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Getting started with Cricut

Getting started with your Cricut machine shouldn’t feel daunting, here are some tips and tricks to get you started on your Cricut journey!

First of all, Download Cricut Design Space, and follow the steps to set up your machine. The screen will guide you through plugging in your new Cricut machine and will help you cut out your first image.

Once you have cut your first project, have a play with Design Space! Start with a simple vinyl decal or a cut-out image to create a card. You can use the spare materials that came in the box to get you started. Search in the image library for something that catches your eye, add it into the canvas, resize it to fit then click ‘make it’ to cut it out of your chosen material!

To start with, focus on one material, get to grips with that then everything will be simpler for you from there. This material could be vinyl or cardstock or even iron-on, whatever takes your fancy!

The free projects category is another great place to start. Each project has instructions for you to make it as is or click customise to open up the project in the canvas to be able to edit it. This is a great way to play around with a project without starting from a blank canvas.

There is lots of help available to you as you need it, here are some places to find it:

Join a Facebook group:

On Facebook, you will find lots of Cricut Facebook groups to join. As a beginner, these are a great place to get expert help and answers to all of your questions.

These groups are also a great place to make Cricut friends and join the Cricut community! You come across inspiration for your upcoming projects too. Search in a group for a topic, no doubt others will have asked similar questions before, or create a post asking for help – There are no silly questions; we’ve all been there!

Many groups have lives, workshops and online events to join in with, as well as units or files full of information to help you.

The following Facebook Groups are led by Cricut Product Experts (These are group admins who have been approved by Cricut):

Out demonstrator on Hochanda TV shows also has a Cricut-focused Facebook group: The Cricut Club UK by Emma Jewell Crafts

ADD IMAGE OF JL WORKSHOP

John Lewis workshops:

Purchase your machine from John Lewis and you can get a free workshop. Simply click the link on the product page on the John Lewis web site, complete the form, send a copy of your proof of purchase and you’ll be sent a link to view the workshop. Follow along at your own pace, pause, replay and watch as many times as you want to.

Cricut Wednesdays at Hobbycraft:

On Wednesdays Hobbycraft run ‘Cricut Wednesday’, where you will find a resident Cricut expert answering Cricut questions on the Hobbycraft Facebook page and sometimes Instagram stories and you’ll discover takeovers from Cricut experts, video tutorials and inspirational projects too.

You’ll find Cricut experts instore and check out your local custom crafting store for a wide range of Cricut supplies.

Find virtual Cricut events from Hobbycraft here: www.hobbycraft.co.uk/store-events

Find Inspiration on Social Media:

Follow Cricut across social media to get news, tips and inspiration. You’ll also see tutorial videos and lives to help you with your machine.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CricutEurope

Instagram: www.instagram.com/OfficialCricut_UK

Follow fellow Cricut lovers on Instagram too, search the hashtag #cricutcreated on Instagram to find Cricut content and inspiration created by Cricut users! You’ll see creators using their machines for everything from home décor, sewing, organisation, paper crafting, model making and more, so it won’t take long to find someone whose projects will inspire you.

Cricut YouTube channel:

The Cricut YouTube channel has hundreds of easy to follow videos, these are a helpful resource for beginners as you will find short videos with everything you need to know.

Find the Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/OfficialCricut

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How to find free images in Design Space

There are lots of free images available to you in Cricut Design Space! Here’s how to find, and make the most of, your free images in Cricut Design Space.

These images are available to you with or without a Cricut Access subscription. If you subscribe to Cricut Access, many more images will be available to you without an additional charge. Alternatively you can purchase images and fonts individually. Once you have purchased an image individually it remains on your profile, free to use on any future project. Cricut Access images are only free to use whilst you have an active Cricut Access subscription.

How to find free images

Open up a new project, then head to images in Cricut Design Space. You’ll find this in the left-hand bar in the Desktop version or in the tool bar at the bottom of your screen on the app.

Free images in Cricut Design Space

Free this week, is the first place to browse free images. Each week Cricut make around 1,000 images in Design Space free for the week.

