How to Use a Cricut Machine, Made Easy for Beginners

Wondering how to use a Cricut machine? Cricut machines make it easy to create custom T-shirts, cards, stickers, labels, and countless other craft projects. While they may seem intimidating at first, Cricut machines are surprisingly beginner-friendly and can be set up in just a few minutes. In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn how to set up your Cricut, use Cricut Design Space, load materials, and make your first project. Whether you have a Cricut Joy, Explore 3, or Maker 3, these beginner instructions will help you get started with confidence.

What is a Cricut Machine?

Cricut machines and products range from cutting machines to crafting essentials. They are easy to use and create crafts as a hobby or even for small businesses. A Cricut machine looks like a printer and serves as a digital die-cutting machine. It can cut several materials, including cork, fabrics, leather, and paper. Designs are created on a computer, and later the Cricut machine cuts them out.

There are three main types of Cricut machines currently available: Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Maker 3, and Cricut Joy. There are also older models still for sale: the Cricut Explore Air 2 and the Cricut Maker. It is important to consider the available options when choosing a Cricut for beginners. All machines come with Cricut’s free Design Space software, so the kind of projects that you plan to work on will be the decisive factor regarding which one you should purchase. 

When using a Cricut machine, you can create your own designs and projects in the easy-to-use Design Space software, then send them to the machine. Otherwise, you can simply use any design from their vast online library. To give an idea of what you can really do by using a Cricut machine, here is a list of project ideas for you to try out: 

1. Applique shapes
2. Custom labels for closet bins and pantry jars
3. Custom-painted wooden signs
4. Custom stickers
5. Customized invitation cards and envelopes
6. Handmade greeting cards
7. Iron-on onesies
8. Iron-on t-shirts
9. Leather accessories such as earrings and bracelets
10. Monograms for cups, mugs, and tumblers
11. Paper banners
12. Party decorations
13. Quilt blocks
14. Stencils for glass etching and painted mats
15. Vinyl decals for car windows

For a full run down on the different machines, read my article on what is a Cricut. Here is a little about the 3 current models.

Supplies for Using a Cricut

Some other essential accessories that you will need to create unique DIY projects with your Cricut machine are:

1. Cutting Blades – You will need different blades to cut different materials.
2. Cutting Mats – These come in 4 strengths to stick to different materials.
3. Tool Organizers – Tools are expensive, so it is essential to take care of them.
4. Blanks – For example, white bags and t-shirts for printing and adhering vinyl.

The list of materials that can be cut with Cricut machines keeps growing as the crafting community keeps experimenting and demanding more materials. Learn more about cutting vinyl with a Cricut.

Some popular cutting materials that you can start with when using a Cricut machine are:

Cricut Blades

The blades are the main supply requirement and most significant investment other than your Cricut machine. You choose blades depending on the Cricut machine model and the materials you will be working with. The one I use the most is usually the fine-point blade. For thicker materials, you need the Deep-Cut Blade (if you have a model from the Explore and Maker series) and the Knife Blade (for Maker only). Try to invest in a special bundle as these blades aren’t sold with the machine and can be quite expensive.

Different Cricut machines are compatible with different tools. Some of the older, or Legacy, blades are no longer compatible with newer models. If you’re new to using Cricut machines and wondering what accessories you need to invest in, here is a list of blades compatible with the different models/series. 

Cricut Mats

Next up, you will need cutting mats if you have a Maker or Explore Air 2. You won’t need mats if you have the latest Cricut Joy, Cricut Explore 3, or Cricut Maker 3 that takes Smart Materials. However, you can still opt to use the mats.

I find that using a mat with my Maker 3 reduces material waste when cutting smaller projects. Also, read my article about how to clean a Cricut mat. There are 4 Cricut mats with varying grip strengths.

MAT NAME	COLOR	USED FOR
Light Grip	Blue	Lightweight materials
Standard Grip	Green	Medium-weight materials
Strong Grip	Purple	Heavyweight materials
Fabric Grip	Pink	Fabrics

The latest models, which are the Cricut Joy, Maker 3, and Explore 3, can all be used with or without a mat. To avoid using a mat, you will need to use Smart Materials with a stiffer backing already attached. Older models, such as the Explore Air 2 and Maker, will only take materials placed on a mat.

Smart Materials are efficient crafting materials that do not require a cutting mat when used in a Cricut machine. You can simply load the material directly into your Cricut Machine (Cricut Joy, Explore 3, or Cricut Maker 3) and begin your craft cutting. There is a range of Smart Materials available, including Smart Iron-on, Smart Vinyl (removable and permanent), and Smart Paper. The main reason Smart Materials are superior is that you can cut designs longer than the available mats allow. The Explore 3 and Maker 3 can cut designs up to 12 feet (3.6m) long. The Smart Material feeds through continuously, allowing you to make a single long cut.

