Cricut cutting question

[icesk8abc]

My husband got me a Cricut Create for our 1st anniversary. He actually offered to take it back when I opened it because it's not made of paper, it only cuts paper! "Um, no!" ( Me taking my new toy to my craft room as quickly as possible) - but I digress.

Is there any cheat sheet out there for pressure/blade depth, or is it just a trial and error thing? Sometimes I know that I am cutting to hard/deep because it leaves quite an impression on the mat, but sometimes I'm not cutting all the way through the paper.

 

[ColleenG]

I found it's mostly trial and error. For the thicker paper like Bazzill I put the pressure as high as it'll go and I think I keep my blade depth on 4 or 5. As the blade gets dull I increase the depth. I don't do much with vellum so I'm not sure what works best except slow and light. I tried cutting aluminium foil but that didn't work too well no matter what I tried. I was trying to make Hershey kisses, so instead I cut it out of paper and then wrapped the foil around it. Enjoy your new toy. You'll love it!

 

[jagmom]

I have found that cutting slower on thicker paper is important.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Also, pay attention to the texture of the paper. If it feels a lot like cloth, it could have more fuzzies on it after cutting and it may not stick well to the mat.

The Blingy Co'ordinates paper also does not stay stuck down on the mat. I have no idea why. Even a brand new mat it pulled off while cutting.

The blue painters tape is your friend. Use it to hold down the paper to prevent the sliding.

 

[mecllap]

There is a cutting "cheat sheet" on www.AboveRubiesStudio.com that includes guidance for dozens of different papers. You'll find the cricut.com messageboards helfpful also (and posters links to many blogs with lots of hints and tips). It's easy to get sucked into spending hundreds of dollars on the system as you go along -- if that starts to happen to you, consider bypassing Jukeboxes and CDS and go straight for the Gypsy (get it on sale somewhere) (this will make more sense as you read a lot more online).

 

[wdwmickey]

Also, pay attention to the texture of the paper. If it feels a lot like cloth, it could have more fuzzies on it after cutting and it may not stick well to the mat.

The Blingy Co'ordinates paper also does not stay stuck down on the mat. I have no idea why. Even a brand new mat it pulled off while cutting.

The blue painters tape is your friend. Use it to hold down the paper to prevent the sliding.

Using blue painters tape is a great tip!! I get so frustrated when my paper slides

 

[PollyannaMom]

I agree it was kind of trial and error for me.

....I tried cutting aluminium foil but that didn't work too well no matter what I tried. I was trying to make Hershey kisses, so instead I cut it out of paper and then wrapped the foil around it. Enjoy your new toy. You'll love it!

Oooh, I love the Hershey kiss idea. - That is so clever!!


I have the opposite problem with mats - my new one is so sticky pieces won't peel off it without ripping! (and the leftover part of the sheet curls up, too.)

 

[icesk8abc]

Thanks everyone for your help!

I have the opposite problem with mats - my new one is so sticky pieces won't peel off it without ripping! (and the leftover part of the sheet curls up, too.)

I had/have the same problem and came up with a decent solution. Someone else probably has something much better, but this works. After lifting up all the edges with a flat xacto (I don't have the official tool) I take a regular table knife and slide it under the paper to lift it evenly. Except for a couple papers that I pulled too fast, this seems to work.

 

[icesk8abc]

Also, pay attention to the texture of the paper. If it feels a lot like cloth, it could have more fuzzies on it after cutting and it may not stick well to the mat.

The Blingy Co'ordinates paper also does not stay stuck down on the mat. I have no idea why. Even a brand new mat it pulled off while cutting.

The blue painters tape is your friend. Use it to hold down the paper to prevent the sliding.

Thank you!!! This paper doesn't stick to lamination either (the heat sealed kind). We used it to make Glittery Medals for our classroom Olympics and had a hard time getting it laminated.

 

[123SA]

Not the tip you are looking for, but it is my best cricut tip.

The piece of plastic that covers your mat is NOT the same on both sides. I ruined many mats before I realized this. Before you take it off, write on it with a sharpie. I usually put the date on it. This way you know the correct way to replace it. The cover slides right off when you put it on correctly. It tears off the stickiness if it is the wrong way.

 

[morgansmom2000]

FYI - ACM has the mats and blades (and carts) for 40% off this week. And, they finally had the 12x12 in stock (but the price went up from $12.99 to $14.99)!

 

[jagmom]

When you first get your mats, you have to "prep" them. Basically you lay your hand flat on it and then "pull" your hand off several times. Then put a piece of paper on and pull it off a few times. Then do the hand thing again.

 

[ohMom]

why prep the mat?