7 Fun & Easy Cricut Projects for Beginners

Get inspired by these 7 Fun & Easy Cricut Projects for Beginners.

Do you have a Cricut machine but don’t know where to start with it?

You see so many ideas for gifts and crafts that you could make but they look difficult so you never even pull your machine out of the closet.

Well let’s change that today.

I get commissions for purchases made through some of the links in this post. There is no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

What projects can you do with a Cricut?

First, let’s talk about what projects can you do with a Cricut.

If you’re an absolute Cricut beginner you may be surprised at all the things you can make with it.

It’s kind of amazing to see the number of creative craft projects that you can make right from home with this one little machine.

The Cricut machine lets you personalize things like t-shirts and baseball caps.

Firstly, you could use it to make some for yourself to test the waters.

After that, once you get comfortable with it, you could make a few projects for your friends and family members.

Wouldn’t it be great to have matching family shirts for your next vacation or reunion?

What kind of files can you use with Cricut

Using graphic files like scalable vector graphics (svg files), you could make a fancy monogram or write your family name in a pretty font.

After, all that’s left to do is to upload the svg to your Cricut, cut out a vinyl template, and apply it to your shirt or cap with an iron or a heat press.

Step it up a notch and add your own svg with custom text. If you’re new to svg files, you’ll love my So Simple SVG Files course!

• 

• 

• 

What is the best Cricut for a beginner?

If you are just getting started with die cutting, you may be wondering which Cricut is best? You’ll find lots of opinions on which machines are better.

Most of these articles will direct you to top-of-line machines with high tech functions that you may not need in the beginning. 

It can be confusing to figure out what is the best Cricut for a beginner.

You could go through hundreds of reviews or spare yourself the headache and consult only a few and make your choice from there.

You can always sell or trade your current machine or upgrade to another cutting machine in the future.

7 DIY Cricut Projects to Make

These Cricut projects for beginners are simple and fun. Now that you know what you need, let’s take a look at the 7 diy crafts projects that you can make as a beginner crafter.

1. Make DIY wreaths for doors from Cricut
2. Vinyl on Wood Sign with Felt Flowers
3. DIY Coffee Cozy Sleeve
4. Etched glass water bottle
5. Rolled paper roses
6. Holographic labels on candle jars
7. Layered vinyl onesie

---

Wreath

Glass water bottle

• Etched glass water bottle from Carissa of Creative Green Living

Carissa makes crafts from recycled everyday objects.

Do you have glass water bottles in your kitchen that could use a diy touch?

Look how gorgeous and fancy they could be.

---

Wooden sign

• Vinyl Wood Sign with Felt Flowers from Nathalie of Doodlecraft

Natalie loves making crafts with her kids. She has lots of vinyl craft ideas using Cricut on her blog.

Head over there to get the instructions to make this beautiful wooden wall decor sign that’s perfect to hang in your entry way.

---

Beginner Coffee cozy

• DIY Coffee Cozy Sleeve from Layne of Crafty Life Mom

Are you looking for gift ideas to make with Cricut? Laine’s tutorial is easy to follow and uses everyday objects.

These would make great stocking stuffers and teacher appreciation gifts.

here are a couple of ideas to try for holiday-inspired gifts.

For Thanksgiving, you can make your own drawing of a turkey for the coffee cozy.

And, on Halloween, you can switch out the turkey for a cute pumpkin drawing or a simple jack-o-lantern with a smile. You can cut each drawing out of felt just like Laine did with the owl below.

---

---

Paper flower Cricut project

• Rolled paper roses from Jamela of bypink

Watching Jamela roll these gorgeous roses is addicting. She makes it look so easy. Want to make your own roses?

Check out the paper rose tutorial post on her blog for instructions and a free svg.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Want to roll paper flowers like a pro! Check out the post on #bypink and get the #freesvg too

Une publication partagée par Jamela Porter (@jamela_bypink) le 6 Juil. 2019 à 11 :25 PDT

---

Labels for candles

• Holographic labels on candle jars from Cece of cecedsmith

Need a cute diy gift for a friend? Make them a scented candle jar with a motivational quote.

Cece shows how to make this using holographic vinyl that catches the light.

You could knock out a few of these in a weekend.

---

Baby onesie

• Layered vinyl onesie from JJ of jjcraftingjourney

Don’t be afraid to try making a layered htv design as a beginner.

JJ makes detailed process videos showing how she weeds and layers heat transfer vinyl on this adorable baby onesie.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Layering HTV ??‍???‍?

Une publication partagée par JJ (@jjcraftingjourney) le 29 Juin 2019 à 6 :58 PDT

---

Diving into Your First Cricut Project

Since you’re a Cricut newbie, I bet you just got your first Cricut machine.  Did you go for the popular Cricut Explore Air or the Cricut Maker machine?

