How to Get Started with Your Cricut Explore Air 2 (From Unboxing to Your First Project)

How to Get Started with Your New Cricut Explore Air 2 for Beginners

Can you guess what are the most common things I hear from people after buying their Cricut Explore Air 2?

A) I don’t know where to begin!

B) I have no idea what supplies to buy!

C) I’m too scared to get it out of the box!

D) All of the above

If you answered “D” then you are absolutely correct! We’re tackling all of these fears and hurdles in one mega video today! Bookmark and pin this video to refer back to later.

Also, you’re not leaving empty handed…

After you watch, make sure to sign up in the form below the video to get an awesome FREE Getting Started Guide PDF sent straight to your email inbox!

P.S. If you have an older Cricut Explore series machine, most of what you’ll learn in the video will still be applicable to you!

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How to Get Started with Your Cricut Maker (From Unboxing to Your First Project)

How to Get Started with Your New Cricut Maker for Beginners

Can you guess what are the most common things I hear from people after buying their Cricut Maker?

A) I don’t know where to begin!

B) I have no idea what supplies to buy!

C) I’m too scared to get it out of the box!

D) All of the above

If you answered “D” then you are absolutely correct! We’re tackling all of these fears and hurdles in one mega video today! Bookmark and pin this video to refer back to later.

Also, you’re not leaving empty handed…

After you watch, make sure to sign up in the form below the video to get an awesome FREE Getting Started Guide PDF sent straight to your email inbox!

P.S. If you have a Cricut Explore Air 2 machine, watch this video instead.

LEARN MORE

 

Get the FREE Getting Started Guide!

Sign up & get the freebies sent straight to your inbox!

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Click here to pin this post to share or refer back to later!

Little Dude

FREE SVG CUT FILE for Cricut, Silhouette and more - Little Dude Boys SVG

It’s tough to find good, free SVGs for boys, but this one is perfect! Simple enough to be used by a beginner and you can make a shirt or onesie that looks like it was bought at the store!

Compatible with Cricut, Silhouette and other cutting machines. Easy to resize, change colors and customize however you’d like. Don’t miss the rest of our huge free svgs library either!

Please Remember

All free downloads on SVG & Me are for Personal Use Only. Please refer to our copyright and license page for more information.

The free download includes (1) .zip file with:

  • 1 SVG file – Upload to Cricut Design Space,  Silhouette Designer Edition, Adobe Suite, Inkscape and more

These SVGs are totally free, but if you want to help you can spread the word by clicking the red or blue share buttons below. I really appreciate it!

Enjoy your SVG and happy creating!

Learn to Create Your Own SVGs Today!

6 Top Questions Every Cricut Beginner Wants to Know

cricut beginner faq

Are you trying to decide if you want to buy a Cricut or are a Cricut beginner and confused on where to get started? You’re in the right place because guess what? Most people (myself included) had the exact same questions when starting out. So, don’t get frustrated and let’s tackle the Cricut Beginner FAQ now:

1. What the heck is a Cricut?

A Cricut is a brand of cutting machine that you can use for all sorts of crafting projects. It takes designs that you create or upload (like those you get free from us) in to their Design Space software and cuts them out.

It sounds simple, but I guarantee that you will be amazed at the number of projects you can make in a fraction of the time you would be able to do them by hand. I’m talking sewing patterns, planner stickers, wooden signs for your home, monogrammed mugs and so much more!

This machine is perfect for the creative person who always wants to do DIY projects but is short on time so they sit on your Pinterest board instead 😉 Also, if you have a homemade business or Etsy shop, I can pretty much guarantee you will get a ton of value out of this machine.

Stay tuned for #4 below for a whole list of projects you can create.

2. Can I upload my own images to use with Cricut?

Yes! You can upload your own images or any of our free SVG & Me cut files that are already formatted to be totally compatible with Cricut Design Space.

There are all sorts of image file types out there. The best kind (that we provide) are SVGs, which stands (lemme put on my nerdy glasses here) scalable vector graphic. Basically, it uses math formulas to create the image based on points between lines. Don’t worry I can see your eyes glazing over and won’t go in more depth than that.

The benefit of this is that the SVG graphics can be enlarged without getting that blurry pixelated look you see with other file types, making them absolutely awesome for crafting projects of any size!

