Crafting things at habitation require you to take imagination, the materials needed for crafting, and the tools needed to process the materials. Now, we can't provide you with imagination, aside from the occasional lists of ideas, since that is inherently present. However, when it comes to crafting materials and tools, we tin can become ahead and showcase some that take worked for a lot of other users around the globe.

How to use cricut explore air 2 featured

For case, you may take heard about Cricut and their extensive line of cut machines, primarily the Cricut Explore Air two, but knowing what information technology is and how to utilise the Cricut Explore Air two are 2 very unlike stories.

That beingness said, nosotros went ahead and created this in-depth guide and then that you can learn everything at that place is to know about using the Cricut Explore Air 2, and how you lot can go the most out of its capabilities.

What Is the Cricut Explore Air 2?

How to use cricut explore air 2 2

Cricut is a world-famous brand of cutting plotters and PC-controlled cutting machines, and their devices cater to both professionals that are looking for machines that can assist in large-scale production, likewise as average homeowners that desire to just craft and tinker with materials from fourth dimension to time.

Of form, Cricut doesn't simply make cutting machines, they also make heat presses like the Cricut EasyPress two, and they fifty-fifty make specializes heat presses for mugs, like the Cricut MugPress.

We've mentioned earlier in the article that Cricut has several lines of cutting machines, and these include the following:

  • Cricut Maker
  • Cricut Explore
  • Cricut Joy

As yous have probably figured out for yourself from the proper noun, the Cricut Explore Air 2 is part of the Explore family. It is the latest available model since the original Cricut Explore Air has already been discontinued.

How Does a Cricut Explore Air 2 Work?

How to use cricut explore air 2 3

For those unfamiliar with what a cutting auto is, imagine that it is a printer, or a sewing machine, just that it cuts the materials that you identify inside, and all of the actions are already programmed thanks to specializes PC software.

All the same, the range of materials that can be used is far much larger, since the auto tin can as well be used on paper, felt, vinyl, all manner of fabrics, and even harder materials such as leather.

If yous're familiar with other Cricut machines, know that it is very similar in terms of functionality to the Cricut Maker 3. Notwithstanding, it features reduced cutting speeds, a smaller cutting force, and its overall features arrive ameliorate suited for small-scale manufacturing of homemade goods.

Through a combination of models created via software, cleverly picked materials, and a lot of imagination, the Cricut Explore Air 2 tin can exist used to create custom designs that tin be later assembled to form various household items used to decorate your dwelling.

More than and so, if you feel like showcasing your crafting prowess, you tin also utilize information technology to create custom gifts for your friends and family unit and even make the occasional dollar on the side by selling your goods.

How Practise I Apply the Cricut Explore Air 2?

So now you know a bit about what the Cricut Explore Air two is and what it can do, and now it'southward time nosotros get to the part where we really show you in a pace-by-stride manner how you can take the Cricut

However, don't be alarmed by the fact that there may exist a lot of steps alee in this tutorial since Cricut did their best to make their machines as easy to use every bit possible, and the Explore Air 2 is amid the easiest to sympathize of them all.

Learn Nigh Cricut'due south Design Space

The offset step that you need to accept when creating something at home, fifty-fifty if yous're non using a cutting machine, is to take your idea and brand a sketch of it on paper then that you have a better idea of what the end result will look like.

In one case you've done the initial sketches, y'all'll probably spend a lot of time tweaking the design over and over until you finally get a outcome that feels right (if you're like me, you'll probably spend 3 hours drawing and designing for every 10 minutes really using the Cricut machine).

Well, this process of preparing before actually executing applies to the Cricut Explore Air 2 besides, since the car is exclusively controlled via a proprietary software called Design Infinite, and you'll need to acquire some basics about Design Space if you promise to excel at using your Explore Air 2 efficiently.

What Is Design Space?

Cricut Design Space for Windows

Pattern Space is a costless graphics design tool made to work exclusively with Cricut cutting machines, and it works with all currently supported models, as well as older ones too.

Because information technology is a graphics design tool, yous can utilize it to create designs and patterns from scratch. However, if you're having a moment where inspiration is lacking, y'all tin ever merely browse the Cricut Prototype Library for complimentary images, predesigned Get in Now projects, or even fonts.

It is available for PC on both Windows and Mac, and it can likewise be downloaded as a mobile app for both Android and iOS, and both the PC and mobile versions of the app look nearly identical, making it easy to switch from one platform to another whenever needed.

