Cricut DIY Doormat and Happy Fall Y’all Free SVG

I have been obsessed with the idea of making a DIY Doormat since they started popping up on Pinterest. I’m so excited to finally share the tutorial for making a DIY Doormat. Since it’s almost Thanksgiving, I decided to make a Happy Fall Y’all DIY Doormat with my Cricut machine for my front porch that will be perfect until I decorate for Christmas! I’m also sharing a FREE Happy Fall Y’all SVG File so you can make a DIY doormat just like mine!

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Have you seen all of the awesome layered doormats on Pinterest or Facebook? I love them so much and couldn’t wait to make one! I made this Happy Everything doormat to share the FREE Happy Everything SVG, but didn’t take pictures for a tutorial since it was my “test run” haha! I can’t wait to make more! If you’re looking for the black and white buffalo check doormat to use for layering, I got mine at a local store but you can shop blank doormats on Amazon as well. And, keep scrolling for the Free Happy Fall Y’all SVG!

I did a lot of research before deciding how to make my Happy Fall Y’all Doormat. I tried stencil vinyl for the first mat, but wanted to find out other other materials worked. I decided to use the Freezer Paper Method – that is, I used freezer paper to create the stencil for my DIY Doormat. I also decided to seal mine with Flex Seal spray after it was painted.

What you Need to Make a DIY Fall Doormat

–Cricut Machine

–12×24″ cutting mat, Light grip (blue)

-Freezer Paper (Shop Freezer Paper on Amazon)

–Cricut EasyPress

-Short Bristle Paint Brush

-Black Craft Paint (I used Martha Stewart brand; Shop Black Craft Paint on Amazon)

-Flex Seal Spray, Clear (Shop Clear Flex Seal Spray on Amazon)

-Blank Doormat (I got mine at Joann and used a coupon. That was the cheapest option I’ve found, but I also have seen them at Target, Amazon, etc.)

UPDATE: although black craft paint will work completely fine, I find that Black Flex Seal spray works great and is SO easy!

How to Make a DIY Doormat with your Cricut

First, upload your design into Cricut Design Space.

To make sure that you can fit your design on the cutting mat, it can’t be any taller than 11.5″. By clicking “Select All” in the top canvas menu bar, you can set the height size to 11.5″ and it will resize your design to the proper proportions. As long as it is 11.5″ x 24.5″ or less, you’re good.

After your design for the DIY doormat is sized, click “Make It.” Cricut Design Space will automatically prompt you to use a 12×24″ mat if necessary.

You don’t have to mirror the design to cut as long as you put the freezer paper SHINY SIDE DOWN on the cutting mat. The shiny side of the freezer paper is the side that you’ll iron to the mat.

Note: If you have a well used Cricut mat, the shiny side of the freezer paper may not stick completely. You can place the shiny side UP, just remember to MIRROR your image!

For a Cricut Explore Air 2 machine, cut the freezer paper on the Paper (-) setting on the dial (one notch below Paper). For a Cricut Maker, use Freezer Paper custom setting (Pressure 128, Multi-Cut OFF, Fine Point Blade).

Cut the design and CAREFULLY pull off your stencil. You’ll have to use your spatula or weeding tool (from the Essential Tool kit) to make sure you don’t tear the Freezer Paper. After you’ve pulled off the main stencil, the easiest way is to attach it to the doormat before pulling off all of the letter “middles.”

Preheat your Cricut EasyPress to 300 degrees. That is the heat setting I found effective at adhering the freezer paper to the doormat. Slowly uncurl the freezer paper and press it onto the doormat for 15-20 seconds, until it is lightly adhered to the doormat (it will pull off easily when you’re done, don’t worry).

Go back and peel off the letter “middles” from the cutting mat and adhere them to the doormat as well. All that will be left on your mat is the lettering.

After all of the stencil pieces are adhered, start painting the mat. Using a short bristle brush, in a vertical motion, paint the design, making sure to get paint down into the mat. (Or, skip the brush and use Black Flex Seal!)

I painted a couple of coats in some areas, just to make sure paint was pushed down into the fibers of the mat.

(You can see that a few of my “middles” came off while I was painting; I just carefully hand painted those areas of the letters. It worked fine.

Let dry for a few minutes and then peel off the freezer paper. I was definitely nervous to see how it worked, but my design came out great!

Let the paint dry and then seal with the Flex Seal for added durability.

Let dry for 24-48 hours and you’re done!

Next time I’m going to try using the black Flex Seal just like spray paint – I think it might work great and will be a lot faster than painting with a brush, although it might take a couple of coats to get full coverage. (Update: I love using this product! It works perfectly!)

Download the FREE Happy Fall Y’all SVG File

Free SVG files available for download are for PERSONAL USE ONLY. SVG and JPG files are included to use with Cricut Design Space and Silhouette Studio. Upgraded versions of Silhouette Studio can upload SVG files.

LOOKING FOR MORE DIY THANKSGIVING IDEAS? I THINK YOU WILL LOVE THESE THANKSGIVING POSTS:

Free Thanksgiving SVG (and 13 more from awesome bloggers!)

Free Happy Everything SVG

Personalized Thanksgiving Napkins

Cricut Thanksgiving Ideas as seen in Rue Magazine

DIY Personalized Wooden Tray for Thanksgiving

Free Hello Pumpkin SVGs

Free Thanksgiving Printable Tags – Gingham Give Thanks