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Where To Find Free SVGS

Where To Find Free SVGS

 I say it often - paying for Cricut Access is renting cut files.  You cannot download them to your device, and as soon as you stop paying your rental fee, you lose access to all of those images, unless you purchase them.  For some, this works great.  It's like netflix for svgs.  For me, I'd rather purchase one or two designs, than rent thousands I will never use.

And there is SO much available for free.  You can spend hours each week just downloading free svgs, without ever paying a dime. Legitimate, real, layered cut files - not clipart you have to remove the background and clean up to use.  Although you can certainly create cut files from clipart too.  There are so many options.  As with most of my posts here, I'll start with the "Quick Links" version - for those of you who want to get straight to it.  Below those links is a longer, more detailed, explanation of where to find the lists, how to search, how to use my facebook group (I use topics and units there - so it's a little different than what most of you may be used to).  

Quick Links:


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First, How To Use Free SVGS In Design Space

Here is a step by step:


If you upload the SVG and you have the option to "clean it up", or the option to save as either a print then cut or a cut image - you probably uploaded the wrong file.  SVGS look like html files.
For more information on what each of the files are that typically come in a download:

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Where To Find 
The FREE SVGS
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Across the top of every page on this blog is a "header" with a list of options.  If you click on "Free SVGS" a menu will drop down with some quick links, such as the list of sites with free svgs, the Free SVGS by theme index, etc.

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This Weeks List Of On Sale For Free
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2018/05/cricut-free-this-week-premium-fonts.html

A good place to start is with my list, updated weekly, of "On Sale For Free" Svgs.  These are typically svgs and fonts you would normally have to pay for, but that are offered "on sale for free" for a limited time, to introduce you to the site and the designers work.  There are SO many freebies added each week.  Most of the svgs and fonts on this list will come with a commercial use license, so you can use them on items you make to sell.  I typically  update the list on Thursdays, and I post on my facebook page when it is updated.

In addition, I keep a list of sites that frequently offer a new "Daily Free" svg, and sites that have a "freebie friday", new free svg each week.

Daily Free SVG:
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/01/daily-free-svgs-where-to-find-them.html

Freebie Friday Sites:
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/01/freebie-friday-free-svg-cutting-files.html


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Free SVGS By Theme
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2017/11/svg-freebies.html

I'm a compulsive list maker.  On this site, and in my facebook group, I'veattempted to put my obsession to good use.  :-)  If you go to the Index of free theme svgs, there you will find categories such as Gnomes, Disney, Birthday, Paper Flowers, Earrings... and so many more.  Click on each category to be taken to a page where I list the free svgs and where to download them.  Typically the pages are in the format of Commercial Use svgs first, followed by Personal Use Svgs, followed by Projects, all in that theme.

If there is a theme you are looking for that is not in the index, be sure to check out my facebook group.  That's where I "build" these themed posts, and there's a ton there that has not yet made it to the blog.  In that group, I create a post, and then I add links as I come across them, in the comments.
Find the Group:
Cricut Tips, Tricks, Tutorials & More - 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1121399284857845

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Then there's the Site list.
Here I alphabetically list all of the sites I am aware of that offer free svgs.  I try to add notes for each - labeling which is commercial use, which have mostly paper crafting designs, which require you to sign up to receive their emails in order to download, etc.  The list is constantly growing, and I am constantly adding information.  At last count, I believe there were more than 100 sites listed.  I highlight my favorites at the top.
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2018/11/where-to-find-free-cut-files-for-cricut.html

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Finding SVGS In My Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1121399284857845

I post a lot on both my facebook page, and also in my facebook group.  In the group, everyone can ask questions, share projects, request me to watch for certain themed svgs, etc.  In the midst of all of that, the Free SVG posts can sometimes get lost - but you can find them under "Topics".


On the page for the group,  you will see options such as discussion, media, etc.  Click on Topics.
When you click on any of the topics shown, it will take you to the posts that I have tagged with that topic.

There's also a Getting Started Unit in the group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1121399284857845/learning_content
Clicking on each post in the "unit" will walk you through the basics of how this facebook group works, and where to find things.

You can also use the search box inside of a facebook group, to search for posts such as "making tumblers", or "free Dr Seuss Svgs".
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2020/07/how-to-search-facebook-group-posts.html

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In addition to the facebook group, I have a facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/fieldsofheathercrafts/
The page is public - anyone can see that without joining.  Every mornings I post a daily list of free fonts and free svgs here.

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How To Create Your Own 
Cut Files
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Sometimes all of those options are still not enough, and you will want to create your own svg.



https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2018/01/using-fontlabpad-with-cricut-design.html
If the svg will be 100% text - just use Fontlab Pad.  Type your text, save as an svg.
Quick and easy!  

