Let’s get straight to the point here. You are totally new to this whole Cricut thing and you really don’t understand all that the machine can do. This blog post is for you!
To the absolute novice, a Cricut is first and foremost a cutting machine used for paper crafts and creative projects. While there are more products that Cricut offers, we are focusing on the Explore Air 2 in this article.
While you may think that the Cricut Explore Air 2 is only used for paper cutting, it actually goes far beyond cutting paper materials. The Cricut Explore Air 2 can cut a variety of materials including…
- Vinyl – a material that allows you to create removable decals, labels, and more for personalized projects
- Felt – a soft, textile material typically made of wool
- Card Stock – very thick and durable paper, much thicker than normal writing paper
- Wood – thin hobby wood can be used for Cricut Explore Air 2
Then the coolest thing about Cricut is that it performs other functions that mesh well with any type of crafty project including…
- Writing – write perfectly on cards, banners, wood, canvas, etc. using different fonts
- Scoring – create creases in all types of materials in order to make perfect folds
- Engraving – insert an image onto textured materials such as metals and leathers
- Embossing – the process of making a raised design for a textured finish.
This means that ultimately, the Cricut Explore Air 2 can aid in almost any craft project! It’s not just a machine that “cuts things”.
A good example with how all of the functions combine together to make something is one of the beginner projects: making a Thank You Card. The Cricut Explore Air 2 does the following…
1. Cuts the actual card shape out
2. Cuts slits into the card for a second shape to be inserted later
3. Cut the smaller shape separately
4. Draws pretty lines on the card for embellishment
5. Writes “Thank You” on the card in perfect handwriting
6. Scores the card for folding it when done!
If you still aren’t completely wrapping your head around all that the Cricut Explore Air 2 can do, here are some examples of the most popular things crafters are creating these days (instead of buying separate materials from craft stores)…
- Scrapbook letters, quotes and shapes
- Envelope address stickers
- Stickers for planners, calendars, or kid projects
- Custom cards for birthdays and special occasions
- Wall decals for home decor projects
- Custom stencils for craft or home projects
- Decals and labels for wine glasses, mugs, or tumblers
- Cut bunting and banner shapes
You can also check out this post on 49 things you can make with the Cricut products for more ideas.