Hello Daydreamers!

Shapes are one of the most significant features in Cricut Design Space, and on this tutorial, you are going to learn how to use them to perfection.

Sometimes, it is tough for us to imagine all the possibilities a software has. This article is based on months of experience using my Cricut and its software, and today I will be sharing with you all my tips and secrets of how to make the best designs with shapes in Cricut Design Space.

Ideally, you will read this tutorial from the beginning, because as we go, we will be implementing the concepts mentioned in the previews steps.

Tip: If you want to learn everything you need to know about iron-on (HTV) and master its use on different surfaces, make sure to check out this amazing tutorial I put together.

In a nutshell, these are the topics we will be covering in this tutorial:

  • How to add shapes
  • How to change the size, colors and rotate shapes
  • How to cut words or text out of shapes
  • How to make text into shapes
  • How to create new designs from simple shapes

Are you ready?

Let’s Daydream Into Reality!

Related: How to make rounded corners in Cricut Design Space + Free Templates

How to add Shapes to Cricut Design Space?

Let’s start from zero!

To add a shape, log in to your Cricut Design Space canvas area and click on the shapes button located on the left panel of the canvas.

After clicking, a little window will slide out open with all of the shapes that Cricut allows you to create in just a click.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: where is the shape option located
Add a shape by clicking on the Shapes icon located on the left panel of the canvas

Take a look at all the shapes you can create!

  • Circle
  • Triangle
  • Diamond
  • Square
  • Pentagon
  • Hexagon
  • Octagon
  • Heart
  • Star

Note: the last option is called Score Line; this is not a shape but a tool that allows you to create folds on your materials, trust me this is quite handy when making cards, boxes, etc.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: All of the shapes you can add (Circle, Triangle, Square, Pentagon, heart, star and more)
Some of the shapes you can make in Cricut Design Space

How Resize, Rotate and Change Shape Colors in Cricut Design Space?

Now that you know how to add a shape let’s see how to resize, rotate, and change shape colors. We will be using all of these concepts throughout this tutorial, so please don’t skip this part.

Change Size; Unlock Proportions and Rotate Shapes

There are two ways you can change the size of a shape or image in Cricut Design Space.

The easiest way to resize a shape is by selecting the shape and dragging the little arrows of the lower right-hand corner of the selection.

The second way of changing the shape size is by selecting it and then typing in the exact measures you want on the Top Menu of the canvas; this is very helpful when you are working on a project that needs very accurate measurements.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Of the option Cricut has to rotate, resize and unlock proportions.
Change Size, Unlock Proportions and Rotate Shapes in Design Space

Something fundamental to learn with shapes, and any other images or text in Cricut Design Space, is that everything is locked; this means that when you try to increase the size of a shape, the change will be proportional.

To be able to edit your shapes freely on the x and y-axis; you need to unlock the proportions.

To unlock the proportions of a shape, either select it and click on the little lock located on the lower left-hand corner of the selection; or select it and click on the small lock located on the top menu in between the width and height options.

If you need to rotate your shape, you can do it by selecting the shape and clicking on the curved arrow on the upper right-hand corner of the selection; or, if you need to rotate your shape in a precise angle, use the rotate box located on the menu and type in the angle (just numbers) you need.

Changing Shape Colors in Cricut Design Space

To change the color of a shape in Cricut Design Space, you need to learn how Linetype and Fill works.

Linetype will tell your machine whether you are going to Cut, Draw, or Score your shape. And Fill will tell your machine whether you are going to print your design or not; so, if you are going to cut a material color, select Cut as linetype and change the little color box that is on the right of Linetype to select the color of your material.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Change the color of a shape
Change shape color

What about Print as fill?

If you are going to Print then Cut (check out my full guide to learn this technique) you must have cut as linetype; and, to change the color of your shape select the color box on the right of the fill option and choose your favorite color.

