"Don't Forget to Be Awesome" Clutch

Thanks to Expressions Vinyl for the vinyl used in this post!

Creating projects with heat transfer vinyl couldn't be easier, and it's one of my favorite ways to customize and otherwise generic product. This "Don't Forget to Be Awesome" clutch is a one-of-a-kind gift idea and a fun way to show some personality in your fashion!! This clutch couldn't be easier to make, and I'm excited to show you how you can make one yourself today for less than $10!!

First, find a clutch you love that has a fabric you can iron. I found this gold leather and canvas clutch at Target in the Dollar Spot. It only cost me $3, but I love how chic it looks! You could also easily sew up your own clutch. (There are lots of great, free patterns and tutorials out there easy enough for even the most novice sewer.)

You'll also need some heat transfer vinyl. Expressions Vinyl has a lot of different types, textures, and colors of heat transfer vinyl. I honestly prefer to use their HTV (heat transfer vinyl) over other brands because it is a higher quality, extremely user friendly, and affordable. For this project, I decided to use the black Easyweed Heat Transfer Vinyl. I also love using the Stripflock Heat Transfer Vinyl on projects like this.

A little bit about HTV if you've never used it:
The heat transfer vinyl is made up of two parts: the heat transfer vinyl, which will be ironed on to your project, and the liner. The liner is a carrier sheet (think transfer paper) that holds the design in place and protects your iron during application.

Measure the clutch and figure out how big you want your vinyl to be. Then, I cut out "Don't Forget to Be Awesome" on my Cricut Explore (though you can cut the vinyl on any vinyl cutting machine). To cut the vinyl, place the vinyl liner side down on the cutting mat and MIRROR YOUR IMAGE/TEXT!! Every cutting machine is different, so make sure to check your cut guides to cut the HTV. Next, weed out any parts of the image that you aren't going to use.

The carrier sheet is clear and tacky, so I centered my HTV liner side UP on the clutch and pressed it down so it doesn't shift when it's time to iron. Turn the iron on the highest setting (around 320º) with no steam. Place a scrap piece of fabric over the HTV and warm it up with the iron. Next, place the iron on the design and apply pressure for 10-20 seconds. Then, I turned the clutch over or turn it inside out and press the iron on it again for 10-15 seconds.

Let the vinyl cool, then peel off the liner. If any parts of the HTV are peeling up, cover them with the scrap fabric and press the iron over it again for 10-15 seconds. Once your vinyl is on completely and cool, your clutch is ready to use!!

What phrase or quote would you put on your clutch?