How to Use the Cricut Scoring Stylus

Do you have the Cricut Scoring Stylus and aren’t sure how to use it?  It is a versatile tool and one of my favorite accessories for the Cricut.  If you use a Cricut two clamp system, it can help make your projects even easier. This is especially true for 3D projects, envelopes, or cards. Read on to find out more about how to use the Cricut Scoring Stylus in Cricut Design Space.

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Tools Used for Making a Score Line

• Cricut Explore Air 2 (check out my review of the Air 2 after upgrading from the original Cricut machine)
• Cricut Scoring Stylus
• Your choice of cardstock
• Cutting mat (I used the Cricut Standard green mat for my double-sided cardstock)

Find and Add Score Lines in Cricut Design Space

Scoring lines in Cricut Design Space are stored under the “Shapes” section.  You can find it in the left side panel.  

When you click on the “Score Line” button it automatically adds a score line to the design area.  It looks like a group of vertical dashed lines.

Adjusting Score Lines

You can adjust the size, location, and orientation of the score line in a couple different ways.  Each adjustment can be done from the menu across the top of Design Space. You can also use your mouse to make adjustments on the spot.

Resizing the Score Line

To adjust the size of your line, click and drag the adjustment button that looks like two arrows pointing away from each other.  You can also adjust the length of the line by changing the height dimension. Adjust the W (width) if you have the line in a more horizontal position, or adjust the H (height) if you have the line in a more vertical position.  Using the mouse for this adjustment is probably the easiest way to edit the score line. Score lines can only be used in one direction

Moving the Score Line

Moving the score line can be done by clicking directly on the score line.  But maybe you are having a tough time “grabbing” the score line with a single mouse click. You can click and drag in the design space area to highlight and select specific object.  Just click and drag your mouse pointer over an object. Be sure you hold down the mouse button while you are dragging. Once you highlight the object you want to select, release the button on your mouse.  Once you release it will select all of the objects in the area that you highlighted.

Changing the orientation of the Score Line

Changing the orientation of the score line can be done in two different ways.  Select the score line and then click on the rotate button to use your mouse to adjust the line.  When you deselect your shape or stop rotating your line, the rotate button will automatically show up in the upper right hand corner of your object.  This can be a little confusing at first, but you’ll always know that your rotate button is at the top right corner of any shape.

The score line can also be adjusted from the menu at the top of Cricut Design Space.  If you don’t see it at first, look under the “More” button and you’ll find Rotate in there. I like to use this section when I need to make a perfectly straight line. Enter 90 for a horizontal line or 180 (or 0) to make a vertical line.

How to Make a Cricut Project with the Score Line

Once you have created the score line on your project, it’s important to place it on the object exactly where you want the fold line to be.  In this project, I have placed a score line down the middle of a heart so that it can be easily folded. (You can add a heart from the Shapes menu button in the same section where the Score Line is found.)

But when I go to make the project, the score line and heart end up separated from each other on different mats. You can see the word “Score” next to the white mat and the score line can be seen at the very top left corner edge. The pink mat says “Cut” and is where the heart object will be cut out.  (Tip: Sometimes, you will see them both on the same mat, but in different places on the mat since the objects are separate from each other.)

The most important step of using a score line in Cricut Design Space is to be sure you “Attach” it to another shape. Place the score line where you want to make the fold.

Tip:  If you are making a short scoring line, be sure to use Zoom on Cricut Design Space. This will help to see exactly how long and where the score line is placed.

Next, highlight both objects using your mouse (click and drag to highlight like above). Or you can click on both objects in the layers toolbar while holding the SHIFT key.

Once you have both items selected, then you will click on the “Attach” button at the bottom of the layers panel.  You’ll notice that now the two objects are grouped together in the Layers Panel with the word “Attach” listed above them. If you need to detach the objects from each other, then you can select the button “Detach” button.

Get to know more about the different buttons and functions in Cricut Design Space (like the “Attach” button and more). Check out the bottom of this post for info to access my Cricut Quick Reference cheat sheet.

Cutting and Scoring on the Cricut Final Project

Now that you have the score line attached to your object, you can finish your project.  Click the “Make It” button again and you should now see only one Cricut mat and the score line should be in place on top of the object you are cutting.  If you don’t see this, then you need to go back to Cricut Design Space and double check the score line is attached to the object.

Time to Cut Your Cricut Project

Now that you have your design ready, click “Continue” and set up your machine to begin creating the project.  Check your Material setting, then be sure you have the proper tools added. Cricut will check this for you and also provide extra information to help you install each item.

Load Your Scoring Stylus

The Cricut Scoring Stylus should be loaded into Clamp “A” if it isn’t already.  Be sure that it’s locked into place and the clamp is closed. You will hear a little click when you load the stylus into the clamp A hole.  Then be sure that the clamp is properly closed before making your project.

For this demo of the Cricut Scoring Stylus tool, I used a piece of double sided designer cardstock. I used a heart shape as my base and put a score line down the middle.

More Cricut Tips and Crafting Tutorials

If you liked this tutorial, I hope you come back for more!  Sign up for my newsletter to get updates about Crafty Julie, plus all subscribers get access to my FREE resource library where I keep printables, patterns, worksheets, and more!  You can find my Cricut Quick Reference cheat sheet to help you remember what the main buttons and functions do in Cricut Design Space.

Have you made any projects using the Cricut Scoring Stylus?  Let me know in the comments below! I hope to create more soon and share them with you!  For now, check out a project where I made a mini flag banner for a scrapbook layout and used the Cricut Scoring Stylus.

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