You can also fill your shapes with beautiful patterns by changing the print type from color to pattern.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Change color for print then cut shape and add patterns
Change the color of your shape for Print then Cut

Now let’s see all of the possible color combinations you have for shapes in Cricut Design Space.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Of how to cut, draw, score and print then cut a shape
  • Linetype: Cut / Fill: None – Choose this option if you want to give color to a shape you want to cut. This color will represent the color of your material.
  • Linetype: Draw / Fill: None – Choose this option if you want to draw your shapes with Cricut Pens. When you activate this option the color box, instead of showing you a solid color, will display the different types of pens you can use.
  • Linetype: Score / Fill: None – This is just to score a shape. No color will be added.
  • Linetype: Cut / Fill: Print – If you want to Print then Cut your shapes, select this option. To select the color of the shape you would need to use the Fill Color Box.
  • Linetype: Cut / Fill: Print/Pattern – If you want to print then cut a shape filled with a pattern, this is the option you need to select. To fill your shape with patterns you need to change the Print Type from Color to Pattern.

How to Cut words out of shapes in Cricut Design Space?

Cutting text out of a shape is really easy. These are the steps you need to follow:

  • Step 1: Add the shape and text you want to cut out of it. Note: to add text, click on the text button located on the left panel of the canvas area.
  • Step 2: Center or place text where you want to cut it out of; then select both layers (text, and shape) and click on the slice tool located at the end of the layers panel.
  • Step 3: After slicing, move the slice result pieces from the circle and delete what you don’t need.

Note: you can only slice two layers at the time; so if you have multiple lines of text, you will need to weld them to create a single layer and then proceed to slice.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to cut text out of a shape
Cut text out of shapes in Cricut Design Space

How to write on Shapes with your Cricut?

Writing on shapes is something that you will want to do at some point. Especially if you’re going to make cards, thank you notes, etc.

Something that you need to consider with writing is that you have two different options regarding the way the text looks on your shape.

The first option is to use an outline of the text by changing the Linetype to draw. Most FONTS, including the ones you have on your computer, can be outlined with the pens. However, the second option that allows you to write with your pens in a handwritten style is only available on some of the Cricut fonts.

Here are the steps to find writing fonts:

  • Add font, select it and click on the font option on top of the canvas area.
  • A window with the different types of font you can choose will slide open.
  • Click on the filter option and select writing.
Screenshot Cricut Design Space: how to select a writing font to draw on a shape

If you still have doubts about these types of fonts, check out my How to edit Text in Cricut Design Space tutorial.

Now that you know how to do either, outlined or handwritten effects, let’s see how to add them to your shapes.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step on how to draw on a shape with handwritten and outlined fonts

For Outline Text:

  • Step 1: Add shape and text, then place text where you want to write.
  • Step 2: Select text and change Linetype to Draw. Select text and shape and click on attach located at the end of the layers panel.

For Handwritten Text:

  • Step 1: Add shape and text, then place text where you want to write.
  • Step 2: Select text and Font style to writing. Select text and shape and click on attach located at the end of the layers panel.

Note: Attaching the shape with your text is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. If you don’t do this; your text and shape will be on different mats during the cutting process.

Before we continue…

We are about to have so much fun in the next section of this Editing Shapes tutorial. However, this part is more advanced; so please make sure you understand the following concepts:

  • Add Shapes: change colors, rotate, change sizes, unlock proportions, and all the concepts I’ve explained so far on this tutorial.
  • Add text: rotate it and select different types of fonts, etc
  • Ungroup (separate) to Letters: will allow you to separate a word or line of the text you are selecting into single letters so you can edit each letter on its own; this concept is one of the most important ones to understand before you move forward.
  • Slice Tool: cut text or images out of shapes.
  • Weld Tool: Create a single layer or image from multiple ones.
  • Duplicate or Copy Paste: Saves time, instead of creating a new shape every time.
  • Flip and Arrange: to organize shapes and text. You can use rotate instead as well.
Screenshot Cricut Design Space of concepts you need to know before moving forward on this tutorial
Make sure you know these concepts before you continue this tutorial

If you feel lost the following articles can also help you to understand the concepts and tools I just mentioned.