You can find these under Highlighted Categories. Click on Free this Week, to discover the selection of images that have been chosen for that period. Remember that if you use these images in projects after the free week is up, you may be charged.

Free images in Cricut Design Space

Another place to find all free images is to head to the All Images screen and then click the green Browse All Images link. Use the filter function to apply a filter to Free under the Ownership heading. This will narrow your search to only images that are free. You will find this in the side bar on desktop. To access the filters on the app, click the funnel icon to bring up the filter menu.

Free images in Cricut Design Space

You can also find free images in Shapes; the Shapes panel is a great place to find free quick and simple shapes and lines for your projects. Click Shapes, to bring up a menu of simple shapes, then click on the shape you would like to add it into your canvas. These shapes are always free to use.

Free images in Cricut Design Space

How to find free projects

As well as free images, there are also free projects. Again these can change so you may be charged for a project you have previously cut for free.

In Design Space filter the Ready to Make project category to Free.

Cricut Design Space Free projects
Free projects in design space

Enjoy using your free images for all of your Cricut makes!

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Discover the Cricut Joy app

Designed especially for the Cricut Joy™ machine, this new companion app makes popular DIY projects quicker and easier than ever. Think simple, single-material projects like cards, labels, stickers, and iron-on transfers – fun, functional projects that take 15 minutes or less.  

Cricut Joy owners who want a radically simplified making experience for some of the most popular DIY projects will love the Cricut Joy app. With a guided design experience and simple controls, you can make cards, custom labels, stickers, and much more in just a few taps. Design SpaceTM is still your go-to for advanced design features or to create with multiple materials and layers. 

The Cricut Joy app is free to download, and for a limited time, all fonts and images in the Cricut Joy app are free to use. 

What can you make?

Insert Cards

Create the perfect card at a moment’s notice. Choose a design and play with contrasting colours to make it special. Then tell Cricut Joy to make it!

Quick Labels

Make labels for spice jars, a kitchen cupboards, school supplies, office, and more. Just select one of the professionally-designed label styles, size it, add text, choose a font and colour, then prompt your Cricut Joy to cut or draw. 

Vinyl Stickers & Decals

Decorate water bottles, notebooks, electronics, windows, walls…you name it. Choose from a library of ready-to-use images, prompt your Cricut Joy to cut your design, then peel and stick! It’s that easy. 

Iron-On & Infusible InkTM Heat Transfers

Design your own t-shirts, tote bags, or whatever you dream up. Find an image, type out text or create a design that uses both. Prompt Cricut Joy to cut or draw, then follow the instructions to complete the heat transfer. 

Papercraft 

Make simple but spectacular gift tags, cupcake toppers, party place cards, and more. Design, cut, and assemble in just a few steps. 

Cricut Joy app top FAQs

Will Cricut Joy still work with Design Space? 

Yes! Design Space is still your go-to for more complex projects that use multiple layers, colours, and/or materials. 

Can I use Cricut Joy app to make Cricut Insert Cards? 

Yes! Download the app and try it now.

Is Cricut Joy app available in multiple languages?   

At this time, Cricut Joy app is available in English only.   

Will Cricut Joy app be available for Android?  

At this time, Cricut Joy app is only available for iOS. It will be available for Android in the near future.

Can I upload my own images or fonts?  

Currently you cannot upload your own images and fonts to Cricut Joy app. To upload and create with your own images, use Design Space. 

What kinds of content will I find in Cricut Joy app?   

All single layer Cricut Access content is available in Cricut Joy app. Single layer content is cut from a single sheet of material. You’ll also have access to a large library of fonts, including a selection of compatible iOS fonts from your iPhone. 

Can I save projects in Cricut Joy app?  

Cricut Joy app will auto-save projects as you design them. Whenever you exit a project, you will get a prompt to save the project to My Stuff. Access your saved projects from Home > My Stuff. 

Can I access my Design Space projects in Cricut Joy app and vice versa?   

No. Design Space and the Cricut Joy app are separate and distinct experiences. You cannot save a project in one and access it from the other.  

Can I make projects with multiple layers in the Cricut Joy app?  

Cricut Joy app is for single-layer/single-material designs. For more complex projects that require multiple layers, colours, and/or materials, use Design Space.  

