Having a Cricut Explore Air 2 isn’t the only way to create your diy projects. There are many diy projects that don’t even require a cutting machine at all to create them. However, when you have a Cricut Explore Air 2, or any other Cricut machine to assist in making your diy projects, the process
Making Cricut iron on onesies is so easy. This project took less than 15 minutes and is a project that you can make as a baby shower gift, birthday gift, or Christmas gift. So let's jump right in! 😉 Overview of process The process of making this Cricut iron on onesie is very simple. You
I'm a bag/purse kind of girl. I like small bags, medium sized bags, large bags. I like crossbody bags, tote bags, clutches, fanny packs, etc. You name it and I like it. As much as I like to buy those one of a kind types of bags, there will always be duplicates and replicas (not
Another holiday is upon us during this pandemic. Father’s Day 2020, just like all of the holidays since the beginning of March, will be one like we’ve never experienced before. COVID 19 has changed life as we know it, but nevertheless, the celebration must go on, the grill must be brung out and the movies
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” Joshua 1:6 NIV Who doesn’t love a good mug with a sassy/clever quote? Mugs are great gifts for yourself, and for family, friends, coworkers, etc. Personally, I think mugs make people look like
Mother’s Day 2020 will be one like we’ve never experienced before, just like Easter and hopefully not too many more holidays. COVID 19 has changed life as we knew it, but nevertheless things must go on and mom still needs to be shown appreciation. Mothers do so much for their children and others around them
If you’re a Cricut newbie, Cricut beginner or thinking about getting a Cricut machine, this post will provide you with all the basics you need to get familiar with Cricuts and answer some questions you may have about the different Cricut machines. What does the Cricut machine do? The Cricut machine is a cutting machine
Wood signs add a personal touch to any room in your home. Wood signs also make the perfect gift for family, friends and coworkers. Your wood signs don’t have to be the same but can range from funny to inspirational and spiritual. If you search wood signs on Pinterest you will find that these signs
You’ve probably walked past someone in the store with a monogram shirt on and thought “I’d like to have one of those shirts” or “That shirt would make a good gift for someone”. You may have scrolled across monogram shirts on Pinterest, Facebook or your favorite online store. Well now you can make your own
You’re scrolling online on your favorite food bloggers website and see a picture of her spice cabinet and notice that her shelves are nicely lined with spice jars with beautiful labels. You think to yourself “She must have spent a fortune on those jars.” Not necessarily so. I’m here to tell you that you can
Having a Cricut Explore Air 2 isn’t the only way to create your diy projects. There are many diy projects that don’t even require a cutting machine at all to create them.
However, when you have a Cricut Explore Air 2, or any other Cricut machine to assist in making your diy projects, the process is easier and has a more professional look!
I’ve had my Cricut Explore Air 2 for a little over 2 years now, so I’ve had plenty of experience with it and will give you my true thoughts and feelings about it.
Please note that the Cricut Explore Air 2 seems to be discontinued. You can’t buy them brand new on Amazon or the Cricut website. The next best Cricut machines I recommend are the Cricut Maker 3 or Cricut Explore 3.
First Impressions
I only researched the Cricut Explore Air 2 for a little while before I decided to purchase it. The Cricut Maker was out, but considering that I didn’t have much money to spend I decided to go with the Cricut Explore Air 2.
Although the price difference between the two machines is seemingly only a couple hundred dollars, when you start to add in the additional accessories and supplies you’ll need to make your actual projects, the overall cost starts creeping up, but I’ll get into more detail on that later.
When I received my Cricut in the mail, I immediately ripped open the box. The machine was so shiny and looked really cool and sleek. I was excited to finally have the machine that was going to bring all of my diy projects to life.
When you first get your Cricut Explore Air 2, the following things will be in the box:
Cricut Explore Air 2 machine
Premium Fine-Point Blade + Housing
Fine Point Pen, Black
LightGrip Machine Mat, 12″ x 12″ (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm)
Welcome Book
USB cable
Power adapter
Free trial membership to Cricut Access™ (for new subscribers)
50 ready-to-make projects
Materials for a practice project
Review of the Different Parts of the Cricut Explore Air 2
The Cricut Explore Air 2has a few different parts and components. On the left side of your machine is the Open button for you to open your machine, a storage cup, and the Cartridge port, that stores images and fonts. You don’t need to use the Cartridge port unless you want to, otherwise all the images and fonts you need are in Cricut Design Space or you can find them online. Cartridges were originally made for the older Cricut Expression machines and Cricut added the cartridge port to the Cricut Explore Air 2 for those who still had their cartridges.
On the right side of your machine is the Power button, the SmartSet Dial, to change the material you’re cutting, the Load/Unload button which looks like a 2 headed arrow, the Cricut Go button which looks like the “C” in the Cricut logo and the Pause button.
On the inside of your Cricut machine, you see the front storage and double tool holder that has clamps A and B. In clamp A you can add your scoring stylus or Cricut pens and in clamp B you will always put your Cricut blade.
