Reflective HTV Trick-or-Treat Bag DIY

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6:00 AM

Reflective HTV Trick-or-Treat Bag DIY

Halloween Trick-or-Treating is the best night of the year for kids!

Make sure the kiddos are extra visible from cars by adding reflective heat transfer vinyl on Trick-or-Treat bags!

Reflective HTV is easy to use and seriously fun.

I remember grabbing my pillow case and heading out the door at 5 pm to Trick-or-Treat.

We were the first family out to Trick-or-Treat our neighborhood, probably because my parents didn't want us out too late.

I always sent my kids out early too, because it's great to get pictures of costumes while it's still light outside.

Now days kids go out with head lamps, glow bracelets and the works...but a reflective Trick-or-Treat bag is a great addition to staying visible from cars.

I remember grabbing my pillow case and heading out the door at 5 pm to Trick-or-Treat. We were the first family out to Trick-or-Treat our neighborhood, probably because my parents didn't want us out too late. I always sent my kids out early too, because it's great to get pictures of costumes while it's still light outside. Now days kids go out with head lamps, glow bracelets and the works...but a reflective Trick-or-Treat bag is a great addition to staying visible from cars.

This Reflective HTV is from Heat Transfer Warehouse.

They come in big rolls, 20 inches wide and up to 81 feet long!

I got the 3 foot roll and I have lots left for more projects!

The reflection is really good with lights shining at it.

Great for workout gear too!

This Reflective HTV is from Heat Transfer Warehouse. They come in big rolls, 20 inches wide and up to 81 feet long! I got the 3 foot roll and I have lots left for more projects! The reflection is really good with lights shining at it. Great for workout gear too!

Supplies Needed for Reflective HTV Trick-or-Treat Bag:

Canvas Tote or Pillowcase
Reflective HTV
Cricut Maker 3 (or other electronic cutting machine)
Jack-O-Lantern silhouette SVG (I found this on Cricut Design Space)
HTVRont Auto Heat Press (or other heat press)

Step 1: Cut HTV

Place the plastic shiny/smooth side of the reflective HTV on the sticky surface of the cutting mat.

Then insert mat into Cricut machine and select the image.

I'm using an old shopping bag, with merch logo on the other side--great way to recycle!

I sized the image to fit the tote, then mirrored the image and cut it.

Set the Cricut to "reflective htv" and select the "more" pressure setting.

Check the image to make sure it cut through before removing the mat from the machine.

Mine cut perfectly the first time.

Set the Cricut to "reflective htv" and select the "more" pressure setting. Check the image to make sure it cut through before removing the mat from the machine. Mine cut perfectly the first time.

Step 2: Weed HTV

Now use a hook tool to remove the excess HTV from the design.

The reflective HTV has almost a fabric quality to it, like a canvas...but it can tear easily.

Thankfully, the tearing only happens on the excess vinyl as it's being weeded, so there was no issues with the design.

Step 2: Weed HTV Now use a hook tool to remove the excess HTV from the design. The reflective HTV has almost a fabric quality to it, like a canvas...but it can tear easily. Thankfully, the tearing only happens on the excess vinyl as it's being weeded, so there was no issues with the design.

This jack-o-lantern is 9 inches wide.

I love reflective vinyl.

I wear reflective suspenders when I go walking or running in the mornings...and they are super nerdy.

I love making my own reflective work out shirts so I don't have one extra thing to wear.

I just need to make some that are long sleeve!

This jack-o-lantern is 9 inches wide. I love reflective vinyl. I wear reflective suspenders when I go walking or running in the mornings...and they are super nerdy. I love making my own reflective work out shirts so I don't have one extra thing to wear. I just need to make some that are long sleeve!

Step 3: Heat Press

Set your auto heat press to 305*F and 20 seconds on the timer. (Heat Transfer Warehouse recommends 315 for 15 seconds)

Place the tote in the auto press and run one cycle to iron out the bag and warm it up for the HTV.

The reflective heat transfer vinyl does not glow in the dark, but it has a slight texture to the surface of it that just flashes in the light.

It's easy to see the effect if you take a picture of it with a camera flash.

This reflective heat transfer vinyl can also be used for a great paparazzi-proof effect...if anyone tries to take your picture, it will reflect when they use the flash!

Really though, it's a thing that celebrities do.

The reflective heat transfer vinyl does not glow in the dark, but it has a slight texture to the surface of it that just flashes in the light. It's easy to see the effect if you take a picture of it with a camera flash. This reflective heat transfer vinyl can also be used for a great paparazzi-proof effect...if anyone tries to take your picture, it will reflect when they use the flash! Really though, it's a thing that celebrities do.

Then place the jack-o-lantern cut out on the tote bag, precisely where you want it on the tote.

Put the vinyl on the bag and the carrier sheet facing up.

Then cover the HTV with a teflon sheet or butcher paper.

Then push in the tote and click the button.

The Auto Press does all the work!

It does not need much time under the heat press.

Then remove the carrier sheet while still warm.

Then I covered it with the teflon and pressed it one more time.

Then push in the tote and click the button. The Auto Press does all the work! It does not need much time under the heat press. Then remove the carrier sheet while still warm. Then I covered it with the teflon and pressed it one more time.

Now you can experience high visibility in the day or night time!

It's an awesome HTV for adding to protective gear, EMS, or other emergency services.

If you exercise outdoors when it's dark, this is a must have.

Add some high-vis details to all your workout clothing.

Now you can experience high visibility in the day or night time! It's an awesome HTV for adding to protective gear, EMS, or other emergency services. If you exercise outdoors when it's dark, this is a must have. Add some high-vis details to all your workout clothing.

I love this.

The regular light and the flash almost look like opposites!

Put some reflective heat transfer vinyl to both sides of the tote bag or pillowcase, to keep those kiddos visible regardless of how they grab their bag from house to house while Trick-or-Treating.

Have you used reflective heat transfer vinyl before?

It could be added to kids or adult coats, Halloween costumes, bags and more.
It lasts a long time too.

My last workout shirt was made years ago and still works great, even after weekly washes!

Have you used reflective heat transfer vinyl before? It could be added to kids or adult coats, Halloween costumes, bags and more. It lasts a long time too. My last workout shirt was made years ago and still works great, even after weekly washes!

That's it!

It's so easy to add reflective heat transfer vinyl to Trick-or-Treat bags to increase visibility and hopefully safety for the kids out on Halloween night.

Heat Transfer Warehouse sells this HTV in 20 inch rolls, so there's lots left over for work-out and emergency safety gear too!