How to make stickers using a Cricut machine
There are several different ways you can make fun stickers using your Cricut machine once you master the print then cut settings in Design Space.
This article is currently being updated. Please ignore any errors or discrepancies you may see for the time being.
Learning how to make stickers using one of the best Cricut machines is super fun and rewarding once you get the hang of it, but it's not as simple as some will have you believe, especially if you're new to Cricut. I've been testing the latest Cricut Maker 4 model, and getting my head around how to make sticker sheets one trial and error at a time (you would not believe how many YouTube videos I've watched).
Thankfully, updates to Cricut Design Space have made things a little easier with a new 'create sticker' feature, a very rewarding shortcut for Access subscribers. Don't worry, even if you don't have a Cricut Access membership, you can still make die-cut and kiss-cut stickers using your Cricut machine, it'll just take a bit of extra effort and setting adjustments.
Stickers are great for personalising gifts, and can be a tool for businesses who want to increase brand recognition too. I'll be splitting up this article into sections for the different methods of sticker-making, whether you're using Cricut's own printable sticker paper, or more fancy holographic paper (I've learnt a trick for getting this just right). Take a look at our guide to the best Cricut materials if you need some recommendations; otherwise, let's dive into it.
You will need - Material guide
To make your own custom stickers with a Cricut machine, you’ll need:
- A Cricut machine (duh)
- Cricut mat and weeding tools
- Cricut Design Space software (phone, tablet, or laptop)
- Some kind of sticker paper
- An inkjet printer (for the Print then Cut method)
This is Cricut's official primtable sticker paper, and includes 8 sheets of A4.
Alternatively, Cricut sent me its Printable Waterproof Sticker Set to test with the Maker 4, and with this pack, you only get 6 sheets of A4, but each includes a Vinyl Laminate sheet to place over the top before cutting.
I bought this holographic sticker paper from Amazon to use with my Cricut machine, and it prints beautifully.
I quickly learned that when using the Print then Cut method, Cricut machines don't play too nicely with shiny materials, and it will struggle to read the printed sensor marks. But don't worry as I found a fix for this which I'll share down below.
Print then Cut - the easy method
How to make stickers with Cricut, the easy way
For this tutorial, we are going to be using Cricut printable sticker paper, as well as third-party holographic sticker paper (see exact product above), to Print Then Cut our stickers – which is one of Cricut's functions.
This involves curating, sourcing, or designing a set of images in Cricut's free Design Space software, or uploading your own images and flat graphics to the software, and then printing out this sheet of designs using an inkjet printer.
Next, you insert this sheet into your Cricut machine using a mat for it to precision cut around the outlines. I promise, this is a lot easier than it seems, and I'll walk you through it step by step.
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If you're looking for a super in-depth explanation of how Print Then Cut works for creating stickers in 2025, then I highly recommend checking out the YouTube video below by Amy Makes That. It goes into a lot of detail on how to create designs from scratch, but if you're just looking for an easy-to-follow tutorial for now, then stick with us.
01. Opening Cricut Design Space
When learning how to make stickers with Cricut, you first need to open up Cricut Design Space and start a new canvas (if you've never used Design Space before then it's a good idea to create an account and login, and you might even be offered a free trial of Cricut Access too).
With your blank canvas, you can either upload your own images using the upload button at the bottom of the left-hand toolbar or you can search for images already available in Design Space. Some of these are free to use, others are priced, and some are restricted to Cricut Access members only, so look for the little green 'a' symbol to decipher which assets you can use.
If you upload your own images or designs, make sure that flat graphic is selected from the three options on screen as you go through the upload process, and before you continue onto the next step. For more project ideas, see our guide to the best free SVG files for Cricut.
Next you'll want to select your images one at a time, and go to the 'make sticker' tool at the top bar. This should
When using Print Then Cut, there's a maximum size of 6.75 x 9.25 inches that can be used on an 8.5 x 11-inch sheet of material (similar to A4). I've found that the easiest way to make sure your sticker images fit is to use a square or rectangle shape from the shapes library (left-hand toolbar) and resize this to 6.75 x 9.25 inches.
Move this shape to the back using the arrange tool, and then place your images on top and resize them however you wish to fill the space. Once you're happy with how everything looks, select it all and then click the 'attach' button at the bottom of the layers panel to group it all together.
Tip: When you're ready to print, make sure you change the colour of your background shape to white, otherwise it will print in whichever colour you have it set to (unless you want a coloured background, of course).
For each image, double-check that Print Then Cut is selected in the operation box at the top bar, as well as in the layers panel on the right-hand side.
