GM Crafts Cricut Joy Mat Free Smart Machine Setting Compatible Vinyl Tutorial With Heat Active Colour Changing HTV

Hello!

Welcome to another tutorial blog!  This week we are bringing you a tutorial to use with our new Cricut Joy mat free smart settings compatible Vinyl – this has been exclusively created for you to use without your cutting mat on your Cricut joy machines. This tutorial will work with any design and any of our Joy Vinyls, available in self adhesive as well as HTV. And of course don’t forget to use those left overs and scraps on your cutting matt too- we have all the different settings advice for all our vinyl — with and without the mat in the 2 links below.

CLICK HERE TO USE MATT FREE WITH ALL THE SETTINGS YOU NEED

CLICK HERE TO USE ON YOUR MAT WITH ALL THE SETTINGS YOU NEED

We would love to see what you make!  Have you found our  You Tube channel yet? The videos showing all of our tutorials are available on there, as well as exclusive demos, inspiration and more!  Join us on Facebook , Instagram or Tiktok or  send us an email to [email protected]  we would love to hear from you!

 

What you’ll need

• Cricut Joy Available here
• Joy HTV available here
• GM Crafty Mini Press and Mat Here
• LED  Cricut Bright pad Go Available Here
• Squeegee.  Available Here
• GM Vinyl Scrap Collector. Available Here
• Weeding tweezers . Or Weeding hook. Available Here
• Scissors from the tool kit. Available Here.
• Hat, Vest, T-shirt or bag etc of your choice.
• Silicone Paper, this is like the baking paper you can buy in the supermarket on a roll for the kitchen- DO NOT USE TEFLON
• Cut files click here to view all our files available

Instructions;

1. Before you start you will need to download the cut files for your chosen machine, link above. Unzip the file to use it by right clicking it in your downloads.

2. Upload the one titled Cricut into the design space. Click “Upload Image” on the left-hand Design Panel, and navigate to the files you want to open. Select ‘Insert image’ and select cut images. Click save. When it has been uploaded, Insert the images onto the canvas and resize to suit your project, I then right click and ungroup, before I delete any parts I don’t want if appropriate, before welding the design, so it cuts with everything in the correct place as one file. Be sure to choose joy as your machine at the top as shown highlighted below. Click Make it, before choosing to cut without the mat on the next screen.

(This vinyl can also be cut on your mat too!)

3. Click continue in the bottom right on the next screen. Then in the next window make sure your settings are all set to the successful settings from your test cut and ensure your machine is linked before proceeding to cut. Cut settings: (**please test cut) Apply the settings needed for your chosen Vinyl, we made it with our GM Heat Active Joy Vinyl, without the mat, on the cut setting- Smart Iron on  with Default pressure.

 If you are using a mat or a different machine, please adjust your settings and remember to test cut a small shape first.

**A reminder that these settings, including the blade setting, are specific to the materials and machine we’re using, adjustments may be necessary if using different materials and machine**

CLICK HERE TO USE MATT FREE WITH ALL THE SETTINGS YOU NEED

CLICK HERE TO USE ON YOUR MAT WITH ALL THE SETTINGS YOU NEED

We always recommend before proceeding, you test cut your materials when first using so if you have not recently used this product in your machine. Please test cut for your chosen machine found on our Application guide, and also Blog.  Load the Vinyl chosen individually for each layer.

TOP TIP REMEMBER TO MIRROR HTV DESIGNS

 

4. Take your roll of chosen Joy Vinyl and load it into the Joy, addressing it to the front of the machine once you have the settings as per the above screen, the Joy will automatically load it for you, and proceed to checking the length of material will suit the design you have ready to cut. It will then need you to click GO once it has scanned the length, and will cut the design, once cut the machine flashes and waits for you to click the unload button on the screen once completed. See below.

5. Once you have unloaded the vinyl as above, you will need to cut the unused vinyl from the sheet to save waste, remember if you wish to use any left over on your mat, you will need to adjust your settings. Switch on your LED weeding pad, and proceed to remove any excess vinyl, leaving the design only behind on the carrier sheet.

LOOK HOW THIS VINYL REACTS TO MY WARM HANDS AND CHANGES COLOUR

6. Switch your GM Crafty Mini press on, by holding it down, and then press again to set the light to the second middle setting, see below, For all Vinyl please refer to our  Application guide,

Place the easy press Mat under the garment and preheat once the press is ready for 10 seconds to remove any moisture, please note ensure the hat is supported under the press area, or if using a T-shirt the neck or sleeve opening and seams are off the pressing mat so not to interfere with the pressure needed during application.

Check our guide here for more information on applying and using HTV successfully.

7. Take your design, place it on your item ready to apply. Once your mini press light turns green it is ready to use. Press each area of the vinyl on the front firmly, we are using Heat active and are NOT layering so press each area for 10 seconds.

Check our guide here for more information on applying and using HTV successfully.

 We let it cool before peeling, if any areas have not stuck quickly repress firmly for 2 seconds on that area only, firmly, then remove the carrier sheet.

Look how this changes colour when heated! Don’t forget your finished design can be matched by using any material cut using a cutting file, card, self adhesive vinyl or even HTV. We’d love to see your makes on our social media pages! Or email them in!