Cricut Die Cutting Machine -- Paper Tips

Die cuts are shapes used to decorate your scrapbook layouts. They can be letters, pictures, frames, etc. Die cuts are an easy way to make your pages standout and look fabulous. It used to be that die cuts were only available to purchase in stores because the machines used to make these embellishments were so expensive. Now, there are many die cutting machines on the market that are priced low enough for individuals to make die cuts at home. Like most die cut machines, the Cricut machine has cartridges that must be purchased separately. The die cut machine costs about $300 and the cartridges range from $39.99 to $99.99.

The Cricut machine is designed to cut paper and cardstock. Other paper or materials may work, but they are not guaranteed. In order to avoid wasting paper, it is a good idea to know the dimensions of the shapes you are cutting. If you are not sure, you can use the “air cut” on the machine to get an idea of how big your die cut will be. The paper size setting is automatically set at 6 x 12. If your paper is smaller than 6 x 12, make sure you line it up with the bottom left corner of the mat. Then, set your cutting blade to the upper right corner of the paper and before you cut, push the “select paper size” button to change the paper dimensions.