Easy Outdoor Tablescape Ideas with a Cricut
Easy Outdoor Tablescape Ideas with a Cricut is Sponsored by Cricut.
Take your outdoor dining experience at home to the next level with these customized DIY tablescape accents created with a Cricut using Cricut Smart Materials.
In my house, because we have a young child, we’ve been playing it safe and limiting our outside exposure. And includes eating out. So whenever we have the opportunity, i.e. nap time, we try to make the most out of the time by creating a “date night” experience at home, like Dinner for Two on the back deck.
Now while our meal may consist of primarily take-out, our dining experience is kicked up a notch with custom place settings and personalized touches courtesy of my love of all things Cricut. Using my Cricut and Cricut Smart Materials I was able to create these super cute tablescape decorations.
What are Cricut Smart Materials™?
Smart Materials™ are materials that work without the need for a cutting mat. You just load the material directly into your Cricut Joy machine, in my case, and go. It’s that easy. Smart Materials come in a variety of material types, including Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Smart Label Writable Paper, and Smart Label Writable Vinyl. And now with the introduction of the Cricut Maker 3 and the Cricut Explore 3 you can use Smart Materials with more than just the Cricut Joy.
Tips For Setting Up a Beautiful Outdoor Table
An outdoor tablescape should be in harmony with your outdoor space. Use fresh flowers and greenery that are native to your space. I used fig leaves cut directly from my fig tree and embellished my floral arrangement with herbs from my herb garden. Rethink your dishware and arrange it in an unexpected combination. It’s ok to mix porcelain and acrylic. No one will judge you. Haha. And add unexpected personal touches like a menu card, labels on your cheese or charcuterie board. And don’t be afraid to add a little whimsy with a decorative accent or two. On this table, I added a whimsical wine bag.
OK, Let’s Get Crafty!
Acrylic Menu Card
Materials
A menu card on the table is a great detailed touch that lets your guests know what goodies are in stored. Or in this case lets the person your having dinner know that whatever it is, it’ll be delicious. Hahaha.
This is a super simple DIY project.
- Load the project to your Cricut Design Space on your computer or phone.
- Arrange the placement of the cut within Design Space. Make sure to mirror the image.
- Select Cricut Joy™ Smart Vinyl™ and load your vinyl. Not having to worry about using a mat makes this process move so quickly. It definitely streamlines the whole Cricut cutting experience.
- Cut the image.
- Weed the excess vinyl. And apply transfer tape
- lightly sand the edges of the acrylic sheet to round off the edges.
- Apply the vinyl to the back of the sheet so that the top will be smooth.
And that’s it. You are done.
Cheese Plate Labels
Materials
- Cricut Joy™ Smart Label™ Writable Vinyl
- Cricut Joy™ Fine Point Pens, 0.4 mm
- Toothpicks
- Cardstock
I am a sucker for a good cheese or charcuterie board. But often times its nice to know what you’re picking up before you pick it up. So I love the idea of adding labels to your cheese plate or charcuterie board.
Using Cricut Joy™ Smart Label™ Writable Vinyl you can create all sorts of really cool labels. Forget the fact that your handwriting is like a doctor on a really bad day. To create smart labels, you simply insert the writable label into the machine, in this case I am using the Cricut Joy, and the Design Center will prompt you through the whole process.
I opted to place the labels on colorful cardstock backing. This is totally optional. But I love the pops of color it adds. For the cardstock, however, you will need to use a mat. Wouldn’t it be nice if cardstock came in a smart material….. Hmmmmm?!
Simply apply the smart label to the cardstock of choice and tape it to a toothpick.
Whimsical “Liquid Therapy” Wine Bag
Materials
Every dining table needs some form of whimsey, especially with outdoor dining. So to create a whimsical effect opted to personalize a wine bag. Cricut Smart products also come in Smart Iron-On. So using the Cricut Joy™ Smart Iron-On™ in black I cut out a cute saying that reflects my personality.
- Load the project in Design Space.
- Follow the prompts for the machine you are using. In this case I’m using the Cricut Joy.
- Ensure that the image is mirrored. And select Cricut Joy™ Smart Iron-On™ as materials.
- Once cut place on Wine bag and follow the Cricut Heat Guide when using the EasyPress over a Cricut Wine bag blank.
I love how this turned out.
Keep it safe and create the restaurant experience at home outdoors in the warmer weather with custom Cricut place settings.
There is so much more you can create using Cricut Smart Materials and other Cricut products. If this were a larger dinner party I’d do some sort of name cards for setting….. maybe my next girl’s lunch. But this was just a quiet dinner/ late lunch for 2 for my husband and me while our daughter took her nap.
For more creative Cricut projects check out:
Also for more Cricut tablescape ideas check out Monica Benavidez and her Chinoiserie Pagoda Menu Card. It’s absolutely stunning.
Been looking at ideas as I just got my cricut. Thanks for this! Love the acrylic menu card!