Applying Vinyl To Mugs or Cups- Cricut Basics

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New to Cricut crafting and don’t know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We’re sharing everything you need to know to get started!


New to Cricut crafting and don't know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We're sharing everything you need to know to make a beautiful handmade mug from uploading the cut file, to applying vinyl that will last! #CricutCrafts #Cricut #CricutCreated #Handmade #CricutBasics #Cricut #Vinyl #handmadegift #Cricut101 #BeginnerCrafts #CuttingMachine #Crafts #CustomMugs #mugs

Hi Crafty Friends!

In less than two months my brand new book, The Unofficial Book of Cricut Crafts: The Ultimate Guide to Your Electric Cutting Machine will be hitting book stores and craft stores. I’m so excited and can hardly wait!

In the book I walk readers through every step of using your Cricut cutting machine– from deciding what machine to buy, to setting it up, to learning how to use Cricut Design Space. I show you how to make 40 awesome projects (cut files included) with your Cricut using 8 of the most popular Cricut cutting materials. My goal in doing this was to help readers build their Cricut confidence. I teach readers how to use each of the materials in a multitude of ways so that they can feel confident going forward and creating brand new projects of their own. For example in my chapter on iron-on I share how to apply HTV to shirts, paper, wood, canvas and pillowcases.

The Unofficial Book of Cricut Crafts: The Ultimate Guide to Your Electric Cutting Machine by Crystal Allen

I feel so proud of the book, and love that it can be used by Cricut users all the way from beginners to advanced.

Cricut is just about my favorite thing in the whole wide world to talk about, and I’ve been getting a lot of emails recently from people who have just purchased their Cricut and feeling overwhelmed about where to start with projects. For all of those amazing readers I’ve decided to create a Cricut Basics series to help you learn step by step how to create some of the most popular Cricut craft projects.

First up we are going to learn all about applying vinyl to mugs and cups.

If you are new to the Cricut family, here are a few of my favorite supplies that I recommend for when doing vinyl projects. Get more information and shop by clicking on each image:

For mugs or anything that’s going to get washed you are going to want to make sure you use a permanent vinyl. You will also need transfer tape to transfer your design.

I would also suggest in investing in a Cricut Tool Set for weeding and a scraper for getting your vinyl to stick to first the transfer tape and then your projects.

I also love having Cricut Cutting Mats in both the 12X12 and 12X24 sizes for ease of creating different sizes of projects.

Ready to get started? Let’s learn all about applying vinyl to mugs and cups!

Applying Vinyl To Mugs and Cups

First things first, you may want to grab the cut file for this cute Mug Love project! I’m including the cut files with LOVE in two different fonts. I’m also going to give you an SVG and a PNG because we’re going to learn how to upload both!

Enter your name and email address below and I’ll send the cut file immediately straight to your inbox. Accessing this free cut file will register you up for my e-newsletter and you’ll be notified when I release new free SVG files. Don’t worry if you are already subscribed to our enewsletter. You will only be subscribed once.

 

Get Your Free SVG Here!

Enter your email address below and we’ll send this free SVG straight to your inbox!

Thank you for subscribing! Hop on over to your email! I just sent you this free cut file!
  • This cut file is for personal use only. 
  • This file can be used in part or in whole for your personal projects.
  • Digital reselling, sharing, redistributing of the files is NOT allowed. If you would like to share, please direct friends to the original blog post where you found this cut file.

You have two basic ways for bringing a design you want cut to life using your Cricut:

  • Upload a design that you have designed yourself, or downloaded from someone else.
  • Use a design from within Cricut Design Space whether that’s a design you create yourself within the program, a design you purchase from Cricut or a design you get for free through Cricut Access.

Below I’m showing you how to upload and SVG, PNG and JPG to Cricut Design Space.

