How to Make Planner Stickers with a Cricut
I have a new toy, and I LOVE it. I’ve been the proud owner of a Cricut Explore Air for about a month, and it’s been a total game changer.
I stumbled on the Cricut by accident. I have this dirty little secret- I am a planner addict. I keep an obsessively organized schedule, in the prettiest planner I could find, complete with cute, colorful stickers. I hang out in a Facebook group with thousands of other planner addicts, and they all talk about making their own stickers. I asked Cricut if they would be willing to let me test drive one of these machines, and what do you know, a week later, I had two massive boxes on my front porch.
I opened up the boxes, and about had a heart attack. There was SO much in them! There is vinyl, paper, sticker paper, dry erase paper, felt, and fancy markers and so much more. To be honest, I had no idea what to do with any of it. I just wanted to make some stickers!
Luckily, when you start the machine up for the first time, a paper card project is all ready to go. It walks you through the process to teach you how to use the design space, and ultimately, make super cool crafts.
Some helpful tools to get you started:
Cricut Cutting Mat
Cricut Tools (for getting the paper off the mat- super needed)
Sticker Paper (this one works best)
Extra Blades (keep them on hand!)
So how does it work?
I have to confess that I’ve had this machine a month, and I am still learning. It’s not that it’s overly complicated, it’s just that there are so many things that it CAN do…. and I have no idea where to even start. I’ve made a few things so far this month, cards, cute wall decor for thanksgiving, a vinyl sign for the front door, and of course, tons of stickers. I’ve also made a fair amount of new-user mistakes… putting materials on the cutting mat upside down, using the wrong cut setting, printing at the wrong quality setting… but a learning curve is to be expected!
For the purposes of this review, I want to show you how to use the “print then cut” feature of the machine, because I sell/giveaway printables, and by golly, this makes life so much easier!
To make planner stickers, I designed the elements I wanted in photoshop, and saved them as a .png file. I made sure to leave a transparent background, so the images are nice and clean.
Then, you upload them into Cricut design space, where you can clean up any elements you want cut out, and save the image as a “Print then Cut” image.
Finally, you insert that image into the design space, size it and line it up the way you want it, and then GO! You’ll want to google what the maximum image size for your machine and browser is when you do this step to be sure you aren’t making it too large for the machine to handle. The machine needs to be able to make calibration marks on the sheet, so be aware of this when you are placing and sizing your elements.
I am going to save SO much money using this machine instead of buying stickers on Etsy. I’m daydreaming about all the ways it can save me time on all the printables I make as well! Cutting those bad boys out takes FOREVER! Not any more!
I loved making these tiny flag stickers for my Erin Condren planner (save $10 here) with the Cricut! You can get the downloadable file in our shop, and if you have a machine of your own, make some payday stickers for you. These are tiny, and fit just perfect in the corner of the daily boxes. Technically, you could print and cut on your own if you didn’t have a machine…. but the machine makes it so much easier! All you need to do is upload the PNG as an image, and then go ahead and Print and Cut that bad boy!
Looking for a planner? Look no more.
Please remember that our printables are all copyright protected. You may use these for personal use, but you may not host the file anywhere, email it to friends, upload it to Facebook groups, or print and sell these stickers in any way. Help the friendly neighborhood blogger out, and send your friends here to grab their own.
I am just getting into the cricut world myself. I have aspirations to perhaps start a store on easy, but I’m not sure about what kind of program to use to “create my own” designs. Any suggestions?
Etsy, gotta love autocorrect
Adobe Photoshop is a great program to make tour own designs.
So I don’t have to resize the printables? all I have to do is upload and then print? It seems too easy
In the Cricut software, all you need to do is upload it, drag the file to the size you want on the screen (I didn’t adjust mine- I just used it the way it uploaded it), trace it for the cut and you are good to go! Easy peasy.
Trace it? Does that means you traced every single little flag?
Nope! You can highlight the whole page, and it will auto-trace the flags for you.
What sticker paper do you use? I haven’t been able to find one I like yet.
I am still struggling with the same!
This one is my favorite by far: http://amzn.to/1RIZHr1
I would love to make stickers with a cricut along with vinyl creations and cards/scrapbooking!
I would love to own a Cricut!!! I would use it to make file folder games for my preschoolers, stickers, game pieces, and so much more.
Homeschooling, pinterest ideas!!, church bulletin boards, the list just goes on and on 🙂
I would use it in our homeschool, for scrapbooking, and for doing fun pinterest projects that I have always wanted to do! Thanks for a chance
I would use it for homeschooling!!!!
I would literally make ALL the things!!!! 😉 Gifts, cards, PLANNER HAPPIES…. possibilities would be endless!! Thanks for sharing one e bad boys!
i would use it in my church nursery, for homeschooling, gifts..etc
I’d use it to do fancy lettering for wall decor.
I’d make labels for all of my kiddos’ things they take to school.
What would I make? Where to start?! It would be a race to see who would make something first, me or my 11 year old crafty daughter.
