Did you know you can DIY stencils? This has been such a game-changer! Learn how to make a stencil with a Cricut and open up a whole new world of crafting possibilities.
Have you ever wondered if you could make your own stencils? I’m thrilled to say that you can, and your Cricut machine is the answer. Your pondering over how to make a stencil with a Cricut ends here!
Believe it or not, there are several ways you can make stencils using your Cricut machine. You can cut:
- Vinyl and use it as a stencil
- Stencil film to use as a reusable stencil
- Even just cut paper and use it on your project
Today, I’m going to take the mystery out of the process and show you how the Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore Air 2 can cut stencils, including all three options for stencil types.
How To Make A Stencil With Cricut
First, you’ll find a video tutorial to help guide you through the process. Then, you’ll find 3 different techniques you can use to make stencils, based on how you want to use them.
Video Tutorial: How To Make A Stencil With A Cricut Machine
I thought it might be easier to share this information via a video so I have included that for you below. You can either watch the video or keep reading for the information.
FYI, I’m including the links referenced in the video down below as well. 😁
How To Cut Stencil Vinyl
Cricut actually makes a special stencil vinyl that you can purchase for your projects. That makes making a stencil 10x easier!
With that being said, I’m going to be really honest and transparent here. Most of the time I just use leftover pieces of removable vinyl when stenciling. This is also a great way to use up rolls that you purchased and then didn’t like the color!
The color doesn’t matter since you will be stenciling and then throwing the stencil away.
Note: These are NOT stencils that you can use again and again. Keep reading if you want to make that type of stencil.
Want to see some cases where I used vinyl as a stencil? Check out these different project ideas.
- DIY Stenciled Dish Towel Handmade Gift Idea
- Free Travel SVG File: Adventure Awaits
- Make Your Own Wood Sign with Your Cricut
- How to Make Wooden Signs with Quotes
- DIY Burlap Aisle Runner
- DIY Burlap Table Runner
Making Reusable Stencils With Cricut
Now, stencils made with vinyl would be one-time use only and you would need to throw them away.
But what if you want to make reusable stencils that you can use over and over with your Cricut? You can try to cut this stencil film with your Cricut to make stencils just like you would buy in the store! They make for the perfect reusable stencil.
Don’t believe me? Check out this video of me cutting this product along with some helpful cutting instructions.
If you want to make them sticky, simply use stencil adhesive spray on the back of them.
Important Note: I highly recommend taking the time to be mindful of your design when using stencil film. Remember to either use a stencil font or add in “tabs” to hold things like the centers of letters in place. You may want to cut a test stencil from copy paper to make sure you have your stencil correctly designed before cutting from the film.
That way, you get the mistakes taken care of on paper instead of the much more expensive stencil film!
Additional Options For Cricut Stencils
One of the best things about Cricut projects is that they often offer tons of flexibility so that you can accomplish the same basic craft in many different ways. In addition to the 2 different vinyl and film options above, here are a couple more.
Using Cricut Cardstock
Yes, you can totally make stencils from regular cardstock! They’re definitely not as user-friendly as vinyl or stencil film would be; however, they can will the job done.
Here are some projects where I used this method:
- Grain Sack Pillows with a Cricut Machine
- Baseball Lamp Tutorial from a Thrift Store Find
- DIY Pillow Covers with Burlap and Lace
- Make Your Own Wood Sign with Your Cricut
Using Freezer Paper
Freezer paper also makes a great stencil option if you’re working with fabric. All you have to do is cut it on your Cricut machine and apply it with an iron. It will stick to your fabric temporarily and peel off once your project is complete.
Isn’t that easy…and cheap?
You can see a few projects made with this method below:
- DIY Football Silhouette Pillows
- Ombre Clover Pinch Proof Shirt
- Stenciling a Door Mat
- Envelope Pillow Cover
If you have been wanting to learn how to make a stencil with your Cricut, I hope one or more of these methods will work for your projects. Be sure to tell us which is your favorite method for making stencils in the comment section below!
