How to Write with the Cricut: Everything You Need to Know

How to Write with Cricut Explore Air, Address envelopes, as well as some creative Cricut pen projects!

Write with Cricut

It’s been a goal of mine to dive into the different features offered by the Cricut Explore Air and Cricut Maker – there are just so many! I’ve shared a few of them in this post about what DIY projects you can do with your Cricut.

I’ve been really excited to experiment more with the writing features on the Cricut Explore Air, because it really opens up so many possibilities for what you can do.

Today, I wanted to share a few tips on how to use pens with the Cricut Explore Air or Maker- specifically focusing on how to address an envelope.

This tutorial was originally written using an Explore Air, but the process is the same for the Air 2 or Maker.

Honestly, I have terrible handwriting, so I think that being able to have the Cricut address my envelopes for Christmas cards, letters to family, etc. is heaven-sent!

I wish I’d had this when I got married six years ago…I still remember how it took us FOREVER to address over 400 envelopes.

Yes, 400.

So hopefully these tips will help you!

What Pens Can You Use with Cricut Explore Air?

Cricut, fortunately, offers a wide variety of pens – calligraphy, thin, thick, etc. They are also available in MANY colors.

I personally own the Candy Shop set and the Multi-Pen Black Set, and I love them. However, I’ve been eyeing the Wisteria Set. I think this general use set would be perfect for wedding announcements.

With that said, you don’t have to use the Cricut pens with the machine (though I do recommend it, since they are specifically designed to work with the machine). I found this great list of markers and pens that work with Cricut machines.

What Fonts Can You Write With?

For best results, you need to use a single stroke font when you are using a pen to write with.

Fortunately, Cricut Design Space has TONS of options. When you are adding fonts to your design, click on edit. In the first box, you will see something that, by default, says “All Fonts”. Click the arrow on this box, and then select “Has a Writing Style” instead.

You can also change the style of a font to writing using this drop-down menu. Be aware that most fonts look very different with writing then they do for regular cutting or printing unless they’ve specifically been created for writing. 

Now you will see all the single stroke fonts that are currently in Design Space. If you will be doing a lot of writing, I do recommend investing in Cricut Access subscription, which starts at $7.99 a month  (read this if you are not sure if a Cricut Access Plan is worth getting).

What Can You Write On?

You can use any material that your pens can write on normally – paper, vinyl, cardboard…the sky is the limit! Just make sure to do a test run before sending it through to make sure the pen you are using doesn’t rub off.

Can Cricut Write on Vinyl?

It would depend a lot on the vinyl. If it’s a glossy vinyl, it will probably a little trickier to write on. However, if it’s more of a matte finish, you should be able to!

How to Write with Cricut Explore Air

And now, time for the tutorial. For this, I will be addressing an envelope, as it’s a simple project that shows the basics of how to write with the Cricut.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to get the gist of how to set up your writing project through this – even if it isn’t envelopes!

However, there are SO many things you can write with the Cricut, so make sure you do some research on what you can do. Cricut Design Space has some great pen project ideas under the “Make it Now” section that you should definitely check out!

How to Address Envelopes with Cricut Explore Air

Step One:

First, you need to create a rectangle the size of your envelope. For instance, my envelopes were 5×7, so I made mine that length and width.

I didn’t see a rectangle in the default shapes that you can add, so I went into the “Insert Images” section and searched for the rectangle. I chose the blue rectangle below (which is included with my Cricut Access), though you could easily find a rectangle elsewhere and upload it.

It is very important that you have it the same size and shape of your envelope!

Step two: 

Now, it’s time to write your text! You can use any number of fonts that you want here. Just make sure that when you are selecting your font, you have the “Has a Writing Style” selected so the font is most compatible.

Step Three: 

Once you have your text how you want it, you need to make sure you group everything together.

You can press the “Select All” button at the top of the screen to make sure you have everything selected. After you have done this, right-click in your design and select “Attach”.

Step Four: 

After you have done this, you need to change the layer attributes for anything that will be written.

Go to the top bar and click “Linetype” and select draw for the font.

You need to make sure the rectangle is still set to cut.

Then attach these elements together.

Step Five:

Now you are ready to write! Press “Go”. You will be taken to a page where you can double check to make sure everything was attached to the same page.

If it is, press “Go” again. You will then be instructed to load the mat and press the flashing green button. Make sure you have your envelope lined up exactly how it shows on the preview.

At this time, you also will need to put your first pen in. Make sure to push it in until you hear it click.

Step Six:

Watch the magic happen! Make sure you are careful watching the pens write and to press pause as soon as it is done so it doesn’t move on to the cutting process. You don’t want it to cut your envelopes.

Final Thoughts:

Obviously, if you aren’t doing envelopes, you will need to adjust things. However, the basics are the same.

You don’t have to use a rectangle shape for the envelope, but I do think it was helpful to better visualize things to make sure I got the right fonts sizes.

If you are doing a project where it does need to cut after it draws, just don’t press pause. It will cut beautifully!

Oh and make sure you push in the clasp on the pen holder. The writing will be wobbly otherwise (I didn’t do this in the video. Eek!).

Cricut Pen Projects

There are many pen projects you can do once you figure out how to best use your Cricut machine to write with. While you can certainly come up with your own designs, I thought I’d share a few “Make it Now” projects that Cricut has (though you can view them all here). Some of them are included with a Cricut Access subscription, while others have an additional cost.

You may be asking, Will it be easy for me to use the Cricut software to create Make it Now projects? And the answer is, YES! These projects are a wonderful way to learn how to use your machine to make beautiful projects without going through the stress of creating your own. 

I do recommend searching through the ideas here for the most inspiration – there are a lot of variations on the projects I share below!

Wedding Invitation

Coloring Pages

Treat Tags

Family Photo

Greeting Cards

Quotes and Artwork

Place Cards

Wrapping Paper

Spice Labels

Menu

Placemats

Pen art

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.