Did you know that you can use the Cricut Explore Air to create your own custom artwork? I love adding frames of art to the walls and shelving in my home but hate spending lots of money on original art pieces when I can easily make some myself. Its easy to make adorable and awesome art for your home using Cricut pens in the Cricut Explore. Do you wish you had your own Cricut Explore? Check out the bottom of this post for a Cricut giveaway!
Materials Needed:
Cricut Explore Air
Cricut Pens in your choice of color
Cardstock
To begin, choose an image from the image library in Cricut Design Space. You can also upload your own design or a free printable – I shared instructions for that here. I found the single layer images with fine lines were the easiest to use. You can refine your search to just these items to narrow down a good design, or just use text to create a design.
When you have your design selected, change the size to fit the frame you are using. I found it helped to insert a rectangle and size it to fit inside the frame. This step just made it easier to visualize where on the page it would print. You can delete it after, or group it with your design and have it cut out and ready to go into the frame. Double check that your layer attributes are set to write and not cut. This will tell the machine to use the pen tool and not the blade.
When you are ready to draw, load the cutting mat with your carstock and place the pen in the left housing making sure to push it in until you hear a click. Load the mat and hit go! Its that easy to create your own art for your home.
These prints were made using the metallic pen on black cardstock. I think a gold ink pen would look AMAZING and suggest the thicker pens for this look.
This mermaid tail print was made using the fine tip pens, just to show you the difference the pen tip makes.
PMQ for two // Hello Creative Family // Lemon Thistle // BrooklynBerry Designs // Woman In Real Life // The Learner Observer // Love Create Celebrate
Comments & Reviews
Torrie says
I LOVE the black and white art prints! What a fun way to dress up a frame 🙂
Ariel says
Cricut pens are the unsung heroes of the Cricut world. You can do so much with them!
Katie Rozak says
Oh the possibilities!! These are so cute and would make great gifts. I have three pregnant friends all due this fall and it would be so cool to make them all prints for their nurseries!
Megan White says
I am a first-year teacher who loves to craft. I would use this awesome machine not only to help make my classroom an awesome place to be but also to make crafts at home too! This project would be awesome for so many things in the classroom as well as personally! Love it!
Crystal @ Hello Creative Family says
I’m so in love with that Cricut Pen Set! The colors are so pretty! I love all of the gorgeous artwork you made! Pinning this for later! <3
Kim Mcdonald says
I’d make so many tshirts and fun cards for the kids, the possibility, oh my! I love all the vinyl options
Diana Herrera says
Looks fun to use pens with this. I’m retired and this is NOT in my budget! My grandkids and I could make all kinds of educational stuff. ♥️♥️♥️
Lindi says
SO clever!! I LOVE these ideas!
Glenda Shine says
Oh gosh would I love to own a Cricut! I was diagnosed in 2011 with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. That is the rarest and most aggressive for of MS and the only type of MS that has no treatment.
Before that I ran our family business while raising two of the most wonderful kids! My kids are just now in their 30’s and living lives of their own and I am already disabled. I can no longer work because of pain and slow destruction of my nervous system. I also can no longer drive so I am very isolated. Blogs like yours have inspired me to get crafty to enjoy my time and keep my cognitive skills working. However going from a highly paid job to living on disability is a BIG hit. It does not leave room for fun money. This would be an amazing gift and opportunity for me and I thank you for considering me to have this magic item.
Glenda Shine
Jessica Bordelon says
OmG! I would love to win an Explore to give to my wonderful Mother-In-Law! I purchased one for myself last October and thankfully so! I have been in and out of the hospital since then (my most recent surgery just 5 days ago) and on continual bed rest. I had never done papercrafting before, and I know had I not made this purchase, I would have gone completely crazy! She has become absolutely amazed by it, but on a fixed income is unable to afford one. Now that we are both disabled, it would be so great to work on projects with her! 🙂 Every year she knits hats and gloves for the needy, and I can only imagine what she could do with this as she is also a retired art and home economics teacher. This would be an absolute God send for her to receive! I only wish I could afford to purchase one for her myself!
Amanda says
I am so excited to try out the Cricut Air! I have an older cricut, and love it! My favourite things to make with cricuts would have to be cards for all sorts of occasions 🙂
Audra packham says
I love making cards, earring cards and Christmas things with my pens. I’d love to upgrade to the new cricut.
Jessica Conlin says
Think of all the things you can make! I love the pens.
amelia says
Love the option to write with the cricut. So versatile! So many projects to do…
Staci says
I would love to win a circuit! I am currently expecting and have a 3 year old daughter. I would use it to make them cute custom clothes and decorations for my their birthday parties! I love being crafty and this would make it so much easier for me. 🙂
Jessica Blankenship Thomas says
I love to craft to keep my.mind busy. Not only do I have ADHD I also just recently lost my father and crafting is helping me to focus on something positive. I would use.my cricut explore air 2 to make cards, gifts for family and friends, rustic signs to.decorate my home. I would use it to make many different things. There’s many things I know I can maked many more I can learn to make.
Rose-Anne Gillespie says
I had no idea you could do this with a circuit! Love it!
Jenny Mitchell says
Love, love, love all you can do with the Cricut. I have a million projects in mind and would use the Cricut Explore Air 2 to decorate our new home 🙂