I’ve been really wanting to get back into doing crafts again. It’s been a long while since I’ve really delved into any kind of creative expression and I’ve missed it. It’s almost like a therapeutic activity! Kohls recently contacted me to see if I’d be willing to try out the new Cricut Explore Air machine (um, you don’t have to ask twice?!) and make a craft of sorts for Mother’s Day. Now, I did do a craft for Mother’s Day. But it’s for me, myself and I. Or my house anyway. I loved it too much to give it away…although were my mom still here, she would not only want one for her house, she’d be wanting to do a whole bunch of other crafts. This one combines some of my favorite craft materials of late… burlap, buttons AND trees. I call it the button tree burlap canvas and I love it!
Want to make a burlap canvas for your house?
Materials
Grab a 12×12 burlap canvas (You can probably do any size, I’m just liking squares lately
Brown self-stick vinyl roll
assorted buttons – your choice of colors
Cricut Explore Air (or whichever Cricut you have)
Glue gun, glue sticks (I used 2 1/2 small sticks for this project)
Standard grip cutting mat
Newspaper (unless you have a craft table… mine is my kitchen table or counter)
Instructions
Decide on your tree design/shape. I’m pretty new to this crafting realm so I went with a simple tree from Cricut. I wanted simple and clean, so the tree could be a base for the buttons to really pop.
Figure out the size your tree will be on the mat- I chose to go with it just a hair over 10 inches wide (the mat is 12 inches wide, like the canvas and I didn’t want it to overwhelm things)
Trim and lay your vinyl onto your Cricut Standard Grip Mat and load it into your machine
While your vinyl is cutting, get your glue gun warmed up
Once your vinyl is finished cutting, unload it from the machine and remove it from the cutting mat carefully.
Before removing the backing of your tree shape, figure out exactly where you want to place the tree on the canvas. Remove paper backing and adhere to canvas.
After your tree is mounted on the canvas and you’re happy with where it’s placed, grab your buttons and have fun placing them. I recommend placing them where you want them and gluing once you’re happy with the look.
Hang on the wall or place on a shelf and voila! Beautiful, simple and fun craft. Perfect to surprise that special Mom in your life for Mother’s Day, or for your own house. If you have space where you are placing the canvas on the wall to do a family quote, I think that would look great as well- we do not have the wall space as this will be on a shelf .
I am loving the Explore Air machine. First and foremost, with the “air” function, I can go wireless, so I can keep the machine off to the side near my computer desk. It’s bluetooth enabled. I can design on my iPad, my laptop or computer (or my iPhone), and as long as I’m in range to the machine, I can get things going wirelessly. Pretty cool feature.
Since Cricut uses cloud storage, I can start a design on my laptop, work on it, say, while the kids are at gymnastics on my iPad, and come home to finish up and execute the craft on anything I want! That versatility makes the extra cost of bluetooth functionality worth it for me. I cannot always sit at home and play around to make cards, signs, crafts, boxes, etc., but when I’m at gymnastics for team practices for 3+ hours in a row? I absolutely can. I’m just not going to bring a full craft room of supplies with me. Being able to at least work on and design what I want makes my life a whole lot easier. Plus, crafting is usually pretty relaxing- its nice to have something I can *do* while out that’s still helping me cross items off that never-ending to-do list. Cards, invitations, banners, and this whole new world of window clings and vinyl…. paper crafts… I can do “allthecrafts” “allthetime”!
(Please excuse the finger prints on the iPad, this is what things really look like when you have kids in the house…)
The Cricut Explore Air Machine at Kohls comes with
PRODUCT FEATURES
- Embedded Bluetooth allows for wireless cutting.
- Dual cartridge lets you cut & write or cut & score at once.
- Upload your own images for free to personalize your projects.
- Explore Air machine cuts through a wide variety of materials.
- Smart Set dial provides one step material setting.
- Integrated storage compartments keep your space organized.
- Free Cricut Design Space online software & iPad app offer more patterns to cut.
- Cut Smart precision cutting creates a clean line every time.
- Cricut Explore Air Machine works with all Cricut cartridges.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Cricut Explore Air Machine
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Storage bag
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USB & power cords
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German carbide premium blade
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12” x 12” StandardGrip cutting mat
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Accessory adapter
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Metallic silver pen
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Cardstock sample
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Iron on sample
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50+ free projects, 100 + free images
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Getting started guide
What are YOUR favorite Cricut crafts? And how excited are you that Kohls has so many fun craft supplies available online now?
