Updated on September 27, 2023
How to Create Planner Stickers with Your Cricut. Learn how to create stickers for your planner with the Cricut Explore.
I have always been a little stationery obsessed. Even in this digital age, I rely heavily on my paper planner. I do keep certain things in my digital calendar, so I always have those dates with me on my phone. However, my daily to-dos, dumping my brain, creating a master list, having a place to list and track goals – all of those things go into my planner.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Please read my full disclosure policy here. Thank you to Cricut for providing me with a machine.
There are so many great planners out on the market now. I currently use and love my Erin Condren Life Planner. Other planners I have been eyeing are Inkwell Press, Emily Ley Simplified Planner, and The Happy Planner.
Recently, the planner world has blown up with decorative planning. If you are not familiar with it, basically it is a cross between having a functional planner and a pretty memory book. When I wrote about using a planner in the past, I confessed to you all that I am more likely to use an organizational system if it is pretty. My planner is no different.
If you do a quick Etsy search for “planner stickers“, you will find tons of options. I knew I could create some functional, yet pretty stickers on my own. Today, I am going to share with you how to begin to create your own planner stickers with your Cricut machine.
How to Create Planner Stickers with Your Cricut
Supplies needed:
Create Checklist Flag Sticker in Cricut Design Space
Start by opening Cricut Design Space™. For this tutorial, I used my iPad and the app. But you can also use your computer, as well.
Note: All of the measurements I use are sized to fit in the Erin Condren Life Planner.Â
Add the ‘Something to Celebrate‘ flag shape.
Delete the bottom layer so it is just one layer.
Click Edit. Click the unlock next to the size to be able to fully customize your dimensions. Edit the size to 0.25″ wide x 1.875″ long. This will create a long but narrow flag shape. After you edit the image size, be sure to lock the dimensions in place so the flag doesn’t become distorted as you work.
Insert the star shape. Edit the size to 0.20″ wide. The length will automatically adjust to the correct proportion.
Copy and add a total of 6 of the star shapes. Select all of the stars. Under ‘edit’ click to align center and distribute vertically. This will allow the stars to be centered in the flag shape and evenly spaced.
While all the stars are still selected, select weld in the layers menu. Select print. Change the color to white.
Change the color of the main flag shape to any that you want. I chose a color that would match the colors in my planner.
Select both layers – the welded stars and the flag shape and attach them. Create as many copies of this shape as you would like.
Helpful Tip: I like to use the app because as you are laying out your design on the mat, a set of guidelines are brought up to help you align all of your images. If you are using the computer version, simply select all the images you want to line up and use the alignment tool at the top.Â
Create Small Flag Shape Stickers with Cricut Design Space
To create the small flag shapes, add the same flag shape from above and delete one layer. Size the flag to 0.5″ wide.
Adjust the color as necessary and select print. Create as many copies as you would like.
I welded mine together once I had them placed. You could also select all of the flags and group them together.Â
Create Event Stickers with Cricut Design Space
To create the outlined box shape, you will need to combine two square boxes together, one with color and one that is white. Insert a square shape. Unlock the size and change the dimensions to 1.5″ wide x 0.375″ tall. Lock the size.
Insert another square shape. Change the size to 1″ wide x 0.3″ tall. Change the color to white.
Place the white rectangle on top of the colored rectangle. Position so that a larger amount of the color will be shown on the left side. Select both images and attach them.
Change the color of the bottom rectangle to match your planner. Make as many copies as you want.
Create Checkbox Flag Sticker with Cricut Design Space
To create a sideways flag with a checkbox, start by adding the flag shape from above and delete one layer. Edit the size to 0.4375″ wide x 1.5″ tall. Rotate the flag on its side.
Next, insert a heart shape. Edit the size to 0.25″. Change the color of the flag to match your planner.
Position the heart on the left side of the flag. Change the color of the heart to white. Attach the flag and the heart together. Add as many copies as you want. You can click on the Cricut Design Space™ file below to recreate and customize this project for yourself.
Cricut Design Space file: January Erin Condren Planner Stickers
Note: I am not including a tutorial on how to create the weekend banner stickers in this post. It is much more complicated than the other designs. I have a separate tutorial and video on how to make the weekend banner stickers.
