Creating Wedding Welcome Signs With Cricut: A Step-By-Step Guide

Creating a wedding welcome sign using a Cricut machine is a fun and budget-friendly project. You can design the layout of your sign directly in Cricut Design Space or use other software such as PicMonkey or Adobe Illustrator and then import the file into Design Space. The base material for this project is typically a piece of plywood, which can be purchased from hardware stores and cut to the desired size. The design is then cut out of vinyl and transferred onto the wooden board. With a few materials and easy-to-follow steps, you can make a beautiful and personalised welcome sign for your wedding.

Sourcing materials

For the other supplies, head to your local craft store. One option is to purchase materials at Michaels.

• Project plywood (1/2 inch x 2 feet x 4 feet)
• Vinyl (Oracal 631 12 inches x 5 feet roll)
• Cutting machine (Cricut, Silhouette, etc.)
• Paint or stain (optional)
• Gloves (if staining)
• Sandpaper
• Clean cloth
• Transfer tape
• Painter's tape or masking tape
• HTV (heat transfer vinyl)
• Teflon sheet, wax paper, or parchment paper
• Sponge brush
• Acrylic paint

Preparing the wood

The first step in making a wedding welcome sign with a Cricut machine is to prepare the wood. This involves cutting the wood to the desired size and shape. You can do this at home if you have the appropriate tools, or you can ask an employee at your local hardware store to cut it for you. Common sizes for wedding welcome signs are 2 feet by 3 feet or 24" by 24".

Once you have the wood cut to the desired size, you'll need to spend some time sanding it to ensure a smooth finish. Be sure to sand both sides of the board, as well as the edges. After sanding, use a clean cloth to wipe away any dust or dirt from the board. If you plan to paint or stain the board, it's important to have a smooth and clean surface to work on.

If you're using plywood, you may want to consider staining the wood to give it a more finished look. Wear gloves to protect your skin during this process. You can elevate the board on some scrap wood while staining or painting to make it easier to access all sides. Don't forget to protect your work surface with a plastic liner or butcher paper. Allow the stain or paint to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

For an extra touch of elegance, you can try using iron-on vinyl on your sign. If you go with this option, be sure to choose a wood that can withstand the heat, like birch plywood. You'll also need a heat press or iron, a Teflon sheet, and, of course, your chosen HTV vinyl. Preheat your heat press or iron to the appropriate temperature, and be sure to test it on a small section of the wood before applying it to the entire surface.

Painting or staining the board

Firstly, select the type of paint or stain you want to use. You can choose a paint colour that matches your wedding aesthetic or go for a more natural look with a stain. If you opt for a stain, wear gloves to protect your skin during the application process.

Before you begin painting or staining, ensure that your work area is protected. Use a plastic liner or butcher paper to cover the surface of your workspace, preventing any paint or stain from causing damage.

When you're ready to start, elevate your board slightly using scrap wood. This will make it easier to paint or stain the edges and sides. Apply the paint or stain evenly to the board, covering all the sanded and cleaned areas. Take your time with this step, ensuring a smooth and consistent finish.

Once you have finished coating the front and sides, allow the paint or stain to dry completely. Then, carefully flip the board over and repeat the process for the back, ensuring that all visible areas are covered.

If you're using paint, consider applying a second coat for a more opaque and polished finish. Allow the board to dry completely between coats, following the instructions on your chosen paint. You may also want to consider a waterproof topcoat, especially if your sign will be displayed outdoors and exposed to the elements.

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating a beautiful and personalised wedding welcome sign that will impress your guests and serve as a lasting memento of your special day.

Preparing the design file

While you wait for the board to dry, you can start designing the sign. You can do this directly in Cricut Design Space, although it can be tricky to add swirls to fonts in this programme. You can also use Silhouette Studio if you have a Silhouette cutting machine.

If you want to add swirls to fonts, you can use a different programme such as PicMonkey or Adobe Illustrator. In PicMonkey, you can add swirls to fonts by typing the text you want in a text box. Save the text box as a PNG image and upload it as an image in Cricut Design Space. Once it's uploaded, select the 'Simple' image type and use the Select and Erase tools to eliminate all the white space in and around the text, including the swirls. Then, select 'Cut Image', click 'Upload', and then 'Insert Image'.

If you're using Adobe Illustrator, design the layout of the sign and then export the file as an SVG file. After exporting the SVG file, import the file into Design Space, ungroup the words, and individually attach the words to your canvas.

Another option is to use the free version of Canva and export your file as a JPEG or PNG file. With this option, you'll need to use the slice feature in Design Space to cut the words out in the appropriate size.

Cutting and weeding the vinyl

Once you've set up your design in either Cricut Design Space or Silhouette Studio, it's time to cut the vinyl. Follow the instructions in the design software to send the design to your cutting machine. Ensure you have selected the correct mat size and chosen the iron-on vinyl setting on your machine. Position the HTV shiny side down, with the matte side facing up.

After the vinyl letters for your sign have been cut, carefully remove the extra vinyl. Use a weeding tool to remove the vinyl from the smaller areas inside the letters. This process ensures that only the letters you want to transfer remain on the vinyl sheet. Take your time during this step to avoid accidentally removing any parts of the design that you want to keep.

If your design includes multiple text groupings, you may find it easier to manually cut the decal into sections before weeding. This step is optional but can help you work more delicately around smaller text or intricate details.

Once you have finished weeding, your vinyl letters should be ready for transfer.

Frequently asked questions