Simple clipart images are easy to "clean up" using the eraser and wand when uploading to Design Space.  Here's a step by step:
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2018/12/how-to-convert-simple-free-clipart-to.html

Here's a comparison of some of the sites and software that will convert an image into an svg for you
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/02/programs-sites-for-converting-to-svg.html

Inkscape is the most popular free program for creating svgs from scratch.
But I, personally, do not find it simple to use.  Here are some tips that may help - 
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/03/tips-for-creating-svgs-in-inkscape.html

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Tips For Sorting & Organizing 
All Of Those Free SVGS
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How To View Thumbnails Of SVG Files

How To Quickly Sort SVG Bundles

And more tips for organizing your files:

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For an Index Of All Of My Cricut Related Posts:


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Printable Cheat Sheet - Design Space Basics

 
A quick look at how to switch from cut, to draw, to print then cut, and when to attach, when to weld, and when to flatten.  

Here's a more detailed look at what is in the printable:

For a more detailed look at how to switch the linetype from cut, to draw, to print then cut:
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2020/08/quick-tip-switch-from-cut-to-draw-using.html

For a more detailed look at When To Weld, Attach, & Flatten
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2020/08/quick-tip-when-to-attach-weld-flatten.html

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Cheat Sheet - Font Terms



A Printable Cheat Sheet Of Font Terms, and a second sheet, showing the difference between using system fonts in Design Space, compared to other programs.

Download the Printable from the Facebook Album Here:
https://www.facebook.com/fieldsofheathercrafts/photos/a.742157633388904/742157390055595

Here's a more detailed look at what is in the printable:
 

 

 Kerning adjusts the space between individual letters.   It’s what makes your text, especially cursive text, connect properly.   Design Space does not read font kerning.  You can ungroup system fonts & manually space them, or type text into the free fontlab pad & save as an svg. 

https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2018/01/using-fontlabpad-with-cricut-design.html 

 

 A ligature is a special character that combines two (or sometimes three) characters into a single character.     In most programs they appear automatically, but not in Design Space.  If a font has ligatures, to see them, use a program like fontlab pad, and save your text as an svg.  This font is Herina - FREE! Find it here: https://fontbundles.net/free-fonts/other/herina-font/rel=mno4va  

 

 A glyph is "the specific shape, design, or representation of a character".   These are often alternate letters, with extra swirls and tails.  You will need a character map to see the glyphs, then copy and paste them into the text box.

 How To Find & Use Font Glyphs - https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/02/how-to-find-use-glyphs-in-fonts.html

 

 "Easy Glyphs” are fonts that have glyphs, but do not require a character map.  For these fonts, you use keys such as ( ) or [  ] to add the tails or extras.  For Cheat Sheets of Easy Glyph Fonts:   https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2017/09/fonts-with-tails.html 

 

 When you use the markers in Cricut, the pen will follow the path of the blade, causing most text to outline, or “bubble”.  Cricut has “writing fonts” (not free) that will write as solid letters.  Or, there  are hundreds  of FREE FONTS that will “collapse on themselves”, or that are true single line.  Find the free fonts here:   https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2017/11/6-single-line-fonts-that-will-write.html

 

 An “Extrude” layer is a shadow layer.  In fonts like the one to the left, you type the text twice—once in the “regular” version, and once in the “extrude” version.  Then you layer the normal version on top of the extrude layer, to create a shadow  or outline layer.  Find free dual layer fonts here:  https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2019/05/free-dual-layer-shadow-fonts.html

 

 Dingbats' are fonts made up of images.  These will cut in Design Space, just like any other font!  Find a list of dingbat fonts here: https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2020/07/how-to-use-free-dingbat-fonts-as-cut.html


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Part Two
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Download the Free Printable from the facebook album here:
https://www.facebook.com/fieldsofheathercrafts/photos/a.742157633388904/742157400055594

Part Two shows you the difference between using the fonts in Design Space, which does not read any of the instructions designers program into fonts, and using the same fonts in another program..  It also identifies the fonts I used:


The Fonts (click on the link to go to the download page)
Amastery (Not Free)
Herina (Free)
Samantha Craft (Not Free)
Sweet Hipster (Free)
Always Here (Free)
Ginchiest (Not Free)
Harry Potter & The Dingbats (Free)


Although Design Space now is now MUCH better about spacing fonts properly, it still does not read font kerning, and will not be able to use the ligatures, if a font has them.   I use fontlab pad to work around the font issues in Design Space.  Fontlab Pad is FREE, and will save your text as an svg.  It's only for computers, there is not an app version.  On phones and tablets, many choose to use the phonto app.

More about using Fontlab Pad
https://fieldsofhether.blogspot.com/2018/01/using-fontlabpad-with-cricut-design.html

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Where To Find Free Fonts By Style, By Type, And By Holiday
The Crafting With Fields Of Heather Font Index
And Tips & Tricks For Properly Spacing, Adding Glyphs, Organizing, Making Shadow Text, and more!

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Doose's Market Tote Bags (A Cricut Project)

Doose's Market
A Tote Bag For Gilmore Girls Fans
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