I am totally in love with this whole post, you guys. I mean… my kids are looking pretty darn cute in their new shirts (IMHO), but these shirts were SO easy and affordable to make but look like they came from a rad Instagram kids’ store (you know the ones I’m talking about!). This post is hardly a DIY… mostly a couple free print files for you. But if you haven’t worked with iron on vinyl before- you’ll love the step by step because you NEED to get your hands on some. These XO shirts are not only perfect for valentine’s day, but I really think being black and white- they’re wearable all year round. And my kids will be wearing these until they grow out of them… because mama said so.
(pssst. as an aside… we’re almost done our basement and do you see the fun industrial lights we put down there? I can’t wait until the whole space is done to share with you! We’re just building some rockin shelving for down there, then the room will be move-in ready!)
To make your own XO shirts, you’ll need:
- Shirts of your choosing (I just got the multi packs of under shirts)
- Iron on vinyl (I always get mine from Expressions Vinyl, it has the best price and I’ve always had success with it)
- Free print file (grab them below)
- Cricut Explore Air™, similar cutting machine, or patience and a craft knife
- Weeding tool or a craft knife (I’m cheap so I use my craft knife)
- Iron
- Heart balloons are optional but totally recommended
Alright, start by downloading your print files. You can grab the XOXOXOHeart one right here, and the Geometric XO one right here. These are PNG images so that you can use them without a cutting machine… it also means that you can print them on to anything, so please- they’re for personal use only!
Okay, log into your Cricut Design Space™ for your cutting machine and upload the images as simple images (cut file only). Then you can size them how you like. I chose to size the kids ones for just under 6″ wide and the onesie one about 3″ wide (I would have done wider if it was the XOXOXOHeart image). When you’re printing iron on vinyl, make sure to put the shiny side DOWN and check the ‘print reverse’ box. I have done it backwards many times *sigh*. When they’re done cutting, weed out the negative space leaving only the design you’d like to iron on. If you are cutting with a craft knife, you’d have to be super careful not to cut through the shiny plastic as well.
Lay your designs on to your shirts and iron with even pressure for 10 seconds before peeling the plastic back. Then… enjoy your awesome new shirt! I love that there’s no shiny ‘clear’ where your design isn’t (like traditional iron on paper). These look like legit t-shirts, you guys. I want to make a t-shirt for everything. And maybe that’s what I’m doing (you just haven’t seen them all yet!). Have you used iron on vinyl before? Have any photos of the shirts you’ve made? I’d love to see! I’d also love, love to see any XO shirts you make with these designs :)
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Therese says
Jan 20 at 3:35 pmCan I use the cameo to cut these? What size would you use for a onesie and size 6 tshirt? Thanks
Colleen Pastoor says
Jan 21 at 12:02 pmHi Therese! Yes it will work with any cutting machine since it’s a PNG image :) I always take the shirt I’m using and measure with a ruler then size it according to that!
Kathy says
Jan 27 at 10:26 amThis is exactly what I was looking for to try my first iron on for my grand daughter. Just got a Cricut and been a little afraid to “waste” a piece of vinyl.