Are you looking into buying the Cricut Explore Air 2?
For my friends who keep wondering about this Cricut Explore Air 2 machine, I keep writing about I have decided to write this post to explain what The Cricut Explore Air 2 is & How it Works!
I get asked this all the time so don't worry it's not just you wondering. The Cricut Explore Air 2 is a personal Crafting Machine. It can Cut over 100 different materials including paper, cardstock, vinyl, Iron-on (Heat Transfer Vinyl), Faux Leather, Sticker Paper, Vellum, and Fabric. The Cricut Explore Air 2 can also write/draw with pens and markers and score your project with a nifty score tool. (check out these 79 awesome projects you can make with your Cricut) This Crafting machine also has Print and Cut ability!
Highlights from that video are:
You open your unit by clicking the open button (pretty smart huh?)
There are 2 storage compartments on the Cricut Machine's bottom loading tray. The first compartment is where you can store your Cricut tools when not in use.
The second compartment is for your extra blades and housing. All the blades and housing are kept in place with magnets.
There are 2 kinds of blades for your Cricut Explore Air 2 (the Fine Point Blade, and the Deep cut blade which also comes with its own housing to use for thicker and harder to cut materials like magnet sheets)
The Cricut Explore Air 2 has a double tool holder so that your machine can both cut as well as either Draw or score at the same time!
The right-hand tool holder is for your blade and the left-hand side is for either your Pen or Score tool.
Cricut has an amazing line of pens and markers to use with your Cricut machine. However, it is also compatible with other pens and markers out on the market.
There is a holder on your Cricut where you can put your tools or pens while working on a project for easy access.
If you bought any of the original Cricut design cartridges don't worry. While the new Cricut machines don't need cartridges to work they are still compatible. There is a spot on the Cricut to plug cartridges in for use. (The first time you insert your cartridge into your Cricut machine, Design space which will recognize the cartridge and unlock the designs in your design space account so you won't need to use the actual cartridge again. **note this only will work once per cartridge.)
The Cricut Explore Air 2 has a materials dial that you just set for what material you want to cut and the blade is auto-adjusted for you to cut that specific material. (if you are working with a material not listed on the dial set to "Custom" and then select the specific material on your computer/tablet/phone's screen.)
In addition to the power button on the right side of your Cricut, you also have your loading button (the double arrow), The Button to start your project (which looks like a Cricut C), and a Pause button in case you have to pause for any reason (like you forgot to load your pen. hahaha totally done that).
The Loading button will flash to indicate the machine is ready for you to load your cutting mat or when your project is done to unload your mat.
The Cricut start button will flash after your mat is loaded to let you know it is ready to begin. Just click the button, sit back and watch!
The power cord hooks into the back of your Cricut Unit
Next to where the power cord hooks in is a spot to hook in your cord to connect to your computer. Now your Cricut Explore Air 2 has built-in Bluetooth however if for any reason that isn't working or you are doing an intensive project you can connect your Cricut to your computer with a USB cable.
Hopefully, this post gave a clear overview of what a Cricut Explore Air 2 is and how to use it. Do you have any questions about the Cricut Explore Air 2 ? if so ask away in the comments! Otherwise happy crafting!
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Does this cut out fancy text? And can you design your own pattern to be repeated?
Yes and yes
I just got my cricut explore air 2 was wondering if I can make my own design or am I dependent on the font and design from the cricut website?
Yes, you can make your own designs. You just upload it into a design space canvas to make. I do it all the time.
I found this video very informative. I have been wanting one but didn't know what all it could do.
I am trying to engrave but the Cricut air 2 only allows to score, draw, or cut. Is this not a function that the air 2 can do?
Yes, the Explore Air 2 can only Draw, Cut & lightly score using the scoring tool in the essential tool kit. There may be 3rd party blades/tips that allow you to do other things but I don't know much about them.
The Cricut maker was designed to both have more force as well as a new adaptive tool holder which allows it to have more capabilities using their adaptive tools (knife blade, rotary blade, scoring wheels, perforation blade, debossing tool, engraving tool, and wavey blade.)
I do sip & paint parties and I was wondering could I creative or print pictures out so they can be painted at the party, I'm trying to find a easy way to provide for my party, I dnt wanna kept tracing pictures for the PARTIES, so will I be able to print different pictures out to put on a canvas to be painted.. with this machine
Thank for sharing the video. I'm exploring which machine to buy and this helped a lot and also to show how easy the Cricut Explore Air 2 is to operate.
It really is easy to operate. Especially compared to other machines.
Would I be able to print several different fussy cuts on paper and have the Cricut cut them out for me?
What is a fussy cut? Both Cricut Explore Air & Maker machines have print and cut abilities.
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Am I able to make t-shirts with this and can I work on plexi glass with it?
It can cut Iron-on (Heat Transfer vinyl) as well as Infusible ink to make custom shirts. This model cannot cut plexi glass but you can make decals with vinyl.
Does this cut out fancy text? And can you design your own pattern to be repeated?
Yes and yes
I just got my cricut explore air 2 was wondering if I can make my own design or am I dependent on the font and design from the cricut website?
Yes, you can make your own designs. You just upload it into a design space canvas to make. I do it all the time.
I found this video very informative. I have been wanting one but didn't know what all it could do.
I am trying to engrave but the Cricut air 2 only allows to score, draw, or cut. Is this not a function that the air 2 can do?
Yes, the Explore Air 2 can only Draw, Cut & lightly score using the scoring tool in the essential tool kit. There may be 3rd party blades/tips that allow you to do other things but I don't know much about them.
The Cricut maker was designed to both have more force as well as a new adaptive tool holder which allows it to have more capabilities using their adaptive tools (knife blade, rotary blade, scoring wheels, perforation blade, debossing tool, engraving tool, and wavey blade.)
I do sip & paint parties and I was wondering could I creative or print pictures out so they can be painted at the party, I'm trying to find a easy way to provide for my party, I dnt wanna kept tracing pictures for the PARTIES, so will I be able to print different pictures out to put on a canvas to be painted.. with this machine
Thank for sharing the video. I'm exploring which machine to buy and this helped a lot and also to show how easy the Cricut Explore Air 2 is to operate.
It really is easy to operate. Especially compared to other machines.
Would I be able to print several different fussy cuts on paper and have the Cricut cut them out for me?
What is a fussy cut? Both Cricut Explore Air & Maker machines have print and cut abilities.
Am I able to make t-shirts with this and can I work on plexi glass with it?
It can cut Iron-on (Heat Transfer vinyl) as well as Infusible ink to make custom shirts. This model cannot cut plexi glass but you can make decals with vinyl.