Beginner’s Guide to Cricut Print Then Cut Stickers

So you want to make stickers with your Cricut.

Cute planner stickers.

Journal stickers.

Bookish stickers.

Labels.

Little flowers and bows you can stick on absolutely everything.

Welcome. You're in the right place.

Cricut Print Then Cut stickers are one of the most fun projects you can make with a Cricut, but there's a little more to creating a great sticker sheet than simply hitting Print.

What sticker paper should you use?

What's the difference between kiss cut and die cut?

How big should your stickers be?

Why is Cricut cutting around them weirdly?

And what exactly is Cricut doing when it scans that black border around your page?

We're covering all of it.

This beginner's guide will walk you through sticker paper, sizing, PNG files, Print Then Cut, kiss cuts, die cuts, printing, cutting and troubleshooting so you can stop guessing and start making stickers.

What Are Cricut Print Then Cut Stickers?

Print Then Cut stickers are exactly what the name suggests.

First, you print your sticker artwork with a printer.

Then your Cricut cuts around the printed designs.

Your Cricut does not print the colorful artwork.

That's your printer's job.

Think:

Printer = pretty

Cricut = cut

When you prepare a Print Then Cut project in Cricut Design Space, Design Space adds sensor markings around the printable area.

After printing, you put the page onto your Cricut mat.

Your Cricut scans those markings to determine where your printed artwork is located.

Then it cuts around your stickers.

Pretty cool.

What Do You Need to Make Cricut Stickers?

You don't need a giant collection of supplies to get started.

You'll generally need:

• A Cricut machine compatible with Print Then Cut

• Cricut Design Space

• A compatible home printer

• Printable sticker paper

• An appropriate Cricut cutting mat

• Digital sticker designs

• A computer or compatible device

Optional supplies might include specialty sticker materials, laminating materials or tools that make working with your chosen paper easier.

But don't buy everything before you've made your first sticker.

Start simple.

Inkjet vs. Laser Printer: Check Your Sticker Paper

Before putting sticker paper into your printer, check the packaging.

Printable sticker papers are designed for specific printer types.

Some are intended for inkjet printers.

Some work with laser printers.

Some materials may support both.

Using a material that isn't compatible with your printer can give you poor results and may create other problems.

The easiest rule?

Read the sticker paper instructions before printing.

Not exciting.

Very useful.

What Is the Best Sticker Paper for Cricut Beginners?

There isn't one universally perfect sticker paper.

Different papers create different results.

But there are a few common categories you'll see.

Matte Printable Sticker Paper

Matte sticker paper has a non-shiny finish.

It's a great place to start because it's simple, versatile and works beautifully for many planner and journal stickers.

Depending on the specific product, you may also be able to write on the sticker surface.

Matte materials can also be easier to work with when you're first learning Print Then Cut because you don't have as much reflection or glare to consider.

Glossy Printable Sticker Paper

Glossy sticker paper creates that smooth, shiny sticker look.

Colors can look especially vibrant on glossy materials.

However, shiny or reflective materials may sometimes make it more difficult for Print Then Cut sensors to read the page.

That doesn't mean you can't make glossy stickers.

It simply means glossy materials can introduce another variable if you're troubleshooting your first project.

Printable Vinyl

Printable vinyl is another popular choice for stickers.

It can feel different from traditional paper sticker sheets and may be useful for projects where you want a different type of finish or durability.

Check the specific product's instructions for printer compatibility, cutting recommendations and intended use.

Sticker Paper vs. Printable Vinyl

These terms sometimes get used interchangeably, but they're not necessarily the same material.

Traditional sticker paper is paper-based.

Printable vinyl is a different printable material.

Which one you should use depends on the type of sticker you're making and where you plan to use it.

For a simple journal or planner sticker sheet?

Basic printable sticker paper can be a perfectly good place to begin.

You don't need to turn your first sticker into an engineering project.

What Is a Kiss Cut Sticker?

This is one of the first sticker terms you'll want to understand.

A kiss cut cuts through the sticker layer while leaving the backing sheet underneath intact.

Think about a sheet of planner stickers.

You peel one sticker off the sheet.

Then another.

Then another.

The backing remains as one sheet.

That's the general idea behind a kiss cut.

Kiss-cut sticker sheets are fantastic for:

Planner stickers.

Journal stickers.

Tiny functional stickers.

Labels.

Habit tracker stickers.

