Tutu Tutorial

This ribbon-waisted tutu is for a newborn.  You may need to adjust the length of your strips to accommodate a larger size.

My husband made so much fun of me for crocheting during my last three pregnancies that I let my pride get the best of me and decided not to crochet a blanket for this baby.  Instead, I took on a much smaller, simpler project - making a tutu.  There are so many adorable tutus on Etsy, I figured I could do it!  Well, it's more difficult than I expected! The desired effect would have been much cleaner had I purchased tulle ribbon instead of cutting strips myself.  Next time.  

But, for my fellow non-perfectionists who want to attempt this, here's what I did...

Materials needed for this project:

approx. 3-5 yards of tulle (two or more different colors)

ribbon

scissors

STEP ONE - CUT RIBBON

Cut a length of ribbon twice as long as the desired waist measurement.

STEP TWO - CUT STRIPS OF TULLE

Note: I cut each strip as close to 1.5 inches as I could, though I admit I wasn't very meticulous.

Cut 1.5 inch strips, then fold and cut in half - should be 18-24 inches long.

STEP THREE - GATHER, CUT AND TIE TULLE

Note: Because my tutu is for a newborn, I found it easier to gather, cut and tie the final tulle strips at the same time. If you are making this for an older child, gather 8 of the longer strips together and don't cut them in half again.  If you are making it for an adult, perhaps 10-12 strips will be necessary to achieve the desired fullness.

 

Gather four strips together.  Fold in half and cut in half.  You should have 8 strips.

Loop the 8 strips in half again, place below the ribbon and tuck the ends through the loop, as in the illustration.

Pull taut

Repeat until tutu is full and desired length has been reached.

STEP FOUR - TRIM AND TIE

Trim the ribbon, folding end in half to get a finished edge.

Tie your bow!

And the finished product looks like this...a little messier than my Etsy counterparts, but still pretty cute!

The Nursery - Personalized Wood Letters

This isn't a Cricut project, but I may as well post all my DIY projects here.

This project requires the following materials:

Wood letters with pre-drilled hole for hanging (I got these at Wal-Mart, pre-primed)

primer (if not pre-primed)

paint (if not painted)

sand paper/block

approx. 3 yards ribbon

hot glue gun

hot glue

nails

hammer

METHOD:

 

• Prime and paint your letters. I only painted one coat, then sanded the edges for a distressed look

While letters are drying, do the following: 

• Cut 2 ribbons of equal size for each letter, angling one end and cutting straight across on the other.  Mine were about 24 inches long. 

• Tie a bow with each pair of ribbons, angled ends at the top.

Once paint is dry, finish the project:

• Sand the edges

• Hot glue the straight edges of the ribbons to the letters

• Hang letters first, then stretch ribbons up and nail them in

Her changing table will be here on Monday and it will go beneath her name.  So fun!

The Nursery - Initials and Oval Dot border

Wow!  Time to clean the windows!  

I didn't like the font I used for the initials, so I peeled them off and re-applied them today, using a different font - the Stone Script cartridge.  I also applied a vinyl Dot border around the ovals to give them a little texture and depth. As a bonus, it disguised my imperfect ovals. 

This Cricut project requires the following materials:
• Cricut Expression, 12 x 24 cutting mat, spatula, Stone Script font cartridge, Plantin Schoolbook cartridge
• (1) 12 x 24 inch sheet hot pink vinyl

• (2) 12 x 14 inch sheets white vinyl
• (1) 12 x 24 sheet transfer tape 
• scissors
• masking tape

These are the settings for the Cricut:
• Blade depth set at 3
• Pressure set at Med
• Speed set at Med

** INITIALS **

STEP ONE - CUT

Press the PORTRAIT button. Using the Stone Script Cartridge, load your paper.  Select your initals, set at 12 1/4 inches. Press CUT

STEP TWO - RELEASE YOUR IMAGE

If desired, cut any extra off to save for other projects.  Peel the outline away from the initials and discard. 

STEP THREE - APPLY TRANSFER TAPE

Rub your transfer tape on, making sure to rub out any bubbles.

