Fields Of Heather: Cricut Print Then Cut

Showing posts with label Cricut Print Then Cut. Show all posts

Making Perforated Tickets With Cricut

My husband needed 70 tickets for a banquet the Masons are hosting.

There are two dinner options, and they need to know how many of each dinner is needed.. so the ideal ticket has the information on one side, to be kept by the purchaser, and a tear of section for the name and meal choice.

For just 70 tickets, this was easy to do with cricut. For larger numbers.. I think I'd have called our local printer and placed an order. Doing it myself was MUCH much cheaper. :-) Here's how I did it:

The New Print Then Cut Options Are Here!

Only on the desktop version - not yet available on mobile.

Must be using the Beta Design Space [Instructions Below]

Click on the Red Error Message in the layers panel, that's where you will find the new options to choose a larger size.

Making A Card With Print Then Cut Elements

If you do not own a printer, you can choose to "print to pdf" and print the pdf at your local library, or office supply store. THEORETICALLY.

Cricut says absolutely not. And in the past year in particular, print then cut has been so finnicky, and often requires a calibration, so this may no longer work. But it may still be possible. No guarantee - especially since so much changes every week with Design Space.

After your project is printed, bring it back to your Cricut machine, open Design Space, Click "Make It" and then on the far right choose "I've already printed".

The first step in a print then cut project will be to "Send To Printer"

A printer dialog box will then pop up, asking which printer you would like to use. The above screenshot is on a Windows Computer, it may look a little different on Mac, but Mac does have a Print to PDF option as well.

Remember that your project will print with a black box around it. These are the registration marks cricut needs to know exactly where to cut. You cannot just print any item with a black box around it - your project MUST come out of the Design Space App, so the app can tell the machine exactly where to cut.

The most common mistake with print then cut is not flattening to a shape. Before you send your project to print, look at your layers panel and make sure you only see the items you want cut out individually.

If you see letter in the layers panel, Cricut will cut out each letter of that text individually. Flatten it to a shape if you only want the outline to cut.

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Find an index of all my cricut quick tip cards here:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/01/quick-tip-cards-for-cricut-newbies.html

Eight Projects For Tattoo Transfer (or Waterslide ) Paper

Projects Using Temporary Tattoo, Or Waterslide, Paper

While working on a list of ideas for stocking stuffers to make with cricut, I came across Temporary Tattoos you can make yourself, using print then cut and temporary tattoo paper. And then I found a tutorial on transferring photos to wood, using the same paper. From there, I found you could also use it for nail tattoos, on foam pumpkins, on Easter Eggs and more! Here are six projects using temporary tattoo paper.

Note - I see some tattoo paper described as Waterslide Paper. I'm not certain what the difference is, if any, between waterslide and tattoo paper. When my tattoo paper gets here later this week, I will compare the two! The waterslide paper I purchased was cheaper - at 20 sheets for $15. It can be used for all of the projects below - except possibly as a temporary tattoo, I'm not certain about that yet. I'm looking into it!

Quick Links:

On Foam Pumpkins

https://www.itsalwaysautumn.com/make-a-pretty-floral-pumpkin-with-tattoo-paper.html

Find the tattoo paper on Amazon here - 10 sheets for $20

https://amzn.to/378M80z

Navage Patch did these, on Dollar Store Pumpkins

https://www.thenavagepatch.com/diy-halloween-candles/

They also work on Easter eggs!

https://www.houseofhawthornes.com/diy-easter-egg-temporary-tattoos-vintage-style/

For Nail Decals

Nail Decals

This looks so much easier than applying vinyl to nails!

http://www.findingtimetocreate.com/2013/12/uses-for-silhouette-tattoo-paper/

On Candles

Candles

https://www.thenavagepatch.com/diy-halloween-candles/

Another Candle:

http://www.findingtimetocreate.com/2013/12/holiday-candle/

Here's another tutorial, with Christmas Images

https://libbyashcraft.com/decorate-with-temporary-tattoo-paper/

Temporary Tattoos - A Stocking Stuffer Idea!

https://www.100directions.com/diy-halloween-temporary-tattoos/

100Directions made Halloween Tattoos. She used Cricut Access Images, which you can rent from Cricut by paying a monthly fee - but I have a list of free svgs for Halloween here if you prefer not to do that.

Find An Index Free Halloween SVGS Here

Free Sugar Skull SVGS Here

And an Index Of Other Free SVGS By Theme Here

There's a free seed packet svg here:

http://svgcuttingfiles.com/catalog.php?item=580

For a stocking stuffer idea - make your tattoos, then package them in the seed packet envelope, with a custom label.

Primitive Mountain also has a tutorial for making Temporary Tattoos
https://primitivemountainquiltsandcrafts.com/diy-temporary-tattoos-with-cricut/
She used the silhouette brand tattoo paper, but that's a lot more expensive than the Sunnyscopa Brand.