Decorative sticker collections.

They're especially convenient when you have lots of small designs because everything stays together on one sheet.

What Is a Die Cut Sticker?

A die cut goes through the sticker material so the individual sticker is separated from the surrounding sheet.

Instead of a sheet containing 20 peelable stickers, you end up with individual sticker pieces.

You've probably seen die-cut stickers used for:

Packaging extras.

Giveaways.

Laptop stickers.

Decorative individual stickers.

Party favors.

Happy mail.

The exact terminology can vary a little in crafting conversations, but the useful beginner distinction is:

Kiss cut = sticker peels from a backing sheet.

Die cut = individual sticker piece is cut out.

Kiss Cut vs. Die Cut: Which Should You Make?

It depends on how you'll use the stickers.

Making a planner sticker sheet?

Kiss cut makes sense.

Making individual stickers to hand out?

Die cut may make more sense.

Creating journal stickers?

I'd start with a kiss-cut sheet.

All those tiny flowers, bows, books and hearts stay together instead of floating around your craft room.

Your future self will appreciate that.

What File Type Should You Use for Printable Stickers?

For colorful sticker artwork, you'll commonly use a PNG.

PNG files are image files that can contain full-color artwork and support transparent backgrounds.

That makes them especially useful for Print Then Cut.

For example, imagine you have a colorful pink bow.

A transparent PNG can contain the bow without forcing it to sit inside a big white rectangular background.

You upload the artwork to Cricut Design Space and prepare it for Print Then Cut.

If your download contains an SVG too, don't panic.

A helpful beginner shortcut is:

PNG = Think PRINT

SVG = Think CUT

That's not a rule for every Cricut project, but it's a good starting point.

How Big Should Cricut Stickers Be?

There's no single correct sticker size.

It depends on where you'll use them.

A journal sticker may need to be relatively small.

A decorative sticker for a notebook can be larger.

A functional planner icon might be tiny.

Instead of asking:

What size should a sticker be?

Ask:

Where am I putting this sticker?

If it's going inside a planner box, measure the space.

If it's going into a journal, look at the size of your page.

If it's going onto a gift bag or package, you may want something larger.

Make a Test Page for Sticker Sizing

Computer screens can be deceiving.

A design can look perfectly sized on your monitor and surprisingly large when printed.

One easy trick is to print a test sheet on regular printer paper.

Cut out a few designs roughly with scissors and place them where you intend to use them.

Too big?

Resize.

Too tiny?

Resize.

Perfect?

Now print on the good sticker paper.

This is much cheaper than discovering your mistake after printing an entire sheet.

How Small Is Too Small for a Cricut Sticker?

This depends on the complexity of your design, the material, your machine and the type of cut.

Tiny, intricate stickers can be more difficult to cut cleanly than simple larger shapes.

If you're a beginner, don't make your first sticker sheet a collection of microscopic flowers with complicated edges.

Start with simple shapes and reasonable sizes.

Once you understand how your Cricut and sticker paper behave, experiment.

How to Make Cricut Print Then Cut Stickers

Now let's put everything together.

Step 1: Choose Your Sticker Designs

Choose digital designs that fit the project you're creating.

For a journal sticker sheet, maybe you want:

Flowers.

Books.

Bows.

Hearts.

Plants.

Rainbows.

Tiny labels.

Affirmations.

For a functional planner sheet, you might use:

Appointments.

Paydays.

Checkmarks.

Meal icons.

Cleaning reminders.

Habit symbols.

There are no sticker police.

Make what you'll actually use.

Step 2: Upload the Sticker Artwork to Cricut Design Space

Open Cricut Design Space.

Start a new project.

Choose Upload and select your sticker artwork.

If you're using PNG files, check that the background and artwork appear as expected.

Add the design to your Canvas.

Repeat as needed for additional designs.

Step 3: Resize Your Stickers

Now resize each design based on how you'll use it.

Try creating variety.

A few larger focal stickers.

Several medium decorative stickers.

Tiny accents.

Functional labels.

This makes a sticker sheet much more useful than having every design exactly the same size.

Step 4: Duplicate Your Favorites

If you know you're going to use a particular sticker constantly, don't print just one.

Love the little daisy?

Duplicate it.

Use hearts all the time?

Add more.

Always need "IMPORTANT" labels?

Fill some empty space with them.

You're making your own sticker sheet.

Take advantage of it.

