The Write then Cut / Draw then Cut feature opens up lots of possibilities for embellishing and personalizing your projects. Your Cricut uses a pen or marker to write on an image to be cut. This feature can be used for writing text or drawing images on cut shapes.
Writing Text
First, let’s write on a tag and cut it out. This technique is also great for short phrases and sentiments on cards and other cardstock projects.
- Start by choosing a base image to cut. Go to the Images tab and search for “tag.” If you want, filter Ownership to “Free” in order to narrow the choices. Select the image and click “Insert Images.”
2. Save the project. Don’t forget to periodically click “Save” to keep from losing your work.
3. To easily position the text where I wanted it, I chose to rotate the tag 270 degrees. This put the shape in the position I wanted for writing.
4. Then, to add text, click the Text icon and click the down arrow next to the font name.
5. Next, click “Filter” and select “Writing.” This will show only the fonts that have a writing style. If you do not pick a writing font, you will end up with bubble letters, which you probably don’t want.
I selected the Cricut Sans writing font. Simple Celebrations and Cricut Alphabet are also free to use without a Cricut Access subscription.
Enter your text in the text box. Make sure Writing is selected in the drop down under Style.
6. With the text box selected, center the text (if desired) by clicking on Alignment>Center. Move the text box on to the tag. If you want to adjust the letter spacing, I have more information on that in this video.
7. With the tag and text selected, click “Attach.”
8. Now that Design Space knows where to write the text, the tag is ready to cut. Click “Make It.”
9. On the Prepare screen, the number of copies can be increased if needed.
To increase the number of copies, click the up arrow until you get to the desired number, and click “Apply.”
10. After selecting the material setting, Design Space will ask you to load the pen and the blade. If you’re using the Explore One or the Cricut Joy, Design Space will ask you load the pen first, and then it will draw your letters, pause and ask you to load the blade.
TIP: if you are using textured cardstock, put the textured side down on the mat so the writing will be done on the smooth side.
Press the “Go” button when you are ready to write and cut.
Here’s the completed project!
This video demonstrates how to make this tag:
Drawn Images
Design Space has so many beautiful drawn images. They are already set to draw and attach to a cut image.
Draw then Cut works very similarly to Write then Cut, but you don’t have to go through font decisions – they’re ready to make.
It’s very easy to find drawn images in Design Space. Go to Images>Browse All Images. Under “Art Type” check “Draw Only.” Enter a search term in the search box.
Select the drawn image and the cut image and attach.
Happy crafting!
I love the information given by you, thank you very much. I was very helpful
You’re welcome! 🙂
Hi! Is there a way to draw an image (for example a mason jar) and have the cricut cut on the outer edge of the jar? For example_ I have downloaded a mason jar svg file and it has details on the jar (like a “glare” and the “ridges” where the lid screws on. I dont know how to just cut a mason jar shape without it thinking I want all the details cut out too. I also dont want to just cut a square around the drawing either? I hope this makes sense!
You would need to create an offset in a graphic design program like Inkscape or Sure Cuts a Lot 5 and attach the drawn image to it. This feature may be coming soon to Design Space.
This was so helpful and exactly what I was looking for — thank you!!
Very helpful thank you. Can I duplicate the tag shape on the canvas but put different text in each of them, and have them cut and write from one piece f card.
Definitely. I’ve done it many times with gift tags for different people.
Have just found these instructions while trying to make place cards for my daughters’ wedding. It worked perfectly. Thank you so much
I am having trouble with the Multiple operation on my Cricut Joy. The letters want to draw, but I can’t get them to print on the tag I have chosen. Do I need to do something different with my Cricut Joy? Thank you. Love your tutorials!! Gail
I’m not quite sure what you mean. The Joy doesn’t print, and it doesn’t have the print then cut function. If you want to use the pens with the write/draw function, you need to put the text (set to writing style) on the image to be cut, select both, and attach.
Hi Lydia, I wondering if you can help me, my draw then cut is off to one side when I have sent something to draw then cut the offset. I have tried a calibration with the knife blade and it says its not detected. I then did the calibration with the rotary blade and that worked so I then tried with the knife blade again it it said again that it was not detected. The interesting thing is it will do a draw and cut fine detecting the blade. Hope that makes sense. Thanks
Draw/write then cut uses the Premium Fine Point blade, and so calibrating for the rotary blade or knife blade won’t help. It sounds like you are putting in the Premium Fine Point blade when trying to do the knife blade calibration. Here is more information on blades: https://help.cricut.com/hc/en-us/articles/360009432294-All-About-Cricut-Blades-and-Machine-Tools#maker.
Make sure that you are attaching the draw layer to the cut layer before clicking Make It.