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Smart Materials™

Smart Stencil / Stencil Film Instructions

Edited: August 30, 2023

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Cricut Flexible Stencil Film comes in 4 versions – There’s a stencil material for every crafter!

Material Type

Compatible Machine(s)
Cricut Joy Smart Stencil Cricut Joy*
Smart Stencil 13 in / 33 cm wide Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Maker 3, Cricut Venture
Smart Stencil 25 in / 63.5 cm wide Cricut Venture
Stencil Film All machines (mat required)

Follow the instructions below to use Cricut Smart Stencil / Stencil Film.

Note: Looking for information on our former Stencil Vinyl product? Go to Stencil Vinyl.

Note: *While this material is not sized to cut in Cricut Joy Xtra without a mat, it can be used by placing it on a cutting mat. 

 

 

What you need

  • Cricut smart cutting machine
  • Design Space software on computer or mobile device*
  • Fine-point blade and housing, or Performance Blade and housing (for Cricut Venture)
  • Flexible Stencil Film compatible with your machine:
    • Smart Stencil (for Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Maker 3, or Cricut Venture)
    • Cricut Joy Smart Stencil (for Cricut Joy)
    • Stencil Film (for earlier models of Cricut Maker & Cricut Explore)
  • Cricut StandardGrip or LightGrip machine mat (for Stencil Film or Smart Stencil scraps)
  • Weeder
  • Cricut Transfer Tape**
  • Burnishing tool, such as a Scraper

*Cricut Venture is supported on Design Space for Desktop only.

**As needed for intricate designs. StrongGrip Transfer Tape not recommended.

 

Design, cut, and weed

Select your machine

Cricut Explore 3 / Cricut Maker 3

  1. Customize your design in Design Space, then select Make It.
  2. Select your material load style (Without Mat) and the Flexible Stencil Film setting.

Note: For the rollers to grip and load Smart Materials, Cricut Explore 3, Cricut Maker 3, and Cricut Joy allow some space above and below your design. To ensure you have enough Smart Materials for your design, wait until after the cut is complete to trim.

  1. Align material against left material guide on the machine, then slide it under the mat guides and up against the machine rollers.
    • For best results, make sure your material has a straight edge.
  2. Press the load button. The machine measures your material to ensure there’s enough for your project.
    • Leave 10 in (25 cm) of space behind your machine and guide material into a roll as it feeds out the back of your machine.
    • If your material loaded crookedly it will try to realign the material as it measures.
    • Smart Materials may bow up in the middle when loading. If your material isn’t lying flat by the end of the measuring process, press the unload button, realign your material with the left material guide and under the mat guides, and reload.
  3. Press the Go button and watch the magic happen!
  4. When the cut is complete, press the unload button.
  5. Use a weeder to remove negatives, leaving the stencil on the liner. Because you’re creating a stencil, you’ll be removing the parts of the cut that will ultimately be filled with paint, ink, etching cream, etc.

Tip: Smart Materials must be at least 6 in (15.24 cm) long to use without a cutting mat. You can still use shorter by placing them on a StandardGrip or LightGrip mat.

Cricut Venture

  1. Customize your design in Design Space, then select Make It.
  2. Select your material load style (Without Mat) and the Flexible Stencil Film setting.

Note: For the Pinch Rollers to grip and load Smart Materials, Cricut Venture allows some space above and below your design. To ensure you have enough Smart Materials for your design, wait until after the cut is complete to trim.

  1. Make sure the machine is flush with the edge of your table or stand.
  2. Following the prompts in Design Space:
    • Load the Performance Blade in clamp B.
    • Raise lever
    • For 13 in / 33 cm material:
      • Move the right Pinch Roller to position 1
      • Raise the left and middle guides
    • For 25 in / 63.5 cm material
      • Move the right Pinch Roller to position 2
      • Raise the left and right guides
    • Insert the material from the top of the machine, making sure it goes under the material guides
    • Insert the material until it reaches the front edge of the machine – this ensures it covers the lower sensor
    • Lower lever
    • Press the load button
    • If your material loaded crookedly it will try to realign the material as it measures.
  3. Press the Go button and watch the magic happen!
  4. When the cut is complete, cut off the material.
  5. Use a weeder to remove negatives, leaving the stencil on the liner. Because you’re creating a stencil, you’ll be removing the parts of the cut that will ultimately be filled with paint, ink, etching cream, etc.

