How To Clean & Restick Cricut Mats


Three tried and true methods for cleaning your cricut mats, and one tried and true way to restick them when cleaning is no longer enough.

How to Clean Your Cricut Mats - 

My favorite go to method for cleaning mats is using diaper wipes.  You want scrub lightly, but hard enough to pull up all of the lint.  (I've read that you should use alcohol free wipes for this.  Those are easy to find - I usually grab huggies at our local Dollar General)  The mat will be sticky again when it dries again.  If you are in a hurry, this is definitely your best bet.  Not only will it work great but it will dry the fastest of all the methods here. 

I love these dishcloths from the Dollar tree with the netting on one side.

My second favorite method is plain old soap and water.  The blue dawn dish soap is what is supposed to work best, and it is what I typically have in my kitchen anyway..  but I have used others over the years. squirt on some soap, scrub lightly, rinse.  When the mats dry, they will be sticky once again!

LA Awesome Cleaner - $1 At Dollar General & The Dollar Tree
This is a popular method, that I used when I first started, but I think soap and water and diaper wipes work just as well, and they don't smell nearly as bad.  But if you want to try it, just spray this stuff on(from the dollar tree) and rinse it off.  Let the mat air dry.

When That Stops Working - Tack It Over & Over

I have mats that are two years old, and have been used hard for everything from paper and vinyl to faux leather.  Some of them are just not sticky any more, even after a good cleaning.  Two coats of Aleenes Tack It Over and Over and I think they are stickier then when I first bought them!  
Do not apply it this thick - its not necessary.  Thinner coats.  :-)  That little bottle is going to last forever, even with all the mats I have here.  

Mix the Alenes 50/50 with water, and paint it on.  This was the first time I did this, and I went pretty thick.  I ended up going back later and brushing some of this off to make it a thinner coat.  Wait 20 minutes, then apply a second light coat.  Let the mat dry for at least 24 hours.

This even worked right over the spots on my mats that have lost their green.
(The new, no flowers on them, cricut mats are not nearly as good as the old ones!)

I ended up letting mine dry for a few days - I would recommend at least two.  Maybe less if you use thinner coats.  But when they were dry, they were SO sticky!  I could use them for faux leather again!  I would not use them for paper right away - I'd cut vinyl on them a few times first, they are too sticky for paper right away.

Buying New
Watch amazon for sales - mats go on sale frequently!  A two pack of 12x12 mats is almost always $10 or less on sale.



I've used the 3 pack of Nicapa ($9 normally)
and I think they are pretty much identical to the Cricut mats.  I'm not fussy about brand names, and own Xinart, Nicapa, HTVRont, and probably more...  

The long, 12x24, inch mats are 3 for $24 normally

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Facebook Page - For Tips, Tricks, & Free SVGS
 https://www.facebook.com/fieldsofheathercrafts/

Facebook Group- For Questions, Support, Sharing Projects, 
and LOADS More Free SVGS in themed posts with links in the comments
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1121399284857845
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Photo Holder Canvases

Photo Holder Canvases
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Coconut Cream Pie


I love custard pies.  Which is fortunate, because they require eggs, and I also love raising chickens.  Which means that in the spring, we have a LOT of eggs.

 All basic custard recipes are the pretty much the same. 
(Scroll on down for the Coconut Cream Pie Recipe)

 4 large egg yolks mixed with  1/4 cup  cornstarch
Set aside.

 1  can of  milk (Evaporated, Coconut, or just 1 2/3 cups of milk)
1 cup  half-and-half (or just whole milk)
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
(Additional ingredients.  Chocolate chips or cocoa for chocolate cream, shredded coconut for coconut cream, etc.)
Heat until boiling, boil for two minutes.  Then turn heat down to medium low.

 Temper the egg mixture.
Remove 1 cup of the boiling liquid, drizzle it slowly into the egg mixture while whisking quickly.  This is to gently bring up the temperature of the egg mixture without scrambling the eggs.  

 Add egg mixture to the mixture on the stove, boil for one more minute.  Add 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tsp vanilla extract.

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Coconut Cream Pie

 Ingredients

 Pie Crust - prebaked and cooled.

 Custard Filling:
4 large egg yolks
1/4 cup  cornstarch

 1  14 oz can  coconut milk
1 cup whole milk (or cream)
2/3 cup  granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup  sweetened shredded coconut
2 Tablespoons  unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
Whipped Cream
1 1/2 cups  heavy whipping cream
3 Tablespoons  confectioners sugar 
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

 Topping - 
1/4 cup toasted coconut to sprinkle on top

 Instructions

 Make the coconut custard: 

 4 large egg yolks mixed with  1/4 cup  cornstarch
Set aside.

 1  can of  milk (Evaporated, Coconut, or just 1 2/3 cups of milk)
1 cup  half-and-half (or just whole milk)
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup of coconut 
Heat until boiling, boil for two minutes.  Then turn heat down to medium low.

