What did I create?
I created customized mugs using the Cricut for my three soccer coaches.
What are some things that were challenging?
What I found challenging about this task was the small parts of the design. While attempting to take off the excess vinyl I ran into difficulty while attempting to remove the vinyl from the individual letters due to their size.
I also encountered a hiccup when I printed one name on two cups but I was able to fix this by asking for help and creatively using the space I had.
The final problem I encountered was transferring the image/text onto the mugs without having to individually reformat the design. The original transfer sheet/sticky paper that I was given did not work properly and I had to critically think and develop another solution by using packaging tape which I had stuck on my jeans to dull its adhesiveness to the degree that it would adhere to the design but also allow it to stick to the mug.
What are some things that worked well?
The soccer ball design worked very well as it had larger shapes within the design and was more simplistic than the
letters. I was able to easily remove the vinyl from the soccer ball with singular peels and transfer it onto the mug as one shape as well.
What did you learn? How can you apply this?
Through the process of creating these mugs, I learned more about the Cricut as I can now format the cut to make sure that I am using the least possible space and maximizing vinyl usage despite making mistakes (learned from my mistake of cutting the wrong name). This can be applied to any other project I pursue with the Cricut and to manage my vinyl expenditure. I understood how to curve/wrap text around a selected image (the soccer ball in this case) and how I can wrap text to other images I create in the Cricut Design Space. Lastly, the critical thinking skills that I developed in using packaging tape in lieu of transfer/sticky paper could help me in all sorts of improvisation-requiring situations.
