This post is sponsored by Cricut, but all opinions are my own.

It’s time for another upgrade to the Cricut machines—meet Cricut Explore 4 and Cricut Maker 4! These are the next generation of Cricut machines and in this post, we’ll specifically talk about the features of the new Cricut Explore 4 and how it compares to the other Cricut Explore machines. You can also check out my overview of Cricut Maker 4, if you want to learn about Cricut’s top-of-the line machine.

If you have any questions about anything in this post, let me know in the comments!

What is Cricut Explore 4?

Cricut Explore 4 is the newest generation of Cricut cutting machines, which also includes Cricut Maker 4. These machines are a minor upgrade over the 3-series machines that were released in 2021, and have features that make crafting faster and more affordable.

In the Cricut Explore 4 Box

To make getting started with your new Cricut even easier, Cricut has included more in the box than they have in past machines. You’ll get the machine itself, a USB cord, a power cord, a Fine Point Blade and housing (installed in the machine), a welcome book, a small weeding tool, a black pen, a blue cutting mat, and a nice selection of practice materials that can make up to 10 small projects. This means you are buying less alongside your machine, which definitely makes it easier to get started.

Connect the power cord to the back of your machine and plug the other end into an outlet. Click the power button to turn it on. It’ll make some noises—you’re ready to begin!

Setting Up Your Cricut Explore 4

To connect your Cricut Explore 4, sign into Cricut Design Space (create an account if you don’t have one already) and then click on the top left menu and select New Product Setup.

From there, you can select your new machine and follow the on-screen instructions to get it hooked up to your computer. This will change whether or not you want to use the USB cord or Bluetooth, and which type of device you are using (Mac vs. PC; computer vs. a mobile device, etc.).

Once your machine is connected, you’ll have the option to do a test project cutting out a vinyl decal of the Cricut logo. Design Space will walk you through all the steps for setting up this project. If this is your first Cricut, I highly recommend walking through this sample project just to give you an idea of how to make a project using your Cricut.

How is Cricut Explore 4 different than Cricut Explore 3?

This is a small upgrade to the machines, so if you already have Cricut Explore 3, don’t feel like you need to rush out and get Cricut Explore 4 (unless you want to!). All of the blades, tools, mats, and accessories that work in your Cricut Explore, Cricut Explore One, Cricut Explore Air 2, and Cricut Explore 3 will work in Cricut Explore 4.

Here’s how the two machines differ from each other.

Speed

The biggest upgrade to the machine is the speed. It’s can cut up to twice as fast as Cricut Explore 3 (and that machine is fast!) and now includes cutting on a mat. This is new compared to Cricut Explore 3, and makes it a great upgrade particularly for paper crafters who must us a mat.

I decided to put this to the test with three projects: cardstock, print then cut, and removable Smart Vinyl. I cut the first on my Maker machines, and the other two on my Explore machines, but your results should be similar no matter which machine you have. Your speed will also depend on the intricacy of your design as well as your material. For example, your machine can’t move as fast cutting a detailed design as it can with a big simple shape. And it can’t foil as fast as it can cut a vinyl because it will tear the foil.

For most of my tests, my new Cricut did have more “thinking” time before it cut, but it still ended up being faster than the 3-series machine. I remember this being the case when I was comparing my 3-series machines to my older machines and over time, they did actually get faster. I think software updates helped.

Cardstock

For the cardstock, my Cricut Maker 3 cut it in 2:24 while my Cricut Maker 4 beat that with 1:43. It did have quite a bit of thinking time before it started to cut, but once it started, my Cricut Maker 4 flew through the processing. This was a somewhat intricate heart design cut at 11″ tall.

Print then Cut

For this test, I had each machine cut out six stickers. Again, there was quite a lot of thinking time before it started to cut, but it still ended up finishing before my Cricut Explore 3.

Smart Vinyl

For this one I used the same intricate heart design, but I cut it at 3″ tall. That means that the Cricut doesn’t have quite as much time moving on the rollers. For this one, the time was nearly identical, with the new machine actually being about a second slower than my Cricut Explore 3, because of that thinking time I mentioned. If it’s the same as the 3-series machines, that lag time will improve over time.

Ease of Use

Cricut also wanted to make it easier for people to get started using their Cricut machines without having to spend even more money on accessories. That’s why this machine includes even more in the box, including more practice materials, a blue cutting mat, a weeding tool, and a pen. You really can get started with your Cricut without having to buy anything else right off the bat. Then, once you’re comfortable, you can grab more materials or Cricut tools to make your crafting even easier.

Here are the materials you’ll get in the box, along with everything else:

• 3 sheets of Smart Vinyl (13″ x 6″)
• 2 sheets of cardstock (11″ x 4.25″)
• 2 pieces of transfer tape (12″ x 6″)
• 1 sheet of Smart Iron-On (13″ x 6″)

These should allow you to make up to 10 projects that are around 4″ x 6″ (think things like mugs, baby bodysuits, labels, cards, etc.).

Cost

Cricut also knows that money is tighter for folks, so they’ve worked to get the retail price point of this machine lower than the price point when Cricut Explore 3 launched. Cricut Explore 4 will come in at just $249, whereas Cricut Explore 3 was $319 when launched.

Color

Of course, there are new colors for this machine launch—seashell and sage. Both of my new machines are the seashell color. In the US, Mexico, and Canada, Cricut Explore 4 will be available in seashell (all retailers) and sage (Michaels only, in a bundle). Outside of the US, Mexico, and Canada, Cricut Explore 4 will only be available in sage.

These colors are specifically designed to fit in with home decor, vs. the bright and colorful machines we’ve seen in the past (particularly with Cricut Explore Air 2). The Cricut Maker 4 has a glossy finish with a metallic lid, and the Cricut Explore 4 has a matte finish.

Seashell is a soft neutral color, bordering on rose gold just a bit. The sage is a moody greenish blue color. Both of these machines would look nice sitting on a shelf in a living room or den, not just a colorful craft room.

I only have the seashell, but as you can see here, it’s a pretty neutral pinkish color.