How To Upload an SVG to Cricut Design Space

  • Click on Upload in the left-hand toolbar of Design Space.
  • Click Upload Image, then select your cut file from your computer.
  • With an SVG file, the designer has already done all the work of creating different layers and telling the design file where to cut. All you need to do now is name your design and save it! Cricut also allows you to create tags for your design so that you can find it easily in the future.
  • After you save your image, you’ll be taken to a screen where you see all of the images that you have uploaded. Click the image you would like to use and then click Insert Image.

How To Upload a PNG to Cricut Design Space

  • Click on Upload in the left-hand toolbar. 
  • Click Upload Image, then select your cut file from your computer. 
  • Choose whether your design is simple, moderately complex, or complex. For most designs, I find that simple works fine for most designs unless you are planning a Print and Cut project. Click Continue.
  • If your PNG has a transparent background, then the work will all be done for selecting the areas that you want cut. If not you will have to click in all the white areas where you don’t want your design to be.
  • Click Continue and then save your image as a cut file. After you save your image, you’ll be taken to a screen where you see all the images that you have uploaded. Click the image you would like to use and then click Insert Image.

How To Upload a JPG to Cricut Design Space

  • Click on Upload in the left-hand toolbar.
  • Click Upload Image, then select your cut file from your computer.
  • Choose whether your design is simple, moderately complex, or complex. For most designs, I find that simple works fine unless I want to use it as a Print and Cut image. Click Continue.
  • Click on the areas of the image that you want to remove. Since the background isn’t transparent, you will need to tell the Cricut where to cut. 
  • In this case, of the photo above I clicked on the area to the outside of the design, then started clicking on the white spaces inside of the hand signing the letter A. You would want to do this with all of the white spaces so inside each hand, each piece of finger, and the letters in DREAM.
  • Click the Preview button to see what your cut file will look like and to make sure you haven’t missed any areas. Click Hide Preview to go back to the regular view.
  • Click Continue and then save your image as a cut file.
  • After you save your image, you’ll be taken to a screen where you can see all the images that you have uploaded. Click the image you would like to use and then click Insert Image.

Now that you know how to get your design into Design Space, let’s get started with our project!

New to Cricut crafting and don't know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We're sharing everything you need to know to make a beautiful handmade mug from uploading the cut file, to applying vinyl that will last! #CricutCrafts #Cricut #CricutCreated #Handmade #CricutBasics #Cricut #Vinyl #handmadegift #Cricut101 #BeginnerCrafts #CuttingMachine #Crafts #CustomMugs #mugs

