Give a simple tote a Halloween sparkle with your Cricut

A simple tote can become a glowing Halloween candy bag with Cricut Glow-in-the-Dark Iron-On. If you already have a cutting machine and a suitable heat tool, start with a simple face or some bold shapes. Allow time to charge the finished design under a light.

Project ideas: Cricut Official Halloween Iron-on Ideas

Choose the bag before the design

Choose a fabric tote whose material you can identify, then check that combination in the Cricut Heat Guide. The fabric, iron-on material and press determine the heat settings. The color of a bag alone will not tell you if it is suitable.

Cricut’s Halloween examples include a skull tote and candy bag decorated with letters and faces. Use those as starting points for your own design. A large mouth and two eyes allow less small pieces to be removed than a detailed haunted house scene.

For a bag you already use, keep the decoration on a flat section rather than over a seam. Make that space in front of the size of the artwork. You can do the same type of project on a compatible shirt, but check the fabric and heat settings again instead of carrying the bag settings over.

Cut the iron on, then press onto your fabric

Use glow-in-the-dark Iron-An for this fabric project. Cricut also sells glow-in-the-dark removable vinyl for another application; the similar name is not a reason to exchange material.

Cricut Specialty Iron-on instructions call for pre-washing the fabric without thinner, making a small test cut and testing the application in an inconspicuous area.

Mirror the design in Design Space before cutting. Select the exact material setting and place the Iron-on shiny liner side down on the StandardGrip Mat. Once it is cut, remove the excess material while leaving the design on its liner.

To print, follow the Heat Guide for your specific combination. Preheat as directed, position the design liner side up and apply the specified heat. Cricut says to peel the liner slowly when it’s cool to the touch. When adding glow over Everyday Iron-On, glow material must remain on top; do not cover it with another layer of iron.

Give the glow time to charge

Cricut recommends about 30 minutes under direct light for its brightest, longest shine. The company says the effect lasts about 20-30 minutes before it recharges.

Place the finished bag under a light before taking it into a dark room. A quick light-on, light-off check will show if your selected forms read clearly. Treat the glow as decoration, not as a substitute for a flashlight or other outdoor visibility equipment.

The same material can add a little spirit to a shirt or a Halloween motif to a compatible pillow cover. Keep the design modest when working from a partial roll: measure the material and usable fabric area before cutting.

Wait 24 hours before washing

Wait at least 24 hours after applying the iron-on before washing the finished item. Cricut recommends washing and drying it inside out and says not to use bleach. Also check the care instructions of the tote or shirt.

Project ideas: Cricut Official Halloween Iron-on Ideas