How to Make an Iron-on Vinyl Teacher Appreciation Gift Bag With Cricut

Give a teacher appreciation gift in style! Here’s how to make an iron-on vinyl teacher appreciation gift bag with Cricut Maker. This project will also work with a Cricut Explore Air series machine. What gift will you place in the bag?

Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week of May. As a part of the PTO at my children’s school, we begin planning for Teacher Appreciation Week a few months in advance. For parents, I know that the busyness of life pushes Teacher Appreciation to the back burner sometimes, but I’m sharing a project today that can be completed at the last minute. I enjoy gifting purchased gifts but with a handmade touch. This DIY Iron-on Vinyl Teacher Appreciation Gift Bag fulfills that handmade element.

Thank you to DaySpring for sending over supplies to complete this project. This post includes affiliate links, which when purchased through, add no cost to the consumer but provide this site with a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I’m also including a few ideas of Teacher Appreciation gifts to pair with the bag, including the You Make a Difference: 50 Devos for Teachers book. This book is uplifting and inspiring for teachers who have a faith focus.

How to Make an Iron-on Vinyl Teacher Appreciation Gift Bag With Cricut

To make the bag, start by assembling the needed supplies:

Cricut machine- Any of the Explore Air models or Maker models will work!
Cricut StandardGrip Cutting Mat
Weeding Tool
Iron-on Vinyl – Your choice of colors!
Canvas bag
Cricut EasyPress
Cricut EasyPress mat
Measuring tape

Steps to Create:

Begin by measuring the front of the canvas bag. Determine the sizing that the finished design should cover. Jot this measurement down.

Open up Cricut Design Space and use this design file. Click “customize” and resign the design elements to fit within the measurement for the front of your specific bag.

Cut the design with the Cricut machine. Use the weeding tool to remove them from the Cutting Mat and to remove any unnecessary iron-on vinyl from the design. The project cuts here are simple, but there will be multiple paper switches for the various colors.

Next, it is time to adhere the design to the canvas bag. If you have never created an iron-on vinyl project before, read this article on Getting Iron-on Vinyl Projects Right the First Time. After you have read this (or if you are already an iron-on vinyl pro), then it is time to iron-on.

Lay the canvas bag on the Cricut EasyPress Mat. Head over to the Cricut Heat Guide and enter the information to determine the temperature and heat that you need for your specific supplies.

After pre-heating the canvas bag per the Cricut Heat Guide, arrange the design on the bag and adhere with the Cricut EasyPress.

Follow the Heat Guide instructions to adhere the design .

Teacher Appreciation Book Gift Idea

Need ideas on what to place in the bag? Gift cards and snacks are always great! For an inspirational and faith-based gift idea, the book You Make a Difference: 50 Devos for Teachers from DaySpring is wonderful! The book includes devotions, Scriptures, prayers, and relevant stories. Although I’m not a teacher, I read through several devotions in the book and found them encouraging. Teachers pour into our students daily, and I love a gift that pours back into them.