Subscribe to Cricut Access
If you want to get a full range of use out of both your Cricut Explore machine as well as the Cricut Maker machine, we would recommend you subscribe to Cricut Access right away. There are two options for payment. Either you can pay $10 as you’re a monthly fee, or you can pay one time for the entire year. It works out to be slightly cheaper on a month-to-month basis. It will give you access to thousands of different predesigned projects as well as Cricut Access exclusive fonts, that you would otherwise have to pay to use. If you are planning to use your Cricut a lot, this will save you a lot of money as opposed to buying every project an image individually. We can all agree it is a lot easier to pay one flat rate instead of having to figure out how much you are spending on projects. Get your money’s worth out of your Cricut and subscribe to Cricut Access.
De-tack Your Cutting Mat
The Circuit Explore machine will come with a green 12”x12” Standard grip cutting mat. The Cricut Maker machine will come with a blue light grip mat. As you already know, you will place your cutting material onto this mat before inserting it into the machine to cut. As you will come to find out, the green cutting mat is extremely sticky when it is brand new.
Keep Your Cutting Mat Covers
The cutting mats that you purchase for your projects will always come brand new with a plastic protecting sheet over it. It can be pulled off and put back on for the entire life of the mat. You will want to keep this plastic cover as long as you have the mat. It will keep the stickiness level up on your mat, and it will make the mat more comfortable to store away when not in use.
Cleaning the Cricut Cutting Mat
It is essential to keep your cutting mat clean for it to remain sticky and be available for use over and over. Ideally, you would want to clean the mat every time after use if not at least every couple would suffice. All you will have to do is simply wipe down a clean mat with baby wipes to keep it clean.
Adhere Your Materials to Your Mats with Painter’s or Masking Tape
You will find that, as your Cricut mats age, they will slowly lose their grip. Before completely giving up on your mat and throwing it out, considering lining the edges of your project with painter’s tape or with masking tape. It will hold your materials in place while they’re being cut and will save you the expense of a new mat for some time.
Command Hooks from 3M to Hang Your Cutting Mats When Not in Use
Utilizing your wall space for storage can be invaluable when you’re storing something delicate and prone to bending, like your Cricut craft mat. Using Command hooks will ensure that your walls won’t be damaged by the adhesive and your mats will always be within arm’s reach and will never be hidden from you with this method!
Keep the Clear Plastic Sheet That Comes with Your Cricut Mats
When you buy a new Cricut mat, you will notice a semi-rigid sheet of plastic that comes stuck to the grip. After you complete each project, readhere this sheet to the front of your mat before hanging them up or putting them away! It will keep the grip from getting ruined by dust, hair, rogue glitter, or animal fur in the air! It will help to extend the life of your mats, give you more uses before the end of its life, and will keep unnecessary scratches and debris from forming.
Take Care of Your Mat
Many mats have met their ends in my care, and there are multiple reasons for this. If the material doesn’t stick to it, the paper, vinyl, and others will all move around while the blade is trying to cut through, and it will end in a disaster.
Don’t Be Lazy
Test those projects first! Testing is key to mastering the Cricut even when you feel like you’ve already gotten the hang of it. It never hurts to assess your projects before doing the final cut or print. Test before you cut. Make it a habit of yours. It should come without a thought. It might just save you a lot of time and material too. Instead of doing the whole project at once, do a small element of it first. If it doesn’t work, you won’t need to wait for it to finish before you can fix the settings and cut the new design. It will also save you the pain of losing the material you wanted to use for the project itself.
Try Different Markers
Don’t feel limited by the Cricut markers. That’s right! When you are using your Cricut machine to write or draw on your project, any marker that will fit will work correctly. Not only are there cheaper options, but the colors and variety of styles are virtually endless. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can only use the markers from the Cricut brand. Even though they are of better quality and made for the machine, you are not limited to using them.
Just make sure your markers fit.
Double-Check the Settings
Just like the testers, this is annoying, but you have to make sure that all of your settings are correct and that you have selected the right material option. If you are not using the Cricut Design Space, this is easy to forget. When you utilize the software, there is a broad selection of tools. However, when you are only using a cartridge, the materials are limited. Still, regardless of what setup you wish to handle the design, you should check your settings twice.
Keep Your Blades in a Good Condition
Preferably, get one for every material that you are going to cut. In the list of materials that are available to add to your Cricut purchase, you may see different kinds of blades available. Make sure that you have the right edge for a particular item and that it is sharp at all times. A dull blade is never a good thing, and it will ruin your project as easily as a sharp one will cut it entirely.
Extend Your Markers’ Shelf Life
Keep your markers upside down with the cap-covered tip facing down when you are not using them. It will ensure that they stay nice and inky for the most extended period. Do not leave them in your Cricut when you are not using them. Secure the cap and put them away afterward.
Blades Getting Dull Too Soon? Run Foil Through Your Cricut!
A trendy Cricut trick in use is to stick a clean, fresh piece of foil to your Cricut mat, and run it through with the blade you wish to sharpen. Running the blades through the thin metal helps to revitalize their edges and give them a little extra staying power until it’s time to buy replacements.