The design of the Cricut Explore Air 2 is very smooth, sleek, elegant and cool! The machine weighs about 21 pounds and is 22.17 inches long, it fits perfectly on my 6 foot foldable table.
The Cricut Explore Air 2 comes in many different colors including Black, Blue, Boysenberry, Cobalt, Fuchsia, Lilac, Merlot, Mint, Peacock, Persimmon, Raspberry, Rose, Sunflower and White.
Double Tool Holder
As I mentioned before, the double tool holder has 2 clamps, Clamps A and B. These clamps are important because they allow you to put 2 accessories into the clamps instead of there only being 1 clamp and then having to switch them out.
With 2 clamps, you can have your Cricut pen in Clamp A and your Cricut blade in clamp B and just let the Cricut do its thing. You don’t have to sit and wait for your Cricut. Just load your accessories into the clamps, go about your business and come back to a finished design.
Cutting Force and Size
You can change the force and pressure for which your Cricut machine cuts. If you need to change the pressure for cutting a certain material, you can do that by going to the Manage Custom Materials page and increasing or decreasing the pressure. Your Cricut must be on and connected to your laptop or other device to do this.
Because the maximum mat size you can use with your Cricut machine is 12 inches wide, you can only cut a design that is 12 inches wide. When it comes to the length of your cut, your design can be up to 24 inches long. Cricut even has mats that are 12” x 24”.
Blades and Cutting Depth
The Cricut Explore Air 2 can use 3 different kinds of blades which include the Premium Fine Point Blade, the Deep Point Blade, and the Bonded Fabric Blade.
The premium fine point blade cuts intricate designs in thin to medium- weight materials. It’s best to use the premium fine point blade with paper, cardstock, poster board, vinyl, iron on and other thin to medium weight materials.
The deep point blade cuts intricate designs in thicker materials. It’s best to use the deep point blade with magnet, chipboard, stamp material, thick cardstock, stiffened felt, foam sheets, cardboard, and some fabrics.
The bonded fabric blade cutsintricate designs on bonded fabrics or fabrics with an iron-on backer.
When buying any Cricut blade, be sure that you have the right housing which is what the Cricut blade goes inside of.
Noise Level
The normal noise level of the Cricut machine isn’t loud at all in my opinion. There are times when the noise level of your Cricut machine will get louder than normal, but that’s when you have your Cricut machine cutting in Fast mode.
Speed
The Cricut Explore Air 2 allows you to cut a design 2 times faster by turning on Fast mode. This setting is only available when cutting Vinyl, Iron-on, and Cardstock on the Smart Set Dial. You will see the Fast mode button on the screen where you see all your Cricut mats.
Size and Weight
The Cricut Explore Air 2 weighs 21 pounds and is 22.17 inches long. Because the machine weighs 21 pounds, I would suggest finding a good place to set it up and leaving it there.
If you will have to transport your Cricut machine, I suggest getting a Cricut Carrying Case, they have some really good ones on Amazon.
Cricut Explore Air 2 Bluetooth
One of my favorite things about my Cricut Explore Air 2 is that I don’t have to use a cord to connect to my laptop and cut my designs, I simply use Bluetooth. I hate having cords everywhere, laptop chargers, phone chargers, etc. so being able to connect my Cricut to wireless bluetooth is amazing!
Cricut Design Space Software Review
Cricut Design Space is the free software that you will use with your Cricut Explore Air 2. This software is really easy to use once you get the hang of it. Within this software, there are plenty of free and paid images, fonts, designs, etc. You can also get project ideas in the Project section of Cricut Design Space.
There is also the option to upload your own svg files and images that you create yourself, find online or buy online.
You can also find If you need more assistance using Cricut Design Space, you can find it in my Cricut Insider eBook.
Review of Similar Cricut Machines
Within the Cricut family, there is also the Cricut Joy and the Cricut Maker. Both of these machines are newer than the Cricut Explore and the Cricut Explore One, which are older than the Cricut Explore Air 2.
The Cricut Joy is the newest of all the machines and a bit smaller. The Cricut Maker is very similar to the Cricut Explore Air 2, but has more blades available and can cut more materials.
As I stated early on, although the price difference between the Cricut Explore Air 2 and the Cricut Maker is seemingly only a couple hundred dollars, when you start to add in the additional accessories and supplies you’ll need to make your actual projects, the overall cost starts creeping up.
Let’s say you buy the Cricut Explore Air 2 for $200. You will still need to buy cardstock if you plan to make paper projects, heat transfer vinyl (HTV) if you plan to make tshirts, pillow covers, etc. and you will still need regular vinyl if you plan to make water bottles, tumblers, etc. While the additional supplies don’t seem like a lot early on, if you plan to buy some items to test things out and get familiar with your machine, the price can add up.
So use your best judgement to determine which Cricut machine is best for you.
Cons of Cricut Explore Air 2
The Cricut Explore Air 2 is an amazing machine and in my more than 2 years of using my machine I haven’t had any major issues at all.
