The texture gives the cardstock a sturdier feel, so its great for layering or 3D projects. You can cut using the Cricut Explore family using the Bonded fabric blade as long as your fabric has a stabilizer. In Design Space, you are also allowed to upload your own files and use the editor to create files as well as edit them. That said, some of the thicker cardstock materials cut better on the green StandardGrip cutting mat or even the purple StrongGrip cutting mat. AnEasyPress machine is a heating device that allows you to easily transfer Iron-On, HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl), or infusible ink designs to your desired surface. Remove the debris, and try again.
When your design is finished, click Make it. As a general rule, the heavier a paper is, the thicker it is. At this moment, 3 different Cricut models encompass the Cricut family. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Because the Cricut will do the rest, watching it work is one of my favorite parts of a project! Here are a few tips for cutting intricate cardstock designs cleanly: With printable sticker paper, you can print your own images and cut them out with your Cricut. The most popular competition for the Cricut machines are the Silhouette machine (The one I used to craft with), and the Brother ScanNcut2 machine. It's light, thin, and durable for comfort and portability. Bazzill Cardstock: Bazzill paper is a high-quality cardstock with a canvas texture and solid core. The Cricut machines can cut so many materials! Open Design Space, start a new project, and create your design. While the principles are the same for all cutting machines, I personally think that my new Cricut Explore Air 2 has some exceptional features that I want to highlight in this post. Cricut Smart sticker paper cardstock (for the Maker 3, Explore 3, and Joy). Along with my machine, there was a set of cards that explained super simple how-to connect to the power. Have questions? 5 What comes in the Cricut explore air 2 box? You can even try patting a clean t-shirt all over your mat to add a little bit of fabric fuzz, and thus reduce the mats stickiness. Here are a few tricks to solve some of the most common problems crafters have when cutting paper and cardstock with Cricut. It comes in a variety of colors and finishes. Start a new project, and create your design. B THE EXPLORE FAMILY: These used to be the most popular ones, and each version offers a few different features: UPDATE: Cricut has now released the CRICUT EXPLORE 3, this machine has all the same capabilities as the Cricut Explore Air 2, BUT now it's also compatible with Smart Materials (So they can cut without a mat), B THE CRICUT JOY MACHINE: The Cricut Joy is the smallest machine of the family, but thanks to its size it's also the most portable and light of them all. Place the paper or cardstock onto the blue LightGrip mat. Another thing to try is to make a multi-pass or to cut the design more than once. Most paper and cardstock materials cut best on the blue LightGrip cutting mat. After that, if youre still getting tears, try using the Less Pressure. Here are some of the qualities youll want to look for when purchasing cardstock to use with your Cricut machine. The Cricut Explore machine offers the ability to cut a shape and use the pen at the same time thanks to the dual tool holder. Yes, according to the Cricut website, the only machine that has full embossing capabilities is the Cuttlebug Machine. It can be hard to get nice clean cuts on designs with tiny detail. The Smart Set dial eliminates the need to make manual pressure, depth, and speed adjustments. Leave a comment: I love to hear your feedback. But cut fabric and over 100 other materials. But you probably dont need to switch to the Deep Point blade or Knife Blade. This system is the core difference between the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Explore Air 2, I mentioned that the new blades were designed especially for it, but what is it? The files that contain the .svg file extension store two-dimensional graphics. I will make an update once I've experimented with the adapters and other brands of pens. The Explore One machine requires a separate accessory adapter to use the Cricut pens. Have you ever wanted to cut paper and cardstock with your Cricut? For the Cricut Maker machine, there is no need to add a stabilizer or backing to your fabric before cutting. Youll learn about the different types of paper and cardstock you can cut, and the best brands of cardstock to use. 4 What is the difference between the Cricut Maker and the Cricut explore air 2? Cardstock for Intricate Cuts differs from the regular Cardstock settings in two ways: it uses less pressure, and it makes two cutting passes. If white edges are distracting from your design, you will want to switch to a solid core cardstock. This white core can be distracting, especially on projects with intricate cuts. And once you are ready, you can click the button on your machine to start cutting. And the possibilities of creation when you pair them with the new tools and custom designs are out of this world! The introduction of Infusible ink products has been a game-changer because Infusible