Knowing how to use a mat with Cricut Maker 3 is essential for any project. A Cricut mat is a crucial tool for Cricut machines, and understanding its use is necessary to work effectively. To learn how to use a mat, read the blog, and by the end, you will have all the info you need for your Cricut cutting machine.
Cricut has different types of mats for various materials. You can choose the right mat based on your requirements. To use a mat, you must put the material on it and then load it into the machine. The mat keeps the material in place, ensuring a smooth cut.
Is a Cricut Mat Necessary?
Yes, it is! In order to learn how to use a mat with Cricut Maker 3, it is important to know that a mat is essential for using a Cricut machine. It holds the material in place while you cut it, improving stability for precise, clean, and accurate cuts. However, some machines, like the Cricut Maker 3, Explore 3, and Joy, can work without a mat. These machines use smart materials with firm backing that allows for smooth cutting without the need for a mat.
Types of Cricut Cutting Mats
Before you learn how to use a mat with Cricut Maker 3, you should know about the different types of cutting mats. Here they are, and what materials you should use.
1. LightGrip Mat (Blue)
As the name suggests, this is a blue-colored LightGrip mat with a light adhesive grip. This mat is good for lightweight materials. Here are the materials you can use with these materials.
Normal printing paper
Construction paper
Vinyl
Vellum
Wrapping paper
2. StandardGrip Mat (Green)
This StandardGrip mat is made of standard adhesive material. It is good for most Cricut materials and is used by most of the crafters. These materials can be used with this mat.
Textured paper or cardstock
Patterned paper
Vinyl
Iron-on vinyl
3. StrongGrip Mat (Purple)
With the strong adhesive, the StrongGrip mat is good for heavy materials. It keeps the material in place and gives you smooth cutting. To work on this mat, you should use tape so that it doesn’t move while cutting the material. Painter or washi tape is good for that. You can use these materials with this mat:
Wood
Corrugated cardboard
Glitter cardstock
Leather
Thick cardstock
Magnet material
Poster Board
4. FabricGrip Mat (Pink)
As the name implies, it is specifically designed for fabrics. It has a very different adhesive from other cutting mats. One thing you have to keep in mind while using it is that the fabric should not be oily while using the mat, because it will cause the cloth to stick to the mat. These materials are used with this mat:
Fabrics
Bonded fabric
Crepe paper
Felt
How to Use a Mat With Cricut Maker 3: Easy Steps
Now you know all about the Cricut mat. We will look at the process that helps you use the mat with the Cricut Maker 3 machine. Before using the cutting mat, you will need to create a design using the Cricut Design Space app. This is the design you need to cut out on the machine, and you need a mat to place the material on. Here’s how you can use a mat:
The first thing you have to do is place the material on the mat. While doing this, you should be careful about the corners of the mat and your material. You should put them together to give the best results.
After that, you have to stick the material to the cutting mat.
You can use a brayer tool to stick the material to a mat. Then, press the ends together to ensure they stick together well.
In case you don’t have a brayer tool, you can use your hands too.
When the material is placed on the mat, you should put it into the Cricut machine and click on the Load button on the machine.
Now, your machine will start cutting the material.
Once the cutting is complete, click the Unload button and remove the material from the machine.
Once the material is out, you should separate it from the mat. You have to be careful while doing this to prevent it from curling or tearing. Once the material is removed, the mat’s use is over.
Conclusion
To conclude the blog, I would say that using a Cricut mat is an integral part of Cricut machines. Here, you read about how to use a mat with Cricut Maker 3 and many other things that are helpful for using the machine. Cricut has a variety of tools that you can use for different materials. To use a mat, you have to first select a design on the Cricut app, place the material on the mat, and load it onto the machine. Once you cut out the design, you can remove it.
FAQs
When Do I Need to Use a Cricut Mat?
When you create a design on the Design Space app and go to cut the design on the Cricut cutting machine, you need a mat to put the material on it. The mat is a sticky thing, so materials stick to it. And when you put it inside the machine, it holds the material in place and gives you a good cutting.
Why Do I Need to Use a Cricut Mat?
You need a Cricut mat to cut your material on Cricut machines. Many of the materials you cut on machines are soft and delicate. They require proper care while cutting so you get clear and precise cutting. Cricut machines are usually made of metal or some other tough material. That’s why putting your stuff into the machine without a mat will ruin your stuff, and you won’t get the results you were expecting.
Can I Use My Cricut Maker 3 Without Mats?
It depends on what type of material you are using. If you are using smart materials like iron-on and smart paper cardstock, you will not need the Cricut cutting mat. However, other materials require a mat to get smooth and clean cuts. Although the Cricut Maker 3 Setup is versatile and has smart sensors that help it cut materials well, you can’t take the risk of not using a mat.
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