How to make words into shapes in Cricut Design Space?

Now that you know the basics of shapes; it’s time for you to have fun and create different effects with them!

Something cool you can accomplish with shapes and text is to make words into shapes. I have five different examples for you, so you can see that the sky is the limit!

They all follow the same methodology and steps, but as I move forward, I will add more variables to show you more possibilities.

Let’s start by making a word into an oval

Step 1: Add a circle and the word you want to make into an oval. Make sure to select the font you want on this step as well.

Step 2: Unlock proportions of the circle (form an oval) and text. Try to fit as much as you can of the text inside of the oval. It won’t be completely perfect, but we will fix that on the next step.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a word into an oval shape
Make a word into an oval shape

Step 3: To fill the oval with our text, we need to edit each letter on its own. So select the text you have and click the advanced options on the top panel area and choose the option Ungroup to Letters. (All the screenshots say separate by letters – oops!)

Go ahead and edit each letter until the word as whole fits the oval to the best of your abilities. Most of the time, you will need to unlock the proportions of each letter as well.

Now, it’s ok if some letters leave the oval; you are encouraged to do this. Nonetheless, make sure that you don’t overdo it because after you are done with the entire process, you may not understand what the word says.

Step 4: Weld all of the letters and after you are done select the welded word and the oval and click on the slice tool; both, the slice and weld button are located at the bottom of the Layers panel.

Step 5: After slicing you will have 4 slice results.

  • Two “hello” words in the form of ovals
  • An oval with a (hello) cut out.
  • And the edges that we removed from the word “hello” to make it into an oval shape.

Choose the option you want to keep and delete the unwanted pieces.

Check out how to make a word into a heart

As you can see, I followed the same steps that I did with the oval shape, and I had the same results.

Doesn’t it look great?

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a word into a heart shape
Make a word into a heart shape

TIP: Use short and small words. Also, try to visualize how that word would fit inside your shape. It takes practice, but the more you do this, you’ll get faster.

Now let’s make a word into a diamond

For this example, I decide to add one heart to the original text to spice things up. And then to fill the diamond shape with text I had to modify each letter a lot, and add extra hearts.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a word into a diamond shape
Make a word into a diamond shape

It’s ok to add more shapes, and edit the proportions of your shape and letters as you go! It’s part of the creative process. I really love how whimsical the letters look.

TIP: If you want to make a word into a particular shape, but the word itself is not filling the whole shape and taking the form you want it to take; use other elements, or shapes to fill in the blank spaces.

You can also make words into stars

This one took me a while to pull off. However, after trial and error, I was able to make a word into a star.

Again, follow the same steps I showed you (when turning a word into an oval) and add other elements and shapes to fill the rest of the star.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a word into a star shape
Make a word into a star shape

Make a word into a half circle

Check out the following graphic and let’s chat about what I had to do to make a word take the shape of half a circle.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a word into a half circle shape
Use Slice to make words into a half a circle

As you can see, I sliced a square against a circle to obtain a different shape. Then I followed the same step I covered at the beginning and throughout this section to make a word into a half-circle.

Edit Shapes in Cricut Design Space to create new images

Something that I don’t like about Cricut Design Space is that you don’t have a Pen tool to draw your designs as you go.

Ahggg…

I hope this changes one day, but in the meantime, you can use shapes to create different images and effects.

Let’s start by making a Cloud

Step 1: Add a circle

Step 2: Duplicate (copy/paste) circle until you have five copies of it and overlap them in a cloud shape.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a cloud using just a circle
Make a cloud using just a circle

Step 3: When you are happy with the result, select all circles and weld them.

Tip: You can slice the cloud against a square to make a cloud with a straight bottom.