This is a small detail, but I appreciate it. The plug for the new machines has the cord at a 90° angle. This means you need less space behind the machine while storing it with it plugged in, and because it’s a circle, you can aim that cord in either direction depending on your needs.

I want every single crafting machine I have to have a plug that does this right angle, please.

These are the differences between Cricut Explore 4 and Cricut Explore 3. If you want to see how these compare to the other Explore machines, check out my post Cricut Explore 3 vs Cricut Explore Air 2. This post will walk you through the differences in the anatomy of the machine as well as using Cricut Smart Materials without a mat.

Cricut Explore 4 Essentials Bundle

I mentioned above that the sage color is only available in the US as a part of a bundle at Michaels. This is a great deal to get even more materials and tools to start with. In addition to everything that comes in the box above, you’ll also get:

• 6 sheets of Smart Vinyl (13″ x 12″)
• 6 sheets of cardstock (12″ x 12″)
• 5 sheets of transfer tape (12″ x 6″)
• 6 sheets of Smart Iron On (13″ x 12″)

You’ll also get a set of tools that includes a weeder, scraper, spatula, and scoring stylus, as well as a StandardGrip mat and two fine-point pens. This bundle will retail at $299.99.

Is Cricut Getting Rid of the Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Explore 3?

In the past few years, Cricut has slowed down sales of the Explore Air 2 and other Explore machines, though you can still buy refurbished machines on their site. They have no plans to stop selling Cricut Explore 3 at this time, though you might expect to see Cricut Explore 4 on store shelves moving forward.

BUT don’t worry—support for all of the Cricut Explore machines isn’t going anywhere. Because these new machines are within the same “ecosystem” as the original machines (meaning they use the same mats, blades, tools, and accessories), support for these machines will still be readily available.

Should I Upgrade to the Cricut Explore 4?

So the big question is—should you upgrade to the new Cricut Explore 4?

I like to look at this machine sort of like you would the next generation of your phone. If you want all the latest and greatest updates (in this case, faster cutting and maybe a different color), then you probably want to get the Cricut Explore 4 or upgrade to the Cricut Maker 4 to be able to use even more tools and materials.

If you are happy with your current machine, you don’t need to upgrade at this time. Like you would with a phone or other device, you sort of know when it’s time to upgrade. And when you do, I definitely recommend one of the two new 4-series machines, depending on your needs.

If this is your *first* Cricut, then I also recommend getting Cricut Explore 4 over Cricut Explore or Cricut Explore 3. It has all of the same features as the other machines, but it’ll be even faster.

I hope you found this post helpful as an overview of the new Cricut Explore 4! If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer them or track down answers if I don’t know myself!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Cricut Explore 4 appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

This post is sponsored by Cricut, but all opinions are my own.

It’s time for another upgrade to the Cricut machines—meet Cricut Maker 4 and Cricut Explore 4! These are the next generation of Cricut machines and in this post, we’ll specifically talk about the features of the new Cricut Maker 4 and how it compares to the other Cricut Maker machines. You can also check out my overview of Cricut Explore 4.

If you have any questions about anything in this post, let me know in the comments!

What is Cricut Maker 4?

Cricut Maker 4 is the newest generation of Cricut cutting machines, which also includes Cricut Explore 4. These machines are a minor upgrade over the 3-series machines that were released in 2021, and have features that make crafting faster and more affordable.

In the Cricut Maker 4 Box

To make getting started with your new Cricut even easier, Cricut has included more in the box than they have in past machines. You’ll get the machine itself, a USB cord, a power cord, a Fine Point Blade and housing (installed in the machine), a welcome book, a small weeding tool, a black pen, a blue cutting mat, and a nice selection of practice materials that can make up to 10 small projects. This means you are buying less alongside your machine, which definitely makes it easier to get started.

Connect the power cord to the back of your machine and plug the other end into an outlet. Click the power button to turn it on. It’ll make some noises—you’re ready to begin!

Setting Up Your Cricut Maker 4

To connect your Cricut Maker 4, sign into Cricut Design Space (create an account if you don’t have one already) and then click on the top left menu and select New Product Setup.

From there, you can select your new machine and follow the on-screen instructions to get it hooked up to your computer. This will change whether or not you want to use the USB cord or Bluetooth, and which type of device you are using (Mac vs. PC; computer vs. a mobile device, etc.).

Once your machine is connected, you’ll have the option to do a test project cutting out a vinyl decal of the Cricut logo. Design Space will walk you through all the steps for setting up this project. If this is your first Cricut, I highly recommend walking through this sample project just to give you an idea of how to make a project using your Cricut.

How is Cricut Maker 4 different than Cricut Maker 3?

This is a small upgrade to the machines, so if you already have Cricut Maker 3, don’t feel like you need to rush out and get Cricut Maker 4 (unless you want to!). All of the blades, tools, mats, and accessories that work in your Cricut Maker and Cricut Maker 3 will work in Cricut Maker 4.

Here’s how the two machines differ from each other.

Speed

The biggest upgrade to the machine is the speed. It’s can cut up to twice as fast as Cricut Maker 3 (and that machine is fast!) and now includes cutting on a mat. This is new compared to Cricut Maker 3, and makes it a great upgrade particularly for paper crafters who must us a mat.

I decided to put this to the test with three projects: cardstock, print then cut, and removable Smart Vinyl. I cut the first on my Maker machines, and the other two on my Explore machines, but your results should be similar no matter which machine you have. Your speed will also depend on the intricacy of your design as well as your material. For example, your machine can’t move as fast cutting a detailed design as it can with a big simple shape. And it can’t foil as fast as it can cut a vinyl because it will tear the foil.

For most of my tests, my new Cricut did have more “thinking” time before it cut, but it still ended up being faster than the 3-series machine. I remember this being the case when I was comparing my 3-series machines to my older machines and over time, they did actually get faster. I think software updates helped.