With any purchase, you can expect to have some minor issues and the only issue that I’ve had with my Cricut Explore Air 2 is that sometimes the bluetooth connectivity goes out for a second. When I say second, I mean about 5 seconds and my machine immediately reconnects to my laptop.
Other than that, I haven’t had any issues with my Cricut Explore Air 2.
My Final Cricut Explore Air 2 Review Summary
The Cricut Explore Air 2 is perfect for someone just getting started with a Cricut machine. It has a lot of features that you’ll be able to use and it can cut hundreds of materials. It’s also cheaper than the Cricut Maker.
I hope this review of the Cricut Explore Air 2 was helpful in helping you determine if this machine is the right fit for you.
Making Cricut iron on onesies is so easy. This project took less than 15 minutes and is a project that you can make as a baby shower gift, birthday gift, or Christmas gift. So let’s jump right in! 😉
Overview of process
The process of making this Cricut iron on onesie is very simple. You basically use your Cricut machine to cut your heat transfer vinyl (HTV) and use your Cricut EasyPress machine or heat press to press your design onto your onesie.
What kind of HTV to use
For this Cricut iron on onesie project I used Siser glitter gold HTV. I buy this HTV from MyCraftSource.com and it’s very reasonably priced. I used a 12×12 sheet and used less than a quarter of the sheet for my design.
I went to Google and searched for a Minnie Mouse head and I also searched for a Minnie Mouse bow and saved those png/jpgs to my computer.
Then you want to upload both images to Cricut Design Space. I had to remove the background from both of my images. When you upload the Minnie Mouse bow and are removing the background, don’t select the inside of the bow, only select the outside of it.
Change the color of your images and resize them appropriately.
Type the word “LOVE” and I used the font Arial Black for this project.
Ungroup your letters and move the “V” and the “E” below the “L” and “O”.
Next you want to delete the “O” and move the Minnie Mouse head and bow into the place where the “O” was. Resize the letters and/or the Minnie Mouse head and bow if you need to. You can also rotate the Minnie Mouse design also.
Watch the full video here:
Next you want to zoom in on the Minnie Mouse design, click the bow and then click Duplicate. With that bow to the side, go back over to the original design and select the Minnie Mouse head and bow and then click the Slice button.
Delete all the pieces that were sliced and you should be left with the Minnie Mouse head that’s ready for you to slide your bow into.
Step 2: Resize design and attach
If your letters and the Minnie Mouse head will be the same color, select all of them and click the Attachbutton.
Step 3: Mirror and cut your design
Click the Make it button and put your designs where you want them on your mats. Be sure to click the Mirrorbutton for all of your colors and the different mats.
Load your (heat transfer vinyl) HTV onto your Cricut mat and cut out your designs. The HTV I used was Siser Easyweed.
Step 4: Weed and apply your design
Make sure your Cricut EasyPress is set to 315 degrees for 30 seconds while you are weeding your design.
Preheat your onesie for a few seconds and then let it sit for a few minutes.
Put your letters down first and then press the design with your EasyPress machine for 30 seconds. Remove the carrier sheet and then place the bow on the design, cover your design with a teflon sheet and press your design for 30 more seconds.
Remove the teflon sheet and you are all done.
One thing to note, if you use a darker onesie, after you remove your EasyPress machine your onesie will look a bit darker. Don’t fret, give the onesie a few minutes to cool down and the normal color will come back in.
Cricut Tote Bag Ideas
I’m a bag/purse kind of girl. I like small bags, medium sized bags, large bags. I like crossbody bags, tote bags, clutches, fanny packs, etc. You name it and I like it. As much as I like to buy those one of a kind types of bags, there will always be duplicates and replicas (not that that’s a bad thing). Today I will show you how to make a personalized Cricut tote bag.
What I love about tote bags is that they are big and I can put a lot of essential things in them which include lip-chap, a mirror, gum, pens, alcohol pads, hand sanitizer and wipes, makeup pouch, medicine pouch, snack pack, a notebook, etc.
Overview of process
The process of making this Cricut tote bag is very simple. You basically use your Cricut machine to cut your heat transfer vinyl (HTV) and use your Cricut EasyPress machine or heat press to press your design onto your bag.
What kind of HTV to use
For this Cricut tote bag project I used Siser rose gold HTV. I buy this HTV from MyCraftSource.com and it’s very reasonably priced. I used a 12×12 sheet and used about half of the sheet for my design.
Depending on the size of your tote bag, you should cut your design accordingly. The placement of your design will also determine the size you want your design to be. My design was 10.5 inches in width and about 5.6 inches in height.
If you want your design to be one color, click your design and then click the Attachbutton in the bottom right corner. Next, click the Make it button.
Step 3: Mirror and cut your design
On this screen please don’t forget to mirroryour design and make sure it’s where you want it on your mat for when you cut your HTV. Next click Continue.
My Cricut machine was set to Iron-On and remember to always put the shiny side down on your mat. Use your Cricut machine to cut out the design.
Step 4: Weed and apply your design
Once your design is done cutting, unload your mat and remove your vinyl. Use your weeding tool to weed your design and remove the extra vinyl.
