42 Cricut Cardstock Projects for Beginners (2024)

Table of Contents
Choose the Right Cardstock Material and Color Use Free SVG Cut Files Start Smaller Projects First Cricut Cardstock Projects DIY Greeting Card Set - Fast, Easy Layers! Take-Out Coffee Cup Gift Card Holder Paper Flower Dress Canvas Wall Art Easy Paper Heart Envelope Filled with Love! Easy Heart Box with Hidden Hearts! Easy Paper Villages to Cheer Up Your Room Cardstock Cutouts Larger Than 12" x 24": Baby Yoda Is Off the Mat! Make Paper Star Lanterns to Brighten Up Your Winter! Custom Shadow Box: Make Your Own in Cricut Design Space DIY Drawer Dividers: How to Organize Your Messy Drawers! Rose Gold Paper Flower - Foil Edged Heart-Shaped Petals Paper Butterfly Wreath DIY Wedding Invitation Templates - Free "Laser Cut" Set Make a Paper Heart Box To Show Your Love How to Make Cricut Paper Flowers (All 10!) Paper Butterfly Canvas Wall Art Heart on Cricut Explosion Box Card Tutorial: Endless Box - Free SVG File Make Gift Tags with a Cricut (+ Free Penwriting Font) Paper Birdhouse Luminary with a Hidden Surprise Japanese Paper Lanterns with Spring Flowers How to Make Giant Paper Flowers - Easy and Fast! Make a Pop-Up Heart Rainbow Card Pull-Up Gift Box: The "Impossible" Paper Box Tear-Away Reveal Gift Tag Ensures No Peeking! Penguin Paper Bomb - Amazing Pop-Up Action! Giant Paper Sunflower Tutorial - This Will Mesmerize You! How to Make a Pop-Up Birthday Cake Card Giant Flower: Spellbound Rose -- Every Petal is Unique! Paper Daisy: An Easy Rolled Flower Fairy House Card Perfect Way to Celebrate Summer Rolled Paper Carnation Tutorial - Free SVG Files Layered Mandala Rose 3D in Cardstock Get my Free Cricut Cardstock Projects FAQs References

Cardstock is the perfect way to get started crafting with your Cricut machine. Whether you have a Cricut Joy, a Cricut Explore Air, or any of the other machines in the line, you can create beautiful, intricate designs using cardstock. Not sure where to begin? We’ve got you covered. Read on for our tips on how to make amazing projects with cardstock and your Cricut cutting machine! You can, of course, make these projects on other cutting machines, or even by hand, too!

Choose the Right Cardstock Material and Color

First things first – you need to choose the right cardstock material and color for your project. If you are making greeting cards or gift tags, choose smooth cardstock that is easy to write on with Cricut pens. For 3D projects or paper flowers, use thicker cardstocks that won’t tear easily when folded. Save the glitter cardstock for small details. And don’t forget about color! The right color combination can take your project from mediocre to marvelous in no time flat.

Use Free SVG Cut Files

Great news – there are tons cardstock designs in Cricut Design Space, as well as free SVG cut files available! From intricate designs for Valentine’s Day cards to free SVGs for party decorations, there is something out there for everyone. A great way to find free SVG cut files is my resource library at – I offer hundreds of free images (even a few fonts) that you can use in to make easy Cricut projects.

Start Smaller Projects First

If this is your first time working with cardstock on a Cricut machine, start with smaller projects first before attempting more intricate cuts or larger projects like wall art or home décor pieces. You want to get comfortable with using your machine mat and different types of cardstock before tackling bigger tasks — this will help ensure success down the road! Plus, smaller projects are perfect for trying out different materials like glitter paper or metallic cardstock without breaking the bank!

Ready to get creative with your Cricut machine and some cardstock projects? I hope so! With these tips in mind and a little bit of patience, I know you will be crafting amazing projects in no time flat. Here are my favorite paper projects to get you started:

Cricut Cardstock Projects

Here are 42 of my favorite Cricut cardstock projects ... all are free to make! Just click on a photo to learn what you need and get the instructions!

42 Cricut Cardstock Projects for Beginners (1)

DIY Greeting Card Set - Fast, Easy Layers!