How To Apply Vinyl To A Mug Or Cup

Keyword cricut, cups, mugs, vinyl

Instructions

  • Log into Cricut Design Space and either create a design, select a design from Cricut Access or upload a design using cut file upload instructions above.
    New to Cricut crafting and don't know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We're sharing everything you need to know to make a beautiful handmade mug from uploading the cut file, to applying vinyl that will last! #CricutCrafts #Cricut #CricutCreated #Handmade #CricutBasics #Cricut #Vinyl #handmadegift #Cricut101 #BeginnerCrafts #CuttingMachine #Crafts #CustomMugs #mugs
  • Measure the space on your mug or cup where you want to place your design. Size your design accordingly by clicking on the design and using either the arrow that appears in the bottom right hand corner of the box or the size tool in the top toolbar.
    New to Cricut crafting and don't know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We're sharing everything you need to know to make a beautiful handmade mug from uploading the cut file, to applying vinyl that will last! #CricutCrafts #Cricut #CricutCreated #Handmade #CricutBasics #Cricut #Vinyl #handmadegift #Cricut101 #BeginnerCrafts #CuttingMachine #Crafts #CustomMugs #mugs
  • Click Make It. Set your cutting material to the type of vinyl you are using. Lay vinyl on your  cutting mat with the color side facing up. Load your cutting mat into your Cricut using the arrow on the right hand side of your Cricut. Once your mat is loaded, look for the Cricut C to start flashing, press the button and your machine will start cutting. When your machine finishes cutting press the arrow again and your mat will unload.
  • Weed your vinyl, removing the excess vinyl around your design and inside each letter leaving just the design behind on the white paper backing.
    New to Cricut crafting and don't know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We're sharing everything you need to know to make a beautiful handmade mug from uploading the cut file, to applying vinyl that will last! #CricutCrafts #Cricut #CricutCreated #Handmade #CricutBasics #Cricut #Vinyl #handmadegift #Cricut101 #BeginnerCrafts #CuttingMachine #Crafts #CustomMugs #mugs
  • Cut a piece of transfer tape a tiny bit bigger than your vinyl decal. Peel the tape off of the backing and lay it on top of your decal. Use your scraper tool to rub over top of the transfer tape, pushing the tape against the vinyl. Peel the transfer tape up, lifting your vinyl away from the paper backing.
    New to Cricut crafting and don't know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We're sharing everything you need to know to make a beautiful handmade mug from uploading the cut file, to applying vinyl that will last! #CricutCrafts #Cricut #CricutCreated #Handmade #CricutBasics #Cricut #Vinyl #handmadegift #Cricut101 #BeginnerCrafts #CuttingMachine #Crafts #CustomMugs #mugs
  • Carefully position and then lay the transfer tape onto your mug or cup. Run your scraper over the transfer tape pushing the vinyl onto the mug. Carefully peel away the transfer tape leaving the design behind on your mug. If the vinyl starts to lift, use your scraper to push it down then peel the transfer tape away again.
    New to Cricut crafting and don't know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We're sharing everything you need to know to make a beautiful handmade mug from uploading the cut file, to applying vinyl that will last! #CricutCrafts #Cricut #CricutCreated #Handmade #CricutBasics #Cricut #Vinyl #handmadegift #Cricut101 #BeginnerCrafts #CuttingMachine #Crafts #CustomMugs #mugs
  • Allow the vinyl on your mug to cure for 48 hours and then you can start using it! I suggest hand washing your mug for longevity of the vinyl!
    New to Cricut crafting and don't know where to start? Applying vinyl to mugs and cups is a great beginner Cricut Craft project! We're sharing everything you need to know to make a beautiful handmade mug from uploading the cut file, to applying vinyl that will last! #CricutCrafts #Cricut #CricutCreated #Handmade #CricutBasics #Cricut #Vinyl #handmadegift #Cricut101 #BeginnerCrafts #CuttingMachine #Crafts #CustomMugs #mugs

Notes

Pro Crafter Tip: Putting vinyl onto a curved surface like a mug can be tricky to do without getting bubbles. I have two tips to make it easier.
-Keep your designs small. You’re going to have much more luck putting something like a font that has “white space” between the letters on a mug than a big piece of solid vinyl that will get wrinkles in it as it lays around the curve.

-Clip your transfer tape around the design to give more room for your vinyl to move and lay down nicely.

Love this project?Follow @hellocreativef for even more fun party ideas!

And there you have it! Everything you need to know to apply vinyl to a mug or cup! Got a question? Pop it in the comments and I’ll get back to you asap!

Tell me… What kind of projects or subjects would you like to see me cover in a Cricut Basics series?

Like this Cricut Basics post on applying vinyl to mugs or cups? I’d love for you to pin it for later so other people can discover it who would find it useful too!

Looking for the cut files found in this above photos? The No Talkie Before Coffe and Tea Is Like A Hug In A Mug both come for free with my book The Unofficial Book of Cricut Crafts: The Ultimate Guide to Your Electric Cutting Machine. Click on the images below to be taken to find the other cut files.

Need HTV, Vinyl and other craft supplies to make all your amazing Cricut (or Silhouette) creations? Click here for the best prices on Cricut cutting machines, bundles, iron-On, vinyl, cardstock and more!

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One Comment

  1. This was so helpful when I started and is still so helpful to this day everytie I second guess something thank youQ