Brittanie @Simplistically Living says
Oh my gosh I love this! Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty.
Vickie@Vickie's Kitchen and Garden says
so cute. I love how you can make this on a Cricut. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty
Mila says
So cute! I like the little ones at the bottom 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Cathy says
Super cute! I love the buttons, great great idea!!
Cathy
lucy says
I LOVE buttons, so I think this is adorable!!!
Cathy says
I love button projects and this tree is so darn cute. Thank you so much for sharing at Share It One More Time. Cathy
Fi Ní Neachtáin says
Awh this is such a pretty little craft project. I’d love to make them for myself 🙂
Life as a Convert says
I’ve always wanted one of these machines. I loved how you made this canvas decoration with yours.
Lynndee says
That is really pretty. How I wish I have all the materials though. I would love to make one too.
Raijean says
Those are adorable. I need to take the time and actually use mine. Love this.
Erin says
How adorable is this! I just love it! And I bet my boys would love help adding the buttons!
Chubskulit Rose says
This ia a beautiful project. This would make a great project for the summer for my kids so thanks a lot for sharing this idea.
touristmeetstraveler says
This looks so cute, I really like these button trees. It would be a very fun craft to do with the kids, I would like to try it out!
Kelly Hutchinson says
OMG, that is so dang cute! I was going to make something similar for Mother’s Day and completely forgot! I would love to have a Cricut machine!
Cherri Megasko says
Oh my gosh … this is crafting on steroids! This sounds far too complicated for me – I can’t even figure out my phone!
ricci says
What a cute project!! This would be a great gift!!
Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen says
That looks so pretty! You are so creative.. I would love to hang that in my living room.
Bonnie @ wemake7 says
You are very creative and talented. =) I would love to get into crafts more myself but can’t seem to every pull anything out of my head to do. This is great!
Krystal says
This is just too cute. I would to make this myself. I need a silhouette!
Theresa says
Your idea is awesome. Thanks for walking us through the steps so it would be easy to replicate at home.
Michelle @ Dishes and Dust Bunnies says
I SUPER love this craft idea! I would love to make something like this to put on my wall here at home! 😀
Rosey says
That really did turn out cute. I was thinking what Robin said too, that’s an Etsy seller there. 🙂
Lisa Bristol says
I love this idea. It would be perfect for my friend. I will have to share this with her.
Ann Bacciaglia says
This is such a cute project. I will have to try this for my kids room. Looks easy enough to do.
Sharon says
That is awesome! I want someone to make one for me. I could never make anything like that since I’m about as creative as a blind toddler. And yeah, I think it’s great Kohl’s has so many crafty stuff
Deb- It's me, debcb! says
I don’t have a Cricut but I have my eye on one. This is a cute craft. I agree with Robin, you could sell them easily on Etsy.
Jeanine says
Oh my word. That is awesome. I would hang that in my house! So cute. I wish I was as Crafty but mine wouldn’t ever turn out this good!
Aisha Kristine Chong says
The results were super wonderful. I love how it was made – cool! I bet this would be a hit!
rochkirstin says
Wow, you are really great in creating crafts. The design looks so simple but great! I love the buttons you used to complete the tree. So cute!
chanelle says
This is a very cute craft! I agree, the Cricut is amazing. I’ve used a friend’s to make all sorts of patterns for crafts.
Kristen says
This an adorable craft. I would love to hang up something like this in my baby’s room.
Choya says
Nice, I am so behind on my scrapbooking, that I am ashamed to say the last tool i purchased was the cricut expressions machine. I need to get back into the swing of things and the cricut air looks amazing.
Amanda says
This is such a cute idea. I would love to make something like this for our playroom–I am redecorating it as we speak!
Kimberly Grabinski says
That is really cute. I was thinking of all the ways I could turn this into a family tree for our home. Cricuits definitely help make crafting fun.
Laura “Lolli” Franklin says
I have to say…I’m totally jealous of your Cricut! I have always wanted one. And I had no idea that Kohl’s had them online! They are my favorite place to shop!
PS – I love the craft and might have to steal the idea!!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That’s so adorable! I had no idea the Cricut cold do so much. What a machine!
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
Oh how cute. I love how it came out. You should make a bunch and sell them.