Cricut lingo can be tough to discern, but today I am going to share the answer to a question I get a ton; What does it mean to print, cut & weed? You can also grab a free print & cut file to practice with!
Disclosure: I am partnering with Cricut. All opinions are my own.
What Does it Mean to Print, Cut & Weed?
If you are new to Cricut, you are likely new to the verbiage and terms that are often thrown around in this community. People will often just toss in words like infusible ink and weed and you are left searching for the meaning. Well search no more, today I am sharing what it means to print, cut and weed.
- Print: Cricut allows users to use a print then cut feature. Now, this does not mean that the Cricut works as a printer, however, you can print from your personal printer and then use your Cricut to cut around the design. This is a great method to use for stickers, gift tags and cards!
- Upload your image as an SVG file and flatten the image. This will change the image to a print then cut file.
- Print your image on your personal printer.
- Place the image on your Cricut mat and allow Cricut to scan the printer guides to begin to cut around the image.
- Cut: Your Cricut defaults to cut for nearly everything that you are going to work on. Cricut machines are versatile and allow you to cut many different types of materials and create whatever you can dream.
- Upload your image or find one in the Cricut library.
- Adjust your size and choose your material to be placed on the Cricut cutting mat.
- Click “Make it” and follow the directions on the screen to select your materials and machine settings.
- Watch your Cricut go to work!
- Weed: Cricut cuts your design out of whatever material you choose. However, it cuts an outline out and leaves both the design and the extra pieces together. This is where weeding comes in. Weeding is a method where you use a weeding tool to remove the excess portions of the design.
- Choose your design and cut it out.
- Use your Cricut weeding tool to begin to meticulously remove the portions of the design that are not going to be displayed.
- Discard the excess portions.
- Apply your design as you desire.
Together Shadow Box
My husband and I are celebrating our 13 year wedding anniversary this month and I wanted to make a little gift for him so I created this super simple together shadow box. You can grab my design here and make your own with some cardstock, your printer, Cricut Explore Air 2, some mounting squares and a shadow box.
Follow the prompts on screen to print and cut out the design on cardstock. Then use mounting squares to place your font onto the solid cardstock. From there, add a picture of you and your partner and place it all in the shadow box.