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My Top 10 Favorite Cricut Tools for Crafting
You know I'm a huge fan of my Cricut Maker. It's the one craft tool that I just couldn't create without. Almost every project that I make starts with my Maker. There are so many things you can do with a vinyl cutter – from labeling everything in your house to screen printing t-shirts (my favorite thing to make)! With the holidays rapidly approaching, I wanted to share my top 10 favorite items from Cricut that every crafter should have on their wish list this year.
1. Cricut Maker
This machine cuts so many things. About 90% of the time, I'm cutting permanent vinyl to create the stencil for my screen printing. When I'm not making shirts, I love experimenting with paper, fabric and wood. The reason I chose the Cricut Maker over the Cricut Explore Air 2 is cutting ability. I wanted something that would cut through the thickest materials – giving me even more creative potential with my machine. The adaptive tools are also a great reason to choose the Cricut Maker. I recently used the perforation and embossing tools to make my own hang tags for my t-shirts.
Shop for the Cricut Maker: Cricut.com
2. Basic Tool Set
I have been crafting with vinyl for a long time, but didn't discover this tool set until I got my Cricut Maker. The pick tool is my go-to for weeding. I find myself using the tweezers when I'm weeding stubborn little detail pieces that I need to put back in place. The scraper tool is used when I apply my transfer tape and the lifting tool helps get my vinyl off my sticky mat. This is a great set for starters, but avid crafters can never have enough of these handy!
Shop for the Cricut Basic Tool Set: Cricut.com
3. BrightPad
Weeding can be a tedious job, especially when you have lots of fine details. This is one of the reasons I love screen printing vs. HTV – you only have to weed the design once and you can make countless shirts with one vinyl cut. If you are a late night crafter, like me, the Cricut BrightPad is a necessity. Mine stays on top of my rolling cart so it's easy to access at all times. You can see my Cricut organization here.
Shop for the Cricut BrightPad: Cricut.com
4. Cricut Access
If you are looking for a gift for a Cricut user, a subscription to Cricut Access is the gift that will keep on giving all year. Cricut Access is an image library that has 100,000+ pre-made designs to choose from. You can search for designs right in Design Space and start cutting your project in no time. I have used designs from Cricut Access on so many of my projects.
Sign up for Cricut Access: Cricut Access Membership
5. Premium Vinyl
If you've been following my screen printing projects, you know that finding the right type of vinyl to stick to your screen is key. It can be so frustrating when the vinyl won't stick. I've found 2 types of vinyl that work with screen printing – Oracal 651 and Cricut Premium Vinyl. It doesn't matter what color vinyl you choose for screen printing, so stock up on whatever color you prefer! When I'm not screen printing with this vinyl, I use it to make car decals and decals for my Yeti.
Shop for the Cricut Premium Vinyl: Cricut.com
6. True Control Knife
I have always had an Exacto knife in my craft tools. I recently discovered Cricut's True Control Knife and love how easy (and safe) it is to replace the blades. I'm pretty rough on my tools, so being able to swap out for a new blade is simple. You'll see me using this knife to cut my favorite roll of transfer tape.
Shop for the Cricut True Control Knife: Cricut.com
7. Easy Press 2
After I screen print shirts, the ink needs to be heat set to become permanent. I use the 9″x9″ EasyPress2 to do the job. I also have a regular heat press, the 6″x7″ EasyPress 2 and EasyPress Mini. I find that I use the 9″x9″ size most frequently. The 6″x7″ size comes in handy when pressing onesies and pocket designs. The EasyPress Mini is my tool for odd shaped projects like hats.
Shop for the Cricut EasyPress 2: Cricut.com
8. Extra Mats
While I get a long life out of each mat, I am frequently stocking up on new mats. Over time, the adhesive wears down and it's time to replace it. I like having both of these sizes on hand at all times. The 12″x12″ size is my go-to and the one I use most frequently. However, lots of my shirt designs are longer than 11.5″ so the 12″x24″ size is handy to have.
Shop 12″x12″ Variety Pack: Cricut.com
Shop 12″x24″ Variety Pack: Cricut.com
9.EasyPress Mini
The Cricut EasyPress Mini is the newest addition to my EasyPress collection (I also have the 6″x7″ EasyPress 2 and 9″x9″ EasyPress2). After screen printing on hats, the EasyPress Mini was the perfect size to heat set the ink. I love that it's easy to handle and fits in spots that my larger presses won't. You can see how I used the EasyPress Mini to make mini tote bags here.
Shop for the Cricut EasyPress Mini: Cricut.com
10. Self Healing Mat
If you are using the True Control Knife, you'll want to have one of these Cricut Self Healing Mats. This protects your table and allows you to cut your vinyl sheets with ease. If you're crafting on your kitchen table or counter, this is a great all-purpose mat to protect your work surface.
Shop for the Cricut Self Healing Mat: Cricut.com
Share this Page with Your Santa
Now that you have picked out items for your Wish List, it's time to give your significant other or family members the hint. My husband needs it spelled out, so emailing him a link and telling him exactly where to buy it improves my chances of actually getting it 🙂 You can share this page by email – just fill in the details below and hit send!
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