Before you apply your design, you want to take a lint roller and remove any lint on your tote bag.
Next you want to preheat your canvas tote bag for a few seconds (less than 10 seconds) and this is to remove any moisture that may be in the bag and to help your design stick to your bag.
Then you want to place your design where you want it on your tote bag and use your Easy Press to adhere your design to your tote bag. I used a teflon sheet on my design just to protect it. My EasyPress machine was set to 315 degrees for 30 seconds. I had to do a second press on my design for an additional 15 seconds to really make the design stick.
Depending on the HTV you’re using and the material of your tote bag, your EasyPress settings may be different. If you’re unsure about the temperature you can read my Cricut EasyPress Temperature Guide post or check out Cricut’s Heat Guide.
Watch the video below to see how I easily made this Cricut tote bag.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make a tote bag with your Cricut machine. This was by far one of the easiest projects I’ve made in a while and it’s also very elegant looking with the rose gold HTV. Be sure to follow me on Pinterest and save this post. Also check out my YouTube channel for other Cricut tutorials.
Cricut Father’s Day Cards
Another holiday is upon us during this pandemic. Father’s Day 2020, just like all of the holidays since the beginning of March, will be one like we’ve never experienced before. COVID 19 has changed life as we know it, but nevertheless, the celebration must go on, the grill must be brung out and the movies must be put on.
Dads do so much for their families and others around them constantly. Dads are protectors, comforters, heroes, and so much more so let’s take time to make them feel special on this special day.
If you’re looking to craft something handmade for dad, this Cricut Father’s Day card is the perfect gift for him and so easy.
The process of making this Cricut Father’s Day Card is simple. You basically use your Cricut machine to cut the design out of cardstock and use a different color cardstock to glue/tape to the inside of your card.
What kind of cardstock to use
For this project I used 65 lb cardstock. This cardstock seems to resemble the weight of typical greeting cards. You can use heavier cardstock such as 80 lb or 100 lb cardstock if you want a thicker card. My card size was 5.5 in. x 8.5 in.
The extra rectangle that is included in the svg file is the piece that you will glue inside your card. If you plan to make both cards, duplicate the orange piece.
You can also change the color of the card for dad and grandad. For the orange piece, which is the insert, I left it orange so that I could see it on the canvas, but I cut it on white cardstock.
Click the Shape button and then click Score Line. If your score line is vertical, rotate 90 degrees so it’s horizontal.
Make your score line is 5.5 inches wide, the same size as your card. Add 2 more score lines so that you can fold the card easily.
Step 3: Align your score lines
Select your design and the score lines and click the Align button and then click the Center Horizontally button. With your design and score lines still selected, click the Center Vertically button, just to make sure your score lines are centered on your card.
Step 4: Cut your card
Select each card and its score lines and click Attach, in the bottom right corner. Position your design and the extra rectangle where you want them on your mat and click Continue.
In the materials window, choose cardstock and whichever weight you’re using, from the list of materials and click Continue.
Load your cardstock on your mat. Be sure to use a different color cardstock for the extra rectangle.
If you’re using a Cricut Explore Air or Cricut Explore Air 2, put your stylus pen into the accessory clamp A and press the Go button on your Cricut machine.
Step 5: Glue/Tape your card
After you peel your card and the extra rectangle off your mat, use your glue stick and/or tape to glue and tape the extra rectangle to the inside of your Father’s Day card.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make a Cricut Father’s Day Card. Share your cards with me in the comments below!
How To Make Cricut Mugs
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” Joshua 1:6 NIV
Who doesn’t love a good mug with a sassy/clever quote? Mugs are great gifts for yourself, and for family, friends, coworkers, etc.
Personally, I think mugs make people look like they’re productive and are about their business. Now while I know that’s not true and subjective, it’s just the way my mind works. Lol.
Here are some of my favorite mug sayings that I’ve seen:
The struggle is real but so is Jesus
But first Jesus
I can’t adult today
I love you a latte
Not today satan
Here are some funny sayings that I’ve seen:
It’s too early for you to say things
Breakfast wine
Super wife, super mom, super tired
Starter fluid
Today I’m going to help you slash the price tag on those expensive mugs you see in the store and create your own cute mugs with your favorite sayings.
Best mugs to use
Ceramic mugs are the best mugs to apply vinyl to. These mugs have a smooth surface and aren’t porous. You can find ceramic mugs on Amazon as well as at stores like Walmart, Target and Bed Bath and Beyond.
Depending on the mugs you use, there will be different techniques for applying the vinyl. There are some mugs that are more round and others that are more square or rectangular.
Overview of process
The process for making your Cricut mugs with quotes is very simple. Upload the svg file to Cricut Design Space, resize the design to fit your mug, cut the design and apply it to your mug.
First you want to prep your mug by taking a coffee filter or lint free cloth and alcohol and cleaning your mug. A coffee filter removes the oil on the jar that comes from your hand and doesn’t leave lint behind like a paper towel or towel would.
