Sunday, July 24, 2011

How do you do that???

I love to hear from fellow teachers!!
If you ever have a question about what you see here on my blog, in my pictures or what or how I do things in my classroom, PLEASE don't hesitate to ask. :)


Lately, I have had a lot of questions about these:




How do you do that????
First, I have to say that I can not take credit for these ingenious ideas!  I first created a Clipboard tub for a dear friend at school and I made a version of these cute pencil cans for some of my favorite customers at Carrollton Elementary in Carrollton, GA.  They found these cute square containers in the Target Dollar Spot last summer.  After I made these things for others, I had to have my own set!! 
O.K - so back to the question 
How do you do that???
O.K - I will share my secrets... :)
If you have 
Cricut Expression
or
Silhouette 
and

Self Adhesive Vinyl
then you can do it too!!!
It is so easy and it just adds that extra something special  to your things in your classroom and 
at home!
You can do things like:

or


or


or



Now that I have shared me secret, I hope that it has inspired some of you to break out your Cricut or Silhouette and use it!!! :)

My long time friend Leigh(One of those awesome teachers at Carrollton Elementary) over at Precious Perks is featuring some of the things I have made for her classroom.  Check it out for some more ideas!!  

43 comments:

  1. I have a Cricut but have never used it with vinyl. I've wanted to for awhile though. I actually bought the vinyl yesterday. I'm a little scared I'll mess it up! Do you use the transfer paper? I bought some of that too, but honestly don't know what I'm doing. You're stuff is really cute!
    Just Add Clipart

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  2. DON'T BE SCARED!!!!! :) Yes! You will use transfer tape. :) I will email you with more info!! :)

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  3. I absolutely LOVE your things!! I also wondered how you did all of your cute polka dots and got them so even!! I've never tried the vinyl, but I'll have to try it now!! Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Love it! I do not have a cricut but that's next on my purchase list! :) Do you think the scrapbook vinyl letters will work? I need to do something in the meantime. :/

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  5. I just got a cricut!! I have been pinning vinyl things like crazy! I haven't cut any vinyl yet. I need to find somewhere that tells me what settings work best for vinyl Do you mind me asking where you usually buy your vinyl.
    Tammy
    Live Love Laugh Everyday In Kindergarten

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  6. Oh, one more question...do use a cricut or silhouette? If you use cricut what are the fonts that you are using...TOO CUTE!!
    Tammy
    Live Love Laugh Everyday In Kindergarten

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  7. Ms. Morales - not sure about the the scrap booking letters, but I'm sure it would be worth a try!

    Tammy - I buy my vinyl from http://www.vinylsuperstore.com/ - she has great prices and ships super quick!!

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  8. Tammy - I use a cricut but if I had to do it again, I would buy a Silhouette! I use the program Sure Cuts Alot but I think that program is not available anymore. This program allows me to use any of my TTF fonts on my computer and any svg file. With The Silhouette I'm pretty sure you don't have to have another program - it allows you to use your fonts and what not- I have not done a lot a research on them so this is just what I have read!! :)

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  9. Ashley, are you taking new orders now? I saw on your shop that you were not accepting orders at the moment, or while you were getting ready for school. If you are I am ready to order up some cuteness. If not let me know when you are ready. :)

    Ms. M
    Ms.M's Blog
    A Teacher's Plan

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  10. Another question: Does Silhouette print out and cut the pictures in color or does it cut it out from the colored card stock? I'm trying to decide whether to buy a Silhouette or Cricut.
    Thanks! :)

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  11. Ms. Morales - not sure about all of the Silhouette's capabilities!

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  12. Wow...do you live in GA? I did some of my student teaching at Carrollton Elementary! What a small world! I too have a cricut expression and LOVE it. I love seeing your ideas and plan on "borrowing" some of them for my classroom this year.

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  13. ahhh!!! Such crafty people!!! LOVE IT!! LOVE the blog too!!

    Sarah Hetrick
    www.mrshetrick.com

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  14. Holly - I do live in GA - Henry County. I have a long time friend who works at Carrollton Elementary!! :) Borrow away girl!!!!!!!! :)

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  15. Awesome! I am in Coweta. I visited your friend's blog and love it! :)

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  16. Love it! Now I guess I need to add the cricut to my list of things I want! :)

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  17. I sell Uppercase Living, which is a specialty vinyl company and you've just given me some great ideas. Too cute!

    Laura
    Kinder Kraziness

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  18. Sooo cute! I was wondering how you did this all those super cute projects.
    :)☼Libby
    Dual Kinder Teacher

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  19. I am a new follower thanks to all these cute items I have seen floating around on Pinterest. I have a Cricut but not a Cricut Expressions. Do you think I can do this on a regular Cricut?? BTW, I heard they have super cheap vinyl sheets at Walmart.
    Peace, Mel D
    Oh the Places We’ll Go

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  20. Oh wow! Thanks for sharing! I have a Cricut machine....but I'm so scared of it! I really don't know what I am doing. Would you mind e-mailing me about vinyl paper (okay, I don't know what that is either!!!). Thanks for helping a clueless teacher when it comes to the Cricut!

    Ѽ Alessia
    Mrs. Albanese’s Kindergarten Class

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  21. These are AWESOME!!! I'm definitely adding a Silhouette to my wish list.

    ❀Jodi
    Fun In First

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  22. So glad I read this. I will be on the look-out for vinyl. I saw someone comment about transfer tape, so I will be getting some of that as well. Wish me luck! I am not too crafty.

