Cricut Crafts with Explore Air 2 | Make Your Own Rapunzel Inspired Magic Mug
What can I do with a Cricut Explore Air 2? It is the best home cutting machine for both beginners to craft cutting and experienced crafters. Try this!
What Can I Do With A Cricut Explore Air 2?
Have you been asking yourself, “What can I do with a Cricut Explore Air 2?”
Maybe you received a Cricut Cutting Machine for Christmas or your birthday and you want to get started, but feel overwhelmed with how to begin. Maybe you added it to your list of things to buy but are doing research to see what your first project should be. Wherever you find yourself, start here.
I’ll be covering the basics and have the perfect first Cricut project for you!
When my packages arrived, I was so excited!! I quickly thought about ALL THE THINGS I wanted to create with the Cricut Explore Air 2. That excitement turned to nervousness as I sat down and started to navigate Design Space.
The pictures made everything look so easy!
But when I tried adding text and images, it looked far from the original.
I scrapped four projects before finding my groove.
Letting go of perfectionism was hard. Instead of trying to go big and creative, I started with small and basic to give myself a win. We all have to start somewhere.
So if you look up and see your Cricut Explore Air 2 staring at you from the box, I want you to take a deep breath and remove the trappings.
It’s time.
If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect.
You’ve got this.
Why The Explore Air 2?
I used to be crafty before having kids. I was even kind of crafty after my first and partly crafty after my second. Somewhere after having baby number three though, crafting went out the window as I struggled to simply survive the day.
When I was crafty, I made cards with stamps, I had a different brand of cutting machine, and my sewing machine was frequently put to use. We turned the dining room into my craft room and it was perfect. Slowly though, my craft room became the playroom and all my craft supplies were placed in boxes to be brought out at another time. Months turned into years, and while I yearned to create again, I didn’t know where everything would go in our apartment.
I was also nervous.
I am SO glad that I jumped and took the chance.
I love my new Cricut Explore Air 2!!
Our friends at Cricut have made getting to know your machine and learning how to use so simple.
Cricut Explore Air 2 Features
One of the things that impressed me the most with the Cricut Explore Air 2 was how clean the cuts were on the vinyl. It was amazing! The vinyl was cut and not the backing!! That’s huge!
I was excited to see a “Fast Mode” during the loading process before it cuts. Fast Mode allows projects to be completed at twice the normal speed – perfect when you’re doing multiple projects at the same time.
You can cut more than just vinyl! Cricut Explore Air 2 can cut paper, iron-on material, light cardstock, cardstock, bonded fabric, poster board, and the dial even has a place for custom. That opens up so many opportunities to get your craft on!
If you purchased Cricut cartridges for older models, you can still use them! There is a slot for your cartridges!! But don’t worry if you don’t have any. There are plenty of options in Design Space!
It also allows you to upload your own images and fonts for free. You can also download fonts in their store. It’s also compatible with the Cricut Scoring Stylus and Deep-Point Blade which are sold separately.
The Cricut Explore Air 2 is the best home-cutting machine for both beginners to craft cutting and experienced crafters.
This project is super easy and will give you the win you need as you get started and learn how to navigate your new crafting tool!
Make Your Own Rapunzel Inspired Magic Mug
One of the things I keep telling myself as we begin this new year is that I have to make my own magic. I can’t sit back and hope it happens to me. I have to actively make choices and move towards making that magic happen for myself. This mug is the perfect reminder to embrace life like Rapunzel and make magic happen.
What You Need:
Mug
Directions:
1. Open up the Make Your Own Magic Mug Project in Design Space
2. Connect your Cricut to your computer and follow the prompts.
3. Cut your vinyl and attach it to the Light Grip Cutting Mat.
4. Follow the prompts and feed the mat into the machine.
5. Hit the Cricut Cut button and watch it work!
6. Attach the next piece of vinyl to the light grip mat and follow the prompts.
7. Weed the vinyl to reveal your cut images.
8. Cut transfer tape to size and remove the backing. CAREFULLY place the transfer tape to the vinyl.
9. Flip over the vinyl and use the scraper to smooth out the air bubbles and make sure all the pieces of the image are attached. Remove the vinyl backing.
10. CAREFULLY place the transfer tape with the attached vinyl image on the mug. Once it’s on, it’s stuck, so go SLOW.
11. Repeat on the other side.
12. Enjoy your new mug!!