If you haven’t already make sure you check out our Free SVG Library which has tons of designs that you can upload to Design Space today to get crafting in minutes. Watch a tutorial on how to upload our designs here:How to Upload SVG to Cricut Design Space Video Tutorial

3. What different materials can I cut with Cricut?

Everyone tends to think of Cricut machines as cutting paper or vinyl, but the truth is there are a LOT more things that a Cricut can cut. In fact, the Cricut Explore Air 2 can cut over 60 types of materials!

For instance, it can cut chipboard, balsa (super thin) wood, magnet material, aluminum (aka soda cans), and so much more! For thicker materials, you will want to upgrade to the deep-cut blade for the best cut quality.

Check out some examples of the wide range of materials you can cut!

AND the new Cricut Maker can cut EVEN more materials (100+ in fact) with 100x the pressure power of the Explore Air 2. It’s specialty you ask? Fabric! It’s got a brand new rotary blade which makes it a must for seamstresses that can now prep a project in minutes instead of hours.

Want to see a full list of materials and the cutting settings for each? Check this out.

4. What kinds of DIY projects can I make with a Cricut?

Honestly, perhaps the best AND most overwhelming part of buying a Cricut is that it is SO versatile that you don’t know where to begin. So, resist the information overload and try to focus on one project at a time.

The funny thing about Cricut projects is that, when I was starting out, I will think of a zillion projects or see some on Pinterest and think “hey, I wanna make that!” Then, I sit down to make a project and my mind would go totally blank!

Well, to help with this, I came up with a HUGE list of Cricut projects (that will continue to grow so keep checking back for updates). You can browse through, pick one from the list, and get crafting in no time flat! And…it now comes with a FREE printable version you can refer to for inspiration. So, make sure you head over and download that if you don’t have it.

cricut project ideasf

5. Will it be easy for me to learn how to use Cricut Design Space to create my own custom projects?

Yep, and I’m here to help! Check out our Cricut tutorials page here which is an awesome place for beginners to start! We add new videos each week and even provide helpful free resources and checklists so make sure you check back often.

You don’t even need to own a Cricut to start practicing with Design Space. By the time you get your machine, you’ll be a step ahead!

6. What supplies do I need to get started?

This is one of the questions I had the hardest time answering as a beginner. I searched for a printable resource online and was shocked when I couldn’t find one – so I decided to create my own to share with you!
I took a ton of time researching, getting advice from others, and then compiling this huge list of Essential Cricut Supplies Every Beginner Should Have that I am sharing with you (lucky duck) to save you all the time it took me 🙂
It will continuously be updated, so make sure you check back periodically to make sure you have the latest version. Also, let me know if you have any holy grail Cricut products or tips that I should include!
Essential Cricut Supplies for Beginners - Free PDF Workbook
Are you hooked and wanting to decide which Cricut machine is right for you? Check out this post comparing the Cricut Maker vs. the Cricut Explore Air 2.
Any questions you would love to see covered in this post? Let me know in the comments below and I will try to answer and maybe even update the post with them since others probably have similar questions!

Heart Trio

FREE SVG CUT FILE for Cricut, Silhouette and more - Heart Trio Valentine's Day SVG

This adorable free SVG features a heart trio of all different patterns. It would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, but also just for everyday use or wear!

Compatible with Cricut, Silhouette and other cutting machines. Easy to resize, change colors and customize however you’d like. Don’t miss the rest of our huge free svgs library either!

Please Remember

All free downloads on SVG & Me are for Personal Use Only. Please refer to our copyright and license page for more information.

The free download includes (1) .zip file with:

  • 1 SVG file – Upload to Cricut Design Space,  Silhouette Designer Edition, Adobe Suite, Inkscape and more

These SVGs are totally free, but if you want to help you can spread the word by clicking the red or blue share buttons below. I really appreciate it!

Enjoy your SVG and happy creating!

Learn to Create Your Own SVGs Today!

Simple Heart Swirl Graphic

FREE SVG CUT FILE for Cricut, Silhouette and more - Heart Swirl Love SVG

I love the minimalism of this free svg simple heart graphic that is perfect for beginners to practicing layering HTV or vinyl for the first time because it is a very simple and forgiving design.