Tip: Smart Materials must be at least 6 in (15.24 cm) long to use without a cutting mat. You can still use shorter by placing them on a StandardGrip Performance Mat.

 

  1. Customize your design in Design Space, then select Make It.
  2. Select your material load style (Without Mat) and your specific material type.

Note: For the rollers to grip and load your material, Cricut Joy allows 1 inch of space at the top of your design and 0.5 inches at the bottom. To ensure you have enough Smart Materials for your design, wait until after the cut is complete to trim.

  1. Using both hands, insert material under guides. Continue feeding into machine until rollers grip material.
    • For best results, make sure your material has a straight edge.
  2. Once machine senses materials under the rollers, it measures your material to ensure there's enough for your project.
    • Leave 10 inches of space behind your machine and guide material into a roll as it feeds out the back of your machine.
    • Smart Materials may bow in the middle when loading. If your material isn't lying flat by the end of the measuring process, select Unload in the software, then reload.
  3. Select Go and watch the magic happen!
  4. When the cut is complete, select Unload.
  5. Use a weeder to remove negatives, leaving the stencil on the liner. Because you’re creating a stencil, you’ll be removing the parts of the cut that will ultimately be filled with paint, ink, etching cream, etc.

Tip: Smart Materials must be at least 4 inches long to use without a cutting mat. You can still use shorter by placing them on a StandardGrip or LightGrip Mat.

 

Note: Stencil Film is made for use with a machine mat. StandardGrip or LightGrip mat may be used.

Select your machine type: 

Cricut Explore 3 / Cricut Maker 3 / Cricut Joy

  1. Customize your design in Design Space, then select Make It.
  2. Select your material load style (On Mat) and the Flexible Stencil Film setting.
  3. Place Stencil Film (liner side down) onto Cricut StandardGrip or LightGrip machine mat.
  4. Slide mat under mat guides on the machine and up against the machine rollers.
  5. Press Load.
  6. Press the Go and watch the magic happen!
  7. When the cut is complete, press the unload button.
  8. Use a weeder to remove negatives, leaving the stencil on the liner. Because you’re creating a stencil, you’ll be removing the parts of the cut that will ultimately be filled with paint, ink, etching cream, etc.

Cricut Venture

  1. Customize your design in Design Space, then select Make It.
  2. Select your material load style (On Mat) and the Flexible Stencil Film setting.
  3. Place Stencil Film (liner side down) onto Cricut StandardGrip Performance Mat (green) or LightGrip Performance Mat (blue).
  4. Make sure the machine is flush with the edge of your table or stand.
  5. Following the prompts in Design Space:
    • Load the Performance Blade in clamp B.
    • Raise lever
    • Move the right Pinch Roller to position 2.
    • Raise left and right guides
    • Press the mat support button
    • Insert the mat from the top of the machine, making sure it goes under the material guides, and rests on the mat stops near the front of the machine
    • Lower lever
    • Press the load button
  6. Press the Go button and watch the magic happen!
  7. When the cut is complete, grasp the mat with one hand, then lift the lever and remove the mat.
  8. Use a weeder to remove negatives, leaving the stencil on the liner. Because you’re creating a stencil, you’ll be removing the parts of the cut that will ultimately be filled with paint, ink, etching cream, etc.

 

Apply Transfer Tape

If your stencil is intricate or has many “island” pieces – such as the inside of letters like O – use Transfer Tape to move your stencil from the liner to your project surface.

