Do creative, artistic, and intricate things around you captivate your attention? Then you will surely like the idea of creating colorful stickers too!
Isn’t it?
We, too, absolutely love these little pieces of joy that perfectly blossom our imagination and bring excitement to our everyday life. And what if we show you how to get your stickers made, all by yourself, using the wonderful die-cutting machine, Cricut Explore Air 2?
All you need is to:
1. Go to the Cricut Design Space App and open a new canvas 2. Upload your saved sticker file, adjust the paper's size and print it 3. Place your printed project over the mat, and just let the machine do the final cutting
Well, does it sound exciting?
Then hang on, and join this journey through the easy stickers-making process using the new Cricut Explore Air 2 – we assure you it’s going to be amazing!
Can You Make Stickers with Ease with Cricut Explore Air 2?
Yes, it is effortless to bring your imagination to life by just following a few easy steps. All you need is few supplies – an Inkjet Printer, Design Space App, and a Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine to get started – and you can create the most stunning stickers you always wanted to have!
But before we dive into the step-by-step process making, let's find out the best Cricut Machines in 2021, available on the market.
Best Cricut Machines in 2021
Cricut Maker
One of the most popular and loved Cricut Machines, the Cricut Maker can handle more than 100 materials, providing exact cutting. It is just perfect for materials like vinyl and leather.
Cricut Easy Press 2
If you want to add some fun or professional touch to your sweatshirts, t-shirts, even blankets or banners, then Cricut Easy Press 2 machine is your ideal alley.
Cricut Explore One
When you talk about the best machine for cutting vinyl that can even cut wirelessly just by adding a Bluetooth adapter, Cricut Explore One device is the only one! You can design with your PC, MAC, iPad, or iPhone, and since it is cloud-based, your projects get synced with all of your devices.
Cricut Joy
This lightweight machine is excellent for beginners and seasoned crafters, as it offers impressive features and precise matt-less cutting.
Cricut Explore Air
It is known for its precise cuts and an intelligent dial set. The Cricut Explore Air machine provides a dual carriage for cutting and writing or cutting and scoring simultaneously!
And finally, here comes the most popular model of the Cricut die-cut machines, Cricut Explore Air 2!
Cricut Explore Air 2
Now, unique features come with this upgraded model that makes Explore Air 2 rule over the world of crafting enthusiasts! Let’s see what makes it stand apart from the pack!
Why You Should Choose Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine
It is the most advanced version of all the machines that Cricut has ever launched on the market. With many additional features, Explore Air 2 happens to save much of your time and effort and makes your life easier for you.
Its main features are:
- It is twice as faster as its predecessor. You can even put it to ‘Fast Mode’ for a quicker cutting!
- It is available with Bluetooth connectivity that lets you connect it wirelessly to your smartphone.
- It supports smartphones, tablets, and works efficiently with Mac OS and Windows PCs alike.
- It writes and cuts just with a single step.
- It is equipped with a German Carbide blade that’s known for its precision.
- It flaunts an auto setting of cutting over 100 different materials just perfectly.
- It is compact and easy to use and comes in a variety of colors to choose from.
Due to their features and ease of use, all these machines are top-rated among crafting enthusiasts. Along with any Cricut machine, one also gets access to its free software, Design Space, to create and import designs from any electronic device. Once you are ready with your design on Design Space, you can get it printed on your inkjet printer and finally fasten it into the Cricut machine for being cut.
In this article, we have already talked about how to make fantastic stickers with a Cricut Machine. We recommend to have a look before diving into this new advanced tutorial!
Now, you will learn how to easily make beautiful stickers with the Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
Requirements
Cricut Explore Air 2 machine
Inkjet Printer
Designing software – Cricut Design Space
Sticker paper
Computer, tablet, or a smartphone
Cricut cutting mat (light grip)
Fine point blades (comes along with the machine)
Step 1
The first step is to go to the Cricut Design Space App and click to open the new canvas. Now, this is where we’re going to design our stickers.
There are three ways in which we can create our stickers. Either upload designs from the save files on PC, find the ‘Print and Cut‘ images from the image library provided by the app, or flatten multiple layers together from the options provided in the app.
Step 2
When you open the new canvas, you will see a toolbar to the left side of the screen. Your toolbar shows the options like templates, projects, images, text, shapes, and upload.
Select the upload button, which takes you to the other page that asks you to upload your saved sticker file.
You basically ‘drag and drop’ the saved file, and this takes you to another page that asks you to choose between 3 image types: Simple, Moderately Complex, and Complex.
You should choose ‘complex’ if you want to take up all the minute details of the image.
It takes you to another page where it asks you if you want to cut away the areas of the image you want to remove.
Click on the ‘Select and Erase’ option and then click on any area of the image’s background and there you are with the following screen. Click on the ‘Continue’ button.
