20 Beginner-Friendly Cricut DIYS

Getting a Cricut machine can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. But fear not! I have put together a bunch of projects for your crafting delight. Here are 20 beginner-friendly DIY crafts for you using your cutting machine!

And if you prefer to watch the projects as they happen, I have a video with all 20 projects for you, too.

As with all of my articles, there are affiliate links within this article to help make it easier for you to find the items that I am recommending. I am a participant in Amazon Affiliates, and if you click a link, I may receive a small commission from Amazon Affiliates.

1. Name Signs

Using wood blanks that you can find at Dollar Tree or online at Amazon, you can create name signs like these. I have 2 horses, and I like to switch up their stall signs periodically. It is easy to do using my Cricut Maker and a few supplies.

2. Paper Gift Boxes

You can add a little bit of vinyl to fancy up paper mache or cardboard gift boxes to make your gift-giving extra special and personal. You can find round boxes like these at Dollar Tree for a very affordable option.

3. Dollar Tree Blank Sign

On your next visit to Dollar Tree, I want you to think about the items you see differently. Don’t look at the finished piece they are selling you. Instead, look at what it can become. I made this sign with a Dollar Tree ‘blank.’ Or, a Dollar Tree sign that I repurposed into a piece of wood that I could use to make this sign.

It was a very simple project that I found on Cricut Design Space. I do have an access membership, which allows for a lot of different project ideas and even fonts. To me, the monthly charge is worth it.

Go 2 Crafts

And speaking of things that are worth it, Go2Crafts reached out to me and asked if I would try out their products for my crafts and tell them what I thought. I was happy with almost everything that was included in their Accessory Bundle.

The tools and the mats are fantastic. I haven’t used the markers or the vinyl sticker material yet. And the glitter vinyl that is included worked great for my crafting needs. And I did want to love the permanent vinyl – and it worked well once I got it off of the carrier sheet. But for the smaller, more intricate cutting patterns, I did have some difficulty with the carrier sheet staying attached to the vinyl. But once I removed it, the vinyl sticks very well. I think the paper carrier sheet or backing to the vinyl is the issue. I prefer a clear backing, but that’s just my preference.

But overall, I do feel that the Go2Craft Accessory Bundle is a good deal if you are just getting started with your Cricut crafting.

4. Personalized Notebook

I like to keep a small notebook in my purse. And being able to personalize a notebook is so much fun! I found this pocket-size notebook at Dollar Tree and added some glitter vinyl to make it special for me.

5. Treat Container

I love treat containers. I think my animals love them too. Because this is where the treats go! I added a cut-out design that I found on Design Space simply by searching for treat jars, and this one came up. If you aren’t quite sure what you want to make and aren’t confident in creating your own design, you can find lots of projects that others have created. Then you can tweak the design to be what you want it to be. That’s what I did with this adorable little design.

6. Chalk Board Easel

Sometimes you just need a little phrase to help motivate you to create. And I think this saying is perfect for this chalkboard easel that I have in my craft room. And I found the easel at my local Dollar Tree.

7. Dollar Tree Glass Containers

The glass containers at Dollar Tree are wonderful for applying some vinyl too, and making a treat container or two.

8. Craft Room Sign

Unfinished wood signs are fantastic for so many things. Earlier, I showed you how I made name plaques for my horses. I also found this craft room design to cut out with permanent vinyl.

9. HTV Monogram Wall Art

This is probably one of my favorite designs I have made. And getting really creative, I used a stretched canvas on a frame to create this piece of art. I got the canvas at Dollar Tree. But you can find these blank stretched canvas in multiple sizes and bundle packs on Amazon that are very affordable.

Beginner Cricut DIYs

I removed the canvas from the frame, and painted the frame with black chalk paint. Then I used the back of the canvas and ironed on the HTV vinyl. Then I reattached the canvas to the frame, added a hanger, and that’s it. An easy project that I was able to do in about 2 hours total.

10. Storage Case

I found this cute little multi-compartment storage container in the hardware section of Dollar Tree. And while it is small, it is a great little organizer to keep tiny things together.

And in case you are looking for a lot of DIY storage ideas, you should check out my blog post 18 Dollar Tree Storage Ideas and Hacks. I have a lot of ideas to help you create more storage. And they are easy to DIY!

11. Artsy Tile

I made this ’tile’ by taking a Dollar Tree 6 x 6 hardboard sign and painting it with chalk paint, and then applying a vinyl tile type sticker I created with permanent vinyl.

