How to Make Stencils Using Stencil Blanks and Cricut Design Space

If you’ve ever wondered if you can use the Stencil Blanks with your Cricut Machine, the answer is yes! I’ll walk you through the process of How to Make Stencils Using Stencil Blanks and Cricut Design Space.

*A couple of people have wrote about an interest in making cookie stencils using these Stencil Blanks and I have replied that I did not know if they would work for making cookie stencils. 

I have recently been in contact with Hobby Lobby customer service and they have confirmed that SHOW-OFFS Stencil Blanks ARE NOT INTENDED FOR FOOD USE. *

Please make sure to find a FOOD SAFE MYLAR on any stencils that are intended to come in contact with food or drink.

Supplies List:

–Cricut Machine

–Cricut Mat ( I prefer using the 12″x24″ mat because the SHOW-OFFS stencil blanks I use are the 18″ blanks that won’t fit on the 12″x12″ mat unless they are cut to fit.)

-Stencil Blanks

The Process:

I personally like making my stencils using SHOW-OFFS Stencil Blanks that can be purchased at Hobby Lobby. 

I prefer to use the 6″x18″, 9″x18″, and 12″x18″. 

I don’t use the 8″x10″ SHOW-OFFS stencil blanks because they are a lot thicker.

The stencil blanks have a layer of film covering that needs to be peeled off before cutting.   

To start the peel, I just look for one of the corners that looks like it’s starting to peel, which then just takes seconds to get the film off. 

If none of the corners are lifted and ready peel then I use my fingernails to start the peel, and this can sometimes take several minutes to get the layer of film off.

The stencil blank then needs to be pressed onto the Cricut mat. 

The glossy side of the stencil blanks faces upward, while the matte side faces downward on the mat.  (The glossy side will be the side from which the layer of film is removed.)  

I use the 12″x24″ mat that has to be purchased separately from the Cricut machine.

Once the stencil blank is pressed onto the mat, it is ready to be loaded into the Cricut machine.  

I usually make sure the stencil blank is on as smoothly and without air bubbles as possible.

I turn the material dial to custom on the Cricut machine. Skip this step if you have the Cricut Maker. 

—-Important Information Regarding Settings for Stencil Cutting—-

When I first got my Cricut machine I had to figure out what settings I needed to change my machine to, so that it would cut through the SHOW-OFFS stencil blanks. 

To find the Manage Custom Materials tab, click on the menu button on the home page.

Then click on Manage Custom Materials.

A window will pop up where the different materials can be changed.

First Click “Add New Material” and name it Show-Offs Stencil Blanks or whatever you choose to name it.  Then click “Save”.

Next set the Show-Offs Stencil Blanks setting to cut at a pressure of 350 at 2x.  Then click “Save”. 

If you choose to use the Custom Material option just make sure to select the Show-Offs Stencil Blanks setting when loading the mat and getting ready to cut the stencil blanks.

Cricut Design Space guides users when to load the mat and when to hit the cut button.

The blinking light on the machine also indicates when to hit the load button and when to hit the cut button. 

I have used both the German carbide blade that comes with the Cricut machine and the Regular blade that can be bought in stores, and both work great when cutting these stencil blanks.

After the stencil has been cut, and Cricut Design Space gives instructions to unload the mat, it is time to take the stencil off the mat. 

Turn the mat over so that the stencil faces down on a flat surface, preferably a clean table. 

Then bend the Cricut mat up, so that the mat pulls slowly away from the stencil. 

Once the stencil is free from the mat, a beautiful stencil is waiting to be used.

I hope this tutorial, How to Make Stencils Using Stencil Blanks and Cricut Design Space, is helpful.

Thanks so much for sharing How to Make Stencils Using Stencil Blanks and Cricut Design Space !!