Your Cricut machine is amazing. These tips for Cricut beginners for rocking your Cricut Maker with kids underfoot will help you save time (and your sanity). You want to love your new craft machine while still loving motherhood. And now you can!
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Can I tell you how much I love the new Cricut Maker? This machine is a beast of DIY and will turn your projects from cute to stunning!
If you’re a new Cricut owner and feel a little overwhelmed by your new machine, then you’ll definitely want to pause for a second and learn the ins and outs of what your new best DIY friend can do for you.
One of the most rewarding and hardest things you’ll ever do is be a mother.
You want to create so many beautiful memories for your children and help them have fun while they learn and grow in your home.
I once read through DIY blogs and flipped through magazines, looking at their beautiful party layouts and kids birthday cake toppers. I wanted to be that crafty mom but some days I felt like I was lucky if I could glue two pieces of paper together without one of them going crooked.
My crafts went from okay and cute to stunning with the new Cricut Maker, and friend, I’m so excited to share with you all the crafts you can create with your Cricut machine in the coming months.
Now, if you’re trying to find that balance of motherhood while leaving room in your life for a little DIY and creativity (without the mom guilt), then you’re in the right place.
Today, we’re going to be discussing how you can rock your Cricut with kids running around. You’ll leave today with actionable tips to enjoy your new Cricut machine while still loving motherhood.
Cricut for Beginners: Rocking Your Cricut Maker with Kids Underfoot
If Kids Are Napping/Gone
1. Take Advantage of Extra Time
When you’re a mother you quickly learn how to work around everyone else’s schedules. This does get a little crazy, but what else can you do? Your family needs you to be the heart of the home.
As a mother, if you feel a little crazy with your little ones running around, please let me tell you, I understand. As of today, I have three children, ages 5, 3, and 2. And yes, the days are crazy and sometimes I don’t feel like I get anything done, but those crazy moments are worth it.
For the rare moments when your children are napping or your husband is able to take them out to the park, take advantage of this extra time. How can you make the most of these rare moments? By applying the next tip.
2. Decide on Projects Ahead of Time
Something I thrive on doing is deciding my projects ahead of time. If I know Valentine’s Day is coming up, or if Christmas is just around the corner, then I look for the projects I want to do and copy the materials I need into the notes section of my phone.
By having these notes on my phone I’m able to reference the materials when I’m out grocery shopping or grabbing my craft supplies for my next project.
3. Read Through Instructions Before Starting
Do you have a child who has you read to them 1,000 times a day? Next time, read to them the instructions to your next Cricut project.
You might be laughing, thinking, “yea, like my kid, will sit through that!” I found that if I read the instructions in a conversational voice and pointed out the pictures on my phone, my 2-year-old was more excited for the project then I was (which only helped increase my enthusiasm!)
Working on Projects With Kids Awake
Sometimes your kids don’t nap and more often than not, they’ll be awake when you want to work on a project.
The first project I completed on my Cricut Maker was the dust cover with all three of my children awake and running around me like a bunch of crazies.
These tips will help you keep your mom temper from going crazy while enjoying your project.
1. Involve Your Kids
As much as you possibly can, involve your kids in the creation of the project.
They won’t be able to insert the mat into the machine, but they can take scrap paper to the garbage. They can also help you select the color of cardstock paper or fabric. And they can help you be “honorary supervisor.”
I also found that when I read the instructions out loud and talk to them as if my child and I are partners in the creation of this project that they feel included and their rowdy behavior dramatically decreases.
I know you never want to make your child feel less than their incredible worth and that they have to compete for your attention. But sometimes, in their minds, they are having to compete against your Cricut. This is why involving them and taking a few extra moments to teach them how to do the project is so important.
2. Turn on a Movie
If you need a few minutes to yourself, don’t feel bad. We’ve all been there before, and frankly, sometimes, you just need a moment without little fingers touching everything and asking, “what’s this do? Can I eat this? Will this break if I touch it.”
So, I want you to give yourself permission to turn on a movie for your kids.