Well, starting with your first project can be overwhelming, but the good news is that there are tons of easy projects tailored just for beginners.

Think simple paper crafts like a birthday card or a gift tag. Or maybe even a simple paper project like paper flowers that make for great gifts.

And if you’re itching to try out iron-on vinyl, creating iron-on t-shirts is a fun way to begin. The best part?

There are plenty of free SVG cut files in my free templates section to get you started!

Cricut Materials and Accessories Guide

So now that you’ve seen a few of the projects I mentioned above, you’re probably wondering about what other kind of materials you can use with a Cricut machine.

There are tons of Cricut materials and accessories and the possibilities are endless. From adhesive vinyl projects to crafting faux leather earrings, there’s something for everyone.

Want to dabble in home decor? Infusible ink on tote bags or fun signs for your living room could be the perfect addition.

And if you’re curious about different materials, the Cricut Joy machine is fantastic for smaller items like pencil cases.

Start with the Cricut tutorials above and then you can work your way up to more complicated projects.

The Cricut blog itself is probably the ultimate guide to mastering your Cricut cutting machine.

Maximizing Your Cricut Experience

Looking for great ideas for your new Cricut machine? The perfect way to explore is through Cricut project ideas.

From easy beginner projects to more advanced crafts, there’s a treasure trove of Cricut ideas out there. Cricut vinyl projects are a hit, especially with transfer tape ensuring a smooth surface every time.

And if you’re on the hunt for fun projects, Cricut Access is a great place with a plethora of free Cricut projects if you have a subscription. 

Oh, and full disclosure, some of my blog post suggestions might contain affiliate links. This means I might earn a small commission at no extra cost or additional cost to you.

So here are some of the materials you can use:

• Vinyl: This is like the bread and butter for Cricut users. Perfect for those custom decals or funny bumper stickers. “Honk if you love crafting!” anyone?
• Cardstock: Ah, the classic. Ideal for greeting cards, scrapbooking, or even that cute little pop-up book you’ve been dreaming of creating for your niece.
• Leather: Feeling a bit edgy? Craft yourself some chic earrings or a keychain with your name on it.
• Fabric: Quilters and fashionistas can use the Cricut rotary blade to cut intricate patterns without fumbling around with scissors.

And let’s not forget about the accessories! The Cricut EasyPress is a game-changer for iron-on projects. And those cutting mats? They come in different grips depending on your material. So, always have a few on hand!

Cricut Design Space Tutorial:

Since you’re new to this, you might want to take a look around Cricut Design Space to see what kind of things you can make with it. Let’s get you started, step by step.

1. Launching the Software: First things first, open up that Design Space. It’s where all the magic happens!
2. Importing SVG Files: Got a cool design in mind? Click on the ‘Upload’ button, find your SVG, and bam! It’s in your workspace.
3. Editing and Customizing: Drag, drop, resize, and recolor to your heart’s content. The world (or at least the design space) is your oyster!
4. Ready, Set, Cut: Once you’re happy with your masterpiece, hit ‘Make It’ and watch your Cricut come to life.

Remember, practice makes perfect. So, play around and make mistakes. You’ll find the best tricks from these little accidents.

I’ve got a few blog posts and video tutorials to help you with the tricky stuff in Design Space. Check them out below.

• How to Make Borders in Cricut
• How to Unweld an Image in Design Space
• Tips to Fill in Font on Cricut
• Cricut Curve Text Not Working?

Maintenance and Care for Your Cricut Machine

Let’s talk about how you can keep your beloved Cricut in tip-top shape. 

• Cleaning: Dust and debris are a no-no. Gently wipe down your machine with a soft cloth. And for those tiny crevices? A soft brush works wonders.
• Blade Replacement: Notice your cuts aren’t as sharp? Might be time for a new blade. Don’t worry; it’s a cinch to switch out.
• Storage Tips: Keep your Cricut in a cool, dry place. And if you’re not using it for a while, a cover keeps the dust bunnies at bay.

Troubleshooting: Every now and then, tech can be… well, a bit moody. Like you can’t connect your Cricut to your computer right when you have one hour to start a new project?!

But don’t worry! The Cricut community is huge, and there’s always someone who’s been there, done that, and got the t-shirt (probably made with a Cricut).

Conclusion

Are you ready to make your first Cricut project?  I hope so.

If you really want to make it special, customize it with your own svg image. 

If you don’t know how to make svg images, sign up for my So Simple SVG Files course to learn how. I will walk you through the steps to make simple shapes and turn them into drawings that you can save as svg files.

You’ll even learn how to make a stencil to use for a few of the crafts from the list above.

• 

• 

•