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25 Best Cricut Tips, Tricks, Shortcuts, Hacks, & Hidden Features

Jennifer Maker・22 minutes read

Jennifer Maker shares various tips and tricks to enhance crafting with Cricut cutting machines, drawing from personal experience and team contributions. These tips cover organization, maintenance, weeding, cutting precision, and maximizing material usage to improve the overall efficiency and quality of Cricut projects.

Insights

  • Jennifer Maker provides practical tips and tricks for using Cricut cutting machines, drawing from personal experience and team contributions, presented in a countdown format to highlight the most valuable advice.
  • The tips cover various aspects, including storage, maintenance, material handling, and cutting techniques, offering insights such as storing Cricut pens tip-down for better ink flow, using less sticky tape alternatives for transferring vinyl designs, and extending the life of cutting mats through strategic material placement and cleaning methods.

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Recent questions

  • How can I keep my vinyl rolls organized?

    Use painter's tape or cardboard rolls.

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Summary

00:00

"Crafting Tips for Cricut Success"

  • Jennifer Maker shares Cricut tips, tricks, and hidden features on "The Great Maker Show and Tell."
  • Tips aim to help craft better and faster with Cricut cutting machines.
  • Tips are a result of personal experience and team contributions.
  • Tips are organized in a countdown format, leading to the most favorite tip.
  • Tip 25: Keep vinyl rolls tidy by using painter's tape or cardboard rolls.
  • Tip 24: Store Cricut tools together in an accessory cup, drawer, pegboard, or a 3D printed tool holder.
  • Tip 23: Store Cricut pens tip down for better ink flow, except for gel pens which should be stored horizontally.
  • Tip 22: Use the right tools like dental tools, tweezers, or craft knives for faster weeding of vinyl.
  • Tip 21: Keep Cricut clean with compressed air to remove debris and maintain machine efficiency.
  • Tip 20: Speed up weeding by using containers or painter's tape to keep small pieces organized.
  • Tip 19: Keep vinyl in place while weeding by using slightly sticky mats or taping it down.
  • Tip 18: Wipe down surfaces with alcohol before applying vinyl for better adhesion.
  • Tip 17: Use less sticky tape alternatives like painter's tape or clear contact paper for transferring vinyl designs.
  • Tip 16: Keep Cricut mats within easy reach by hanging them with picture hooks or Command Strip hooks.
  • Tip 15: Waste less material by doing test cuts before cutting out entire designs.
  • Tip 14: Improve cutting results by doing double passes if the material isn't cut through completely.
  • Tip 13: Keep fabric grip mats cleaner by using contact paper or transfer tape to catch fabric bits and extend mat life.

13:26

Maximize Cutting Mat Life and Precision

  • To extend the life of cutting mats, move items to be cut into less used areas of the mat, like the center or other corners, and utilize both sides of the mat.
  • Tape down materials with painter's tape or masking tape at the edges to prevent movement on a mat, especially useful for stiff materials or when the mat has lost its stickiness.
  • Charge your phone or iPad using the USB port on the right lower side of a Cricut Maker, and utilize the built-in slot at the top of the Maker to rest your device or Bright Pad.
  • Access all material settings for precise cutting by turning the dial to custom settings on Explore series machines and browsing all materials in Design Space for the best settings.
  • Cut multiple colors of material simultaneously by moving all cut elements to the same mat in Cricut Design Space and positioning each element in different sections of the cutting mat.
  • Reduce the tackiness of new mats by patting them down with hands or pressing a clean paper towel on the mat to transfer a thin layer of fibers, making them less sticky.
  • Use a lint roller to remove debris and fibers from cutting mats quickly, ensuring a stickier surface for effective cutting.
  • Improve cutting precision by poking the blade tip into a tight ball of aluminum foil to remove debris or oxidation, enhancing the blade's cutting performance without sharpening it.
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