Cut Boys to Draw in Bubble
In this tutorial, we are talking all about drawing and writing with your Cricut machine! The best part is I will show you how to fill in a drawing with Cricut and turn pen outlines into solid colors so you do not have to be limited by bubble letters or outline-only drawings! To draw and write with your Cricut you will need a pen, design space, and of course, a Cricut machine – Cricut Joy, Maker, Maker 3, Explore 2, and Explore 3 will work!
When I first started with my Cricut years ago, I was continually frustrated with using pens in Design Space. Bubble letters are cool and all (we all remember the 80s and 90s!) but I wanted to know how to color or fill in my text or images with a pen, not be stuck with outlines only.
The good news is there is a way to fill in your images and text to create solid results when you draw with Cricut – this is known as hatch fill patterns.
There are two methods by which you can create fill-in an image for your Cricut to draw. Before we get to those let's talk about what a hatch fill pattern is.
How to Draw with Cricut Both Text and Images
If you are a beginner at Cricut let me encourage you to take my Cricut Freedom Workshop. It's completely free and will help you overcome feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
Likewise, if you have never used your pens to draw with your Cricut take a moment to follow some of my step-by-step tutorials to get familiar with the process, such as my Cricut Foil Tags with Writing Font or my Cricut Joy card tutorial. I will also walk you through an example below with the hatch fill approach.
What is a Hatch Fill Pattern?
So what exactly is a hatch-fill pattern? Hatch-fill is a pattern of lines or dots that make a solid fill result when looked at from a distance. By adding in these hatch fills to our designs we can achieve a filled look to our text and images once drawn out with our Cricut pens. The tighter the hatch pattern the more solid it will look.
How to fill in a drawing with Hatch Fill Patterns
I am going to show you two ways to draw with your Cricut and add hatch fill to text and images. The first will require Inkscape and the axi-draw extension. The second will be all done in Cricut Design Space with the help of my free hatch-fill patterns.
Inkscape can seem daunting especially if you are just trying to understand your Cricut machine. If you are wondering how to create your own SVG cut files, convert images into layered SVG files make sure to watch my FREE Magic of SVGs workshop where I give you a full tutorial! You can also join my master course, Free the SVG to learn everything you need to know to create stunning SVG files for your Cricut crafts!
Creating Your Own Hatch Fill Patterns in Inkscape
What you will need:
- Inkscape – Download here. For full installation instructions read this article for Windows users or Mac users here.
- Axi-draw extentions – Download here and view the install instructions.
- An image or typography image (you can use any image you would upload to design space or type out a phrase in Inkscape). I love Freepik for images and typography and of course you can use any other clipart sites like iStock, Shutterstock, Dreamstime, Veteezy, etc.
Slicing Hatch Fill Patterns in Design Space – Free Download
Creating fills in Design Space can be done but you will need to have access to hatch fill that can be imported and sliced out in Design Space to get your Cricut to draw the lines inside.
What you will need:
- Cricut Design Space
- Free hatch fill patterns (download below)
Free Hatch-Fill Patterns for Filling in Text and Images with Your Cricut
Download these free hatch-fill pattern templates by signing up via the form below. Once you set your password via the email sent to you, enter the vault, and search at the top with the keyword hatch-fill or design #338. I'm also including 6 FREE frame SVG files if you wish to frame your typography quotes and turn them into wall art! Download the free frames in the vault too – design #339.
If you are already a member, log in right here and find it by searching hatch-fill or Design #338. Need help entering the vault? Read this helpful post here.
Using Hatch Fills in Inkscape for Cricut – Video Tutorial
Before you jump into the hatch fills in Inkscape tutorial, check out my beginner's video to using the text tool in Inskscape. Press play below to see how to create hatch-fills in Inkscape and set it up in Design Space or scroll down to view the design space-only option using my templates.
Creating Hatch Fills in Cricut Design Space – Video Tutorial
If Inkscape seems too daunting for you try using my free hatch-fill templates and the slice tool inside of Design Space. Watch the full video below to see how I add fills to my text and images in Cricut Design Space.
Filling Your Text and Images – Cricut Pen Tutorial
It's finally time to fill in our drawing with our Cricut! In clamp A place your Cricut pen tip down. Push the pen in until the arrow on the side of the pen disappears.
Select your material. In most cases, this will be cardstock – I am using medium-weight cardstock here.
Using the hatch fills when you are drawing and writing with your Cricut will mean some extra time because of how the pen has to go back and forth so many times. I recommend working on another project while your machine does the drawing.
Your Cricut will prompt you to change your pens if you have more than one color in your design. Make sure to NOT unload your mat until the very end.
Here is how my hatch-filled drawings and text turned out!
Cricut pens are great but sometimes I really want to use other pens with my Cricut machine. I tried out these Cricut pen adapters and discovered you can use dozens of non-cricut brand ones with your Explore or Maker model machines! If you are a joy user check out these Cricut Joy-friendly pens.
What questions do you have for me? Ask below and show off your filled text or drawings in our Facebook group!
Printable Cricut Handbook
Not Loving Your Cricut Yet?
Does Design Space Tech Have You Confused? Overwhelmed? Let's Change That!
Introducing Cricut Confidence!
Easy to Understand Step-by-Step Lessons for Cricut Design Space Software. No more wondering what Weld, Attach, Flatten, Contour, this tool or that tool means. Finally, kick your confusion to the curb forever!
Hey, Crafty bestie! I'm Abbi!
I'm thrilled you are here! I have spent the last 10+ years making messes and making magic in my home studio with the goal of making the world a more colorful place, one craft at a time! I'm on a mission to nurture the creative magic inside your soul and bring that bursting imagination inside you to life with easy-to-learn tutorials. If you haven't yet, be sure to join the subscriber community to gain access to all my freebies or visit my signature design shop here!
Source: https://www.abbikirstencollections.com/how-to-fill-in-writing-and-drawings-with-cricut/
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