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Looking for some fun and easy, beginner level Cricut projects to make? In this post, I’m sharing two easy Cricut projects for Christmas that are great for beginners!
One of my favorite things to do around the holidays is make DIY craft projects, both for home decor and gifts. And one of my favorite tools to use is my Cricut Joy machine.
This is the perfect cutting machine for beginners. It’s so easy to learn how to use, and you can make so many different projects with this one machine!
In this post, I’ll show you how to use the Cricut Joy to make two fun and easy Christmas crafts. And we are keeping things budget friendly by using items from Dollar Tree!
Easy Cricut Projects for Christmas Gifts with Dollar Tree Items
I’ll show you how to make this Merry Christmas bucket that makes the perfect gift basket, and this Cookies for Santa plate that you can fill up with fresh cookies for a super sweet gift.
And you know I shopped Dollar Tree for the bucket and plate, so these projects are super frugal!
About the Cricut Joy:
If you have ever been intimated by crafting or using a cutting machine, you will love how simple and easy the Cricut Joy is to use. You don’t need to have any experience or knowledge to use this machine!
The Cricut Joy is the perfect cutting machine for beginners, or anyone who wants to expand their craft arsenal to make more awesome projects.
You can make so many crafts with the Cricut Joy. The ideas are truly endless.
And I really love the compact size, so you can tote it with you and craft on the go. How fun would a girl’s crafting night be?
You can get your own Cricut Joy right here.
Cricut has so many inspiration projects and articles to help you get started making different projects, too. They really make it so fun and easy! Your hardest choice might be deciding what project to make first!
Supplies Needed:
Dollar Tree has a great selection of buckets, plates, mugs, cups, water bottles, and other items that are the perfect blank canvas to add personalization with a Cricut vinyl.
Check your store to see what you can find to dress up with your very own Cricut creations!
You’ll also see that you need the same materials for both projects, so you can easily and affordably make them both!
Supplies Needed for the Merry Christmas Bucket:
Red plastic bucket from Dollar Tree
Christmas ribbon
Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl in White (I used permanent)
Supplies Needed for the Cookies for Santa Plate:
Red plate from Dollar Tree
Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl Permanent in White
*Alternatively, if you find (or already have) a cute white plate, you can use red and/or green vinyl for a different look.
Step by Step Cricut Joy Tutorials:
Use the below step by step tutorials for each project to walk you through how to make these easy projects with your Cricut Joy.
Directions for the Merry Christmas Bucket:
1. Open Cricut Design Space.
To start a new project, open Cricut Design Space. (When you get your new Cricut machine, instructions are included to set this up. It’s very quick and easy.)
2. Click New Project.
Click the icon to start a new project.
3. Click the icon to add text.
In the left sidebar, click the text icon to add a text box.
4. Type your text.
For this craft, type Merry Christmas, or whatever word or phrase you would like to add to your bucket.
5. Choose a font.
Select a font from the drop down menu. I chose DonJuan for this project.
There are many free fonts included. You can also purchase individual fonts, or get access to hundreds of fonts and images with Cricut Access.
6. Resize your text box.
Measure the space on your bucket where you want to apply the vinyl. Then, resize your text box by dragging the corner and using the line grid on Design Space.
My text is about 8 inches long for this design.
7. Click Make It.
Once you have made your text font and size selection, you are ready to click make it.
Select with mat, or without mat, and then either place your smart vinyl (vinyl side up) directly into the Cricut Joy, or cut a piece of vinyl and place it on the cutting mat and into the machine.
If you are using Smart Vinyl, you don’t have to use a cutting mat.
If you are using regular vinyl, you will need to use a cutting mat (included with your Cricut Joy).
Click continue and select the material you are using.
8. Place the Smart Vinyl in the Cricut Joy machine.
9. Click Go.
Once your material is loaded, click go to begin cutting. The machine will do all the work – just sit back and enjoy. Once the design is cut, click unload on the computer to unload the vinyl.
10. Weed the design.
Once your design is cut out, you are ready to remove the excess vinyl material from your design. You can use the weeder from the tool kit to help you with this step.
