DIY Disney Family Shirts

April 2, 2018 Mom MD Hawaii

Who doesn’t LOVE matching DIY Disney family shirts for your Disney park, cruise, or resort vacation? Okay, so maybe guys are not as thrilled and excited about matching DIY Disney family shirts. But, my husband wore the shirts I made the entire time during our first Disneyland trip over spring break. Not only were we matching as a family, but making the shirts was pretty easily done with some Pinterest inspired designs, my Cricut Maker, heat transfer vinyl, and an iron. The best part is that DIY Disney family shirts are super affordable and way cheaper than buying them.

My husband bought me a Cricut Maker for Christmas. This article will review how to make DIY Disney family shirts using a Cricut cutting machine, but you can do the same thing by cutting out designs by hand. Links are provided for your convenience. All products used were bought by me and opinions are 100% my own. I am a Cricut, Etsy, and Amazon affiliate and may make a small commission if these links are used to make a purchase at no extra cost to you.

Steps for DIY Disney Family Shirts

Make or Find Your Disney Inspired Designs
Cut Designs Out of Heat Transfer Vinyl
Weed the Design
Iron Designs Onto Shirts

1. Make or Find Your Disney Inspired Design

My usual first stop for crafting inspiration is Pinterest. The ideas there are endless. Thus, most of the designs made are Pinterest inspired. The designs were kept relatively simple, with one or 2 colors. Fewer colors in the design then meant less different colored sheets of iron-on heat transfer vinyl required.

Making the design is easy in Cricut’s Design Space. Pick sayings and pictures that appeal to you and your family. Below are some of the designs I made into cut files on Design Space.

This is a design made for a friend, who is going to Walt Disney World this summer.

2. Cut Designs Out of Heat Transfer Vinyl

Then pick the desired color for the heat transfer vinyl, place on the mat upside down, load the Cricut as directed, and then cut out the design in mirror-image format. If cutting designs out by hand, then print the chosen design out on paper and tape it to the heat transfer vinyl to cut. You’re welcome to print then cut any of the designs I have above. Make sure to orient the image properly by taping the image onto the backing, so it’s backing side down for ironing on. This cutting by hand method works and turns out as precisely as you’re able to cut by hand. I cut by hand once and it takes significantly longer; plus I’m horrible at cutting precisely, so my design was far from professional looking.

Below are some different purchasing options for heat transfer vinyl, also known as iron-on.

3. Weed the Design

Remove all the unwanted vinyl, so only the desired design is left. This weeding step is unnecessary if the design was cut by hand.

4. Iron Designs Onto Shirts

The last and final step is to use an iron, or heat press, to iron on the design. The iron should usually be at the highest setting without steam, but be sure to follow the instructions that come with the iron-on material. Place a teflon sheet or folded pillowcase between the design and the iron.

Magically the Disney design is now on your own shirt and ready for matching with your family at any Disney park, cruise, or resort. These steps will also work well for creating gifts with that personalized Disney flair. Other ideas to iron on customized designs include hats, bags, pillowcases, water bottles, jackets, purses, signs, underwear, and socks. Please feel free to show me any Disney DIY projects on Instagram or Facebook, and comment below.