Cricut Tips and Ideas!

Cricut Tips from The Tomaino Patch:

Debi Squires, Melissa Murray and Jamie Schopoppmann

Close To My Heart offers their own Cricut cartridge that includes over 700 designs, three exclusive stamp sets, and 3 sets of dimensional elements.  The Cricut Art Philosophy is a must have for all paper crafters!  For more information, contact me JoeSusan@aol.com

 • When you get a new mat write "top" on the upper corner of the plastic sheet (before removing) with permanent marker so you know which side is up (there is a difference on the plastic sheet sides).

 • Be sure to replace the plastic sheet on the mat when not in use so the mat doesn't collect dirt and dust (helps extend mat life).

 • Always make sure your mat is clean of all little paper i.e. from eyes or holes from a tag. The spatula tool is a great item to have. If you find your paper is tearing when you cut an image, it might be because you have these little circles or chunks of paper still stuck to your mat. You can use the Pampered Chef scrapper too!

  Our CTMH piercing tool is a great tool to lift Cricut projects off the mat--especially the small ones and insides you don't use or need.

 • When I am not sure how much cutting pressure a certain design will need, especially the more intricate ones, I have learned to cut them on a scrap piece of the same weight paper or the actual paper I am using in a smaller size. This does two things. It wastes less paper if you need to make adjustments and, if there was enough pressure to cut it out in a smaller size, it will always cut well larger because the curves are larger. (See Cricut Chart below).

  • If you need to cut 20 scalloped squares for a large project, try out the quantity button on your Cricut Expression, it is AWESOME and a great time saver! OR if you need a whole page hit the auto fill button, it makes life so much easier :)

 • When making a project with vinyl always cut out in scrap paper first to see if its the size and font you want. I hate to waste anything especially vinyl, AND when you do cut with the vinyl make sure you do the "kiss" technique blade 4, speed 3, pressure 3, that way you don't cut through the backing!

 • If you are unsure about the size of an image, cut it on scrap paper first so you aren’t wasting your "good" paper or cardstock :)

  • Cricut Flowers - your mat has to be very sticky. My older mat wasn't, I added dotto dots to the paper & it still shifted which ruined the cut. Roll the flower from the outside in-tightly. Keep the bottom even as you roll, otherwise it'll start to get like a cone shape. You want it as even as possible. Liquid Glass is the best for adhering it. Put a blob on the flat part, let the flower unfurl slightly & hold it in place till it bonds. Also lower the cutting speed. While you may want a fast speed when cutting circles, you want a slower speed when cutting anything intricate. (Jessica Ballas)

 FOR MORE TIPS, ETC. visit Closetomyheart.com