One of the first questions I had before I bought my Cricut Explore Air 2 was “Is it easy to use a Cricut?” and ” If so, just how easy are we talking?” I am glad to say that it is super easy to use a Cricut machine of any type, even for someone who isn’t very crafty like me!
Cricut machines can be pricey so it was important that I was going to be able to use it. I have already written a few posts on the topic of Cricut like, will you use your Cricut enough to justify the price? Even how you can make money with your Cricut. But most people want to know just how easy it is to even use a Cricut before they spend money on one.
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Is it Easy to Use a Cricut?
Honesty from a Non-Crafter
I will admit that I was a bit skeptical before I used my Cricut Explore Air 2 for the first time. I don’t consider myself to be a crafter, I’m just not that creative. I did want to learn how to make my own shirts, mugs, decor, and birthday party decorations for my kids. I figured over time, it would save us a lot of money.
I will honestly say that the first project I did was a bit wonky. There is a bit of a learning curve. After doing a few projects, you can easily get the hang of it. With the ease of using Cricut Design Space, I have been able to make adorable pillows for my kids’ rooms.
I have made holiday shirts for the family, coasters and mugs for holiday gifts. I even made a tote bag to keep all of my Cricut supplies in one easy to find place.
If someone like me, a basic beginner crafter, can figure out how to use a Cricut machine it must be easy!
Practice Projects
One of the things I love about buying a new Cricut product is that they will come with a practice project to help you get your feet wet. It comes with all of the materials you need so you don’t have to worry about messing up any extra vinyl or infusible ink sheets (that can get expensive).
The Explore Air 2 came with materials and instructions on how to make a greeting card. It walks you through exactly how to set up your computer and prompts you with the next steps. This was a great way to get a feel for the machine and just how easy it is to use a Cricut.
When I received the Cricut Easypress, it came with a practice project as well. It had instructions and materials on how to make a little tote bag.
The practice projects are very easy and help you build confidence in using the products without worrying about messing up any extra materials you may have purchased.
The Ease of Using Cricut Design Space
Not only do I not consider myself a true crafter, but I’m not very tech savvy. I was a bit intimidated about using Cricut Design Space for the first time. I am happy to report that it really isn’t that scary.
There are so many projects, designs, and templates to choose from. You simply choose the projects that are already designed or choose a template for the project you want to create: shirt, mug, apron, etc.
Once you have everything the way that you want it, it will tell you exactly what you will need, what settings your machine will need to be adjusted to, and when to insert the material to be cut.
If this is your first time using Cricut Design Space, or you are doing a brand new project that you are unsure about, I would suggest instead of cutting your design on the material you will be using, do a trial cut first. Just put a piece of paper or construction paper on your mat and then have the Cricut cut the design on the paper.
The first few times I did my first project, my sizing was off and I ended up wasting a lot of vinyl. So until I got used to Design Space, I would cut it out on paper first to make sure everything looked right and then went back and cut it on the proper material.
I have no problem using Design Space now, but the first project did take a couple of tries.
Start with Easy Projects
I think the reason some people may find a Cricut difficult to use is because they are trying to make more advanced projects when they are first starting out. Don’t go overboard on projects until you get the hang of it.
I suggest starting with easy projects like shirts, pillowcases, makeup bags, and even mugs. Choose simple designs that aren’t going to take hours of weeding. For goodness sake, don’t choose a mandala design on your first project. They take forever to prep!
When you choose a project design from Cricut Design Space, it will tell you if it is easy or advanced. It will even tell you how long the project should take and if you keep scrolling down, it even gives you the materials needed and the exact step by step instructions.
I recommend choosing a project that is already designed instead or trying to upload your own until you get the hang of doing some of the easier projects first.
Youtube Tutorials Are Your Best Friend
If you still aren’t sure about the instructions or you want to see it done before you get started, check out Youtube. Watching Cricut Youtube tutorials really helped me gain confidence in using my Cricut.
Make sure to search for specific projects that you want to do and you can simply follow along. Cricut has their own Youtube channel with tips and tricks but you can easily use the Youtube search bar to find other channels and other ideas.
I like watching a few different videos on the same topic because you may pick up some little tips and hacks to make your project even easier.
I hope this gave you a little bit of insight into just how easy it is to use a Cricut. If someone like me can figure out how to use it, anybody can! Is it easy to use a Cricut? Yes!!!