One thing I thought about after I put the vinyl on is how cool this would be if I had stenciled the design on it. I think that would look really nice too. It’s easy to do with a stencil material, like that which is included in the Go2Craft Accessory kit.

12. Child’s T-Shirt

When I first got started with my cutting machine, I really wanted to do iron-on transfers. But this was probably one of the projects that really intimidated me. I was afraid of the unknown. But let me tell you, creating your own designs for t-shirts is so much fun! It’s really easy too.

Beginner Cricut DIYs

And sometimes you can even find t-shirts at Dollar Tree. I got this adorable child’s t-shirt there and then added some glitter HTV for a little extra bling. I love how it turned out.

13. Adult T-Shirt

You can even find adult size T-shirts at Dollar Tree from time to time. I found a navy blue one and added a design that my husband helped me to create. This is now one of my favorite t-shirts to wear while I’m crafting. And well, if I’m being honest, I like to wear it all the time!

14. Cutting Board Decor

I am addicted to the HBO show Julia. I love to cook, and watching their version of Julia Child’s story is one of my favorite shows to watch. That is what inspired me to create this faux cutting board decor piece out of a Dollar Tree sign.

I simply painted and distressed the cutting board-shaped sign and added some permanent vinyl, a few plastic flower stems, and a jute twine bow. Again, an easy project for an afternoon. And I think it looks great in my kitchen.

15. Welcome Sign

This piece is a work in progress. I need to add a bow, but I don’t have the ribbon that I want. And I am too lazy to drive to town, and go to Hobby Lobby to buy it. I think I will look and see if I can find an affordable alternative on Amazon. That will save me a 2+ hour round trip into town.

But I found the unfinished wood round at Dollar Tree. You can buy them online too. And they make wonderful centers for wreaths, or you can add some embellishments and hang it on your front door on its own. They are more expensive online. And the 14″ unfinished wood rounds are cheaper than the 12″ for some reason. So, if you can find them at Dollar Tree, that is what I would recommend.

16. Framed Tile Art

Sometimes simple is better. And this whiteboard framed tile was perfect for a simple saying that I found in Design Space. I love it. It’s simple, but makes me think about spring.

17. Sublimation Designed Towels

I am just dipping my toes into the sublimation craze. But I thought it would be fun to add a little flair to a hand towel or two. I found these hand towels at Dollar Tree. And since I don’t have a sublimation printer. I found some prepared sublimation pieces to play around with at Amazon.

I don’t quite have a handle on the process yet, but I like how my towels turned out. And now I have some fancy towels to get dirty in my craft room!

18. Custom Spray Bottles

I found these small spray bottles at Dollar Tree. They were a great deal, a two-pack for $1.25. I added some permanent vinyl to help me tell the difference between alcohol and water. They both look the same in the bottle, right? Now I don’t have to guess. I will know what each bottle holds, thanks to my labeling.

19. DIY First Aid Kit

My daytime job is as a Registered Nurse. And I am a HUGE advocate of safety and first aid kits. You can never have enough first aid supplies. And I like to create my own first aid kits instead of buying prepared ones.

Beginner Cricut DIYs

And when I saw this glitter storage tote at Dollar Tree, I knew just what to put in it, first aid supplies! So I made a super cute first aid kit using a Dollar Tree organizer. It actually holds a lot of supplies too! I could see making this as a gift to give someone. Or creating one to keep in my car as well. You can never be too prepared in my opinion.

20. Wood Round for Wreaths

While I do love all of the projects I have shared with you, this one is my absolute favorite. I love the wreath I was able to make using a Dollar Tree round sign that I had. I made the round first and then secured it to a wreath that I already had. Next, I added a few extra faux stems that I had to make the wreath even fuller.

This is my most favorite wreath to hang on my front door. I actually look forward to a season without any holidays so I can keep this beautiful wreath on the door. I love it!

Beginner Cricut DIYs

So there you have it! 20 beginner-friendly Cricut DIYs that you can craft! All of these projects are easy to make. And honestly, you can get all 20 of them done in a weekend if you are motivated and ready to craft. That’s what I did. I was able to get all 20 of these crafts completed in 2 days!

Did I inspire you to use your cutting machine now? I hope so! I also hope I showed you how easy it is to come up with ways to use your cutting machine. The possibilities are endless. You just have to find a project that speaks to your heart and create it!

Happy Crafting!