Easy DIY patriotic signs or door hanger using your Cricut and some vinyl. Perfect for 4th of July or Memorial Day
Warmer weather means summer is on the way, and for me that means pulling out red, white, and blue decor. In this tutorial I’ll show you how to transform a blank wooden United States cutout into a patriotic door hanger using a Cricut and some vinyl. It’s a simple project that makes a bold, festive statement for the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or any time you want to celebrate.
This post is part of the monthly Craft & Create with Cricut series, where bloggers share themed projects. This month’s theme is patriotism. Read to the end to discover a dozen more patriotic craft ideas from fellow bloggers.
What you’ll need
- Blank wooden United States cutout
- Red and blue vinyl (Oracle 361 recommended)
- Transfer tape (preferably gridded for easier alignment)
- Cricut machine (Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker)
- Scraper tool or a credit card to smooth vinyl
- Let Freedom Ring design space file
Measure
Start by measuring your wooden sign before you open Design Space. Knowing the exact dimensions helps you size your design correctly and ensures the final layout fits the cutout. If you’d like to use the exact design I used, it is available as a Design Space project file.
Cutting Vinyl
When you’re ready to cut, click the green “Make It” button in Design Space. I attached the red layers and the words “Let” and “ring” together so they hold their relative positions when cut. The word “freedom” is cut from blue vinyl. Arrange the vinyl on the mat the same way Design Space shows so you can cut multiple colors on one mat. Set your machine dial to the vinyl setting and proceed to cut.
Weeding Vinyl
After the vinyl is cut, remove the excess material around your design — this process is called weeding. Take your time to remove small pieces inside letters and around edges so the final design looks clean.
Transfer Tape
Transfer tape is used to lift and transfer your vinyl to the wood sign. I prefer gridded transfer tape because the grid lines help keep text straight. Here’s a helpful tip: adhere the transfer tape to the red vinyl first and use your scraper tool to press it down. Then, with the same piece of transfer tape, line up and apply the blue “freedom” word on top. Scrape again, then lift the transfer tape away from the backing. This method lets you position both colors together so they align with the lockup you designed in Design Space.
Vinyl your sign
Carefully place the transfer tape and vinyl onto the wooden map. Don’t press it down completely until you’ve confirmed the placement and alignment. Use a ruler if you need precise positioning. Once it’s correctly placed, use the scraper tool to firmly adhere the vinyl to the wood. Peel back the transfer tape slowly and your design will remain on the sign.
Now you have a striking patriotic sign to hang on your front door or display with your other July Fourth decorations. I originally considered adding stripes to the USA map, but I love how the white stands out against my yellow door. I also added small flags to my window boxes for extra patriotic flair.
This month I teamed up with 11 other bloggers to create patriotic Cricut projects. Below are the contributors and their project titles so you can explore more ideas from the same theme.
Weekend Craft • DoodleCraft • Upright and Caffeinated • Create & Babble • Refresh Restyle • Cookies, Crafts and Coffee • seeLINDSAY • The Inspiration Vault • The How-To Home • Our Crafty Mom • Real Girls Realm • Dragonfly & Lily Pads