Step 5: Add an Offset if You Want a Border

Many stickers have a white border surrounding the artwork.

In Cricut Design Space, you may be able to use the Offset tool to create this effect.

The offset creates an additional shape around the design.

You can adjust the size until the border looks the way you want.

Keep it relatively small if you want a traditional sticker appearance.

The goal is:

Cute little border.

Not giant marshmallow surrounding your artwork.

Step 6: Arrange Your Sticker Sheet

Now arrange your designs so they fit efficiently within the available Print Then Cut area.

Leave enough room between designs for the cuts you're creating.

Don't assume you need to manually fill an entire 8.5 × 11-inch page.

Print Then Cut has its own printable-area requirements, and those can vary based on Cricut's current software and settings.

Use the current information shown in Design Space when preparing your project.

Step 7: Prepare the Designs for Print Then Cut

This is where beginners sometimes accidentally turn their stickers into a collection of unexpected cut lines.

You want the printer to create the visual artwork.

Then you want Cricut to cut the intended sticker shape.

Depending on how your design is built, you may need to use tools such as Flatten so Design Space understands how you want the elements treated for Print Then Cut.

Before printing, inspect the preview.

Look at the cut shapes.

Does Cricut appear ready to cut where you expect?

If not, fix it now.

Your sticker paper would like you to solve the problem before printing.

Step 8: Print a Test on Regular Paper

Yes, I'm saying it again.

Because sticker paper costs more than printer paper.

Print the project on ordinary paper first.

Check:

Sticker size.

Image quality.

Layout.

Margins.

Color.

Overall appearance.

If everything looks good, move to your sticker paper.

Step 9: Load Your Sticker Paper Correctly

Figure out which side of your sticker paper your printer needs to print on.

Printers load paper differently.

If you're not sure, check your printer instructions or make a simple test mark on regular paper to understand how it feeds.

There's nothing quite like printing an entire beautiful sticker sheet on the backing side.

Ask me how fun that is.

Step 10: Print Through Cricut Design Space

Follow the Print Then Cut process inside Cricut Design Space.

Design Space will prepare your printable project and include the sensor markings your Cricut needs.

Follow the current print prompts and recommended settings for your setup.

Be cautious with printer settings that unexpectedly resize or scale your page.

If the printed artwork doesn't match what Cricut expects, your cuts may not align properly.

Step 11: Let the Ink Dry if Needed

Depending on your printer, ink and sticker material, your printed sheet may need a little time before handling.

Follow the sticker-paper manufacturer's recommendations.

Avoid immediately rubbing across freshly printed artwork if your particular material is prone to smudging.

Step 12: Put Your Sticker Sheet on the Cricut Mat

Place your printed sheet onto the appropriate Cricut mat.

Use the grid to align it.

Make sure it's:

Straight.

Flat.

Secure.

Smooth the material carefully so it doesn't move during cutting.

And don't trim off those Print Then Cut sensor markings.

Your Cricut needs them.

Step 13: Choose Your Material Setting

This matters.

Different sticker papers have different thicknesses.

Your Cricut needs enough pressure to create the cut you're trying to make.

If you're making kiss-cut stickers, you generally want the cut to go through the sticker layer without cutting through the entire backing sheet.

If you're making individual die-cut stickers, you're looking for a different result.

Check your material manufacturer's guidance when available and perform test cuts.

You may need to adjust settings based on your particular sticker paper and machine.

Step 14: Let Cricut Scan the Page

Load the mat.

Your Cricut will scan the Print Then Cut sensor markings.

This helps the machine determine where your printed designs are located.

Then it starts cutting.

And this is the moment when you stand there watching your Cricut like it's performing surgery.

Totally normal.

Step 15: Check the Cut Before Unloading

Before immediately removing everything, inspect the result according to the workflow appropriate for your machine and material.

Did the sticker layer cut the way you wanted?

Is the backing behaving as expected?

If you're testing a new material, this is especially important.

Once you know which settings work with that sticker paper, make a note.

Future you does not want to repeat the entire experiment.

Why Is My Cricut Cutting Around My Stickers Incorrectly?

If your sticker border is noticeably uneven, your Cricut may need Print Then Cut calibration.

For example:

The left side has a huge white border.

The right side cuts into your artwork.

That's not the cute offset you planned.

Check:

Cricut Print Then Cut calibration.

Paper placement.

Printer scaling.

Sensor markings.

Your project setup.

