I Never Knew My Cricut Could Applique!

I honestly think that I'm one of the only people in the world that has never used my Cricut for scrapbooking. It's just not my thing. I've also never used it for vinyl. I intend to, and I actually own vinyl in many colors, I just haven't gotten around to it. This may lead you to wonder, "If you don't use it for scrapbooking or vinyl cutouts, then what do you use it for?". Well, to this, I have to say - the possibilities are just about endless; but the main thing I use my Cricut Create (not to be confused with the big, beautiful one you see on the infomercials), for is to embellish canvas items, t-shirts, and home decor items (or whatever else you can think of).

This can be done in many ways, and one of my favorites is to cut applique pieces using fabric and fusible web. My favorite is the Heat 'n' Bond No-Sew.

{Note: If you're a whiz with the sewing machine (which I'm most definitely not), you may choose the sew-able version so that you can run a zig zag stich around your applique, but I haven't yet. This may be because I'm using an old Kenmore sewing machine from the 70's}

Anyway, back to the topic at hand:

1.You'll want to pre-wash the both the applique fabric and the item you're embellishing if it's going to be washed, but for most home decor projects you don't need to worry about it.

2. Iron the fusible web onto the applique fabric, following the directions on the package.

3. Cut a rectangle of fabric to the size of your Cricut mat, stick it on (paper side down), and go ahead and make the cut! You'll want to use the deepest setting on your blade, but you don't need a deep cut blade to make this work.

4. Peel off your applique shape, take off the paper backing (if it's still on!), and iron your applique to the item you're embellishing, again according to the manufacturer's instructions.

5. Pat yourself on the back, because, Baby - you're done.