Why can't I get good cuts on my cardstock?

Here's what to do to get the best and cleanest cuts on your cardstock:

1. Make sure your mat is very sticky. Cardstock needs to be on a very sticky mat to avoid moving around. If it moves, even a little, your cut will not be clean. I recommend a clear and sticky green StandardGrip mat for cardstock.

2. Make sure your blade is clean and free of any debris, like little bits of paper or glitter. Watch this video to learn how to clean your blade: https://youtu.be/julR-_GJ8mQ

3. Make sure you're using the right blade for your Cricut cutting machine. It's possible to put the wrong blade in your housing, and if you do that, it won't cut properly. This image shows the proper bade for an Explore or Maker:

4. Make sure your housing is seated all the way down in your clamp if you're using a Maker. Just open the clamp a little, make sure the housing is as far down as it can go, then close the clamp again.

5. Make sure you're using good quality materials. Your material can make a big difference in how it cuts, too. For example, not all paper is created equal. If the fibers are weaker or shorter in the paper, which you usually find in lower quality paper, you’ll get more tearing. So if your paper doesn’t seem to be cutting well even after using a sticky mat and a clean blade, the paper itself could be the culprit. 

6. Make sure you're using the right settings. Medium Cardstock with More pressure usually works, but sometimes you need to increase the pressure and then do a test cut. Here's how to do a test cut: https://youtu.be/Bn_0ibF6ho4

Watch my Amazon Live video on Papercraft cardstock for more information on how to choose good quality cardstock: Amazon Live Paper Craft Cardstock

Need more help? Read this blog post I wrote: https://jennifermaker.com/cricut-cutting-problems-tips-cleaner-cuts/