Brittany Silzer

Tell me and I forget, Teach me and I remember, Involve me and I learn ~ Benjamin Franklin

Category: Learning Project

Final Learning Project Post: It’s Not The End… It’s Just The Beginning of an Artistic Journey

June 26, 2024 / / 0 Comments

While this learning project has concluded, the truth is that my education continues, with many more projects to delve into. This feels like the start to an incredible artistic journey. I appreciate the opportunity to engage in a learning project of my choice. If not for this class, my Cricut machine would still be unused in its box. I’m excited that I’ve finally started using it and been able to tap into my creative potential. As most of my free time is spent making memories with my children, I often feel like there is not enough time in a day to do something for myself. Hence why the machine remained boxed up. But now that the initial setup and learning phase is complete and I have a fundamental grasp of its functions, I’m ready to dedicate time to new creative endeavors. This is something that I  can also include my children with and together we can create projects.

Below is a summary of my learning journey, during which I explored various online formats that provided inspiration and useful tips for navigating this experience.

Learning Project Recap

Post 1–Crafting With The Cricut Machine: Introduction To My Learning Project

I have eyed the machines for a long time but never took the plunge to buy one…until last year when I finally purchased one, the Cricut Explore Air 2. Not knowing how to use it, I placed it to the side and said, “I will need to find time to explore it and figure out how to work it”. Well, there is no better time than now to finally crack open the box and explore what I can create through this learning project.

Online Sources

Post 2- Understanding The Cricut Machine

The initial phase of this learning endeavor involves unboxing the Cricut Explore Air 2 machine and acquainting oneself with its various components. This blog post captures my initial experience with the Cricut, where I navigated through the setup, mastered the use of the machine, and executed a cardstock paper cutout.

Online Sources

Post 3- All You Need Is Love & Plants

In this weeks post, I opted for the 30-day free trial of Cricut Access. As I explored the vast image library on Cricut Access, a particular design caught my eye—a decal for a plant pot! In this project, I had the opportunity to work with vinyl, including weeding, applying transfer tape, and using a scraper tool to eliminate air bubbles.

Online Sources

Post 4– How Many Cricut Vinyl Products Are There?

According to the cricut website, there are 213 results for vinyl materials! It seemed I would need to conduct some additional research to understand the differences. This post uncovers what I have learned about the various vinyl products with a realization that purchasing vinyl off of Amazon.ca is the cheaper option. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post where I’ll delve into making my first shirt with the vinyl I have ordered this week.

Online Sources

Post 5– A T-Shirt for Father’s Day

The HTV vinyl ordered last week has arrived, and now I needed to decide on a project to create with it. With Father’s Day coming up, I decided to create a t-shirt for my spouse as a gift. With this project, I learned a new step by using a heat press to fasten the design onto a t-shirt. I also discovered that when using a heat press, the time and temperature differ for each project depending on the type of material you are using. Creating my first t-shirt with a Cricut machine, HTV vinyl, and a heat press was a journey filled with numerous learning experiences.

Online Sources

Post 6– Say What? I Can Make Canvas Signs Using a Cricut!

After stumbling across a video for a canvas sign, I knew I wanted this to be my next project. Within this project I learned how to use Canva for creating images that could later be transferred to Cricut Desgin Space. This was a valuable part of this experience, and the step-by-step instructions from ChatGPT was beneficial as well. This project again sent me down many avenues where I had to do some online research to uncover and troubleshoot some challenges along the way. This project, along with the previous ones, proved to be a valuable learning experience.

Online Sources

Final Thoughts

Some key takeaways from this project is that I realized how important it is to take time to do something you enjoy. This article provides insight into the benefits of prioritizing time for the things you love.  Why You Need to Do Something You Love Every Single Day – Day Designer  I had so much joy and fullfillment from this learning journey that it left me feeling inspired to make the time to be creative. I will no longer say I dont have time for things as it is up to me to ‘make’ time for them.

One regret that I do have is that I did not unbox this machine when I first got it.  My lack of knowledge on how to use it left me feeling intimidated, which in turn hindered my ability to utilize it. However, what I did not realize at that time, is how easy it was to access the help I would need through online platforms. During this journey, I encountered numerous challenges that required additional research to troubleshoot the problem or situation.  Fortunately, I could  readily find solutions by utilizing online sources like YouTube, ChatGPT, Copilot, and various blogs. This class has taught me the value in having connections to the online world. I find comfort in knowing that I will always have the answers at my fingertips if I run into any future project difficulties.