Print Then Cut Stickers on Printable Vinyl or Sticker Paper
Once you are ready to print, you can do so right from the app. Simply follow the onscreen instructions after selecting ‘Go’.
Finally, once you have your stickers created you can use them to further organize and decorate your planner. I have shown how I use them to list my kid’s activities and where I need to be. (You can see my favorite pen below. It is erasable!)
I also created a file with small dots using similar techniques to those listed above. The colors match January, February, and March in the Erin Condren vertical life planner.
Cricut Design Space file: Planner Dots
Tips:
- If you are having trouble with the print then cut feature and your machine reading the registration marks, close the top cover and make sure the light is clean. If it seems dirty, brush it off with a clean, dry paintbrush.
- To maintain the layout you have created without having to move around all of the layers, before selecting ‘GO’, choose ‘select all’ and then ‘attach’. This will keep your images exactly as you have them laid out in Design Space.
- Once you flatten an image you can no longer change the color.
- You can now print then cut right from your iPad!
- When using Cricut Sticker Paper, there is a custom setting for it: Sticker Paper. For the Cricut Printable Vinyl, choose custom setting Vinyl, Printable – 0.3mm (Cricut). I have found the Washi Sheets setting to work well with other types of sticker paper, but you may have to test our your settings to get it just right for your particular paper.
- I have had a lot of trouble with getting the Cricut brand sticker paper to feed through my printer. If you are having this issue, try the printable vinyl instead.
Tell me, do you use a paper planner? Do you like to decorate it with stickers and washi or keep it simple?
P.S. You can get $10 off your first purchase at Erin Condren by using my referral link:Â https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/laurasilva.
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Ashley Varga says
Thank you so much for this post!
I have one question that I can’t seem to find the answer to. I do not have a great printer at home, and I would love to send the file to a company that can print it for me, then put it into the Cricut machine to cut the stickers out. Is that possible?! Is there an option to save it and then come back to cut it? Clearly, I do not have a lot of experience with it yet :) If you have heard about this I would love to know, if not, no problem!
Thank you!!!!
Laura Silva says
Ashley,
I am not sure that you would be able to do that with success. Your entire print then cut session should be done on the same browser on the same computer (or your iPad/iPhone/Android phone). This allows the Cricut to use the sensor marks from that session to accurately cut the designs. You can definitely save your design to print and cut later, but again, it would need to be all in one session if that makes sense. Hope that helps!
xo,
Laura
A Perkins says
Hi there!
Have you ever had trouble with your sticker sheet being too complex? I created a sticker sheet and have everything ready to print and cut, and it will go as far as the mat prep, but gets stuck loading to the print/cut page. I asked cricut about this and they said the file is too complex and to recreate it….since it took over an hour to create the first one, I obviously don’t want to do this and then run into the same problem! Any suggestions?
Laura Silva says
I have never had this problem before. You could try saving it and opening it in a different browser. Usually, the Cricut support team is really helpful and will be able to give you the best response. If you want to share your Design Space link with me in an email I can try to look at it and see if I can figure out a workaround for you. laurascraftylife@gmail.com
Sandy says
I’ve tried to print with cricut sticker paper but my printer won’t pull it into the machine because it is so thick. I see some use printable vinyl for stickers. Do you recommend one over the other or have recommendations on how to get my printer to pull it in?
Laura Silva says
Sandy,
I love all the Cricut projects, except for the sticker paper. I can’t get it to go through my printer either. I love the printable vinyl and find it works wonderfully every time. You can also get great deals on other brands of sticker paper on Amazon or your local office supply store. If you plan to make a ton of stickers, I love the sticker paper from World Label. I get the packs of 100 of standard white matte. https://www.worldlabel.com/Pages/wl-ol175.htm If you purchase sticker paper from another company you can create a custom setting for your Cricut once you get the settings just right. Hope that helps!
xo,
Laura
Maddie says
Hi Laura! I loved this tutorial but am having some issues when I get to the cutting step. The flags are cutting out, but the stars within them are being cut out as well. I have messed around with the settings some but cannot get them to just be printed and not cut. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated!
