Organizing My Craft Closet With Cricut

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

How I Knew I Needed To Become An Organizer

I’ve been a “crafter” ever since I was a kid. For as long as I can remember, I was always creating something. My mother is an elementary school teacher, and I always loved going with her to the “teacher store” (as I called it) so I could play with the die-cut machine. I loved punching out letters and pictures, then I’d go home with my paper bounty and label everything in my room with them. Should’ve known then that I’d become a professional organizer, huh? 

That die-cut machine brought young-ish me into the world of scrapbooking, and I learned how to make albums by watching hosts do product demos on QVC. It was a little bit later that I heard about some elusive thing called a Cricut that cut out words and pictures like the die-cut machine did, but on its own. No struggling to chomp down a big lever and aligning four layers of wood and foam. I wanted one SO bad, but I never got one. Until now.

Here I am, a grown woman, living out that teenage dream of cutting out vinyl letters and sticking them on things. Wait, that wasn’t your teenage dream? Oh…

Did you get a new Cricut machine for Christmas? There’s a new post that has you covered for how to set it up, get started, and everything you need to know as a beginner. Click here to read it!

Taking Cricut Maker For A Test Run

I recently partnered with Cricut to try out their new Cricut Maker and test some home organization methods with it. Oh. My. Gosh. Y’all. My labeling game has just upleveled times ten. I may never break out my old label maker again.

Design Space

I watched all the YouTube videos and read all the manuals and talked to all the Crafters on Twitter. I was ready. I got that bad boy hooked up and paired with my computer (and my phone and my iPad, because I’m a nerd like that) and immediately dove into the creation process. Cricut Makers work with a program called Design Space. It’s essentially a way to visualize what you’re going to print by seeing it on a virtual cutting mat. It was super easy to navigate once I figured out the measurement process, and I was already into the printing process in less than ten minutes.

Printing

I knew I wanted to make some labels to dress up my craft closet makeover project, so after a few test runs of random printing on cardstock, I jumped right in and loaded up the vinyl. I wanted to make big, bold, dramatic words for my storage containers, but I also wanted it to look clean and minimal. After I picked out the font and measured the containers, I just typed the words I wanted to use into Design Space and hit the big C button on the Maker. And just like that, this sweet angel of technology was doing all the work for me while I sat back with a bag of Panera chips and a cup of coffee. (Classy snack, right?)

Prepping Vinyl Labels

Ok, I’ll be honest, in my naïve little mind, I thought I could just peel off the vinyl and slap it on the containers in a few minutes. While the installation process was very easy, it did take a bit of time to master. First you have to peel off the outer layer of vinyl from around your cut letters with an adorably tiny spatula, then you’ve got to use this little tool called a weeder that looks like a dental scraper to get the rest of the inner pieces out of the letters. I had a little help from Cricut’s BrightPad, which is probably my favorite accessory because it makes these C+ eyes of mine function like an A-.

**I would say I’m excited to use it again, but my artist son has already stolen it from me for sketch practice. Side note, if your kid loves to draw, better get two of these or you won’t have yours for long. I’m about to order another this weekend for that very reason.

Read More: Small Linen Closet Organization With Cricut

Applying Transfer Tape

After the letters are the only thing remaining on the vinyl backing, you’ve got to put transfer tape on top of the vinyl letters and smush down with a scraper, as if you’re installing that giant 6ft tall Incredible Hulk Fathead in your son’s room. (Come on, I know my kid isn’t the only one that jumped on the Fathead bandwagon.) Then you pull off the backing and finally stick the letters on the container. All this was really easy and I had no problems at all, until I started trying to remove the transfer tape. That took a few trial and error runs before I figured out how to peel it off without ripping anything. But by the time I got to container number 3 of 6, I had it down pat and I was rolling along.

Read More: Small Linen Closet Organization With Cricut

My Craft Closet Organization System With The Cricut Maker

Ta-da! Who would’ve thought a closet full of fabric scraps, strips of paper, pieces of yarn, and an arsenal of imitation dental tools could be this pretty? But here’s the deal, although I’m all grown up and haven’t touched a scrapbook in years, I still love doing crafts. And so does my kiddo. I create a lot of DIY organizers for my home, and I help my organization clients create things for their homes as well. So this closet is always getting some action, at least once a week.

I can’t stand to not be able to find something when I need it, so a slurry of containers and bins was a non-negotiable for me. I started with an adjustable closet system and added shelving at various heights to hold containers and equipment.

And for my brand new Cricut Maker and all its fancy accessories and supplies, I picked up this rolling cart to store it all. The drawers are perfect for keeping all the rolls of vinyl, fabric, ribbon, charging cords, and various craft supplies. And since the Cricut Maker has its own built-in storage for its tools, I was able to use the rest of the drawers for things like paint brushes, washi tape, hot glue guns, and adhesives.

See what I store inside every drawer of this cart in this updated blog post.

