This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Late last month I received a fun, new addition to our home. We have had so much fun getting to know and use our new Cricut Explore Air 2 machine. I have never used any sort of cutting machine before and it has really exceeded my expectations. I look forward to sharing projects in the future that work into the wheelhouse of sewing and quilting. Did you know you can use fabric that has been bonded and cut out shapes that way? Heat n bond lite is my usual go-to and I can’t even imagine how nice it will be to not have to cut out shapes by hand any more.

The first thing that I noticed about the Explore Air 2 is that it is very well thought out. Cricut has included everything you need to make a little sample project as you are setting up your machine for the first time. I love that this gives you the flexibility to test out the machine on something that you aren’t 100% emotionally committed to. If it goes wrong (which it won’t!) then it isn’t something you’ve spent money in materials to make.

For my first project, I wanted to make something for Halloween. I have loved paying a bit of attention to my front porch this past year and thought I’d make a new doormat. I found many, many wonderful existing tutorials on the “how to’s” of the actual stenciling and cutting out existing cricut designs, but I wanted a nod to a classic 90’s Halloween movie.

My husband helped me by creating a file I could use to cut out “I SMELL CHILDREN”. Once we had the file made, I found the Cricut Explore Air 2 to be very, very easy and straightforward to use. We used the weeding tools to peel out the letters, and then I followed the instructions I found on Everyday Jenny’s site.

I dont imagine this will be my last doormat. I LOVED making it and was giddy as I peeled off my template. Can you imagine how fun it would be to make one for every season or major holiday? For a $10 blank mat (I found mine at a popular orange colored home improvement store), your time, and your existing cricut machine, it makes a perfect porch refresh project.