Can I share my projects with other members of the Cricut community?  

Currently, you cannot share projects in Cricut Joy app.    

New to Cricut?   

Welcome! To use this companion Cricut Joy app, first activate your new machine at cricut.com/setup. Then, head over to the Apple App Store and download Cricut Joy app.  

Where do I download Cricut Joy app? 

You can download the app onto your iOS device HERE.

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Which Cricut machine?

“Which Cricut machine should I choose?”… a question we often get asked and one we love to help answer! There are so many things to consider when buying a machine that we have put together this guide to help you make the best decision on which Cricut Machine is the right match for you!

Cricut Maker

It’s helpful to have a few things in mind to help you decide on a machine. Thinking about each of these points will help you match your needs with the best Cricut machine for you. In this article we also look at each machine in more detail, there’s a comparison chart at the end which summarises the key differences between the machines, and we’ve even created a little flow chart to help you further. But for now, let’s have a think about what we need to consider:

  • Is the size of the machine important to you and how portable you would like it to be? Cricut JoyTM is compact and can be taken out and about easily. Cricut MakerTM and Cricut Explore AirTM 2 are much bigger and heavier so will probably be harder to move around.
  • Think about what materials you would like to be able to cut. The cutting of different materials is one of the biggest differences between machines. So, is a good starting point to think about when choosing which machine is for you. Cricut Joy cuts 50+ materials, Cricut Explore Air 2 cuts 100+ materials and Cricut Maker cuts 300+ materials.
  • Have a rough idea of what you would like to make, looking for the best machine for you will be much easier if you have a few projects in mind! If your projects are big in scale and complexity then a machine with a larger cutting width such as Maker and Explore will be best. If your projects are more compact, or you don’t mind arranging smaller images together as one larger image, then Cricut Joy would be great.
  • Similarly, consider what size of cutting area you are interested in. Cricut Joy has a cutting width of 4.5 inches and a cutting length of up to 20 feet compared to the Maker and Explore machines that can cut up to 12×24 inches.
  • Think about the other tools you might be interested in besides cutting. Cricut Explore Air 2 and Cricut Maker can both add foil embellishments and both can score; Explore with the scoring stylus and Maker with the stylus or the scoring wheels. The Cricut Maker also has the Adaptive Tool SystemTM so with additional tools can also engrave, perforate, deboss and there’s a knife blade for thicker materials such as basswood or heavy chipboard. It comes with the rotary tool for cutting fabrics too.
  • Will you want to do more in the future? Consider what your cutting needs might be in the future once you get the Cricut bug! If you think you’re going to want to try lots more and grow your craft skills then you’ll need a machine that grows with you. Cricut Maker is best for this as it can do the most.

Once you have a preferred machine in mind, there are a few other things to consider:

  • Everything you need to get started comes in the box with your machine, but we recommend buying a basic toolset, an extra set of mats and a few materials so that you can get playing straight away. If you are looking at using iron-on vinyl for your projects, consider the Cricut EasyPressTM to accompany your machine.
  • Download the software, Cricut Design Space. You can download the free Cricut app onto your smartphone or tablet direct from your app store (iOS and Android) or download the software on to your computer from https://design.cricut.com/ before you have a machine. This means you can have a play with it to see if it’s right for you. This is the software that you use to design your projects then cut them on your machine. All machines are driven by the Design Space App so there is no difference for beginners when it comes to using the software, however, Cricut Joy does have a simpler app you can also use, to help you create quick projects on the go. Click here to find out more about Design Space and click here for details of the app created specifically for Cricut Joy.
Cricut Explore Air 2 in Sunflower

All three machines use Bluetooth connectivity to connect to devices via Bluetooth. Cricut Joy has no cables to connect to the computer it works solely with Bluetooth, the Maker and Explore Air 2 have an optional USB cable to connect them to a computer or laptop.

Still can’t decide? Emma Jewell of Emma Jewell Crafts, has put together this handy guide which leads you through a series of questions to find the Cricut machine that fits you best!

Of course, this is a bit of fun to start you on your search. Please use this information to help guide your search rather than give you a definitive answer!