I really like that cart because I can just roll it straight out of the closet when I want to use it without having to pull out all the stuff from shelves. I’ll be real with you, that Maker is hea-vy! If I had to drag it out of a closet from a high shelf every time, I probably wouldn’t use it very often. Since it’s on a cart with wheels, I never have to pick it up at all. And everything I need to get going is right underneath.

**Update** Here’s The Cart I Used:

What’s Next For The Craft Closet?

The removable wallpaper really added a fun and unexpected pop of color to the closet, and the vinyl labels on the containers give it a sense of class without being too “labely” (Is labely a thing? Because if not, it is now.). I plan on using the Cricut Maker to print smaller labels for the drawers on the cart, as well as adding some numbers to my paper boxes. I’m also thinking I may pop a small pegboard in one section as well, but I’m not really sure if that’s needed.

Either way, keep an eye out on my blog and Instagram for more Craft Room progress!

Read More: Small Linen Closet Organization With Cricut

My Honest Opinion Of The Cricut Maker

Here it is BFF’s, my honest opinion of the Cricut Maker. Before you go thinking I’m going to give it tons of love because this is a sponsored post, step back a second, because they said I’m allowed to tell you whatever I think. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Truthfully, whether Cricut and I had partnered on this project or not, I really only have awesome things to say about the company and the machine.

The prep process was super easy, the installation was a breeze after a bit of trial and error, and the result is absolutely flawless. I can’t wait to practice a little more on other areas of my house, and once I’m a seasoned pro, you better believe I’ll be hauling this bad boy to my client’s houses to turn their pantries into Pinterest phenomenons.

While I’ve only practiced with paper and vinyl, the Cricut Maker actually cuts fabric, too, and I’m really excited to make some cool things with leftover fabric I’ve got stashed away. And you can do so much more than just adhere labels onto plastic containers (although if you’re hanging with me, I hope your end game is to use the Cricut to organize your house).

You can add embellishments to clothes, pillows, wood, glass, and practically anything non-porous. You can also make some awesome paper crafts, gifts, and open up that handmade Etsy shop you’ve always dreamed of. I’m very impressed with the wide range of capabilities of this machine. It has far exceeded my expectations, and is so much more than a fancy die-cut machine for scrapbookers.

I’ve already got a full page of things I want to make with the Cricut Maker, so get ready to see some sweet labeling systems on the blog soon! (Think linen closets, laundry rooms, and kids’ storage!)

If you’ve got a Cricut machine of your own, get excited, because I’ll be sharing all the templates and labels I make for free with anyone who’d like to use them. And if you don’t have a Cricut yet, Girl, you need this. For real, this is the secret ingredient to every single one of the organization photos you’ve pinned lately.

Read More: Small Linen Closet Organization With Cricut

Where To Snag A Cricut Maker

You can pick up a Cricut Maker at most major craft stores like Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and JoAnn’s, as well as Walmart and Amazon. (And hey Canadian Buds, while you can only shop at Michael’s right now, I’ve got the inside scoop that you’ll be able to get the Maker from Walmart and Costco soon!) But the best place to get one is directly from the Cricut website. They tend to have the best deals, run sales often, and sell bundle packs like this one that comes with literally everything you need to start making tons of projects. I have the Champagne model, for reference, but it also comes in blue and rose.

I received the bundled package with the extra tools and materials, and I really think that is the easiest route to go. There are so many different tools and project materials available through Cricut and I think one could easily get overwhelmed when trying to decide what to buy first. I highly recommend getting a bundle so you don’t have to stress over what you’ll need to buy separately. The experts at Cricut have paired up these bundles with the best starter pieces so you can get your feet wet without panicking from material overload.

If you want to learn more about the Cricut Maker and everything it can do, visit their info page here for all the details, tips, tricks, and projects.

Did you get a new Cricut machine for Christmas? There’s a new post that has you covered for how to set it up, get started, and everything you need to know as a beginner. Click here to read it!

Your Turn To Weigh In

Do you have a Cricut machine? Or were you the teen that always dreamed of having one like I was? Flip-flopping on whether it’s worth the investment? I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions, as well as some tips from Cricut veterans who’ve been making stuff since day one. Let’s get the conversation started below in the comments and chat about all things Cricut.

Prefer a weekly chat? Subscribe to my free Cricut newsletter for even more projects, reviews, and hacks every Wednesday.

**Update: Here’s The Link To The Cart I Used For The Cricut Maker**

See what I store inside every drawer of this cart in this updated blog post.

Want More Cricut Inspo?

See All Of My Cricut Projects HERE!

Want More Craft Room Setup And Organization Tips?

The next semester of The Organized-ish Craft Room is open! This is my self-paced workshop-style training for how to plan, set up, organize, and maintain your craft space, no matter how big or small it is. If your craft room (or closet, or dining room nook) needs some serious organization, this course is for you. Enrollment fills up quickly, so grab your spot while you still can.