Do you love things made from waste material? If using up all of those scraps makes you giddy, we have you covered! I am crafting with all of those small scrap vinyl and iron-on pieces today. Even the REALLY small ones can be used to create something amazing. So, gather up all of those bits hidden in your drawer and make one of these 5 projects. After all, crafting for less money is basically the best part of crafting.
Want even more ideas? Try these Cricut project ideas using what you already have around your home.
Things Made From Waste Material
First, if you want to see all of the Cricut ideas in one place, you can just watch the video below. I am making all five of these scrap busting projects.
Can’t watch the video or want to see more? You can also follow along with the projects below. I am also including a table of contents in case you want to skip to any of the projects easily.
Table of Contents
- All of the Scrap Vinyl Craft Ideas
- Scrap Vinyl Terrazzo Inspired Frame
- Scrap Vinyl Sprinkles Coffee Mug
- Scrap Vinyl Geometric Elephant Art
- All of the Scrap Iron-on Craft Ideas
- Scrap Iron-on Heart Zipper Pouch
- Scrap Iron-on Rainbow Banner
Scrap Vinyl Craft Ideas
First, I will share three ideas for scrap vinyl. Now, these can also be used for scrap iron-on but I am using my vinyl stash for these three. Hopefully, these will help you think outside of the box when it comes to things made from waste material.
Terrazzo Inspired Frame Idea
Cut random triangles from scrap vinyl and add to any surface. Here we are using them to make a picture frame but this same idea can be used on a wide variety of surfaces.
Supplies
- Wood picture frame
- Adhesive vinyl any scrap pieces that you have
- Scissors
- Paint
- Paintbrush
Instructions
- Start by painting the wood frame in any color you choose. Allow to dry completely before continuing. This same technique can be used on a wide variety of surfaces so don't think you are only limited to frames.
- Then gather any scrap vinyl that you have laying around. The colors just need to work well together as well as in your home's decor. This one is perfect for those small, tiny pieces that are around the edges of the projects you cut on your Cricut.
- Use your scissors to cut the scrap pieces into small triangle pieces. You want these to be varying sizes and shapes.
- Once the paint is dry, start peeling the backing from the triangles and sticking them to the painted frame.
- Continue all the way around the frame adding your random triangles in various colors.
- Once you are happy with the look, your terrazzo inspired photo frame is complete!
You have just completed the first of our ideas for things made from waste material. That one was so easy! I have another project that is just as easy that you are going to love.
Sprinkles Coffee Mug Idea
Those super small scraps can be made into confetti in seconds and then used to decorate a coffee mug or just about any other surface you can dream up. Does your life need more sprinkles? Then be sure to save those scraps.
Supplies
- White coffee mug
- Adhesive vinyl any scraps that you have
- Scissors
Instructions
- This is also a project that is perfect for those small areas around the projects you cut on your Cricut. Save all of those tiny bits and cut them into strips.
- Then cut them into confetti pieces. You can just do these steps with scissors.
- Apply the sprinkles of vinyl to your coffee mug by peeling away the backing paper and sticking into place. You will want to make sure to use permanent vinyl for this. I have found that it works best on coffee mugs. You can see my comparison here.
- Just continue around the bottom of your mug until you are happy with the look. Your cute confetti coffee mug is complete and it just uses pieces you might have thrown out anyway!
Now that I have shown you two super simple projects to make with vinyl scraps, I thought I would share a more complicated one as well.
Scrap Vinyl Geometric Elephant
This one is stunning when you get done but it will take more time than the previous two Cricut ideas above. Save all of your scraps and turn them into some geometric art with an elephant head shape or let your imagination lead you to a design you love. Yes, things made from waste material can be this stunning!
Equipment
- BrightPad (optional)
- Pencil
- Scraper
Supplies
- Adhesive vinyl black and assorted other scrap pieces
- Cut file more info below
- Transfer tape
- Wood slice
Instructions
- First, you will need to cut the geometric shape itself from black vinyl. You can find the cut file by going to my Cricut Design Space profile and scrolling to "Cricut Ideas Using Scraps" or you can search geometric in Cricut Design Space for a ton of options. I do recommend one with thick lines to help hide your vinyl edges. NOTE: The triangles that the Cricut cut out of this elephant head are perfect to use for another terrazzo inspired frame like the one above.
- Once your piece is weeded, it is time to start using those small scrap pieces to fill it in. You will need to cut a piece to fit each of the shapes. I like using my Cricut BrightPad for tracing things like this but you can use another light source or even a window.
- Trace around each shape with a pencil then use scissors to cut it out. You want your cut lines to fall approximately in the middle of the black lines but the cuts do not have to be perfect because this is fairly forgiving.
- Continue these same steps until you have scrap pieces cut for each shape. You can use as many colors as you want here. I will also note that for super small shapes, I just used one color to cover multiple places in order to keep it simple.
