Do you have the perfect vision for a craft project?

Have you spent hours searching for the perfect cut file and can’t seem to find something that fits your idea of perfect?

What if you could learn to design exactly what you wanted?

You only have so many hours in a day. Don’t waste them digging around for an SVG file that might not even exist!



Spending time crafting is “your time”. You only get so many precious minutes a week to experience that euphoric feeling of zoning out on something creative.

Take the time to learn how to design your own SVG files. You will be able to create projects that fit your vision. You can also share them with friends or even sell them!

Make a little extra cash to support your hobby.

We All Start Somewhere...

No design experience?
Don’t feel very tech-savvy?
That’s okay. Each lesson walks you through everything you need to learn. 
  • Step-by-step with photos.
  • A video and project at the end of each lesson that helps solidify what you read and practiced.
  • Downloadable PDF of the full lesson to refer back to while you work on your next project.

What is an SVG File?

This term gets tossed around a lot.
Especially on craft forums and Cricut Facebook discussions.

An SVG file is a Scalable Vector Graphic. This means the file has been saved in a way that makes it so it can be sized really large or really small without losing quality.

Great. So why do you need them for cutting machines? Because the math that makes the file scalable is the same math that creates a path for the blade to follow.

Don't worry! You don't have to do any of the math. Your design program will do that for you!

All you have to do is put your beautiful ideas down on the canvas and save the files!
You have probably drooled on all those Pinterest worthy projects that everyone else posts with SVG files that they were able to customize.

Now you can post your own drool-worthy projects. Paper crafts, vinyl, home decor.

It doesn’t matter what you want to create. The first step with your Cricut or Silhouette is finding the best SVG file.

You will know how to make your own files for any idea you may have had by the time you finish this course.



What do you need to get started?

  1. This course on how to design SVG files from scratch (and some tips and tricks if you don’t like to draw).
  2. A computer (Mac or PC) capable of running Adobe Illustrator and/or Inkscape (you cannot run either of these on a tablet or phone)
  3. Adobe Illustrator monthly license (a free trial is available to get started) or Inkscape software (free software). NOTE: this course is completed in Illustrator so all screenshots, vocabulary terms, and menus will be Illustrator based). 
When you have completed this course, you will have a foundation for creating virtually any cuttable design (and a really good start on designing printable planner pages and stickers!). Your options will be limitless.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    WELCOME! First things first...

  • 2

    Unit 1: Creating Your First Document in Illustrator

    • Creating a New Document

    • Setting Up Your Workspace

    • What are Artboards and How do You Use Them?

    • How do Layers Work?

    • Basic Illustrator Tools and Keyboard Shortcuts

    • Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster Designing Cheatsheet

    • Get Creative Project 1: Simple Gift Tags
  • 3

    Unit 2: Working with Shapes to Create SVGs

    • Shapes: Rectangle

    • Shapes: Rounded Rectangle

    • All the Other Shapes

    • Recognize When an Object is Selected

    • Alignment Tools

    • Transform Objects

    • Arrange Objects

    • Understanding Project Size

    • Get Creative Project 2: Card with Cut Outs
  • 4

    Unit 4: Groups and Layers, and Colors for Your SVG

    • Color Panel

    • Finding Colors and Swatches

    • Saving Colors to Your Swatches Panel

    • You Know About Layers but Should You Use Them?

    • Create Groups and Layers to Make Cutting Easier!

    • Copyright

    • Adding Clipart

    • Adding and Using a Font

    • Get Creative Project 4: Paper Piecing Multicolored Designs
  • 5

    Unit 3: Complex Shapes for Original Figures

    • What are Anchor Points on a Path?

    • Curving a Line

    • Group and Ungroup Objects

    • Double Click to Select in Grouped Objects

    • Lock and Unlock Single Objects

    • Get Creative Project 3: Design a 3D Box
  • 6

    Unit 5: Design Theory

    • Spacing Tricks

    • Alignment Tools

    • Reflection Tool

    • Copyright/Trademarked Phrases and Images

    • What Images Can You Trace

    • Cleaning and Simplifying a Traced Image

    • Get Creative Project 5: Design an Interactive Card
  • 7

    Unit 6: Word Art

    • Type (Text) Tool Basics

    • Text Characteristics and Choosing the Right Fonts

    • Use the Glyph Palette

    • How to Place Type in Shapes

    • Creating Outlines from Fonts

    • Flatten Fonts to Use on Print and Cut SVG Designs

    • Creating Word Art SVGs with a Font Program

    • Get Creative Project 6: Design a Shirt Decal
  • 8

    Unit 7: Drawing Tools for Your Original Designs

    • Using the Pencil Tool

    • Using the Pen Tool

    • How to Use the Path Erase Tool

    • Tricks to Use the Brush Tool for SVG Files

    • Get Creative Project 7: Sketch to SVG
  • 9

    Unit 8: Modify Shapes and Create Knockouts

    • Pathfinder Tool

    • How to Join Shapes

    • How to Offset Shapes

    • Understanding Compound Paths

    • How to Simplify a Design Path

    • Get Creative Project 8: Create a Text Knockout
  • 10

    Unit 9: Design Resources

    • Using Brushes for Common Shapes

    • Adding Common Objects to the Symbols Palette

    • Creative Market for Fonts and Clipart

    • Deposit Photo for Vector Art

    • Design Bundles

    • Font Sites for Personal and Commercial Use

    • Get Creative Project 9: Alter a Commercial Vector
  • 11

    Unit 10: Vectorize and Rasterize Objects

    • The Difference Between Vector Objects and Rasterized Objects

    • How to Rasterize (Flatten) Items for Print and Cut

    • Use Image Trace Features

    • Get Creative Project 10: Print and Cut Stickers
  • 12

    Unit 11: Tips and Tricks for Saving and Sharing Files

    • Naming and Saving Your SVG Files

    • Create and Save Smaller SVG Files

    • Alternate File Formats (files for embroidery machines, etc.)

    • Organizing Your Design Elements for SVG Designing

    • Create Templates of Previews

    • Write up a TOU file to include

    • Compress/Zip files

    • Tips on Where and How to Sell your SVG Files

    • Checklist for Simplifying and Exporting SVG Files
  • 13

    Bonus Project

    • Print and Cut Card Sample

    • Fairy Toadstool Card Kit

    • Cricut Design Space Cheat Sheets