Download the image above by right clicking and saving it. This is what you will upload into your design software for you cutting machine to make your Quidditch hoops. I use a Cricut so my instructions are for the Cricut.

One of my favorite parts of my Cricut is the ability to upload any images I want into the program. There are plenty of images that you can search their program and use for a small fee but no more cartridges!

Uploading your own images

First hit the big Upload Images button on the left hand menu in Cricut Design Space. The next image will pop up. Hit the Upload Image button on the left.

After you hit upload image, the browse screen will come up. Hit browse and find the image you want on your computer. This will let you upload any (.jpg, .gif, .png, .bmp, .svg or .dxf). I always search for images that I want to use in future projects and then save them to my computer so I can upload them. Some of the easiest shapes to trace are ones are silhouettes of something (such as a witch hat) or a line drawing.

After you select the image on your computer, you will be asked to select the image type. There are three different kinds of image types.

Simple Image– a image with high contrast colors with a monotone background.

Moderately Complex Image– a image with simple detail and colors with good contrast between subject and background

Complex Image– images with fine detail, blended colors or low contrast

A image like the Tardis I uploaded is a simple image because it has clean lines and a black shape on a white background.

After you select your image type, it is time to clean up the image. There are a few different tools to help you get the image you want.

Crop– This tool will let you crop out any unwanted portions.

Select & Erase- This took is like a little magic wand that will select entire sections. For instance if you click on one of those little white boxes on the Tardis, it will delete the entire white box leaving a transparent background.

Erase– This is like the erasing tool in paint or other programs where you will physically need to draw over every part you want gone.

In most images, you want to erase the background and make it transparent so the Cricut knows what lines to cut. It is really easy to use the Select & Erase tool with this Tardis image. Select each of the boxes and zoom in to select the white lines as well.

Next name you image and select what kind of image you want Design Space to save it as. Do you want to be able to print the image or do you want to cut all of the details. We want to be able to cut it all out, so we select Save as a Cut Image. This is also a good place to make sure you image looks the way you want it to cut. The Cricut is going to cut everywhere is there is white, so double check in this stage to make sure you have white lines or boxes every where there should be one.

After you save your image, Design Space will take you back to the first Insert Image screen, but this time the image you uploaded will be in the library ready for you to insert it. Insert it into your project and now you can move it, resize it and add any text that you may want for your project.

Measure you cornhole board and then resize the Quidditch hoops for the middle hoop to fit around the center of the cornhole board.

Once everything looks right, set your machine to vinyl and hit the Go button. Weed off the excess vinyl by pulling up a corner of the vinyl. After you weed out your image, place a piece of transfer tape over the top of it. Using the edge of a scraper or credit card, smooth the transfer tape over the design until it pulls up from the backing. Lay the design down on your cornhole board and use the credit card to smooth it down again.

After you vinyl is smoothed down, you are ready to play! I made bean bags in the colors of the different houses so we can play Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw!