- Hello, everybody. Jennifer Maker here. It's a beautiful day to learn more about how to draw with your Cricut. This is one of my favorite things that every Cricut can do because it opens up so many creative possibilities. You don't need to have a lots of dexterity or natural aptitude or training to draw beautiful things when you have a Cricut to help you out. In this video, I'll
show you how to prepare pen and marker designs, and add them to cards, posters, and mugs using some of the many Cricut Pens
and Markers available. (upbeat instrumental music) Cricut are multi-talented, and they can all draw with special pens, and markers that fit specific machines. There are many pen and marker options for the Cricut Explorer
and Maker machines. From fine tips to infusible ink markers, I will use these to make a card, and a mug using my free designs featuring a bear and a cat. Aren't they cute? Now, if you have pens and markers for a Cricut Explorer or Maker, you should know that they can fit in the big Cricut Venture too. There's even some big
and extra thick markers that fit in the Explorer,
Maker and Venture. When you have the pen adapter removed, I will show you how to make a big poster like this in no time on a Cricut venture. Now the Cricut Joy and Joy Extra have their own pens and markers, and it's important to note that they don't work
with the larger machines. So always make sure you have the right type of pen for your machine. Remember, there are two types. There is the regular type that fits in the Explorer,
Maker and Venture, and there is the joy type that fits in the Joy and Joy Extra. So in this video, I'll show you how to prepare a design, and draw it on a watercolor paper card using fine tip markers, and a Cricut Maker 3 cutting machine. Then we'll make a big poster on card stock on the Venture with the two and a half
millimeter markers. And then I'll show you
how to adjust the design, and template for infusible
ink, pens and markers. I'll use my Cricut Maker 3 to draw and cut the pieces
on normal copy paper, and then transfer it to a mug using a Cricut Mug Press. Now each project does need a few more tools depending on the machine that you're using, so check my full list at, JenniferMaker.com/569 for details. There's a written tutorial for each project with
extra tips and details there too. So let me show you where to get my free designs and then
we can start drawing. Step one, get my free
Cricut drawing designs. First, download my designs at, JenniferMaker.com/569. You can either download
right from that link by saving the project or download for my entire
free design collection. To find it, look for libraries in the red bar at the top. Then click either get a password if you don't yet have one or click enter the library. Search the page for design number 569, and click the link to
download the designs. If you're not sure how to do this, visit JenniferMaker.com/SVGS to learn how to download and unzip files. The SVG folder has a template that we'll use with a mug. A pen or marker design with a cat and bear swimming. Another with a cat and bear napping. And another with their
friends getting into some trouble with bees. Project number one,
greeting card with Cricut fine point pens. Step number two, prepare your card design. On a blank Cricut design space canvas, click upload and then upload image. Click browse and select
the SVG you want to use. I'll pick the design
where they're swimming. On the prepare to upload screen, make sure it says cut image in the design preview. Click upload and then find the design in recent uploads and
add it to the canvas. With the design selected, use the operation menu to change everything to pen. Now your Cricut knows
that we want to draw, not cut the design. Then click ungroup so you can work with
the layers separately. In the layers panel, click the top layer so the sentiment is selected. Click on the color swatch next to the operation menu at the top to open the pen dropdown
and select the pen or marker you want to use. I'll pick F, Fine 0.4 millimeters, and then scroll down to see your options. We'll use infusible ink later, so stick to the other choices for now. I'll pick green. Use the same steps to adjust the other four layers. I'll use blue for the water layer, a lighter blue for the bubbles, brown for the bear and orange for the cat. Once you have all the layers set, click and drag your cursor over the design to select everything. Click attach so the machine knows that we want them to stay in their current positions. I'm making a watercolor paper card in Cricut R40 size. So the front design
area is 4.7 inches wide, and 6.6 inches tall. Select the design and you'll see that it's just about four inches wide, which will fit nicely on our card. If you're making a different size card, make sure the size lock icon at the very top of the screen is closed, and then adjust the dimensions as needed. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right, and then click make. On the prepare screen, you should have one mat with your design. We're using an unfolded card, but leave the material
size at 12 by 12 inches. Now since the design is
taller than it is wider, we'll make the card in
the vertical orientation, and add the colors to the front. So open the card and hold it face up with the crease running vertically, and the front panel at the right. Match the crease to the vertical line on the 12 by 12 inch green standard grip machine mat, and line up the top edge with a horizontal mat guide. I like to place the crease
at the five inch mark, and the top edge at the top line. That means the front panel is between five and 9.75 inches horizontally, and zero to a bit more than six and a half inches vertically. And then press your card
down well onto the mat with a brayer. Back in Cricut design space, drag the image to the mat area where you'll put your cards front. Roughly center it if you like in the cards front area. If you're setting things up like me, just make sure it's to the right of the vertical five inch line, but above six and a
half inches horizontally so it won't draw on the crease, and will all be on the paper, and then click continue. On the make screen, set your base material
to watercolor cards. Don't worry, these pens will work well on this paper, even though it's not a watercolor card. Follow the screen prompts to pick the first pen
the machine will use. Be sure to test it on some scrap paper to make sure it's flowing well first. Click the pen into the clamp, and put the cap back on the pen so you don't lose it. Load your mat into your Cricut, making sure the card orientation, and placement matches the screen. Then press the flashing button to begin drawing your project, and watch the magic start. When the Cricut is done
with the first pen, follow the screen prompts, and swap in the next pen for the next layer of the design. Keep swapping in your pens until the drawing is complete. Then unload your mat, flip your mat over onto your work surface, and roll the mat back to
release your card stock. Step three, assemble your greeting card. Fold along the existing crease, and that's it. Your greeting card is complete. Make sure you have the envelope that came in the set and you are all done. (upbeat musical chimes) Project number two. A large poster with Cricut two and a half millimeter markers, and the Cricut Venture. Step two, prepare your poster design. On a blank canvas, upload the SVG that you want to use or use the design with the cat and bear looking for honey. With the design selected, use the operation menu to change everything to pen. We're going big. So make sure the size lock icon is closed, and change the height to 24 inches. This will make the poster
almost 18 inches wide. If you have a smaller machine selected, you may get a warning that the image is too large, but don't worry, just change the machine to the venture, and it will go away. With the design selected, click ungroup so we can adjust the colors for the layers. In the layers panel. Select the top layer
with the illustration. Click on the color swatch, and select M marker 2.5 millimeters from the pen type, and then select the color you want. I'll use black. Then select the sentiment, and the layers panel and change it to a 2.5 millimeter marker in red. Then select everything and click attach. Your layers are ready to draw. Make sure the correct machine is selected, and click make. If you're prompted, click on mat. Choose 24 inch by 28
inch and click confirm. On the prepare scree, you should have one mat with your design Center the design on the
mat as best as possible, and then click continue. On the make screen, set your base material
to medium card stock. The screen has helpful prompts to set up your venture, so follow those carefully. Mine is all set with the lever up, the pinch roller in position two. The side mat guides up. The center guide down. The mat extensions out, and the support piece in place. I have detailed steps on setting up your Cricut Venture for different projects at JenniferMaker.com/Venture. Then place your card stack face up on a green 24 inch by 28 inch Standard Grip Machine Mat. Use a brayer to adhere it down well. The 2.5 millimeter markers don't need the ventures accessory adapter. So open clamp A and remove it by gently pushing up
on it from the bottom, and then set it aside somewhere where you won't lose it. Put the first markers cap on the back so you don't lose the cap. And then test the marker on scrap paper to make sure it flows well. Now place the marker and clamp A on your Cricut Venture, and remember that it rests in there, but it doesn't click and
then close the clamp. Put the mat into the machine from the top, making sure the edges go
under the side guides. Feed it in until it catches, and holds on the bottom guides. Lower the lever as the vacuum seals the mat to the machine, and press the flashing load button to measure the mat. Press the flashing go
button to begin drawing. Follow the prompts to change your marker when the Cricut Venture pauses, and press the flash and go button again. When it's all done, remove your marker from clamp A, and put the cap back on because it's easy to
get marks on the poster when you unload the mat if the marker is still in place. Now hold the top of the mat, and lift the lever so you can slide the mat right out. Flip the mat over and carefully peel it away from the card stock to release it. Your poster is now complete. (upbeat instrumental chimes) Project number three. Sublimate a mug with Cricut infusible ink, pens and markers. Step two, prepare your