Resize your design to fit the size of your mug. You can use a ruler to determine the width and height you want your design. Click the Attach button in the bottom right corner so that your design will cut as it is shown on the screen.
Click Make it at the top right and click Continue. Load your mat into your Cricut machine and cut your design.
Step 4: Weed and apply your design
Next you want to weed your vinyl using your weeding tool from the Cricut tool set. Place your design where you want it on your mug. Use your scraper (also from your Cricut tool set) to firmly adhere the design to your mug.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on Cricut mug ideas. Don’t forget to like, share or comment on this post.
Cricut Mother’s Day Card
Mother’s Day 2020 will be one like we’ve never experienced before, just like Easter and hopefully not too many more holidays. COVID 19 has changed life as we knew it, but nevertheless things must go on and mom still needs to be shown appreciation.
Mothers do so much for their children and others around them constantly. While I feel like appreciation should be shown all throughout the year, Mother’s Day is the national day for which moms are showered with love.
If you’re looking to craft something handmade for mom with your Cricut machine, this Mother’s Day card is the perfect gift for her and so easy.
The process of making this Cricut Mother’s Day Card is simple. You basically use your Cricut machine to cut the design out of cardstock and use a different color cardstock to glue to the inside of your card.
What kind of cardstock to use
For this project I used 65 lb cardstock, this cardstock seems to resemble the weight of typical greeting cards. You can use heavier cardstock such as 80 lb or 100 lb cardstock if you want a thicker card. My card size was 5.5 in. x 4.25 in.
Click the Shape button and then click Score Line. If your score line is vertical, rotate 90 degrees so it’s horizontal.
Make your score line 6 inches long, longer than your card. Add 3 more score lines so that you can fold the card easily.
Step 3: Align your score lines
Click the Align button and then click the Center Horizontally button, just to make sure your score lines are centered on your card.
Step 4: Cut your card
Select your card and all the score lines and click Attach, in the bottom right corner. Position your design and the extra rectangle where you want them on your mat and click Continue.
Choose cardstock, whichever weight you’re using, from the list of materials and click Continue.
Load your cardstock on your mat. Be sure to use a different color cardstock for the extra rectangle.
If you’re using a Cricut Explore Air or Cricut Explore Air 2, put your stylus pen into the accessory clamp A and press the Go button on your Cricut machine.
Step 5: Glue your card
After you peel your card and the extra rectangle off your mat, use your glue stick to glue the extra rectangle to the inside of your Mother’s Day card.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make a Cricut Mother’s Day Card. Share your cards with me in the comments below!
Getting Started With Your Cricut Machine
If you’re a Cricut newbie, Cricut beginner or thinking about getting a Cricut machine, this post will provide you with all the basics you need to get familiar with Cricuts and answer some questions you may have about the different Cricut machines.
What does the Cricut machine do?
The Cricut machine is a cutting machine that can cut various materials including paper, vinyl and cardstock. I’ll go into more detail later on the types of materials that can be used with your Cricut machine. There have been various Cricut machines with the latest machine being the Cricut Joy.
The 3 machines below are the latest Cricut machines still being sold on the Cricut website and at other retailers.
While all Cricut machines can cut, draw and score, only the Cricut Maker can engrave, deboss, wave and perf. Engraving is the process of carving designs into materials. Debossing is the process of putting depressions into materials to give them dimension. The Wavy blade allows you to add waves to a project design. Perfing is the process of adding evenly spaced lines to a project in order to create a clean tear every time.
The best Cricut machine to buy
Again, there are 3 different Cricut machines that are popular right now which are listed above. A lot of people who are interested in getting a Cricut machine want to know which Cricut machine is the best to buy. While there are many factors to consider when choosing a Cricut machine, I’ll list a few differences between the Cricut machines.
One of the most noticeable differences between the Cricut machines is the number of materials that can be used with each machine. According to Cricut, the Cricut Joy can be used with 50+ materials, the Cricut Explore Air 2 can be used with 100+ materials and the Cricut Maker can be used with 300+ materials.
To get a list of materials that can be used with your Cricut machine, sign up to my Free Resource Library at the end of this post.
Another important difference to note is that to use some of the features on your Cricut, you will need additional tools such as:
When assessing which Cricut machine is best to buy, you also want to consider the cost. The Cricut Joy is the least expensive of the Cricut machines. Although it is the least expensive, it is smaller and can cut fewer materials than the other machines. The Cricut Explore Air 2 machine is the middle of the road. You can buy Explore Air 2 bundles that come with vinyl, Cricut pens, the basics tool set, extra mats, etc.
The Cricut Maker is the most expensive of the 3 Cricut machines and can be used with over 300 materials which is why many people bypass the other 2 machines.
So in all, the best Cricut machine for you depends on what you’re looking to do with the machine in regards to making projects and how much you’re willing to invest in a machine.
Is the Cricut Maker worth the extra money?
A question that Cricut beginners often ask is if the Cricut Maker is worth the extra money and what the Cricut Maker can do that the Explore Air 2 can’t.