I would make some cute thank you cards!
I’d make something for my kids.
What would I make? What wouldn’t I make? I would love to make seasonal decorations and stickers and hand made greeting cards and gifts! The list goes on and on! I’ve drooled over the Cricut SO many times!!
I’d make vinyl wall decals with my Cricut!
I totally want to try out a circuit. I have needed one so many times.
Greeting cards, scrapbooking stuff, stickers for the kids. I love that there are so many possibilities.
stencils for signs!
wow! thanks for the chance to win one!!! been on my wish list forever and ever!! i would also use it to make planner stickers and then home decor, gifts, party decorations for everyone…. the list goes on and on and on cuz it does sooooooooo much! thanks again for the chance to win one!
I’ve wanted one of these for so long for my scrapbooking projects
I would like to make the stickers since my little one likes them so much 🙂
I’ve been wanting one of these forever! Me and my daughter could make so many great things!
I would love to try this machine. I am a planner addict and this could save me so much money!
I would make stickers and do paper crafts with my girls.
Your emails always share such wonderful ideas. Thank you for the info and the opportunity to win such a great prize.
I really want to get this for my mother because she has always wanted one and this would be a great surprise. I love my mom for everything she has done foe me and my 3 sisters, she really does deserve this as a thank you present!!!!!!!
i would love to get this for my mom.She has always been the crafty type like me and has been wanting one for many years.
my mom would love that she been wanting it forever
there is so much I would make, the possibilities are endless, decor for the house, homeschool things, scrapbook, etc.
What won’t I do?! I would make everything!
My daughter wants to start her own Etsy shop, she is a very talented artist. I believe she could use this machine to help her create custom tags, stickers, etc. to help her with her business. I’m sure I would find some use for it as well 🙂
I have seen Circuts in the craft stores, but do not know anyone who actually owns one. Thanks for sharing your experience- it sounds like they are as great as I had imagined. =)
EVERYTHING i could! I always have to borrow my neighbors to make a lot of project boards and party stuff!
i would love to make papercrafts for my daughter and i to work with. she loves papercrafting. i would also use this a lot in our homeschooling materials and units. cricuts are so neat! i was browsing their pinterest page and there are, truly, endless projects!
A Cricut machine would indeed save a lot of time.
Would love to make some things for school with it!
I need cut-outs for the preschool class I teach at church; this sounds like a good fit.
Oh–the endless possibilities! I would use this for homeschooling projects, for my Sunday school kids I teach, and the bulletin board at my church–and so much more!!
Kid’s ministry is the first place I would use it. I’m always drawing and cutting out things for VBS and the skits and revivals at church. Then I homeschool. So many ways to use it. It would definitely be a blessing.
I would make decorations for Birthday and Hoilday parties.
I would make stickers and use it for scrapbooking projects.
A scrapbook of memories of my mother and sister who both passed away this year.
I don’t even know what all it can do but I know I’d be using to make a lot of things!
I would use it in my crafting, scrapbooking, sewing, and homeschool!
I would love to try those planner stickers! I survive each day with my planner and this would be a huge help!
I would use it for EVERY.THING!!!!!
There are so many things I would make with the Cricut I don’t know where to start. I would use it to cut out all your great printables for my grandkids, make Bible characters for my Sunday School class, make greeting cards for my brothers and sisters in Christ, T-shirts for gifts and much more. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I’d use it to make things for my planner/date book and also for Bible journaling and our home school – it would get a lot of use between my three children and I.
Stickers! Banners and photography props,
Love, love, your site! I would have to much fun with this gadget, can’t believe you can do so many different things! Awesome giveaway, I so want to win!!!!
What a cool, fancy machine. I can’t begin to think of all the projects this machine would help complete.
Thanks for the opportunity to try for one.
I have so many projects I would do with a Cricut. I would love to own one of these.
Thanks for sharing the love! 🙂
I would make vinyl stickers for my walls. 🙂
The first thing I would do is do a lot of project with my kids. I saw so many projects to do with them that it will be used almost everyday. Thank you for the giveaway. I have been wanting one for a long time. I keep on asking Santa but nothing. Maybe he delivers it to some one else by mistake.
What wouldn’t I make with a Cricut! Especially this time of year. I am handcutting so many crafts for the holidays, a Cricut would be an amazing tool to have.
Oh gosh! What wouldn’t I make with it? I love everything crafty and this would be amazing to win. I would totally make tons of holiday decorations and all sorts of homeschool things with my daughter. Not to mention really fun things for birthdays…. I can’t choose just one
I have a sudden bug about making gift tags for Christmas, so I think I would try to make those first.
WOW ! This looks like a lot of fun. My four children and I would all enjoy learning the possibilities of this machine. We would probably start with some banners/ wall art for their bedroom, and then we would use it to better organize the schoolroom!
Oh my gosh, I’m an EC addict too and I’ve been dying to make my own stickers! So cool!