Let’s see how to make a Sun

Step 1: Start by adding a circle and two small squares.

Step 2: Unlock the proportions of the squares and resize them to create the sun’s rays. One should be longer than the other one.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a sun using a circle and two squares
Use a circle and two squares to make a sun

Step 3: Duplicate, rotate and organize all sunrays until your sun is complete. Doesn’t it look beautiful?

Step 4: If you want the rays to be part of the sun, add a bigger circle to the middle of the design (that overlaps the rays) and weld it with the sunrays.

Step 5: Want a sun with a cut-out effect? Add a smaller circle in the middle and slice it against the sun.

What about making a Moon in Design Space?

Step 1: Add two circles to the canvas area.

Step 2: Make one of the circles a bit smaller, then overlap (halfway) it with the other one. When you are happy with the size and thickness of your moon, select both circles and click on Slice.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a moon using two circles
Use circles to make a Moon

Step 3: Select the design you want to keep and delete the unwanted pieces.

Edit shapes to Create Flowers

If you want to make flowers in Design Space by using simple shapes, follow the next steps.

Step 1: Add a heart for the petals and a circle for the middle of the flower.

Step 2: Duplicate the heart until you have four copies. Then rotate and organize each copy to form the petals (check graphic down below).

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a flower using hearts and circles
Make a flower with hearts and a circle

Step 3: Weld all hearts to create a single shape and place the circle in the middle to finish your flower.

Step 4: Want a flower with a cut-out effect? Select the flower and middle circle, click on Slice, and delete unwanted pieces.

Make a stalk or stem

In this last example, I want to show you how far you can get by learning how to edit shapes in Cricut Design Space.

I was able to create a stalk with multiple leaves only using circles. Check out the following graphic and let me teach you how to do it on your own.

Screenshot Cricut Design Space: Step by step of how to make a stem or stalk using circles
Make a stem or a stalk using shapes!

Step 1: Add one circle.

Step 2: Step 2: Duplicate and unlock the proportions of the circles to create two long ovals. Note: they should be identical.

Step 3: Overlap both ovals leaving a small space between them to create the stalk. Then select both ovals and click on Slice.

Step 4: From the Slice result, we are going to pick the left thin result. Delete the other parts.

Step 5: Rotate the stalk and add a small circle.

Step 6: Unlock the circle proportions and make a small oval to create the first leaf. When you are happy the way the leaf looks, duplicate and rotate it until you complete the stalk.

Step 7: Select leaves and stalk and click on Weld.

Step 8: Add a small flower using the method I just showed you right above.

You are a Pro!

If you followed this tutorial from beginning to end, you are a PRO at editing shapes in Cricut Design Space!

Also…

Do you know it takes me over 25 hours to complete a single Cricut article? I know it’s wild, but I want to make sure you understand everything!

I would appreciate your support on Instagram , Pinterest , and YouTube as I try to grow my audience and continue producing great content!

Pint it for later Alligator!

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122 Comments

    1. I think the shape is very intricate, if you google “Handsaw” free SVG I am sure you’ll find plenty of options 🙂

      Reply

  3. Love your tutorials. I really like that you actually put it down in print makes the following of your instructions so easy. Thankyou.

    Reply

  4. Thanks so much. Your concise instructions are an inspiration to try way more with Cricut and to just have fun creating!

    Reply

  8. Thank you so much for your tutorials. You have made the seemingly impossible for me to do into the possible. I love the way you broke down each step with words and illustrations.
    I hope you are getting reimbursed for all your time and efforts.
    Ellen

    Reply

  9. Can you make your tutorials printable? I love having a printed copy, your tutorials are so helpful!

    Reply

  11. Thank Heaven for you! I could not find a tutorial ANYWHERE on how to cut a circle out with name in it to put on a tumbler for a friend! Thanks to you, it is now being cut on my Cricut Maker!
    Thank you!