 Temper the egg mixture.
Remove 1 cup of the boiling liquid, drizzle it slowly into the egg mixture while whisking constantly  This is to gently bring up the temperature of the egg mixture without scrambling the eggs.  

 Add egg mixture to the mixture on the stove.  Custard will thicken almost immediately.  boil for one more minute, while whisking..    Remove from heat.

 Add 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract. & 1/2 tsp coconut extract.

 Pour the filling into the precooked and cooled pie crust.
You can cover tightly with saran wrap, it is said to help prevent a skin from forming.
Refrigerate for a couple of hours, to thoroughly cool.

 Make The Whipped Cream
Whip the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, about 3-4 minutes. 

 Place the whipped cream over the top of the cooled custard, then sprinkle with toasted coconut.
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The Krispy Kreme Doughnut Recipe


The Krispy Kreme Doughnut Recipe

Ingredients
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons boiling water
1 teaspoon dry active yeast
8 ounces all-purpose flour ( a little under 2 cups, I recommend you measure and weigh. See my note above)
1 1/2 ounces sugar ( about 3 tablespoons)
1 egg
1 ounce butter, cold to room temperature
1 dash salt
oil

Glaze
1/3 cup butter
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 tablespoons hot water ( or as needed)

Directions
In a large measuring jug, combine the milk and boiling water. Add a teaspoon of the sugar and the yeast. Stir it gently, then leave it in a warm place for the yeast to activate (aka foam).

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, the rest of the sugar, and the salt. Cut in the butter using your fingers or a pastry blender, until it resembles crumbs.

Add the egg (give it a quick beat) and yeast mixture to the flour mix, and mix into a smooth dough. This usually takes about 5 minutes of mixing.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly-floured counter and knead for about 5 to 10 minutes—it should feel springy and little bubbles should form under the surface. Place it back in the bowl, cover with a cloth or plastic wrap, and let rise for about an hour until double in size.

Once risen, place the dough onto the counter and cut it into 4 pieces.

One piece at a time, stretch it into a long rope about an inch to an inch and a half wide. Cut strips about an inch long, ball em up with your hands, and place them on a baking tray or wire rack to wait.
Cover the doughnuts holes with a cloth to rise while you heat the oil to 375°F.

Place the doughnuts into the oil and fry until golden brown on each side, about 2 minutes. Be sure to fry only a few at a time so they don’t overcrowd and stick together.
Drain on a paper towel or wire rack over a cloth, before glazing them.
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Vintage Recipes - The Farm Recipe Drawer

When we bought the farm from my mother in law, it came with a recipe drawer.  Her recipes, recipes from aunts, friends, sister in laws, mostly in family members handwriting.  My plan was to work through them all in one summer, but 5 years later, I still have not tried them all.  

Vintage Cooking Terms Defined:
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2013/05/vintage-cooking-items-defined.html

Here are the ones we have made:

Vintage Recipes From The Farm's Recipe Drawer:
Probably the most "interesting" recipe ever. Baby food carrots, olives, instant coffee - all in one recipe:  Seville Pot Roast  (I asked my mil about this recipe, and she doesn't know how it got in the drawer, she never made it)
From The UCCA Cookbook

(A cookbook made by the women involved with the Union County Christian Academy, the small christian school in New Columbia Pa that my husband graduated from)
Vintage Recipes - Not From The Drawer:

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https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/p/recipes.html

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Old Fashioned Shoo Fly Cake


My mother in law asked for shoo fly cake for her birthday.  Thankfully, I had her old recipe in the recipe drawer.  :-)  For the cake shown above, the first batch of crumbs sunk into the mix, so I mixed up another small batch of crumbs and added them to the top when the cake was about half baked.  It made the BEST cake - with layers of crumbs baked down in  almost like a poke cake.

I don't like shoo fly pie - but I love this cake.  Do not over bake - better to under bake ever so slightly than to over bake this.


Shoo Fly Cake Recipe

Preheat Oven to 325

Crumbs:
4 c flour
2 c sugar
1 c butter
1 t salt
Beat, until the mixture forms crumbs.  Reserve 1 cup.

Add whats left of the crumbs with:
1tsp  ginger
1tsp  cloves
2tsp  cinnamon

Add 1 tsp baking soda into 2 cups warm water.  Then add 1 cup light brer rabbit molasses to the water.

Add the water mixture to the crumb mixture. Beat until smooth.
Pour into a greased 9x13 pan

Sprinkle the reserved cup of crumbs on top of the batter

Bake at 325 for one hour.