Crafting with cardstock has never been easier thanks to card sets like the layered card set! Perfect for use with your Cricut, these card sets are filled with cardstock pieces that have easy-to-follow layers that are ideal for making greeting cards. Pick a card set design then simply layer and decorate it with embellishments to make any occasion special. A card is a great first project!

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Take-Out Coffee Cup Gift Card Holder

If you’re looking for a creative and easy cardstock project to give someone, look no further than the coffee cup gift card holder! With just cardstock and a Cricut machine you can create a fun card that also serves as something special. All you have to do is cut and assemble the card, insert a gift card of your choice, and voila: you have an unforgettable handmade item with plenty of personality!

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Paper Flower Dress Canvas Wall Art

Transform ordinary cardstock into a unique wall art masterpiece with the Paper Flower Dress Canvas Wall Art project. This beginner Cricut project is perfect for adding a fresh and fun look to any room in your home, and it's a great way to get familiar with using a cutting machine. A wide variety of cardstock can be used to craft this eye-catching design, so you have plenty of choices when it comes to color and texture.

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Easy Paper Heart Envelope Filled with Love!

If you’re looking for an easy way to spruce up your card-making, why not try making this beginner-friendly paper heart envelope? It’s great for any occasion, and can be made with just cardstock. With very few steps involved, even true card-making novices will find this project a breeze. Plus, the result is truly beautiful—from weddings to birthdays to anniversaries!

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Easy Heart Box with Hidden Hearts!

You can make this cute little box in just a few minutes and with minimal supplies. All you need is cardstock and a way to cut it, like a Cricut! It's perfect for giving someone special on Valentine's day, or anytime you want to show that special someone how much they mean to you. With just basic cardstock these boxes will look beautiful and heartfelt - and you have cardstock creativity left over for your next project!

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Easy Paper Villages to Cheer Up Your Room

Even for beginners, these easy paper villages are achievable with a few basic materials and some helpful tips. All you need to get started is cardstock and a Cricut machine. Follow my simple instructions to make charming little buildings that can be arranged into quaint towns.

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You're going to love how easy these cardstock projects are - even if you've never crafted before!

Is your next party begging for an extra bit of glam? Make it sparkle with these easy-to-make DIY cake toppers! Perfectly finished cardstock projects come together quickly and easily when you have the right tools, like a Cricut cutting machine. Make them out of any color or patterned paper that matches your event’s decor – personalize and customize as much as you want!

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Cardstock Cutouts Larger Than 12" x 24": Baby Yoda Is Off the Mat!

Unleash your creativity with cutouts larger than 12" x 24"! Make oversized cards, cut out characters, and decorations that will stand out from the rest. We make it easy to craft something extraordinary!

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Make Paper Star Lanterns to Brighten Up Your Winter!

Add some festive sparkle to your home this winter with these beautiful paper star lanterns! With a few simple steps, you can transform any room into an enchanting twinkle-filled wonderland. Brighten up cold days and dark nights when creating these stunning decorations for yourself or as gifts!

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Custom Shadow Box: Make Your Own in Cricut Design Space

Custom shadow boxes are one of the most popular cardstock crafts. You'll be amazed at what you can make!

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DIY Drawer Dividers: How to Organize Your Messy Drawers!

Card stock can also be used to organize things ... as with these drawer dividers!

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Rose Gold Paper Flower - Foil Edged Heart-Shaped Petals

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42 Cricut Cardstock Projects for Beginners (15)

Paper Butterfly Wreath

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DIY Wedding Invitation Templates - Free "Laser Cut" Set

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Make a Paper Heart Box To Show Your Love

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42 Cricut Cardstock Projects for Beginners (19)

How to Make Cricut Paper Flowers (All 10!)

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Paper Butterfly Canvas Wall Art Heart on Cricut

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Explosion Box Card Tutorial: Endless Box - Free SVG File

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Make Gift Tags with a Cricut (+ Free Penwriting Font)

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42 Cricut Cardstock Projects for Beginners (25)

Paper Birdhouse Luminary with a Hidden Surprise

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Japanese Paper Lanterns with Spring Flowers

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How to Make Giant Paper Flowers - Easy and Fast!

