Looking for an inexpensive hostess gift? Want to brighten up your own kitchen? With just a scrap of iron-on and your Cricut Joy you can create personalized tea towels for any occasion!
CREATE personalized tea towels with the cricut joy
You can find tea towels in almost any store (or online!) but they are either ridiculously expensive or way too plain. With just a small piece of iron-on and a few Cricut tools you can create your own personalised tea towels to match any theme – and they’d also make a great hostess gift! {FTC disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links which means I may make a commission from any purchases at no additional cost to you.}
SUPPLIES NEEDED:
- Cricut Design Space Image – I used Floral and Leaf Image #M14791A14
- linen or flour cloth tea towel
- Cricut Joy*
- Everyday Iron On Vinyl – I used Raspberry
- Cricut Joy Standard Grip Mat
- Weeding Tool
- Scissors
- Cricut EasyPress Mini
- EasyPress Mat or towel
*The Cricut Joy is also available at JOANN, Michaels, HSN and Target
Ordering from cricut.com? Use code CRICUTCREATORS10 for 10% off and FREE shipping on any order over $50. Includes sale and clearance prices, does not include machines (anything with a plug). Cricut items can also be found at HSN, Amazon, and JOANN stores.
Ordering from amazon.com? Then check out my Cricut Tools and Accessories page!
TUTORIAL: HOW TO MAKE PERSONALIZED TEA TOWELS
Pre-Work:
1. Prewash and dry the tea towel. Iron out all wrinkles and creases.
Preparing the Image:
1. Open Cricut Design Space.
2. Click on the “+” sign to start a new project, opening up a blank canvas.
3. Click on the Images button from the toolbar.
4. Search Floral and Leaf Image #M14791A14 and then click on the image to insert it on the canvas.
5. Adjust the size by highlighting the image and clicking on the size box in the top toolbar. Change the measurement to 4.25” high by 4.376” wide.
Cutting the Iron-On Vinyl:
1. Select “Make It” in the upper right corner to proceed with cutting.
2. Choose “With Mat” unless you are using a non Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl.
3. Click the “Mirror” toggle button to on. This is necessary for ALL iron on vinyl cuts.
4. Cut the Everyday Iron-On Vinyl width to 4.5” to fit on the Cricut Joy grip mat. Press continue.
5. Choose Everyday Iron-On Vinyl from the list of options in the drop down menu.
6. Place the Iron-On vinyl directly onto the standard grip Cricut mat with the SHINY SIDE DOWN. You can use a smaller piece, but we decided not to trim the vinyl until after we’d cut the image.
7. Following the instructions prompted on the screen, cut out the vinyl.
Preparing the Cut Image:
1. Remove the Everyday Iron-On Vinyl from the mat.
2. Cut around the image and put aside the left over vinyl for another project
3. Using a weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl leaving only the floral image.
Applying the Image with the Cricut EasyPress Mini:
1. Position the mat or a towel on a flat surface.
2. Set the temperature and time on the machine following the chart for the type of vinyl and material being used or use this EasyPress Interactive Quick Reference Guide.
3. If your towel is 100% cotton and you are using Everyday Iron-On Vinyl, set the EasyPress Mini to medium heat.
4. Determine where you will be placing the image and preheat the tea towel in that spot for 5 seconds. This will prep the fabric for the vinyl, removing all excess moisture as well as help to remove any creases and wrinkles from the fabric.
5. Place the cut image on to the tea towel with the shiny side up.
6. Press the image on to the tea towel for 25 seconds, constantly moving EasyPress Mini as you press.
7. Turn the apron upside down and apply heat for another 15 seconds.
8. While vinyl is still warm, peel the plastic part of the vinyl off carefully and discard.
9. Make sure you do not place an iron or the EasyPress Mini directly over the vinyl without the protective plastic cover.
And voila! Beautiful custom tea towels for a fraction of the price, and customized for any theme in any color!
Create Personalized Tea Towels with the Cricut Joy
Materials
- Cricut Design Space Image – I used Floral and Leaf Image #M14791A14
- linen or flour cloth tea towel
- Cricut Joy
- Everyday Iron On Vinyl – I used Raspberry
- Cricut Joy Standard Grip Mat
- Weeding Tool
- Scissors
- Cricut EasyPress Mini
- EasyPress Mat or towel
Instructions
PRE-WORK:
- Prewash and dry the tea towel. Iron out all wrinkles and creases.
PREPARING THE IMAGE:
- Open Cricut Design Space.
- Click on the “+” sign to start a new project, opening up a blank canvas.
- Click on the Images button from the toolbar.
- Search Floral and Leaf Image #M14791A14 and then click on the image to insert it on the canvas.
- Adjust the size by highlighting the image and clicking on the size box in the top toolbar. Change the measurement to 4.25” high by 4.376” wide.
CUTTING THE IRON-ON VINYL:
- Select “Make It” in the upper right corner to proceed with cutting.
- Choose “With Mat” unless you are using a non Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl.
- Click the “Mirror” toggle button to on. This is necessary for ALL iron on vinyl cuts.
- Cut the Everyday Iron-On Vinyl width to 4.5” to fit on the Cricut Joy grip mat. Press continue.
- Choose Everyday Iron-On Vinyl from the list of options in the drop down menu.
- Place the Iron-On vinyl directly onto the standard grip Cricut mat with the SHINY SIDE DOWN. You can use a smaller piece, but we decided not to trim the vinyl until after we’d cut the image.
- Following the instructions prompted on the screen, cut out the vinyl.
PREPARING THE CUT IMAGE:
- Remove the Everyday Iron-On Vinyl from the mat.
- Cut around the image and put aside the left over vinyl for another project
- Using a weeding tool, peel away the excess vinyl leaving only the floral image.
APPLYING THE IMAGE WITH THE CRICUT EASYPRESS MINI:
- Position the mat or a towel on a flat surface.
- Set the temperature and time on the machine following the chart for the type of vinyl and material being used or use this EasyPress Interactive Quick Reference Guide.
- If your towel is 100% cotton and you are using Everyday Iron-On Vinyl, set the EasyPress Mini to medium heat.
- Determine where you will be placing the image and preheat the tea towel in that spot for 5 seconds. This will prep the fabric for the vinyl, removing all excess moisture as well as help to remove any creases and wrinkles from the fabric.
- Place the cut image on to the tea towel with the shiny side up.
- Press the image on to the tea towel for 25 seconds, constantly moving EasyPress Mini as you press.
- Turn the apron upside down and apply heat for another 15 seconds.
- While vinyl is still warm, peel the plastic part of the vinyl off carefully and discard.
- Make sure you do not place an iron or the EasyPress Mini directly over the vinyl without the protective plastic cover.
Charlotte Cosci says
I was excited because I thought you found polyester tea towels to use with Infusible Ink. Drats. Okay, please, please tell me where you found those beautiful towels. Because I bought flour sack towels and they seem to stretch endlessly and nothing looks good on them. Thanks so much, Beth.
Beth Kingston says
Hi Charlotte! Well shoot I’m sorry you’re having trouble! Where did you get your flour sack towels? Sometimes the ones from places like the Dollar Tree I find to be not great…but I buy most of mine on Amazon (every once in a while I will find some inexpensive ones at like Home Goods) and have never had an issue!