How to Weld with a Cricut

If you are tired of trying to line up the letters cut from your Cricut straight, welding the letters together may be the answer. The Cricut is a personal cutting machine made by Provo Craft. Provo Craft has also made a software program that will work with your Cricut to weld the letters of a word into one continuous cut. The welded letters will have the spacing correct and can go onto your project in one piece.

Instructions

    1

    Load the cartridge of your choice into the Cricut machine. Place the keyboard overlay included with your cartridge onto the keys on the top of the Cricut.

    2

    Align your paper with the "Align Here" corner of the cutting mat. Smooth the paper onto the cutting mat.

    3

    Load the cutting mat into the machine by placing the mat arrow first into the rollers on the front of the Cricut. Press "Load Paper" on the keyboard overlay.

    4

    Install the Cricut DesignStudio CD follow the installation prompts. You may also download and purchase the DesignStudio from the Cricut webpage.

    5

    Plug the USB end of the cable into the USB port of your computer. Plug the other end into the port located on the back of your Cricut next to the power cord. Your computer should recognize the device and install the proper drivers from the DesignStudio.

    6

    Open the DesignStudio software. Enter the serial number included with the purchase of the DesignStudio. Press the "Activate Using the Internet" button to complete activation.

    7

    Update the firmware of the Cricut by navigating to the "Help" menu then select "Update Cricut Firmware." Allow the program to update your Cricut.

    8

    Select "Keyword" from the "View" menu under Cricut Cartridge Library toolbox. Enter the name of the cartridge you have inserted into your Cricut. Select the cartridge from the list.

    9

    Select "Keyword" from the "View" menu under Cricut Cartridge Library toolbox. Enter the name of the cartridge you have inserted into your Cricut. Select the cartridge from the list.

    10

    Select the letters you want from the virtual keyboard at the top of your screen. When the letters are put in consecutively they will be included in the same selection box. Click the check box next to the "Welding" option under the "Shape Properties" toolbox.

    11

    Enter "-.1" into the "Kerning" box under the "Shape Properties" toolbox.

    12

    Click any images you want welded to your phrase using the keyboard at the top of the screen. Drag the image to the phrase you want it welded with until the two items are slightly overlapping. Make sure to check the box next to the "Welding" option under the "Shape Properties" toolbox. Click the eye icon on the left of the screen to preview the image. If the image is bolded you have welded it correctly.

    13

    Select "Cut with Cricut" from the "File" menu to cut your selected images.

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