Lighting and glare.

Your material.

If you're troubleshooting, use regular printer paper until the alignment looks correct.

Why Won't Cricut Read My Sticker Sheet?

If Cricut can't scan the Print Then Cut markings, consider the material.

Glossy and highly reflective surfaces can sometimes make sensor reading more challenging.

Also check:

Are the sensor markings intact?

Is the page positioned correctly?

Is there intense glare on the material?

Did the printer reproduce everything properly?

Is the sensor area clean according to Cricut's care instructions?

Testing the same project on matte printer paper can help you determine whether the material is contributing to the problem.

Why Are My Stickers Blurry?

Remember:

Cricut isn't printing the artwork.

Your printer is.

If your stickers look blurry, check:

The resolution of your original image.

Whether you've enlarged a small PNG too much.

Your printer settings.

Your paper.

Your print quality.

A low-resolution image won't magically become crisp because you sent it through Cricut.

Start with good-quality artwork.

Why Is My Cricut Cutting Every Tiny Part of My Design?

Your project may not be set up the way you intended for Print Then Cut.

Look at your layers and the cut preview inside Design Space.

If your design consists of multiple elements that you intend to print together as one finished sticker, you may need to prepare those elements differently, including potentially using Flatten where appropriate.

Always preview the cut before printing.

How Do I Make Sticker Sheets Look More Professional?

A few simple things make a big difference.

Use high-quality artwork.

Keep borders consistent.

Create a coordinated color palette.

Mix sticker sizes.

Space designs intentionally.

Use good-quality printable material.

Test your cut settings.

Keep the overall sheet organized.

You don't need 75 stickers crammed onto one page.

Sometimes fewer well-designed stickers look much better.

Easy Sticker Sheet Themes for Beginners

Need ideas?

Try:

Book Lover — books, bows, stars, coffee, flowers and reading icons.

Plant Lady — houseplants, leaves, pots, flowers and gardening pieces.

Happy Planner — hearts, rainbows, daisies, checkmarks and functional labels.

Self-Care — affirmations, mood icons, rest reminders and little treats.

Travel — suitcases, airplanes, cameras, maps and destination labels.

Holiday — seasonal graphics, gift labels and festive accents.

Craft Lover — scissors, paper, paint, printers and craft supplies.

Or make a completely random sheet of things that make you happy.

Also acceptable.

How to Store Your Finished Sticker Sheets

Once you've made several sheets, you'll want somewhere to keep them.

You might use:

A sticker binder.

Clear sleeves.

Planner pockets.

Photo storage.

Small folders.

A craft organizer.

Or printable pockets inside your journal.

Organize by theme if you have a lot of stickers.

Bookish.

Holiday.

Functional.

Flowers.

Planner.

Whatever makes sense to you.

Cricut Stickers Are a Great Beginner Print Then Cut Project

Stickers teach you almost everything you need to know about Print Then Cut.

You'll learn how to:

Upload PNG files.

Resize artwork.

Use transparent backgrounds.

Create offsets.

Arrange printable designs.

Understand Flatten.

Work with printer settings.

Use sensor markings.

Choose materials.

Adjust cut settings.

Understand kiss cuts and die cuts.

Troubleshoot alignment.

And once you understand those skills, you can use them for far more than stickers.

You can start making bookmarks, gift tags, journal pieces, planner tabs, labels, cards, printable pockets and all kinds of Print and Cut crafts.

Your First Sticker Sheet Doesn't Need to Be Perfect

Make the sheet.

Seriously.

Don't spend three weeks researching the perfect sticker paper before you've printed a single sticker.

Start with a simple matte sticker paper that's compatible with your printer.

Choose a few cute designs.

Print them.

Cut them.

See what happens.

Maybe your first sheet is perfect.

Maybe you need to adjust the pressure.

Maybe your stickers are gigantic.

Maybe Cricut decides your cute little daisy needs a haircut.

That's how you learn.

By the second sheet, you'll know more.

By the fifth, you'll have your favorite settings.

And pretty soon you'll be looking at everything thinking:

That should be a sticker.

Welcome to the club.

At Maker Beautiful, we believe printables should become things you actually use, create with and enjoy.

So grab your sticker paper.

Pick something cute.

And make your first sheet.

Print • Cut • Create • Be Happy.

Maker Beautiful is an independent brand and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Cricut®. Cricut® and Cricut Design Space® are trademarks of their respective owner.