Prepare the design with a transparent background and a white border, upload it to Design Space as a Print Then Cut image, print it on printable sticker paper (with bleed on), then put the sheet on a mat and let the Cricut read the registration marks and cut around each sticker.
A Cricut can turn a home printer into a sticker shop: you print the design, and the machine cuts neatly around it. The trick is preparing the design properly, because the cut line follows its outer edge. Here’s the whole process.
What do you need?
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| A Cricut with Print Then Cut | Explore, Maker or Joy Xtra families |
| A home printer | Inkjet or laser, matching your sticker paper |
| Printable sticker paper or printable vinyl | Matte is easier for the sensor than glossy |
| A light-grip mat | So the sheet holds but peels off easily |
| Your design | A PNG with transparent background, or an SVG |
Step 1: prepare the design
- Open the sticker converter and drop your picture in. Clip art / stickers and Remove background are already on.
- Drag the Sticker border slider to add a white edge. It gives a forgiving margin if the cut lands slightly off, and it’s the classic sticker look.
- Type the sticker width in inches and download a PNG (transparent background) or the SVG.
Step 2: set it up in Design Space
- Click Upload, then Upload Image, and choose your file.
- For a PNG, choose the Print Then Cut image type. For an SVG, select all its layers and click Flatten to make one printable image.
- Add it to the canvas, check the size, and duplicate it to fill the sheet.
Step 3: print
- Click Make. Design Space arranges the stickers inside its printable area and adds black registration marks around them.
- Click Send to Printer, switch on Add Bleed (it extends the colour slightly past the cut line so no white slivers show), and use your printer’s best quality setting.
Step 4: cut
- Place the printed sheet on the mat, aligned to the top-left corner.
- Choose the material that matches your sticker paper, load the mat, and press Go. The machine scans the registration marks, then cuts.
- Peel the waste away, and your stickers are done.
Common problems
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| “Can’t read sensor marks” | Matte paper, less light, clean black marks |
| Cut is offset from the print | Calibrate Print Then Cut in Design Space settings; use a white border |
| Blade cuts through the backing | Pick the matching sticker material setting |
| White box around the sticker | Remove the background before uploading |
| Blurry print | Start from a bigger image or an SVG; check printer quality |
More on the Print Then Cut feature itself: how to Print Then Cut on a Cricut.
Want a white border around a sticker? Add one in inches or mm with the free SVG offset tool, then fit more stickers on each sheet with SVG nesting.
Questions
Which Cricut machines can make printed stickers?
Machines with Print Then Cut, such as the Explore and Maker families and the Joy Xtra. The original Cricut Joy has no Print Then Cut, so on it you’d cut stickers from vinyl instead.
What paper do I need?
Printable sticker paper or printable vinyl for your home printer (inkjet or laser, matching the paper). Choose the matching material in Design Space so the blade cuts the sticker layer, not the backing.
Why does my Cricut fail to read the sensor marks?
Usually glare or light: glossy sticker paper and bright lamps confuse the sensor. Try matte paper, turn off overhead lights, and keep the printed marks clean and fully black.
Sources: Cricut Help: How to Print Then Cut in Design Space · Cricut Help: How large can I Print Then Cut? · Cricut Help: How to upload images into Design Space