How to Use a Cricut Machine (Step by Step)

Cricut Terms

You will come across many terminologies when using a Cricut machine. Here are some of the most commonly used Cricut terms that you will find in this ” How to use a Cricut Machine ” tutorial:

General Terms for a Cricut Machine:

• BURNISH – Burnishing means to rub or polish. You will burnish when you need the transfer tape to adhere to a material such as vinyl. The most common tool for burnishing is a scraper, which you will drag across the surface to remove bubbles and adhere to the underlying material.
• CRICUT ACCESS – Cricut Access is the optional subscription plan for using the Cricut image and font library. Currently, this subscription includes over 100,000 images, fonts, and projects.
• DESIGN SPACE SOFTWARE – This is Cricut’s free design software that is used with their machines. It includes the ability to design or upload your own images or fonts as well as a large library of ready-to-cut projects.
• CRICUT INFUSIBLE INK – This special ink is an exclusive Cricut product that enables you to decorate items such as mugs and fabric. The Infusible Ink bonds to the surface of the base material, resulting in a permanent design that won’t peel or crack over time.
• IRON-ON (also called HTV or heat transfer vinyl). This type of vinyl can be transferred to items such as t-shirts, bags, and caps. It can adhere with a regular iron or a heat press machine.
• VINYL – Vinyl is one of the most popular Cricut crafting materials. Types of vinyl include removable, permanent, and iron-on.
• WEEDING – This is the term used to remove excess material from the material sheet. If weeding a vinyl design, you would remove the background areas. Weeding is usually done with a weeder tool that has a hooked, pointed metal end.

Cricut Minimum System Requirements

Design Space is free software used with Cricut cutting machines. It is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices, and the minimum computer specifications required for it are: 

Operating System Requirements:

• System: Windows 10 or newer
• CPU: Intel™ Dual-Core or equivalent AMD® processor
• RAM: 4GB
• Disk space: 2GB or more
• Connection: USB port or Bluetooth connection
• Display: Minimum 1024px x 768px screen resolution

Internet/Broadband Connection:

• Download: Minimum 2 to 3 Mbps
• Upload: Minimum 1 to 2 Mbps

Here are the step-by-step Cricut for beginners instructions to using a Cricut machine for beginners:

Cricut for Beginners Quick Start Guide

Fret not; here is a quick start guide for Cricut for beginners to using your Cricut machine!

1. UNBOX – Start by taking your new machine out of the box and plugging it in near your computer. 
2. LOAD SOFTWARE – Sign up for a free Cricut ID account, download the Cricut Design Space app, and install the app on your computer system. You’re all set to make your first Cricut project.  
3. DESIGN AN IMAGE – Open the Cricut Design Space and select a pre-made image or make your own design.
4. PUT THE MATERIAL ON THE MAT – Choose your cutting material and place it on the cutting mat. The cutting mat is sticky, holding the material in place while the machine cuts out the design. 
5. LOAD THE MAT – After placing the material, press the button to load the mat into the machine.
6. START CUTTING – Select the material settings in Design Space, and send the design to your Cricut cutting machine. Press the flashing button to start cutting.
7. REMOVE FROM MACHINE – Once the design is cut, remove the mat from the machine and take the material off the mat. You will have your design cut out and can use it to make your first Cricut project. 

These are terms that you will find when using the design space software:

• ATTACH – The attach tool can be used to freeze the layout of shapes. It fixes the positions of the cut layers.
• CANVAS – The Design Space Canvas is the area within the software in which you can design your projects. Here are tools to add images and text and edit them.
• CARTRIDGE – A cartridge refers to this group of images in the Design Space software.
• LINETYPE – This term refers to how your machine cuts or manipulates your material. Examples of linetypes are cut, draw, score, or perforate. Not all machines will be able to perform all linetypes.
• WELD – This is a function found in the edit toolbar. The weld tool allows you to join shapes to create a single image. It removes overlapping lines and can simplify designs.

Set Up Your Cricut Machine Manually

1. Unbox your new machine. Remove the warranty card, safety instructions, and get started card, and keep them safe for later use. 
2. Open the lid and remove the styrofoam from the tool housing. This can be thrown away as it is just for safe shipping.
3. Plug your machine’s power cord into an outlet, ensuring enough space around the Cricut to load the mats in the front.
4. You can turn on the cutting machine with the power button on the right.
5. Connect your machine to your computer via USB cable or Bluetooth. I have the Maker 3 and found it extremely easy to connect it wirelessly to my desktop computer. This means I can have the Cricut on the other side of the room from my computer, which is much more space-efficient.

Install Design Space

Now that you have the Cricut machine connected to your computer, it is time to download the Cricut Design Space software and start designing. You will need to be connected to the internet.

1. If you open your internet browser and go to www.cricut.com/setup it will run you through setting up a login and then installing the machine and software. It is extremely easy and will lead you through the process step by step with a wizard.
2. The wizard will ask you at the end whether you want to join the Cricut Access subscription program for access to even more projects. This is completely optional, and your machine will work without it. I suggest using the trial period to see whether you think it is worth continuing long-term.