Again, the response to this question is based on the types of projects you intend to make with your machine. If you plan to cut wood with your machine, you’ll need to invest in the Cricut Maker. If you’ll only be cutting mostly vinyl and cardstock, the Cricut Explore Air 2 should suffice. I encourage you to download the printables from my Free Resource Library that show what materials each machine can cut by signing up at the bottom of this post.
Which Cricut machine is best for beginners?
If you are a beginner you should evaluate what types of Cricut projects you’ll be making most often. If you’re unsure of the types of projects you’ll be making, take a look at my blog post A-Z list of Cricut projects to make and sell.
As stated before, if you’ll mostly be cutting vinyl and paper, the Cricut Explore Air 2 would be the best Cricut machine for you. If you plan to cut wood occasionally or want to engrave or perforate projects, then the Cricut Maker would be the best Cricut machine for you.
Do you need a computer to use your Cricut?
Cricut Design Space can be used on a traditional desktop computer as well as laptops, iPads, Android smartphones and iPhones. Cricut Design Space cannot be used with Chromebooks, or Unix/Linux Computers.
Can you use the Cricut with your phone?
Yes, you can use Cricut Design Space with your smartphone. Cricut has an app that lets you connect your Cricut machine to Bluetooth. The Cricut app is free to use except if you include paid fonts or images in your design. Cricut will show you which fonts and images are free and which ones are paid.
Can you use Cricut without WiFi?
With the transition of Cricut Design Space to the Desktop version, you can now design and cut without an internet connection.
The Cricut tools you need to get started
The bare minimum you need to get started with your Cricut machine is the basic tool set, cardstock and vinyl. The basic tool set includes tweezers, weeder, micro-tip scissors, spatula, and scraper.
Cricut EasyPress – if you want to make heat transfer vinyl projects
Printer – if you want to use the print then cut feature, this best if you want to make stickers
Where to buy Cricut supplies?
Most major retailers and craft stores sell Cricut supplies including Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Walmart, Target and Joann Fabric. You can also find Cricut supplies on Amazon. Check out my blog post on Where To Buy The Best Blanks For Cricut Projects.
How much does Cricut Design Space cost?
Cricut Design Space is a free software that allows you to create and edit svg files and determine your preferences for cutting, scoring, writing and so much more with your Cricut machine. There are features in Design Space such as fonts, images and Cricut Access that you have to pay for.
If you want to test out Design Space without purchasing a Cricut first you can download the software here.
How to access Cricut Access?
You can get to Cricut Access by opening Cricut Design Space, clicking the three horizontal bars in the top left corner and clicking the Cricut Access button. If you subscribe to Cricut Access, you can look through the different files that are available. If you don’t subscribe to Cricut Access, you’ll be prompted to sign up.
You can also get to Cricut Access by going to the Cricut website, clicking the Shop button, and then click the Cricut Access button.
Cricut Access has 3 pricing plans:
Monthly – $9.99 per month plus tax (billed monthly)
Annual – $7.99 per month plus tax (billed annually)
Premium – $9.99 per month plus tax (billed annually).
You can cancel Cricut Access at any time. Cricut does offer a free 30 day trial to Cricut Access.
How much does Adobe Illustrator cost?
I use Adobe Illustrator to create the majority of my svg files. Adobe is perfect for creating designs from scratch or merging and combining components of different svg files. I subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud for $29.99 per month as of the writing of this blog post. This is an amazing deal because I get access to tons of Adobe products including Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Acrobat, Lightroom, in addition to several other programs.
Can you use your own svg files with Cricut Design Space and where to get svg files?
Yes you can use your own svg files with Cricut Design Space. You can buy svg files from Etsy, Creative Market or other places and you can create them yourself. I wrote a blog post on Where To Find SVG Files For Your Cricut Machine.
Interested in starting your own Cricut business?
If you’re interested in starting your own Cricut business, read my blog post on the Different Types Of Cricut Businesses To Start and sign up to my Cricut business email list. When you sign up to my email list you will get tips on how to make money with your Cricut machine, where to buy the best supplies, how to price your products and so much more.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post on Getting Started With Your Cricut Machine. Be sure to save this post to your Pinterest boards and share it with others who may find it useful!
Wood Sign With Your Cricut – Love Never Fails
Wood signs add a personal touch to any room in your home. Wood signs also make the perfect gift for family, friends and coworkers. Your wood signs don’t have to be the same but can range from funny to inspirational and spiritual.
If you search wood signs on Pinterest you will find that these signs come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. While most signs you come across on Pinterest and Etsy have a rustic feel, you can create wood signs that are modern and contemporary by adding color, vinyl, paper flowers and many more additions.
What kind of wood to use
Just about any wood that you find in Home Depot, Lowe’s, Hobby Lobby and even Michaels can be used to make your wood sign. I recommend looking on Pinterest to see what kind of wood sign and design you would like to make and then going into any of the stores mentioned above to find your wood for your project.
Michaels has a variety of wood signs that have strings/rope attached that are ready to paint or stain.
