I'll never forget the first time I tried making stickers with my Cricut. I was so excited that I loaded the machine, hit print, and watched in horror as it cut right through my dining table's protective mat. That expensive lesson taught me something valuable: the Print Then Cut feature is incredibly powerful, but only when you know what you're doing.
After two years of making custom stickers for my small business and countless trials (and errors), I've learned the shortcuts, troubleshooting tricks, and design secrets that nobody tells beginners. Today, I'm sharing everything I wish someone had told me on day one.
Why Print Then Cut Changes Everything
Before we dive into the how-to, let me explain why Print Then Cut is such a game-changer. Unlike traditional die-cut stickers that require expensive equipment, this method lets you create full-color, intricate designs using just your home printer and Cricut machine.
I started making stickers because I wanted custom packaging for my Etsy shop, but ordering minimum quantities of 100+ stickers seemed wasteful. Print Then Cut gave me the freedom to test designs, print exactly what I needed, and keep my inventory lean. Within months, those "test" stickers became my best-selling product.
What You Actually Need (No Fluff)
- Cricut Machine: Maker, Explore, or Joy models all work (I use the Explore Air 2)
- Inkjet or Laser Printer: Your regular home printer works perfectly
- Printable Sticker Paper: White or clear vinyl (more on this below)
- StandardGrip Cutting Mat: The green mat works best for sticker paper
- Fine-Point Blade: Comes standard with most Cricut machines
- Cricut Design Space: Free software (desktop or mobile app)
Step 1: Design Your Stickers (The Right Way)
Open Cricut Design Space and either upload your own designs or browse the library. Here's where most beginners stumble: resolution matters enormously.
Your images should be at least 300 DPI (dots per inch). I made blurry stickers for an entire month before I realized my downloaded clipart was only 72 DPI. Now I always check image quality before committing to a design. If an image looks pixelated when you zoom in 200% on your screen, it'll look worse printed.
Design Space Setup:
- Create a new project in Design Space
- Upload or select your design elements
- Arrange your stickers efficiently on the canvas (leave at least 0.25 inches between designs)
- Add a small offset border if you want that professional white outline
- Flatten all layers for each individual sticker design
The Flatten function is crucial. It converts your multi-layer design into a single printable image. I spent my first week confused about why my stickers printed in black and white until I discovered this button hidden in the Layers panel.
Step 2: Print Your Stickers (Avoid My Mistakes)
Click "Make It" in Design Space. This is where the magic happens, but also where things can go wrong.
Critical settings: When the print dialog appears, select "Print Then Cut." Design Space will automatically add registration marks (those black squares and lines around your design). These marks tell your Cricut exactly where to cut.
Printer Settings That Matter:
Set your printer to the highest quality setting. I use "Best" or "High Quality" rather than "Normal." Yes, it uses more ink, but the difference in color vibrancy is dramatic. Also, make sure you're printing on the correct side of the sticker paper (the shinier side for most brands).
After printing, let the ink dry for at least 10-15 minutes. I know you're excited (I always am), but smudged registration marks mean calibration failure. I've ruined entire sheets by being too impatient.
Step 3: Load and Let Your Cricut Work Its Magic
Place your printed sheet on the StandardGrip mat (green), aligning the top edge carefully. The registration marks need to be fully on the mat, or the scanner won't read them properly.
Loading Checklist:
- Smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles in your sticker sheet
- Ensure the entire printed area is within the mat's grid area
- Load the mat into your Cricut (it feeds automatically)
- Select your material in Design Space: "Sticker Paper" works for most types
- Press the flashing "Go" button
Your Cricut will scan the registration marks first. You'll see the scanning light move across the page. This takes about 30 seconds. If it fails, don't panic—I'll cover troubleshooting in a moment.
Once scanning succeeds, the blade moves into position and begins cutting. The sound is quieter than you'd expect—almost meditative. I've found this to be the most satisfying part of the entire process.
Troubleshooting: When Print Then Cut Goes Wrong
Let me save you hours of frustration by addressing the most common issues I've encountered and solved:
Problem: Registration Marks Not Detected
Solutions I've verified:
First, check your lighting. Cricut sensors struggle in dim conditions or under harsh overhead lights. I move my machine near a window on cloudy days. Second, ensure your registration marks printed completely in solid black. Faded or streaky marks cause failures. Third, clean your scanner lenses—those tiny glass dots near the blade carriage collect dust.
