Whether it’s for a birthday party, a graduation announcement, or back to school signs, there are a multitude of ways that cut-out letters can enhance your DIY crafting. Simply drawing the words is always an option, but why not take the wow factor to the next level? Cut-out lettering can enhance all types of decor to create something truly unique and memorable.
How To Cut Cardstock Letters
The simplest way to cut out cardstock letters is by printing the words of your choice directly onto your cardstock paper. Depending on the size of the lettering you want, you may need multiple sheets of cardstock paper to fit the words required for your project. When you have finished printing, it’s time to take a pair of scissors to begin cutting out each individual letter.
If your cardstock paper is lighter to medium weight, an average pair of scissors should suffice to cut out the letters. If you are using a heavier weight cardstock paper, you will need a professional pair of scissors with very sharp blades. Perhaps even better, a razor blade will be able to easily cut through even the most heavyweight cardstock paper. If you choose to use a razor blade, be very careful as you work and make sure to have an extremely thick cardboard layer underneath your cutting area so as not to damage the actual tabletop.
Take your time as you carefully cut out each letter. It’s very easy to slip up and mistakenly cut too far and ruin one of your letters. Should that happen, simply reprint that particular letter and start cutting again. Remember that the best projects can take time and patience. Once you can enjoy your finished masterpiece, it will have all been worth it.
Cutting Cardstock Letters On Cricut
If your particular project requires hundreds of cut-out letters, cutting out each letter by yourself may not be a feasible option. In such cases, a cricut machine would be your best bet. Extremely popular in the DIY crafting world, cricut machines are electronic cutting machines that can cut out lettering and shapes from all types of materials, most significantly in our case, cardstock paper.
To begin, make sure that you have the necessary supplies. You will need a cricut cutting machine, a cricut cutting mat, cardstock paper in the color of your choice, and the Cricut Design Space software. You are now ready to start cutting out your cardstock lettering.
The first step will be opening up the Cricut Design Space software. Once you have done so, select “New Project”. Choose the “Text” option and type the letter or letters you wish to create. Make sure to adjust the size and font of your selected lettering as needed for your particular project. Next, place your cardstock paper onto the cricut cutting mat and load them into the cricut machine. Make sure to adjust the blade depth of the machine according to the thickness of the cardstock paper you are using.
It is important to note that there are a couple of other adjustments you may need to make before allowing the cricut machine to begin cutting. For example, if you are using a lightweight to medium weight cardstock paper, you should choose “Cardstock” as your selected material. However, if you decide to use a heavyweight cardstock paper, you should select “Posterboard” as your material.
Additionally, if the cardstock you have chosen for your project is textured in its design, you need to make sure to use the “Textured” setting on your cricut cutting machine. In a similar vein, if you are using glitter cardstock paper for your letter cut-outs, be sure to select the “Glitter Cardstock” option.
Lastly, there are two primary blade options when it comes to cutting cardstock paper, the fine point blade and the deep cut blade. The fine point blade is best suited for lighter weight cardstock paper. Medium weight and heavyweight cardstock paper will be cut more cleanly and precisely with the deep cut blade.
Once you have ensured that all of the settings have been adjusted correctly according to your unique project specifications, you are ready to begin cutting. For the final step, select “Make It” in Cricut Design Space and press the “Go” button on the machine. Now, simply stand back and watch the cricut machine cut out your cardstock lettering for you. When it has finished, carefully remove the cut-outs from the cricut cutting mat. Depending on how many cut-out letters your project demands, simply repeat the process as needed.
How To Make 3D Letters Out Of Cardstock
While cut-out letters will make a statement all on their own, three-dimensional cut-out letters will truly create a wow factor like no other. While the process may not be the simplest and the work may seem daunting, the end result will be vastly rewarding.
To begin, you will have to upload your template into Cricut Design Space. If you are a design pro, you can create your own templates for each letter as needed. Otherwise, you can simply purchase letter templates that have already been designed for you. Once the design has been uploaded, make sure that all of the inner lines are set to “Score”. Those will be folded and do not need to be cut.
Adjust the size of the letter design as needed depending on your project needs. Once you have made the proper adjustments, you can have your cricut machine begin cutting and scoring your design. If you don’t own a cutting machine, you can simply print the design directly onto your desired cardstock paper and use a pair of scissors to do the cutting and a scoring tool to score the scoring lines.
Once your design has been cut, you can begin folding all of the tabs along the scoring lines. Next, glue the tabs to the bottom of each letter to begin creating the three-dimensional look. Continue to carefully glue each section to each other to complete each 3D letter. This process requires careful and painstaking work, but your precision will pay off when you see the final product. Once each letter has been fully assembled, decorate them as you wish.
When it comes to cutting cardstock letters, the options are truly limitless in terms of what you can create. If it’s a small project, it may be simpler to simply do it all by hand. For larger and more complicated projects, a cricut machine will probably serve you best.
Whichever method you decide to use, remember that there is no right or wrong when it comes to arts and crafts. Personal creativity is not bound by any scientific rules. Just remember to have fun and that Rome wasn’t built in a day. It may take numerous tries for your envisioned project to come to fruition, but all that effort will just make it all the more worth it!