Ribbon Awards Using Cricut EasyPress Mini

Ever wish you could hand out awards for the stuff that actually deserves recognition? Like “Best Snack Sharer,” “Most Improved Backpack Organization,” or “Survived Monday Without Crying”? Same. That’s why I’m obsessed with making DIY award ribbons with my Cricut, iron-on vinyl, and the adorable little EasyPress Mini.

This project is quick, low-mess, and honestly kind of addictive once you start. You can keep it sweet and school-friendly for kids’ awards (perfect for end-of-year, classroom parties, sports teams, you name it)… or lean into the comedy for grown-up “honors” like “World’s Okayest Coworker” or “Champion of Laundry Avoidance.” Either way, they look legit, feel special, and you can customize them for literally any occasion.

If you’ve got a stack of blank ribbons and a reason - serious or silly - to celebrate someone, you’re in the right place. Let’s make some awards people will actually want to wear.

Materials:

• Satin ribbon
• Cricut Iron-On
• Cricut Tool Kit
• Cricut Heat Press Machine
• Cricut Cutting Machine

Directions:

Start by opening Cricut Design Space and creating your award design - this can be anything from a classic “Student of the Month” style to something funny like “Best Lunchbox Snacks” or “Most Likely to Need Coffee.”

To make sizing super easy, add a rectangle to your canvas and use it as a guide for your design. Mine are 1.5 x 6 inches, which fits nicely on the front of the ribbon without looking cramped. Once your rectangle is in place, shrink or stretch your text and graphics until everything looks balanced inside that space. (You can delete the rectangle before cutting.)

When you’re happy with your layout, click Make It and cut your design from Cricut Iron-On (HTV). Don’t forget to mirror your design before cutting - iron-on always needs to be mirrored so it reads correctly once it’s pressed on.

After cutting, weed out the extra vinyl (the stuff you don’t want on the ribbon). A weeding tool from your Cricut tool kit makes this way easier - especially for small letters.

Now cut your ribbon to size. I like using a 1.5-inch wide satin ribbon and cutting it to about 6 inches long. Using pinking shears is a great idea here because it helps reduce fraying and gives the ends a clean, finished look. Before you press anything on, it helps to lay the ribbon flat and smooth it out so it’s not wrinkled or twisted.

Time to attach your design! Preheat your EasyPress Mini. Turn it on and choose a heat setting. For most everyday iron-on, a medium setting works well. (If you’re using glitter or specialty HTV, you may need a different setting - check the vinyl instructions if you have them.) 

Use a Cricut EasyPress Mat or a folded towel on a sturdy table. Place the weeded iron-on shiny carrier sheet side up on the front of the ribbon. Center it and make sure it’s straight before you start pressing.

Lightly press for 2–3 seconds just to hold the design in place. This helps stop it from shifting around when you do the full press. Because the EasyPress Mini is small, you’ll press a little at a time. Use firm, even pressure and slowly move across the design, making sure you cover every part. A good starting point is about 20–30 seconds total, depending on how detailed your design is. Carefully flip the ribbon over and press from the back for another 10–15 seconds. This helps the iron-on grab the satin more securely.

Let it cool, then peel. Most iron-on works best if you let it cool a bit before peeling the carrier sheet. Peel slowly - if any corner lifts, lay the sheet back down and press that spot again for a few seconds. Once the carrier sheet is off, give the design a quick look. If everything is smooth and stuck down (especially small letters), you’re good to go!

I love this project because it’s quick, easy, and you can tweak it for literally any situation, whether you’re celebrating kids at school or handing your friend a very serious “Best Karaoke Confidence” ribbon at a party. Once you make one, you’ll probably end up making a whole stack because it’s kind of addictive (and honestly, everyone deserves a little ribbon recognition now and then). If you make your own, I’d love to hear what your award title is - funny ones especially!

Do More With Your Cricut

If you loved making these award ribbons, you’re going to have way too much fun with what else you can customize. Here are a few easy, “same vibe” Cricut projects to try next:

Iron-on tote bags:

Make a little “award bag” for teachers, coaches, or teammates - add a name, grade, or funny title.

Custom T-shirts:

Matching shirts for field day, class parties, family reunions, or “Most Likely To…” friend groups.

Personalized hats:

Add iron-on names or simple icons to baseball caps for teams, camps, or birthday crews.