Ink heat transfers are permanently infused into your base material. For help to install and uninstalling Design Space, check this helpful article on the Cricut website. In Design Space, you can tell your machine to either cut, write (using the pens) or score the material in your mat. To learn more about this mat and how to use it better check this Cricut help article. If you have plans to cut thicker materials like chipboard, leather, or fabrics without stabilizers, the Cricut Maker would be the best machine for the job. Smooth cardstock has a nice clean surface for projects that will include writing, printing, or drawing. DIFFERENCE 1 The most significant difference between the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Explore Air 2 (the latest models for Cricut machines) is the cutting power. I don't think there's specific previous knowledge that you HAVE to have to start crafting with a Cricut Machine. BUT I think that just like with any creative venture, you have to be open to learning. If your blade has dulled, you may need to replace it with a new blade. Joy Kelley here, I am a full-time lettering artist with a passion for teaching and sharing my love for Calligraphy, lettering, crafts and all things creative! Let me show you around. Join the Cricut Facebook Group! I do want to point out that for me, just the fact that I can successfully cut way thicker materials with the Cricut, was a strong enough reason for me to make the switch. A THE CRICUT MAKER: This is the latest release from Cricut. The new Debossing tip for the Cricut Maker can help you create a stunning effect that even though it is not the same, its pretty close. They last as long as the project itself. But now that I finally understand how cutting machines work, and that I have my own shop with hand-lettered cut files. So each type of material has its own specific pressure settings. Yes! The Cricut Joy Card Mat is a cutting mat designed with a divider to protect the back of a folded card while cutting a design on the front. Where to go to download the app (I used it on my iPad, and where to go to create the Cricut ID. 15 Do I need the internet to work with a Cricut? It has a smooth texture and a solid core. As Im sure you know, not all cardstock is the same. Like Amazon, Joanns, Michaels, etc. You commonly find cardstock in 65lb, 80lb, and 100lb weights. Even if you already have a Cricut cutting machine. Youre not alone. You can check how to change a blade in this video: As I explained above, Cricut released new blades that are only compatible with the Cricut Maker. And after that, youll get my best tips and tricks to avoid common paper-cutting mistakes. The Cricut cutting mats have been optimized to allow you to cut a variety of different materials easily. You might need to change the line time to make it work. You may NOT use any of my projects to create items for sale without acommercial license. Recollections Cardstock: Recollections cardstock is an affordable brand of 65lb cardstock that you can find online and at craft stores. Swap. 10 times the cutting power. There are many other options for cutting machines. For more details about infusible ink, check this help section here. Cricut offers 4 different sizes of EasyPress to accommodate all different uses and surfaces. Bonded-Fabric blade: (PINK) this blade is pink in color to match the FabricGrip machine mat. You can use it for regular tracing uses, but also to help with weeding, quilting, and more. 28 What are cutting files (SVG, DFX, etc)? Cricut can cut all sorts of paper materials, from delicate papers like crepe and tissue paper to heavier materials like thick cardstock and poster board. Premium Fine-Point blade: (GOLD) this one was formerly the silver blade, and its perfect for thin to medium weight projects.Recommended or cutting paper, cardstock, poster board, vinyl, iron-on, etc. If youre having trouble cutting all the way through your cardstock, you may need to choose different materials settings. Solid core cardstock is the best choice for projects where youll see a lot of paper edges, like rolled paper flowers. The Cricut Machine is such an awesome cutting tool! Check this helpful video about cutting mats here: Cricut blades are the workforce in the machine, they are the ones actually doing the cutting. Want to know what exactly is inside the box? You can find the Cricut machine at Cricut.com but you can also purchase them from all major retailers. How to Cut Paper or Cardstock with Cricut. So to summarize, a Cricut machine is your dreamed right hand when it comes to creating! Dont try to peel your project off of your mat by one corner that will cause curling or tearing. 