How to Use Cricut Pens? [A Beginner’s Guide]

Cricut pens are wonderful Cricut accessories that make your Cricut project look more detailed and handmade. Cricut pens work on detailing and can use them to add beautiful text to the project, such as adding text to greeting cards. You must know a few things about Cricut pens before using them, which we will discuss in this blog. One thing to note is to use the right Cricut Pen to make your project. Let’s see how to use Cricut pens. 

What Should You Know Before Using Cricut Pens?

All Cricut machines have their specific Cricut pens, and they are designed to fit into their clamps. These pens have Cricut written on their bodies and come in various colors, types, and weights. Check the packaging before using them; they should match your Cricut machine model. Cricut Maker’s and Cricut Explore’s pens are identical, but Cricut Joy has a different set of pens, as Cricut Joy is smaller than other models. 

So how would you know which Pen is good for you? There are a variety of Cricut pens for different uses. With the help of these pens, you can create thick and thin lines as per your need. 

Extra fine point pens (0.3): These Cricut pens create very fine lines and are ideal for small detailing on your projects and for writing words and text. 

Fine point pens (0.4, 0.5): These pens create an intermediate line between thick and thin and produce a nice finish that looks visible enough to see but not too thick. 

Pens & Markers (0.8, 1.0): These pens are used for creating a heavier line, so they can’t be used for detailing. They will be a good fit for creating thicker lines. 

Heavy / Calligraphy pens (2.0, 2.5): These pens are ideal for creating a very thick line, and most have slanted tips. You can use them when you need a thick line and project details. 

How to Use Cricut Pens to Draw?

You will have to change some settings to draw with your Cricut pens. For example, Cricut is designed to cut images by default. Hence, if you place a design, the machine will cut it instead of drawing it. You can also change any cut outline to be drawn instead of changing it to Pen. To do this, select the layer and tap Pen under the operation drop-down menu in the top toolbar. 

Now, the cut lines will change into pen lines. 

Set Text to the Pen Operation

Again, inserting text into your design will also work in the cut operation, and the machine will cut the words out of the material by default. You can change the line of text to Pen by changing the operation. Then, select the layer,  then select Pen from the Operation menu in the top toolbar. When you change the operation type, it creates outlines of letters.

Steps to Create Handwritten Text

If you want your text to look handwritten, you must change the font to a writing style. Keep the font selected, click the Style menu in the top toolbar, and search Writing under Bold, italic, etc. Once you click “Writing”, the font will change to single strokes instead of outlines. 

However, not all Cricut fonts have a Writing option. So, if you require a project with an absolute handwritten appearance, you must recognize Writing fonts by filtering them with the Font Menu. 

Find Draw Images in Cricut Design Space

You can switch any design to a pen operation. Various designs are designed to be drawn instead of cut in the Cricut Design Space Image Library. All these images are designed to create finer details with Pen. 

To find these images, click the Draw only filter under the operation type in the Image Library. It will show you many good designs that can be drawn without creating outlines. When you filter for Cut + Draw under Operation Type in the Image Library, many images will appear where Draw details are included as a separate layer on the top of Cut designs. 

FAQs 

Why Use Cricut Pens?

The main purpose of Cricut pens is to write and draw text, make fine designs, and many more. They can create fine and heavy lines as per your needs. There are various types of Cricut pens for different purposes.

Can I Use Cricut Pens Without a Cricut Machine?

You can use Cricut pens without a Cricut machine and make handmade designs and texts. These pens are like any regular pen and can be used for various purposes. 

What Paper Should I Use With Cricut Pens?

When you use Cricut pens or markers, you should use laser copy paper. You should not draw the design directly onto the blank. Then, you can use laser copy paper as a sheet to transfer the design onto the blank.  

How to Customize Cricut Water Bottle?

If you are looking for creative and fun DIY projects for summer, you can try creating personalized water bottles with your Cricut machine. Summertime is coming, and staying hydrated is important during the scorching heat. During summertime, you can see many adults and kids carrying water bottles with them; they use them when thirsty to rehydrate themselves. 

You can also customize these normal and plain-looking water bottles with designs, images, or message you like. These customized water bottles make great gifts for kids and friends. It's a great way to remind them to keep themselves hydrated. Blank water bottles are easy to find and customize; whether it is a decal or sticker on a plastic bottle or stainless-steel water, there is something for everyone here.

What Items Do You Need to Make a Customized Water Bottle?

