(This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cricut. All opinions are 100% mine.)
I’ve had my Cricut Joy and Cricut Explore Air 2 machines for almost a year now and I’ve done a few posts about them, including how I started a successful brand during a pandemic and some CVI vision therapy tips for making a lightbox. But how can YOU, right now, start making money with your Cricut?
Maybe you want to earn some extra pocket money or start up a long-term business like I did. Whatever the reason, it’s easy. There are so many things you can make with a Cricut and start selling online or in person right away. When I started, I had NO idea what I was doing (hint: YouTube tutorials are your friend) and here I am, a year later with a business and a never-ending new product idea list!
For this post, I’m focusing on what you can make with an Explore Air 2, since I use mine the most in my business. (Though I love the Joy for making labels and cards super easy!)
I hope the following examples inspire you to get out there and start selling your amazing work. If you do, please leave a comment below with your website or shop so I can check you out.
What Can You Make and Sell with Cricut?
1. T-Shirts and Clothing
In my shop, I make a variety of t-shirts, tanks, kids clothing and also mugs and drinkware. (Soon to be expanding into sweatshirts and more.) T-shirts are a great item to sell because they’re so popular, and hey, we all gotta wear clothes.
Have you ever been scrolling online and see an ad or an Etsy listing that catches your eye because it’s about a topic you LOVE and you say to yourself, “I gotta get that!” Well, why can’t you do that? You can with some blank t-shirts and your Cricut.
For example, you could go the super-specific route and focus on making a lot of shirts that focus on really niche subjects that only perhaps a handful of people scrolling Etsy that day may be interested in. But – and here’s the important part – if it feels SO much like them, like you’re seeing straight into their soul, they will buy. Sometimes being super targeted pays off.
On the other hand, you can also go broad with fun sayings that would appeal to many different groups and ages, although this is a more competitive market. People tend to think, “That’s nice, buuuut I probably don’t need it,” unlike the sense of, “I NEED THAT!” they feel with the super-specific “it’s 100% me” t-shirt above.
But the best part about selling t-shirts is you don’t need to be out any money. You can sell them first, make the shirts to order, and ship them out. So you’re not sinking hundreds of dollars into inventory up-front or making shirts by the dozen that no one’s going to buy.
I have a tutorial about how to make your first multi-colour Circut t-shirt project if you’re just getting started with clothing.
2. Mugs
Another popular option, especially for gifts. You can make coffee mugs, wine glasses, travel tumblers and so much more. A few of the most popular styles right now are:
You can also create entire personalized packages, like for bridesmaids parties or special events. These are great because you’re selling a group of 5 or more items at once, but making 5 doesn’t take that much longer than setting up to make 1, so you’re really maximizing your time and profit capabilities.
3. Signs
There are so many options for signs. You can even create signs for local businesses or custom work. A few of my favourite trends:
Seasonal Decor
Think Christmas decor! There are signs for decorating homes, Santa sacks, window clings, and so much more.
Painted Signs w Stencil Vinyl
You can make signs with adhesive vinyl and wood, or you can cut out a design from Stencil Vinyl, stick it to your item (wood, plastic, metal, glass etc) and paint it. Remove the stencil and voila, what appears to be a hand-painted sign.
These are great for menu boards, signs around the home, and customized pieces like birth posters and more.
4. Home Decor
Growth Charts
Always a popular staple: growth charts, like this one pictured below, can be made with the stencil approach I mentioned above.
Coasters
A great gift and easy to customize for custom orders. These can be made with vinyl, or for a really vibrant and fun look, Cricut Infusible Ink + a heat press (or Cricut EasyPress)!
Ornaments
So many options for Christmas and other holiday ornaments.
5. Labels and Organization
People need labels, OK? And they want them cute. At least I know I do.
You can sell all types of labels, from filing and desk organization labels, to labels for essential oils, pantry items, name labels for daycare lunch boxes and so much more. The potential is endless.
And, this is another great product to offer customization to earn extra profit potential.
Here are a few of my faves out there:
Essential Oil Bottle Labels
Notebook/File Labels
Home Labels
But What About Making the Designs?
You may be thinking, “I’m not good at graphic design, how can I compete with these amazing designs I see everywhere?”
For one thing, a lot of designs aren’t too difficult once you try it out, such as text-based t-shirts or mugs. Personally I use Photoshop because I’ve been using it for years, but you can design professional-quality work directly in Cricut Design Space for free. Additionally, with a Cricut Access subscription, you get access to thousands of designs and projects you can customize with just a few clicks.
If you’re looking for trending designs about current events and entertainment, you can find a lot on Etsy, or on membership sites like Makers Gonna Learn and Design Bundles. These design files are often called SVGs, or “cut files” and are a special format meant for using in Cricut Design Space (ends in .svg). Be sure whatever designs you buy come with a commercial license, which allows you to use them to make the finished items you will then sell to others.
Where to Sell Your Cricut Made Products
There are many options for where to sell your items. If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend picking one sales channel and focusing on growing that first before trying to do All The Things. An exception would be craft fairs, which are a great way to get experience selling at any stage. So you could have a website or Etsy shop and also sell at craft fairs to start off, for example.
- Start an Etsy shop (easiest way to get started!)
- Your own website and shop (I use Shopify – a bit more of a learning curve but more features)
- Local craft fairs/swap meets
- Commercial — sell to retail stores on either a consignment or direct arrangement)
What Will You Sell Today?
I hope this post has inspired you to turn the projects you’ve already been making into a way to make money, or given you some ideas of new projects to make and sell.
Especially now with marketplaces like Etsy, you have access to a global market of customers wanting to buy handmade goods. You couldn’t ask for a better time than now to start making money with your Cricut, and turn crafting into your #1 job.