10 What is a Cricut blade, and how to pick one? Here are a few other paper products that you can cut with a Cricut. I would say its the most powerful of the family. The Adaptive tool system technology controls the direction of the blades at all times. That way, youll be able to see how your pen interacts with the cardstocks texture. Iron-On and HTV are materials that need to be heated for the glue side to activate and obtain a successful transfer. Wondering what a Cricut cutting machine is and what does it do? Kraft Board: very sturdy, versatile material that you can use to make home decor, mini books, boxes, box cards, tags, banners, and more. So I not only wasted SO MUCH TIME, perfectly good card stock and AND LOTS of expensive vinyl, trying to make my project work. 2 Are there other machines that can do the same thing? You can also try honing the blade by repeatedly poking it into a small ball of aluminum foil. You can even find 12 by 24 sheets that will cover the larger size Cricut cutting mats. American Crafts Cardstock: AC brand cardstock is another favorite brand with crafters. 13 What previous knowledge do I need to work with a Cricut? Why? Cardstock comes in a variety of finishes, as well. Would you consider this machine for cutting fabric for making masks? Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Scientific American, Good Housekeeping, Vox, Apartment Therapy, Lifehacker, and more. Cricut is a smart electronic cutting machine, check this helpful article on the Cricut website, A lady never discusses the size of her craft stash, EasyPress: All you need to know and how to use it, A premium fine-point blade and blade housing (pre-installed), Fabric (with a stabilizer or without depending on your Cricut model). You can read more about how to solve common paper-cutting issues in the Troubleshooting section at the bottom of this post. This little power marvel allows creatives a smooth-making experience as we have never before. A cardstocks weight is measured in lbs (pounds). If you want to cut through both layers to make loose, individual stickers, choose more pressure or select a different material setting like Medium Cardstock. It controls the pressure to make sure you can cut different thicknesses and densities of materials. How to Cut Vinyl with Cricut: A Step by Step Guide for Beginners, Ultimate Guide to Cricut Blades for Beginners, Cricut for Beginners: A Complete Guide to Your New Machine, Complete Guide to Knitting Gauge, and How to Measure It, How to Knit Stockinette Stitch for Beginners, 20 Free Crochet Tank and Crop Top Patterns. And the purple mat has the strongest adhesive that works best with materials like poster board. Textured cardstock has a slight surface texture that often resembles a weave or a grid. It means that with that kind of power, you can cut WAY thicker materials, not just paper and cardstock, but wood, leather, some acrylics, and more! After hours of research and calls to customer service, I finally found help and finally figured things out. If you want to save this post for later, feel free to save one of the images below =], Letters for wall: Create wall art tutorial and template, 27 of the best hand lettering quotes to inspire you. Use the Cardstock for Intricate Cuts setting. If you have a Cricut Joy, you can also cut paper on the special Card Mat. Cricut EasyPress 6 x 7 inches: This is the smaller size of the regular design EasyPress, at 3.3lb in weight is perfect for small flat projects like: Cricut EasyPress 9 x 9 inches: This is the medium size and weighing only 5.7lb its the perfect size for most projects and probably the most recommend if you are an EasyPress newbie. So, if you rip or tear the cardstock, the inside will be the same color as the outside. What Blades to Use for Paper and Cardstock, Working with Insert Cards and the Card Mat, Tips for Cutting Intricate Cardstock Designs, Tips for Writing and Drawing on Cardstock, Tips and Tricks for Working with Cardstock. Cricut offers this blade, so you can keep it only for your fabric projects. Unlike the other machines, this is a hand-operated die-cutting machine that allows you to emboss and use metal dies. When the cut is finished, unload the mat. You can access their library of design by subscription, by paying per project OR (and this is what I like the most) you can upload your own files and artwork! The opinions and text are all mines. I am so excited to start sharing with you all the tutorials I have lined up to use the Cricut Machine! Bumpy, not aligned cuts, and weird sounds where all I got from it! It may feel awkward at first, but flip the mat upside down and peel the mat off the paper not the other way around. Youll also learn tips for cutting intricate designs, and how to remove the paper from the cutting mat without tearing or curling. Sarah Stearns has helped thousands of makers find their next craft project with free patterns and step-by-step tutorials on her blog, sarahmaker.com. Its my favorite mat for cutting cardstock, and it works well with almost every paper material. Join the group to share pictures, ask questions, and help each other out. Cut files are files that are specially formatted to be read by cutting machines and translate lines as cutting lines. If you plan on cutting a lot of fabric I would recommend you to get the Cricut Maker instead of the Cricut Air2, this because with the Cricut Maker, you can just place the fabric in the mat and cut, with the other machine, you need to prep and add a backing to each piece you cut, and this can be time-consuming. But once you purchase them, they are forever in your library. Offline capabilities for Cricut Design Space (iOS) allow you to design and cut using downloaded content without an internet