11. Use transfer tape to apply your design.
Cut a piece of transfer tape about the same size as your design. Peel the backing, and place the tape on top of your design.
Use the scraper firmly on the front and back of the design with the transfer tape attached to make sure it sticks well.
12. Apply and smooth.
You are ready to apply your design!
Gently peel the vinyl paper backing from the transfer tape. The vinyl design should stick to the transfer tape only.
Carefully apply your design to the bucket, and smooth again with the scraper.
13. Peel the transfer tape.
Carefully peel away the transfer tape and your design will be in place on your bucket.
Tip: Place the used transfer tape back on the backing to save it for another project!
14. Add a Christmas bow.
If you’d like, you can add a Christmas bow or ribbon.
For a great gift basket, fill it will goodies from the dollar store. You could make a candy or snack basket, a spa basket, a craft basket, or fill it with homemade goodies.
Directions for the Cookies for Santa Plate:
1. Open Cricut Design Space.
To start a new project, open Cricut Design Space. (When you get your new Cricut machine, instructions are included to set this up. It’s very quick and easy.)
2. Click New Project.
Click the icon to start a new project.
3. Click the icon to add text.
In the left sidebar, click the text icon to add a text box.
4. Type your text.
For this craft, type Cookies for Santa, or whatever word or phrase you would like to add to your plate.
5. Choose a font and center align the text.
Select a font from the drop down menu. I chose Chip Decor – Chipboard for this project. You can also center align the text from the top toolbar.
There are many free fonts included. You can also purchase individual fonts, or get access to hundreds of fonts and images with Cricut Access.
6. Resize your text box.
Measure the space on your plate where you want to apply the vinyl. Then, resize your text box by dragging the corner and using the line grid on Design Space.
My text is about 4 inches long and 4 inches wide for this design.
7. Click Make It.
Once you have made your text font and size selection, you are ready to click make it.
Select with mat, or without mat, and then either place your smart vinyl (vinyl side up) directly into the Cricut Joy, or cut a piece of vinyl and place it on the cutting mat and into the machine.
If you are using Smart Vinyl, you don’t have to use a cutting mat.
If you are using regular vinyl, you will need to use a cutting mat (included with your Cricut Joy).
Click continue and select the material you are using.
8. Place the Smart Vinyl in the Cricut Joy machine.
9. Click Go.
Once your material is loaded, click go to begin cutting. The machine will do all the work – just sit back and enjoy. Once the design is cut, click unload on the computer to unload the vinyl.
10. Weed the design.
Once your design is cut out, you are ready to remove the excess vinyl material from your design. You can use the weeder from the tool kit to help you with this step.
11. Use transfer tape to apply your design.
Cut a piece of transfer tape about the same size as your design. Peel the backing, and place the tape on top of your design.
Use the scraper firmly on the front and back of the design with the transfer tape attached to make sure it sticks well.
12. Apply and smooth.
You are ready to apply your design!
Gently peel the vinyl paper backing from the transfer tape. The vinyl design should stick to the transfer tape only.
Carefully apply your design to the bucket, and smooth again with the scraper.
13. Peel the transfer tape.
Carefully peel away the transfer tape and your design will be in place on your plate.
Tip: Place the used transfer tape back on the backing to save it for another project!
14. Add polka dots.
If you would like, you can follow the steps above to create vinyl dots you can apply as polka dots around the place.
Instead of adding text, add a shape, select circle, resize it, and click duplicate to copy the dot over and over. I cut about 25 dots.
I had a few polka dots left over, so I added two to my bucket on each side of the font.
You can use your Cookies for Santa plate with your family every Christmas, or fill it up with fresh cookies for a sweet gift!
I hope the step by step tutorials above show you how easily you can get started making your own creations.
The Cricut Joy really is the perfect beginner machine to start making your own home decor and gift items. And once you get started, I think you might become addicted to Cricut crafting!
Check Dollar Tree or your local dollar stores to see what blank items you can use for your Cricut crafts. Look for mugs, buckets, plates, glasses, water bottles, or make up bags!
Have so much fun crafting! I can’t wait to see your creations!
I’ve got my eye on making some faux leather earrings next! 😉
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