Happy Make It Monday!
Hope everyone had an awesome weekend! I rearranged my room upstairs and worked on organizing my work area for where I make all my creations. Anyways, today I have been working on a “Word Collage” I wanted to make for one of my aunts. I wasn’t quite sure if it would come out very well but considering its my first, I think it came out pretty good.
Let’s get started…
Word Cloud
Things Used:
- Cricut Machine
- Design Space
- Cricut Mat
- Mug
- Transfer Paper
- Vinyl
- Cricut Tools
- Scissors
Step #1:
The first thing I did was came up with words to describe my aunt. After playing around with the words I wanted to use I originally found a website I thought I might could use and then download the .SVG file; but, I then decided against using what I had found basically because I didn’t want to spend the money.
Step #2:
After I scratched the website idea, I decided to do some research on if there was an easy way to make them on Cricut’s Design Space. Though I didn’t find anything, I decided to make my own still as I was determined I the way I wanted to make this word cloud. Don’t get me wrong, there are tons of word cloud projects for the Cricut, but they either use a website like I was planning on using or just plain jane squares or rectangles.
So, I finally settled on what I wanted to do exactly. I opened Cricut Design Space and got to work.
Step #3:
Once in Design Space, I picked out my shape I wanted to use, which ended up being a heart. To make use of the canvases they have to help measure things out, I picked out the coffee mug to use as a measurement of what size to make my word cloud.
Step #4:
I then resized the heart shape to fit inside the coffee mug canvas. For this particular mug, I purchased from Amazon.com in a set of four. I forget how much they were but I know they were less than $20. Once I finished with the shape size, I started adding text boxes to add my words.
As I typed in the words I changed the font I wanted to use, which ended up being my personalized font I created for some of them. I randomized the type fonts I used throughout. If you missed my post on how to create your personalized font click here.
Step #5:
Once I was satisfied with everything, I was ready to send it to the mat and have my Cricut Explore cut my word cloud out. Putting the vinyl in place on the mat, I let the Cricut do its thing. At least I thought it was going to do it thing of cutting everything out. Unfortunately, Cricut Design decided it wanted to update, then Adobe wanted to update, and then I kept getting the ‘debug’ message after I finally got to the cutting board.
After hours (literally hours Saturday night) of trying to get things to cut out, I gave up. Trying every browser on my computer (Firefox, Chrome, and Safari) nothing wanted to work. Sunday morning I started working on it again and still had the same problems. ? The first thing I did was get on FB to see if the group I was in could help, not much luck there though they did try. Everything they suggested I’d already tried. Then it dawned on me, to text one of my friends in MS. I told her what was going on and she suggested a few things I actually hadn’t tried yet.
At that point for some reason the program still didn’t want to work and the Saints game was bout to come on so I called it quits once again for the time, at least until the game was over.
Finally, after finishing up a few more things for the day, I decided to give it one more try. And well, obviously it worked! ? Here’s a video of Cricut Explore doing its thing.
Step #6:
After my word cloud creations were cut out, I carefully cut around the image. Then I carefully weeded out every single letter on the word cloud. It only took what felt like FOREVER. However, it was well worth it!
Once finished weeding, I placed my transfer paper on top making sure everything got picked up by the stickiness by using my finger to rub on the image.
I then placed it carefully in the place I wanted it to go on my mug. Finally, I rub on it with my finger to make sure everything got stuck in place.
Though some of the letters are cut off at the end, that’s my personalized font and how they just are at this time. I did work during the game to get a better font, but since the game started making me so nervous I had to stop. ?? Nonetheless, I think my mug for my aunt came out very cute and awesome looking if I do say so myself.
There you go. Another Make It Monday project done and ready to use. Hope you enjoyed my Word Cloud mug. Though it did take time to make it was like I said well worth it and would make great gifts for practically anyone who drinks coffee or tea.
Have any questions about the project? Please feel free to comment below and I’ll respond back as soon as possible! Thanks for visiting! Hope to see you again!
Crafty JBird