Follow the questions to see which machine the guide recommends to you:

I want to know more about Cricut Maker

Cricut Maker

• The most versatile Cricut machine, with additional tools and blades, the Maker can cut 300+ materials.

• Cutting area of up to 12×24 Inches. Comes with two 12×12 cutting mats to keep materials in place while cutting.

• Cuts any fabric using the rotary blade that comes with the machine.

• Cuts thick/dense materials Like Balsa wood, foam and leather using the add on Knife Blade.

• Has an Adaptive Tool System with a range of add on tools – Debossing, Perforation, Engraving, Scoring, Knife Blade, Wavy Blade and foiling tip

• Can cut materials like Cardstock, Paper, Vinyl, Iron-on and Vinyl with ease.

• Can draw or write with a pen.

• Can cut out an image printed to your printer onto any colour of material. This is a great feature for making stickers.

• Connects via Bluetooth or USB cable to your device.

• Available in Champagne or Rose colours.

In the box:

-Cricut Maker

-Fine point blade

-Rotary blade (for cutting fabric)

-Pink cutting mat (for fabrics)

-Blue cutting mat (for materials like card, vinyl and iron-on)

-Black pen.

-Power cable and USB cable.

-Materials for your first project.

I want to know more about Cricut Explore Air 2

Cricut Explore Air 2 Mint

• Great for cutting Iron-on, Vinyl and Cardstock, and cuts 100+ materials.

• Can draw or write with a pen.

• Can add on a deep cut blade for thicker materials like leather.

• Can cut cotton fabric that has been bonded with an interfacing using the fine point blade.

• A Scoring Stylus is available for scoring projects.

• Can add on the Cricut Foil Transfer System for adding foiled elements to projects.

• Can cut out an image printed to your printer onto white material. This is a great feature for making stickers.

• Has a cutting area of up to 12×24 inches.

• Connects via Bluetooth or USB to your device.

• Comes in a range of colours.

In the box:

-Cricut Explore Air 2 machine

-Fine point blade

-Blue cutting mat

-Black pen

-Power cable and USB cable

-Materials for your first project

I want to know more about Cricut Joy

Cricut Joy

• The most portable machine. Its small size makes it easy to carry around and store!

• Perfect for quick projects.

• Cuts cardstock, iron-on and vinyl with ease – cuts 50+ materials.

• Compatible card mat and ready-to-make projects in Design Space make card making even easier.

• Can cut up to 20ft of length with a width of up to 5 inches

• Works with Cricut Smart Materials to cut without a mat.

• Can draw or write with a pen.

In the box:

-Cricut Joy machine

-Green mat

-Black pen

-Power cable

You’ll find a handy machine comparison guide below (prices, subject to change!) to help you compare the three machines:

We hope you have found this article helpful and now have a better idea of which Cricut machine is right for you, but if you’re still undecided, we’ve worked with John Lewis to offer a concise video to compare our machines.

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Beginner’s guide to Infusible Ink

What is Infusible InkTM?

Vivid. Vibrant. Voila! Welcome to Cricut Infusible Ink, where you can create beautiful, bold designs that look truly professional on your T-shirts, totes and more. What makes Cricut Infusible Ink so special is that it looks store-bought, but it’s infused by YOU. Unlike the vinyl or iron-on process, where artwork is attached on top of a base material using adhesive, an Infusible Ink transfer actually becomes one with the material itself. The results are bright, beautiful, seamlessly smooth custom transfers that are peel-proof, flake-proof, and wash-proof.

Beginner’s guide to Infusible Ink:

How Infusible Ink Works:

1. Choose your blank. Select Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets or Infusible Ink Pens & Markers and a compatible Cricut blank.

2. Make your design. Use Design Space and your Cricut cutting machine to cut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets or draw with Infusible Ink Pens & Markers onto standard copy paper.

