Updated on July 23, 2024
Fall Reverse Canvas | Cricut Explore Air 2. Make an easy iron-on sign for your autumn decor. Plus, learn 5 things I love about my Cricut Explore Air 2.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
Earlier this week I shared a Cricut Gift Guide for the holiday season. It is geared towards beginning crafters and I featured the Cricut Explore Air 2. My Cricut machines are some of my most used and loved tools in my craft room. I use them on a weekly basis for all types of craft and party projects. I use it for so much more than I even share here on the blog.
Today, I am going to tell you 5 reasons I love my Cricut Explore Air 2, plus show you how to make an easy reverse canvas for fall. It is a great beginner project if you just purchased a machine.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Please read my full disclosure policy here. Thank you to Cricut for sponsoring this post and for providing me with a machine.
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5 Things I Love About My Cricut Explore Air 2
The Cricut Explore Air 2 is the latest model in the Cricut Explore family. It can cut hundreds of different materials while providing precision cuts. You can use it to score, write, and cut. It comes in a variety of beautiful colors to match your craft space.
1. The Explore Air 2 can cut hundreds of materials with precision
Beginning to advanced crafters will love the versatility of all the materials this machine can cut. My favorites are cardstock, vinyl, and iron-on, but I have also used it to cut felt, glitter cardstock, stickers, bonded fabric, faux leather, and even duct tape.
See all materials the Cricut Explore Air 2 can cut
The fine point blades allow you to cut light to medium weight materials up to 2.0 mm thick quickly and accurately, down to the smallest detail. I have cut intricate designs easily with no tearing.
2. The Explore Air 2 Cuts 2x Faster
The Cricut Explore Air 2 comes with Fast Mode. You can cut and write up to 2X faster than older Explore models. You can use this feature with materials on the Smart Set dial from Vinyl to Cardstock+.
It may not seem like it matters much to have a cutting machine that works faster, but when you are making multiples of a project it really adds up.
I love using this feature with my Cricut pens. I use them to create party favors, invitations, menus, and cards. When I need to create many items for a party or event, this feature saves me a lot of time!
3. The Explore Air 2 Can Score and Write
You can both score and write easily with the Explore Air 2 using the double tool holder. Keep your fine point or deep cut blade in one holder and use the second for a scoring tool or pen.
The scoring tool works great for creating score lines in cards and other paper projects. You can use the pens to write on any surface under 2.0 mm thick you can load onto your mat.
4. The Cricut Explore Air 2 is wireless
I mostly create my projects in my craft room, but sometimes I like to do things at the kitchen table or in the living room. Having a machine that is wireless allows me to easily move it around without having extra cords in the way.
Cricut Design Space works on my iPad, Android phone, and laptop. Since the Cricut Explore Air 2 has built-in Bluetooth® wireless technology, I can even create something in the living room and send it to my craft room.
5. Cricut Design Space and Cricut Access
The Explore Air 2 uses Cricut Design Space software to create designs. The software is easy enough for a beginning crafter to use. The Design Space library now has over 100,000 images and 400+ fonts. You can also upload your own images and fonts to the software.
Learn Cricut Design Space Basics
Recently, Cricut updated the cloud-based software so you can also use it off-line on your computer in a beta version of Cricut Design Space for Desktop.
To get the greatest value out of your Explore Air 2 machine, I recommend purchasing a Cricut Access subscription. You gain access to over 100,000 images and 400 fonts for one low monthly fee. It is rare that I can’t find a design I want to use that is not included with my subscription. You also receive 10% off product purchases!
How to Make a Fall Reverse Canvas
Now that you know some of the reasons why I love my machine so much, let’s make something! I am going to show you how to create a fall reverse canvas sign. Canvases can be purchased inexpensively. Sometimes I even have scraps of iron-on leftover from previous projects that work for these smaller designs.
Supplies:
- Linen Canvas
- Craft Knife
- Paint
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- LightGrip (or StandardGrip) Mat
- Foil Iron-On – Emerald Green, Espresso, Rose Gold
- EasyPress 2 and Mat (or Iron)
Prepare Reverse Canvas
To make any reverse canvas you start by deconstructing your purchased canvas. You can either pull out the staples using a flat head screwdriver and pliers or simply cut the canvas off the back. Cutting it off with a craft knife is my preferred method.
Be sure to trim any excess canvas that you see on the inner portion of the frame as well. Then, cut your canvas to fit the outside dimensions of the frame using the fold lines as a guide.
Paint or stain your frame whatever color you would like. I Rose Gold metallic acrylic paint. Allow to dry.
Create Iron-On Design
Next, open up the fall reverse canvas file in Cricut Design Space. Click customize to size the design to your frame. You want to measure the inside of the frame opening to know exactly how large to make your design. I found my designs for this canvas on the Pumpkin Farm cartridge.
Cricut Design Space File: Autumn Reverse Canvas
Note: I attached the same color designs together so it would be easier to line up on my canvas. I trim the excess with my paper trimmer and scissors and leave just a small strip of the liner to attach everything so I can save the cut-out pieces for scraps. If you want to cut out each item individually to save foil ungroup the project and click detach for each layer.
Click Continue. On the mat preview page, be sure to select mirror for every mat. Click Continue.
Turn the Smart Set Dial to Custom. Choose Foil Iron-on from the drop-down menu. Select Fast Mode to cut your designs even faster.
Load your first foil color liner side down and cut out the design. Repeat this process for all three colors.
Trim your iron-on and weed the excess using a weeding tool.
Place the design on your canvas and use the EasyPress 2 to attach the design. Set the temperature to 295°.
Then, place the EasyPress on the design for 30 seconds. Flip the canvas over and heat the backside for 15 seconds. Once the design has completely cooled, peel off the protective liner.
Interactive Heat Guide for EasyPress
Note: Since there is no linen setting on the heat guide, I chose 100% cotton and tested a small piece of the cut canvas and a scrap of foil. The setting worked great!
Once you have ironed on your design staple the canvas to the back of the frame.
Reverse canvases are so easy and inexpensive to make.
There are so many beautiful phrase designs you can use for creating home decor signs in Cricut Design Space. Did you know you can filter your search to only include phrases? Simply type your search term in the search bar, then select Filter and choose Phrases from the menu.
CRICUT ACCESS SUBSCRIPTION
Purchase a Cricut Access Subscription to save! You’ll get unlimited access to the growing library of over 1,000,000+ cut and print images and over 1200 fonts. You’ll also receive a 10% discount on licensed content like Disney®, Marvel®, Star Wars™, Harry Potter™, and more. Plus, save 10% on cricut.com and subscriber-only exclusives. Get free shipping on orders over $50 and 20% off materials with a Premium membership. Learn more.
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