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Arts and crafts

Discover knitting, crochet, scrapbooking and art and craft ideas on this forum.

Original poster

Cricut users unite!

172 replies

MajesticallyAwkward · 12/11/2021 14:06

I took the plunge and bought myself a cricut 😁 absolutely loving it, about 2 weeks in and have done projects with paper, card, vinyl and HTV.

Any cricuters want to share makes, tips, tricks and ideas?

Soooo many ideas I don't know where to start!

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Original poster
MajesticallyAwkward · 23/11/2021 08:39

Yes, I'd seen something about htv on a fb group and checked when I bought it that it safe stuff. Bought from a reputable supplier that other sellers use for baby items and recommend.

There's a lot to consider when selling, which puts me off a bit from starting a little shop as much as I love making.

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Sn0tnose · 23/11/2021 20:55

@MajesticallyAwkward

Yes, I'd seen something about htv on a fb group and checked when I bought it that it safe stuff. Bought from a reputable supplier that other sellers use for baby items and recommend.

There's a lot to consider when selling, which puts me off a bit from starting a little shop as much as I love making.

I agree with you about MDP, they’re my absolute favourite and definitely one of the best sellers out there. I tell myself that I need to bulk buy because of the postage costs. Have you tried Teckwrap vinyl yet? So good.

Have you considered starting off with a craft fair and seeing how you get on?

Original poster
MajesticallyAwkward · 24/11/2021 08:56

I really rate MDP, a friend recommended them originally, she has an etsy shop for her wares (and is infinitely more talented than me!)

I've seen a lot about teckwrap and have joined a fb group of a seller of it- the name escapes me but they seem really reasonably priced and well reviewed.

I'm sure it gets easier as you go, but my god if takes forever to do some things! I was on 4 hours yesterday doing an exploding card and the middle still won't stick 😭

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SoupDragon · 30/11/2021 10:50

Does anyone find the instructions on Design Space somewhat vague?

I'm currently constructing my pop up snowflake.

SoupDragon · 30/11/2021 10:51

Also, I'm glad I've only got little fingers! It's very fiddly 😂

Ulysses · 01/12/2021 09:13

My Cricut Joy has just arrived so I am following this thread for ideas. I've also got an Air Explorer 2 on it's way from China which I'm a bit dubious about. I should really have not unboxed the Joy to see if the Air Explorer does arrive and it is the real deal but I couldn't wait and it might become DD10s before the month is out.

I haven't bought any more vinyls or card so just got the samples that came with it.

I'm not sure where to start though. I've downloaded Design Space so will have a look on that. I could do with some nice labels...

Ulysses · 01/12/2021 09:13

Are the vinyl packs from Amazon any good?

SoupDragon · 01/12/2021 09:18

I don't know about Amazon. I got mine s a bundle with my machine from gmcrafts.co.uk/

I do think Amazon is good for speed if you want to try something out and don't want to waste time researching companies though. I've got some biscuit coloured cardstock coming from them today so I can make my gingerbread house.

Original poster
MajesticallyAwkward · 01/12/2021 09:22

@SoupDragon yes horribly vague! I google the design and see if there's a video.

@Ulysses Amazon packs can be a bit iffy, the works do a range of vinyl from £5 that I've seen good things about. Mdp and dae-ha are good websites I've used and there are lots of links and recommendations in the fb groups (cricut beginners uk is a good one).

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SoupDragon · 01/12/2021 09:48

Where do you get 12x12 card from? I've got some left from a scrapbooking/card making phase years ago but I spent ages googling yesterday and ended up with a pack of brown from Amazon. I've got some A4 but that involves faffing about with the layout.

Ulysses · 01/12/2021 09:53

We've got a Works in town so I could try that, thanks. There's also a Hobbycraft further away that I could go to as well to get the branded stuff for £££. I'm too impatient to be hanging about and even Amazon Prime won't do deliveries until Friday.

I've printer out a sunflower which was a test design and it's nice and all but I should have chosen more wisely.

Now I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed of where to start. If you want to make cards can you use a A4 pieces, perhaps cut dow? Sorry so many questions but the Design Space seems to be a bit of a minefield!

Ulysses · 01/12/2021 09:53

Ah, you've already asked the question I had @SoupDragon!

SoupDragon · 01/12/2021 11:17

I have used A4but it was a pain rearranging the pieces, although there is a fair chance that I missed a short way to do this as I find the App is a bit rubbish in that respect!

Original poster
MajesticallyAwkward · 01/12/2021 12:04

I got some lovely 12x12 card from the range.

