Updated on February 12, 2025
Just Because Cards | Cricut Maker Adaptive Tool System. Use the new fine debossing tip and basic perforation blade to create interactive handmade cards.
One thing I love about my Cricut Maker is that Cricut keeps coming out with more innovative ideas for using my machine. Today, I will show you how I used two of the new tools from the adaptive tool system to create some adorable handmade Just Because cards.
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Cricut Maker Adaptive Tool System
One of my favorite features of the Cricut Maker machine is the adaptive tool system. You have probably already seen the rotary blade and knife blade. This system uses a sophisticated steering system to actively control the direction of the blade at all times.
You can also purchase one interchangeable QuickSwap housing and use it with multiple different blades and tips to enhance your projects. I have already discussed the single-scoring wheel and double-scoring wheel.
Cricut has released four new tools to use with the QuickSwap housing.
Each blade or tip is numbered, making it easy to know which one to use. As you create your project, the onscreen instructions prompt you to switch out the blade or tip on your housing.
And swapping out the tips and blades is easy! Press the button on the top of the QuickSwap housing to release the tip. While holding the button, place your new tip on the housing and release the button. It is that easy!
Basic Perforation Blade
This blade allows you to create finely perforated lines for any design. It will create evenly spaced perforation lines that enable clean tearing without folding beforehand. It is great for tear-out book pages, raffle tickets, journals, and more!
Purchase:
- Amazon: Basic Perforation Blade Only | Basic Perforation Blade and Housing
- Cricut.com: Basic Perforation Blade Only | Basic Perforation Blade and Housing
Wavy Blade
This blade gives you a decorative edge in no time! It creates a whimsical, wavy edge to your project design. You can use it on iron-on, vinyl, paper, cardstock, fabric, and more.
Purchase:
- Amazon: Wavy Blade Only | Wavy Blade and Housing
- Cricut.com: Wavy Blade Only | Wavy Blade and Housing
Fine Debossing Tip
This tip allows you to add pro-level debossing to any project. It creates crisp, detailed debossing lines. Instead of using a pre-designed folder and traditional die-cutting system, you have more versatility to customize and personalize your design to fit your project exactly.
Purchase:
- Amazon: Fine Debossing Tip Only | Fine Debossing Tip and Housing
- Cricut.com: Fine Debossing Tip Only | Fine Debossing Tip and Housing
Engraving Tip
This tip can be used to turn any project into a keepsake. You can write personalized text, draw decorative embellishments, or inscribe your favorite quote onto metal sheets, leather, acrylic, plastic, anodized aluminum, and more.
Purchase:
- Amazon: Engraving Tip Only | Engraving Tip and Housing
- Cricut.com: Engraving Tip Only | Engraving Tip and Housing
How to Make Just Because Cards With Cricut Maker
Now that we have discussed each of the four new adaptive tools let’s use some of them to make a couple of Just Because cards.
Learn more about the Cricut Maker machine
Hello Sunshine Card
Create a happy Hello Sunshine card to make a friend’s day brighter.
Supplies:
- Cricut Maker
- LightGrip Mat
- Fine Debossing Tip and QuickSwap Housing
- Scoring Blade or Scoring Tool
- Cardstock – White, Yellow, and Light Yellow (one of each)
- Foil Posterboard
Open the Hello Sunshine Cricut Design Space File.
Cricut Design Space File: Hello Sunshine Card
The darker, thicker lines on the project are the debossing lines to use with the fine debossing tip.
Click on the image to change your shape from cut or draw to deboss. Under Linetype, use the dropdown menu to choose Deboss. In the layers panel, you will see next to any image that will be debossed it will say Fine Deboss.
Click the green Make It button. On the mat preview page, you will see what will happen with each material next to each mat.
For example, the white paper will use the scoring tool, a fine debossing tip, and a fine point blade to cut. Click the green Continue button.
Remember to select your particular material from the drop-down menu. For this project, you will be using Medium Cardstock and Foil Posterboard settings.
Once your material is loaded into the machine, follow the onscreen prompts for which tool to use. The specific tip or blade numbers will be displayed on the screen to make it easier to be sure you are using the correct one.
To assemble the card, score the white cardstock on the score line. Glue the debossed light yellow paper to the blank card. Use adhesive to attach the sunshine. Use foam adhesive squares to attach the clouds and foil Hello Sunshine banner.
This Just Because card is sure to brighten someone’s day. The debossing lines are subtle on the background but give it a nice dimension. And I love the look of the debossed words on the foil posterboard!
RELATED: Cricut Design Space Basics
Sending You Love Card
Create a sending-you love card to show someone just how much you care.
Supplies:
- Cricut Maker
- LightGrip Mat
- Basic Perforation Blade and Quickswap Housing
- Scoring Wheel or Scoring Tool
- Cricut Pens – 0.4 Fine Black, Candy Crystal, and Pink Crystal
- Cardstock – White, Light Pink, Medium Pink, Red, Light Brown, and Brown (one sheet each)
In Cricut Design Space, open the Sending You Love Card file.
Cricut Design Space File: Sending You Love Card
On the design, you will see two dotted lines. One is the score line for the card, and the other is the perforation line so you can open the card and see the writing inside.
Click on the image to change your shape from cut or draw to perforate. Under Linetype, use the dropdown menu to choose Perf. In the layers panel, next to any image that will be perforated, it will say Basic Perf.
Click the green Make It button. On the mat preview page, you will see what will happen with each material next to each mat.
For example, the light pink paper will be cut using the scoring tool, a basic perforation tool, and a fine-point blade. Click the green Continue button.
Be sure to select your particular material from the drop-down menu. For this project, you will be using the Medium Cardstock setting.
Once your material is loaded into the machine, follow the onscreen prompts for which tool to use. The specific tip or blade numbers will be displayed on the screen to help you choose the correct one.
To assemble the card, start by scoring the card-base on the scored line. Be careful not to bend the card where it is perforated.
Use adhesive around the edge of the white cardstock with the Sending You Love writing.
Place the writing and adhesive side face down onto the inside of the card on the side with the perforated line.
Glue the light brown piece of cardstock to the dark brown cut out of the moving box. Use the TrueControl knife to cut slits in the middle part of the box to allow room to slide in some of the edges of the heart cutouts.
Adhere the box to the front of the card, avoiding adding adhesive where you created the cut-out. Use more adhesive to attach the hearts to the front of the card.
This Just Because card is cute with just the adorable heart-filled box.
But it is even more fun when you open it to reveal the message inside! If you don’t want to hand-write anything inside the card, you could adapt this design to be on a 4″ x 6″ piece of cardstock rather than a folding card.
These Just Because cards turned out so adorable, and it would be fun to send a friend or family member some happy mail.
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