Say What? I Can Make Canvas Signs Using a Cricut!

June 17, 2024 / / 1 Comment

While working on my previous project, I stumbled across a YouTube video that inspired the idea for my next learning project! The video posted below showcases a lady making a sign for her bathroom. She explains that she uses  HTV vinyl for this project. I happen to have a roll of black vinyl that I have not had the chance to use yet! Additionally, I’ve just installed some shelves in my bathroom and have been contemplating what to display on them.  A small sign will look marvelous on the shelf. Off to Dollarama I go, to find a canvas that will fit the shelf.

Upon returning home from Dollarama, I considered checking out other quotes before settling on the one featured in the video. I broadened my search to Pinterest, where you can find ideas and inspiration for everything. As I was scrolling through, I came across several funny quotes, but the one that stood out to me the most was this one shown in the picture below.

Although I am not to fond of the word “hate” I still think the sign is pretty cute and I can see my children having a good laugh over this! I went back into design space to see if I could find the same template to use. However, I had no luck finding this. I did not want to settle for a different sign so I decided to try out a new route outside of design space. During this learning project, I came across a video that was explaining the use of Canva for Cricut projects. Not knowing the exact steps, I turned to ChatGPT and asked, “how do you create a design in canva for a cricut?”

These were the results:

Step 1: Set Up Your Canva Design
  1. Open Canva: Go to Canva and log in to your account.
  2. Create a New Design: Click on “Create a design” and select “Custom size”. Enter the dimensions based on the size of your Cricut mat or the size you need for your project. Common dimensions for Cricut designs are 12″x12″ or 8.5″x11″.
Step 2: Design Your Artwork
  1. Add Elements: Use Canva’s tools to create your design. You can add shapes, text, illustrations, or import your own images.
  2. Use Vector Elements: For best results with Cricut, use vector elements as they scale without losing quality. Canva has a variety of vector shapes and icons available.
  3. Simple and Clean Design: Ensure your design is simple and clean with distinct lines, as intricate details may be difficult for the Cricut to cut.
Step 3: Prepare for Export
  1. Make Elements Solid: Ensure that any shapes or text you want to cut are solid and not transparent. Cricut needs clear paths to follow for cutting.
  2. Flatten Your Design: If you have multiple layers or elements, consider flattening your design to ensure it exports as a single layer. This can help prevent issues when importing into Cricut Design Space.
Step 4: Export Your Design
  1. Download as SVG: Cricut Design Space works best with SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files for cutting designs. In Canva, click on the “Download” button, select “SVG” as the file type, and download your design.
  2. Alternative Formats: If you don’t have a Canva Pro account (which is required for SVG export), you can download your design as a PNG with a transparent background and convert it to SVG using an online converter like Online Convert.
Step 5: Import to Cricut Design Space
  1. Open Cricut Design Space: Log in to your Cricut Design Space account.
  2. Upload Your Design: Click on “Upload”, then “Upload Image”, and select your downloaded SVG file.
  3. Prepare for Cutting:
    • Clean Up the Image: If you uploaded a PNG, use the “Select & Erase” tool to remove any unwanted backgrounds or areas.
    • Save as Cut Image: Make sure to save your image as a “Cut” image.
Step 6: Cut Your Design
  1. Insert Design onto Canvas: Select your uploaded image and insert it onto the Cricut Design Space canvas.
  2. Resize if Needed: Adjust the size of your design to fit your project.
  3. Prepare Mat: Place your material (e.g., vinyl, paper) onto the Cricut cutting mat.
  4. Send to Cricut: Click “Make It” and follow the prompts to cut your design.

These 6 steps make this process sound easy. I will attempt these steps to create my design. Practicing this in Canva will be a great step for my learning journey. If I can figure out this step, I feel it will open the doors to more personalized creativity in the future. ‘

Step 1, is posted in the picture below where I have created a blank canvas design.

In step 2, I will try to find some images of a toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper roll, quote bubbles, and emoji faces. I only have the regular membership in Canva and not the premium one so I will be limited in what photos I can find for free. This step also talks about the use of “vector images” and I have no idea what that means so I will have to do a quick google search on how to find these images within Canva. Shown below is what I have created on Canva.

 

In step 3, it talks about “flattening” your design. My design looks ‘flat’ to me but I didnt really know what this step was asking for, so I turned to google and asked, “How do you flatten a video in Canva?” This video tutorial, gives step by instructions on how to flatten your video. To my surprise, my image was not yet flattened and I needed to combine all the seperate imgages into one. The video goes on to explain how to download the image as well.