I would love to make greeting cards please. kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.
I am a homeschool mom of four. I’m sure our school work would be much more exciting with the help of this awesome machine. Thanks!
I could make so many things for our preschool room, I would love to make new calender numbers
Would love this to make cards!! Such fun!
I would start with stickers and then see what I could do from there
I would make labels for homemade gifts.
i WOULD SO MAKE SOME LABELS FOR THE KITCHEN!
This looks great for school projects!!! 🙂
What a fun way to craft!
I would love to make things for Christmas
I’ve never used a Cricut, but they have intrigued me. I think I would make stickers to put on bottles of homemade vanilla and maybe make cards and stickers for planners. I’m sure I could find many more things to make as well!
I’d make templates for craft projects for my daughters if I won the cricut.
I would love a cricut for my homeschool and my planner. I’m always needed to make cut out letters and making stickers would be so amazing.
I would live to win one! I’ve been wanting to buy one since they came out but the price tag keeps making me chicken out.
I would make everything! LOL
I scrapbook, so I can think of so many things I would love to make with a cricut! A friend has one and I was amazed at all the things she can make!
I’ve borrowed one to make greeting cards, which was super fun. I’m also going to need to organize my four kiddos’ homeschooling stuff (only two of them are school age so far) — it’d be fun to be able personalize folders, cupboards, whatever!
I would love to design t-shirts for my kids with the Cricut. Thanks for the chance!
I would love to make some wall stickers!
Wow, this would be so awesome! I would use this for homeschooling, for Church, and just for fun!
I would love to make some vinyl quotes for my walls.
I would using it to making greeting cards.
EVERYTHING!
I would use this for our homeschooling projects, but I also like to make homemade cards.
I’ll start with the ABC and go from there up to Grade 12.
Gosh, I don’t know what I’d make first! I think it would be a tie between homeschooling stuff or planner stuff… or maybe shapes for english paper piecing.
I would love this!! My mom just purchased her first Erin Condren and I would love to be able to make our own stickers 🙂
I would make cutouts for homeschool lessons & holiday crafts. Looks like so much fun!
I could do so much with a cricut, like make cute labels for my homemade goods!
I would love this!
My mom has one of these that she uses to make homemade cards (gorgeous ones, if you ask me!!), but I had no idea you could make planner stickers and vinyl stickers with one. That’s what I would use one for, because I’d love to make my own stickers for my planner!
Thank you so much for the opportunity!
I would love to make some signs with the rustic pallets I have waiting in the back yard 😉
Homeschool crafts with my daughter would be awesome besides other decorations for her room or friends.
This is an amazing giveaway and would be so much fun to play with our homeschool!
I would try something for our homeschool.
I would love to make stickers/labels for our homemade soap business we’re just starting up. It would make things so much easier and more professional looking!
I would love to make vinyl craft projects with a cricut!
Thank you for the chance to win this!
Would love to have this to spruce up the worksheets I make for my daughter. I’m sure I could find a million uses for it.
I would love to make customs pieces for my scrapbooks, a family tree wall piece, and all sorts of crafts with my church’s women’s group.
I would scrapbook with my Cricut.
I would make stuff for my children.
I’d love to make wall decor for our homeschool/dining room, decorations for the doors and windows, cards, stickers…I’m sure the list just goes on and on!
I would make planner stickers !
This is so exciting! I have so many projects floating around in my head that would be perfect with a Cricut! I have really enjoyed your blog. Thank you so much for all that you do.
My crafty children would love this.
I would love to use this in home schooling and scrapbooking projects
The planner stickers are really cool! I’d definitely make them! Plus homeschool stuff, decorations, cards, etc!
Decals and shirt transfers!
I would make learning materials for my friends’ sped classrooms. Michelle Miller
Oh I would love this! What a great give away.
thanks so much!
I would make stickers for my daughter and moons and other space things for my son.
I would make everything I could think of… but mostly stickers for my kids to use where ever they wanted.
I would make printables for my site and I think this is just genius! Thanks for hosting!
I can’t even begin to imagine. My sister has one and it is overwhelming to try to figure out what to do 🙂 It sure would be fun to figure it out though!
I love the idea of the planner sticker’s. Most everything I would make would be for the little’s school projects.
Oh my goodness! I don’t even know where to start! I love those planner stickers, and I’d probably make some homeschool related stickers for my school planner.
Cards. Gifts. All kinda of things!
Oh my, this looks like so much fun! I would try my hand at making Christmas cards this year if I won this machine. And then, maybe some ornaments. I would be so excited to see what else could be done!
I would definitely be making planner stickers with this if I won the giveaway! Great giveaway!
I have so enjoyed reading site. Thank you so much for sharing. I have totally enjoyed the home school information that you post about, It has given me courage to finally muster up and do it myself. I have learned tons from you, and have really enjoyed the home school road.
I am so glad you have found it helpful!
I would make my daughters custom shirts based on their artwork /drawings.