Creating Acrylic Wedding Invites With Cricut: A Step-By-Step Guide

If you're looking to save money on your wedding invitations, you can make your own acrylic invitations with a Cricut machine. Acrylic invitations add a touch of elegance and can make beautiful keepsakes. However, you should consider how to package them so they arrive in one piece, what type of envelopes are suitable, and how to add postage correctly.

To make acrylic wedding invitations with a Cricut, you'll need a few tools and materials, including a strong grip cutting mat, an engraving tip and quick-swap housing tool, and masking or painter's tape. You'll also need to purchase acrylic blanks, which you can find at suppliers like Houston Acrylic and Custom Made Better.

Once you have your materials, you can start by designing your invitation in Cricut Design Space, using a single-line font and design elements for engraving projects. After securing your acrylic to the cutting mat, follow the prompts in Cricut Design Space, and the machine will engrave your invitation. Repeat the process until you've completed all your invitations.

Choosing the right Cricut machine

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right Cricut machine for your needs. Firstly, think about your budget. Cricut machines vary in price, so you can choose one that suits your budget and offers the features you need.

Next, consider your crafting skills and the purpose of your projects. Are you a hobby crafter who enjoys making simple projects for fun, or do you plan to use the machine for a small business venture? The Cricut Joy is perfect for beginners and small projects, while the Cricut Explore is ideal for those who want to work with a wider range of materials and tools.

The Cricut Maker is the most versatile and powerful machine in the Cricut family. It can cut over 300 different materials and offers more than 12 cutting tools, making it suitable for various projects, from fabric cutting to engraving and debossing.

The type of operation you plan to use is another important consideration. Different Cricut machines are compatible with different operations, such as print-then-cut, foil transfer, engraving, pen tool, and laser cut. For example, if you want to engrave acrylic wedding invitations, you'll need the Maker or Maker 3 model.

Finally, think about the size of your projects. The Cricut Joy is compact and designed for smaller projects, while the Cricut Explore can handle larger cuts of up to 12 inches wide and 24 inches long.

By considering your budget, crafting skills, project needs, and the specific features of each machine, you can choose the right Cricut machine for your acrylic wedding invitations and any future crafting endeavours.

Designing the invitation

When designing your invitation, you'll want to use a single-line font and single-line design elements if you plan to engrave your invitations. This is because the Cricut machine will otherwise outline your font and design. You can choose from a wide range of fonts, graphics, and templates or create your own unique design.

Once you've settled on a design, you'll need to import your invitation design into Cricut's Design Space. Here, you can adjust the settings to match the type of paper or cardstock you're using. This ensures the Cricut machine cuts accurately without damaging the material.

If you're using the print-then-cut operation type, you can design your invitation or customise a pre-designed template on Canva before exporting the invitation image and uploading it to Cricut Design Space.

If you're using the foil transfer kit, you can add a touch of elegance to your invitations by using the foil effect on all three Cricut machines.

For a unique look, you can use the engraving tool with the Maker or Maker 3 machine to engrave clear or mirrored acrylic. If you opt for mirror acrylic, remember to engrave from the backside of the acrylic blank and mirror your design before sending it to your Cricut.

The pen tool operation type is compatible with all three Cricut machines and can be used to create invitations with a pen operation.

Finally, you can use the laser cut operation type to cut intricate designs with any of the Cricut machines, keeping in mind the size limitations of the Cricut Joy.

Preparing the Cricut machine

To prepare your Cricut machine, start by setting it up and ensuring it is connected to your computer or mobile device. This is important as you will be importing your invitation design into Cricut's Design Space.

Load the appropriate cutting mat based on the materials you are using. For acrylic invitations, a Strong Grip Cutting Mat (purple mat) is recommended. If you are using paper or cardstock, a LightGrip Cutting Mat will be more suitable.

Next, load a new cutting blade if your Cricut has been used multiple times before. This will ensure you start the cutting process with a sharp and clean blade, which is crucial for intricate cuts.

For acrylic invitations, you will also need an engraving tip and a quick-swap housing tool. Familiarize yourself with the engraving tool before starting, especially if you are new to using it.

If you plan to cut vinyl and adhere it to acrylic sheets, you will need the necessary tools for that process as well.

Finally, load the design into the Cricut Design Space and adjust the settings to match the type of material you are using. This calibration step is essential to ensure the Cricut machine cuts accurately without damaging the material.

Now that your Cricut machine is prepared, you are ready to begin the cutting process and create your beautiful wedding invitations!

Loading the design and adjusting settings

To load your design and adjust settings, you will need to import your invitation design into Cricut's Design Space. You can create your design within the Cricut Design Space app or use any other editor like Canva, Google Docs, Slides, Microsoft Word, or PowerPoint.

When using Cricut Design Space, select all and change the operation type to 'Engrave'. Then, select 'Attach' and 'Make It'. You can also use the Design Space to select the type of paper or cardstock you are using, ensuring the Cricut machine cuts accurately without damaging the material.

If you are using Canva, you will need to export the invitation image and upload it to Cricut Design Space.

For non-paper invitations, you can use the Cricut Maker's engraving tip and quick-swap housing to etch onto acrylic sheets. Alternatively, you can use the Explore Air machine to cut out vinyl and adhere it to acrylic sheets, but this is only recommended for smaller weddings as it can be time-consuming and expensive.

You can also use the Foil Transfer Kit to add a metallic touch to your paper invites.

Adding additional elements

Once you have the main invitation cut out, you can enhance it with additional elements. This is where you can get creative and make your invitations stand out. Here are some ideas for extra elements to add to your acrylic wedding invitations:

Decorative Layers

Add depth and interest to your invitations by incorporating decorative layers. This can be done by cutting out additional shapes, borders, or frames from different materials such as cardstock or vellum, and layering them onto your acrylic base. Play with different colours and textures to create a unique and visually appealing design.

Embossing

Embossing is a technique that creates a raised or textured design on the surface of your invitation. You can use your Cricut machine to emboss patterns, words, or designs onto your acrylic invitations, adding a touch of elegance and dimension. This technique can be used to highlight certain elements, such as the couple's names or a decorative border.

Accompanying Pieces

Cut out accompanying pieces such as RSVP cards, information inserts, or belly bands to include with your invitations. These can be made from the same acrylic material or complementary cardstock. Accompanying pieces add a professional and cohesive touch to your invitation suite, making it more functional and informative for your guests.

Envelopes and Liners

Enhance the presentation of your invitations by creating custom envelopes and liners. Design and cut out envelopes that complement the size and style of your invitations. You can also add a decorative liner to your envelopes, using patterned or coloured paper. This adds a surprise element when your guests open the envelope, creating a lasting impression.

Embellishments

Personalise your invitations with embellishments such as ribbons, bows, or gemstones. These can be adhered using glue or double-sided tape. Embellishments can be used to highlight certain areas of your invitation, such as the couple's names or a monogram. They add a touch of luxury and dimension to your design.

Wax Seals

For a traditional and elegant touch, consider adding wax seals to your envelopes. You can create your own wax seals using a hot glue gun and a custom stamp or seal. This adds a sense of sophistication and makes each invitation feel extra special. Choose a seal design that reflects your wedding theme or the couple's personality.

Frequently asked questions