Now that my image is grouped together, I’ve proceeded to step 4, where I have encountered another obstacle. This step requires me to download my image from Canva as an SVG, but this requires the Canva Pro membership. Alternativetly, Step 4 suggests downloading as a PNG with a transparent background. However this option is limited to Canva Pro as well. I have two options now, I either scrap the whole project, or I sign up for the free 30 day trial to Canva Pro so I can complete this process. Of course I am not going to quit when I am this far in, 30 day trial it is!

Next, I followed the instructions for step 5 by uploading the image and saving it as a cut file. Now I am ready for step 6, which is to cut and see if I can successfully cut an image from a Canva creation.  After mirroring the image, I pressed the ‘Make It’ button, and it separated my image, causing the words to overlap with the emoji faces. The pictures below show what happened.

Back to google I went to figure out if this was normal to seperate all the images or if I could do something about it. Sure enough I found a video explaining that you need to highlight the image in the order you want it and select a button on the bottom of the screen that says “attach” this kept all the images in the same place when it enters the cutting step. Shown below is the aligned parts after I have attached them altogther.

Here is the progress photos after the cut as well as the finsihed product!

                     

 

The HTV vinyl did not adhere well to the canvas. Despite multiple attempts to press the vinyl in hopes of a better attachment, some areas still would not stick. Others have used a product called “mod podge,” essentially a glue painted over the top to assist the vinyl in sticking. However, since my project had only a few small areas that weren’t sticking, I decided it wasn’t necessary to use the mod podge and it would hold up just fine. Overall, I think I would do a project like this again. However, I would choose larger letters as working with those tiny letters was slightly challenging. Additionally, learning to use Canva was a valuable part of this experience, and the step-by-step instructions from ChatGPT was beneficial as well.

 

A T-Shirt for Father’s Day

June 15, 2024 / / 2 Comments

The HTV vinyl has arrived, so it is crafting time! With Father’s Day being tomorrow, I decided to create a t-shirt for my spouse as a gift.  I browsed Cricut Design Space for a suitable template. I chose a design (shown below) that aligns with his interest of fishing, making this logo an ideal match for him. I followed this blog post to help guide my project, How To Use Heat Transfer Vinyl With A Cricut Machine: A Step By Step Guide – Practically Functional.

 

With this project, I will be learning a new step by using a heat press to fasten the design onto a t-shirt. Before I can do this, I needed to research the appropriate temperature and duration for pressing the vinyl onto the fabric. I found this video on Youtube to be helpful, How to use a Heat Press I also discovered that the time and temperature differ for each project depending on the type of material you are using. The Cricut website has a heat guide where you can input the type of vinyl and material you are using and it will tell you what time and temp is needed for the heat press.

Feeling confident that I can use the heat press now, I returned to design space to start the project. I loaded the image I chose and adjusted the measurement of the design to fit the t-shirt I had. Once I was satisfied with the size of the picture I moved on to the next step of cutting the right size of HTV vinyl and placed it onto the Cricut standard size cutting mat. With this project, I remembered that I would have to mirror the image so I clicked the little button on the side that said”mirror” in order to flip my design. I also recalled from last time that I forgot to change the cutting settings so this time, I made sure it was on the vinyl cut setting before I pressed “make it” in the design space. Shown in the pictures below is the process of cutting and weeding the design.

                    

Next, it was time to prep the t-shirt. I lint rolled the shirt to get any extra fuzz and debris off. Then, I placed it into the preheated heat press and gave it a quick 4 second press to take out any moisture and wrinkles before putting on the logo. Once the shirt was de-wrinkled, I placed the vinyl logo and carrier sheet onto the shirt. I closed the press and locked the handle in place for 15 seconds allowing the vinyl time to transfer onto the shirt. When the time was up, I lifted the handle and VOILA I did it! I made my very first t-shirt using the Cricut machine, HTV vinyl, and the heat press. I am excited to gift my first t-shirt project to spouse.

Shown in the video below is the video of me pressing the shirt in the heat press.

Here is a picture of the final product.

