GM Crafts Cricut Maker and Air Print and Cut Tutorial and Free Print and Cut files

Hello!

Welcome to another tutorial blog! (Click here for Silhouette tutorial for this) We hope this tutorial sparks some great creative ideas for you! This design can be used in a variety of ways, cut it out of Self adhesive printable Vinyl as the below tutorial shows, add it to planners, diaries and wipeable boards too!

This design can of course be used for adults, kids, and we created it for our design team member’s Autistic son! use it for almost anything that you wish to personalise.

We would love to see what you make! Have you found our You Tube channel yet? The video showing this and all of our other 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 Maker . Available here
Or Silhouette Cameo 4. Available here (Instructions for the Cameo Click here and Brother machines at the bottom!)
GM Printable Magnets Available here
Blackboard Vinyl. Available here
Squeegee. Available here
Scissors and chalk from your own stash.
Rubbing alcohol and lint free cloth should you wish here
Cut files, are free below! Including Silhouette (Separate Blog to follow). Cricut and Brother instructions to follow at the end.

WATCH THIS BEING MADE HERE

Magnetic week planner PRINT AND CUT FILES click here

Instructions:

1. Before you start, you need to download the print and cut files for your machine above. Upload each PNG into the design space. Click “Upload Image” on the left-hand Design Panel, and navigate to the file you want to open. Select ‘Insert image’ and select image type ‘Complex’ when prompted. Next you’ll be asked to delete any space that does not get cut, you can skip this part by pressing ‘continue’. When asked if they’re print-then-cut images or just cut images, select print and cut images. Click save. When uploaded, Insert the images onto the canvas and resize to suit your project. When re-sizing for this project I measure the A4 sheet taking into account the registration marks to ensure it will fit. I bring both sheets of the design onto the mat as it will be on the project so I can then get the entire size for both in one box so I get the over all design size correct with no hassle.

2. Be sure to choose the print and cut option in the operation drop down box, before clicking make it. On the next screen, If using the Cricut Maker 3 then you will need to choose to cut on the mat (unless using smart media)

3. Check on the next screen your design fits in the print border as below. Click Continue.

4. Next choose select printer, before checking your screen matches the settings on ours, with your chosen printer. Once you are happy, place the magnetic sheet in your INKJET Printer, and click print. Please see following notes on how to perfect your print.

To ensure your printed design works perfectly when cutting on the machine, the first place to start is not the cutting machine, but the media you are using (the sheet) and the printer you are printing with.

Almost 90% of print and cut issues are because the printer isn’t printing perfect, I will try to explain, apologies for the level of detail but it is complex to explain when not sat beside you. When you put the paper into the printer it must be square and even before you start (sometimes if your A4 sheet can be slightly cut wonky literally a few mm on one side makes a complete difference when printing, you’ll see why in a second, so always check the sheet is square).

When in the printer it must be tight in the tray so when the printer loads it and brings it round the rollers it does not move again, a few mm or even 1 mm when moved slightly down the page, literally destroys the accuracy of the registration marks completely.

For example, my previous printer had a loading bay for the paper, with an adjustable arm on one side that acts like a clamp to hold the paper in the loading tray , as my printer pulls the paper through to feed round the rollers if I pinch it too little or too much there is a slight difference by the time the whole sheet has printed, and it will never cut the whole sheet accurately, this is often seen by the top (or bottom) being perfect cuts and the other end has a offset very slightly when cut, this is the printer process to blame.

Also you must make sure the registration mark is bold enough some people make it too small , and again it is best to space the design out so the lenses can read it when cutting correctly, Print and cut mostly replies on that registration mark as it’s guide and cuts where the lines are on the screen only and will not convert the print on the sheet to the cut if that makes sense? When printing those registration marks are best kept on default on the software, and should they bleed or look less than a sharp edge it will cause you reading issues.

I have some customers who will watch the printer feed to ensure it isn’t moving or slipping on one roller side which again will cause the same issue.

When using the media (printed sheet) it must be suited to your printer type- so for example inkjet only sheets must be on a inkjet printer. When printing, if not using our media you must ask the manufacturer for their print settings, ours you need best or photo print quality only.

The last thing is to check your cutting machine is calibrated and Cricut website will have a tutorial and guide on doing that too. Or again pop into google how do I calibrate my “machine”

It is worth noting Cricut update their software very regularly and before moving onto troubleshooting it is worth checking yours is a current version, You can do this by visiting their website, download the current version and then open it to install, it will automatically remove the previous version.

Once your software has been updated, please connect your machine via the USB to check if it needs a firmware update, again instructions for this are found on the website or add it to your google search.

Please see attached links to refer to;

Please follow these steps to resolve any print and cut issues you have;

https://help.cricut.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009387274-How-do-I-Print-Then-Cut-in-Design-Space-

Error message not reading cut sensor marks- Important: Reflective materials, colored materials, or materials containing any kind of pattern may interfere with the cut sensor marks being read by the Cricut Explore machine. Please try a mat label sticker on the registration marks area to side step this and follow the link below;

https://help.cricut.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009426434-I-m-getting-an-error-that-the-machine-cannot-read-the-cut-sensor-marks

Calibrating your machine for Print Then Cut; Note: Depending on your current offset, you may find more than one calibration is needed. Choose to refine the calibration as needed until you are satisfied with the cut results.

https://help.cricut.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009424974-Calibrating-your-machine-for-Print-Then-Cut

5. Once printed, you can then place the sheet on your mat and load it into your machine, then the Cricut play button will flash for you to cut the sheet. 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) Press the flashing Cricut symbol on your maker to cut, after loading the sheet into the machine. Apply the settings needed for your chosen media, we made it with our GM Printable Magnet sheets on the maker 3, and used the Printable Magnetic sheet setting on the Cricut maker 3 with Default pressure.

**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**

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.

6. Your machine will make a series of passes to check the print borders before proceeding to cut. Once cut remove the cut parts and waste from the sheet, and then repeat with the second sheet. Whilst this is printing, be sure to clean the fridge or magnetic surface with the rubbing Alcohol so it can dry.

7. Take the Blackboard vinyl, and trim to the size of your chosen surface, using scissors, paper trimmer or cutting machine. Apply from the top down gently rolling the backing away from under, whilst using your squeegee, see below.

8. Once applied, you can now use the magnets of your choice, with chalk to personalise and change until your heart’s content! 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!

Silhouette Cut File

Instructions: Please see individual Blog click here

Brother Cut File

Download and then Print these sheets individually using your printer, and then use the direct scan to cut function with your scanning mat or on your cut mat accordingly.

Cut settings are found here

Just incase you need the link CanvasWorkspace (brother.com)