What do I need to know before buying a Cricut?

Let’s talk about the 5 things to know before you buy a Cricut Maker.

Be prepared to spend a good portion of money

Buying a Cricut Maker will cost you on average $400 USD. I ordered mine directly from the Cricut website so that if I had any issues with the machine, I would have the manufacturer to deal with directly.

The machine on it’s own comes with the following items:

Cricut Maker with Fine Point Blade
Let’s Get Started Box (Included URL for setup)
Welcome Book & Rotary Blade
Fine Point Pen
Warranty
USB Cord & Power Cord
A Piece of Cardstock and Fabric (for your first project)
12 x 12 Light Grip & Fabric Grip Mat
Free Trial Membership to Cricut Access™ (for new subscribers)

FYI: There are also “bundles” that you can purchase that include everything above plus extra items. There are bundles can include:

Rolls of vinyl – there are all different types and colours

Special markers – for making cards and scrapbooking

Extra cutting mats – they are sticky mats that your vinyl/paper/fabric on before it goes through the cutting machine

Extra tools – different blades for different materials; weeding tools (helps you peel off the vinyl/paper/fabric etc. from the cutting mat

Think about what projects you would like to make

The Maker is literally the ultimate in the series of cutting machines by Cricut. This machine will cut through different papers, vinyl, fabric, leather and thin wood. Basically the machine is able to cut anything that is 2.4mm thick and as thin and delicate as tissue paper. Here is a list of more than 100 Items the Maker Can Cut to help you decide if it is right for you.

I purchased this machine because I used to cut all stencils by hand. Now with the Maker, my stencils are sure to have crisp clean edges, not to mention it is a lifesaver on my right hand! I cut my stencils out of mylar because I use them over and over again. If you are only going to use the stencil once, most people will use vinyl.

These little wood signs were made with my reusable stencils I cut from by Cricut Maker. To see what the vinyl letters look like on the other side of these signs check out my other blog post on Double Duty Home Decor.

Of course so many people purchase this machine for cutting vinyl and making all different customized projects. I have made a few custom signs, decals for insulated mugs and even made some custom sweatshirts.

FYI: If you plan to cut vinyl to add to fabric be prepared to purchase the EasyPress. Essentially the EasyPress is a super hot iron that will make the vinyl stick to the fabric permanently. The EasyPress is available in different sizes based on what your project needs will be.

Be prepared to learn how to use Design Space software

There is no way to avoid it, you will need to learn how to work in the Cricut’s software called Design Space (free to download). If you have ever even just played around in PhotoShop or anything similar then you will be able to pick up Design Space easily.
5 Things to Know Before Buying a Cricut Maker by The Chipped Maus www.thechippedmaus.com/5-things-to-know-before-buying-a-cricut-maker

If you have zero experience in this type of software, don’t worry! There are so many resources online – Pinterest and YouTube are full of tutorials that are quick and easy to follow. Just be prepared to spend some time learning a few basic concepts to get you started.

FYI: When you purchase the Maker, there are pieces inside to for to complete a couple sample projects. Definitely go through and make these sample projects to get an understanding on how the machine works. Not to mention it is really cool to watch the project being cut out for the first time!

You can create your own designs or upload pre-made

Once you get through the beginner sample projects that come with the machine, you can then decide if you want to start making your own design or upload pre-made designs.

Design Space files are called SVGs and there are 1000s upon 1000s of pre-made designs available online for free and for purchase. Many of these designs are for personal use only. If you plan to use these designs on products you want to sell, you need to check the fine print to see if they are aloud to be used for commercial use. There may be an extra cost (a few dollars) for purchase a commercial license for a particular pre-made design.

Once you find an SVG file you want to use, Design Space makes it easy to upload the file into the program. Purchasing a few designs is a great option for beginners who aren’t 100% comfortable designing their own. Pre-made designs will cost you a few dollars and can be worth the cost as it will save you a lot of time and aggravation.

Over the last year, I’ve been collecting SVG files on Pinterest. Be sure to check out my board to see what SVG files are available out in the digital world.

FYI: Design Space also has a huge SVG and project library through what’s called Cricut Access. Cricut Access is free for the first 30 days to view their free designs and designs available for purchase. After 30 days there is a monthly cost to have access to this library.

You don’t have to buy Cricut brand supplies

If you have already started researching costs associated with a Cricut Maker, you will see that the costs will add up quickly. Yes, Cricut supplies are great products, but there are many other lesser expensive options available online. I have purchased vinyl from Amazon and have had great results.

As with any new-to-you product purchase, be sure to read through reviews before buying to make sure that those items aren’t going to be a waste of money.

FYI – expect to make mistakes when learning how to use any cutting machine. I’ve made my fair share of mistakes and am learning new things all the time. For that reason alone, purchasing less expensive materials to practice with will ease your aggravations.

Now that we’ve gone through the 5 Things to Know Before Buying a Cricut Maker, I hope you were able to decide on whether it is the right cutting machine for you.