You can use the new Cricut engraving tool with your Cricut Maker to engrave metal, acetate, and other materials! See how to make a monogram necklace using Cricut Design Space and the new Cricut engrave feature!
Have you been wanting to make metal jewelry with your Cricut? With the launch of the brand new QuickSwap tools, including the Cricut Engraving tip, now you can! Engraving is a feature that I’ve been hoping to see with the Cricut Maker, and I couldn’t be more excited about it.
The Cricut Maker tools that have been released so far are:
- Knife Blade (I’ve made a functional DIY cake stand with it!)
- Rotary Blade
- Scoring Wheel (which is perfect for a project like this Watermelon rosette banner)
- Engraving Tool
- Debossing Tool
- Wavy Blade
- Perforating Blade
Can you engrave with a Cricut machine?
This is a question I have been asking too, and of course the answer is now YES – depending on what Cricut machine you own. The QuickSwap housing and the Engraving tool (or tip) are only able to be used in the Cricut Maker. It will NOT work in Cricut Explore Air models or earlier versions of Cricut machines. Now’s a great time to buy a Cricut Maker – I can hardly wait to see what other tools will be released!
Click the image below to see all of tools that have been released for the Cricut Maker, and learn more about this versatile and powerful cutting machine!
The Cricut engraving tool has a small metal point at the end that is used to engrave materials like metal, acetate, leather, cardstock, glitter paper, and more! It is placed into the “B” side of the machine, and has a little tiny “41” on it so you can tell it apart from the other QuickSwap tips.
I will monogram pretty much anything that doesn’t move, and I’ve done a huge post on how to make Personalized Gifts with your Cricut. Plus, I’ve made a Monogrammed Baby Outfit and DIY Christmas Apron. Since I’ve been practically begging to be able to make monogrammed jewelry with my Cricut Maker for two years, my first project is a metal monogram necklace.
Supplies You Need to Make a Monogram Necklace with the Cricut Engraving Tool
- Cricut Maker
- Blank Jewelry Stamping Round Charm or Full Necklace
- Small Pliers (if you need to remove the jump ring attaching the charm to the necklace)
- Cricut Engraving Tool with QuickSwap Housing
- Painters Tape or Masking Tape
- Lint Roller or Cloth (to remove metal fragments to finish)
- Sharpie, Craft Paint, or Enamel Metal Stamp Marker
How to Engrave Metal Jewelry with the Cricut
I designed the monogram using a Cricut Design Space font, so you can just head over to my project if you’d like to see my sizing, font choice, and how I set up the canvas!
Monogram Necklace Design in Cricut Design Space
Setting the image you’d like to cut to “engrave” is easy – just set the “Linetype” at the top to “Engrave” in the drop down box. I “attached” the images (I also decided to test engrave a small pineapple at the same time) to the canvas so they’ll cut on the mat exactly where I have them placed.
I did a test run with the Cricut pens, just to see if where I had them attached to the canvas is where they would engrave. I just set the images to “draw” for the test, and used regular printer paper.
The test worked pretty well and offered a guide for where I should place my metal necklace charms.
I removed the charms from the necklace and placed them on a Strong Grip mat (purple) and used painters tape to secure them while engraving.
To engrave, you just click the green “Make It” button and follow the normal onscreen prompts. Load the engraving tool in the “B” side of the machine housing (and your Cricut machine will also run a test to detect if you’re using the proper tool.) Set the material to engrave on the “Aluminum Sheet” setting.
After the machine is done engraving, be very careful removing your jewelry from the mat – it can get warm as well as have small metal fragments on it. I used a lint roller I had on hand to remove all of the fragments before I handled them.
To finish the monogrammed necklace charm, I used a Sharpie to color in the engraved area and then wiped it with a paper towel to remove the excess. This makes your engraving more visible and professional looking!
If you don’t want to use a Sharpie, there are products on the market especially for this use – just look for an enamel metal stamp marker.
I don’t love how the pineapple came out at all – the design was weird and off center on the charm, so I’m going to scrap that particular design for future projects!
To finish the necklace, use small pliers to re-attach the monogram charm to the necklace chain. You’re done!
Check out this other awesome Cricut Engraving Tool post from my friend Heidi at Happiness is Homemade for more ways to use your Cricut Maker to engrave projects!
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Pin Cricut Engraving Tool Necklace:
I love how professional the result is (for a craft machine!) and I definitely plan on using it for making gifts this holiday season.
Emma says
What setting for metal did you use?
Pineapple Paper Co. says
oh my gosh! I used the Aluminum Sheets setting – I’m going to update the post right now!
Brenda says
This is very pretty! Would you mind sharing which Font you used?
Pineapple Paper Co. says
It’s a Cricut font available in Design Space called “Elizabeth” 🙂
Denise says
I wish I could see how you set up your canvas but the project is set to private.
Pineapple Paper Co. says
Right now there’s a problem with Design Space that is creating that error (it’s a public canvas). Cricut says they’re working on fixing it 🙂