- Now it is time to get this transferred to our wood slice. The first thing I recommend is to turn your pieces upside down to the side in the same order they go on your elephant. Do this backward as it will make more sense once you have your vinyl on the transfer tape. So the pieces on the right-hand side of the elephant are now on the left once turned upside down.
- So, once you have everything ready for the transfer tape, it will look something like the image below.
- You will then need to put the elephant onto the transfer tape. You can see more about working with transfer tape here. Then add each of the vinyl scrap pieces by peeling away the backing and putting it STICKY SIDE UP onto the transfer tape.
- Repeat with all of your vinyl pieces until you are left with something that looks like the image below. These should all have the sticky side out so it is ready to add to your wood slice.
- Place on your wood slice, burnish down well with a scraper, and start peeling back the transfer tape to reveal the design on your wood slice.
- Then go over the entire thing with a scraper again once the transfer tape has been removed.
- Your geometric vinyl art is ready to put anywhere in your home!
This is one of those stunning projects that may take some time to make but it is so worth it in the end. Now, I have used vinyl with all of these things made from waste material but you can use iron-on as well. That last project, you will have to iron on each of those pieces individually but the results will be amazing.
Scrap Iron-On Craft Ideas
Ready for two more ideas using Cricut scraps? This time I am using scrap iron-on for two projects you are going to love.
Heart Zipper Pouch and Rainbow Banner
I am actually going to use my Cricut machine to cut the iron-on for both projects at once so we can chat a little about nesting and using small scraps to create projects with rainbows, hearts, circles, hexagons, and so much more.
Equipment
- Cricut EasyPress
- Hot Glue and a Glue Gun
Supplies
- Cricut Iron-on various scrap pieces
- Banner flags
- Zipper pouch
- Cut file info below
- Twine
Instructions
- My top things to cut from small scraps are rainbows and then various shapes like hearts, circles, hexagons, and more. All of these easily nest in Cricut Design Space and you can cut them while you are cutting your project. Then just throw the random shapes in a zip topped bag to use however you want. Rainbows are great because they nest well and you can do non-traditional colors as well. For instance, in the pieces shown, I was able to nest four various rainbows and 5 hearts on each tiny scrap piece.
- You can find the cut file in my Cricut Design Space profile and scrolling to "Cricut Ideas Using Scraps". You will need to move the pieces once you hit "make it" to nest the way I have shown. If you didn't know, you can move the pieces on the mat before cutting. You can also use SnapMat for locating cuts when working with multiple scrap pieces. Be sure to mirror your cut and place the shiny side down on the mat for iron-on. Then weed away all excess material.
- Then cut the carrier sheet so you have individual pieces and place them on your projects. I am randomly adding the hearts to the pouch. For the rainbows, I made each of them in a different order to optimize my material as I was dealing with small scraps.
- You can then start pressing your designs. I did the zipper pouch with the hearts first. Be sure to look up the time and temperature for the iron-on you are using on the Cricut Heat Guide. Then you can follow our guide here for the application.
- Once you press and allow to cool, remove the carrier sheets from each heart to complete your zipper pouch.
- The rainbow is a bit more complicated as the various colors touch. You will need to press each one separately. I find that starting with the largest is the best.
- Just press each of the layers from the front for the recommended time, allow to cool and remove the carrier sheet. Add the next layer and cover BOTH layers with carrier sheets before repeating the pressing process. You want to repeat this for all of the rainbow layers. Once you have them all in place, remove all of the carrier sheets and turn over to press from the back.
- Repeat the same process for as many flags as you want in your banner.
- Turn over the flags and attach each to twine using a bit of hot glue at the top.
- Then your banner is complete and ready for your home's decor.
So, use these things made from waste material to use up those vinyl and iron-on scraps you might have around your craft room. You will be so happy to have made something useful out of even the smallest of pieces.
I hope these ideas will inspire you to keep all of your scraps and use them in creative ways. You can do so much with those small pieces that you might be throwing away today.
So, keep a scrap bin and get creative with those small pieces. I know that you can make these things made from waste material for your home or to give as gifts.
Love these things made from waste material and want more ideas? Try the links below as well!
- DIY Backpacks with Personality
- How to Use Heat Transfer Vinyl on Napkins
- How to Make Mason Jar Lid Coasters
- Mason Jar Soap Dispenser DIY Project
- Wood Wall Art with Cricut Iron-on
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Great projects! Looking forward to making the confetti coffee cups since I have some plain white ones. Question: Once I adhere the permanent vinyl, can I put these cups through the dishwasher?
I have without issue! Hand washing will of course make them last longer but I just like popping them in the dishwasher. Be sure to wait like 72 hours before washing them to let the adhesive get really stuck in place.
Do you think i can do contour with the elephant peices and have the cricut cut the scraps?
They only thing with that is you will have to line them up PERFECTLY in each hole. I didn’t want to do that.