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Make a Pop-Up Heart Rainbow Card

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Pull-Up Gift Box: The "Impossible" Paper Box

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Tear-Away Reveal Gift Tag Ensures No Peeking!

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Penguin Paper Bomb - Amazing Pop-Up Action!

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Giant Paper Sunflower Tutorial - This Will Mesmerize You!

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How to Make a Pop-Up Birthday Cake Card

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Giant Flower: Spellbound Rose -- Every Petal is Unique!

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42 Cricut Cardstock Projects for Beginners (37)

Paper Daisy: An Easy Rolled Flower

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Fairy House Card Perfect Way to Celebrate Summer

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Rolled Paper Carnation Tutorial - Free SVG Files

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Rolled paper flowers are one of the first Cricut paper crafts I ever did! They are fun and amazing!

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Layered Mandala Rose 3D in Cardstock

I've saved the best for last... the layered mandala rose is a truly gorgeous cardstock project! This is one of my all-time favorite Cricut project ideas.

Get my Free Cricut Cardstock Projects

To get access to my free SVG library with hundreds of designs and tutorials, just fill out this form and I’ll send you the password immediately! The library is where I store all of my new SVGs, too!

If you use one of my free Cricut cardstock projects, I’d love to see it! Please share a photo in our Facebook group or tag me on social media with #jennifermaker.

Love,

42 Cricut Cardstock Projects for Beginners (2024)

FAQs

Why won t my Cricut cut through heavy cardstock? ›

Make sure the material setting you have selected in Design Space or on your Smart Set Dial matches your material. For Cricut Explore models with a Smart Set dial (Explore Air 2 and older): if the dial is set to Custom, ensure you have selected the appropriate material from the Custom Materials list.

How many projects can I have on Cricut? ›

How many projects can I add to Collection? You can add up to 1,000 projects to a Collection.

What is the thickest cardstock Cricut can cut? ›

How thick can my material be with Cricut Maker machines? 3/32 of an inch, or 2.4mm. Click here for more info on cutting thicker materials.

Which Cricut mat to use for heavy cardstock? ›

Strong Grip (Purple)

Perfect for securing heavyweight materials such as specialty cardstock, glitter cardstock, chipboard, and fabric with stiffener. Available in 12 in x 12 in (30.4 cm x 30.4 cm) and 12 in x 24 in (30.4 cm x 60.9 cm).

Do I need a mat to cut cardstock on Cricut? ›

What Cricut Mat Should be Used to Cut Cardstock? Generally, use the blue LightGrip mat for most paper and cardstock. I find that the adhesive on the blue mat is the best at releasing paper materials. Heavier cardstock might need the green StandardGrip mat, but I almost always start with a LightGrip mat.

How often should I change my Cricut blade? ›

When asked, “How long do Cricut blades last?”, we think for a guideline you could start with, that at a minimum, you should change your blade every two months with average use of your Cricut machine. If you're cutting with it quite often, you might need to move that up to every six weeks.

Why does my Cricut keep tearing my cardstock? ›

A Cricut mat can cause your cardstock for Cricut to tear if your mat is not sticky enough or the paper is not pressed securely and completely to the cutting mat. Even if there are minor shifts with your paper as the blade runs over the surface, it can lead to ripping.

What Cricut settings to use for cardstock? ›

We recommend the standard grip mat for all of our papers. Make sure you are using the double-cut or multi-cut 2x (Cricut Maker) setting for ALL papers greater than 80 lb. For intricate cuts, the Intricate Cut setting is recommended by Cricut. These settings will cut each line twice.

What to do when you first get your Cricut? ›

Go to design.cricut.com/setup in your browser. Download and install Design Space for Desktop (help article). Follow the on-screen instructions to sign in or create your Cricut ID, and set up your new machine. You will know the setup is complete when you are prompted to do a test cut.

What format is best for Cricut design space? ›

Usually, the best format for both Cricut and Silhouette would be SVG files. But sometimes not all designs will have an SVG format available. In this case, you can also use PNG, JPG, DXF, BMP, and even GIF files as a substitute.

References

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