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  23. I have a Silhouette - I just got it and haven't had a ton of time to play around with it, but I bought it because you connect it to your computer and can use all the fonts and clip art from your computer. You will never need to buy a cartridge! There is an option where you can print (from your regular printer) and then send it through the silhouette to cut it, but I haven't tried that yet. Lettering delights has some basic cutting files that you can use with the silhouette too - I haven't figured out yet how to convert them yet (no time!) but I have made a post about it on my blog!

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  24. Ashley, I love all of your ideas. I too am scared to try the vinyl on my Cricut! BTW, what is transfer paper? Is there a tutorial you recommend? I would love to vinyl everything in my home and classroom :) Thanks for all of your ideas!
    Tara
    3rd Grade's A Charm

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  25. Mel - Yes, you can still do it even if you do not have a Cricut Expression!! I have only seen vinyl sold in the rolls at Walmart - and it is only matte - I like to have the glossy too!! :)

    Tara - Transfer paper is what you need to transfer your word or whatever to the surface you want your word in - you lay/press it on top of your word and when you pull it up the whole word comes up and you are able to transfer it to where you want it! :)

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  26. Alessia - I could not find your email address but the vinyl paper are sheets are self adhesive vinyl - kinda like stickers - that can be cut by your cricut!! :)

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  27. I am thinking of buying a silhouette!! What are the benefits of a silhouette? Thanks for sharing your cute products!!

    Miss J

    smilescrayonsandendlessstories

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  28. I had already pinned several of these photos on pinterest but had not started following your blog until today! Thank you so much for sharing your "secrets"! I have a Cricut Expression (got it for Christmas) and I haven't quite mastered using it yet! I love your ideas!! Again, Thanks for sharing!! :)

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  29. You have inspired me to use my Cricut Expression with something besides cardstock!!! I love what you have created and can't wait to experiment with vinyl. Do I need both the vinyl and the transfer paper for this to work? Thanks for the info. on where to buy the vinyl.

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  30. I bought myself a Cricut this year but I must admit that it intimidates me just a bit! I have done a few things on it but the vinyl scares me too, Lauren. I would love any helpful hints you might have :)

    Thanks for sharing :)

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  31. Does anyone use the Cricut personal size machine? I am interested in trying one out but I do not have a lot of background knowledge on them. I am learning from all of you! Thanks for your help! :)

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  32. You should check out Courtney Lane Designs
    http://courtney-lane.blogspot.com/2011/07/cutting-fabric-with-cricut.html

    She has GREAT cricut tutorials. Her latest post shows you how to cut material with your cricut!!

    Tammy
    Live Love Laugh Everyday In Kindergarten

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  33. Thank you so much sharing! You've inspired me to purchase a Cricut. There is a lot to it. Ideally, I would have preferred to buy the MacDaddy Silhouette (especially when I saw all of the cute things I could make from Lettered Delights) but I couldn't afford it. Michaels had the little Cricut on sale for $50. I played with it today using scrap paper and it was so much fun! I'm still a little nervous about messing up the vinyl though. I'll see tomorrow!! Thanks again!

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  34. Oh I'm so excited! I have been iffy about vinyl but not anymore! This summer I've been using the heat'n'bond and ironing it on the back of fabric and then cutting out fabric for my classroom (such as the letters for my word wall - which is also fabric). Also, if you are looking to paint anything that requires a stencil you can use "Freezer Paper" (they sell it by the wax paper and foil) and put letters out of that. Then iron on the outside part onto fabric and it sticks right on and you can then paint the inside. Once the paint is dry, it peels right off! It's so easy! :)

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  35. Ashley - I just got a Cricut but am scared to use it and what I want to use it with is the vinyl. I was thinking I just peel it off and it sticks, no? I have to use this transfer stuff?? I saw a school where they put quotes on their walls and stuff using the vinyl, do I have to use transfer tape for that? Help!
    Lessons Learned

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  36. Sydney! You are cracking me up!!! I can't find your email address anywhere so drop me a line at ashleynichols1@mac.com and I wil help you!!!!!! :)

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  37. Hi Ashley! I just stumbled across your blog and have been perousing for an embarrassingly long time! :) Your ideas are super cute! Thanks for all you share.

    I literally just opened my Cricut tonight! I got a Cricut Expression after seeing all the adorable ideas on Pinterest and Teaching Blogs! Could you also email me with some tips about the Vinyl? I am totally confused...I was also under the impression that you could just stick the vinyl cut outs onto your project like a sticker!

    Thanks SO much in advance - you are so sweet to take the time to help all of us out! :)

    Amanda
    anfletch@mac.com

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  38. Hi! I am new to cricut! I work for an elementary school in S.C. and no one here knows how to use it. I am teaching myself as I go. I can not find a tutorial on how to use transfer paper. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I love what you have been able to make with yours!
    wplayer@lexington1.net

    Wendy

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  39. I too have a Cricut and am a little intimidated. I have practiced with contact paper that I got from the dollar store. I'm wondering if I use the adhesive backed vinyl sheets, and I want to put a name on a cup, will I still need the transfer stuff, or will the adhesive already on it work?

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  40. Hello, I love your polka dot clipboard storage pail. I just wanted to let you know that I will be posting a pic of it for my Fantabulous Friday inspiration post on the Fantabulous Cricut blog. Come check it out on friday.
    http://scrapqueen141.blogspot.com/

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  41. Would love to know where you found the bucket for the clipboard idea?

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