CRICUT at Canada Library

Canada Students,  sign up for an Introduction to our CRICUT Cutting Machine.

On April 10, at 9:00 am or April 16 at 10:30 am the Cañada Library will hold a 90 minutes seminar introducing Canada students to basic use of our CRICUT machine. When no introduction seminars are offered, do self-study and take the self test (see lower boxes). Successful completion of the test gives you access to the Cricut cutter by appointment.

Dates & Time April 10, 2024 from 9:00 am to 10:30 am, Or

             April 16, 2024 from  10:30 - 12:00   

Location: meet at the Cañada Library Information Literacy Lab

Available seats for this seminar are limited. Signups are first come first served. In this seminar we will:

• introduce our CRICUT  Explore 3 machine
• look at the CRICUT Design Space software,(the free software required to use CRICUT machines)
• review a workflow for CRICUT projects
• making practice cuts on paper, then cutting a small permanent vinyl sticker. 
  • We will supply the construction paper, and small pieces of vinyl for sesseion craft projects.

Watch these videos to gain some familiarity with what the CRICUT machine can do.

Basic Videos:

1. Basic review of the machine and common tools (Run time 8:41).

2. Operating the Cricut – Begin viewing  at 1 minute and 45 seconds (Run time 16:29)

3. Cricut Design Space - the must-use CRICUT software - Part 1 (Run time 5:54)

4. Cricut Maker Tools (Run time: 7: 43)

As you are developing your CRICUT skills, we highly recommend that you do all your projects in paper first, then after repeat your work using vinyl. This should help minimize wasted use of your vinyl (supplied by you).   

1. Paper cutting project
   • Connect and power up the CRICUT Explore machine. Online access to "Design Space" software is allowed when your PC detects a connection to a CRICUT machine.
   • Open Design space, using the generic Canada college student account. The login name is, "canlibcricut@gmail.com". The password will be given in the seminar.
     • Click on "New Project" in the upper right hand corner.
     • On the upper right, next to "My Stuff" and under the "head", see that the machine is set to "Explore 3"                                                                                                                          
     • Click on the "My Stuff" button, upper right hand corner to see the design files available for this seminar.
     • Choose from feel free design files that we have uploaded for use in this seminar. To stay within time limits, participants can only use one of these files.
   • Click on the "My Stuff" button, upper right hand corner to see the design files available for this seminar.
     • Click on the "Create" logo file, then click "Add to Canvas" (in green oval) Or, "Make it"
     • Mouse over the "Create" image, be sure it is within the dimensions of your piece of stock.
     • On your computer, click "Continue" "MAKE" ( green oval), for this seminar to not "Save",
     • At "Set Base Material" page, select Cardstock for paper, Premium Vinyl - Permanent Glossy for vinyl
   • Place your paper or vinyl stock on the appropriate  cutting mat example: "Standard grip for paper" lining it up to the upper left or upper right corner of the mat. Use the roller to ensure an even flat lay of your paper.
     • Select Pressure for cardstock at "More" for your first try,
     • Select Pressure for vinyl at "More" for your vinyl cutting.
   • PRESS the "arrows" up & down button, "GO" the flashing button on the machine, the mat will feed in,
   • PRESS the "GO" the flashing button on the cutting machine, the cutting will start,
   • When done, Push the
     • Eject the cut job,
     • Weed the cut job, use the picks and tweezers to remove unwanted sections of paper,
     • Remove your finished cut paper design.
2. Vinyl (permanent) cutting project for a sticker
   • Connect and power up the CRICUT Explore machine. Online access to "Design Space" software is allowed when your PC detects a connection to a CRICUT machine.
   • Open Design Space, choose from the free designs and upload it,
   • Cut your piece of vinyl to the appropriate size. Use the roller to lay it out evenly on the cutting mat.
   • Eject the cut job,
   • Weed the cut job, use the picks and tweezers to remove unwanted sections of vinyl,
   • Cut a piece of transfer tape of equal size to your original piece of vinyl,
     • remove backing from transfer tape, place in on top of your weeded vinyl design, use the roller to carefully roll over the transfer take using pressure,
   • Slowly lift up the transfer tape, your design in all it parts should lift up with the transfer tape,
   • Place the transfer tape holding your cut vinyl over your mug or water bottle, press it down carefully, rub over the vinyl design with pressure, slowly peel off the transfer tape, and your vinyl design should be transferred.