Design Space is a cloud-based tool, and using it requires that you log in with a Cricut ID, which in turn allows you to sync your progress betwixt devices and programs and apply your Explore Air 2 even when on the route.

However, there are certain limitations for the mobile app, such every bit the disability to use it to update your Cricut firmware.

Notation: Design space is installed locally on your PC, meaning y'all tin can design any time, anywhere, even without an Cyberspace connexion. However, y'all won't be able to browse any of the resources from the Cricut Image Library.

Learn How to Use Blueprint Space

If the Cricut Explore Air two are the hands that practise the cutting, Design Space is the brain of the operation since information technology is the only mode to program a Cricut machine.

Since you can fifty-fifty use your Explore Air 2 to cutting a simple slice of cloth in half without the software, nosotros'll teach you some of the basics of using Design Space, and so yous tin can get ahead and explore some of the actress features by yourself.

Nevertheless, don't be alarmed about having to learn how to utilise this software, since Cricut's Blueprint Infinite is among the nigh convenient software of its kind, greatly outclassing similar tools like Silhouette Studio.

Hither'south how to use Pattern Space on your Cricut Explore Air 2:

  1. Launch the Pattern Space app and log in using yourCricut ID.
  2. In the top-right corner of the menu, selectOptimize feel for:
  3. Select on Cricut Explore Family. How to use cricut explore air 2 design space 1
  4. Click onNew Project.

Using the tools from the 2 toolbars placed on the left and on the peak of the UI, you lot tin can create pretty much anything you want since some of the tools assist you create some very complex designs or create designs that involve mixing different materials together.

At that place's nothing much I can tell yous near using this tool starting from this point since it is purely upward to you lot and your imagination.

Notwithstanding, if you think that y'all practise need a bit of help in the form of inspiration and ideas, you can always opt to check out the Cricut Library to gain access to user-created content.

Preparing the Cricut Explore Air 2

How to use cricut explore air 2 4

If you decided to buy a Cricut Explore Air 2 cutting car, you'd need to know how you tin can prepare information technology before actually using it, and we'll start out with how you will identify the car.

You encounter, Cricut prides itself on not only making some of the best used-grade cutting machines on the market but besides creating some of the quietest ones as well, and the Cricut Explore Air 2 is arguably the most silent of them all.

However, the Cricut Explore Air 2 comes with a feature called Fast Mode, and one time you actuate it, the machine volition perform all of the cutting at twice the speed.

Of form, there'south no mode such a feature would come without a cost, otherwise, anybody would just go along Fast Mode activated permanently.

That being said, while Fast Style does increase cut speed significantly, it also makes the Explore Air ii a lot noisier, so if you lot think that you volition exist using the cut car consistently, you'd improve discover it a room where information technology won't bother anyone.

Fortunately enough, the Explore Air is a lot smaller and lighter than some of the other Cricut machines, so you don't take to worry about information technology taking too much space in the room or about placing it on a piece of article of furniture that needs to exist as well sturdy.

Nevertheless, go on in mind that we are talking about a machine that is used for cutting and embossing all kinds of materials, and so wherever you place it, make certain that information technology tin handle vibrations, especially over long periods of fourth dimension.

As soon as you found a place for the Explore Air 2 and laid it on a solid surface, you can become alee and plug it in.

Connect to the Internet and Update Firmware

Cricut does a good task non only when it comes to creating and designing new machines merely too at improving their current ones likewise, and this is something that you can tell by the frequent firmware updates that they release.

Because of these frequent updates, the starting time thing you'll need to do when you unbox and plug your Explore Air two for the beginning time is to go ahead and update the firmware.

You can exercise this both via a wired (USB) connexion, every bit well as a wireless (Bluetooth) one, with the latter being something that was only added in recent Cricut cutting machines.

However, there's no telling when your device was boxed and how many firmware updates were released since so, so the chances are that quite a few may have piled upwards over time.

In that instance, information technology's safe to assume that your first round of updates will take some time, then we recommend that at least this time, you used a wired connection to ensure the all-time transfer speeds.

Hither's how to set up and update the firmware of your Cricut Maker iii:

  1. Visit the Cricut Design Infinite webpage.
  2. Download and install the Design Space app on your PC.
    • For the Android and iOS versions, visit the Google Play Store and the App Shop.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
  4. Log in or create a Cricut ID.
  5. Set up your new Cricut Explore Air 2 machine. How to use cricut maker 3 product setup
  6. Design Space will so scan your Cricut Explore Air 2 and check if information technology needs any firmware updates.
    • Design Space will and then show yous a list of all available firmware versions.
  7. Click onUpdate. Easypress 2 review update frimware 2
  8. Wait for the progress bar to make full.
  9. Your Cricut Explore Air two will restart by itself every bit soon as it is done updating.
  10. Click on Proceed. Easypress 2 review update frimware 2

Note: Design Space will prompt you to perform a few test cuts as before long equally the setup is washed to allow you know that the installation is complete.