In our family, since we limited our children to one or two movies per week we’ve noticed a drastic improvement in their behavior.
So when I offer to turn on a movie for them, there are certain rules they have to follow, otherwise, the movie goes off. These are the moments I take advantage of to complete my projects.
3. Save the Complicated Projects for Later
The first project I completed on my Cricut Maker was creating a dust cover. I opted for not including the side pockets (as you can see in the following pictures) primarily because I have small children who love to get into everything.
They also love to pull on everything: hair, each other, pockets (you get the idea). My only regret was I didn’t read through the sewing assembly instructions ahead of time. (Hence, why this became a vital tip in the beginning).
For a first time Cricut Maker user, the dust cover turned out great and the instructions Cricut includes is fantastic at explaining everything you need to know. You’re also going to love the assembly pictures they include in their instructions, especially if you’re a visual person (like me).
I know a lot (if not everything) you do is for your family because you love them. In your pursuit to create beautiful crafts and projects for them to enjoy, you don’t want to lose your love for DIYing, or for your family, while you try to find your perfect balance.
It’s okay to turn on a movie for your kids so you can finish their Valentine’s cards or a new wall decal. It’s also perfectly okay to take advantage of their nap times without feeling a ton of mommy-guilt.
I learned a long time ago, that it’s not so much the quantity of time you spend with your kids. Because, honestly, anyone can watch a child, but it’s the quality of time and the memories you’re making that’s important and lasting.
Feel free to leave a comment below and let us know when you find time to DIY with your little ones running around.
Micah Klug is a wife, homeschooling mother to five children, and author. She teaches time-tested solutions to help parents remember what matters most in life, including strengthening their home, faith, and family relationships. To learn how a child who grew up in an authoritarian home is now creating an environment of peace and joy in her own home visit this page. If you want to contact Micah, send her an email here or email [email protected].
These are wonderful ideas! I have been thinking of getting one but was worried about having the time. Now I feel more like it’s possible!!!
I’m so glad these tips helped you. I’m finding the more I practice and the more projects I make, the better everything turns out. Just like riding a bike, right?
Are their any other brand pens/markers that work with the Cricut Maker other than the Cricut brand?
Diane, your question about using other brand pens sent me on a quest for your answer, and I’m happy to share the results with you. In short, yes and no. You can use any pen on the Cricut Maker, but you can’t use it on their pen holder.
My husband and I created this post to show you how you can use any pen (it’s a quick DIY tutorial). Good luck and let me know how everything goes with your creations.
https://homefaithfamily.com/how-to-use-any-pen-on-the-cricut-maker/
Did you start out with a Cricut Explore? I have one and it’s only two years old and now there’s the Maker and I feel like I’m missing out on something. What makes the Maker so much better? And where or where did you get that fabric??!! I’m in love!!
You’re so sweet Tori. I found the fabric at a yard sale a few years ago. It was just enough to make this project 🙂 To answer your question, the Explore is a great machine. The only reason I would recommend the Maker is if you love to do sewing projects or anything with balsa wood/leather (since they have their new knife blade). I’ll write you a more detailed post on the difference between the two. In the meantime, the biggest question is what kind of projects you LOVE to create? Do you enjoy doing vinyl or paper crafts? Then the Explore is perfect for you. If you want to do quilting/sewing projects, then the Maker is a crafting investment you should think about saving up for.
Hi, I just have a simple question, I hope.
I want to make a project using my personal things; how can I ensure that they are not put in the Cricut board and not put all over the internet? I have family pictures that I want to use but they want their privacy protected. Am I allowed this option with Cricut?
Thank you in kind.
That is such a great question, Lorrie! According to Cricut, “In order to protect the original art created by artists and designers in our Cricut Community we keep private any canvases that contain uploaded images or system fonts.” So, yes, the personal images and files you upload to their system are kept private and not put all over the internet. However, Cricut loves to see what you make and they encourage you to tag them on their social channels. You can read more about Cricut’s profile and Design space here.