Cardstock

For the cardstock, my Cricut Maker 3 cut it in 2:24 while my Cricut Maker 4 beat that with 1:43. It did have quite a bit of thinking time before it started to cut, but once it started, my Cricut Maker 4 flew through the processing. This was a somewhat intricate heart design cut at 11″ tall.

Print then Cut

For this test, I had each machine cut out six stickers. Again, there was quite a lot of thinking time before it started to cut, but it still ended up finishing before my Cricut Explore 3.

Smart Vinyl

For this one I used the same intricate heart design, but I cut it at 3″ tall. That means that the Cricut doesn’t have quite as much time moving on the rollers. For this one, the time was nearly identical, with the new machine actually being about a second slower than my Cricut Explore 3, because of that thinking time I mentioned. If it’s the same as the 3-series machines, that lag time will improve over time.

Ease of Use

Cricut also wanted to make it easier for people to get started using their Cricut machines without having to spend even more money on accessories. That’s why this machine includes even more in the box, including more practice materials, a blue cutting mat, a weeding tool, and a pen. You really can get started with your Cricut without having to buy anything else right off the bat. Then, once you’re comfortable, you can grab more materials or Cricut tools to make your crafting even easier.

Here are the materials you’ll get in the box, along with everything else:

• 3 sheets of Smart Vinyl (13″ x 6″)
• 2 sheets of cardstock (11″ x 4.25″)
• 2 pieces of transfer tape (12″ x 6″)
• 1 sheet of Smart Iron-On (13″ x 6″)

These should allow you to make up to 10 projects that are around 4″ x 6″ (think things like mugs, baby bodysuits, labels, cards, etc.).

Cost

Cricut also knows that money is tighter for folks, so they’ve worked to get the retail price point of this machine lower than the price point when Cricut Maker 3 launched. Cricut Maker 4 will come in at $399, whereas Cricut Maker 3 was $429 when launched.

Color

Of course, there are new colors for this machine launch—seashell and sage. Both of my new machines are the seashell color. In the US, Mexico, and Canada, Cricut Maker 4 will be available in seashell (all retailers) and sage (Michaels only, in a bundle). Outside of the US, Mexico, and Canada, Cricut Maker 4 will only be available in sage.

These colors are specifically designed to fit in with home decor, vs. the bright and colorful machines we’ve seen in the past (particularly with Cricut Explore Air 2). The Cricut Maker 4 has a glossy finish with a metallic lid, and the Cricut Explore 4 has a matte finish.

Seashell is a soft neutral color, bordering on rose gold just a bit. The sage is a moody greenish blue color. Both of these machines would look nice sitting on a shelf in a living room or den, not just a colorful craft room.

I only have the seashell, but as you can see here, it’s a pretty neutral pinkish color.

Plug

This is a small detail, but I appreciate it. The plug for the new machines has the cord at a 90° angle. This means you need less space behind the machine while storing it with it plugged in, and because it’s a circle, you can aim that cord in either direction depending on your needs.

I want every single crafting machine I have to have a plug that does this right angle, please.

These are the differences between Cricut Maker 4 and Cricut Maker 3. If you want to see how these compare to the original Cricut Maker, check out my post Cricut Maker vs. Cricut Maker 3: Which is Best for You? This post will walk you through the differences in the anatomy of the machine as well as using Cricut Smart Materials without a mat.

Cricut Maker 4 Essentials Bundle

I mentioned above that the sage color is only available in the US as a part of a bundle at Michaels. This is a great deal to get even more materials and tools to start with. In addition to everything that comes in the box above, you’ll also get:

• 6 sheets of Smart Vinyl (13″ x 12″)
• 6 sheets of cardstock (12″ x 12″)
• 5 sheets of transfer tape (12″ x 6″)
• 6 sheets of Smart Iron On (13″ x 12″)

You’ll also get a set of tools that includes a weeder, scraper, spatula, and scoring stylus, as well as a StandardGrip mat and two fine-point pens. This bundle will retail at $449.99.

Is Cricut Getting Rid of the Cricut Maker or Cricut Maker 3?

In the past few years, Cricut has slowed down sales of the original Cricut Maker, though you can still buy refurbished machines on their site. They have no plans to stop selling Cricut Maker 3 at this time, though you might expect to see Cricut Maker 4 on store shelves moving forward.

BUT don’t worry—support for Cricut Maker and Cricut Maker 3 isn’t going anywhere. Because these new machines are within the same “ecosystem” as the original machines (meaning they use the same mats, blades, tools, and accessories), support for these machines will still be readily available.

Should I Upgrade to the Cricut Maker 4?

So the big question is—should you upgrade to the new Cricut Maker 4?

I like to look at this machine sort of like you would the next generation of your phone. If you want all the latest and greatest updates (in this case, faster cutting and maybe a different color), then you probably want to get the Cricut Maker 4.

If you are happy with your current machine, you don’t need to upgrade at this time. Like you would with a phone or other device, you sort of know when it’s time to upgrade. And when you do, I definitely recommend one of the two new 4-series machines, depending on your needs.

If this is your *first* Cricut, then I also recommend getting Cricut Maker 4 over Cricut Maker or Cricut Maker 3. It has all of the same features as the other machines, but it’ll be even faster.

I hope you found this post helpful as an overview of the new Cricut Maker 4! If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to answer them or track down answers if I don’t know myself!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Cricut Maker 4 appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

Ready to make some fun and trendy stickers for your water bottle or laptop that are actually waterproof? Today we’re looking at Cricut’s Printable Waterproof Sticker Set! This set includes two parts—a printable sheet of sticker vinyl as well as a waterproof vinyl coating. This new set is very easy to use with a Cricut machine that has Print then Cut, including the Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker machines, as well as the Cricut Joy Xtra.

These stickers are great for projects where there might be water involved—water bottles, ice chests, car windows, etc.

The Cricut Printable Waterproof Sticker Set comes in a few varieties. I have several but today I’m using the holographic white because I love how it sparkles!

• White
• Transparent
• Holographic White
• Holographic Transparent

Supplies Needed

Get everything you need to make these waterproof stickers in my Amazon shop!

