Super Cute Valentine’s Day Pencil Sliders Tutorial

Posted on February 2, 2022 by Jooniper Parker

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Need a non candy alternative for Valentine’s Day? Pencil sliders are cute and functional! Using your Cricut machine’s Print Then Cut makes them quick and easy that even your child can help. Most images or clipart can be used, but a PNG image is best. PNG images have a transparent background, which allows your machine to cut around the image. You can use a JPEG image, but you’ll need to remove the image’s white background.

Graphics Used

Valentine Animals Clipart

Mr. & Mrs. Roboto Clipart

Here’s how to download and unzip files:

– Windows user: https://help.www.final.easytoolsbd.xyz/hc/en-us/articles/115003362491-Downloading-Unpacking-Files-On-Windows

– MAC user: https://help.www.final.easytoolsbd.xyz/hc/en-us/articles/360000982471-Downloading-Unpacking-Files-On-Mac

Let the tutorial begin!

Make sure you have extracted the clipart sets from their zipped file. If you do not know how to extract the files, a link to instructions is above. Most times the zipped file when downloaded to your computer, goes into the Downloads folder. Make sure you take note of what folder you’re extracting to if not using the default Downloads folder.

Step #1 – Click on the Upload button in the menu bar to the left. Then click on the Upload Image button in the window that popped up.

Step #2 – Double click on the folders until you see a folder that says PNG. Double click on it to see the files inside.

Step #3 – Click on the image you want to upload. Then click on the Continue button.

Step #4 – Select Complex. Then click Continue.

Step #5 – Do nothing. Click on Apply & Continue button.

Step #6 – Select the image on the right that says Print Then Cut. Click the Upload button.

Step #7 – Under Recent Uploads click on the images you want to use. Then click on Add To Canvas button.

Step #8 – The images will be huge.

Note: A regular #2 pencil is 1/4” (.25) wide and 7 1/2” (7.5) long. 3.5” is about half as tall as the pencil. You don’t want it too big or too small.

Step #9 – Resize all of the images. Click on an image. In the top menu bar look for Size and in the H input field type in 3.5 and hit Enter. Repeat for each image.

Step #10 – Click on the Shapes button. Insert 2 circles.

Step #11 – Click on one of the circles. In the top menu bar look for Size. In the W input field type in .555 and hit enter.

Step #12 – Click on the other circle. Go back to Size. In the W input field type in .333 and hit enter.

Note: When creating the ring for the pencil to slide through there are 2 things to take into account: how thick the ring will be and how wide the inner circle of the ring will be. You don’t want the thickness of the ring to be too thin, as it will rip. You don’t want the inner circle of the ring to be too small as the pencil won’t slide through, and you don’t want it too big as it will slide off the pencil too easily.

Step #13 – Place one circle on top of the other and select both circles. In the top menu bar look for Align and select Center.

Step #14 – While the circles are still selected, at the bottom of the Layers panel click on Slice.

Note: You can only slice two layers at a time. If the slice is grayed out, it means you have more than two layers selected. Check the Layers panel to see how many layers you have selected.

Step #15 – Delete the 2 extra circles.

Step #16 – Click on the black ring. In the top menu bar look for a tiny black square next to Operation. In the pop up click on the white square.

Step #17 – Click on the white ring and click on Duplicate.

Step #18 – Click on one of the images to select it. In the top menu bar click on Offset. In the Distance input field put in .08 and click Apply.

Step #19 – Click on one of the images. In the top menu bar click on the tiny black square next to Operation. In the pop up click on the white square. Repeat for each black offset.

Step #20 – Place one ring at the top of the head and one at the bottom. Make sure they are overlapping onto the white offset layer. Then select both. In the top menu bar click on Align and select Center Horizontally.

Note: If the ring is set too close to the offset, when welded it could fill in the center of the ring. If that happens, undo and move the ring up more and weld again.