3. Apply heat. Infuse your design into your Cricut blank with Cricut EasyPressTM.

Cricut Infusible Ink coasters

Transfer Sheets:

These are sheets that come in block colours or patterns, that can be cut on a Cricut machine into your desired shape or design, then applied onto a blank of your choice. You put the sheets face up onto your mat and mirror your design. You then press them face down onto your blank. The high heat of the EasyPressTM 2 ensures the ink transfers from the sheet onto your blank and you can visibly see the difference with the colour disappearing from the sheet after the application.

Pens:

Infusible Ink pens use the same Infusible Ink technology in a pen form. These can fit into your machines so that your machine can draw a design for you, or you can draw or colour by hand before pressing your design on to a blank (just remember your image will be mirrored).

You use copy paper to draw your design onto before pressing it. If you are drawing with the machine you just pop the piece of paper onto the blue light grip mat and load it into the machine.

Note that the Cricut JoyTM has different sized Infusible Ink pens to the Cricut MakerTM and Cricut Explore AirTM 2. Joy pens are available in sets of 3, Infusible Ink pens for the Maker and Explore are available in packs of 5 or 30.

Blanks:

Because of the way Infusible Ink works it will only work with compatible blanks. We have designed a range of blanks that will give the best results, including T-shirts, tote bags coasters, cushion covers, make-up bags and a wine bag.

Here’s everything you need to make a project with Cricut Infusible Ink:

  • Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore or Cricut Joy
  • Cricut Standard Grip Machine Mat
  • Cricut EasyPress 2
  • Cricut EasyPress Mat
  • Cricut Blank (compatible with Infusible Ink)
  • Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets or Infusible Ink pens
  • Cricut heat resistant tape
  • Copy paper
  • Butcher paper (comes with sheets)
  • White Cardstock
  • Lint-free cloth (for coaster blank projects)
  • Lint roller (for fabric blank projects)
  • Scissors and tweezers

How to use Cricut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets in 5 easy steps:

Step One:

Choose an image in Cricut Design Space, make sure that it is smaller than your EasyPress. Mirror the image and choose Infusible Ink transfer sheet from the material list.

Step Two:

Lay the Infusible Ink transfer sheet face-up on the mat, then load it into the machine and start cutting. Once the cut is complete, remove the sheet.

Step Three:

Weed your design (take away the bits you don’t need) leaving only the design on the clear carrier sheet.

Step Four:

Next set up your EasyPress mat referring to the Cricut Heat Guide for the correct order to layer your mat and materials ensuring you lay a piece of paper onto the mat to protect it. Heat up your EasyPress, to the temperature indicated by the Heat Guide based on your chosen blank and Infusible Ink pens or sheets. Next lay down your blank on the mat. If you’re using a fabric blank, use a lint-roller to remove invisible fibres. If you’re using a ceramic blank, rub with a lint-free cloth to remove dust or unwanted particles. Add the weeded design face down onto the blank. Cover the sheet with a piece of the butcher paper. Press for the time indicated by the Heat Guide.

Step Five:

Once cooled, peel away the butcher paper and transfer sheet to reveal your completed project.

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Where to find Cricut

You can now find Cricut products in many retailers in the UK and Ireland.

Hobbycraft 

Hobbycrat offers a vast range of Cricut machines tools and accessories both in-store with 102 locations in the UK, and also online. In many stores you will find a Cricut Expert who is more than happy to help with any questions you may have, and during Cricut Wednesdays there is usually a Q&A on the Hobbycraft Facebook page.  There’s even a network of stores with Custom Crafting areas where you can try the machines yourself. Visit the Hobbycraft website for more information.

John Lewis 

You will find Cricut in John Lewis stores with a haberdashery department, plus you’ll also find a range of machines, tools and consumables online.

Very

Visit the Very website to discover Cricut machines and extensions and take advantage of ‘Take 3‘ where you can spread the payments over three months (credit provided, subject to credit and account status).

Littlewoods

With a website for the UK and another for Ireland, Littlewoods offers machines and extensions with opportunities to spread the cost in regular installments.

Currys PC World 

Cricut Joy and a range of consumables are now available online at Currys PC World and in around 50 stores nationwide.

Ryman 

Not only does Ryman offer a place to purchase machines, consumables, and ready made starter bundles, there’s also inspiration and tips for getting started with Cricut.