• Cricut machine with Print then Cut capabilities (I am using my Cricut Joy Xtra)
• Blue cutting mat
• Printer
• Cricut Printable Waterproof Sticker Set
• Vinyl squeegee with felt edge
• Or Cricut scraper and a piece of cotton or felt

Making Waterproof Stickers with a Cricut

Setting up the File in Cricut Design Space

Let’s start with setting up the file in Cricut Design Space. I have uploaded all four PNG files I have for you in this post and I changed the size to be closer to 3″ for all of them.

To easily turn these into stickers, use the Create Sticker tool! I wrote all about it in my post Using the Cricut Create Sticker Tool in Cricut Design Space. For these, I used the Die Cut option with a standard border, but there are other options to explore here!

I used the same option for all four of my stickers.

Then I clicked Make it! On the Prepare screen, you’ll see that Design Space has used two sheets for my stickers. But I can save space!

I used the move and rotate tools (you can learn more in my post How to Fit More on a Cricut Mat and Save Material!). I ended up hiding one of the mushrooms because I couldn’t fit it and I only wanted a single sheet of stickers.

Printing Your Stickers

Before we print, take a look at the two parts of the Cricut Printable Waterproof Sticker Set. There are two different sheets. The one on the left is the printable vinyl and has the green Cricut grid on the back. The other one is the vinyl sheet that makes the stickers waterproof.

Then click Continue and you’ll be prompted to print your image. Insert a sheet of the printable vinyl (with the green background) into your printer. I keep the Bleed checked and the Use System Dialog checked.

This will open up the System Dialog Box. On my Mac, I can change the Quality to Best. If you have a PC, you can change the quality to high in your printer settings.

Then click Print and your image will print on the printable vinyl!

How to Apply the Waterproof Vinyl

Now we need to apply the vinyl on top of the printed sheet—this is what will make our stickers waterproof.

At the top of the waterproof vinyl, there is a strip. Peel off the strip.

The area where you removed the strip will be sticky. Carefully line it up with the edge of your printed sheet. Press down to adhere.

Then flip the vinyl up and start to peel the backing away from the rest of the sheet. As you do this, use the squeegee to press the vinyl into the printed sheet.

Then use the squeegee to fully press the waterproof vinyl onto the printed sheet.

Cut the Stickers on the Cricut

Now we can cut our stickers!

Back in Cricut Design Space, choose your material. All of the Printable Waterproof Sticker Set options I mentioned at the beginning of this post are available as options.

Place your printed sheet on a Cricut cutting mat.

Insert your mat into the machine and your Cricut will cut your project!

Because I chose die cut stickers in Design Space, my stickers cut all the way through my backing material. If you choose kiss cut stickers, then your stickers will just cut through the top layer, leaving the backing material in tact.

I really love the holographic look of these stickers! They shimmer and shine in a way that’s difficult to capture in a photograph. They really are so fun!

If you are struggling with your cutouts being accurate, make sure you calibrate your Print then Cut!

Are you ready to make some stickers of your own? I hope you found this tutorial for how to make waterproof stickers with a Cricut helpful! You can use any images you’d like—grab them from the Cricut Image Library or upload your own! Let me know how it goes for you, down in the comments!

Print

HOW TO MAKE WATERPROOF STICKERS WITH A CRICUT

Decorate your water bottle or laptop with cute custom stickers! Here's how to make waterproof stickers with a Cricut, including my favorite materials and tips and tricks to get Print then Cut right!

Author Cori George

Equipment

• Cricut machine with Print then Cut capabilities
• Blue cutting mat
• Printer
• Vinyl squeegee with felt edge Or
• Cricut scraper and a piece of cotton or felt

Ingredients

• Cricut Printable Waterproof Sticker Set
• Free Printable Sticker Bundle #C482

Instructions

• The Cricut Printable Waterproof Sticker Set comes in a few varieties. For the purpose of this tutorial the holographic white is being used. The varieties are:

  White – Transparent – Holographic White – Holographic Transparent
  
• Setting up the File in Cricut Design Space

  Set up the file in Cricut Design Space. In this tutorial all four PNG files were changed in size to be closer to 3".
  
• To easily turn these into stickers, use the Create Sticker tool! Find out more in this post Using the Cricut Create Sticker Tool in Cricut Design Space. For this project the Die Cut option with a standard border was used, but there are other options to explore here!
  
• The same option was used for all four of these stickers.
  
• Click on Make it! On the Prepare screen, you'll see that Design Space has used two sheets for these stickers. But you can save space!
  
• Use the move and rotate tools (you can learn more in this post How to Fit More on a Cricut Mat and Save Material!). One of the mushrooms ended up being hidden because it couldn't fit and only a single sheet of stickers was used for this project.
  
• Printing Your Stickers

  Before printing, take a look at the two parts of the Cricut Printable Waterproof Sticker Set. There are two different sheets. The one on the left is the printable vinyl and has the green Cricut grid on the back. The other one is the vinyl sheet that makes the stickers waterproof.
  
• Then click Continue and you'll be prompted to print your image. Insert a sheet of the printable vinyl (with the green background) into your printer. Keep the Bleed checked and the Use System Dialog checked.
  
• This will open up the System Dialog Box. On a Mac, change the Quality to Best. If you have a PC, change the quality to high in your printer settings.

  Then click Print and your image will print on the printable vinyl!
  
• How to Apply the Waterproof Vinyl

  Now you need to apply the vinyl on top of the printed sheet—this is what will make the stickers waterproof.

  At the top of the waterproof vinyl, there is a strip. Peel off the strip.
  
• The area where you removed the strip will be sticky. Carefully line it up with the edge of your printed sheet. Press down to adhere.
  
• Then flip the vinyl up and start to peel the backing away from the rest of the sheet. As you do this, use the squeegee to press the vinyl into the printed sheet.
  
• Then use the squeegee to fully press the waterproof vinyl onto the printed sheet.
  
• Cut the Stickers on the Cricut

  Now cut the stickers!