    Reply

  13. Best tutorial ever!!!!! Thank you so very much. I have been able to really step up my Cricut game with confidence and enthusiasm. I have this bookmarked and have rarely needed it, do to your easy & clear explanations.

    Reply

    1. I would look in Cricut images, I am sure they have those shapes maybe for a small price, or if you google free svg parallelograms or trapezoids you’ll find them!

      Reply

  18. Great info!!

    Is it possible to edit a shape (for example a square) so that at the left it is one height (e.g. 1″) and the right side is higher (2″)? I need a banner style that is smaller at one end and larger at the other.

    I’ve been trying to figure this out without success 🙁

    Reply

    1. Not really. But you can do another shape and overlap it to the original and rotate it until you create that effect.

      Then select them both and weld them.

      Reply

  19. Hello
    Thanks for this tutorial! Can’t thank you enough…you can’t imagine how much you helped me
    Thanks again

    Reply

  20. This is very informative. Thank you so much for your time in making it. I do have something you could hopefully help with. I want to make a closed arch and put letters inside. I just want the outside around the letters. Is that possible? Is there a way to unfill the shape and just leave an outline? And then place the text inside? I feel like I’ve tried everything. Thanks so much

    Reply

  21. Hi, I would like to use the shape of a fish and have the text read “It’s Raw” in the shape of a fish . Could you help me with that ? Thank you .

    Reply

  22. I have watched many tutorials about Cricut Design. Yours is the clearest, easiest to follow. Very detailed and thorough. Thank you!

    Reply

  23. All these great ideas with the same icons I have been using for a long time. How creative!! I’m glad and thankful you took your time for the rest of us. I can’t wait to start making word shapes.

    Reply

  25. Wonderful article. Seriously thank you so much for taking the time to detail this out for us. I knew basics of shapes and slice/weld but now I have a much greater understanding of how to effectively use them.

    Reply

  26. I wish Cricut had a silhouette feature but I was able to use your info using circle shape to make a cloud and then weld them together to get some think close to what I needed.

    Reply

  27. Excellent tutorial Catalina. Even though I know the basics & a little more I still learnt heaps so thanks for taking the time to create such a comprehensive guide 🙂

    Reply

  28. Great article! Thank you for all the information and you explain/show it perfectly! I do have one question about shapes, is there a way to make them hollow? Like say I wanted to make like a half an inch outline of a triangle instead of a full one?

    Reply

    2. You can choose a shape and duplicate it.. Make one smaller, layer it to you liking and slice it. then you will have 3 pieces.. the top inner piece, then bottom inner piece and the outline 😉 I just tried it. 🙂

      Reply

  29. Wow ! This tutorial and explanation is wonderful. As a newbie Air 2 owner it was so confusing all those terms until you explained it so well and with your graphics. Thank you again. This is the best! You are the best!

    Reply

  32. I just got my first Cricut Explore Air 2 and am on cloud 9. I’ve wanted one for years! THANK YOU so much for this very detailed information, I can’t wait to get started playing around (with confidence now)! Am following you on Pinterest! ????

    Reply

  33. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much, this is super clear and the steps are easy to follow, again thank you for taking the time and care in doing this.

    Reply

  36. Awesome tutorial! Again! I have learned so much from your tutorials and I plan to read everyone that I may have missed. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Your tutorials are excellent!

    Reply

  38. Hi there, I am stuck between 3 and 4 in the oval with HELLO. I have the oval the word all set, but I cannot grab just the word hello to group then weld? Or maybe my settings are wrong.. Help..

    Thank you

    Reply

    1. Try selecting them from the layers panel. Press shift at all times so you keep the selection.

      Reply

  39. I just got my cricut within the last 24 hours so I’m trying to understand Design Space. I’ve never used design space but I have used programs like Adobe Illustrator before. I see it’s not quite the SAME freedoms, but I’ll figure it out.

