What’s Cricut? You might have heard the title and initially thought it was associated to a sport, however then heard it mixed with the phrases “vinyl” and “T-shirts” and bought very confused (I do know I did!).
I usually get requested questions like “What’s a Cricut?’ and “What can a Cricut do?” So I can be answering each of these questions and so many extra on this Cricut newbie’s information.
I am going to additionally go over the potential of beginning a small enterprise together with your Cricut machine and all of the assets you will discover on Envato Parts for that. And in the event you get pleasure from video tutorials, then do not forget to go to the Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel! You will discover a lot of helpful content material, like this “What Is Cricut” video:
What You will Be taught in This Cricut Newbie’s Information
- Tips on how to Pronounce Cricut
- What Is a Cricut Machine?
- What Does a Cricut Machine Do?
- How Does a Cricut Machine Work?
- What Can I Make With My Cricut?
- Promote Your Creations Made With Envato Parts
- How Many Cricut Machines Are There?
- What Can a Cricut Do and Reduce?
- How Huge Can I Reduce on My Machine?
1. Tips on how to Pronounce Cricut
To begin with, individuals usually ask the best way to pronounce Cricut—and fortuitously for us, it’s pronounced precisely the identical as each the game and the insect: “kri·kuht“. That is additionally why their model mascot is an lovable little creature with antennas.
It’s usually pronounced “cry-cut”, however that is sadly not the right Cricut pronunciation. Now, if ever you get requested, or hear the inaccurate pronunciation of Cricut, you’ll be able to appropriate them and know your approach is appropriate!
2. What Is a Cricut Machine?
It’s possible you’ll be questioning, what’s a Cricut machine? A Cricut is an digital reducing gadget that may do all kinds of features. It is usually sometimes called a die-cutting or vinyl-cutting gadget as a result of its capacity to precisely lower small issues, however it may achieve this far more than that. It’s an especially highly effective machine so as to add to any crafting or small enterprise arsenal, and it is extraordinarily straightforward to make use of.
3. What Does a Cricut Machine Do?
A Cricut machine can achieve this many alternative issues comparable to reducing, drawing, scoring, engraving, perforation, foiling, and debossing. You possibly can carry out these features on so many alternative supplies, with a number of the machines suitable with over 300 completely different materials varieties.
The Cricut model not solely produces these superior crafting machines but in addition has a variety of its personal merchandise, together with many alternative supplies comparable to vinyl, paper, acetate, and a lot extra. Along with this, there’s additionally a variety of different machines that complement Cricut machines and supplies like warmth presses, and so they’ve lately added just a few lighting choices to their vary too.
Many small companies use Cricut machines to make their merchandise ultimately or one other, as there are truthfully simply so many issues you are able to do with these machines—and there isn’t any finish to what a Cricut can do!
4. How Does a Cricut Machine Work?
How a Cricut machine works is with two rollers on both aspect of the machine, which grip the mat or materials and roll it forwards and backwards, whereas additionally transferring the blade housing left and proper. Due to this, the Cricut machine has entry to a really broad space on the mat or media, and it may lower or draw any form you inform it to!
The fabric that you’re reducing stays in place on the mat due to a particular sticky glue that permits it to be simply eliminated with out being broken. These mats, if correctly cared for, can final for a number of months, and they are often flippantly washed to take away dust and make them somewhat bit stickier for somewhat bit longer!
Whereas the Cricut model provides a really broad number of its personal merchandise, you aren’t restricted to utilizing Cricut merchandise in these machines—and there are lots of completely different manufacturers that produce related supplies.
5. What Can I Make With My Cricut?
The choices of issues that you could make together with your Cricut are limitless. Many use it to make issues like stickers, T-shirts, mugs, and playing cards. However with the supplies that this machine can lower, there are such a lot of completely different choices and purposes that you should utilize with a view to make one thing out of the peculiar. For example, you should utilize stencil vinyl to chop and apply a stencil to wooden, and use wooden burning gel to make a personalized chopping board. You need to use the identical precept to create doormats, etched glass paintings, and so many extra issues.
One of many fan favorite issues to do together with your Cricut is to make stickers, and with these machines you’ll be able to print one thing in your printer and have it lower in your Cricut!
6. Promote Your Creations Made With Envato Parts
My favorite use of my Cricut machines is for social gathering decor. I am all the time searching for a technique to wiggle myself into the organising committee to make use of my Cricut to create personalised bunting, enjoyable decor items like “ready-to-pop” popcorn containers, and child bins.
Do you know you’ll be able to promote your creations once you use property from Envato Parts? Envato Parts is a no-tie subscription service that has an enormous vary of fonts, graphics, images, and so on that can be utilized in a novel approach. You possibly can simply create beautiful tasks that can set you other than anybody else together with your product vary.
Additionally they produce other wonderful property, all coated below an easy-to-understand industrial license. You get limitless downloads with a month-to-month subscription, and you may cancel at any time.
7. How Many Cricut Machines Are There?
At the moment, there are 5 completely different machines in the marketplace, in three ranges. The smallest machine is the Cricut Pleasure, which is a unbelievable entry-level machine. It cuts as much as 13cm broad and can be the most cost effective machine in the marketplace.
The center-of-the-range machines are the Discover vary. At the moment there are solely two machines on this vary: the Discover Air 2 and the Discover 3. These are extraordinarily common machines as a result of their value vary and the variety of supplies they will lower.
The highest-of-the-range machines are a part of the Maker household. On this vary, there may be the Maker and the Maker 3 (there is no such thing as a Maker 2). These are the flagship machines which might lower a a lot wider number of issues than the others.
8. What Can a Cricut Do and Reduce?
Every of the machines has a special variety of supplies they will lower. The Pleasure vary can lower lots of the primary supplies that might get any small enterprise off the bottom: many alternative sorts of paper, cardstock, adhesive vinyl, and warmth switch vinyl (iron-on). Many have even lower issues like fake leather-based! In response to Cricut, the Pleasure machines can lower 50+ completely different supplies, though many have lower issues not listed on their web site.
The Discover vary can lower 100+ supplies, which is among the predominant the reason why it is so common with so many small companies. It will possibly lower all the pieces the Pleasure can lower, and a lot extra. It additionally provides the “print then lower” performance—which might be one of the common Cricut options!
The Maker vary is probably the most strong machine but, with 300+ supplies below its belt. It will possibly do all the pieces that the Discover and Pleasure ranges can do. It additionally boasts the compatibility of the QuickSwap Housing which has the choice to deboss (emboss), engrave, perforate, and extra. It is suitable with just a few further instruments just like the knife blade for heavy supplies like leather-based, balsa wooden, and chipboard, and the rotary blade which is used to chop unbonded material.
9. How Huge Can I Reduce on My Machine?
These machines can lower a really broad number of sizes, with the Pleasure being the smallest, in a position to lower supplies which are 13cm/5” broad, and as much as 30cm/12” lengthy on a mat (or 6m/20ft lengthy on good vinyl—and not using a mat).
The Discover Air 2 and the Maker can each make use of the 30x30cm/12”x12” and the 30x60cm/12”x24” reducing mats, whereas the Discover 3 and the Maker 3 can use each mat sizes, in addition to Sensible Vinyl as much as 3.6m/12ft.
Discover Extra Tutorials and Sources for Cricut Design Area
Now that you realize precisely what a Cricut is, perhaps you wish to discover ways to use the very user-friendly software program. Listed here are some tutorials and assets you’ll be able to take a look at to see how easy it’s to navigate Cricut Design Area and uncover all the pieces you are able to do together with your Cricut machine!