  Back in Cricut Design Space, choose your material. All of the Printable Waterproof Sticker Set options mentioned at the beginning of this post are available as options.
  
• Place your printed sheet on a Cricut cutting mat.
  
• Insert your mat into the machine and your Cricut will cut your project!
  
• In this project, because die cut stickers was chosen in Design Space, the stickers cut all the way through the backing material. If you choose kiss cut stickers, then your stickers will just cut through the top layer, leaving the backing material in tact.
  
• Love the holographic look of these stickers! They shimmer and shine in a way that's difficult to capture in a photograph. They really are so fun!

  If you are struggling with your cutouts being accurate, make sure you calibrate your Print then Cut!
  

The post How to Make Waterproof Stickers with a Cricut appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

If you’ve been down the Booktok / Bookstagram rabbit hole lately, you’ve probably seen sprayed book edges adorning bookshelves everywhere. Many of the more popular fantasy novels (looking at you, Fourth Wing and Iron Flame) have special editions with sprayed edges that people (including me!) are going crazy for.

There are edges that are simply one sprayed color or a mix of colors (most using airbrushing). And then there are more complex images that people have painted by hand or created with stencils—which is what we’re going to tackle in today’s post! You can also use this post to simply spray your edges without a stencil—just skip down to that part of the tutorial.

I grabbed my set of ACOTAR (A Court of Thorn and Roses and the subsequent books in the series) and decided to give it a try! I have a free download for this set of books below so you can make this exact project. If you have other books you’d like to see stencils for, let me know and I may add them to my shop!

Spraying book edges is definitely an intermediate project. If you’re brand new to the Cricut, this probably shouldn’t be your first project. You want to be very comfortable with using vinyl and transfer tape, as well as using spray paint, before you begin.

Even I’ll admit it was a bit nerve-wracking. These hardback books aren’t cheap! However, the results were pretty amazing and since I’ve done all five books, I’ve found the process and materials that seem to work the best.

Watch the Video

Because this is a pretty complex project, check out my full video by clicking play below! Or read on to get the full written tutorial.

What Kind of Vinyl to Use

I tested both removable and permanent vinyl for my stencil. The permanent vinyl was much harder to remove from the painted book pages. The removable vinyl peeled up easily and still had nice, crisp edges.

So I highly recommend a removable vinyl like Oracal 631 to create the stencil for your sprayed book edges.

What Supplies Do I Need to Spray Book Edges

Get everything you need to spray your book edges in my Amazon Store!

Here are the supplies I used to spray the edges of my books.

• Cricut or other electronic cutting machine
• Removable adhesive vinyl*
• Green StandardGrip mat
• Weeding hook
• Transfer tape
• Scraper
• Montana Gold Spray Paint*
  • Red: S3000 Shock Red
  • Teal: G6130 Malachite
  • Pink:
  • Blue:
  • Orange: CL2130 Shrimp Dark
• Clamps*
• Wooden blocks
• Brown paper wrapping*
• Scissors
• Painter’s tape*

* Material Notes

• Removable vinyl worked better for me than permanent. It was much easier to remove.
• Choose a satin or matte spray paint, not a glossy spray paint.
• I used quick-release clamps but you can use c-clamps as well.
• For the recycled paper you can use paper bags, but I found that the brown paper wrapping that comes inside Amazon boxes worked really well and is more flexible than paper bags.
• I used regular masking tape in my photos below, but found it actually pulled up at the inside of the covers so I used painter’s tape for the other books and it worked better.

Prep a Book for Sprayed Edges

For this project, I am spraying the edges of A Court of Mist and Fury (the second book in the A Court of Thorn and Roses series by Sarah J. Mass—I did the first book in my video above!). I chose to do the hardback editions because they are sturdier and I thought I could get the cleanest results. I have seen people do paperbacks as well, but the covers tend to ripple a bit.

Select your spray paint colors. I recommend using a satin/matte spray paint versus a glossy one—I think the ingredients in a gloss spray paint may cause the pages to stick more. Montana Gold spray paint is my favorite and it’s satin and it comes in a ton of colors so no matter what book you are spraying, there will be a color that works.

Remove the book jacket so you have only the hardback book.

Then use your recycled paper to cover the entire book. Be sure to cover and tape the front, back, and spine of the book very tightly. You don’t want paint to seep into any crevices and get on your book! I used recycled brown paper packing sheets and painter’s tape in order to do this. Do you remember covering textbooks in school? That’s sort of what this felt like!

Now, you’ll need to create a book press. I used 4″ ratcheting quick-release clamps and two pieces of scrap wood. I suggest wood rather than cardboard because it helps compress the entire book, plus it really protects your book from clamp marks. I’ve seen other people use cardboard, but I found the clamping is more successful with wood.

At first I wanted to wrap my clamps in plastic so they wouldn’t get any spray paint on them, but I got over that pretty quick. They just get a bit of overspray but as long as you’re not spraying a ton of paint into the ratcheting mechanism, I think you’re fine without covering the clamps.

Make sure to tighten your clamps as tight as you can get them. You want the book pressed together tightly and evenly so no paint leaks through the pages.

Once your book is fully clamped together, measure the length and width of your book pages. If you decide to also do a book from the ACOTAR series and use my SVG, I have created the cut file to be the correct size of the book. If you are adding your own design, be sure it is the correct size. I made my designs slightly smaller than the length and width of the pages so nothing gets cut off in the painting process.

How to Cut Your Vinyl Stencil

Let’s make the stencil you’ll use for your book! Start by opening Cricut Design Space. For this project, I’m using my ACOTAR-themed file.

To begin, create a new project in Cricut Design Space. Then click Upload in the Design Panel on the left.

You’ll be taken to the upload screen where you can navigate to the file you want to upload. If you need more help with SVG files, see my post How to Upload an SVG to Cricut Design Space.

Insert your file onto your canvas.

Hide any stencils you are not using. If you’re using my file for your ACOTAR hardcover books, there is no need to resize.

You’re ready to cut your image! Click Make It in the upper right. In the Load Mat screen, choose On Mat (unless you are using removable Smart Vinyl, then choose Without Mat). Click Confirm.

