How To Use a Cricut Machine? I’m a Beginner
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Time to read 4 min
Cricut is a craft cutting machine that cuts a variety of materials like vinyl, paper, cardstock, etc. It can accurately sense the edge of your design and cut it perfectly. If you are a crafting lover, you’ll definitely be attracted to this machine. With this machine, you don’t have to use scissors to cut your stickers manually. However, it can be confusing to use the machine if it’s your first time encountering it. Here, we provide a simple yet practical guide on how to use your newly bought Cricut machine, including the most necessary tools you need and how to use the Cricut machine to make your first design. Come on with us.
Table of Content
Materials needed
When you purchase the cricut machine, if you buy the bundle, except for the cricut machine, you’ll get a complete set of tools:
A blade
Cricut Basic Tool Set
LightGrip Mat, 12in x 12in
StandardGrip Mat, 12in x 12in
StrongGrip Mat, 12in x 12in
Smart Vinyl Permanent, Shimmer Purple, 13in x 3ft
Smart Vinyl Permanent, Black, 13in x 3ft
Smart Vinyl Permanent, Red, 13in x 3ft
Smart Vinyl Removable, Grass, 13in x 3ft
Smart Vinyl Removable Matte, Metallic Champagne, 13in x 3ft
Smart Vinyl Removable, White, 13in x 3ft
Smart Iron-On, Glitter White, 13in x 3ft
Smart Iron-On, Pink, 13in x 3ft
Smart Iron-On, Navy, 13in x 3ft
Cricut Vinyl Transfer Tape, 12in x 24in
Glitter Gel Neon Pen Set, 5-pack
Picture from Cricut.com
Already feeling overwhelmed, right?? It’s a lot cheaper to buy the bundle than buying them one by one, so I guess many people will go for the bundle. They will surely be useful some day when you get more and more familiar with your cricut machine. For now though, you only need the most necessary tools to complete your first cricut design. I've bolded them on the list above so you don't have to scramble. As a beginner, the saying less is more is surely true.
You also need to prepare the cutting material that you will use to put your design on. You can use paper, vinyl or other materials depends on your needs. We recommend paper and vinyl because they are easy to get.
Now let’s see all the tools you’ll need for your first time to use the cricut machine:
- A cricut machine
- A blade
- Cricut Vinyl Transfer Tape
- Your cutting material (such as paper and vinyl)
How To Use a Cricut Machine
Setting Up The Cricut Machine
1. Download the design software Cricut Design Space on your computer from cricut.com and download the cricut mobile app on your phone.
2. Plug the cable into the outlet and turn your cricut machine on.
3. Connect your cricut machine with your computer via the USB cable or Bluetooth.
Note: you can also connect the machine with your phone via Bluetooth.
Start Projects With Your Cricut Machine
1. Open Cricut Design Space, create your account and enter the home page. The software needs a membership to use all the services but you can try basic services for the first few times and decide whether to subscribe to Cricut Access afterwards.
2. Click on +New project to start your new project.
3. Start to design your work. There are 8 functions in the left toolbar, templates, projects, shapes, images, texts, monogram and upload. You can search pre-designed templates and modify it. Or you can insert images and shapes you like.
Once you insert images it provide or upload your own images from other documents, you can resize it, move it to a proper place, change the colors, etc. You can also add other elements as you like.
4. Once you finish your design, click on the Attach button on the bottom right corner and now your design is a whole image. If you find something wrong, just click on the Detach button at the same place and redesign your work.
5. Save your work. Click on Save button on the up right corner and name your work. Since this is your first time to use this software, you need to create New Collection to save your work.
Print Your Work
1. Click on Make button on the up right corner and you will know how your work looks.
2. Select Continue and select your cricut machine.
3. Take out the cricut mat and take off the protective clear sheet.
4. Attach your material on the mat.
5. Put the mat inside the machine and single click the Load button.
6. Click Cricut button and the machine begin cutting your design.
7. Once the cut is finished, click the Load button again to unload your design.
8. Remove all the excess vinyl from your design with your fingers. or if you have bought cricut tools, you can use the tool to remove it.
9. Cut a piece of transfer tape the same size as your design and smooth it onto your work.
10. Place it onto a flat and clean surface and remove the transfer tape carefully. If you have decided where to put your work on, go ahead and you will get a pretty craft work of your own!
Don’t forget to attach the protective clear sheet back onto the mat after finishing your cut. This helps protect its sticky surface and makes it lasts longer.
Get ready with your cricut machine and make the first design with it!
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