Use Design Space for Cricut

The Design Space App is quite easy and intuitive to use, but here are some tips for getting started. I would suggest trying some of their ready-made projects. Even if you don’t end up cutting with their artwork, you can get a feel for how images look and resize. When you open Design Space, you will see a new project button at the top right.

This will open a blank space for you to start designing. Notice all the options in the menu on the left. You can choose a template or create your own design using images and text.

Design Space features ready-to-make projects created by professional artists and offers a wide range of subjects. New projects are added regularly, and there are both free and paid projects. If you haven’t signed up for Cricut Access, you can pay for projects on an individual basis. I counted 30 categories, and there is also a search function to narrow it down further. In this screenshot, I chose iron-on and inserted t-shirts to get a more specific result.

Cricut offers a wide range of images to choose from. If you don’t have Cricut access, there is a free filter that makes your search easier. Here I chose animals, but there are a large number of categories to choose from.

After you have chosen an image you like:

1. Select the image. It will be highlighted green.
2. Press “Add to Canvas” at the bottom right.
3. The software will add the image to your canvas. You can now resize it or add more text or images.

If you choose the text option on the left menu, a box will come up in your space with the word “text”. You can now highlight and edit this text as well as choose the font type and size from the menu. Like the images, there are free and paid font options.

Cricut lets you upload and use your own images. Compatible image file types include .jpg, .png, .bmp, .svg, and .dxf. If you have any other type of image, for example, a pdf, you will need to convert it to one of these formats.

1. Click the upload button on the left menu
2. Select the image location and upload.
3. Press “Add to Canvas”
4. If necessary, you can now remove the background.

Cricut has a large number of fonts installed, but it is also possible to upload your own font choices.

1. Download the font that you want to use. 
2. Unzip the font file folder. 
3. Once the font is installed on your computer, open Cricut Design Space and add it.

Cutting on a Cricut

Once you have chosen your first image or text, it is time to send it to the Cricut machine for the cutting process. Press “Make It” at the top right.

Place the material on the cutting mat and get ready to print. If you are using smart materials with backing, you won’t need a mat.

Notice how when using a mat, you can cut the material just slightly larger than the size of the image. This cuts down on wastage.

Your Cricut machine will need to be turned on and open. The machine will now run you through a setup wizard for your design. The Explore Air 2 has a smart set dial to select the material. Ensure you have the correct blade in the clamp.

Now watch your Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore cut out your design with high precision – no scissors required! If you are cutting vinyl with Cricut, you will now remove the background.

Design Space Software

With the web-based Cricut Design Space App, you can enjoy total creative freedom over your next DIY project. You can start your projects from scratch, or if you want to save time, browse through the Cricut image library and take your pick from thousands of images, fonts, and ready-to-make projects. Moreover, it enables you to import your designs, whether on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. The Design Space software works for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Read the full article on Cricut Design Space

Cricut Access

Cricut Access is a subscription product that renews automatically and gives you access to the full Cricut image and font Library. The library contains a vast range of non-licensed images and a huge number of projects and fonts. All these resources will appear with the Cricut Access logo.

Is there a Monthly Fee to use Cricut Access? Yes, there is a fee to use Cricut Access. There are two plans: An annual subscription for $95.80, which costs $7.99 a month, and a monthly plan for $9.99 a month with the option to cancel.

Do You Have to Be a Cricut Access Member? No, you do not have to be a Cricut Access member to be able to use a Cricut machine. Using Design Space is the only way to operate a Cricut machine, and it is free. Being a Cricut Access Member gives you full access to fonts, images, and ready-to-make projects. However, even without it, you can access some free but limited options. Although your choices will be limited, not having a Cricut Access subscription won’t prevent you from doing great designs. If you have any kind of design experience, then you probably don’t need Access, as you can create your own images and designs in programs such as Illustrator or Photoshop and import them.

Cricut Projects and Ideas

Using a Cricut machine for making a greeting card would be an excellent choice for your first project. Several greeting cards are available in Cricut Design Space that you can use to make your own. Cardstock or paper is a cheap material for experimenting. One of the most popular ways of using a Cricut machine is to make shirts. There is even a shirt template that enables you to better visualize and size the design.

Get more great ideas in the Christmas Cricut Idea article

How to Use a Cricut Machine FAQs

It is common to feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to get started when you first purchase and lay your hands on a Cricut machine. We have tried to simplify it by putting together some of the beginner users’ most frequently asked questions regarding Cricut machines.

How to Use Cricut – In Conclusion

Cricut machines are great digital die-cutting machines with printer-looking exteriors and the capability to cut various materials. It is simple to use as the designs are prepared on a computer, and the machine is instructed to cut them out. It is safe to say that a Cricut machine will be a dependable aide in your craft business or everyday hobbies. You can do a lot with the design cut-outs, such as applying intricate iron-on material onto plain t-shirts to create customized merchandise. This was, in fact, the main contributor that led to the popularity of Cricut Machines. Once you’ve got a good grip on how to use a Cricut machine and have an eye for catchy designs, you can do a lot for your small business or hobby with this crafting wizard! Get started using a Cricut machine today!