Cricut Explore Air 2 is one of the coolest machines for DIY projects. With it, you can do almost anything, including writing, designing, printing, and cutting 100+ materials. However, figuring out Cricut Explore Air 2 projects can be surprisingly challenging. That’s why we have prepared this article with some fun and straightforward projects for newcomers in the crafts industry. Let’s start crafting!
What can you do with Cricut Explore Air 2?
There are millions of Cricut Explore Air 2 project ideas that you can explore with your cutting machine. But in this post, we want to share some ten ideas for kids, home ornaments, and gifts. You can try out all these ideas or select a few that fit your budget.
Gift Ideas
Is your best friend having a baby shower or graduation party? You can copy these ideas to present them with a memorable and pocket-friendly gift.
1. “I Believe in Unicorns” Mug:
Whether you’re a unicorn believer or not, these mythical creatures are a fan favorite. So, if your friend has a soft spot for unicorns, you can gift them a coffee mug with “I Believe in Unicorns” encryption. This gift will ensure they think of you every time they drink their coffee and is also a perfect gift for teenage girls or kids. And guess what? This is one of the best Cricut Explore Air 2 projects for beginners, as you only need to transfer the color-changing holographic adhesive vinyl design to a smooth mug surface.
Project materials:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- HTVRONT Holographic Adhesive Vinyl
- Blank Mug
- HTVRONT Cutting Mat
- HTVRONT Weeding Tools
- Scrapper
2. Birthday Cake Box:
Tasty cakes have always been a welcomed birthday gift for decades. But you can add a new twist to this annual tradition by using your Cricut machine to create a unique birthday cake box. Interestingly, you don’t only need to fill the birthday cake box with cake. You can be more creative by putting inside gifts such as candies, custom keychains, watches, etc. It’s a fun party idea to share goodies with friends and family.
Project materials:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Scoring Stylus or Scoring Wheel
- HTVRONT Cardstock (orange, white)
- Cricut Cutting Mat
- HTVRONT Glitter Cardstock - pink, yellow, blue, purple, green
- Adhesive Dots or Quick-Drying Paper Adhesive
- Paper Straws
3. Glitter Tumbler:
Glitter tumblers are some of the best handmade gift ideas for friends, family, teachers, and pretty much anyone else. Tumblers are easy to customize with your favorite names, colors, quotes, or anything that can act as a reminder when drinking water/juice. This creative Cricut project idea will also shine on bright days like a beacon, making them ideal Cricut Explore Air 2 projects for kids.
Project materials:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- HTVRONT Holographic Heat Transfer Vinyl
- Tumbler Blank
- HTVRONT Auto Heat Press
- HTVRONT Cutting Mat
- HTVRONT Weeding Tools
Home Ornament Craft Ideas
With a Cricut machine, you can make custom designs for home ornaments that your family and friends will cherish for years. For instance, you can create personalized ornaments with the names of your friends or family members.
1. Bee Pillow Cover:
Are you still undecided about the best gift to share with your grandma without breaking the bank? Use your Cricut machine to gift them bee pillow coves they’ll cherish for years. You can create designs for the pillow inserts using Cricut Design Space before cutting with your Cricut Explore Air 2 machine. Remember, you’ll need an Auto-Heat Press to finish this project.
Project materials:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Fabric Pillow Cover Blank
- HTVRONT Heat Transfer Vinyl for Sublimation and Sublimation Paper
- HTVRONT Weeding Tools
- HTVRONT Auto Heat Press
- HTVRONT Cutting Mat
2. Wooden Serving Tray
Making a wooden serving tray is one of the best ways to breathe life into old wood around your home. This charming project is pretty pocket-friendly to make, and it looks excellent, thanks to the mid-century modern looks. You can use reclaimed wood pines or regular wood in your backyard to create a wooden serving tray with heat transfer vinyl designs and encryptions. You should give it a try!
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Blank Wood Tray
- HTVRONT Black Heat Transfer Vinyl
- HTVRONT Weeding Tools
- HTVRONT Auto Heat Press
- HTVRONT Cutting Mat
3. Car Window Decals
This is another excellent project you can achieve with your Cricut machine. Simply open the design you want for your car decal on Design Space, then load an adhesive vinyl to your cutting mat to begin cutting. After weeding the design, use a transfer tape to apply whatever Cricut design you have created to your car. Ensure that the car mirror is clean and dry before applying the decal.
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Wood Tray Blank
- HTVRONT White Adhesive Vinyl
- HTVRONT Weeding Tools
- HTVRONT Cutting Mat
- Scraper
Kids Project Ideas
Finding things to do for your kids when they are off for a summer break can be challenging. Thankfully, you can dust off your cutting machine and explore some projects for Cricut Explore Air 2 that your kids will absolutely love. Let’s list them below:
1. Animal Paper Mask:
Making animal paper masks for your kids or grandkids using the Cricut machine is a fun and inexpensive project. In this project, you only need a mask design and paper crafting skills to make your kids happy. But on a side note, you should avoid cutting thicker materials like basswood, leather, or chipboard using the Explore Air 2 machine. Instead, you’ll need the more advanced Cricut Maker machine.
Project materials:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Cardstock
- HTVRONT Cutting Mat
2. Cupcake Toppers:
This is an excellent Cricut Explore Air 2 project you can consider on any holiday. You can top your kid’s cupcakes with a swirl of designs and colors to make their dessert stand out. From birthdays to holidays, this Cricut project will effortlessly add a touch of cute glam. Moreover, you can transform any Design Space image into an adorable cupcake topper.
Project materials:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- Cardstock
- HTVRONT Cutting Mat
3. Cute Astronaut Stickers:
Space exploration is a topic that excites most kids. So, go ahead and create cute cartoon astronaut and planet stickers and immerse your kids into the joyous outer space. You can choose different designs, including rockets, spaceships, planets, moons, and more. The Printable Vinyl Matter Sticker Paper can be applied to books, hands, tablets, cards, and more.
Project materials:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- HTVRONT Printable Vinyl Matte Sticker Paper
- HTVRONT Weeding Tools
- HTVRONT Cutting Mat
- Scraper
4. Puzzle:
This is one of the most creative beginner projects for Cricut Explore Air 2. You can make a cute puzzle from a photo using your Cricut machine and let your kid develop their coordination skills in their free time. This project offers a great way to turn any picture, including their photos, into a cute puzzle. Your kids will definitely love them!
Project materials:
- Cricut Explore Air 2
- HTVRONT Sublimation Paper
- Sublimation Ink
- Printer
- Puzzle Blank
- HTVRONT T Shirt Press
The Takeaways
These are some Cricut Explore Air 2 projects to try out with your vinyl-cutting plotter. Remember that the Explore Air 2 can handle 100+ materials, meaning you can complete most projects effortlessly. And yes, there are unlimited projects to achieve with this machine. You only need to explore your creative side.
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