On Giftbags

Create your own floral monograms to apply to gift bags

http://maritzalisa.com/floral-monograms-tattoo-paper/

Wood Transfers

Wood Slice Photo Christmas Ornaments

https://www.silhouetteschoolblog.com/2017/08/transfer-photos-to-wood-silhouette-cameo.html

Another wood slice transfer. These are so vivid and gorgeous!

http://parentalperspective.com/diy-wood-slice-photo-transfer/

She used the silhouette brand tattoo paper, but that's a lot more expensive than the Sunnyscopa Brand. The cheapest option is still Waterslide Paper on Amazon - 20 sheets for $15 I have not done a comparison to know which works best - but from what I have seen, they should all have very similar results.

On Christmas Ornaments

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/347340190005830852/

Another example, with a tutorial

https://diycandy.com/temporary-tattoo-diy-christmas-ornaments/

On Mugs

This mug uses a combination of alcohol inks and tattoo paper

https://www.doityourfreakingself.com/diy-star-wars-mug/

On Coasters

https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/silhouette-school-11597359/make-photo-coasters-with-silhouette-temporary-5612893767

She used the silhouette brand tattoo paper, but that's a lot more expensive than the Sunnyscopa Brand. The cheapest option is still Waterslide Paper on Amazon - 20 sheets for $15

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Find More Cricut Project Tutorials Here:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/04/cricut-step-by-step-project-tutorials.html

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Quick Tip - What To Try When Cricut Can't Read The Registration Marks

What To Try When Cricut Can't Read The Registration Marks On Your Print Then Cut Project

Additional things to try:

Sometimes matte scotch tape over the black registration marks helps.

Make sure your mat is about 1/8 of an inch inside the lines on your mat.

Trying taking a black marker over the registration marks

For more Tips For Solving Simple Print Then Cut Problems:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/03/solving-common-print-then-cut-problems.html

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Find an index of all my cricut quick tip cards here:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/01/quick-tip-cards-for-cricut-newbies.html

Quick Tip - Enable Printer Dialog Box To Set "Best Quality"

Set Your Printer To "Best Quality"

When you click "Make It" on your print then cut project, the project will first be sent to you printer. On the box that pops up for you to choose your printer, System Dialog is often disabled by default.

Enable it, and then you can change your printer settings.

You will almost always want to choose "Best Quality" in the print options.

For more Tips For Solving Simple Print Then Cut Problems:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/03/solving-common-print-then-cut-problems.html

If you have an HP Printer, check out instant Ink.

It's SO much cheaper. You pay by the page, not the ink cartridge.

So you can always print in best quality, for the same price as draft.

See the details here:

try.hpinstantink.com/pNJBV

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Find an index of all my cricut quick tip cards here:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/01/quick-tip-cards-for-cricut-newbies.html

Quick Tip - Why Does My Image Have A Black Box Around It?

Why Does My Project Have a Black Box Around it when I click Make it? Because it is a print then cut image. If you do not want to Print then Cut, change it to a cut image. If you want to Print, Then Cut, you want the black box [currently it's 4 brackets, previously a box surrounded the entire image] to be there.

The black box is the "registration marks". Cricut will scan the image, then line up the design to cut based on where those black lines are.

Sometimes if your machine is not reading the registration marks, and closing the lid didn't help, nor did changing the lighting, you can go over the black box with a black marker, to make it darker, and that may help the machine to cut.

For more Tips For Solving Simple Print Then Cut Problems:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/03/solving-common-print-then-cut-problems.html

If you did not want to print the image, but only cut it, you can switch the operation to Cut/Basic

HOWEVER, that could just give you an outline shape to cut, if you uploaded an image that is not an svg file. When uploading the svg, look for the image that looks like a website, or html file:

Quick Tip - Flatten Text To A Shape For Print Then Cut

If your print then cut project is cutting out every letter individually, your text is not flattened to a shape.

You cannot just flatten text in Design Space. It must be flattened to a shape.

If you click "make it" and your text suddenly looks very blurry, that is most likely because "Bleed" is on, and cricut plans to cut every letter individually. (Bleed is only applied to cuts, so anywhere you see that fuzzy bleed, the machine plans to cut)

Unless you want cricut to cut out very letter of your print then cut project individually, you must flatten to a shape. Check your layers panel, every item in that list is going to cut. If you want just one shape cut, with the letters printed on that shape, there should only be ONE item in your layers panel. If not, choose select all and flatten.

For a quick shape behind your text, you can use the offset option, then flatten your text to the offset shape.

About Bleed

Many cricut users have very strong opinions one way or the other on "bleed". It's purpose is to make sure there is no white outside of your cut. It gives the machine a little extra margin when making the cut, just to make sure it doesn't cut too close and end up with white on the outside of your design. I've used bleed, and I've shut it off - with no noticeable difference. How much difference you see may vary by machine and how well your machine has calibrated itself. I think it's always safest to leave bleed on.