Compatible with Cricut, Silhouette and other cutting machines. Easy to resize, change colors and customize however you’d like. Don’t miss the rest of our huge free svgs library either!

Please Remember

All free downloads on SVG & Me are for Personal Use Only. Please refer to our copyright and license page for more information.

The free download includes (1) .zip file with:

  • 1 SVG file – Upload to Cricut Design Space,  Silhouette Designer Edition, Adobe Suite, Inkscape and more

These SVGs are totally free, but if you want to help you can spread the word by clicking the red or blue share buttons below. I really appreciate it!

Enjoy your SVG and happy creating!

Learn to Create Your Own SVGs Today!

Fun Fun Fun

FREE SVG CUT FILE for Cricut, Silhouette and more - Summer Fun SVG

Such a cute and simple free svg that is perfect for summer! Easy to weed and perfect for beginners who are just starting out!

Compatible with Cricut, Silhouette and other cutting machines. Easy to resize, change colors and customize however you’d like. Don’t miss the rest of our huge free svgs library either!

Please Remember

All free downloads on SVG & Me are for Personal Use Only. Please refer to our copyright and license page for more information.

The free download includes (1) .zip file with:

  • 1 SVG file – Upload to Cricut Design Space,  Silhouette Designer Edition, Adobe Suite, Inkscape and more

These SVGs are totally free, but if you want to help you can spread the word by clicking the red or blue share buttons below. I really appreciate it!

Enjoy your SVG and happy creating!

Learn to Create Your Own SVGs Today!

Simple Heart

FREE SVG CUT FILE for Cricut, Silhouette and more - Simple Heart SVG for Beginners

This is such a cute and simple free svg that is great for beginners to make their first shirt with heat transfer vinyl! You could even get rid of the heart portion and just use the border for a custom design.

Compatible with Cricut, Silhouette and other cutting machines. Easy to resize, change colors and customize however you’d like. Don’t miss the rest of our huge free svgs library either!

Please Remember

All free downloads on SVG & Me are for Personal Use Only. Please refer to our copyright and license page for more information.

The free download includes (1) .zip file with:

  • 1 SVG file – Upload to Cricut Design Space,  Silhouette Designer Edition, Adobe Suite, Inkscape and more

These SVGs are totally free, but if you want to help you can spread the word by clicking the red or blue share buttons below. I really appreciate it!

Enjoy your SVG and happy creating!

Learn to Create Your Own SVGs Today!

Hug Life

FREE SVG CUT FILE for Cricut and Silhouette DIY Projects - Hug Life SVG

Simple, minimalist free svg that would be perfect to make a toddler tee or baby onesie using heat transfer vinyl. A funny play on words of “Thug Life.”

Compatible with Cricut, Silhouette and other cutting machines. Easy to resize, change colors and customize however you’d like. Don’t miss the rest of our huge free svgs library either!

Please Remember

All free downloads on SVG & Me are for Personal Use Only. Please refer to our copyright and license page for more information.

The free download includes (1) .zip file with:

  • 1 SVG file – Upload to Cricut Design Space,  Silhouette Designer Edition, Adobe Suite, Inkscape and more

These SVGs are totally free, but if you want to help you can spread the word by clicking the red or blue share buttons below. I really appreciate it!

Enjoy your SVG and happy creating!

Learn to Create Your Own SVGs Today!

How to Use the Weld Tool in Cricut Design Space

How to Use the Weld Tool in Cricut Design Space

If you haven’t already, make sure you check out our Free Resource Library and download the Basic Skills for Design Space Checklist. It has all the basic skills beginners should learn and you can go through and check them off as you learn each one.

For today’s video tutorial, we are going over how to use the weld tool in Cricut Design Space, which is one of the essential tools you find at the bottom of your right side bar in Design Space.

Remember, even if you are patiently waiting for your new Cricut to arrive, you can still go into Design Space and start practicing these skills so you are ready to go when you get it!

https://youtu.be/bcxqI14MdDc

One more thing to check off your Design Space Skills Checklist!

I hope you enjoyed this video tutorial. I try to give you real life examples of how you can apply what you learned about the weld tool to make fun new projects with your Cricut.

Did this video tutorial inspire you to make something new? Share in the comments below.