Laura Silva says
Maddie,
Before you click Go, make sure that the stars show the little printer icon next to them and not the scissors. On the layers tab on the right, click on the star. Make sure under layer attributes “print” is selected. Then, make sure both your flag shape and star are attached. This should fix your problem, but if you are still having trouble, feel free to email me at laurascraftylife@gmail.com.
xo,
Laura
April says
Great post and very nice website . I found many posts showing cricut designed stickers yet not detailing the creation yours was great. Bloggers seem to be afraid of a lengthy post but in all seriousness something’s need to be explained. I have a question maybe you can answer . Is it just me or can you not acsess patterns on the app version of circuit design space ? I can’t seem to find patterns as an option when I go to switch my designs to print on my Mac it opens the patterns on my I pad pro it just has colors ? I have the most recent version and I don’t know if I’m missing something small ??
Thanks so much for the great post and I will certainaly be subscribing to your site I like it and your posts are great .
Laura Silva says
April,
Unfortunately at this time patterns are not available on mobile devices. Hopefully, in the near future, they will add that feature! Here is more info on creating patterns with Cricut: https://help.cricut.com/help/design-space-using-patterns
xo,
Laura
Leigh says
I bought the Cricut Printable Paper pack to make my daughter stickers for her Erin planner but my HP will not feed the labels through. So discouraged. Can u help?!?!?!?
Laura Silva says
I have not had any luck with the Cricut sticker paper. I love all the Cricut products, but this one just does not work well. If you want to stick with Cricut, their printable vinyl sheets are about the same cost and work amazing! I thought I had updated the post to show the Cricut printable vinyl. I apologize. If not, any kind of Avery sticker paper works really well. Hope that helps.
xo,
Laura
Laura Silva says
Also, I should add, I used to have an Epson printer that would feed the sticker paper through, but my new HP can’t seem to get a grip on the slick back of the sticker paper.
Monica says
The best tutorial ever! I’ve been super into planners and stickers lately, I’m so excited to make my own. This is also my first time using print then cut feature on the cricut because I had no idea what to do, so thanks for that too :). Can’t wait to go see the weekend banner tutorial!
You’re awesome!
Laura Silva says
Thank you for your kind words. I am glad the tutorial was helpful. The weekend banner tutorial just posted today! Enjoy.
xo,
Laura
Dana says
What is the best sticker paper to buy to make planner stickers?
Laura Silva says
I use sticker paper from WorldLabel.com. I have a huge pack and it is affordable – you can get 100 sheets of their standard paper for only $10.45. I have also purchased Avery sticker paper from my local office supply store and Amazon (https://amzn.to/2aIXWbS). They are more expensive but tend to be a little thicker than the WorldLabel standard stickers. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend Cricut sticker paper at this time. I cannot get it to print correctly in my printer, however, the printable vinyl is awesome (https://shrsl.com/?df9k)! I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
– Laura
Veronica says
Hello, I am new to the cricut explore world. I had a quick question that might be a silly one. Are you printing the layout out first then cutting it? That’s where I got lost. Thank you for your help :-)
Laura Silva says
No silly questions! Yes. For making planner stickers (or any kind of stickers) with your Cricut Explore, you will design everything in Design Space first. Then, when you click “Go”, it will give you the option to first print the design. It will print registration marks on the paper – they are black marks that the Cricut Explore will read when it is time to cut out the design. You will load the printed sticker sheet onto your Cricut mat and then it will cut out around your printed design. Hope that helps!
Sherry M says
Can you make a tutorial for using the free printables? I am having the hardest time getting to print them.
Laura Silva says
I was thinking about doing a video tutorial, but it will be after my kids are back in school. It is very difficult for me to create videos when they are home in the summer. :) In the meantime, basically, you open the file in Cricut Design Space and then click ‘Go’ (unless there is an element you want to change first). It will give you the option to print from your computer. You click the green “Print Page” button on your screen. Once it prints you load your sheet onto a cutting mat and send it through the Cricut Explore.
