Clever mum creates her own Matildas merch with $3 jumper and Cricut

They gave us less than a day's notice and of course everything was already sold out!

Like many Australians, I am still coming to terms with the Matildas' devastating loss to England in the Women's World Cup semi-final. 

Despite many schools around the nation rallying around the women's football team with special green and gold mufti days ahead of the do-or-die match, our school decided to host a special dress-up celebration after their big match. 

Sure, a little late, but as we're reminded, our beloved Tillies still need our support for the third spot and the teachers and children were excited to get all patriotic in our gold colours to help them 'get the job done' against Sweden. 

But there was one problem (apart from the one about only being given less than a day's notice) - the whole nation had already purchased their merchandise ahead of the semi-final match - and most stores were already sold out!

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A quick little print and iron using the Cricut Easy Press 3. Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

Making Matilda's merch with the Cricut machine

I had to think quickly about my kids' outfits the following day. 

I rummaged through the wardrobe when we got home and found a yellow jumper I emergency purchased for $3 one Harmony Day (orange, yellow ... close enough!). 

But while I'm that parent who CBF, I am also the one that likes to torture herself by thinking of something a little creative. 

Armed with my Cricut Explore 3 and Easy Press 3, I got to work. 

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The mum was given less than a day's notice to come up with something yellow and green - when all merch was sold out. Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

Let's hear it for the girls!

I asked my 9-year-old daughter what she would want on the back of the jumper for "Matilda's Day" and she said something about girl power.

We settled on "Yeah The Girls!" and I measured up all of my labels and printed away. Once it was all printed, I then moved to the Easy Press iron to secure the labels to the back of the jumper.  

But it needed something more at the front. Do we go with "Go Matildas" or perhaps a simple "Aussie Aussie Aussie"?

We decided that given the fact that women's sport is now officially on the map (about time folks), this jumper wasn't JUST going to be about the Matildas. It was one that could now be worn at any women's sporting match in the future.

A shape of Australia it was and we ironed that to a corner of the jumper as well. 

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Go Matildas! Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

An easy hack for even the least creative person

I'm not the most creative person, but I have these Cricut machines for times like this - or when it's time to label the pantry and not spend a fortune on fancy ones online. You know, because sometimes I don't know what rice actually looks like and I need a label to tell me. 

With a few simple steps, the job was done. It took less than half an hour for the whole outfit to come together and my daughter was excited to run out the door for school in the morning to show off her new unofficial $3 merch. 

And we can't wait to wear it again on Saturday or whenever another women's team or sportswoman does great things for our country.

Yeah The Girls!

Originally published as Clever mum creates her own Matildas merch with $3 jumper and Cricut