Overview of process
The process of making wood signs is very easy and takes only a few steps that include painting/staining your wood the color of your choice, applying a vinyl decal to your sign in addition to anything else you would like to add.
First, you need to prep your wood by painting it or staining it. Regardless of which one you choose, give yourself at least 24 hours for it to dry completely. I decided to paint my sign white.
Depending on the length and width of your wood, you need to resize your design accordingly. My wood was 10 in. x 9.8 in and my design was 8.078 in x 8.268 in. Once your design is the size you want it, select your design and click the Attach button in the bottom right corner so that your design will cut as it is shown on the screen.
Click Make it at the top right and click Continue. Put your vinyl on your mat and load it into your Cricut machine and cut your design. Depending on how long your wood is and how long you want your design to be, you may need your 12 in. x 24 in. mat.
Step 4: Weed and apply your design
Next use your weeding tool from the Cricut tool set to weed your design. Use some transfer tape to overlay on top of your design and press down firmly. Carefully peel the transfer paper off the white backing and place your design where you want it on your wood.
Use your scraper (also from your Cricut tool set) to firmly adhere the design to your spice jars.
Selling your wood signs
If you plan to see the wood signs you make I have a few tips for you.
Determine the size signs you want to sell
If you’re just starting out you need to grow small. Don’t initially start trying to offer 10 or 20 variations of signs. Take it slow and start out with 5 different sizes. This way you can get in the swing of your “assembly line” which includes taking the details for the order, staining/painting the wood, measuring the design, cutting it, applying it and packaging it. When you have a good feel and flow for your process you can begin offering more product sizes.
Determine the color wood signs you want to sell
Again, if you’re just starting out you want to have a small variety of options to sell and this includes color options. White signs typically gain a lot of traction as well as honey and provincial varathane brand interior stain.
Create the designs you want on the wood signs
You should create the designs that you want to sell on your wood signs in advance. You can create these designs in Cricut Design Space or in Adobe Illustrator. To determine what designs you want to create, try searching on Pinterest or Google for “wood sign quotes.” I suggest creating about 10 designs to have a variety of options. You can also allow your customers to do personalized designs, although that can get cumbersome and time-consuming.
You can use wood signs throughout your house including in your:
Bedroom
Kitchen
Bathroom
Living room
Porch
Nursery
Laundry room
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make a wood sign using your Cricut machine. Be sure to pin this post to your Pinterest boards. Share your wood signs with me on Instagram or Facebook.
Cricut Monogram Shirt – Beginner Series
You’ve probably walked past someone in the store with a monogram shirt on and thought “I’d like to have one of those shirts” or “That shirt would make a good gift for someone”. You may have scrolled across monogram shirts on Pinterest, Facebook or your favorite online store.
Well now you can make your own monogram shirt for a fraction of the cost as what stores would charge you.
If you have a Cricut machine, making tshirts is one of the easiest projects you can make. If you want tips on how to make shirts to sell and to gift read through to the end.
Best shirts to use
You can use any shirt that you want, but I find buying the Gildan brand shirts on Amazon and Michaels to be the best for making bulk orders. Gildan is a well-known brand and the shirts last for a very long time.
Making shirts with your Cricut machine is very easy. I make shirts for myself and even sell personalized shirts to friends, family and others they recommend to me. The basic process of creating a monogram tshirt is uploading the design to Cricut Design Space, resizing your design to fit your shirt, cutting your design and applying your design. Let’s jump into making Cricut monogram shirts.
You can get circle monogram letters in my Etsy shop.
My designs are different sizes because one shirt is a youth small and the other is a youth medium.
Step 2: Prep your shirt
Get your shirt ready by laying it on a flat surface and putting your Cricut Easy Press Mat inside your shirt. If there is any lint on your shirt, be sure to remove it so it won’t interfere with your design.
You can also go ahead and heat press your shirt with your Easy Press so that there aren’t any wrinkles.
Step 3: Resize your design and cut your vinyl
Depending on the size of your shirt, you should cut your design accordingly. The placement of your design will also determine the size you want your design to be. The picture below shows two different ways you can put a design on a shirt.
Once you’ve decided on how you want your design placed on your shirt, resize your design in Design Space. Click Attach and then click Make itin the top right corner.
Please don’t forget to mirroryour design and then click continue. (Even now I still sometimes forget to mirror my design and get irritated because I have wasted vinyl. On the flip side, you can always save that vinyl to create a tshirt that has backward text. There are numerous fashion trends that are popular these days so why not put your vinyl to use!)
Put your vinyl onto your mat and load your mat into your Cricut machine and cut your design.
Step 4: Weed and apply your vinyl
Once your design is done cutting, unload your mat and remove your vinyl. Use your weeding tool that comes with your Cricut tool set to remove the excess vinyl.
Place your design where you want it on your shirt and use your Easy Press to adhere your design to your shirt. My Easy Press was on 315 degrees for 30 seconds. Depending on the htv you’re using and the type of shirt, your Easy Press settings may be different.