infusible ink design. On a blank canvas, upload your SVG. I'm going to put the design with the cat, and bear napping on my
12 ounce sublimation mug. With the design selected, go to the operation menu and select pen. Click ungroup so we can work with each layer separately. Select the illustration
from the layers panel, then click the color
box for the pen options. Select M marker one millimeter, and a color with
infusible ink in the name. Make sure it's the color you have. Then select the sentiment layer, but change it to fine 0.4 millimeters infusible ink color. Now add the mug template
SVG to the canvas. The SVG has one template at the top for your design, and three copies of it below to cut your protective
sheets the perfect shape. Click ungroup to work with the template layers separately. The designs are sized for this mug, but too tall altogether. Plus we want to decorate both sides so we can rearrange them to work. To do this, move the illustration to the left section of the top template, and the sentiment to the right, and roughly center them vertically. Leave about half an inch between the designs and an inch or so of white space
between their outer edges, and the template before the shape narrows. Hold your shift key on your keyboard, and select the top template, the illustration and the sentiment layers, and then click attach. You are now ready to draw and cut. Make sure the correct machine is selected in the top right and click make. On the prepare screen, set the material size to eight and a half by 11 inches. Select the mat with the design, and choose mirror since we're going to transfer it using heat. Select the first mat and click continue. On the make screen, set your base material
to laser copy paper, and change the pressure to more for a cleaner cut. Put a sheet of laser copy paper on a green standard grip machine mat to match the first mat, and then brayer it down well. Make sure your fine point blade is clean, and loaded in the clamp. And then load your mat, and press the flashing
button to begin cutting. When it's done, unload your mat, flip your mat over onto your work surface, and roll the mat back to
release the copy paper. It's not as sturdy as card stock, so be careful and go slow. Now put another piece of laser copy paper on the mat for the second mat with another wrap and one with the design. Remember to brayer it too. Follow the screen prompts to find the first pen or marker. Now take off the cap, and put it on the end of the pen to avoid losing it. And then test the pen on scrap paper. Put the pen in the clamp
and then load your mat, and press the flashing button to begin. When it's done, unload the mat, flip it over and carefully peel it away from the paper. Step three, sublimate
your infusible ink pen, and marker mug. Infusible ink is a form of sublimation, so remember to open a window or turn on a fan to help with ventilation, and follow the full steps for supplementing your mug in their written tutorial over at, JenniferMaker.com/569 where I have a full
step-by-step photo process for you to follow. Step four, show it off. Here's what my finished
Cricut Pen and Marker projects look like when completed. Aren't these cute? It's a lot of fun drawing with a Cricut once you get the hang of it. And of course, you can mix and match different pens and markers with your designs for different results. Try out some of the other types too, like glitter gel pens or even the watercolor markers. I promise they're easier
than you might think, and so much fun. I have links to more information about each kind of pen and marker in my blog post at JennifeMmaker.com/569. Just remember to use the right kind for your machine, and the right thickness
for the design element. And now there are a few more things I really want you to keep in mind when using pens and markers. First, you want to store
your pens and markers, either flat or tip down to keep the ink flowing smoothly. And remember to prime them with a little scribble on a piece of scrap
paper before using them. Otherwise, you could
get inconsistent lines like this test I made. And while most of the pens and markers look very similar on the package, and in the end result, some of the infusible ink options will change after heating. And for some reason, the cardinal red marker looks really light compared to the package. So keep that in mind. I hope you'll use these tips, and designs to experiment, and create your own fun projects with Cricut Pens and Markers. And if you want to learn more about using these tools to
add writing to designs, I have lots of information over at, JenniferMaker.com/Cricut-Writing. Is there something else you want to know about working with Cricut Pens or Markers? Let me know. Just leave your question below this video, or ask over our Cricut Crafters Group at JenniferMaker.com/CricutCrafters. And please come share photos of your pen and marker projects. Posting your photos lets you show off your awesome creations, plus it inspires others
to create, including me. And that's it for today. Until tomorrow, this is Jennifer Maker reminding you to craft a life you love. (upbeat instrumental music)
