Beyond Basics Cricut Class lesson plan

Lesson Plan using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge – you can substitute other cartridges and shapes as you wish. If you substitute you may need to change sizes also. Feel free to play around.


• If you are just practicing and don’t want to use good cardstock or paper get a package of plain white cardstock. It is available in regular paper sizes at Wal-Mart and any office supply store. You can buy 12 X 12 at Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

*Your pressure and blade should be set so your blade does not cut into your mat. It should leave a light mark on the mat but not cut into your mat. I use my machine on speed 3 most of the time. I suggest you start with the blade and the pressure both on 3 and adjust from there. If it looks like it cut most of the way through try setting the blade on 4. If it looks like it just started to cut set the pressure on 4.


Center Point –

We are going to cut 2 projects with this feature to show the versatility of this feature.

We will be using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge

• Project 1 - We are going to cut a shape from a photo.

o Measure the area of the photo where you are going to cut the shape to determine the size of the shape – we are going to use the roly poly heart (5-2) or a circle (5-1) depending on what fits your photo. Put the photo on the mat and move the blade to the center of where you want the image to be.

o Set your speed to 3 – your pressure to 3 and your blade to 3 or 4 depending on how your machine cuts and how new your blade is.

o cut



• Project 2 – Try cutting a shape from a patterned paper. If you are just practicing draw a shape in plain paper and then cut it out. Try different shapes, circles, squares, flowers, hearts, diamonds, etc.



Mix ‘n Match –

Remember the last letter or shape you type changes to the next feature you choose. Example you select mix ‘n match then type ABC then select shadow the C will be a shadow. The following example shows you how to cut ABC from the regular Plantin Schoolbook font, italics, shadow, tall ball and roly poly so when you are done you have ABC of each font style.

cut A-B-C with the 5 different font sets from Plantin Schoolbook cartridge

o Select Mix ‘n Match

o Set size to 2”

o type abca - hit italics type bca - hit shadow type bca - hit tall ball type bca - hit roly poly type bc-

o to check what you have typed use the arrow keys under the screen you will notice the keyboard lights change.

o then hit cut

o I used letters as an example but this can be done with any image.



Auto Fill - White cardstock 6 X 6

• You can do this on any size piece of paper. We are using a 6 X 6 to save time. It takes about 5 minutes to run this on a 12 X 12 and probably longer if you are cutting.

o You can cut with this function but we are going to use the Cricut markers instead to make a background paper.

o We will be using the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge

o Hit reset all.

o Load your paper on the bottom left corner of your mat.

o Insert your mat into your machine. Move your blade to the top corner of your paper.

o Hit set paper size. Your display should say the paper is 6x6

o Take out your cutting blade and put in the Cricut marker.

o Set speed (2) and pressure (2)(settings on marker)

o If you are cutting use the settings on your Cricut that you have been using to cut cardstock.

o Select Auto fill - hit star (5-3) from Plantin Schoolbook - - set size at 1 ½ inches – after you hit cut the display will tell you how many fit on the page

o in this case it should be 9

o While this is running explain that this feature can be used to make background paper or die cut paper.



Fit to page (we are going to make 2 projects here)

• Project 1 - Large award die cut or any image you choose

o select fit to page

o select shift 5-6 (award) or your image

o cut

• Project 2 – 2 patterned papers – card and envelope

o Hit reset all

o When doing cards you need to cut the envelope first.

o Load your envelope paper on your mat. Keep in mind the direction of the pattern. For the envelope and the card you need the pattern to be the correct orientation as it is loaded into the Cricut. So the way the pattern runs as you are looking at it in the Cricut is what it will be after cutting.

o Select fit to page – shift 5-8 key on overlay

o When you hit cut the Cricut calculates the size and the display tells you what size it is cutting.

o Pay attention to the size after it gets done calculating we need to know this for the card*. (6”)

o Load your card paper on your mat. Keep in mind the direction of the pattern. You need the pattern to be the correct orientation as it is loaded into the Cricut. So the way the pattern runs as you are looking at it in the Cricut is what it will be after cutting.

o Turn off fit to page – be sure shift is off – *set size dial to the size the envelope said it cut – (6”) select 5-8

o You can fold the envelope while the card is cutting, fold at the little tick marks. The 2 side pieces fold in first then the large piece folds up. The smaller flap is the closure.

o Save the extra paper from the envelope & card. Use a piece of the solid side from the envelope paper for the sentiment inside the card. Use a 3” x 2 ½” rectangle of the solid card paper for address part of the outside of the envelope.



