On Halloween I like to hang a black light above our door in a paper lantern. The neighborhood kids really dig it. They hold out their costumed arms, stick out their legs and shoes, and move their treat bags around to look at the glow. It’s comical sweetness; the comments are downright funny but the awe is completely innocent. So with that in mind, I created this month’s Cricut Design Space submission – Holiday Home Decor & Gift Ideas – to entertaining local ghosts and goblins, big and small, with a glowing tray and bowl.

Supplies:
Black Tray
Black Bowl
White Vinyl (aka Linen in Cricut’s marketplace)*
Transfer Tape Sheets
Weeding Tool
Tweezers
Scissors
Light Grip Cutting Mat, 12×12″
Standard Grip Cutting Mat, 12×24″
Cricut Explore

Optional (to hang over doorway or table area):
Black Light
Black Lamp Shade or Paper Lantern

Cricut Design Space Links:
Tray // Small Bowl

Design & Cut:
After a lot of measuring and playing in Design Space, I came up with the webbed mask design by combining a few images. The above image is where the entire project started (just being real; not everything is creative magic here). I liked the idea of little white spiders crawling on the black bowl, but knew it needed something else. After playing with the mask in a separate file, the tray design was born.

Once the designs were done, I prepped the vinyl on the grip mats and let my Cricut Explore do the heavy lifting, while I grabbed a glass of wine. This is also a good time to make sure the tray and bowls are dust and smudge free.

Prepping the Vinyl:

Once the cutting was done, the patience test begins: removing the negative space vinyl. Pull up a chair, put on some good tunes, and grab the weeding tool, tweezers and scissors. I find it easiest to mentally divide a cut sheet into quadrants and move methodically from quadrant to quadrant.

Tip: Due to the size, I left the tray’s image on the mat to make it a little easier to remove the negative space. It prevents the non-sticky sheet from moving and curling as I lifted the negative vinyl. For the bowl’s images, I removed the vinyl sheet so I could easily cut pieces down to size, like sticker sheets.

Transfer & Placement:
For the tray’s design, after removing the negative material, I laid the transfer sheet over the design, used the rubbing stick to ensure it was properly secure to the sheet, said a small prayer, and slowly peeled the design off the vinyl’s back sheet. Once lifted, centered it over the tray and placed.

Tip: after pulling the design, I held the vertical sides of the transfer sheet and created a slight bend in the center (sticky side down); then centered it over the tray before sticking. Slowly “laid” the right side down, from the center to end while doing my best to remove any air bubbles. Then repeated the same to the left. Yes; you’ll wish for a third hand while placing large images on an object, but the transfer sheet helps quite a bit.

Tip: to find the center: measure the space, then mark it with painters tape so you can remove it easily and the tape won’t leave marks.

Once the design was in place, I rubbed the transfer sheet (and thus the design) again with a rubbing stick to secure it. Slowly removed the transfer tape – again starting in a corner, pulling at an angle slowly.

Tip: If there’s a little tear or rip, DON’T GIVE UP. Check and assess the damage. If you think it will be glaringly obvious, start over; but chances are you’ll be able to get away with it. Just FYI: I had two small tears in the tray’s webbing, but they’re not noticeable at all.

For the smaller images, I placed them on the bowls as I wished, and used either my fingers or the rubbing stick to secure them. I treated them like stickers and didn’t use the transfer sheet. I find it’s just easier and less time consuming.

ENJOY! Load up with a few special treats to serve guests at a Halloween party; or fill with tricks for the little ghosts and goblins when they come knocking on your door.

*Gently wipe off surfaces to clean once vinyl is placed. If you wish to use these items long term or expect them to be heavily handled, I’d suggest using a permanent vinyl.

Be sure to check out my team’s DIY projects as well! I’ll update as their posts go live: The Happy Scraps – Black & White Halloween Decor // Bree Johnson – Black & White Halloween Spider Table // Artzy Creations – Let it Snow Sign // Ameroonie Designs – Black & White Christmas Shadow Box // Seven Thirty Three – Hot Chocolate Bar // Brewed Together – Monogram Pumpkins // Everyday Party Magazine – Trick or Treat Halloween Sign // Pen N’ Paper Flowers – Mini Monster Milk Jars

Just a reminder to please visit Cricut’s Design Space Star board on Pinterest. My team and I truly deeply appreciate you repining our projects to your own boards from it (and yes, it can help us advance in the challenge – *wink*). By the way, here’s the link to my project’s pin on the board.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I’m also a member of Cricut’s Blogger Network. I may receive prizes in exchange for a winning project with Cricut Design Space Star. All opinions are 100% my own.

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