Acquire About the Cricut Explore Air 2'south Accessories

Since the Explore Air 2 is fabricated for the average user, it was designed to work with fewer types of materials (100+) compared to its more than powerful cousin, the Cricut Maker 3 (300+).

However, a machine is simply as expert every bit its accessories, and this is especially the case with a cutting machine like the Cricut Explore Air ii since there is a reason why they employ certain tools for certain jobs.

You see, you lot can't utilize a fine and breakable blade to cut hard materials, and using a harder and more durable bract on softer materials would be overkill.

Considering of this, you'll demand to always keep in mind that the life expectancy of a bract depends on the type of materials you will be cutting most of the time, as harder materials will dull the blade faster.

That is why the Cricut Explore Air 2 is fabricated to work with 6 different attachable tools that tin help with cutting, designing, and more.

Here's a brief rundown of the six tools:

Premium Fine-Signal Blade

As well known as the German Carbide Premium Bract, information technology tin be used to cutting materials that are either very thin or of a medium-weight:

  • Newspaper
  • Cardstock
  • Posterboard
  • Vinyl
  • Iron-on

You can ever buy replacements separately from the Cricut website, as they are available in packages of 5 and x pieces.

Notation: The Premium Fine-Point Blade is the only 1 that comes packaged with the Explore Air 2 as a default, and the residual of them need to exist bought separately.

Deep Point Blade

Unlike the other blades used by Cricut cutting machines that are placed at a 45-degree angle, the Deep Point Blade is a bit different since it is placed at a much steeper threescore-degree angle.

More than so, that information technology is built from is made to be harder and much more than durable, making it better suited for deeper cuts in much harder materials such equally:

  • Magnet
  • Chipboard
  • Stamp textile
  • Thick cardstock
  • Stiffened felt
  • Foam sheets, and more than.

Notation: The blade is colored black and then that it is easier to tell apart from the remainder, and this too makes switching blades easier.

Bonded-Fabric Blade

By and large used for designs and crafts that are made out of bonded fabrics as the base of operations materials, this blade is created to handle finer and more complicated cuts.

Note: The bract is colored pink so that it is easier to tell apart from the residue, and this also makes switching blades easier.

Now that we've covered the cutting accessories, we'd like to remind you that the explore Air two can practise more than just cut, although that is what it does best. For example, it tin also be used to add various effects and textures to the materials that you are working on, and here are the tools that can make that happen:

Foil Transfer Tool

Used to add foil furnishings to the materials that you are working with, this tool also comes with 3 different interchangeable heads that alter how hard the foil transfer is imprinted on the material:

  • Fine
  • Medium
  • Bold

Scoring Stylus

Too cutting and adding foil transfers, the Cricut Explore Air two has a tool that tin handle fine and intricate material folding, and that's where the Scoring stylus comes into play.

Fine-Point Pencil

The last task that the Cricut Explore Air 2 tin perform besides cutting, engraving, and folding are adding graphic designs on your materials, which is another mode of saying that it can basically depict on your materials.

This makes the Fine-point pencil an platonic tool when you what to create holiday cards, as information technology tin can perfectly emulate stylized handwriting.

Cricut explore air 2 tools

Using the Cricut Explore Air two the Start Fourth dimension

The beginning fourth dimension you use any auto is probably when you lot're most broken-hearted about what results you volition go, and you need to be prepared to run into a few failures before you actually get the hang of using the machine.

However, yous tin can minimize the failure rate and get started with using this device faster if you lot follow a elementary set of rules.

Use the Right Tools

Now that you know most the 6 tools that are compatible with the Cricut Explore Air 2, y'all likewise need to be very careful when it comes to using them.

Fortunately plenty, Cricut took a lot of the guesswork out of the equation. For starters, equally presently equally you create a new project in Design Infinite, you will exist asked to input the materials that you will be working with, at which betoken Blueprint Space will automatically assign the correct tool for the job.

More so, The Explore Air 2 has a characteristic that alerts you whenever the wrong tool is attached to the machine, although you still have the option of leaving it as it is. Nonetheless, using the wrong tools tin result in bad cuts, improper designs, and a shorter lifespan for the tools themselves.