connection. So what do you use to stabilize you are felt of fabric? The blue mat has a light adhesive that releases cardstock well. My number one tip for writing with Cricut pens on cardstock is doing a small test run before starting a larger, more involved project. Its perfect to use with fabrics that have a stabilizer or backer iron-on.Just like we keep scissors that are only for fabric, so we can prolong their life and quality. It has a tote bag carrier that allows you to take it with you everywhere, and it's compatible with the Joy size Smart Materials. You may also need to clean the blade. Hola! If you are using the Cricut brand Printable Sticker Paper, the sticker paper material setting in Design Space should produce a kiss cut or a cut that goes through the sticker layer but leaves the backing layer intact. It was introduced along with a new set of blades that is only compatible with this model, and that allows the cutting of thicker materials like leather and even wood. The next thing to consider is the texture of the cardstock. You can choose from several types of paper and cardstock. You can see the whole process in the video below: Yes, you can cut fabric and felt with your Cricut, but the way you cut and blade used is different depending on the machine you have. The most popular cut file format is .SVG. Using a backing material is the perfect way to hack your way to fabric cutting. Removing paper and cardstock from the mat without curling or tearing might be the trickiest part of the whole project but Ill give you a few tips to make it easier. Go slowly, and use your other hand to keep the cardstock flat on the table. Because the Cricut Maker allows you to use a special blade that was designed to handle stretch and a mat that is specially designed to hold the fabric. Poster Board: a thicker material with more rigidity than cardstock that you can use to make bulletin board decorations, school projects, party decor, and more. If you have a Cricut Maker, you can cut fabric and felt using the knife blade and the FabricGrip Mat. Almost all types of paper and cardstock are cut with the Fine Point blade or Premium Fine Point Blade even cardboard and poster board.
Once your material is loaded, and your file is set up and ready to use, you will send the file to the machine, there is where the magic happens! Lastly, if youre still having trouble getting the paper to release from the mat, try using an older mat, or a mat with a little bit of fuzz on it. The first thing to know is that paper and cardstock come in different weights. Read more. First, make things easier on yourself and use the LightGrip cutting mat for almost all paper materials. You can select a premade image from the Design Space library or create your own design. If you choose to use Cricut brand Deluxe Paper and Cardstock, youll find the exact settings in the Materials list in Cricut Design Space. The level of complexity of cuts that you can make, not to mention the different materials make every crafter's dream come true. And while the full comparison is material for an entire blog post. And dont worry, well talk about the best cutting mats and Cricut blades to use in just a little bit. If you are using another sticker paper brand, you might need to use less pressure to produce a kiss cut. Try changing the pressure setting to less or choosing a different material setting like sticky note or washi.. I hope this article was useful for you! Corrugated Cardboard: strong, textured cardboard material thats great for 3D crafts, sculpture, and adding interest to layered paper projects. Because the Cricut Maker uses a new cutting system, the adaptive tool system, that allows the machine to be 10 times stronger! Technically, the Cricut Machine can NOT print, but you can use the pen holder to use a Cricut pen instead of the cutting blade (or use both at the same time depending on your Cricut Model). I want to take the guessing and frustration out of the equation, and with this post, hopefully, most of your questions and hesitations will get answered and cleared! Yes, you can cut thick materials like balsa wood and leather but only using the Cricut Maker. D CRICUT CUTTLERBUG: This is how the original Cricut used to operate and look. Cricut Infusible Ink is an ink transfer material that allows you to create professional-level projects.It uses the same technology as sublimation printing but without the expensive equipment, and the extremely complicated process.The ink becomes one with fibers of your material, meaning no peeling, no cracking, and its washer-proof! Its ideal for making cards, banners, decor, and other paper crafts. Solid Core cardstock is dyed the same color all the way through. Each of the different types of paper and cardstock has a slightly different thickness and hardness. You can import files as well as create them by using the tools in Design Space, like shapes, cut, group, weld, or tracing images. If you can cut simple designs without issue but have trouble with intricate designs, try cutting the more intricate image using the Custom setting for Cardstock Intricate Cuts. There are a bunch of different paper and cardstock brands on the market, and they each come in a variety of