Estimated Time: 40 Minutes
Skill Level: Intermediate
Celebrate National Unicorn Day in style with a custom shirt using heat transfer vinyl!
Unicorns are all the rage, and a unicorn t-shirt is perfect for every occasion! Right?! If you or your little one is a unicorn fan this project is a must. With National Unicorn Day around the corner (yes, unicorns have an actual holiday dedicated to them!), what better way to celebrate than with a cute, custom heat transfer vinyl unicorn shirt. Using heat transfer vinyl is such a great option for making inexpensive custom t-shirts in a snap!
Here are the supplies you will need:
- Craftables Smooth Heat Transfer Vinyl (Black and Light Pink)
- Craftables Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl (Gold)
- Cricut Design Space Unicorn Cut File (Unicorn Iron-on #MCE343D)
- Font: Luna
- Cotton T-Shirt
- Cricut Machine (or Silhouette)
- Cutting Mat
- Craftables Weeding Tool
- Cricut EasyPress and Mat (or Iron and Ironing Board)
- Teflon Sheet
- Craftables Smooth Heat Transfer Vinyl Instructions
- Craftables Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl Instructions
- Scissors
Step 1: Open up Cricut Design Space, select new project, and then click “Images”. In the search bar type in #MCE343D. Click on the unicorn file to add it to your canvas.
Step 2: Select the unicorn design and copy and paste it. Select the second design and hit “Contour”. Hide all layers except the solid unicorn. Then, change the color to pink.
Step 3: Select the outlined unicorn design, click “Contour” again and hide the heart flower design. Next, bring the design to the front and place it over the solid pink unicorn.
Step 4: Open up a text box, type the name you want and change the font to “Luna”. Change the color to yellow and resize it to fit inside of your unicorn design. Select all and resize the image to 7”. This is based off of a 5T shirt. Resize yours according to your shirt size.
Step 5: Click “Make it”. Mirror all 3 of the images. Then, select “Iron-on” from the materials menu.
Step 6: Place the black heat transfer vinyl on the cutting mat with the liner side facing down. Then, add it to your Cricut (or Silhouette) machine to cut. Repeat this step with the pink heat transfer vinyl. Next, change the material to “Glitter Iron-on" with more pressure, place it on the cutting mat with the liner side facing down, and add it to your machine to cut.
Step 7: Trim down all of the vinyl designs and weed the negative.
Step 8: To add the pink heat transfer vinyl to your shirt, heat up your EasyPress (or iron) to 315-320 degrees. Add your design to the center of the shirt with a Teflon sheet on top. Then, heat for 15-20 seconds applying medium to medium firm pressure.
Step 9: Let the liner cool for 20-30 seconds and then peel it off. If your design is not completely adhered, place the liner back down and heat if for a few more seconds until it sticks. Then, place the outlined unicorn design on top of the pink vinyl and heat it for 15-20 seconds with the Teflon sheet on top. Remove the liner after 20-30 seconds.
Step 10: Change the EasyPress (or iron) temperature to 300 degrees. Place the glitter vinyl inside of the unicorn and press for 25 seconds with the Teflon sheet on top. Then, remove the Teflon sheet, let the design cool for 1 minute, and remove the carrier sheet.
This is the perfect shirt for National Unicorn Day (or any day of the year!). I love mixing different types of heat transfer vinyl. The gold glitter heat transfer vinyl really pops against the regular pink vinyl. Just think what a cute gift this would make even after National Unicorn Day!
The below tutorial shows you all of the steps to make your very own National Unicorn Day Shirt using heat transfer vinyl. Check it out!
About the Author
Meghan Quinones
Meghan lives in Chicago with her husband and 4 year old twins. She is obsessed with making and creating the look for less. Pretty much every decor piece in her home is something she either made or upcycled. She started her blog to inspire everyone who visits her online creative space to create in their own lives.