For example, using a delicate blade on a hard material will make information technology dull very fast or even suspension during the cutting process. Also, fifty-fifty the pens are specialized as well, as some are made to work on certain surfaces, or how some are washable, and others are permanent.

Notation: The Cricut Explore Air 2 allows you to multitask thanks to its dual railroad vehicle feature, which allows you to adhere two tools at a time, and therefore perform 2 actions simultaneously.

Another great instance of using the right tools is choosing the cut mats that y'all will be using (presuming that you aren't using Smart Materials) as there are 3 different kinds made for 3 different categories of materials.

Besides, go along in mind that cutting mats are consumables, so information technology's good that you know which to employ in different situations then that you can get your money'due south worth with each of them.

Setting Up Your First Cutting

Now that you lot've got your projection set up, your Explore Air plugged in, and you've installed the right tools, information technology's time you prepare for the very kickoff cutting with your Cricut Explore Air 2.

Start past placing your cutting mat into the auto and then the material over the mat and then that it adheres perfectly to its surface. Y'all volition and then load both the mat and the textile into the machine and so input your project via Pattern Infinite.

The Cricut Explore volition then check whether you lot attached the right tool for the designated project (information technology doesn't hurt to double-check), and simply then volition it proceed to commencement cutting.

Smart Materials

If you like beingness efficient and wasting as little time equally possible with cut the materials,  and so you should definitely consider using Smart Materials which are specialized consumables that piece of work without a cutting mat.

They are basically materials that come preattached to their own backers that tin can feed through the Explore Air 2, and this allows you to load them directly into the automobile and start cutting.

Cricut has Smart Material version of a lot of popular consumables, including:

  • Smart Vinyl
  • Smart Iron-On
  • Smart Paper Sticker Cardstock

Also, the Explore Air 2'south Fast Mode is optimized to work all-time with Smart Materials, allowing the fastest cut speeds possible.

Weed Out Backlog Material

Then y'all've finally made your first cutting, and now you have a rectangular piece of material fabricated up of both the cut-out design likewise equally the leftovers, so the side by side obvious step is to weed out the backlog cloth.

Unfortunately, with all of its clever features and updates, i thing the Cricut Explore Air 2 cannot exercise is weed out excess materials for y'all, so you'll need to do it manually.

More so, if yous're working with intricate and fine designs, you'll need to arm yourself with a lot of focus, have a steady hand, and be able to maintain focus for a good couple of minutes.

One quick way to practice this is placing the cut material against a bright surface, such as a window, and then looking at the outlines to guide yous where yous need to remove any fabric.

However, this means staying in a rather uncomfortable position until you've finished weeding, and this won't exist piece of cake, especially if you have more than than just one project waiting in line.

However, Cricut idea about this too, and that's why they created the Cricut BrightPad, which basically acts as a tablet that has the sole purpose of acting as a background lite to make weeding excess materials easier.

How to use cricut maker 3 brightpad

Finishing Your Projection

Now that your pattern was designed, cutting, and weeded out the excess materials, you lot can go right ahead and use them in your projects, and Cricut has plenty of other machines that can help y'all further, allowing you to consummate a project from A to Z using just Cricut machines.

One cracking example is if y'all were planning on press an amazing new design on a T-shirt since y'all will need more than merely a cutting machine, you lot'll also need a heat press.

This is because you lot volition exist using the Explore Air 2 to cut out the vinyl into whatever design you like, and you will then use the heat press to actually transfer the design onto the fabric of your shirts.

Fortunately, Cricut has plenty of tools in the heat printing department too, one perfect case being the Cricut EasyPress 2 .

Cricut easypress 2 + everything iron on bundle

Get Used to Your Cutting Materials

We're drawing close to the end of our guide, and at least in theory, yous've grasped the basics of using the Cricut Explore Air 2.

Yet, there is ane thing that you demand to remember, and that is that the Explore Air 2 reacts differently depending on what materials you are working with.

For case, certain materials will take longer to cut, they will require unlike cutting blades, and the racket levels will besides differ.

Considering of so many variations, our 1 and merely piece of communication that we require you to follow is that you practice with i fabric at a time until you lot feel equally if you've mastered all of the tips and tricks involving it, and only then moving on to new materials.

With over 100 dissimilar materials and 6 different tools to piece of work with, it's easy to become enthusiastic about trying everything but not being able to acquire or exercise any project properly.

Cricut Explore Air 2 FAQ

What can you do with Cricut Explore Air ii?