– Laura
Kelsie Hanson says
Thank you! This tutorial was fantastic :) I’d love to see how you do the weekend banners (and more)!
Laura Silva says
Thanks so much. I plan to do a lot more tutorials, video ones included in the fall when the kids are back in school. Have a great summer!
xo,
Laura
Laura Silva says
Kelsie –
I just posted a video tutorial (plus a blog post) on how to create the weekend banners. Have a great weekend! https://www.laurascraftylife.com/2016/08/how-to-create-a-weekend-banner-sticker-with-cricut-design-space.html
xo,
Laura
Melanie says
Love this! And am definitely interested in a tutorial for the “weekend” banners :)
Laura Silva says
Thank you! I will be working on it soon! I am trying to figure out how to do a video with the kids home over the summer. I may have to take a trip to the coffee shop to get it done. Have a great week!
Laura Silva says
Melanie-
I just posted a video tutorial (plus a blog post) on how to create the weekend banners. Have a great weekend! https://www.laurascraftylife.com/2016/08/how-to-create-a-weekend-banner-sticker-with-cricut-design-space.html
xo,
Laura
Amelia says
Thank you so much for this tutorial. I was wondering: is there a way to design something in DS and only cut part of it? I designed some sticker sheets and I’d like to have my logo on them, but I don’t want my Cricut to cut my logo. If I hide the layer, my design gets skewed when I go to cut. Is there another solution? I hope that made sense!
Thank you again for the tutorial!
Amelia
Laura Silva says
It totally makes sense. I have not found a solution to this problem. The only workaround I can see would be to design your stickers to print in Design Space. Leave a portion of your sticker paper open and then design a separate file on another program with your logo. Print out your Design Space design, then run in through the printer a second time, printing the logo on the same sheet with your other program. Then, send it to be cut by the Cricut. Although in some of the planner groups I am in, they have said they like having the logo as a little sticker to use in their planning. So if you are selling them, that may be something to consider! Hope that helps. Have a great weekend.
Yolanda says
Did you ever make the tutorial for the “weekend” banner? I would love to make it for my planner.
Laura Silva says
Not yet. It will be coming in June. I am just now figuring out how to make video tutorials on my computer. I think I have most of the kinks worked out. If you sign up for the newsletter you will always get my posts in your inbox so you will know right away when the post goes up!
xo,
Laura
Laura Silva says
Yolanda,
I just posted the video tutorial (plus a blog post) on how to create the weekend banners. Have a great weekend! https://www.laurascraftylife.com/2016/08/how-to-create-a-weekend-banner-sticker-with-cricut-design-space.html
xo,
Laura
Amanda says
This was so helpful! I have it bookmarked for my summer Cricut usage. I’m new to the Cricut world and didn’t realize I could make all of these! So excited to give this a try so I don’t have to buy any off of Etsy!
Laura Silva says
So glad you found it helpful. I make almost all my own stickers. It is so fun. And I love being able to create exactly what I need. Have a great week!
Anni Large says
This is so helpful! Thank you. :)
I’ve downloaded some free printable stickers that are designed to fit the EC boxes. However, when I import the file into Design Space and then try to print and cut it, it always says that the dimensions are too big. However, if I reduce the size on the mat then the stickers that are designed for EC boxes become too small to fit the EC boxes in my planner.
Do you have any advice, please? I’m ready to tear my hair out. :D
Laura Silva says
Are they specific files for the Cricut or are they general files to be used on any cutting machine? If they are not specifically made for Design Space the problem may be that the design is too big for the cutting area. On print then cut designs you have a limited mat area to use. Each web browser has a specific cutting area:
Chrome: 5.5″ x 8″
Firefox: 6″ x 8.5″
Safari: 6″ x 8.5″
Internet Explorer: 6″ x 8.5″
Unless you can separate the sticker shapes to allow it to push the extras to a second page, you are going to run into the same problem over and over again. I hope that helps, and if you have any other questions, please feel free to email me.
michelle says
This was very helpful. Thank you for sharing!
I would like a tutorial on the weekend banner. :)
Laura Silva says
You’re welcome! I am working on the weekend banner tutorial. It should be coming soon.