  1. Peel liner from Transfer Tape.
  2. To place Transfer Tape on your stencil carefully follow these steps:
    • Attach a small area of Transfer Tape to your stencil. This can either be the center or one end of your stencil.
    • Use a Scraper to burnish Transfer Tape onto your stencil, working outward from where you attached the small area.
    • Flip stencil and burnish.

 

Apply to project surface

Important: Application of long designs requires care and planning. Take time to plan your approach.

  1. Make sure project surface is clean and dry.
  2. Peel Stencil Film liner away from Transfer Tape and design.
    • If Stencil Film doesn't separate from the liner, simply burnish liner back onto the Stencil Film and peel away again.
  3. To transfer stencil to your project surface carefully follow these steps:
    • Attach a small area of stencil onto your surface. This can either be the center or one end of your stencil.
    • Use a Scraper to burnish stencil onto your surface, working outward from where you attached the small area.

Note: For a tighter seal on heavily textured bases, use sealant before applying paint.

  1. Peel Transfer Tape away from stencil.
    • Work carefully. If Stencil Film peels up with Transfer Tape, simply burnish Transfer Tape and Stencil Film back down to the project surface and peel away again.
    • For best results, peel Transfer Tape at an acute angle.
  2. Apply paint/ink, etc.
  3. Remove stencil & enjoy!

 

 

 

Stencil Vinyl

Cutting Cricut Stencil Vinyl with a Cricut Machine

  1. Place stencil material onto Cricut machine mat.
  2. Select and size images and load the mat into the machine.
  3. Refer to Stencil Vinyl Kiss Cut Guide below to adjust machine settings (a kiss cut goes through the stencil vinyl and leaves the liner intact.
  4. Press the flashing Go button.

Preparation with Cricut Transfer Tape

Tip: If your design is intricate, use Cricut Transfer Tape to transfer your design from the liner to your project surface. 

  1. Remove negative pieces from images, leaving the liner intact. This process is called weeding. Using the weeding tool found in the Cricut Basic Tool Set or Weeding Tool Set can make this process faster and easier. 
  2. Remove the Transfer Tape liner. 
  3. Gently place the Transfer Tape (adhesive side down) over your images. To prevent bubbles, start in the center and move out toward the edges. Use a craft stick or a Cricut Scraper to burnish (rub or polish) the tape onto the vinyl. 
  4. Peel away the vinyl liner at a 45-degree angle. If the vinyl does not separate from the liner, simply burnish the Transfer Tape onto the vinyl and peel away again. 

Application Instructions

  1. Make sure your project surface is clean and dry. Carefully place the Transfer Tape with vinyl images onto your surface as you would like them to appear.
  2. Now burnish Transfer Tape onto the surface, starting in the center and moving out toward the edges. Use a craft stick or Cricut Scraper.
  3. Peel the Transfer Tape away from the vinyl at a 45-degree angle. If the vinyl sticks to the Transfer Tape, simply burnish the vinyl onto the surface again. Then continue to peel the Transfer Tape away from the vinyl.
  4. Paint or stain your project, applying additional coats as necessary. Remove Stencil Vinyl when your projects is dry.

Stencil Vinyl Kiss Cut Guide

Machine Blade Depth Pressure Speed Multi-Cut Blade Assembly
Cricut Personal
Cricut Create
Cricut Expression		 3 Medium High 1 Fine-Point
Cricut Expression 2 4 3 High 1 Fine-Point
Cricut Imagine 3 3 High 1 Fine-Point
Cricut Explore Turn the Smart Set Dial to Custom. Select Browse all materials, then select Stencil Vinyl. Premium Fine-Point
Cricut Maker, Cricut Maker 2, Cricut Explore 3 Select Browse all materials, then select Stencil Vinyl. Premium Fine-Point
Cricut Venture Select Browse all materials, then select Stencil Vinyl. Performance Blade

Important: Results may vary. Always do a test cut to verify settings.

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