Argos 

With over 1,000 locations across the UK, you can arrange for your Cricut Joy machine to be delivered to the most convenient Argos location for you. Or, alternatively, order for home delivery. You can earn and pay with Nectar points too! Cricut Joy is also available on the Argos Ireland website.

Amazon.co.uk 

Our biggest range can be found in the Cricut Amazon store. Browse by product type and be inspired by the vast range of colours, finishes and effects on vinyls, iron ons, papers and more.  

Hochanda 

We are proud to be featured in Hochanda‘s scheduling, offering a chance to see the machines being demonstrated before you buy. The TV shopping channel regularly has offers on Cricut machines and consumables, but don’t hang around as the offers don’t last for long!

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Beginner’s guide to Cricut Design Space

All Cricut machines use free Cricut Design Space software where you can choose exactly which shapes or images to cut, draw and all of the other functions the machines are capable of. Handily it also automatically determines how much pressure to use based on each specific material you are cutting so there’s no guesswork, and no alterations to make to the machine.

Design Space helps you every step of the way. Let’s find out more about the app.

You can upload your own images or use the library of over 160,000+ images in Cricut Design Space. You can use your own fonts alongside the library of fonts already available in Design Space. You’ll find hundreds of ready to make projects too.

You can also make use of Cricut Access, a monthly subscription that gives you access to images, fonts and projects whilst you are a subscriber. Find out more about Cricut Access here: https://cricut.com/en_us/cricut-access.html

Cricut Design Space stores your projects in the cloud to be used across your devices, which means you can design a project on the bus home on your phone, then cut it from your laptop once you get there!

We always advise checking the specifications for your devices and computers here to check that Cricut Design space is compatible:

Cricut Joy has a simpler app you can also use, to help you create quick projects on the go. Find out more about the Cricut Joy app here.

You might also find this post useful: How to find free images in Design Space.

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Make and mend, not spend: Britain is now a nation of crafters

We heard from a lot of Cricut members telling us how they were turning to their hobbies even more during lockdown. Some used their crafty skills for good, making face coverings for themselves, their families and their communities and some saw the benefits of spending some time crafting to help stay mindful, aid mental health and spend time crafting together as a family.

We decided to look into this a bit deeper and carried out some research into the nation’s crafty habits and we have to say we weren’t too surprised at the results!

  • Three quarters (79%) of Brits said they now craft more than they did pre-lockdown
  • The majority (96%) said they now plan to continue making their own products, rather than buying them from their usual shop
  • 78% plan to create more activities from scratch or holiday from home
  • Nearly half (46%) cancelled plans, instead preferring (or ‘in order to’) to spend more time crafting
  • Hosting a garden party (73%) was the most popular activity to recreate from home

We also discovered that the nation is proving selfless and generous, with 82% creating in order to gift presents to family and friends.

Half (49%) of Brits are also using their newfound skill to create cancelled experiences at home. Hosting a traditional garden party tops the list (73%), followed by a recreating a baby shower or pre-wedding celebration (39%). The cancellation of this year’s Glastonbury may also be influencing our choices as a fifth (22%) are also hosting their own music festival.

It’s not just crafting we’ve been trying – three quarters of us (73%) have learnt a new skill. The top skills being practised after crafting include DIY and Baking (34%), followed by a new language (6%) and learning a musical instrument (3%).

84% of Brits also revealed that social media has inspired them to become more creative. With celebrities like Stacey Solomon leading the way with her tap to tidy trend, showcasing how easy it is to recreate these craft skills at home.

This research shines an interesting light on our attitudes to getting creative during lockdown. A positive legacy from the lockdown is that people have used their unexpected time at home to develop a new hobby or skill, something which they can hopefully continue to love and progress with once things return to the new normal.

With more people developing craft as a hobby than ever before, those looking for inspiration for new ideas and projects can look to Cricut to find them in abundance. Our range of Cricut machines cater for every person, whatever stage of the crafting journey they are at, whether this be beginners’ level such as home organisation and personalisation or crafting connoisseur dreaming up grand projects.

The research survey was carried out by Cricut to a total of 6,145 people across the UK.