How to cut vinyl on Cricut
A Cricut cutter is an effective and easy vinyl monogram machine. Create your own vinyl monogram letters that you can use for many different purposes and projects. These instructions show you how to make a vinyl monogram but you can use the same method to create anything.
Equipment:
- Standard grip mat
- Cricut vinyl
- Craft stick or Cricut scraper
- Weeder tool
Method:
- Open our free monogram maker and create your own monogram.
- Download as a png or SVG image.
- Open Cricut Design Space.
- Sign in with your Cricut ID.
- Click on “New Project”.
- Click on “Upload”.
- Click on “Upload Image”.
- Click on “Browse”.
- Select the monogram template that you downloaded in step 2.
- If you have any white areas then move on to the next step. If you only have black and transparent areas then move on to step 14. Transparent areas are shown as blue and white checkerboard.
- Click on “moderately complex”. Click on “Close” and then on “Continue”.
- Under “select and erase” click on “advanced options”. You can leave the options at the default settings:
- Reduce Colors: 16
- Color Tolerance: 16
- Click on the white area on each letter with your cursor to erase it. It will become transparent.
- Click on “Continue”.
- Click on “Save as a Cut File”.
- Click on “Save”.
- Select the monogram and click on “Insert Images”.
- Measure the size that you want your monogram to be. The easiest method is to place the object on which you are going to put your monogram onto the cutting mat. See how many squares your monogram will take up on your cutting mat. Change the size of the monogram so that it fits the final size that you want it to be.
- Click on “Make It”.
- Place the vinyl onto your Cricut cutting mat with the liner side down. Do not remove the liner. The standard grip cutting mat (light green) is the ideal mat to use for vinyl. Insert your mat with the vinyl on it.
- If you put the vinyl on the mat right side down then click on “Mirror”. If not, go to the next step.
- Click on “Continue”.
- Turn your Cricut cutter on.
- Make sure that your Cricut is set to Vinyl.
- Click on “Open” if your machine is not open.
- Press the flashing “load” button.
- Press the flashing “Go” button.
- Press the flashing “unload” button.
There are two methods to apply the vinyl monogram
Apply Vinyl Monogram Directly
Use this method when you have large letters without any intricate details.
- Clean the surface on which you are going to apply your monogram.
- Remove the cut vinyl monogram using the Weeder tool (from the Cricut tool kit). Make sure that you leave the monogram intact.
- Peel away the vinyl liner.
- Place the vinyl monogram onto your surface.
- Use a craft stick or Cricut scraper to burnish the vinyl onto the surface. Start at the center and move toward the sides.
- Get rid of any bubbles.
Use Cricut Transfer Tape
Use this method when you have small delicate pieces.
- Remove the negative pieces of the cut vinyl monogram using the Weeder tool (from the Cricut tool kit). Make sure that you leave the monogram intact.
- Remove a piece of transfer tape that is larger than the size of the monogram.
- Place the transfer tape over the monogram with the adhesive side down.
- Get rid of any bubbles.
- Make sure the surface on which you are going to apply your monogram is clean.
- Peel away the vinyl liner.
- Place the transfer tape with the vinyl monogram onto your surface.
- Use a craft stick or Cricut scraper to burnish the transfer tape onto the surface. Start at the center and move toward the sides.
- Peel the transfer tape away from the vinyl monogram.
This page describes how to make a monogram on Cricut using Vinyl. If you would like to use another method to make monogram letters then see Cricut Monogram for other ideas.