Are you a beginner in the Cricut cutting machine world and looking for a one-stop blog to help you get started? Then you have reached the right place. If you have been thinking about how to use a Cricut machine, then worry not. This guide will teach you everything you need to know before you start.
Cricut cutting machines are designed subtly in the most simplistic yet efficient manner. Actually, if you want to use a Cricut machine, you will hardly need any time to get to the chase. That being said, they do need some getting used to, and with time, you will surely be addicted to its features. So, keep reading, and from a beginner, become an expert in no time.
A Cricut machine is a special cutting machine that can give precise, professional-looking cuts on a wide variety of materials. To learn how to use a Cricut, you must know that it can cut precisely through a wide variety of materials like paper, and adhesive vinyl. Cardstock, heat transfer vinyl, etc. You can cut a wide variety of products just the way you cut materials with scissors and knives but with more speed, accuracy, and precision.
Cricut company launched a range of cutting machines to help crafters easily gain expertise in their project creation at home. That being said, cutting machines are not the only product line Cricut has currently. In fact, the Cricut family has launched many products ranges like Cricut heat presses, Cricut cutting mats, Cricut tote bags, Cricut Mystery Boxes, and much more.
You can use a Cricut machine more effectively if you understand how it actually works. So, take it like a regular printer in your mind, but instead of printing images on any piece of paper, it cuts out a shape or design from paper or vinyl.
If you ever open the Cricut machines, you will see small blades moving around on a rotating carriage to cut the designs you have chosen. These blades are sharp enough to cut through materials and fabrics just the way precise cuts are made with an X-acto knife.
Currently, in the market and on various shopping websites, including the official website of Cricut, there are three types of cutting machines, namely, Cricut Explore, Cricut Maker, and Cricut Joy. The cutting machines from the explore series are currently the best-selling machines that can cut through a wide variety of materials.
The maker series Cricut machines are more powerful models compared to the explore series machines. The Cricut maker machines can cut through a wide variety of tough materials, including balsa wood. The maker series cutting machines are compatible with many types of tools like rotary blades, scoring wheels, engraving tips, and knife blades.
Lastly, the Cricut Joy machines are small portable cutting machines that are very simple to use and easy to set up. In fact, out of all the machines, if you know how to use a Cricut machine from any major category, you can easily manage to use a Cricut machine from the other two categories.
You can use a Cricut machine on a wide variety of materials, and it is quite hard to name each of them here in this blog. And for a matter of fact, the list is ever-growing as the Cricut community is continuously testing new materials. Anyways, here is a list of some of the most commonly used materials with the Cricut cutting machines:
Iron-on Vinyl, Aluminium foil, cardstock, natural wood veneer, permanent vinyl, cardboard, copy paper, faux leather, glitter vinyl, magnetic sheets, chalkboard vinyl, construction paper, parchment paper, permanent vinyl, felt, craft foam, infusible ink sheets, glitter cardstock, butcher paper, stencil film, washi tape, wrapping paper, printable sticker paper, removable vinyl, vellum, smart materials, etc.
To use a Cricut, you will have to know that each model of the cutting machine can cut a slightly different selection of materials; they are described below:
The Explore series of Cricut machines can cut over a hundred materials, including iron-on vinyl, cardstock, glitter paper, and bonded fabric.
The Cricut Maker series machines can cut more than 300 different types of materials, namely vinyl, paper, fabric paper, leather, and wood.
The portable Cricut joy machine can cut more than fifty materials, including paper, iron-on, vinyl, and thin faux leather material.
To get started on how to use a Cricut machine, there are some materials and supplies that you will need to keep ready, and they are stated below:
Note- Inside the box of your new Cricut cutting machine, you will get a few supplies and tools beforehand. You will find a blade, a pen, and some sample materials.
Cricut Cutting Mats
Cricut Blades and Tools (in case you need to do special projects, you can buy some additional blades and tools)
For Example- Knife blades, Engraving Tool, Scoring wheels, Rotary Blade
Cricut Pens or Markers
Basic or Essential Hand Tools like scissors, a small spatula, tweezers, a weeding tool, a scoring stylus, a scraper, and a paper trimmer.
To use a Cricut machine, follow the simple steps given below:
First and foremost, take your new Cricut machine out of its packaging box. And plug the machine in a power cable near your computer desktop.
Next, download and install the Cricut Design Space application on your computer and then sign up for a free Cricut ID account.
Open the Cricut Design space application, and choose a design that you want to cut. Here you can make a new design, or you can choose one from existing designs.
Next, select your cutting material and place it on the sticky side of the Cricut cutting mat. The sticky side will hold the material firmly while cutting is performed on it.
Again, go to your Cricut Design Space software and choose the correct material settings in the Design space application.
Now, press the flashing light on your Cricut machine to start cutting.
Lastly, remove the cut design from the stick mat and mat from the machine; voila, you have successfully learned how to use a Cricut.
Visit: cricut.com/setup
Source: https://design-beta2-cricut.com/how-to-use-a-cricut-machine-for-professional-designs/