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How to Use the Cricut Scoring Stylus

10/23/2019

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.  

Shapes panel area in Cricut Design Space

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.

Score Line added to Design Area of Cricut Design Space

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

resize score line in cricut design space

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.

selecting a score line in Cricut Design Space

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.

rotate a score line in Cricut Design Space

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.)

Pink heart with score line down the middle not attached in Cricut Design Space

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.)

Two cricut mats to prepare with one for score line and one for heart shape object

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.

Pink heart and score line selected together in Cricut Design Space

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.

Score line and heart shape object attached together in Cricut Design Space

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.

Final mat on Make It page of Cricut Design Space with pink heart and score line attached down the middle

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.

Cricut Explore Air 2 with a Scoring Stylus inserted into Clamp A

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.

heart shape cut out from pink plaid cardstock with score line down the middle using Cricut Explore Air 2

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.

Crafty Julie | Echo Park Summer Fun Collection Kit Layout | Banner Flags created with Cricut
Completed banner flags close up created with the Cricut Design Studio and Scoring Stylus

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Filed Under: Cricut Projects, DIY Projects, Scrapbooking, Traditional 34 Comments

Comments

  1. Beth Ann says

    October 6, 2020 at 10:21 am

    I have been wondering what the heck a scoring stylus was for, and now I do! This was an easy to read post and very helpful! I am new to using the Cricut, so I am still learning the ins and outs of how to use it.

    Reply
    • Crafty Julie says

      October 29, 2020 at 11:23 am

      Thanks for stopping by! I’m so glad that this article helped you – hopefully you’ve been able to use it on projects with your Cricut now that you are learning more about it.

      Reply
  2. Sherri Virtue says

    December 11, 2020 at 1:56 am

    Hi Julie. I have a pre cut piece of cardstock, 8.5 x 5.5 that I am trying to make a score line down the middle for a card that I want to make. I can’t get my cricut explore 2 to score in the center of the actual cardstock on my mat. I am going through all of the steps & it looks good in the preview but is out about 3/4 of an inch on the actual card. Any ideas?

    Reply
  3. Cindy Blake says

    January 7, 2021 at 2:09 am

    I have a brand new Explore Air 2. The first time I used the stylus, there was no scoring on the paper. The second and on all consecutive tries, the stylus pops out of the clamp before scoring even begins. What am I doing wrong?

    Reply
    • Heather R. says

      January 20, 2021 at 10:10 am

      I am having the same issue. Either it pops out or doesn’t score at all.

      Reply
    • Crafty Julie says

      February 16, 2021 at 3:28 pm

      Hi ladies – I’m sorry that you are having issues with your scoring stylus not staying in place. I tried to find some videos online that might be helpful, but I didn’t see anything significant other than the usual tips. Sometimes it is just placement of the stylus. You should open the clamp flap, then place the pen in and give it a little “push” until you hear it click in place, then close the clamp. Cricut also has a support page that might be able to help further. I wish I could be more helpful with this topic. If I come across any other articles or videos that might help, I’ll post them here and in the blog post above.

      Reply
      • Elise says

        June 5, 2021 at 6:28 pm

        I’m a little late in the discussion but connect with cricut I was told it happens often that the part is not holding the stylus tight. They sent me a replacement part that goes inside the A holder free of charge.

        Would you know if we can adjust the scoring depth?

        Reply
  4. Treva says

    January 11, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    Can’t get my Cricut Maker to recognize the stylus. Any suggestions? I cannot buy the scoring wheel right now

    Reply
    • Crafty Julie says

      February 16, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      Hi – I’m sorry that you are having issues with your scoring stylus. I don’t have a Maker machine, so I haven’t experienced this issue. Cricut also has a support page that might be able to help further. I wish I could be more help!

      Reply
  5. rosie says

    January 25, 2022 at 7:50 pm

    I cant get mine to work have done everything over n over, annoying,

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Julie! I've been on a journey to bring creativity back into my life and I want you to do the same. Lets lead our best creative life together through scrapbooking & crafting in a way that works for us. I'm a lifelong scrapbooker and crafter. I love making beautiful things, spending time with my family, and sharing our memories. Join me today to prioritize your creative passions and lead your best creative life.

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