If you plan to see the shirts you make I have a few tips for you.
Make sure your shirts look professional
Take the extra time to make sure your shirts look as if they were bought from the store. Your customers will be impressed and leave reviews and you will have an increase your sales.
Package your shirts nicely
You can buy plastic inserts on Amazon to put your shirts in to give your packaging a professional look. You can also buy bubble envelopes or boxes on Amazon also to package your shirts in. Adding stickers to the plastic inserts also allows you to ingrain your brand into customers minds.
Ship your shirts in a timely manner
You know what it feels like to wait forever (or it seems to take forever) for a package to arrive that you ordered online. Make sure your customers know the processing time from when they ordered a shirt and when it will be shipped. This will cut down on any confusion and limit the amount of emails you’ll get inquiring about orders.
Don’t sell yourself short
If you want to make a business or side hustle out of selling shirts, make sure you have a pricing model put together on how much you will sell your shirts for. You may think that because you are a beginner that you can’t charge as much or you may think that someone won’t pay x amount for a shirt. Well think again. You have to set your price and be comfortable with that. If someone comes across your designs and want them, they will buy from you.
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make a monogram shirt using your Cricut machine. Be sure to pin this post to your Pinterest board. Share your monogram shirts with me on Instagram or Facebook.
Cricut Spice Jar Labels – Beginner Series
You’re scrolling online on your favorite food bloggers website and see a picture of her spice cabinet and notice that her shelves are nicely lined with spice jars with beautiful labels. You think to yourself “She must have spent a fortune on those jars.” Not necessarily so. I’m here to tell you that you can create a nice jars and vases with labels on them to better organize your home and add an extra layer of simple glam.
You can add labels to the spice jars that you already have on your kitchen counter or in your kitchen pantry or buy new jars to start fresh and create a cohesive look in your kitchen. Labels for your spices are also a great touch, because if you’ve ever mistaken salt for sugar and put it in your oatmeal you’ll understand why using jar labels is necessary.
Yes this post is titled Cricut spice jar labels and I’m demonstrating on my flour and sugar jars, but these labels can be applied to any jar, vase or glass.
Best jars to use
You can find spice jars on Amazon as well as at stores like Bed Bath and Beyond. You can also find bulk mason jars on Amazon as well.
Overview of process
The process for making jar labels is very simple. There are also two different ways you can make spice jar labels, using vinyl and using stickers. I will show you how to do the former in this post. The process is simply upload the svg file to Cricut Design Space, resizing the design to your spice jar, cutting the design and applying it to your spice jars.
Next you want to prep your jar by taking a coffee filter and alcohol and cleaning your jar. A coffee filter removes the oil on the jar that comes from your hand and doesn’t leave lint behind like a paper towel or towel would.
Step 3: Resize your design and cut your vinyl
Resize your design to fit the size of your spice jars. You can use a ruler to determine the width and height you want your design. Click the attach button in the bottom right corner so that your design will cut as it is shown on the screen.
Click Make it at the top right and click Continue. Put your vinyl on your mat and load it into your Cricut machine and cut your design. (Tip: it’s best to use a dark colored vinyl if your “spice” is lighter and lighter colored vinyl if your “spice” is darker.)
Step 4: Weed and apply your design
Next you want to weed your vinyl using your weeding tool from the Cricut tool set. Place your design where you want it on your spice jar. Use your scraper (also from your Cricut tool set) to firmly adhere the design to your spice jars.
Selling your vinyl spice jar labels
If you plan to see the spice jar labels you make I have a few tips for you.
Determine the type of spice jar labels you’ll sell.
Again, you can sell vinyl labels or labels that are stickers. You can also sell the digital design you used to make the labels.
Vinyl labels
If you’re selling vinyl labels you can sell them on your own website or another site like Etsy. Customers can choose which labels they want you to cut out of vinyl and you can ship them to the customer. Use a plastic insert that can be found on Amazon to put the labels inside of and use a bubble mailer to ship the labels.
Sticker labels
Selling sticker labels is essentially the same as selling sticker labels. The process for making sticker labels is different because you will use the print and cut feature in Cricut Design Space. You will need some sticker paper also. You will print the labels that the customer orders, cut them with your Cricut and package them the same as you package the vinyl labels.
Digital labels
This is by far the easiest of the three types of spice jar labels you can sell. With the digital labels, you create the labels in Adobe Illustrator or in Cricut Design Space. You will then save your design in different formats such as SVG, PNG, JPG or AI (Adobe Illustrator file). You can sell your digital file on your own website or a site like Etsy. Once the customer pays for the digital file, they will be sent an email with the file formats that you created. They can then use the spice jar labels that you created and make their own jars.
This easy Cricut project is beginner friendly and takes less than 10 minutes to create
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to make a spice jar labels using your Cricut machine. Be sure to pin this post to your Pinterest board. Share your spice jars with me on Instagram or Facebook.
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
Matthew 4:4 NIV
Scroll Up
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By clicking "Continue" or continuing to use this site, you acknowledge that you accept our Privacy Policy. AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
