Technology Professional Development

Plan for Instruction

Title of Workshop: Cricut Training

Location: Orange County Public Library. Large meeting room, December 18, 2019. 2-4pm.

Attendees: Library staff, with enough space to accommodate 10 staff.

Needs of Learners: Ages 30+, English, modifications for sound to accommodate hard of hearing staff. Will have
microphone and speaker available for speaker use.

Rationale: Our library has this very useful machine, but if potential users (the staff) are unaware of how to use
it, they would be hesitant to use it as their first option when creating products for the library.

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Advertisement to hang in the library for staff.

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What do I plan to teach?

I plan to teach Library staff how to use the Cricut machine. For this training, I will spend half the time (1 hour)
teaching the basics of the machine and how to use and design in the online Design Space. The second hour will
be the staff working on projects of their own choosing to practice these new skills.

Participants will learn how to access the Cricut website, how to log into the library’s account, and how to start
a new project. From there, they will learn how to add objects, images, and text into the design space.

They will learn how to manipulate these objects such as changing: fonts, sizes, colors, breaking up objects,
ungrouping and grouping objects. Participants will also learn the Cricut lingo and how to preform tasks such as
weld, slice, and attach.

Then, participants will be taught how to cut the product, including a tutorial of the physical machine as well as
how to load and unload mats, how to switch the order of what the machine is cutting, and how to remove the
project from the mat safely.

At the end of the session, participants will feel comfortable navigating the design space as well as cutting
materials with the machine on their own.

Supplies

 Cricut Machine
 Light Grip Mat
 Standard Grip Mat
 Scoring Stylus
 Laptop
 12 x 12 cardstock paper in various colors
 Glue
 Glue dots
 Scratch paper for brainstorming ideas
 Pencils
 Pens

Activities

For the hands-on part of the second hour, participants will be divided up into two groups, each group having a
specific design need.

The first group will be assigned the task of creating an Adult Summer Learning Challenge 11x8.5” display.
Their sign must include :
 “Adult Summer Learning Challenge”
 Something storybook related
 At least 3 colors
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The second group will be tasked for creating a children’s summer learning window display.

Their display must include:

 5 different objects
 The incorporation of the library’s summer learning themed tag line
 4 different colors

Discussion
I will be around the second hour of the training to provide help. However, the last 10 minutes will be reserved
for group questions. I will also then hand out the Cheat Sheet (below [written by myself]) to help guide them
through future projects and common questions.

We will talk about the most difficult aspects of their respective design projects and the best way to navigate
the design challenges in the future.

Feedback

I will ask those in attendance to fill out an anonymous feedback form through a Google Survey or Survey
Monkey. This form will include the effectiveness of the training, feedback for my instruction, feedback from
the overall training, and future wants and needs for trainings of these types.

Based on feedback, this could potentially lead to future trainings, especially as new staff join the library.

Product from Class

Pinterest board for potential Cricut products and Cricut help

https://www.pinterest.com/craftsandpaint/cricut-library/

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Training Cheat Sheet
How do I access the virtual design space?
 www.design.cricut.com
What is the log in for the design space?
 Username: yourlibrary@orangecountync.gov
 Password: on the OneNote
Are there any restrictions on where I can use it in the library?
 Yes, every time the software needs to update, usually every few weeks, it will need to download and update.
 In the library, the PCs need admin passwords in order to run software.
 The YS iPad, YS Macbook, and some of the laptops have it installed to update without needing a password (or they can
update using the infostaff account instead of the admin account).
I logged into the website, now what?
 Either click on one of your existing projects, a project provided by Cricut, or ‘New Project’
Once I start a new project, what do I do?
 Insert: image(s), text, shape(s), or upload your own image(s).
 Move the object/image around, change the size, change the colors.
 Insert more images/text/shapes until your design is done.
What are the different things I can do to images/shapes/text?
 When you click on the object, you now have access to a few different options
o Options on the image or shape itself:
 You can delete it, rotate it, change its size, or unlock its proportions
o Options along the top:
 Linetype: set either to cut, draw, or score
 Cut: Used most often, will cut it out from the material.
 Draw: Draws it with the pen/marker attachment
 Score: Creates a score line, used for envelopes and other built in projects.
 Color: the color you want your project displayed as
 Edit: cut, copy, paste
 Arrange: the order of the objects.
 Send to back, move backward, move forward, or send to front.
 Flip: flip horizontal or vertical
 When you click on two objects: (You can hold ctrl and click both or click and drag your curser until you select both)
o Option along the top
 Align: changes the alignment of the two objects.
 Most useful are center horizontally and center vertically
o When you right click there are a few more options
 Slice: Splits two overlapping images or text into different parts
 Weld: Join shapes to create a single customized image by removing any overlapping cut lines.
 Attach: 2 functions -
 Fasten images in their place so that when you go to cut the images it shows up exactly like you
arranged it in the design screen.
 To attach a write or score line to a cut layer.
 Group/Ungroup: Used to group multiple layers, images or text together. This makes it easier to resize or
move them on the design screen.

Does it matter what color an object is in design space?

 Yes and no
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o If your square is purple, it doesn’t mean that you have to cut it out in purple. However it might help you to keep
track of what colors the objects will be.
o The machine will separate the objects/texts/and images it cuts based on colors. It will only cut objects of the
same color at one time. Each different color will mean you need a different mat when you cut it out.
Is everything in the design space free?
 No, if it has a green icon in the upper left corner, it is a Cricut image and is included in the Cricut Access subscription.
 Some materials are licensed, liked Disney and Marvel, and you will have to purchase them regardless.
o This includes fonts, projects, and images.

I’m ready to make my project, what now?

 Click ‘Make It’
o It will sort your projects into mats by their colors
o The machine will default to 12” x 12” paper, if you need to change it, click on the drop down next to Material
Size and select the appropriate dimension.
 Once that is good, click ‘Continue’
o Make sure the machine is turned on. Press the power button on the top right.
o Connect to the Cricut
 If you are using the iPad, make sure the Bluetooth is turned on and that you connect with the
machine in the settings application on the home screen.
 If you are using a computer, use the usb cord.
o Once the machine is connected, it will load the rest of the options.
 If you have more than one mat, it will cut them out in order unless you select a different mat. To
select, just click on the mat you want on the left side of the screen as you work through the cut.
 Gather your supplies
o Mats, paper, pens, etc.
 Choose the appropriate mat for the material.
 LightGrip (Blue): Printer paper, thin cardstock, vellum, construction paper.
 StandardGrip (Green): Cardstock, patterned paper, embossed cardstock, iron-on, vinyl.
 StrongGrip (Purple): Thick cardstock, glitter cardstock, magnet material, poster board.
 The Cricut
o Options on the machine itself:

 Material Dial
 Turn the dial to the appropriate material for that cut. If it is not set correctly, it is possible
that the blade will not cut deep enough to completely cut out the project.
o Mats
 You will need to physically change and load/unload the mats
 To load and unload, you will press the double arrow button (as seen above).
 When loading, lightly press the mat into the machine so it can be picked up by the rollers.

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