THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS. JUST CREATE.

SINGAPORE - Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a community meet “ Traveler’s Notebook with Cricut” hosted by OVERJOYED at Cineleisure. The event brought together journaling enthusiasts eager to explore the world of Cricut machines and the wide range of materials it can handle, including vinyls, card stock, iron-ons, and foils.

What is Cricut? According to the Cricut website, “Cricut™ makes smart cutting machines that work with an easy-to-use app, allowing you to design and personalize almost anything—custom cards, unique apparel, everyday items, and more.”

As I read these words, printed on the inner panel of the Cricut Maker 3 box—“You are meant to make”—I couldn’t help but wonder if I, with my critic’s hat on, agreed with that. After all, I am not particularly drawn to crafts like making cards, wrapping paper, or labels.

The session kicked off with Ye Vonn Chew, the Cricut Singapore Ambassador, guiding us through her specially prepared pamphlet. Chew emphasized that we could download Cricut Design Space and gain free access to Cricut Access for the day. As we busily installed the app on our devices—some using laptops, others opting for mobile phones—Chew explained that we could connect to the Cricut Maker 3 via Bluetooth or a cable.

Two Cricut Maker 3 machines were on display, surrounded by an array of crafting materials and weeding instruments.  Without delving too deep into technicalities, Chew unveiled the machine’s creative potential.

“Cricut is a cutting machine,” Chew said. “It can cut through vinyl, leather, metal, and wood, ranging from 0.3 to 2 mm in thickness.” Her enthusiasm was contagious as she shared examples of varied projects brought to life through Cricut.

Technical questions flowed in, and Chew and Toh, patiently clarified misconceptions. For instance, some of us initially mistook the machine for a traditional printer due to its shape. Chew set the record straight: the Cricut cuts materials fed into it, rather than functioning as a colour printer. “It could even cut a long vinyl, up to 12ft long continuously, to create a big banner,” Toh added.

Chew then introduced us to different Cricut mats, card stocks, transfer tapes, and other tips to maximize our session.  Toh shared useful hacks on the use of the vinyl to minimize wastage. 

Inspired, I decided to create a sticker for my water bottle using Design Space. Typing in a phrase with a font I liked seemed straightforward—I couldn’t go wrong with that, right?

As we flocked to the machines, a lively banter ensued. Watching our designs come to life, we shared ideas, stories, and amusing observations about the machine. Surprisingly, the Cricut could also make labels and even draw “hand-written” designs with better penmanship than most of us!

The final product—a vinyl sticker adorning my water bottle—felt like a small victory. But this was just the beginning. The possibilities with Cricut seemed endless, especially when wielded by a master. To become a master, one must create, experiment, learn, adjust and create again.

The Cricut machine’s capabilities extend far beyond my sample project. Chew’s level of mastery, demonstrated in her IG blog, “THIS IS HEAVONN ♥️” left me amazed, and I could only echo her words: “The possibilities are endless.”

All this to say, Cricut opens doors to creativity, and I am excited to explore further. I will be making my t-shirts soon, with some slogans in mind.

I cannot wait to turn my imagination into reality. :)