Sam says
Hi! Thanks so much for this step by step, it was very helpful for me being a cricut newbie. Just one (probably silly) question, how do you get the stickers to print in different colors? Are there markers for the cricut? I’ve only seen the pens.
Thanks!
Laura Silva says
Not a silly question at all. You print the images on your home printer on whatever type of paper you want. Then you load the printed paper on your Cricut mat and it will cut it out for you!
Stacey B says
I have made my stickers! I’m ready to hit print. When I’m ready to cut what will keep the machine from cutting out all the shapes? Is there anything I need to push so that the cricut only cuts the squares and rectangles rather than the letters or shapes within the stickers?
Laura Silva says
Since they are created to be printed, and then cut, it will go around the outline of each sticker. If you see the little printer icon next to the layer it means print then cut. If it has the little scissors, then it will cut out each individual element and will not give you the option to print. Hope that helps!
-Laura
Lauren Phoenix says
Is there another link for the January Erin Condren Planner Stickers? When I click on it, design space is blank. Thank you!
Laura Silva says
Can you try the link again? I am not sure what happened to it! I clicked on it and it was blank as well. I re-added the images. https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/35332402
Melanie says
When I click on the Planner Dots link I get an error message. Can you repost the link for me? Thank you!
Laura Silva says
Here is the link for the planner dots: https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/31808729
Please let me know if you have any more trouble!
Charlene says
Thank you for sharing this. I was getting frustrated on making my own planner stickers. You’ve made things so much easier. I really appreciate it. I would also love to know how to make the weekend banners and anything else as a matter of fact.
Laura Silva says
I am so glad you found it helpful! It can be frustrating when you aren’t exactly sure how to do it. And you can use these same ideas to make your own stickers as well. I am working on a video tutorial for the weekend banner and it should be up soon!
xo,
Laura
Laura Silva says
Charlene –
I just posted the video tutorial (plus a blog post) on how to create the weekend banners. Have a great weekend! https://www.laurascraftylife.com/2016/08/how-to-create-a-weekend-banner-sticker-with-cricut-design-space.html
xo,
Laura
Alex says
I am definitely interested in the weekend flags! I’ve made some of my own, but from preexisiting banner shapes.
Laura Silva says
Alex –
I am working on a video tutorial for this as it is more complicated tutorial. It should be up on the blog soon!
xo,
Laura
Elizabeth Dwelle says
Yes, to the weekend banner tutorial! I’m currently obsessed with making planner stickers. I can’t stop. I’m off to find your You Tube channel. Thanks so much!
Laura Silva says
So glad you found it helpful. The weekend banner tutorial will be coming in June!
Laura Silva says
Elizabeth –
I just posted the video tutorial (plus a blog post) on how to create the weekend banners. Have a great weekend! https://www.laurascraftylife.com/2016/08/how-to-create-a-weekend-banner-sticker-with-cricut-design-space.html
xo,
Laura
Laura Silva says
Alex,
I just posted the video tutorial (plus a blog post) on how to create the weekend banners. Have a great weekend! https://www.laurascraftylife.com/2016/08/how-to-create-a-weekend-banner-sticker-with-cricut-design-space.html
xo,
Laura
Dolly says
Laura,
This is great! Thank you so much!! And I know I would love the banner instructions, too!
Laura Silva says
Dolly,
Great! I am working on a video tutorial for that now. I haven’t done an onscreen video tutorial yet, so it is taking a little bit of time for me to figure it out, but I think it would be easier to show with a video rather than pictures. You can subscribe to my newsletter to make sure you never miss a post.
xo,
Laura
Laura Silva says
Dolly,
I just posted the video tutorial (plus a blog post) on how to create the weekend banners. Have a great weekend! https://www.laurascraftylife.com/2016/08/how-to-create-a-weekend-banner-sticker-with-cricut-design-space.html
xo,
Laura
Sheila says
Thanks so much. My cricut dosen’t get used because i am intimated by it. Thanks for holding my hand through this.
Laura Silva says
Sheila – Just go for it! It is very user friendly once you start. If you end up having any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me or ask a question on social media. I am happy to help.
xo,
Laura