Then you’ll be taken taken to the Prepare Screen. I rotated my stencil so it cut at the top of my mat.

Once your mat looks good, click Continue. Then in the Make Screen, choose your material. In this case, I chose removable vinyl.

Insert your mat into your machine and your Cricut will cut your project!

Once your vinyl is cut, use your weeding hook to remove the excess vinyl.

Place your transfer tape on top of the vinyl. Use your scraping tool to burnish the vinyl onto the transfer tape.

Peel back the transfer tape to lift your vinyl design.

Now you’re ready to start the process of painting your book pages!

How to Spray the Edges of a Book

Now you can apply your stencil to your book pages. Carefully place the transfer tape with the design along the page edges of your book.

Use a scraping tool to press the design to the pages. You want it pressed down really well!

Now, peel back the transfer tape. The vinyl left on the book will be your stencil. I was worried it wouldn’t stick, but overall I had pretty good luck. If any of the pieces pull up, carefully place them with tweezers and make sure they are pressed into the pages well.

Be sure you’re in a well-ventilated area to spray paint. Begin with very light, even coats of spray paint. I like to spray about 6 inches away from the book and make fairly quick back and forth motions. Do this 5-6 times until you feel there’s a nice, even coat. You do NOT want to soak the pages—use more light coats vs. fewer heavy coats.

Also rotate the book and spray the top and bottom edges as well (some people stencil these too, which is an option!).

Let this first coat dry for 25-30 minutes. Take a peek at your pages and determine if you need another coat. I added a second coat for a deeper color and to be sure I got in all the crevices of the book edge. Again, use a very light hand and don’t oversaturate!

Let this second coat dry for at least 4-5 hours. You should have really nice coverage on the book edges.

Once you’re sure the paint is dry, use your weeding tool and tweezers to remove the vinyl from your pages. I did this with all five books and every time I was like oh my goodness, this is GORGEOUS! You really do get a nice crisp edge when you have your book properly clamped.

Do not fan the pages for at least 24 hours. If you separate the pages or fan them, you run the risk of the paint flaking off and looking uneven. You may have some pages that are a bit stuck together, but take care to peel them apart and your book should look just as good as it did when you first spray painted it!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial to spray book edges! Let me know if you try it out!

Print

SPRAYING BOOK EDGES USING A STENCIL

Create a custom look for any books using spray paint and a stencil! These detailed instructions will walk you through all the tips and tricks to spray book edges perfectly so you can customize your bookshelf!

Keyword Books, Stencil

Author Cori George

Equipment

• Cricut or other electronic cutting machine

Ingredients

• Removable adhesive vinyl*
• Green StandardGrip mat
• Weeding hook
• Transfer tape
• Scraper
• Montana Gold Spray Paint* Red: S3000 Shock Red – Teal: G6130 Malachite – Pink: – Blue: – Orange: CL2130 Shrimp Dark
• Clamps*
• Wooden blocks
• Brown paper wrapping*
• Scissors
• Painter's tape*
• Free ACOTAR Stencil SVG #C481

Instructions

• * Material Notes

  *Removable vinyl worked better for than permanent and it was much easier to remove.

  *Choose a satin or matte spray paint, not a glossy spray paint.

  *Used quick-release clamps but you can use c-clamps as well.

  *For the recycled paper you can use paper bags, but the brown paper wrapping that comes inside Amazon boxes worked really well and is more flexible than paper bags.

  *Can use regular masking tape but it actually pulls up at the inside of the covers, so recommend painter's tape as it works better.

  Prep a Book for Sprayed Edges

  Choose hardback editions because they are sturdier and get the cleanest results. Some people do paperbacks as well, but the covers tend to ripple a bit.

  Select your spray paint colors. Recommend using a satin/matte spray paint versus a glossy one, as the ingredients in a gloss spray paint may cause the pages to stick more. Montana Gold spray paint a favorite and it's satin and it comes in a ton of colors so no matter what book you are spraying, there will be a color that works.
• Remove the book jacket so you have only the hardback book
  
• Then use your recycled paper to cover the entire book. Be sure to cover and tape the front, back, and spine of the book very tightly. You don't want paint to seep into any crevices and get on your book! Recommend using recycled brown paper packing sheets and painter's tape in order to do this.
  
• Now, you'll need to create a book press. 4" ratcheting quick-release clamps and two pieces of scrap wood were used to do this. Wood is suggested rather than cardboard because it helps compress the entire book, plus it really protects your book from clamp marks. Other people use cardboard, but the clamping is more successful with wood.
  
• You might want to wrap the clamps in plastic so they won't get any spray paint on them, but it was not done for this project. They get a bit of overspray but as long as you're not spraying a ton of paint into the ratcheting mechanism, you're fine without covering the clamps.

  Make sure to tighten your clamps as tight as you can get them. You want the book pressed together tightly and evenly so no paint leaks through the pages.

  Once your book is fully clamped together, measure the length and width of your book pages. If you decide to also do a book from the ACOTAR series that was used for this project and use the free SVG, the cut file is the correct size of that book series. If you are adding your own design, be sure it is the correct size. The free designs are slightly smaller than the length and width of the pages so nothing gets cut off in the painting process.
• How to Cut Your Vinyl Stencil

  Let’s make the stencil you'll use for your book! Start by opening Cricut Design Space. For this project, the ACOTAR-themed file was used.

  To begin, create a new project in Cricut Design Space. Then click Upload in the Design Panel on the left.

  You’ll be taken to the upload screen where you can navigate to the file you want to upload. If you need more help with SVG files, see this post How to Upload an SVG to Cricut Design Space.

  Insert your file onto your canvas.
  
• Hide any stencils you are not using. If you're using the free file for your ACOTAR hardcover books, there is no need to resize.
  
• You're ready to cut your image! Click Make It in the upper right. In the Load Mat screen, choose On Mat (unless you are using removable Smart Vinyl, then choose Without Mat). Click Confirm.
  