You ought to select between two options: ‘Cut Image’ or ‘Print Then Cut Image.’ We are choosing the ‘Print Then Cut Image’ option as this will make Design Space effectively channel the printing process with our Printer and the cutting process with the Cricut Explore Air 2 Machine.
Here, you can give your intended name to the image as well. Then click on the ‘Upload’ button. When the below screen appears, select the recently uploaded photo and click on the ‘Insert Images’ button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Now, the uploaded image will appear on the canvas.
You can conveniently alter the size of the image by manually adjusting with the cursor or even by entering your desired ‘Width’ value (‘Height’ auto-adjusted) on the toolbar provided at the top of the screen.
Since the ‘Print and Cut’ take a 6.75 × 9.25 inches margin, you can duplicate your image and fit it into this size to not waste any material while printing and cutting (as the sticker paper is quite expensive). For this, click on your image and then select the ‘Duplicate’ option at the right top corner. Your image gets duplicated, and now you can fit the copied image into the desired area.
Now, select all the images and group them up with the ‘Group’ option available at the top right corner. It is a crucial step that ensures your photos to be attached.
Click on the ‘Save’ button and give a desired name to the project.
Now, finally, click on the ‘Make It’ button.
The following screen appears. This preview window shows how exactly your project appears over the Cricut Explore Air 2 machine while getting cut.
Here, you can also adjust the size of your paper and the number of projects you wish to create. When you are satisfied with your adjustments, click on the ‘Continue‘ button.
You are taken to the below screen after you click on the ‘Continue‘ button.
Here, you will see a few different options. At the top, you will see the possibilities prompting you to confirm if your Cricut Explore Air 2 machine is properly connected via Bluetooth or USB or not.
Below this, you will find the option where you send your project to the Printer. On selecting the ‘Send To Printer’ option (highlighted green button), the following pop-up shows on the screen.
Here, you can adjust the number of copies you want to make. You will also see the ‘Add Bleed’ option, which is turned on by default. You may de-select if you want to add a stroke manually in your design process. You may also use the System/ Printer dialogue box instead of the Design Space dialogue box to customize your printing process and quality. Now click on the ‘Print’ button.
Now, as you already have clicked on ‘Print,’ it’s time to choose the material you want to print on!
When working on Cricut Maker, you have to choose from a wide array of materials that Design Space offers you. Still, since we are working with Cricut Explore Air 2 machine with a built-in dial providing the options, we have to move the dial on the machine.
So, we turn the dial to ‘Custom.’
Step 3
Next, it’s time to place your printed project over the mat. Making sure the mat places precisely as it looked on the preview screen, place the sheet on the mat.
Cricut Explore Air 2 comes with the 'Fast Mode' option that lets you cut faster. If you want to have a quick cutting, then you can switch to this mode!
Finally, you have to press the ‘Make It’ button (Cricut’s logo), and there it goes!
The sensors detect the design and all the surroundings that you have to cut. Once done with the reading, the machine begins its working.
You may now see the magic unfold!
Just as cutting finishes, the Cricut Design Space gives you the signal, and you can now unload the map and remove the sticker sheet from it.
You can now enjoy your creation!!
Cricut Explore Air vs Air 2 – Which is Better?
Even though each die-cutting machine launched by Cricut is a fantastic product, Explore Air and Explore Air 2 happen to be the most popular, owing to each offer’s added functionalities. Let’s compare the two versions and see what grounds they are similar and where they are distinct in their unique way!
Cricut Explore Air
It is the most reputed product of Cricut that has gained the trust of hundreds of customers worldwide. It can cut and draw or cut and score simultaneously different white label products, a feature that makes this machine unique.
Which are the Best White Label Products to Customize? We have made an accurate list of 10! Curious? Check out our article!
Cricut Explore Air can handle more than 60 different materials, and an intelligent dial set can carry out the material settings. This machine also features an iPad app and a free Cricut Design Space App. The Explore Air is also compatible with the Cricut cartridges and provides an exact cutting with the built-in storage compartments. However, this machine is noisy, and adjusting the blades is somewhat tricky!
Cricut Explore Air 2
One of the most popular cutting machines on the market, Cricut Explore Air 2 comes with German Carbide premium blades, which set it apart from Cricut Explore Air. These premium quality blades ensure accurate and precise cutting each time.
A distinctive feature of Explore Air 2 is its speed. It is almost twice as fast as the Cricut Explore Air, its predecessor. Cricut Explore Air 2 embeds a Bluetooth connectivity feature that provides a wireless connection with your smartphone. It is another feature that diversifies it from the other versions. However, the downside with this version is that it is noisier than its predecessor!
Conclusion
If you are looking for something stunning and with features that would make anyone drool, then it’s got to be Cricut Explore Air 2!
It's that version of Cricut Machines that boasts the best features among the other models.
It is known for its precision due to the German carbide blades and the speed, which can further adjust to being higher speed mode.
Now isn’t it just amazing?
Well, sure it is! So, if you are planning to buy one for yourself, you must go ahead and grab the deal!
