How to Make a SVG Cut File

Over the last couple years one of my favorite things to create have been cut files.  Using your own designs on a Cricut Cutting machine is so much fun. Let me show you How To Make A SVG Cut File using your own designs.

This post contains affiliate links which mean I make a little something when you purchase through the link with no extra cost to you.

When I get an idea of a project I want to make, I would often run into issues with not finding exactly what I wanted in order to make my project.  I’ve always been a doodler, and once I got into hand lettering, the solution just kind of came about!  I was able to start making project with designs I doodled or hand lettered myself.

Now that I have an iPad, designing has become a lot easier.  But I know not everyone has that capability.  I started out with old fashioned paper and pen and started using my scanner and other tools to get my designs into my computer so I could work on them in Illustrator and turn them into printables and cut files.

I’ve learned a lot, and made a lot of mistakes. I feel like I’ve got a good system and process now and others could learn from me how to make a svg cut file in their own unique style.

How to Make a SVG Cut File 

When I begin a design, I like to sketch it in pencil first.  That makes it easy to get your spacing and layout perfect before making a final design.  If you are wanting to add a little hand lettered design to your cut file and printable projects, but aren’t quite comfortable enough with hand lettering, check out these free printable hand lettering practice sheets.

Once my design is just right, I place it onto my Cricut Bright Pad and cover it with a clean sheet of paper.  Use a black pen (or dark colors) to trace over your sketched design and make a clean copy.  Try and make sure your design is as clean and consistent as possible.  It will make working with the design in illustrator a lot easier if it’s as clean as possible.

Now that your design is done, it’s time to get your design into your computer.  There are a few ways you can get the design into your computer to start working on it.

I first started out with this method. Place your clean copy onto your scanner and scan the design into your computer.  Name it and save it as a jpg so you can open it up in photoshop first to brighten the whites and darken the blacks.  You don’t have to do this step if you don’t have photoshop, you can just open it up directly into Illustrator.

Another method to get the design into illustrator is to use your phone and take a picture of your design.  Make sure you have good light and there are no shadows.  Email the picture to yourself.  Then you’ll be able to open it up on your computer and start working with it in illustrator.

Working in Photoshop Illustrator

This video will help walk you through the steps on how to get your design into the computer and how to clean it up in Illustrator so it’ll be perfect for cutting.  

An understanding of Adobe Illustrator is important to create SVG Cut Files.  I used to work only in Photoshop Elements.  And Illustrator kind of scared me.  I ended up taking this Intro to Illustrator Course from Printable Crush.  I learned a ton of skills to not only clean up my designs, but how to create patterns, shapes, and more to make amazing designs for the blog.  It’s such a great course and now I create all my cut files and printables in Illustrator.

Once your design is saved as an SVG, it is ready to upload into Cricut Design Space and cut out of paper, vinyl, iron on and more!

If you have an iPad Pro and are interested in using your hand lettered designs right from your iPad, if you are a procreate app user, check out this post on how to use iPad and Cricut to create fun projects.

This cut file turned out really cute on my daughter’s piano bag.  You can see the process of using iron on vinyl and your own cut files in the tutorial for this DIY music bag.

I’d love to know if you have any questions and I want to help you in anyway I can.  Making my own SVG Cut Files is what I love and I want to help you love it too!

Happy Crafting!

Liz