For more Tips For Solving Simple Print Then Cut Problems:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/03/solving-common-print-then-cut-problems.html

If you have an HP Printer, check out instant Ink.

It's SO much cheaper. You pay by the page, not the ink cartridge.

So you can always print in best quality, for the same price as draft.

See the details here:

try.hpinstantink.com/pNJBV

====================

Find an index of all of my Quick Tip Cards, here:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/01/quick-tip-cards-for-cricut-newbies.html

Quick Tip - Close The Lid For Print Then Cut

For more Tips For Solving Simple Print Then Cut Problems:

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/03/solving-common-print-then-cut-problems.html

If you have an HP Printer, check out instant Ink.

It's SO much cheaper. You pay by the page, not the ink cartridge.

So you can always print in best quality, for the same price as draft.

See the details here:

try.hpinstantink.com/pNJBV

Making A Puzzle With A Cereal Box & A Cricut Air 2 & Free Puzzle SVGS

Today I made puzzles with my cricut air 2, sticker paper, and cereal boxes. It's a fun project, and these will make great valentines!

Quick Tips

Any Sticker Paper, I used Avery Matte Sticker Paper
Deep Cut Blade, Custom/chipboard, Cut twice (which is actually 4 cuts)
List of free puzzle svgs at the bottom of this post, I used this one
Pinter is an HP Envy 7800, and Instant Ink (pay by the page, not by the ink cartridge - SO much cheaper!)

I started with this puzzle, found here: https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/free-svg-blog-2332425/puzzle-free-svg-download-make-anything-into-5480703659

There are a list of more free puzzle svgs at the bottom of this post, and there's also a puzzle generator you can use to make your own - it saves as svg!

When I uploaded this free puzzle svg, it came with a blue box. My first instinct was to delete it, but it's the perfect size for slicing your photo. Either ungroup and keep it separate (Attach, or at the very least keep your puzzle pieces grouped)

I moved the puzzle pieces over my photo and resized my photo so that I liked where the cuts fell.

Then I moved the box over the photo and sliced, making the photo the same size as all of the puzzle pieces. You could skip this step I think - just pull off the extra when it cuts and throw them out, but I liked seeing what I was working with.

Select all, then at the top of the screen choose align, then choose center

Make sure the photo is sent to the front, then click select all and attach.

You cannot see the puzzle pieces, but if they are attached, they will cut.

This is what the screen looks like when I click make it. I used Avery Matte Sticker Paper

I used it specifically because I found a bunch of it at the thrift store, so I have it on hand. It worked great - the photo printed beautifully! I think I'd stick to matte, glossy would add an extra layer to cut through. https://amzn.to/2Ggk6le

When I go to print, I always make sure the "Use System Dialog" is ON. It appears to always be off by default in cricut. If it is on, your printer dialog box will pop up, and you can make sure your preferences are set to best. (Since I use HP Instant ink, the cost is the same whether I am printing draft or best quality - I pay by the page, not by the amount of ink used.)

I used a Lucky Charms box - any cereal box will do.

You want to put the sticker on top of the colored part of the box. This is for two reasons:

1. It will make the back of your puzzle plain cardboard

2. The machine will cut better if it works through the "glossier" layer at the top, and not at the bottom.

I stuck a piece of scrap sticker paper on the box to see how much the color shows through. I was surprised by how well the paper covered the design. Since the photo is color, it hid the design even better than the plain white - you cannot tell, on the finished puzzle, that there is a design behind the photo.

Once I applied the sticker paper to the box, I cut roughly around the outside to make it fit on the mat. Remember, do NOT cut off that black border! Cricut needs that border, it's how the sensors know exactly where to cut the design.

I love the quality of my printer. :-)

Cut Settings:

I used the Deep Cut Blade - even though the chipboard option does not give the option for that blade. For my next one I will try the regular fine point blade to see if it makes a difference. I know I can cut most faux leather better with the fine point blade than with the deep cut blade!

The Deep Cut Blade & Housing For Explore Machines - https://amzn.to/2Gdawzv

I turned my dial to custom, then on my computer screen found the chipboard option. That option automatically cuts twice, but twice didn't seem to quite be enough, so when the cut was finished

WITHOUT REMOVING THE MAT FROM THE MACHINE

I pushed the c button again (even though the arrow was flashing)

and cricut repeated the exact same cut in the exact same spot - making it a total of 4 cuts.

And it cut beautifully!!

To remove it from the mat, I flipped the mat upside down and peeled the mat away from the puzzle, just as I do for every paper project.

If you choose to mod podge the pieces, be sure to do that with the puzzle in pieces. If you mod podge over the completed puzzle, you will effectively be gluing it back together.