Cricut helps to take my craft projects to the next level, so today I’m sharing 5 reasons why I love my Cricut Explorer Air 2.
If you like to craft and create then you have heard of the Cricut machine. While I love my Cricut Maker, I also love my Cricut Explorer Air 2 machine.
So today I thought I would share how this awesome machine can enhance all kinds of craft projects.
A faster cut time is always better. No one wants to be sitting at their machines waiting forever for the materials to cut.
I don’t know about you, but when inspiration and creativity strike I want to make something right now!
So the sooner I can go from a cut file on the screen to a project in real life the better.
We’re talking about the usual suspects such as cardstock, paper, vinyl, and iron-on as well as things like bonded fabrics, glitter paper, cork, and faux leather.
That means that you can create just about any project you can dream up. 
If you have an older Cricut, then you know that cartridges used to be the way to get different shapes and fonts.
But with Cricut Design Space you can create your project using thousands of different fonts, shapes, and ready to make projects.
I love Cricut Design Space. It’s so simple to use and you can really make anything in there that you can dream up.
If you are new to Design Space I have a whole Cricut Design Space 101 series where I help you understand the basics. There are even videos to walk you through step-by-step.
That’s right! You can connect the Cricut Explorer Air 2 to the iPhone or iPad Cricut Design Space app so you can create your projects anywhere.
That’s great for people who love to take their Cricut to a friend’s house or for those who don’t have a crafting space next to their computer.
Okay, well, technically since I share my Cricut projects here on my blog they are not one-of-a-kind because anyone with a Cricut can easily recreate them.
However, my projects are unique and can’t just be purchased at the local store.
Today I’m sharing a project with you that I have been wearing for the last couple weeks and getting a lot of comments on. 
Spiderweb Faux Leather Earrings
Supplies
Cricut Explorer Air 2
Cricut EasyPress Mini
Cricut EasyPress Mat
Cricut Faux Leather (I used the color peacock.)
Cricut Iron-on (I used white.)
Jump Rings
Fish Hook Earring Findings
Jewelry Pliers
Spiderweb Teardrop Faux Leather Earring Cut File
How to cut faux leather with the Cricut Air Explorer 2
The first thing we need to do to make these is to cut the faux leather.
I simply placed it face down on the cutting mat and selected faux leather as the material to cut.
You can find it but turning the knob to custom and choosing from the material list in Design Space.
Then I put the mat in the Cricut Explorer Air 2 and pressed the Cricut button.
Once the Cricut is done cutting the faux leather, remove it from the mat.
Then place the Cricut iron-on on the mat, shiny side down, and select iron-on from the material knob. Load the mat and press the Cricut button to cut.
When the Cricut Explorer Air 2 is done cutting, eject the mat from the machine, trim down the iron-on, and weed it out.
How to add iron-on to faux leather earrings with the Cricut EasyPress Mini
Now that you have finished weeding out the webs, it’s time to apply them to the earrings.
I turned my Cricut EasyPress Mini to the medium setting and let it heat up.
While it was preheating I laid my earrings on the Cricut EasyPress Mat and lined the spiderwebs up on top of them.
When it was preheated I simply placed the Cricut EasyPress Mini on the first earring and held it in place while I counted to 15.
I let it cool for a couple of seconds so that it was cool enough to handle, but still warm enough for a warm peel and then I peeled the transfer off of the iron-on.
Then I flipped the earring over and did 5 seconds on the back with the Cricut EasyPress Mini.
I completed the other earring, repeating the process.
How to add findings to faux leather teardrop earrings
In order to get these earrings to face front, you will need two jump rings per earring, as well as a fish hook finding.
Using the jewelry pliers, open the first jump ring.
Slide it through the hole in the top of the teardrop earring, and then using the pliers, close the jump ring.
When closing jump rings, you want to be sure that you get the ends touching so that the earring can’t fall apart.
But you don’t want to be so aggressive with the pliers that you smash the jump ring.
Next, open the second jump ring and slide it through the first. Then you want to add the fish hook earring finding to the open jump ring.
Be sure that you put it on correctly, otherwise, your earring will be hanging backward.
To do this, simply hold it up how it should be at the top of the earring, then slide it on to the open jump ring.
Now it’s time to close the jump ring and your earring is complete!
Repeat the process for the other side.
These simple earrings are fun to make. And with the Cricut Explorer Air 2 the possibilities are endless!
Be sure to check out my other Cricut projects for more fun ideas.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
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