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is primarily a cutting machine, although what it can do is a matter of what tools you decide to attach since it tin can also be used for engraving, as well as drawing on various materials.

Whichever the case, the Explore Air ii is a core element that should be nowadays in anyone'due south crafting room, especially if they like to bring their artistic side to life.

Is Cricut discontinuing the Explore Air 2?

Cricut is constantly reinventing itself, and this means that eventually, some of their older machines will become obsolete and therefore unsupported at i point or some other.

Several such examples are the original Cricut Explore, Cricut Explore One, and Cricut Explore Air machines which were discontinued and are no longer available for purchase (except as second-hand machines.

However, every bit of the writing of this article, the Cricut Explore Air 2 is currently the newest Explore model, and with it beingness very popular amid users, in that location are few signs that it will exist discontinued whatsoever time soon.

Is the Cricut Explore Air 2 worth it?

While the respond to this question is purely subjective, our own short answer would be yes.

Non merely is the machine incredibly affordable compared to other machines of the aforementioned or similar grade, but information technology is very silent, fast, and the software that powers it is very intuitive and easy to use.

What is the all-time Cricut to buy in 2021?

If you're deadset on ownership a Cricut machine, knowing which is the best depends entirely on what exactly you want to use it for:

  • Cricut Maker 3
    • Powerful, fast, and can handle large projects
    • Ideal for those that want to make a living using it
  • Cricut Joy
    • Affordable and capable of handling basic tasks
    • Ideal for those that demand to acquit it around to make projects on the road.
  • Cricut Explore Air 2.
    • Fast, silent, and affordable
    • Almost as powerful as the Cricut Maker 3, just more portable and made for smaller projects, like the Cricut Joy.

What is a good price for a Cricut Explore Air 2?

If yous're looking to buy the most affordable Explore Air two packet that contains simply the Cricut Explore Air two along with some basic tools and consumables, yous can get information technology from the official Cricut website for just $249.99, although it currently is on sale for the extremely low price of $169.99.

Tin I cut forest with Cricut Explore Air 2?

The short reply would exist yes, although it depends on what type of wood you are interested in (it won't piece of work on harder types), as well as the forest's thickness.

Can the Cricut Explore Air 2 engrave?

Equally long equally y'all know how to utilize the Foil-Transfer Tool properly and you are aware of what materials it supports, then yep, y'all can apply the Explore Air 2 for engraving.

Does Cricut Explore Air 2 require a subscription?

One time yous've bought any Cricut machine, yous tin can use information technology as much as you want with no limitations without having to pay a dime, and the software that powers the Cricut Explore Air 2 is completely free.

Notwithstanding, Pattern Space can be used to access online content created past other users or content that belongs to an sectional Cricut library, and these will crave that you subscribe to Cricut Access.

Fortunately enough, Cricut Access besides has a free subscription plan, although information technology is greatly limited compared to the paid ones.

Is at that place a monthly fee for Cricut?

Cricut Admission is a subscription plan that grants users access to a lot of exclusive content that would otherwise be unavailable, and as far every bit pricing is concerned, it is bachelor in 3 subscription plans:

  • Cricut Admission Free
    • Free
  • Cricut Admission Standard
    • $9.99 / mo
    • $95.88 / year ($seven.99 / mo)
  • Cricut Admission Premium
    • $119.88 / twelvemonth ($9.99 / mo)

What is the best Cricut for beginners?

If yous're new to Cricut cutting machines and are afraid of investing in something that might overwhelm you from the very beginning, our advice is to start off with a Cricut cutting machine that has a few features and is as affordable equally possible, the perfect example beingness the Cricut Joy.

Once you've learned how to use this device by heart, you can go ahead and advance to a Cricut that is a bit more than complex, the perfect example being the Cricut Explore Air ii.

How To Apply the Cricut Explore Air 2: Endmost Thoughts

Our guide has come to an cease, and we hope that we've covered every aspect of using this car in a way that volition make it easier for you to get your very first project started as soon as possible.

Every bit you can run across, using the Cricut Explore Air two is equally easy as information technology tin can get, and the merely truthful obstruction is the fact that you lot need to remember what are the car's limitations.

For those of you lot that want to larn more nigh the machine itself, we've written a complete in-depth review on the Cricut Explore Air 2, and nosotros've besides compared information technology to the Cricut Maker iii, another Cricut machine that is bigger, more powerful, and more geared towards large-scale manufacturing.

We've covered plenty of other articles that involve Cricut machines, but if at that place are other related topics you'd want to read about that we oasis't still covered, let the states know about it, and we'll make a similar guide immediately.