make the following artwork for my daughter’s room:

I opened the app and chose the “Shine On” star project.  I followed the instructions within the app and sent it to the Cricut.

I was using Cricut vinyl for this project so I cut some vinyl from the roll and adhered it to the Cricut cutting mat.

Once the image was cut, I removed all the extra vinyl so only my image was left.  The Cricut Tools Weeder comes in handy for this.

Next I used the Transfer tape to remove the image for application to the shadow box frame.   I used the Cricut Scraper to smooth the vinyl and get out all the bubbles.   Then I transferred the image onto the glass.

Once the image was attached I added gold and white striped scrapbook paper to the back of the shadow box and the artwork for my daughter’s room was complete.   I love how quick and easy it was to make.  Using the Cricut Explore Air is such a fun way to personalize room decor and more.

Cricut has a great price on the Cricut Explore Air 2 + Essentials Bundle, it’s currently listed at $259.99 (reg $383.42), plus,you’ll get FREE shipping on orders of $99 with code APRSHIP or more through 4/30.

You can check out all the Cricut Explore Air Machine & Sets to find the right one for you.   You will love all that you can do with the Cricut cutting machines.   Before you know it you’ll be making cards, home decor, gifts, iron-ons and so much more.

Check out my most recent project making a travel bag of Tic-Tac-Toe featuring Mickey Mouse.

I was provided with a Cricut Explore Air to facilitate my review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and are honest and true. Affiliate links have been used, so if you buy a Cricut or supplies through my links I will earn a small commission.

The post 15 Reasons to Love the Cricut Explore Air appeared first on Gather Lemons.