Creating Wedding Invitations With Cricut: A Step-By-Step Guide

Wedding invitations are often the first impression your guests will have of your wedding, including the overall vibe and colour scheme. Creating your own invitations can be a fun and creative way to save money, and Cricut machines offer precision and quality that is hard to match. Cricut machines can cut paper, vinyl, cardstock and more, and come with easy-to-learn cloud-based design software. This allows you to edit and personalise your invitations with images, fonts and your own artwork. You can also use Cricut to create intricate cardholders for pre-printed cards, or print the cards yourself and use the Cricut for embellishment.

Using Cricut Design Space

To begin, open Cricut Design Space and create a rectangle in the size of your invitation. For example, for a 5" by 7" invitation, create a rectangle of the same dimensions. You can then add your wedding invitation text using the text tool and select your desired fonts.

Design the layout of your invitation using the rectangle as a guide. A useful tip is to select the rectangle, and then use the position or axis tool to enter zero for both the X and Y axes. Create a line and change the operation to cut or pen, and then change the position of the line to X: 2.5 Y: 0. Now, when you put your invitation text inside the rectangle, you can ensure the letters are centred by aligning the text crosshairs with the line. Don't forget to remove the line after designing the layout.

Check that each text element is set to "pen" for the operation. If you are using a script font, you may need to create insets to allow your pen tool to fill in the text rather than outlining the font. Select the text, then select "offset" and adjust the distance to a small negative number, such as -0.01 or -0.005. You will see a blue line appear inside the original text. Select "apply", and this will create a new pathway of welded text. Repeat this process four to five times, or as needed, until it looks like your pen tool will fill in the text adequately.

Now, hide the rectangle and the line you created earlier. Select all and attach, then select "Make It". Adjust the text on your screen to match the position of your paper on the cutting mat.

Power on your Cricut machine and insert your pen into Clamp A. Gently place your chosen paper on a light grip mat and secure it with a brayer. Load the mat into your Cricut and follow the prompts in Design Space. Once your machine has finished writing, you can unload the mat, flip it over, and bend it back to remove your invitation.

Choosing paper type

The Cricut machine can cut through any type of paper, including foil, cardstock, linen, and vellum. This means that you can choose any type of paper for your wedding invitations. However, you may want to consider the following when choosing your paper type:

Weight

The Cricut machine can cut through paper of varying weights. However, if you are planning on having multiple layers of paper, keep in mind that this may require additional postage. So, if you are planning on having a lightweight linen cardstock as an outer invitation holder, consider using a heavier weight cardstock for the printed invitation inside.

Colour

You can choose any colour of paper for your wedding invitations. If you are planning a themed wedding, such as a dusty blue wedding, choose a paper colour that fits this theme. Alternatively, you could go for a classic white cardstock.

Texture

There are many different textures of paper that you can choose from, such as handmade linen paper or vellum. Vellum is a special transparent paper that can be used for printing. If you are using vellum, remember that different vellum brands have different levels of opacity, so test your design before printing on the special paper.

Source

You can purchase paper for your wedding invitations from various sources, such as Etsy or Amazon. Etsy has a wide variety of shops that sell handmade paper with torn edges, which could be perfect for a deckled edge invitation.

Adding text

The Cricut Design Space app allows you to create and design everything within the app itself. Alternatively, you can also use any other editor like Google Docs, Slides, Microsoft Word, or PowerPoint.

To add text to your wedding invitation, use the text tool to create a text overlay. Once you are done creating the text, make sure everything is attached and set the Fill = Print. You can select any colour for the text, or even a pattern fill.

Do not forget to select all the text and “Flatten”. If you skip this step, the Cricut will attempt to slice all the letters. Be sure to attach the text and graphics together and then Flatten.

If you are using the Cricut pen tool, unless you select a single-line font, the pen tool will outline the font rather than fill it in. In most cases, this is not the desired outcome, especially for wedding invitations. For this project, use the offset tool to create additional paths for the pen tool to follow. The ultimate result is a bold script font that is completely filled in. Rather than adding an offset, create an inset by adding a minus sign in the distance section of the offset tool.

Pro tip: test your insets with scrap cardstock before using the special paper you've purchased for your wedding invitations. This will allow you to make adjustments without wasting precious paper.

Using the pen tool

To use the pen tool, you will need to select a font. It's important to note that unless you select a single-line font, the pen tool will outline the font rather than fill it in. This is not usually the desired outcome for wedding invitations, so you may want to use the offset tool to create additional paths for the pen to follow, filling in the text. This will create a bold script font. To do this, create an inset by adding a minus sign in the distance section of the offset tool.

You can use Cricut pens or non-Cricut pens with an adapter. However, be aware that using an adapter will void your machine warranty.

To insert the pen, gently remove the white pen holder from Clamp A. Insert the pen adapter and your chosen pen, then close the clamp.

To ensure the best results, use a well-used light grip cutting mat with handmade paper. Newer mats are often too sticky and will cause the paper to stick. Use a brayer to secure the paper to the mat.

Once you have followed the prompts in Design Space, your Cricut machine will write with the pen tool. You can then unload the mat, flip it over, and bend it back away from the invitation.

Assembling the invitations

Now that you have your design ready, it's time to assemble your wedding invitations. Here's a step-by-step guide to putting everything together:

• Prepare your materials: Gather all the necessary materials, including your Cricut machine, cutting mat, chosen paper or cardstock, gel pen, and any other embellishments you plan to use.
• Create your design: Use Cricut Design Space or another editing software to create your wedding invitation design. You can include text, graphics, and any other elements you desire. Remember to set the correct dimensions for your paper size.
• Print your design: Once your design is ready, print it onto your chosen paper or cardstock. Ensure your printer is set up correctly to handle the paper you are using.
• Cut your paper: Place the printed paper on your cutting mat and load it into your Cricut machine. Follow the prompts in Design Space to cut out your invitation, including any intricate designs or folds you have included.
• Address your envelopes: Use the line draw option in Design Space to address your envelopes. You can also embellish your envelopes with designs cut using your Cricut machine.
• Assemble the invitations: Fold your invitations along the scored lines. If you have created any additional elements, such as intricate cut-out sleeves or inserts, carefully assemble and secure them together.
• Add personal touches: Consider adding handwritten notes or embellishments to your invitations to give them a unique and personal touch. You can use the Cricut pen tool to write directly on the invitations or create "handwritten" notes.
• Check your work: Before sending out the invitations, carefully review each one to ensure all the elements are correctly placed and secured. Check for any smudges or smears, especially if using gel pens or ink.
• Prepare for postage: Keep in mind that multiple layers or heavy embellishments may require additional postage. Check the weight and size of your final invitation to determine the correct postage amount.
• Final touches: If you have created a deckled edge or unique shape for your invitations, consider the best way to package and send them to ensure they arrive safely to your guests. You may need to use special envelopes or packaging.

By following these steps, you will be able to assemble elegant and unique wedding invitations using your Cricut machine. Take your time and enjoy the creative process of bringing your vision to life!

Frequently asked questions