different finishes, textures, and thicknesses. There are a few blades that are only compatible with the Cricut Maker (see them in question 4). This type of adhesive-backed cardstock works without a cutting mat, so you can just load it into your Cricut and start cutting. On the next screen, select your material from the Material Settings list. Deep-point blade: (BLACK) this blade has a steeper blade angle (60 degrees vs. the 45 degrees of the fine-point blade), and its made of harder and more durable steel.Recommended for intricate cuts using materials like chipboard, magnet, stamp material, stiffened felt, foam sheets, cardboard, and some fabrics. I love to see what you make! Some of the most common ones are: To see a full list of materials depending on your machine, refer to this page on the Cricut website. In fact, paper and cardstock are some of the most popular materials to cut on Cricut cutting machines. We also use different blades depending on the materials we want to cut. There is no way that you can master the Cricut in your first 5 minutes with the machine. Or maybe you are already thinking about getting one but are a little confused as to what model you should get? The new technology that holds most of these blades is called QUICKSWAP and allows you to simply press the quick-release button at the top of this versatile housing, snap your desired tip into place, and get making. Its small and portable, but unlike the big siblings, this one does not electronic, so no access to Design Space or automatic operating. But the people from Cricut make it as easy as possible to get you unboxed and making right out of the box! Lets start by walking through the steps to cut paper or cardstock with a Cricut cutting machine. BUT if you have a Cricut Explore Air or Air 2, and you want to give fabrics a try. Design Space offers a marketplace where you can find free files as well as purchase the ones that are for sale, Etsy is also an excellent place to search for designs.I sell my hand-lettered files in both Etsy (HowJoyful Files) as well as my Studio Website here. But I will not cover them as they are harder to get a hold of. Cricut isnt cutting all the way through the cardstock. By Author Joy Kelley - Under Categories Crafting, Cricut. Cricut Brand: Most Cricut cardstock is 80 lb. BUT with each project, you will be learning and building on your skills and confidence with the machine! The Cricut Design Space App is compatible with most tablets and smart devices. 22 How to write using pens with the Cricut Explore Air 2. 11 Do all blades work with all Cricut Machines? LightGrip machine mat: (BLUE) is perfect for lightweight materials and can be used with the Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore family, perfect for: StandardGrip machine mat: (GREEN) is perfect for a wide range of medium-weight materials, this mat can also be used with the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Explore family, perfect for: StrongGrip machine mat: (PURPLE) is perfect for heavyweight materials and can also be used for the Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore family, perfect for: FabricGrip machine mat: (PINK) this is a special mat that combines increased strength and density plus a light adhesive perfect for a wide variety of fabrics. That means that youll place your cardstock pretty side down so the Cricut can make the creases on the backside of the cardstock. The Cricut Maker machines can use the Scoring Stylus or Cricut Scoring Wheel tools both the single and double Scoring Wheels. 30 Where can I find cut files for the Cricut? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when cutting cardstock with Cricut. Choose the best match from the list of materials in Design Space. Now that you know the basic steps for cutting paper, lets talk about all the different types of paper materials that you can cut with a Cricut machine. For a detailed example of all blades and compatibility, check the comparison table below or visit this page. In this post, you will find the ultimate guide to getting started with a Cricut cutting machine. There are also a few other brands of pens that will fit in the same adapter that the Cricut pens have: I also purchased this set of pen adapters becauseI like the idea of using my regular sharpie pens is something I want to try. I know getting a cutting machine is a big investment, and many times, the things we want to make with the machine CAN be made by cutting by hand.But just the time this little machine can save for you, to me, is more than enough to start saving to get one. 9 What are Cricut mats, and why are there so many? This can help you save so much time and making it perfect for projects that require a lot of different cuts! Each mat has a different grip (or level of stickiness) and color to help you identify them. If the blade isnt cutting all the way through the cardstock, it may mean that you need to adjust the settings or cut more than once. Cardstock can be smooth or have a slight texture. The other blades are compatible with the Cricut Explore family AND the Cricut Maker. You can choose from several types of paper and cardstock.
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