Life is a Blessing!: DIY Monogram Shirts

I recently got a Cricut Explore cutting machine and I love it! I’ve been noticing monogrammed shirts are becoming very popular, so I decided to make some. Here are the step by step directions to monogram a shirt using the Cricut Explore machine.

First, go to http://us.cricut.com/home/ to start creating your own monogram. Once, you get there your screen will look like this. Click on the green button or the white link under the sign in log that says “Cricut Design Space” to get started.

Then, click on the blue “Create New Project” board.

A new template will look like this and you will click on the “Add Text” button located on the left side of the page.

Now, you are ready to type in your initials. Make sure to put the last name initial in the middle (e.g., Kim Leigh Wall should be kWl). I chose to use a free font I got off Pinterest, called Monogram KK SC. When your initials are the font you want, your next step is to size the letters. It’s easier to size all the letters together (to get the first and third initials the same size).

When, your first and third initials are the size you want, you can isolate each letter to make the middle initial bigger. To isolate the letters you will select the “isolate letters button” under the Edit palette (It is highlighted in green below).

When the letters are detached, a screen will pop up on the right side to show you each individual letter. Now, you are able to increase the middle initial size (Remember, the last name initial should be in the middle). After your letters are the size you want, you will need to “weld” them together. First, highlight all three initials by putting a box around them and then hit the "weld" button, which is located at the top left corner of the Layers palette. When the letters are welded together, you are ready to cut out your monogram. Hit the green “go” button located at the top of the page.

Make sure to check the "Mirror Image" at the bottom of the page before you start cutting, since we want our iron-on to be cut correctly! I did a trial run on regular printer paper before cutting out the initials on the iron-on vinyl (just to make sure it was the size I wanted).