• Fit to length (fits the image to cut the length you set)

• –we are going to cut a city border

o put a 4 inch strip length ways on your mat

o set size to 6” – turn on fit to length – select city (4-8) – cut



• End caps – this is a feature on Plantin Schoolbook but it could also be on other cartridges. It is also explained in your Plantin Schoolbook handbook.

• 2 pieces 4 x 12 paper of different colors

o Put 2 strips on your mat with opposite colors showing. Set size to 2” look at the book page 79 we are going to use the tag1 for the end cap. Turn on End Caps - select tag1 (5-7) for end cap left - then type your name – and select shift-tag2 (5-7) for end cap right - then cut

o if you want the tag shape on both ends after you hit the tag again hit Mix ‘n match and flip

o DO NOT unload mat



• End caps shadow

o Hit line return and use the directional arrows to move your blade to the other paper. Take off end caps and select end caps shadow and repeat last – press cut



Using markers to accent a shape –

o We are going to do an apple. Using Plantin Schoolbook cartridge

o remove blade and insert a Cricut marker

o select roly poly apple (5-6)

o Using a 4 X 4 piece of paper Put paper on mat

o set size to 2 ½” – hit cut

o DO NOT unload paper – put post-it note under pen to keep from marking on your image

o Remove pen & insert blade - set pressure to previous setting

o Remove post-it note

o Hit load paper – repeat last - cut



• 3D shape – 1 patterned paper

We are going to cut the round bag from Plantin Schoolbook cartridge

This bag cut corner ways on the paper (left to right)

o Hit fit to page - Tall Ball - bag (5-9) - cut

o Fold the little tabs in – lay the bag on the table with the round die down - put adhesive along one inside edge of the bag and starting from the bottom of the bag push the tabs in place lining up the outside edge of the bag and the edge of the side. Do the other side then turn the bag over and put adhesive on both sides and carefully fold the bag to the tabs put your hand inside the bag and push the tabs in place.



• Remember every cartridge handbook has a project. Practice with those as well. The best way to learn how to use your Cricut is to just play with it.



Feel free to post questions on my blog, I will answer them as best I can & as soon as possible.

HAPPY CRICUTING   :)

How to cut fabric with the Cricut

Although I have never done this, I have been asked many times how to cut fabric with the Cricut. The following was posted in the Cricut newletter:

How to cut fabric with the Cricut


Q: I just got my Cricut and am so excited! Although I do a few paper crafts, I mainly got it to cut fabric for appliqué shapes to quilt & sew. But how on earth do you cut fabric with this thing?!? I tried ironing on a fusible backing onto the fabric and changing the blade depth and pressure - but my fabric always bunches up. Any tips would be great. Thank you so much!!!

A: Here is some info from You Had Me at Craft:

1. Always use a mat for just fabric...take the time and use a marker and print on the top of the mat cover (FABRIC).

2. Use a quality interfacing or bonding product. A quality product takes a little more time to use but the results are the best. It can be found at JoAnn's fabric store and it has to be cut so you buy it by the yard.

3. Start cutting your fabric to the size of the mat you will be using. Then cut your bonding product to that size also. Follow with ironing your fabric to get wrinkles out. Then apply the interface bonding to the back of fabric. Turn both the fabric and interface bonding product over and iron the fabric top. DO NOT iron the bonding side you will have a mess on your iron trust me on that one.

4. Applying your fabric to the mat: Make sure it’s on smoothly. You will see some wrinkles; don’t get upset they won’t show on the fabric after it is cut.

