Instructions

1. Download and unzip the keychain and earrings SVG folder. Upload the keychain or earrings SVG file to Cricut Design Space.
2. Click the MAKE IT button.
3. When Design Space asks how you will load the materials for this project, select ON MAT.
4. In the mat preview screens, click on both mats and toggle the mirror button to ON. (This is for when you are cutting faux leather and heat transfer vinyl for the project. If you are using faux leather and permanent vinyl instead, only mirror the faux leather mat.)
5. Now return to each mat and drag the shapes apart from the edges and each other slightly. Make a note of what size material you'll need to cut to place on the mat and cut the shape completely.
6. When you've done this for each mat, click back on the faux leather mat. Click CONTINUE.
7. I like to cut the faux leather mat first. Choose Faux Leather (Paper Thin) as the material setting. If you don't have this setting selected, click "Browse All Materials" and search for it. (On the Explore Air 2, turn your dial to Custom so you can see the Faux Leather material choice.) Then choose "more" from the Pressure drop down menu.
8. Trim a piece of faux leather to the size you noted in the mat preview screen. Place it "pretty" side down on a sticky purple strong grip mat. Tape the faux leather down on all sides with blue painter's tape.
9. Load the mat into the Cricut and press the C button to begin the cut. When the cut is complete, BEFORE unloading the mat, use a sharp object like a weeding tool to lift up the corner of a cut to see if it went all the way through. If it did, unload the mat. If not, repeat the cut by pressing the C button again. On a Joy, you'll repeat the cut by clicking on "Rerun" on the screen in Design Space.
10. Remove the cut shapes from the mat. Trim away any fuzz with small sharp scissors. Color the edges of the faux leather if desired with a color coordinated Sharpie marker.
11. Return to Design Space and cut the vinyl mat using a green standard grip cutting mat. Place heat transfer vinyl shiny side down. I use the Vinyl setting or the Washi Sheet setting with "default" pressure for regular heat transfer vinyl. I use the Glitter Vinyl setting with "default" pressure for glitter heat transfer vinyl and I repeat the cut once if the glitter is thick (Siser brand). For permanent vinyl, I use the Vinyl setting with "default" pressure (make sure mats are NOT mirrored).
12. Weed away the excess vinyl and cut the vinyl shapes apart.
13. Using a Cricut EasyPress Mini set on the "low" setting or an EasyPress set to 265 degrees, press the heat transfer vinyl layer onto the faux leather shape.
14. Place the vinyl layer onto the faux leather and cover with a cover sheet - Teflon sheet, butcher paper or parchment paper. Then press for 5-10 seconds. Remove the cover sheet and try to peel away the clear vinyl carrier sheet. If the vinyl lifts up, replace the clear carrier sheet and cover sheet and press again for 5-7 seconds.
15. Place the pressed faux leather shapes under something like book or your heat pressing pad for a minute or so after pressing to allow the keychain to cool flat.
16. For the keychain, thread a 1.25" key ring onto the middle section of the larger connected faux leather keychain shape.
17. Using fabric glue, carefully apply glue all over the back of just one of the keychain shapes, being careful to avoid getting glue on the center connecter shape.
18. Fold the connected keychain shape over so the keychain edges are touching and the edges line up neatly.
19. Place the glued bottom keychain layer under something heavy like a book to dry for several hours.
20. To attach an optional tassel, use a 10mm jump ring and flat nose pliers to connect the tassel to the key ring.
21. For the earrings, use flat nose jewelry pliers to turn the bottom loop of the earring hook 90 degrees so your earrings will hang straight.
22. Then use the pliers to open a 6mm jump ring. Use the jump ring to connect the earring to the earring hook.