STEP FOUR - APPLY

Remove vinyl backing. Center and apply to wall.  I eyeball these things, but I don't recommend it!  Use a tape measure, pencil and masking tape to get the vinyl in the perfect spot.

Rub all bubbles gently out.  Peel away the transfer tape, rocking gently as you peel back.

** BORDER **
STEP ONE - CUT

Using the Plantin Schoolbook Cartridge, load your paper. I selected the CIRCLE image, set at 1 1/2" height. Press Auto Fill. Press CUT.

STEP TWO - APPLY

This pattern needed to be manually applied to the wall, one by one.  I simply peeled and applied each circle, making sure the edges touched.

The Nursery - Vinyl Wall Border

I am having my first baby girl after three boys and I am going crazy with the PINK!  Come along and see what I've done so far.  This was kind of a big Cricut project, but very simple and not too difficult.  I will post more pictures of the finished project later.  This is what I've accomplished in the last 4 days.  All the vinyl was cut and applied today. This instruction details the exact design and size I used for my border project.  Your size settings may be different if you use another design. 

This Cricut project requires the following materials:
• Cricut Expression, 12 x 24 cutting mat, spatula, font cartridge, other cartridge

• Approx. 55 linear feet white vinyl, or less if you can repeat a pattern on one sheet 

(I repeated my 16" L 3" H pattern [3] times on each 20" sheet of vinyl)

• (2) 12 x 24 sheets transfer tape

• scissors

• masking tape

These are the settings for the Cricut:

• Blade depth set at 3

• Pressure set at Med

• Speed set at Med

** BORDER **

STEP ONE - CUT

Using the Accent Essentials Cartridge, load your paper.  I used the BORDER image set at 3" height.  Press CUT.

When the first image is finished cutting, press Line Return, Repeat Last, and CUT again.

When the second image is finished cutting, you should have room for one more image.  Press Line Return, Repeat Last and CUT again.

** Note - this is the time to check the vinyl backing for cuts that go all the way through.  Apply masking tape (on the back) to any tears or cuts that go through the backing

STEP TWO - APPLY TRANSFER TAPE 

Remove the excess vinyl by peeling away from image, gently rocking back and forth and making sure not to pull the image up from the vinyl backing.

Apply transfer tape to the entire top of all three images.

STEP THREE - RELEASE IMAGES

Separate each image with your scissors.  You will have 3 identical images, complete with transfer tape.

** Note: I reuse my transfer tape over and over, so the next time, just cut the images out and then apply the similarly shaped transfer tape to that image.

STEP FOUR - APPLY TO WALL

You are ready to apply!  

Make sure you have a straight, level line to reference when applying vinyl to the wall.  My paint line was my reference, but you can apply masking tape to the wall for your reference.

Place the image on the leveled line and rub gently onto the wall, making sure to press out any bubbles. Remove transfer tape by gently rocking back and forth.  Save and reuse, or simply apply to your next image.

Here are a few BEFORE and AFTER pictures

** PHRASE AND INITALS **

I cut the initials out using Plantin Schoolbook Bold font.  The phrase above the closet was done using Plantin Schoolbook Tall Ball font.

Etched Baking Pan

Note: I have the Cricut Expression.  I am not sure if the settings are different on the original Cricut.

This Cricut project requires the following materials:

Standard Cricut or Cricut Expression, cutting mat, spatula, font cartridge

(1) 8x8 glass baking pan, glass pie pan, or other glass object

(1) 12x12 sheet of vinyl

(1) 12x12 sheet of transfer tape (you can get away with less)

masking tape

scissors

Armour Etch or other glass etching cream

warm water and soap

Windex/glass cleaner

The Cricut blade should be set to 4 for the entire project.

STEP ONE - PREPARATION

Remove all packaging and glue from baking pan.  Clean with Windex. Place face down on flat surface.