5. Setting your Cricut up for the cut: PRESSURE is MAX. Speed is MAX. Select Multi Cut and then set the blade at 5. Now you're ready to CUT.

6. Remove your fabric and slowly peel away from mat using your spatula. Be careful as you go. You now have to remove the paper backing.

7. Now you have a choice to either sew the cut fabric onto your project or just iron it on.

Beyond Basics Class

Beyond basics class members -  I will be out of town this weekend and I want to go over the instructions before I post them to make sure they are complete. So I will have them posted sometime on Tuesday. Be sure to check back.
 I am going to post the instructions for the class, the helpful hints section of the class and also instructions on cutting fabric with the Cricut. These will be in 3 seperate posts so be sure to check them all out.
Happy Cricuting everyone.

Cricut Basics Class project

As promised here are the project instructions.

Cricut Basics Project

CUTTING OUR PROJECT
1. make sure blades & pressure setting are correct before starting

2. Go over what each piece of paper is for

a. SEI stripe paper – base page

b. Green cardstock (½ sheet) - layer

c. Brown cardstock – letter shadow, scallop border & photo mats

d. Redish cardstock – letters, leaf & photo mats

3. First we will cut the shadows for the letters

4. press the shadow feature key

5. set size to 2 inches (George/ Don Juan use 1 ½)

6. put the brown paper on your Cricut mat

7. load mat

8. type in "wondersfall” do not use spaces

9. press cut DO NOT UNLOAD YOUR MAT

a. Check to see if it cut all the way through. If it did not cut all the way through we need to adjust your settings. if not hit load paper, repeat last, and cut.

10. Hit load last when reloading your mat

11. now set your size to 1 inch and type “ofthe”

12. cut

13. Unload your mat turn it around and load it again

14. Now we are going to cut the scallop border strip

15. take off the shadow feature

16. set size to 1 ¾ inches (the final cut will be about 11 ¼)

17. press the scallop key (4-9)

18. cut

19. Unload mat when the cut is finished remove excess paper then remove the cut shapes and set aside

20. now we will cut the letters

21. set size to 2 inches (George/ Don Juan use 1 ½)

22. put the red paper on your Cricut mat

23. load mat

24. type in “wondersfall” do not use spaces

25. press cut DO NOT UNLOAD YOUR MAT

26. now set your size to 1 inch and type “ofthe”

27. press cut DO NOT UNLOAD YOUR MAT

28. Now we are going to cut a leaf
Hit the Roly Poly feature key (Don Juan – UnderPR feature)

29. set size to 2 ¾ inches (DJ - 3”)

30. select the leaf (shift 5-5) (DJ – 2-3)

31. Now cut

32. Unload mat when the cut is finished remove excess paper and remove images and set aside

33. Save the leftover pieces to make photo mats.



Now it is time to assemble the page



You will need a trimmer, scissors & adhesive.

1. adhere your letters on the shadows

2. take the border strip and cut off the first scallop and set it aside

3. adhere the remainder of the border piece to the right edge on bottom of the green paper so just the scallop portion shows

4. Then put the small piece on the right edge. There will be a gap between the 2 pieces. (the leaf goes here)

5. Now cut the strip off the bottom of your stripe paper – with the stripes going vertical adhere the green paper with the scallop border on the bottom about 3 inches form the top of the page.

6. Before adhering the letters place them on the page to see how you want them. Then one letter at a time pick them up add your adhesive and put them back with out moving the other letters.

7. Place the red leaf over the gap in the border. I popped mine with foam tape.

8. put your leaf stickers where you’d like I put mine on the corners of the green mat layer

9. Use your scraps for photo mats.

10. I cut the red mats at 4 ¼ X 4 ¼ and 6 ¼ X 4 ¼

11. The brown mats at 4 X 4 and 6 X 4

12. When adding pictures to a 4 X 6 mat, just trim ¼” or ½” from one long side and one short side of your photo and you have a perfectly 1/8” or 1/4” matted photo.

13. You can bling up your page with stickles, brads, etc.

14. I edged my red leaf with a brown maker pen and made leaf veins.