I now have over 250 free SVG files for Cricut projects in my resource library.
All of these projects come with free tutorials as well. While I primarily use a Cricut cutting machine, the SVG templates work for Silhouette cutting machines as well.
I know it’s overwhelming when you first get your Cricut. There is amazingly very little instruction that comes with the Cricut.
I remember the first time I unboxed my cutting machine. I just turned it on, drew a circle in design space, and tried to cut it.
Unfortunately, I completely misunderstood the purpose of the mat. I saw the clear liner, I knew it was sticky underneath, but for some reason, it just didn’t register with me that the sticky mat is there to hold the paper in place.
So I basically put the paper on top of the clear
*doh*
Needless to say, it was a big mess. I ended up slicing the entire top of my mat.
But it didn’t end there. When it finally dawned on me to take the clear cover off, I still managed to screw things up.
I didn’t know what projects I was going to make so I didn’t have any supplies. The only thing I had around was construction paper. I have two young kids and so I had a bunch of it sitting around.
Wrong again!
Of course, it’s the green standard mat that came with the Cricut Explorer, and guess what?! Construction paper doesn’t come off of a fresh green mat well. or at all for that matter. Oops.
Anyways, I’ve come a long way. And I want to help you get there faster.
I’ve highlighted a few of my favorite projects here. I go out of my way to create relatively straight forward designs that are easy to make. These are idiot-proof projects, developed by yours truly (primary idiot tester) and guaranteed to set you in the right direction.
All my free Cricut designs and SVG templates and tutorials are available in my resource library:
Alright, here we go…
Cricut projects with cardstock
My favorite material to work with by far is cardstock. I love cardstock because I can compost all the scraps, it’s affordable and I can practice on free supplies like magazine covers and used copy paper.
There are also so many 3D projects you can make with cardstock as well. It all started with paper flowers for me but I have since explored new frontiers in paper crafting world from wall art to cards.
Oh, I might have decorated a few kid’s birthday parties as well and entertained all my guests with custom cake toppers and cupcake wrappers. The possibilities are truly endless with cardstock.
Not all cardstock is created equal. My default is medium weight (around 65lb) cardstock with colored cores for Cricut crafts. I find the heavier weight cardstock doesn’t cut as well and I primarily save it for cardmaking projects. I do like to use cardstock with a bit of metallic shimmer for paper flowers though. Those are all over the map in terms of weight and quality.
The only thing I would warn against is textured cardstock for Cricut crafts. I made the mistake of buys tons of this stuff because they come in more vibrant colors but it doesn’t cut well. It tends to shred easily with more intricate designs and looks frayed for 3D projects.
Here are some of my favorite brands:
*this article contains affiliate links for your convenience, see full disclosures here
- Assorted Starter Pack – Basic assorted colors, great starter pack, perfect weight for most papercraft projects
- Cricut Joy Insert Card Packs – You don’t have to use these with the Cricut Joy, they are nice material kids for cardmaking.
- Cardstock Warehouse Brand on Amazon – I love the quality of all the matte-colored cardstock with Cardstock Warehouse. It is my go-to brand for individual matte colors that I might need
- Poptone Assorted Variety Pack – This is the perfect peppy assortment of colors of heavy cardstock. It’s a heavy cardstock assortment with colors I actually use frequently for cardmaking.
- Seasonal Assorted Variety Pack – This is a slight variation on the Poptone assortment and has a quite few neutrals that complement almost any accent color.
- Stardream Metallics Line – For paper crafts, the Stardream line is the go-to for a metallic shimmer finish. It is the perfect sheen to make any project pop. The core is also colored is which hard to find for metallic paper.
Links to free cardstock Cricut projects for beginners:
12 Rolled 3D Flower Set, Paper Magnolia, Dino Decor kit, Unicorn Centerpiece, Free Favors Box, Camellia Flower
I highly recommend using a fresh light grip blue mat for cardstock projects. The blue mat is just easier to clean and provides just enough grip to keep the paper in place. If you are looking to save on materials, check out my article on generic Cricut supplies I’ve tried and would recommend.
Free Cricut templates for projects with vinyl
Almost everyone starts with vinyl for Cricut crafts and I am no different. I’ve done my fair share of projects with vinyl.
While I do occasionally enjoy making the vinyl decal, I like to explore other uses for vinyl-like stenciling and art projects. Here are a few of my favorites.
Beginners Vinyl Project Tutorials Links:
Floral decals for wine bottles, vinyl on polymer clay, vinyl on glass family signs, stenciling with vinyl, reverse canvas bathroom signs, mason jar decor.
Free Cricut designs for DIY home decor
I love making my own things to accessorize the house. I also love making handmade gifts as housewarming gifts. It’s a great way to not only save but also personalize the gifts you give.
Cricut templates for Home Decor:
Layered wall art, 3D mandalas, Felt succulents
Floral Letter, Giant Wall Rose, Filligree Pillow Design
More advanced Cricut projects
For some of you who want to just dive right in and challenge yourself straight from the beginning, I have some more complex projects that involve either more intricate designs or different materials.
More Amazing Cricut Project Ideas To Try
Furthermore, there are so many more amazing Cricut project ideas you can try at home. For example, you can download free SVG cut files for your Cricut or Silhouette machine. Then, you can make DIY mug crafts using vinyl adhesive. In addition, you can also use your cutting machine to make your own t-shirts, stickers, and home decor.
Of course, there are plenty of easy Cricut projects for beginners, such as gift tags, wall prints, and keychain crafts. Definitely, sign up for my newsletter to try out these fun Cricut crafts!
Links to more advanced and Cricut maker projects
3D Faux leather earrings, shaker cards, designing your own popup cards, photo to vinyl decals, leather butterfly bows, polymer clay earrings.
And that’s just a few of the free project tutorials and templates in the vault. Join the newsletter and get the latest today!
Interested in related project SVG designs? Check out my Premium SVG Membership:
