Merry & Bright Cushion – NEW Cricut Infusible Ink Blanks!

I studied Printed Textile Design at Loughborough University - and I miss the old days of being in the print room. Mixing the dyes, calculating the fabric steaming requirements, preparing screen prints. Designing! Even thinking about the 'smell' of the print room brings back warm memories.

But, this year - I discovered something new. Infusible Ink from Cricut*. I could wax lyrical about it all day! As much as I work closely with the Cricut brand - I don't HAVE to say or post anything. Infusible Ink is obviously very different to screen printing - but, the same 'feelings' are there - of seeing great results, quickly. I am simply amazed at the professional, bright and vibrant results you can achieve AT HOME! I can come up with an idea and within a couple of hours from logging in to my Cricut Design Space, using my Cricut Maker to cut out my ideas, and then it is straight on to a Cricut Blank using my Easypress. The ink transfers straight IN to the fabric. It doesn't sit on the top, it is embedded inside for a smooth and seamless finish. MAGIC!

You do need to use the Official Cricut blanks - you can 'try' with non official blanks, but it may or may not work... the Cricut blanks have something 'magic' in them that absorbs the dye. I am not just saying that - I know this from experience!

Anyway, until today there has been a few 'official' blanks available - t-shirts, bags, coasters - but now there are some NEW blanks! CUSHION COVERS! Cosmetic bags, new wine bags too... and a load of new Infusible Ink transfer sheet colours. I have wanted the cushion cover blanks particularly ever since I started working with Cricut. This is a game changer!!

So, now that I have my hands on these new very exciting blanks - I decided to make a new festive cushion!

Here's how...

Merry & Bright Cushion

Tools:

Cricut Maker**

Cricut Easypress**

Cricut Easypress Mat**

Cricut Weeding Tools**

A dinner plate (optional)

Materials:

Cushion Blank

Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets**

Metallic Vinyl (optional)

How to:

Using my Cricut Maker**, I found a 'leaf' shape on the Cricut Design Space App. I cut this out in several sizes, in several different green transfer sheets, and also some little red berries (just little circles) too.

I cut out 'Merry & Bright' in the Infusible Ink black transfer sheet using 'Magnolia Sky' font that I purchased separately and installed the TrueType font on to my laptop. I just love this calligraphy style! Don't forget to use the 'Mirror' option to make sure your font comes out correctly when you press it!

I cut the 'Merry & Bright' out in the centre of the transfer sheet - and then, I peeled back the rest of the black transfer sheet not required using my weeding tools to reveal the font in the middle, and the large sticky transfer sheet behind. I then laid this down on a dinner plate to act as a guide to create my 'circle' wreath! Next, I just got creative placing the different leaves all round the edge and a scattering of the red berries!

It was only at this point, I realised that my design was far too big for my Easypress**! (Silly me.) So, I actually then cut the wreath design up into sections and following the Cricut Heat Guide, I followed the full instructions how to transfer on to my cushion design in several different stages. I made sure to have plenty of 'butcher paper' that comes with the transfer sheets (baking/greaseproof style paper) to make sure the design was protected when lining up each section and pressing the different areas. Sometimes if you heat the area with the design twice, you can remove some of the colour - but, actually this was fine! Just be careful and make sure to use fresh greaseproof style paper on each press incase it has taken up some of the colour.

Once everything was cool, I also added on some little metallic copper vinyl leaves too to add texture and some shiny glittery festiveness!

Et voila!

If you don't own any of the Cricut stuff - this might all sound a bit 'techy' and expensive... Yes, you do need the special equipment, but I would genuinely say that if you are in to your printing, personalisation - it is totally worth it! Obviously, the Cricut Maker can cut all sorts of materials - not just 'Infusible Ink' transfer sheets - vinyl, cork, wood, leather, fabrics... it is a crafter's dream!

You could actually cut out the Infusible Ink transfer sheets using scissors (if your design was simple?) And, you could use a really hot iron to transfer your design. What I would say though (and I say this from experience) the designs do not transfer as easily, consistently as they do with the correct temperature controlled 'Easypress'...

Will you be giving it a try?

*Cricut Easypress and Maker #GIFTED but no obligation to post.

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