Cricut Survival Guide: Fixes, Tips, and Shortcuts for Confident Cricut Crafting – Digital Download

New - February 2026!

Cricut acting up again?
Design Space freezing, buttons missing, cuts not lining up, or Print Then Cut driving you this close to quitting for the day?

You’re not alone, and it’s not you.

The Cricut Survival Guide is a practical, problem-first digital handbook designed to help you fix common Cricut issues quickly and confidently, without digging through forums, outdated videos, or trial-and-error frustration.

This is not a step-by-step “how to use Cricut” book.
This is your go-to troubleshooting reference for when things go wrong.

What’s inside the Cricut Survival Guide:

This full-color digital ebook focuses on real-world Cricut frustrations and what to try first, next, and last, including:

Design Space Problems

• App freezing, crashing, or not opening

• Missing buttons or tools

• Sync and cloud issues

• Upload problems

• When to clear cache, reinstall, or stop troubleshooting

Cutting & Machine Issues

• Cuts not lining up correctly

• Projects cutting in the wrong spot

• Incomplete or messy cuts

• Mat and material placement problems

• Connection and communication errors

Material-Specific Troubleshooting

• Cardstock issues

• Vinyl & iron-on problems

• Printable materials

• Blade, pressure, and material setting mistakes

Print Then Cut Survival Help

• Calibration problems

• Sensor mark issues

• Print quality vs cut accuracy

• Common setup mistakes that cause failures

Common User Errors & Setup Issues

• Things that look like machine problems but aren’t

• Settings that silently cause issues

• When a reset actually helps (and when it doesn’t)

Each section is designed to be skimmable, searchable, and easy to reference while you’re working — so you can get unstuck fast and get back to crafting.

Why you’ll love this guide:

• Problem-first (not feature-first)

• Clear, practical explanations

• No fluff, no guessing

• Built for real Cricut users and real frustrations

• Perfect to keep open on your device while crafting

This guide reflects the latest Cricut Design Space changes and is built to evolve as updates roll out.

Please note:
This is an instant digital download. Nothing will be shipped.

All of the products in this bookshop are digital downloads only.

Not sure how to download? Below are some common download instructions:

Important: Most mobile devices such as phones and iPads, do not allow for downloading through a link. The exception is for iOS devices running iOS version 11 and higher (so you may want to upgrade before downloading).

ZIP Files: Some of my products are sent using a compressed ZIP file.

Here's how to unzip a ZIP file:

On a desktop or laptop: Save the ZIP file to your computer, right-click and select, "Extract All" (Windows) or double-click (Mac). This will create a new file on your computer in which you can open. If you need to get the files onto your mobile device, add the file to iCloud or Dropbox, or simply email it to yourself. Alternatively, you can check your order email on your mobile device and re-download it from my store. If you have issues with downloading, make sure you have a strong Internet connection and/or try using a different browser.

On a mobile device (phone or tablet): If you have an iPhone or iPad, upgrade to iOS 11 or higher if possible. If you this is not an option, you may need to get a free app to unzip it BEFORE you attempt to download it. This will allow you to unzip the folder to access it. Another solution available on some mobile devices is to long hold the zipped file icon and then click, "Extract." On iOS 11 and higher, you can click "Preview Contents" to view the items inside the ZIP file and then save them individually to your device.

All files are sent using PDF format. Virtually all computers these days have pre-installed Adobe Reader software on them. If your particular desktop, laptop, or mobile device does not have a PDF reader of some sort on it, you'll need one to view the items. Adobe Reader is the most common one and it's free. You can download it here.

Can't find your file? Most downloaded files automatically go to the Downloads folder on both Mac and PC. On the Mac, click on the Finder icon in your dock and click on Downloads to see what you've downloaded recently. On the PC, look under My Computer or search the title of the file on your computer for where it could be hiding.

Note: Some web browsers will load the PDF directly into the browser. You can make a copy of this PDF and save it somewhere that makes sense on your computer by clicking File > Save.

Printing Note: If you attempt to print my PDFs from an iPad, you may encounter an iPad bug that prints the pages without the images. If this happens, you need to print from another location (laptop or desktop computer) or email the PDF to a local office supply store (Staples, OfficeMax, Office Depot) for printing. This is a known iPad bug without a good workaround. I mention it now to save you from wasting ink and paper.

If you need more help, please contact hello@jennifermaker.com