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DIY Screen Printing at Home using Adhesive Vinyl & Cricut

Posted by daisymultifacetica on

Do you want to learn a new customization technique that is both easy and profitable? In this tutorial, I’ll teach you how to make custom screen printing at home using vinyl and a Cricut machine. With this method, you can personalize t-shirts, tote bags, kitchen towels, and more—without the need for emulsions or complicated chemicals! Discover how to achieve professional results in a simple and cost-effective way.

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Easy DIY Screen Printing with Vinyl and Cricut: Personalize T-Shirts, Tote Bags & More!
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Watch the Video on How to Make Screen Printing at Home with Vinyl and Cricut

If you want to see the full video tutorial on my YouTube channel, Click here for Spanish and English.

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Necessary materials

  1. Cutting Machine – I will use my Cricut Maker, but you can use any cutting plotter. Also available in Amazon.
  2. Permanent Vinyl (any color) – To create the template. Available in Amazon.
  3. Transfer Tape – To transfer vinyl design to screen printing frame. Find it in Amazon.
  4. Screen Printing Frame with Mesh – To transfer the design to the garment. Available in Amazon.
  5. Painter’s Tape – To cover the edges and prevent the ink from spreading. Find it in Amazon.
  6. Screen Printing Squeegee – To distribute the ink evenly. Available in Amazon.
  7. Small Spatula – To mix and apply screen printing ink. Find it in Amazon.
  8. Screen Printing Ink – In the color of your choice. Available in Amazon.
  9. Garment to Personalize – T-shirts, cloth bags, kitchen towels, etc. I order them in Jiffy for its fast shipping and good prices.
  10. Optional: Heat Gun – To speed up the drying process. Find it in Amazon.
  11. Heat Press – To cure and set the print on the fabric. Find it here.

Stencil design in Cricut Design Space

If you would like to use the image of spring that I have designed, you can download it for free from my blog at this link. It is also available in a Spanish version.

  1. Cut the design out of vinyl using your Cricut or other cutting machine.
  2. Import your design into Cricut Design Space.
  3. Adjust the size of the design according to the garment you are going to personalize.
  4. Create a rectangle larger than the design (example: My design is 9″ wide, the rectangle will measure 10″ x 11.5″).
  5. Align the design and the rectangle in the center.
  6. Use the function Subtract to create the stencil.
  7. Activate the mode Mirror before cutting.

Preparing the Stencil

  1. Weed out the inner parts of the design, leaving the stencil.
  2. Use transfer tape to apply the design onto the screen printing mesh.
  3. Place the vinyl on the back of the screen printing frame.
  4. Use painter’s tape to cover the edges and prevent ink smudges.
Easy DIY Screen Printing with Vinyl and Cricut: Personalize T-Shirts, Tote Bags & More!

Customizing Your Garment

  1. Place your garment on a wooden base or other stable surface.
  2. Position the stencil about 3 inches below the neckline.
  3. Apply ink to the top of the stencil and use a spatula to distribute it at a 60° angle.
  4. Make 2 to 3 firm passes with the squeegee.
  5. Recover any excess ink for reuse.
  6. Carefully lift the frame to reveal your custom design!

Easy DIY Screen Printing with Vinyl and Cricut: Personalize T-Shirts, Tote Bags & More!

💡 Pro Tip: If you plan to use the stencil multiple times, it’s best to stick to the same ink color and clean the stencil immediately after each use. If switching colors, start with lighter tones and save darker ones for last (e.g., start with pale pink, then switch to black for the final shirt).

Curing the Design

  1. Let the ink dry for 2 to 4 hours, or use a heat gun to speed up the process.
  2. Once dry, cure the design with a heat press at 330°F for 40 seconds. (I use my HTVRONT auto press, but any heat press works!)
  3. If you don’t have a heat press, use a household iron on the highest heat setting for 40 seconds.
Easy DIY Screen Printing with Vinyl and Cricut: Personalize T-Shirts, Tote Bags & More!
Easy DIY Screen Printing with Vinyl and Cricut: Personalize T-Shirts, Tote Bags & More!

Stencil Maintenance & Reuse

  1. Once you’re done customizing, remove the vinyl stencil.
  2. Wash the mesh with warm water and dish soap.
  3. Let it dry completely and store it for future projects.

That’s it! With just a few simple steps, you can create stunning, professional-quality screen-printed designs at home using your Cricut. Look how amazing these personalized garments turned out!

Easy DIY Screen Printing with Vinyl and Cricut: Personalize T-Shirts, Tote Bags & More!

With this technique, you can create unique designs on t-shirts, tote bags, and more—without the need for emulsions or complicated processes.

What do you think of this method? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! Stay tuned because in my next tutorial, I’ll show you how to do screen printing using Iron-On (HTV) vinyl so you can decide which technique works best for you.

If you enjoyed this tutorial, don’t forget to share it and subscribe to my blog for more creative content. See you in the next project! ✨

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“Creativity is the soul’s voice, and in every project, we find a little piece of ourselves.”

“La creatividad es la voz del alma, y en cada proyecto encontramos un pedazo de nosotros mismos.”

Daisy

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