To make customized water, you first need a Cricut machine; use Cricut Explore or Maker model. Second, you'll need a blank water bottle; you can find these at craft stores and online. Third, you will need some adhesive vinyl in assorted colors. You can either use permanent or adhesive vinyl, depending on your choice. Use removable vinyl if you intend to use the design briefly. And lastly, a transfer tape to apply the vinyl to the bottle. You may also need a Cricut XL scraper.

What is the Best Cricut Vinyl for Water Bottles?

When you are looking for the best Cricut vinyl to customize your Cricut water bottles, you need to keep things in mind. You must first consider the type of water bottle you will use. If you use a stainless-steel water bottle for the project, you must find a vinyl specially made for that type of surface. The second thing you must remember is the water bottle's design. If the water bottle features a simple design, then any vinyl will do the trick. In contrast, if the water bottle boasts a more complex design, you must find vinyl specially designed for such multi-color designs. 

Last, you must remember the frequency of using the water bottle with the vinyl applied. If you only use it occasionally, then vinyl can do the job. But if you plan to use it frequently, you would want to use a durable vinyl that can handle repeated use and washing. Cricut permanent vinyl is perfect for water bottle projects, as it is designed to withstand all kinds of harsh conditions and can easily last up to three years or more. The same vinyl adds decals to several mailboxes and cars, giving you an idea of their durability.

Customizing Blank Water Bottles Using a Cricut Machine

Once all the necessary items are ready, you can proceed to the next step, customizing blank water bottles. We will use two blank stainless steel water bottles; one is straight-sided, and the other is a wave-shaped bottle with a slimmer neck, as an example, to keep things simple for you. The same process can be followed to customize other types of water bottles.

• First, measure your water bottle to determine the size of your design.

• Next, open the Design Space app to edit your design and size the images properly. For the straight-sided bottles, set the sign of the image at 4" wide. 

• The wave-shaped bottle will require extra effort, as you'll need to add a bit of a curve to any text applied on a curved surface. It is done because when a straight line is applied to a curved surface, it doesn't produce straight results.

• There are easy and hard ways to do it. The easy way is to play around with the curvature of the text in the app until you get it right. The hard way involves scanning a paper template of your water bottle in the Design Space app for a precise curvature measurement.

• Then, use Cricut Explore or Maker to cut the adhesive vinyl. But before cutting the design, mirror your design so that it will be cut in reverse on the vinyl sheet.

• Use the weeding tool to remove the excess vinyl from the design.

• Cover the vinyl design with the transfer tape to apply the design to the water bottle. Furbish the vinyl with the XL scraper, and peel off the transfer tape.

• Once your design is imprinted on the bottle's surface, carefully remove the transfer tape, and you're done.

Some Cool Cricut Water Bottle Projects

If you look forward to creating customized water bottles, some projects will inspire you to get started. For your next crafting session, you can try any of these projects.

• Custom stainless-steel bottle: The stainless-steel water bottles made with vinyl look simple but gorgeous. For such projects, we recommend using bright color vinyl, but if you are using bright-colored water bottles, you can use white color vinyl to create the design as they don't overpower the design.

• Simple and plain workout water bottle: This is a perfect and fun project for gym goers. They have to rehydrate themselves during the workout frequently and occasionally sip water. But no one says that you can't look cool doing it. Gym water bottles are simple and plain looking; you can use a motivational quote to customize them.

• Customizing Kid's water bottle: If you have a kid or want to gift a kid something useful and personal, the custom kids' water bottles are great options. Customizing these bottles is very easy. For the design, you can write the kid's name on the waterproof label or a design that the kid loves. If he is a Disney fan, you can use Disney SVG files that are available out there that you can use to put on water bottles.

FAQs

How can you customize a blank water bottle?

When it comes to customizing water bottles with a Cricut machine, the possibilities are endless. 

• You can add vinyl lettering or decals 

• Make your stickers to add personality to your water bottle. Just peel and stick them onto the water bottle.

• To completely change the look of the water bottle, wrap the whole thing in washi tape.

• Paint it yourself with acrylics, enamels, or spray paint.

Is there a website to customize your water bottle?

If you want to customize your water bottle, you can check out the Cricut Water Bottle website. It allows you to customize the water bottle with different designs, colors, text, and images to make it look unique.

Where can you buy blank water bottles for the Cricut machine?

While looking for blank water bottles, you need to ensure that the bottles you will use are made from safe and foo-grade materials. Look for bottles that are compatible with the Cricut machine. Lastly, take the price and quantity of the bottles into consideration. You can purchase these bottles from the local craft store, or you can purchase them online.

Source By : design.cricut.com/setup