Reflecting on my experience: I have learned from videos along the way, that when working with a HTV (heat transfer) vinyl it is either a cold peel or a hot peel. This means that after you are done pressing the logo, you either peel it right after you press and it is still hot or you wait for it to cool before you peel the sheet off. The HTV vinyl I recieved had no instructions on what type of peel it was or what temperature I should be pressing it at. When I tried to find answers online there was nothing to be found on this product. Therefore, I took a guess and decided I would cold peel it. When I attempted to peel the carrier sheet, it was stuck and was tricky to pull off. Next time I create a design, I will hot peel it and see if it makes any difference. The other troubleshooting for this could be that I either didnt press it for the appropriate amount of time.  Either way, I hope to troubleshoot this for next time to make it an easier process for myself.  Overall, I am thrilled with the end product!

 

 

 

 

 

How Many Cricut Vinyl Products Are There?

June 10, 2024 / / 2 Comments

The main reason I purchased my Cricut machine was to design t-shirts. After purchasing the Cricut, I also bought a heat press, knowing it was essential for transferring designs onto the fabric. With all the supplies I thought necessary, I began watching YouTube  and TikTok tutorials to learn the process. The tutorials frequently mentioned using iron-on or HTV vinyl, which stands for heat transfer vinyl. However, when I examined the vinyl that came with my Cricut, I found premium vinyl only. Realizing this, it seemed I needed to shop for the right materials. At Walmart, I noticed the iron on vinyl was pretty expensive for the amount of product you got in a roll. Since Walmart is the sole retailer of vinyl where I live, I opted to compare prices with Amazon.ca‘s offerings. To my surprise, I discovered more favorable deals online and proceeded to buy a package that included both black and white HTV vinyl. Pictured below is the product I purchased. The vinyl is scheduled to arrive at my doorstep June 13, 2024.

 

The variety of vinyl options at Walmart, including removable, iron-on, smart transfer, permanent, and infusible ink, etc.,  was quite overwhelming. I wondered about the uses for all these vinyls.  It seemed I would need to conduct some additional research to understand the differences. According to the cricut website, there are 213 results for vinyl materials! I decided to do a quick Google search to learn about each type of vinyl and discovered an article that details everything one needs to know about every kind of vinyl. I also came across these two cheat sheets that I find will be helpful for my future projects.

 

As I wait for the transfer vinyl to arrive, I will begin learning about the heat press and pick a design to use. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post where I’ll delve into making my first shirt.

 

 

 

 

 

All You Need Is Love & Plants

May 31, 2024 / / 7 Comments

Last week, I perfected the cutting technique on my Cricut machine by creating a floral design from cardstock paper. See the picture below for reference.

Uncertain about what to create this week, I turned to Cricut Design Space for inspiration. The platform offers a selection of free templates. However, it also encourages signing up for Cricut Access, which grants access to over 750,000 images. Initially reluctant, my inexperience with Cricut made me feel restricted. Consequently, I opted for the 30-day free trial of Cricut Access. Once the trial ends, I have the option to cancel or subscribe annually for $129.99. As I explored the vast image library on Cricut Access, a particular design caught my eye—a decal for a plant pot! (See photo below)

I clicked the ‘create’ button at the bottom of the template, and it uploaded the image into the Cricut design space. Then, I needed to determine the size required for the pot I intended to use. Lacking a physical measuring tool, I resorted to the measuring app located in the utilities section of my iPhone, which was included with the phone at purchase. Below are the photos of me digitally capturing the measurements of my plant pot.

             

After taking measurements, I returned to the design space and adjusted the dimensions to 9cm by 10cm. Then, I had to sift through the samples of vinyl included with my Cricut machine to determine the most suitable one for my project. I’ve also come across numerous mentions of “mirroring” a project, but I’m uncertain if it’s necessary in this case. I’ll need to resolve this before beginning. Upon consulting Copilot, I located a set of step-by-step instructions.

“Creating a decal for a plant pot using a Cricut machine is a fun and creative project! Here’s a simplified guide to help you get started:

  1. Design Your Decal:
  2. Prepare Your Materials:
  3. Cutting the Design:
  4. Weeding:
  5. Applying Transfer Tape:
  6. Transferring the Decal:
    • Carefully peel the transfer tape, lifting your design from the backing paper.
    • Position the decal on your plant pot and press it down firmly.
    • Slowly remove the transfer tape, leaving the decal on the pot.
  7. Finishing Touches:
    • Smooth out any bubbles and ensure the edges are well adhered.

And voilà! You’ve created a custom decal for your plant pot.”

I also came across this YouTube video that walks you through each step if you are more of a visual learner like myself, you will find this helpful. Although the project I have chosen is a bit different than the one in the video, it is still the same steps that I will need to follow.