• Then you'll be taken taken to the Prepare Screen. Rotate the stencil so it cuts at the top of the mat.
  
• Once your mat looks good, click Continue. Then in the Make Screen, choose your material. In this case, I chose removable vinyl.
  
• Insert your mat into your machine and your Cricut will cut your project!
  
• Once your vinyl is cut, use your weeding hook to remove the excess vinyl.
  
• Place your transfer tape on top of the vinyl. Use your scraping tool to burnish the vinyl onto the transfer tape.
  
• Peel back the transfer tape to lift your vinyl design.

  Now you're ready to start the process of painting your book pages!
  
• How to Spray the Edges of a Book

  Now apply your stencil to your book pages. Carefully place the transfer tape with the design along the page edges of your book.
  
• Use a scraping tool to press the design to the pages. You want it pressed down really well!
  
• Now, peel back the transfer tape. The vinyl left on the book will be your stencil. If any of the pieces pull up, carefully place them with tweezers and make sure they are pressed into the pages well.
  
• Be sure you're in a well-ventilated area to spray paint. Begin with very light, even coats of spray paint. Spray about 6 inches away from the book and make fairly quick back and forth motions. Do this 5-6 times until you feel there's a nice, even coat. You do NOT want to soak the pages—use more light coats vs. fewer heavy coats.

  Also rotate the book and spray the top and bottom edges as well (some people stencil these too, which is an option!).
  
• Let this first coat dry for 25-30 minutes. Take a peek at your pages and determine if you need another coat. I added a second coat for a deeper color and to be sure I got in all the crevices of the book edge. Again, use a very light hand and don't oversaturate!

  Let this second coat dry for at least 4-5 hours. You should have really nice coverage on the book edges.
  
• Once you're sure the paint is dry, use your weeding tool and tweezers to remove the vinyl from your pages. You really do get a nice crisp edge when you have your book properly clamped.
  
• Do not fan the pages for at least 24 hours. If you separate the pages or fan them, you run the risk of the paint flaking off and looking uneven. You may have some pages that are a bit stuck together, but take care to peel them apart and your book should look just as good as it did when you first spray painted it!

  GORGEOUS!
  

Notes

Spraying book edges is definitely an intermediate project. If you’re brand new to the Cricut, this probably shouldn’t be your first project. You want to be very comfortable with using vinyl and transfer tape, as well as using spray paint, before you begin.

The post How to Spray Book Edges Using a Stencil appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

Unless it’s a taco shirt for myself or Valentine’s Day pajamas for my kids, I’m not one to go all out getting dressed for Valentine’s Day. Red is definitely not my color, and I have one pink shirt in my entire wardrobe. But I had such fun making faux leather earrings for Halloween, fall, and Christmas that I thought I’d whip up a cute pair of suede heart earrings for Valentine’s Day! Of course I had to use this trendy tear drop shape.

These DIY valentine earrings come together in less than 10 minutes, making them a super simple Valentine’s Day jewelry project. Make a pair for yourself, sell them at a craft fair, or whip out a whole bunch and gift them to your girlfriends at a Galentine’s Day party. I love easy projects!

I love working with Cricut’s faux suede to make jewelry—it doesn’t weigh anything and it cuts beautifully. I suggest using Cricut’s Strong Grip mat when cutting faux suede so that it won’t shift while the machine cuts. Cricut’s faux leather is also a beautiful and lightweight choice! Their genuine leather also works well, though it weighs a bit more.

Want more options for Valentine’s Day earrings? I’ve made a list at the bottom of this post!

Watch the Video

Want a video on how to make these easy DIY earrings? Just click play below! Or keep reading for a written tutorial.

DIY Valentine Earrings Supplies

Get everything you need to make this project in my Amazon Shop!

• Cricut or other cutting machine
• Purple StrongGrip mat
• Cricut Faux Suede in red
• Fishhook Earring Hooks
• Poker (you can use many things for this, such as a needle or pushpin)
• Needle-nose pliers
• SVG cut file (see below)

DIY Valentine Earrings Instructions

Making these earrings is such an easy craft using your Cricut! You can use any Cricut machine to make this project: Cricut Joy, Cricut Joy Xtra, Cricut Explore machines, Cricut Maker machines, and even Cricut Venture. You just need the fine point blade—no fancy tools or accessories!

Set up the file in Cricut Design Space

Open Cricut Design Space and upload the SVG file to Cricut Design Space or your cutting software if you are using a different type of cutting machine. I made these about 2.5″ tall, but you can change the earring size to make them smaller or larger if you prefer.

Click Make in the upper right. You’ll be asked how you want to load your project. Choose “On Mat.”

For your material cut setting, you will most likely need to click Browse All Materials and search for Faux Suede. I choose the Cricut brand as my material.

Cutting the Valentine Earrings

Place your leather with the colored-side up on the top of the mat. If you’re having trouble getting the faux leather to stick, user a brayer.

Place your Cricut mat into your Cricut machine and press the blinking button to cut your project! I don’t find that the star wheels imprint faux leather that much, but if you’d like you can push the star wheels (the white wheels on the crossbar) over to the right so you aren’t imprinting your leather.

Carefully peel back the leather from the mat, making sure to be extra cautious with the earrings themselves since they have delicate pieces. You could even save the little heart from the middle of the each earring and use them for other projects!

Assembling Your Valentine’s Day Earrings

Next you’ll need some sort of poking tool. A needle or a pin work well. I have a Cricut poking tool, so I used that. Using your poker, make a small hole at the top of the teardrop shape. It should be about 1/16″ from the top.

Use your needle-nose pliers to work open the ring at the bottom of the fishhook earring.

Slide the teardrop onto the earring using the hole you just poked, and clamp the ring back in place. If you are a jewellery maker and prefer to use a small jump ring between the earring and the earring hook, you can do that as well. Small jump rings can make the earring more “dangly” if you prefer.

They are ready to wear! I spent less than ten minutes designing, cutting, and assembling these earrings. And since I did the design work for you, you just have to cut, make, and wear!

