This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
Now that you have that pretty new Cricut Maker Machine in your home {thanks to my awesome review post from the other day!} it’s time to start making some custom iron-on projects.
But wait! You want your designs and shirts to be perfect, right? After-all… you are investing the time and materials into these craft projects. Let’s do it right from the start! That’s where this Cricut EasyPress 2 Machine Review Post from yours truly at Glued To My Crafts, comes into play today!
Sure a simple everyday iron from your laundry room is great for regular stuff but the Cricut EasyPress 2 is specifically designed for projects that involve iron-on material.
Today I’m going to walk you through on how to use this awesome machine and why it’s so important to add one to your craft collection today, especially if you are working with various iron-on vinyl materials in your crafty creations. It’s going to be iron-on success within 60 seconds or less! WHOOP WHOOP!
Before we dive into things, I just want to say I used the 12″ x 10″ sized Cricut EasyPress 2 for the purpose of this review but Cricut offers this machine in 6″ x 7″ and 9″ x 9″. You will just need to determine what size will work best for you. Ultimately it comes down to the size of your projects and what kind of storage you have. All the machines work the same – they are just offered in a few different sizes. FYI 🙂
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So let’s go over my first ever craft experience with the machine. Straight out of the box!
My first project using the Cricut EasyPress 2 Machine is actually the cloth bag that will hold my device for storage in my craft room. I think this “sample” project that came in the box {free of charge} is really clever for Cricut to include in there. Not only did I get some good practice with this particular project, while getting familiar with the machine BUT I also have a great piece to keep my machine safe from dust and any other unwanted elements from here on out.
Anyways… below is a simple run-down of how you would use your machine in a typical “iron-on project.”
I’m going to walk you through what I did to decorate my canvas bag that was provided in the box but these steps are pretty much the same for every project you will use your Cricut EasyPress 2 for {you would just need to change the temp and time but more on that later!}
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- First step. Turn on the machine – Place your device in the provided stand, plug it into your outlet and press the power up button on your EasyPress 2 machine. Easy enough, right?! Just make sure your cord is loose enough for your workspace and that the machine will reach your working area. You don’t want the cord too tight while you are working. The machine should be able to move freely, just like using a regular iron.
- Next up, set your temperature – Depending on the type of fabric, that’s where you should set the temperature at. No worries if you have no clue where to begin on this step. There are specific temperature settings and guidelines on Cricut.com to ALWAYS help you find the right one. ALWAYS refer back to the website or the directions of your iron-on material. My directions for this first project said to set my temp to 290F for my fabric bag. All I did was push the button on the machine a few times to get it there. Again, super easy and the machine took it from there!
- Get prepped – I laid out my Cricut EasyPress Mat {sold separately} flat on my working area. If you don’t have this particular mat, no worries! A large fluffy, folded bath towel works too. Lay either of them on a flat surface where you are going to be “pressing” your machine and design. Make sure it’s stable enough and there is no chance of it falling or hurting someone.
- Preheat your base material – Next I laid my drawstring bag completely flat, on the mat. I then placed my pre-heated press over it for 5 seconds to remove the wrinkles and moisture in the bag. The directions say to NEVER skip this step. This is so your design doesn’t get ironed on in a kinked or wrinkled way. Very important!
- Position your iron-on – I took the provided pre-cut Cricut design that was included in the box and placed it in the center of my drawstring bag, making sure the shiny side {clear liner} was facing up towards me.
- Time to PRESS and seal everything in – I then placed the pre-heated Cricut EasyPress 2 on top of the iron on design, started the timer on the machine {the provided directions said 30 seconds} and I applied gentle pressure until the machine beeped that the time was up. Then I lifted up my machine and place it back in the provided stand till the next step.
- Flip and repeat – The directions said to flip the bag over and heat press the reverse side of the material for an additional 15 seconds. Again, super easy. With this step, pressing both sides ensures the design sticks for the long haul. Definitely a step I never want to miss!
- The BIG finish – Using your hand, while the iron-on film still feels warm to the touch, you are going to want to test a corner of the iron-on. If the liner does not lift easily, reapply and reheat the material for a few more seconds {just repeat the steps above of placing the machine on the iron-on design.} When the vinyl doesn’t stick anymore, carefully remove the plastic liner and voila! Your new design is ready to go!
- Congratulations, you did it! Now admire your hard work and get ready for that next awesome craft project!
Overall, I’m really pleased with my new machine and I can’t wait to make more t-shirts and canvas themed gifts for myself, family members and friends! I’ve even seen on Pinterest where crafters have used their EasyPress 2 Machine on wood. Say what?! I’m hoping to give that a try really soon {and hopefully share about it with you guys as well!}
And one last thing – the end of the school year is coming up quickly so I already have tons of teacher gift ideas on the brain. Stuff that is going to stand out from the crowd. Stay tuned for that as well!
Gosh – so many new projects to tackle and I just know all my new Cricut devices & supplies are going to get the job done. Are you going to join me in this venture? I sure hope so! If you would like to purchase an EasyPress 2 Machine {or any Cricut products, especially the Maker} be sure to head to their website to check everything out!
But before you click away, let me know in the comment section below what crafty ideas you have planned with this awesome machine I showcased today. I would LOVE to hear your ideas and hopefully get inspired by you, as well!
Happy crafting, my friends! #gluedtomycrafts #cricutmade
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