    My question with filling designs with your own pattern is: Why? After you fill it with your own pattern, do you then print it to a regular printer? Does that then, in turn, go on the mat and into the cricut to cut out the pattern?? I keep looking for how to use the Fill option but it just shows me to upload a pattern and then no more. I just don’t understand.

    Reply

    1. You fill with solid colors or patterns. Fill is only for print then cut.
      Whatever shape you fill with a pattern, your Cricut will cut. (Not inside the pattern).

      Reply

  40. This was best explanation I have seen! I have two books and the design space help and I am so thankful for You!!!!!! The best ever!
    Thanks a billion!

    Reply

  41. This was so Helpful. It is easy to feel lost when you’re new to the Cricut design space. Thank you ssoo much <3

    Reply

  42. Thx SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
    much really helped me.

    p.s I should have added more S’s

    Reply

  43. This is amazing! It’s nasty out today so I know what I’m going to do! I so appreciate this easy to follow tutorial.

    Reply

  44. This is a great tutorial. You made it easy to understand. I learned a lot from this. Thank you
    for taking the time to make your tutorials.

    Reply

  46. im so glad this is the first tutorial I looked at. easy to read and understand. love the pics. I feel like I need to take college classes to use a cricut. just got it for Christmas. this defiantly helps a lot. thank you!

    Reply

  47. This is the best tutorial I’ve seen for this. Any idea how to make borders longer without making the design thinner or smaller?

    Reply

  50. I am trying to curve text and make sure it is evenly aligned and spaced around the circle. Is there a way to do that?

    Reply

  51. By far the best tutorial I have read, and it was because of your clear, understandable graphics. Thank you! Subscribing right now.

    Reply

  52. Hi I use a CRICUT EXPLORE AIR 2. I added a shape duplicated that shape. Next I added a long retangle shape so I can weld all 3. Any way I can align all 3 before welding?

    Reply

  53. Love your tutorials!

    I don’t understand where the diamond is in your star-shaped example? Top row, 3rd over. Shouldn’t it be ‘star’ instead of ‘diamond’?

    Reply

  54. Hi I was wondering if you could help me with something. I am making cards in design space and when I go to print them there is a thick black frame around the card, not attached to or touching it, but it’s still there and it prints along with it. Is there a way to get rid of that to save the space and ink?

    Reply

  55. this tutorial was a big help to me. I’m trying to make some greeting cards and I can use this!

    Thank you for sharing you knowledge with all of us trying to learn new techniques.

    Reply

  56. I love the tutorials. So easy to follow. I am making some cut outs for a friends wedding. This was so helpful. I learned a lot of new ways to do welding and attaching. Thank you.

    Reply

  58. This was by far the easiest tutorial I’ve ever tried to follow. The pictures really helped too. I’m soooo excited to try out some of the things you showed us how to create!

    Reply

  59. Great tutorial! I’m a somewhat newb to cricut and this honestly was super easy to follow. Thank you for your attention to detail and clear concise pictures and directions. Count me into your subscription! I’m daydreaming of what’s to come already.

    Reply

  60. This is absolutely amazing. The time and effort! WoW. I am a hands on visual learner so this is great!

    Reply

  61. This write up is AMAZING! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing your wisdom is how to make all the awesome cutouts! THANK YOU!

    Reply

  62. HI CATALINA. MY NAME IS ARLENE. THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST, IF NOT THE BEST TUTORIAL THAT I HAVE SEEN, SO EASY TO FOLLOW. I’M SUBSCRIBED AS OFFICIAL DAYDREAMER.

    Reply

    1. Yay!

      Thank you so much Arlene. I really appreciate your kind comment. It really motivates me to get going 🙂 So happy you are a daydreamer!

      Reply

    2. I think this the most helpful piece of material, I have seen on cricut, this is what everyone one is missing, you brake it down, I love this should be charged for.

      Reply

      1. That’s so sweet of you!
        Gosh this type of comments infuse me with tons of energy to write awesome content. Thanks for your kind words 🙂

        Reply

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