Super easy! Hope you’ve enjoyed this easy Valentine’s day craft!

Print

HEART EARRINGS

Use your Cricut to make these trendy DIY valentine earrings in less than 10 minutes!

Keyword Cricut, Earrings, Faux Suede, Jewelry

Author Cori George

Equipment

• Cricut Machine
• Cricut StrongGrip Mat
• Needle nose pliers
• Poking tool

Ingredients

• 1 sheet Cricut faux suede
• 1 pair Fish hook earring findings

Instructions

• Set up the file in Cricut Design Space
  
• Cut the earrings on your Cricut machine.
  
• Poke a hole at the top of the earring.
  
• Add your fish hook earring finding to the earring.
  

SaveSave

The post Easy DIY Valentine Earrings with a Cricut appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.

Something you might not know about me is that I am a mom of twins! My boys are now eight, and it’s been a wild ride being a twin parent so far. When I first found out I was having twins, I truly couldn’t believe it. Twins don’t run in our family, we hadn’t done any fertility treatments (in fact, it took less than a month to get pregnant!) and I was sort of barely ready to be a mom. But instead of easing into parenthood, we were thrown full force into twin parenting!

Today I’m making a set of twin shirts for my boys! They actually love matching, so I’ve had fun over the years making shirts for them. I’ll be using my Cricut Maker 3 but you can use whatever cutting machine you have.

You can also read their birth story (let me just say it did NOT go as I planned), as well as how we found out our boys were not fraternal (like the doctor’s told us), but identical! Though looking back at photos, it’s hard for me to see how we missed that they were identical, ha!

GOODNESS they were cute. They still are at eight, too!

Watch the Video

Want to watch craft and talk all about our twin birth story and life as a twin mom? Check out my video!

BELLA+CANVAS Tees for Kids

Spoiler alert! My boys were born early, as are most twins. They were born at 32 weeks, which is early, but not like super scary early. But, as we learned, babies who are born early are more likely to end up with sensory issues.

If you’re the parent or caretaker of a kid with sensory issues, then you know that fabrics can be a huge trigger. My boys are particularly sensitive to anything that’s stiff or scratchy. Which is why I am really particular when I shop for them from retail stores and when I make shirts for them using one of my crafting machines.

Which is why I’ve moved to using only BELLA+CANVAS tees when I make shirts for my boys. In particular, the boys rave about their soft tri-blend tees. I love that not only are the soft, but they also have eco-friendly processes, like nearly 100% scrap recycling, environmentally friendly dyeing processes, and more. Makes me feel really great about buying them for my whole family.

Did you know you can buy BELLA+CANVAS garments at wholesale pricing without a reseller license? Get a BELLA+CANVAS Maker’s Account! This account allows you access to the wholesale side of their business without the need for any permits or licenses. Even better? It’s free! Learn more in my post Buying Wholesale Blanks without a Resale License!

For this project, I’m using two medium black heather tri-blend tees!

Supplies to Make these Twin Shirts

Get everything you need to make this project from my Amazon shop!

• BELLA+CANVAS Kids Tees
• Cricut or other cutting machine
• Green StandardGrip mat
• White HTV
• Weeding hook
• Lint roller
• Cricut EasyPress or other heat press

How to Make Twin Shirts

Instructions

Let’s make our tees! I’m using the simple single-color SVGs for these shirts, but if you wanted to layer your HTV, you could do that as well.

Start by uploading your SVG to Cricut Design Space. Resize your file to fit your tees. I made my taller file (the fries) 8″ tall and that made the hamburger a little over 6″ tall. I also made my image white to match my HTV.

I also chose to Combine the food and the word below it so it would cut as a single piece. I left the two separate in the file so you could swap out with different fonts if you prefer.

Use your weeding hook to remove all of the excess material from your HTV.

Lint roll your shirt to clean it and prepare it for pressing. Place your EasyPress mat on your table and put your shirt on top. Set your EasyPress to 315°. When it comes to temperature, pre-press your shirt for 15 seconds to remove any moisture.

Add your HTV to the shirt.

Press your HTV for 20 seconds. The image was large enough that I had to press it twice.

When it’s cool to the touch, peel back the carrier sheet.

If you’re having issues with the HTV sticking, see my post Tips to Get HTV to Stick and Last Longer.

Make your other shirt in the same way and then you’re done!

Print

HOW TO MAKE TWIN SHIRTS

Got a set of twins (or siblings or besties) in your life? Grab the free Better Together SVG and make some BELLA+CANVAS twin shirts using your Cricut machine!

Keyword Shirts, Twins

Author Cori George

Equipment

• Cricut or other cutting machine
• Green StandardGrip Mat
• Weeding Hook
• Lint roller
• Cricut EasyPress or other
• Heat press

Ingredients

• BELLA+CANVAS Kids Tees
• White HTV
• Free Twin SVG Bundle #C477

Instructions

• Start by uploading your SVG to Cricut Design Space. Resize your file to fit your tees. For this project the taller file (the fries) was made 8" tall and that made the hamburger a little over 6" tall. You can also make the images the color of choice to match the HTV you are using. In this project the color was changed to white.
  
• For this project, Combine was chosen for the food and the word below it so it would cut as a single piece. The two are left separate in the file so you can swap out with different fonts if you prefer.
  
• Use your weeding hook to remove all of the excess material from your HTV.
  
• Lint roll your shirt to clean it and prepare it for pressing. Place your EasyPress mat on your table and put your shirt on top. Set your EasyPress to 315°. When it comes to temperature, pre-press your shirt for 15 seconds to remove any moisture.
  
• Add your HTV to the shirt.
  
• Press your HTV for 20 seconds. The image was large enough that I had to press it twice.
  
• When it's cool to the touch, peel back the carrier sheet.
  
• If you're having issues with the HTV sticking, see my post Tips to Get HTV to Stick and Last Longer.

  Make your other shirt in the same way and then you're done!
  

The post Easy Twin Shirts with a Cricut: Twin Day, Siblings, Best Friends and More! appeared first on Hey, Let's Make Stuff.