This post is sponsored by Cricut. All opinions are my own.
Back to school is one of my favorite times of the year, and I was even more excited this year since it gave our family a little bit of a sense of normalcy. My kids stayed virtual all last year, so going back to school this year was a big change- and a welcome one!
We always like kicking off the year by giving the teacher a gift, and this year was no exception. We went with something simple at the beginning of the school year but now that we’re a month in, I made something special for her classroom! Getting back into the classroom with a bunch of second graders who haven’t been in a classroom since mid-kindergarten has to be difficult, so I wanted to make a small and thoughtful gift that would show her that we know how hard she’s working and maybe make her life just a little bit easier- a “Welcome to My Classroom” sign!
This fun classroom welcome sign is not only cute but functional- teachers can update it every day with a dry erase marker to show students at a glance the information they need. Instead of having to answer these common questions multiple times a day, they can just encourage students to get used to reading the sign when they come in for the day and any time they want to know what day of the week it is, what special they have that day, or what’s on the lunch menu!
The great thing about making crafts with Cricut is that you can really customize things however you want, so you could make this same project for a variety of uses. But since it’s back to school season and we have teacher gifts on the mind, that’s what I’m sharing down below!
How to Make a Welcome to My Classroom Light-Up Sign
Supplies You’ll Need:
-Shadow Box
-Battery-powered twinkle lights
-Strong bond tape
-1 piece of scrapbook paper
–Cricut Premium Vinyl {I used Black}
–Cricut Transfer Tape
–Cricut Standard Grip Mat
–Cricut Weeding Tool
–Cricut Scraper
-Dry erase marker
You’ll also need:
-Cricut Machine {I used my Cricut Explore Air 2}
–Cricut Design Space {Tip: I recommend Cricut Access Premium so you have a large variety of font options!}
How to Make It:
1. First, use Design Space to make your text. You can use my template found here– change the teacher’s name and do any other customizations you’d like and then you’re good to go!
2. Set your machine to Vinyl, load your Cricut Premium Vinyl onto your Cricut Standard Grip Mat, and follow the on-screen directions to cut out your design. Pull the excess vinyl off your mat, then use the Cricut Weeding Tool to remove extra pieces.
3. Place the Cricut Transfer Tape over your text and use the Cricut Scraper Tool to adhere it. Add it to the front of your shadowbox frame, using the Cricut Scraper Tool as needed to apply. {Note: I did this AFTER assembling the inside of the box but it’s easier to do this part first!}
4. Cut out your scrapbook paper to the size of your shadowbox mat- I used my Cricut Explore Air 2 to cut out the perfect rectangle! Stick the paper to the back of your shadowbox- my shadowbox came with pins to adhere it but you could also use glue or tape, depending on your shadowbox.
5. Add the twinkle lights to the inside of the shadowbox, making sure to bend the wires as needed to get the lights throughout the frame. Grab the battery pack and feed it through the back of the shadowbox- mine had enough clearance for the string lights cord to go through but if needed you could make a small hole to feed it through.
6. Use strong bond tape to adhere the string lights to the top of the inside of the frame so it’s not pulling. Then replace the back and use the tape to stick the battery pack to the back of the frame for easy access to turn the lights on and off. Make sure you don’t tape the battery compartment shut!
Whether you’re a teacher with a classroom to decorate or a parent wanting to give a thoughtful- and useful- gift to your child’s teacher, I hope this gave you some inspiration!
Looking for more fun crafts you can make with Cricut? Check these out:
DIY Dessert Charcuterie Board
DIY Popcorn Bowl
DIY Paper Cactus
DIY Tote Bag
DIY Coffee Tumbler
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