 

In this project, I had the opportunity to work with vinyl, including weeding, applying transfer tape, and using a scraper tool to eliminate air bubbles. The process was relatively straightforward, although I neglected to adjust my machine’s settings to ‘vinyl’ as instructed in step 3. Instead, I cut with the ‘cardstock’ setting, which resulted in a deeper cut and complicated the transfer. Despite this, I managed to apply the vinyl to the tape without restarting. An unforeseen challenge was the non-flat surface of my plant pot, which made applying the vinyl quote to the ridges tricky. Overall, this project has been quite the educational experience. I’ve also produced a picture video of my project using Capcut, the tech tool I reviewed for the EDTC 300 blog post.

Pictured below is the final result of my work.

 

Understanding The Cricut Machine

May 27, 2024 / / 0 Comments

The initial phase of this learning endeavor involves unboxing the Cricut Explore Air 2 machine and acquainting oneself with its various components. My purchase (shown below) came with a bundle pack, which included all the necessary supplies and tools to commence numerous projects.

After viewing the welcome booklet, it became apparent that it lacked step-by-step guidance for operating the machine. Consequently, I sought assistance on YouTube and discovered a video titled “Unbox a Cricut Explore Air 2” which provided an in-depth explanation and setup assistance for the machine.

From this video, I learned that to use the machine, I needed to go to  cricut.com and create an account (it’s free). Next, I had to download the Cricut Design Space App. Once loaded, the program prompted me through a setup where I was to plug in the machine, turn it on, and let the machine connect to my computer. Everything seemed to be going great until it could not complete the final step. The final step in the setup was to cut a piece of cardstock paper. However, nothing happened past this point, and I got a notification that it could not connect to the cutting tool. In the video below, you will see the machine trying to work but is missing the connection for some reason.

I searched Google for troubleshooting methods and came across an article titled “How to Fix Your Cricut Explore Air 2 in Minutes With a Simple Reset.” The article described a “soft reset” as the initial step in troubleshooting the Cricut. I rebooted my computer and followed these instructions:

A soft reset allows you to restart your Explore Air 2 without erasing any saved profiles or custom settings. It’s the first method to try:

1. Press the power button to turn off your Cricut Explore Air 2.
2. Disconnect the power cord from the outlet.
3. Wait for 10-15 seconds, then reconnect the power.
4. Press the power button to turn on your Cricut again.

This quick power cycle can clear the system memory and reboot your machine for improved performance.

After restarting, I tried the cut once more and also replaced my cardstock paper in case it was contributing to the issue. To my delight, the machine began cutting! I’m so relieved that the solution was straightforward. Below is a video of my first successful cut with the Cricut.

Once the cutting process was complete, the Cricut Design software prompted me to unload the mat (the large green square mat displayed in the video). Afterward, I removed my design from the mat by following the advice given in the ‘Unbox a Cricut Explore Air 2’ video at 14:25. The image below captures my initial experience with the Cricut, where I mastered the use of the machine and executed a cardstock paper cutout.

I’m excited to enhance my creative abilities using the Cricut—more projects coming soon!

Crafting With The Cricut Machine: Introduction To My Learning Project

May 15, 2024 / / 3 Comments

For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to explore the world of creativity and design by creating my own t-shirts. However, when I first developed this idea, it was many years ago before the Cricut Machine was invented. I used to make shirts by using this special Iron on Printer Paper. I could print onto this paper from my computer printer and then iron it onto the shirt. I have made a couple of projects by doing this and it works but it does not give the results a Cricut machine would produce. After a few washes the decal, design, or picture you put on the shirt or fabric begins to crack and wear down. I have eyed the machines for a long time but never took the plunge to buy one…until last year when I finally purchased one, the Cricut Explore Air 2.

What next I asked. Not knowing how to use it, I placed it to the side and said, “I will need to find time to explore it and figure out how to work it”. The machine has now been sitting unboxed in my basement collecting dust. I am still waiting to find that “time” to pull it out and start a project. Well, there is no better time than now to finally crack open the box and explore what I can create through this learning project.

I have many ideas in mind of things I want to create, and I am looking forward to finally setting time aside to learn the ropes of becoming crafty with the Cricut. It is my goal to try something different with the machine each week. Come along with me on my learning journey where I explore many online formats that will give me inspiration for many different projects.

It is time to blow off the dust and finally try this machine out!

 

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