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Where To Find Free Dr Who Inspired SVGS

I have not found a lot of Dr Who svgs.  There are however, some GREAT pdf files, if you want to print and cut out projects without a cutting machine!  Here's a round up of everything I could find, from svgs and clipart, to pdf files - 


 

The best collection of Dr Who Inspired SVGS are found at SvgsForGeeks:

Download these three designs in one zip file here:
Coffee Cup Files

http://thecraftchop.bravesites.com/entries/svg/tardis

Tardis SVGS
https://www.geeksvgs.com/search/Tardis

Download a simple app that will create whatever you type into Gallifreyan. The application can change colors, animate the image and lets you download a copy.
http://thecraftchop.bravesites.com/entries/resources/gallifreyan


NOT SVGS
But nice printables!


Clipart - 
NOT SVGS - but simple to clean up in design space!
Just use the eraser tool to erase the white background when you upload.
Detailed instructions here: https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2018/12/how-to-convert-simple-free-clipart-to.html

This is a PNG file
Another one here:



Find more DR Who Simple Clipart here:
https://www.doodlecraftblog.com/2013/08/doctor-who-stencil-silhouette-outline.html





Dr Who Projects - No Cricut Needed - 

PDF - Just Print, Cut, Assemble



Made with Plastic Beads


Free Dr Who Papercraft Templates
and here:
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Fancy Panz Foil Pan Holders

These Fancy Pans Foil Pan Holders are one of my new favorite things!

Bake your cake, or casserole, in a foil pan - then put it in the fancy panz case.  You can pop the clear cover  in the lid out, or just open the container, to serve.


I saw these in our local Dollar General, Fall 2024
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For the Design, Using Cricut - 


The Monogram I used is called simply, Split Monogram.  I do not remember where I downloaded it, and it was probably a temporary freebie.  Split monograms are easy to make from any font though, or here is a list of free ones too!  

There is a raised, clear, logo in the center of the clear plastic top insert.  I applied the vinyl right over the top with no problem - you can take a hair dryer over it to help adhere it over the ridges if needed.  Be sure to place your name under the raised design, smaller letters will not apply as well over the top of it.

The font for Truckenmiller is Biosha Caps - one of my favorites.  
This was another "free this week premium download" that is no longer free.

The corners I used for this project are from an svg that is no longer available  :-(





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I used the Frisco Matte black permanent vinyl.  It's my favorite.
$16.99 for 30 feet.  It's a little softer, and super easy to weed.

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Find More Cricut Project Tutorials Here:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/04/cricut-step-by-step-project-tutorials.html

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Where To Find Free Split Monogram SVGS - And how to make your own too!
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Using An Antennae For Local Channels With Our Dish DVR



Although DishTv & CBS are currently in a dispute, we are still watching CBS shows from our Dish DVR with no disruption.  Because we no longer pay for local channels through Dish. Instead, we added an antenna and an airtv adapter, which allows us to record over the air channels right to our Dish DVR.

 Quick Links:

Total expense came to less than $80 for us.  Since we were paying $12 a month for local channels, we'll recoup that cost in less than 7 months, AND we have CBS even when they are in a dispute with Dish.


A few years back, when Dish was having a dispute with one of the other networks, Dish sent free  antennae to their customers upon request, and it did not work well for us, so I assumed an  antenna just would not work where we live. (We have a large hill right behind the house, and tall trees to the side of us) I was wrong - we just needed a better  antenna.  That may not be the case for everyone - I recommend buying one you can return, just in case!  But when I posted on my facebook page that we had done this, I was surprised by how many in our local area were already doing this!  
We purchased this antenna on amazon.  It ships quick, and was EASY to put together and install!  https://amzn.to/2OzvBsA
Originally the plan was to put this high up on the peak of our top roof.  But we put it together and set it in the backyard first, and immediately pulled in 11 channels. With it sitting on the ground.  So we installed it on our one story porch roof, instead of at the very top of the house, and it works great for us, even though we have a hill right behind the house and woods to the side of us.

Over the air tv - our local channels, are FREE.  We had been paying Dish $12 a month to have them included in our tv package, because those same free channels charge companies like Dish and Direct Tv for access.  But for you an I, these channels are absolutely free to access.  
This adapter connects our antenna to the dish dvr, allowing me to record shows just like I did before, when we had the channels through dish.

If you are like me, however,  and never actually watch live tv in real time, it was worth it to pay the $12 a month to let Dish handle the channels for me, so I could tape them on our dvr.  Until I found that we could add a $30 device to our antenna to connect it to our DISH, and record the channels right from the normal Dish TV guide, and have them appear on our dvr just as they had before!  

 We looked into a variety of other DVR options - but all of them are rather pricey for what we wanted.  Keeping our DishTv service, at the lowest package rate, with the local channels dropped, works best for us.  
We pull in around 17 over the air channels with our antenna.  They appear in our Dish guide right along with our other Dish channels.


 THE CATCH - 
With this set up, I can only tape two over the air channels at one time.  I don't know if there is an option to record more OTA channels at one time or not, for us, two is enough.
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