STEP TWO - CUT YOUR WORDS

Note: words and images are cut differently, at different settings.  It is best to cut all your words/letters at the same time

1. Place your vinyl sheet face down (vinyl side down) on the cutting mat.

2. Set Cricut blade to 4; pressure to High; speed to High; size to 1"

3. Insert you favorite Font Cartridge

4. Type the first line (my example says "The Calls")

5. Press Load Paper

6. Press Cut

The Cricut should cut all the way through the vinyl.  Don't worry about losing some letters...you only need the stencil, not the letters.  However, be sure to save the insides of any letters that have inside pieces, such as "a" and "o"

Using the Line Return feature, continue to cut the remainder of any words or lettering you will need, using the same settings.

STEP THREE - RELEASE YOUR WORDS

Cut your words from the vinyl sheet. They should be backwards when you are looking at the vinyl side.

STEP FOUR - REMOVE LETTERS, SAVE INSIDES, TRIM

Carefully remove all the letters from the "stencil" you have created.  Be sure to save the insides.





STEP FIVE - CUT YOUR IMAGES/DESIGNS

Changing your settings is very important for this step.  

1. Place the remainder of your vinyl face up (vinyl side up) on the cutting mat. 

2. Set pressure to MED, speed to MED and customize your size depending on your image.  I used the Accent Essentials Flower image set at 3 1/2 inches.

3. Select your image/design

4. Press Load Paper

5. Press Cut

 
The cut should only go through the vinyl, not the backing.  If it does cut through to the backing, use masking tape to cover the cut on the back.

STEP SIX - RELEASE YOUR IMAGES/DESIGNS

Cut the image from the sheet of vinyl. I made multiple pans, so I cut multiple images.

STEP SEVEN - APPLY THE VINYL

Note: The words and images are applied slightly differently.

Words:

1. Place your transfer tape sticky side up on a hard surface

2. Center the words, vinyl side down, using your finger to smooth it onto the transfer tape.

3. Flip the whole thing over (using the transfer tape backing) and smooth the tape onto the vinyl with a popsicle stick or other tool.

4. Peel the vinyl backing off, rocking the vinyl for easier removal.  

5. Place the vinyl where you want it on the bottom of the glass pan

6. Smooth out all the bubbles using a popsicle stick or other tool

7. Rocking the transfer tape, slowly remove from vinyl and glass.

8. IMPORTANT!!! Place the insides back in the letters

Images/Designs:

1. Peel out the image/design, leaving just a stencil.  

2. Place your transfer tape sticky side up on a hard surface 

3. Center the image/design, vinyl side down, using your finger to smooth it onto the transfer tape.
4. Flip the whole thing over (using the transfer tape backing) and smooth the tape onto the vinyl with a popsicle stick or other tool.
5. Peel the vinyl backing off, rocking the vinyl for easier removal.
6. Place the vinyl where you want it on the bottom of the glass pan
7. Smooth out all the bubbles using a popsicle stick or other tool
8. Rocking the transfer tape, slowly remove from vinyl and glass.




STEP 8 - TAPE OFF SURFACE AREAS AND FILL IN THE LETTERS WITH THEIR INSIDES

Note: This is an important step.  The vinyl alone will not prevent bleeding of the glass etcher, even if it's nowhere near the open glass. I learned this the hard way with my first few pans.  Masking the rest of the surface is essential for a clean design.

STEP 8 - YOU'RE READY TO ETCH!!!

Using a stencil brush or other stiff brush, apply the etching cream to the lettering and design stencils.  Brush up, down, and sideways, making sure to cover the design thoroughly.  

Let it sit according to the directions on the etching cream - mine says 5 minutes, but I let it sit for at least 10.

STEP 9 - RINSE, WASH, REMOVE, REPEAT

You are ready to see your finished project!  

1. Rinse the etching cream off with warm water.

2. Wash entire pan with dish soap

3. Remove all tape and vinyl - discard (warm water helps it come off easily)

4. Thoroughly rinse and wash with detergent again to remove all cream

 5. Windex the entire pan

6. Dry and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Tips and Tricks:

For words, cut vinyl side down at top speed and top pressure, blade set at 4.
Use Transfer tape to apply to glass surface.
Make sure to tape off within 3 inches of the words/images - etching cream shows up even if you don't get it around the edges.

For images, set pressure at low and speed at min. This way, it will cut through the vinyl, but not through the backing.

Use an asymmetrical image for best results. It's pretty challenging to center everything perfectly.