02. Setting up to print
We're almost ready to make our Cricut stickers. Once you've got your images in place, it's time to select your machine from the top menu and click the Make It button. You will notice that a lined black box will surround your design. This box will be printed, and the Cricut sensors scan it, so the machine knows exactly where to cut.
Next, click Continue, where you'll be able to send it to your printer. When you click Print, you'll be able to select the Add Bleed function. When this is selected, the ink is extended slightly beyond the image's border, which eliminates the white margin when the image is cut. However, if you want your image surrounded by a white margin, turn this off.
You can also choose to turn on System Dialog, which will allow you to access your own printer settings, giving you the option to adjust the settings for the best print quality.
03. Printing and adding to the mat
The next step of how guide to how to make stickers with Cricut includes your printer. This process only works with an inkjet printer; we have a list of the best art printers if you're looking to upgrade. You will need to check which way up your printer should be loaded. Add your chosen printable material to the feed and click Print.
Once your sheet has been printed, you’ll need to add it to a mat, lining up the top of the paper with the top left-hand corner. Even if you have a machine that uses Smart Materials, you will still need to use a mat for this project. We recommend a LightGrip mat as you’ll need to be able to remove it easily.
04. Selecting your material and get scanning
In Cricut Design Space, you need to tell your machine what type of material you’re using. We used the Cricut Printable Sticker Paper, so we just searched for that in the search bar. But if you’re not using the official Cricut paper, select the sticky note setting. We have a complete guide to the best Cricut materials, including papers for stickers.
A top tip if you’re planning to make Cricut stickers regularly is to click the star next to this material, which then adds it to your favourites. Once it’s in your favourites, it’ll save you plenty of time searching through the materials each time you want to create stickers.
The next step is to line your mat up and click Go. The machine will measure the mat length and will then use sensors to read the black lines before cutting around the individual images. And that’s it. Your stickers will be ready to peel off and use where you like.
How to make stickers with Cricut: tips and advice
FAQs
What materials can I use to make stickers?
Cricut stickers are generally made using adhesive paper. This is then printed on using an inkjet printer, and can be cut to size. The Cricut makes this process even easier as it enables you to make various different-sized stickers, which it then expertly cuts, leaving you with professional-looking stickers. Stickers can also be made using vinyl, PVC and even foil.
The Cricut Print Then Cut function is the most popular, which also requires an inkjet printer, but it is also possible to draw your designs onto sticker paper using the best Cricut pens. Just set your images to 'draw' when you’re in Design Space.
How can I design stickers?
For this tutorial, we’ve created images using different software (including some AI generators), as well as Cricut Access, to make our stickers. But you can, of course, create your own images and designs using apps like Procreate or Canva. Check out our guide to the best software for Cricut for more options.
01. Sensor not working? Check the light
If your machine is throwing up an error when it’s in the scanning stage it could be to do with the light conditions in your room. Direct sunlight or bright lights shining directly towards your machine will interfere with the machine sensors. The sensors work best in low light so just draw the curtains or turn the light out before it starts scanning.
02. Always check Cricut's calibration
Cricut’s are smart cutting machines but sometimes they need a little help. If the cut isn’t quite right then head to the settings menu and follow the Print Then Cut calibration steps. The calibration sheet needs to be printed in black and white and printed in actual size to be successful.
03. Print Then Cut in one go
When you start a Print Then Cut project make sure to do it on the same computer and in one go to avoid the design jumping around and the sensor marks being incorrect. Take a look at our reviews of the best laptop for Cricut to see which computers we recommend.
04. Where you place the material matters
We mentioned above that when you place your material on the mat it needs to be placed in the top left corner of your cutting mat. Line this up directly along the top left edge of the cutting mat. Make sure the material is flat and doesn’t have any wrinkles or bubbles. If the material isn’t placed in the right place then the sensors won’t be able to detect your image and your cut won’t work.
As you can see, making stickers is really simple. There are so many different projects that you can do with a Cricut, including making your own mugs, read our Cricut Mug Press review for more, or cut HTV vinyl and make your own customised t-shirts with a Cricut EasyPress (we have a guide to the best heat press machines).
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Beth is Creative Bloq’s Ecommerce Writer and has the fun job of finding you the very best prices and deals on creative tech. Beth kicked off her journalistic career writing for Digital Camera World, and has since earned bylines on TechRadar too. With a Masters degree in Photography, Beth loves getting to tinker with new cameras, especially camera phones, as the resident Samsung fan on the team. Her background working as a tester for CeX let her play around with all kinds of weird and wonderful products, including robots, and she’s recently gotten into 3D printing too. Outside of CB, you’ll find her gaming on her PS5, photographing local shows under the alias Bethshootsbands, and making TikToks of her dog, Tilly.
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