Design space is easier to use on a desktop if you have a laptop rather than the app. I find the app fine for most things but for fiddly things I use the laptop. To resize make sure you're grouping so everything resizes together and to move things about on the app you can make a square (or a couple) in A4 size and add your items to them so you know they fit A4 (eg all the same colour together) then delete the square and group the items left behind together so they'll cut in the right format.

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Ulysses · 01/12/2021 14:58

Good tip @MajesticallyAwkward. I've gotten some card from B&Ms to play about with it and I've ordered a card mat which specifically for the Joy along with some of the Insert Cards from Amazon. Now that I've got some basic card I've figured out how to use them already using the sizing method you mentioned so that's perhaps a waste of money!

I've spent the morning watching You Tube video's so feeling ever so slightly less overwhelmed on where to start.

The vinyl can wait for now, since I've got some card.

Original poster
MajesticallyAwkward · 01/12/2021 21:54

@Ulysses do you subscribe to Jennifer maker? Her designs and videos are really good, and there's a 25 days of Christmas thing on now with a new project every day- all free and a lot of card projects.

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Sn0tnose · 01/12/2021 22:05

@Ulysses I don’t want to worry you and I could be completely wrong or jumping to huge conclusions or telling you stuff you already know, but I think they’re manufactured in Utah rather than China. Did you order it from a reputable site?

SoupDragon · 01/12/2021 22:46

Is anyone else completely unable to pronounce it "cricket"?

Ulysses · 02/12/2021 06:56

I did watch one Jennifer makers videos and will have a look at those videos too.

No, I’m not sure about the site at all, hence my reservations! It is a US one but the prices were in £. I’ve got the tracking for it and it’s showing the shipping process and it looks as if it was on the actual ship last night. The box my Cricut Joy was in shows that it is manufactured in Malaysia so there is a Far East connection but we’ll see. I’m not convinced I’ll see it this side of Christmas.

I want to call it a Cry-cut!

Sn0tnose · 02/12/2021 06:59

Fingers crossed for you!

SoupDragon · 02/12/2021 07:36

I want to call it a Cry-cut!

Yes! I think it's because I've only ever seen it written down and now it's stuck in my head.

SoupDragon · 02/12/2021 07:37

I'm going to cut out my gingerbread house today and try to glue the rest of my snowflake card together.

Original poster
MajesticallyAwkward · 02/12/2021 09:23

@SoupDragon I can't help but say 'cry-cut' 😂

I made the snowman mug box card from myscrapchick yesterday, it's really cute! Planning to pop hot choc sachet, biscuits and marshmallows in them as gifts for DDs club leaders and teachers.

@Ulysses I've seen a few people get caught out by cricutsmart.com which is a scam, but tracking info seems like a good sign?

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Ulysses · 02/12/2021 20:21

I'm an idiot, it was that site and it does indeed seem to be a scam. I knew it was too good to be true! I've cancelled my bank card but haven't reported it as fraud yet.

I bought it a few minutes after I ordered the Cricut Joy as it seemed a bargain. Oh well lesson learnt. It's a fairly elaborate scam, it's an HTTPS site and I got an acknowledgement and like I say the tracking note from China.

I really am embarrassed and feeling foolish. DH has been in hospital with Covid and got out last Friday after 11 days and it was a treat after all the strife we've been through over the past few weeks. I haven't unburdened myself to tell him. Payment has gone through and I doubt I'll ever see it again though.

Oh well at least I've got the Joy and it was on offer too. I made a little Noughts and Crosses set for the Elfs to play with in the morning. It was a bit of a faff as I hadn't stuck the cheap card right down the way so decided to make my own little candy canes but that was trial and error though I got there in the end.

Also, DD10 has nicked my glue supplies (and the drawing pins that I was needing to hang decorations). My cards came though so I will have a play with them. They really are quite small though and was on the downsides of the Joy, so I can see me wanting to upgrade at some point (well researched sites only!).

BonnesVacances · 02/12/2021 20:32

Joining the thread too. Sublimation is my love! I've just made a load of mugs for Christmas presents with the mug press. Gorgeous! I have found Canva is easier for designing. It has a wide range of fonts, if you don't subscribe to Access (which I don't) and then I send them on a pdf to someone to print them on a sublimation printer. Which at £1.50 a sheet is much cheaper than buying my own printer.

I also like making cards and have the Joy for that. I'm currently trying to choose which design to make for my Christmas cards. But despite ordering loads of cardstock in the Cricut sale, I don't have any red! And I'm trying to decide if green would work instead. Plus I don't have a red pen either.

I watch loads of YouTube videos which helped me get to grips with Design Space and give me an idea of all the different projects you can make. Bethadilly and Jennifer Maker are good.