Patriotic Wall Decor with Cricut: A Metallic Foil Wood Circle
A matte white wood circle with a shiny metallic foil design on top is a simple way to bring Fourth of July color to a wall, shelf or mantel. The chalk paint gives a soft, chalky backdrop, and the foil vinyl catches the light. The whole project takes well under an hour, and much of that is drying and cutting time.
It suits a busy summer, because the painting and the machine cutting happen at the same time. You only need a few supplies and no special skills beyond patience while weeding.
Supplies
- A cutting machine such as a Cricut
- Metallic adhesive foil vinyl (a sampler pack gives you several colors)
- Transfer tape
- An Independence Day-themed cut file, or your own design with stars, a flag or a short holiday word
- Scissors
- White chalk paint
- A foam brush
- A plain wood circle
- A scraper tool for smoothing the vinyl
Steps
- Paint the wood. Brush on the chalk paint in even strokes, covering the top, the sides and the outer edge. Chalk paint dries faster than standard acrylic and leaves a more matte finish, though acrylic will work if that is what you have. Set the circle aside to dry.
- Prepare the design. Open your cut file in the design software and size it to fit comfortably inside the circle, leaving a clear border around the edge.
- Cut the foil. Load the foil vinyl and choose the vinyl setting on your machine.
- Weed. Weeding means picking away all the vinyl that is not part of your design. Use a hook tool or tweezers for small stars and thin lines.
- Add transfer tape. Lay a piece over the design and rub it down so the vinyl sticks to it.
- Apply to the wood. Peel the design off its paper backing and position it on the dry circle. Smooth it down with the scraper, working from the center out.
- Remove the tape. Peel the transfer tape back slowly, leaving only the metallic foil on the wood.
Tips and variations
Make sure the paint is fully dry before applying the vinyl. Damp paint can lift when you pull the transfer tape away. If a piece of the design lifts with the tape, press it back down with your finger or the scraper and peel again at a lower angle.
Try changing the look with the materials you have:
- Use a red or navy base instead of white, with silver or gold foil on top.
- Cut a set of three circles in different sizes and hang them together as a small gallery.
- Mix foil colors in one design, with stars in one shade and lettering in another.
- Choose a larger round or a wood plaque for a mantel display.
- Cut a simple word such as a holiday greeting, or a row of stars, if you prefer a minimal look.
To hang the piece, attach a small sawtooth hanger to the back, or lean it on a shelf or an easel. Because chalk paint is matte, you can leave it unsealed for indoor display. Keep it out of damp spots so the vinyl stays stuck down.
FAQ
Can I make this without a Cricut?
Yes. Use self-adhesive metallic stickers or gold leaf pens, or hand-trace a star stencil and paint it on with metallic paint.
Which vinyl setting should I choose?
Choose the vinyl setting on your machine for adhesive foil, and test-cut a small shape first to check that it cuts cleanly through the foil but not the backing.