If problems persist, try the "Calibrate Print Then Cut" option in Design Space settings. I do this every month as preventive maintenance.
Problem: Cuts Are Slightly Off-Center
This haunted me for weeks until I discovered the solution. Your mat might be too sticky or not sticky enough. If sticker paper shifts even slightly during scanning, cuts misalign. I now use a brayer (small roller) to firmly press the entire sheet before loading.
Problem: Stickers Won't Weed Cleanly
If your designs are tearing when you try to remove excess material, you're likely cutting too deeply or not deeply enough. I increase pressure by one setting at a time until I find the sweet spot. For regular sticker paper, "Sticker Paper" setting works, but glossy vinyl often needs "Vinyl" setting instead.
Step 4: Finishing Touches That Make Your Stickers Professional
Once your Cricut finishes cutting, carefully unload the mat. Don't peel your stickers off immediately—that's amateur hour.
Weeding: Use a weeding tool (or a pin if you're scrappy like I was starting out) to remove the excess sticker material around your cuts. Work slowly, especially with intricate designs. I've learned that peeling at a 45-degree angle prevents tearing.
Optional but recommended: Apply a clear laminate over your stickers before weeding. This extra layer provides UV protection and scratch resistance. I didn't do this for my first 500 stickers, and I got complaints about fading. Now it's a non-negotiable step in my process.
For laminating, print your sheet, let it dry, run it through a laminator with clear laminate, then put it back in the Cricut for cutting. Yes, it's an extra step, but the quality difference is remarkable.
Creative Ideas (Because Plain Stickers Get Boring)
After mastering the basics, I started experimenting. Here are my favorite variations:
Kiss-Cut Stickers: Cut through the sticker but not the backing. This creates individual stickers on sheets—perfect for selling. Adjust your Cricut pressure to "Light" or "Medium" and test first.
Clear Stickers: Using transparent sticker paper creates that high-end look where designs appear to float on surfaces. These are trickier because registration marks can be faint, but the results are stunning.
Holographic Effects: Holographic printable vinyl exists, and it's magical. Your designs print on top of the holographic layer, creating an eye-catching shimmer. These sell out every time I list them.
Shaped Sheets: Instead of cutting individual stickers, try cutting the entire sheet into a custom shape. I've done this for packaging inserts and greeting card embellishments.
The Business Side (If You're Thinking About It)
I didn't plan to sell stickers—it just happened. After posting photos of my planner stickers on Instagram, people started asking if I sold them. Three years later, stickers represent 40% of my shop revenue.
Here's the honest breakdown: Each sticker sheet costs me about $0.50-0.75 in materials (paper, ink, laminate). I sell individual stickers for $3-5 and sheets for $8-12. The profit margin is healthy, but remember to factor in your time and packaging.
If you're considering selling, invest in a cutting system that lets you create sheets of multiple stickers rather than cutting each individually. I now design 8-12 stickers per sheet and kiss-cut them. This efficiency transformed my production capacity.
Final Thoughts from One Beginner to Another
Print Then Cut isn't just a Cricut feature—it's a creative gateway. What started as a way to make packaging stickers evolved into a genuine income stream and a craft I genuinely love.
Your first batch won't be perfect. Mine certainly wasn't. I cut through my mat, wasted entire sheets on calibration issues, and created more test stickers than finished products. But each mistake taught me something valuable.
The beauty of this method is its accessibility. You don't need specialized printing equipment or bulk orders. You can literally design, print, and cut a single sticker to test an idea. That freedom to experiment without financial risk is what makes Print Then Cut so powerful for beginners.
Start simple. Make a few basic shapes or text stickers. Get comfortable with the process. Then gradually add complexity as your confidence grows. Before you know it, you'll be the one answering questions in Facebook groups and sharing your own hard-won tips.
Now grab that Cricut, load some sticker paper, and start creating. Your first successful Print Then Cut project is just a few clicks away, and trust me—that feeling when you peel your first perfectly cut sticker from the mat? Absolutely worth every frustration along the way.
Post a Comment