How to cut heat transfer vinyl like a pro!

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One of my favorite things to do with my Silhouette machine is to cut heat transfer vinyl {HTV}.  HTV is the iron on material that can be cut to create any letter, shape or design to make a custom creation for any occasion.  I'm a sorority girl, and my husband likes to joke that it's not really an event unless there is a t-shirt to document the occasion!  Over the years I've made dozens and dozens of t-shirts for our family 5k Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. I've created stockings and pillows and custom bags, not to mention gifts for family and friends. I've learned a lot of things about heat transfer vinyl over the years and while I'm not an expert, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve!

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Graphic t-shirt using heat transfer vinyl

Graphic t-shirts are hot this summer!  You can find them everywhere, but why grab one at the store when you can make one? While I was at SNAP conference last month, I picked up some Expressions Vinyl. I have been digging these racer back t-shirts from Wal-Mart of all places {can't beat the $4.97 price tag!} and now I've been embellishing shirts til my hearts content. I love making custom t-shirts, and nothing is more custom than one you create on your own.  Heat transfer vinyl is so easy to use that you will be whipping shirts out like a pro in no time!

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Custom gold foil neoprene laptop case tutorial

I've survived blogging for five years without feeling like I need a laptop, but the need has become real, and we ordered a chrome book for me to use for blogging just a few weeks ago.

I have several trips coming up for blogging in the next few months and it's getting harder and harder for me to keep up with blogging from my PC.  While I still very much prefer the old school ways of sitting in my den typing on my computer, I have started to get used to being portable.

My husband {with the consult of several computer guru's} questioned me on what I needed a laptop to do and then they decided on the best computer for me.  Because to be quite honest I walked into a store, started playing around with laptops and could have bought any of the the ones that were placed in front of me and been quite happy.  I'm thankful for people that know more than me and are willing to do the research because plainly, I just don't care.

My sweet husband also started clicking on accessories for me {a mini mouse that I have yet to use} and a black neoprene laptop case.  Not one for plain, I decided to fancy up my new laptop case with some custom gold foil geometric shapes and I'm here to share the tutorial with you.

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Custom LOVE sweatshirt

I bought this H&M sweatshirt for $1 at a garage sale this summer knowing I wanted to put my own spin on it. I don't know about you, but I tend to hoard craft supplies until I have the perfect craft, and even then, I go back and forth with ideas second guessing myself.  

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How to make custom t-shirts with heat transfer material

I love my silhouette machine.

One of my favorite things to make with it, are custom t-shirts.

As any good sorority girl knows, if you don't have a t-shirt, it didn't happen!

My parents are gathering my siblings and I in Gatlinburg, TN this summer for a family reunion.

They asked me if I would make t-shirts for the whole family for the event.

I received this heat transfer starter kit from the lovely people at Silhouette.

It included all these great things inside:

an idea/instruction book

3 12x9 sheets of smooth heat transfer material

2 12x9 sheets of flocked heat transfer material

10 exclusive heat transfer designs

instructional DVD

Silhouette hook tool

I started by opening up my Silhouette software.

I designed my event logo using various font sizes

The most important thing to remember is to mirror your image horizontally!

Since I had multiple shirts to make, I made a copy of the image, so that it would cut out several on one page.

Feed your heat transfer material into your machine shiny side down without a carrier sheet.

Once your image is cut, weed away the part of the transfer paper that you don't need.

I used the Silhouette weeding tool to remove some of the smaller details.

Once you weed out your image, place it face down {with the shiny plastic up}.

Your image should be on the right side now.

Cover the plastic with a cloth and iron.

Press down for 45-60 seconds in each spot.

Once the plastic is cool, carefully peel it back.

Iron as needed until all of the image remains stuck to your t-shirt.

That's it!

Now we are ready for the Foster Family Reunion!

These are some other shirts I have made using the heat transfer material.

Camp cabin t-shirts

Disneyland Souvenir t-shirts

Family Turkey Trot t-shirts

baby onesies

12 month onesies

As you can see, the possibilities are endless!

There are so many fun designs you can create.

And it doesn't just stop with t-shirts!

This month, Silhouette is running a heat transfer promotion.

If you don't already have the machine, you can take advantage of these great deals.

If you already have a silhouette and have been waiting to try the heat transfer products, all of them are currently buy 1 get 1 free!

To take advantage of these great deals, 

shop here

and enter HOLY at checkout.

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