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Learn all about the extensive range of Cricut materials and get some inspiration for your next project! Htv Transfer Tape
If you've been involved with crafting for any length of time it's fairly likely you've come across a few mentions of how awesome Cricut machines are for all kinds of crafting projects. There isn't much that this clever range of machines and heat presses can't do, and one of the best ways to get optimal results on your projects is by using Cricut's own-brand range of materials.
Vinyl is an amazing material that has gained a lot of popularity over the past few years in the crafting world. It's a plastic-based material that has an adhesive backing and can be used to decorate a whole range of craft projects.
Cricut is one of the most well-known companies when it comes to working and crafting with vinyl, they have an amazing collection of cutting machines and a wide variety of different vinyls that can be used with them.
There are two main types of Cricut vinyl – permanent and removable:
Permanent Cricut permanent vinyl is the default type of vinyl you'd use for most projects. It's water and UV-resistant making it great for any craft, even those that are having to face the elements outside.
Removable Cricut removable vinyl cuts and works in exactly the same way as permanent vinyl. While the adhesive it uses has a slightly different formulation, it's just as strong and will stick to almost any surface but it also remains removeable and won't leave a residue. This makes it perfect for creating decals to use as murals and patterns for bedroom walls or to decorate a window for the holidays.
As well as having both permanent and semi-permanent adhesive options, Cricut vinyl also comes in a range of finishes including:
Frosted Frosted vinyl helps to create an amazing etched effect on glass or plastic without the need for etching chemicals. It can be used on both inside and outdoor projects and is ideal for using to make winter-themed window clings at Christmas time.
One of the great advantages of having a Cricut is that you can get it to cut whatever shape or design you want – especially handy for making custom stencils. Whether you are wanting to stencil an upcycled piece of furniture or add a painted border to a wall, using Cricut Stencil Film makes it super easy. This flexible material works well for both flat and curved projects, will produce crisp lines without bleeding and won't leave a residue when you remove it.
Colour-change vinyl One of Cricut's newest material releases is their thermal-sensitive colour-change vinyl. This permanent vinyl comes in a hot and cold version – the hot version will change colour when it hits temperatures of 31oc and the cold version will change colour when it drops below 10oC.
It can be used on a whole range of projects, but for the best colour-changing results we'd suggest adding them to drinkware such as bottles, mugs, cups and glasses.
Cricut's glow-in-the-dark vinyl is made to be removable making it great for decorating bedroom walls and ceilings, seasonal decor and a whole other host of crafts.
Iron-On vinyl or Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) is used on projects such as clothing and soft furnishings. Rather than using a regular sticky adhesive, they are backed with a heat-activated adhesive. Once you heat your iron-on project with a heat press, the adhesive melts and clings onto the material so that can go through the washing process without the worry of it peeling off.
Cricut iron-on comes in a range of finishes including:
Rainbow reflective iron-on Another new addition to the already vast Cricut materials collection is Rainbow Reflective Iron-On. This matte finish vinyl has a subtle rainbow effect when not in direct light but as soon as you step outside (or shine a light at it) it reflects bright rainbow colours, giving your project a colour-shift feel.
UV colour-change iron-on This UV colour-change iron-on vinyl cuts, weeds and applies just like regular iron-on but when it's exposed to sunlight it will change colour. This iron-on vinyl is great for adding to all kinds of clothing and accessories, it can even be layered with regular HTV to make extra fun designs.
Glow-in-the-dark iron-on Glow-in-the-dark iron-on is a great way to add a fun design to clothing or soft furnishings. In daylight, it has a slight neon yellow hue to it but once it gets dark it gives off a fluorescent green glow!
Cricut machines can cut through paper and cardstock with ease meaning you can make everything from greetings cards and envelopes, to scrapbooking embellishments and stickers.
Adhesive-backed paper and sticker cardstock With adhesive-backed paper and sticker cardstock, there's no need to mess around with glue. Just cut your design on your Cricut machine, peel off the backing paper and stick your design to your project. These materials are great to use for card making, scrapbooking and schoolroom projects.
Washi tape has a number of practical uses as well as being a fun way to create designs. Its translucent look means that it's easy to layer to create unique patterns, but the fact that it only comes on small tape rolls can be a bit limiting. Cricut have solved this issue by making Washi Sheet design pages, the sheets are big enough that you can cut any shape you want from them opening up a ton of new project ideas.
Insert Cards If you're a lover of card making then this is the Cricut product for you! Make beautiful paper-cut two-tone cards in a matter of minutes and without the need for any glue with these clever Insert Card packs.
Each card set is made up of a card, an insert and a coordinating envelope. You set the card into your Cricut machine using the special mat, let it cut your design and then slip the insert into the holding slits. The end result is a professional-looking custom card made in minutes and without the need to get the glue stick out.
Cricut helps to make home organisation easy with their line of label papers. You can tell your machine what to write on the label as well as the shape and size to cut it and it'll have it done in a jiffy.
Only labelling something temporarily? Not a problem! Cricut has recently released dissolvable label paper that can be removed from whatever it's stuck to just by running it under water or putting it through the dishwasher. No residue will be left from the adhesive and your container is ready to be labelled again.
Printable sticker paper (White and Clear)
Simply design your stickers in Design Space, print them out onto Cricut Sticker Paper and then load that sheet onto a mat and into your Cricut. The machine will then use the registry marks left on the design to perfectly line up the blade and cut around the outside edges of your designs.
Cricut's printable sticker paper is designed to be used with a regular inkjet printer and comes in both white and clear options.
Infusible Ink is Cricut's extremely fun and accessible alternative to sublimation. Infusible Ink works by making a permanent transfer of the ink on the transfer sheet to the compatible blanks when it is applied with a heat press.
Infusible ink sheets can be cut into various shapes and designs with any Cricut machine, the design is then held to the blank with heat-resistant tape and the whole project is placed under a flat plate heat press or into Cricut's custom mug press.
The end result is a vibrant print transfer that is washing machine and dishwasher-safe.
The foil transfer tool and collection of materials from Cricut help to add a unique spin to your paper and card designs. This clever tool uses pressure to add a metallic foil accent to your projects by following the pattern you choose. The foil sheets come in an array of colours from golds and silvers all the way through to beautiful jewel tones.
Cricut Window Cling is a non-adhesive material so you don't need to worry about any sticky marks being left behind. It's made from a type of plastic that has a tacky feel that allows it to 'cling' to smooth and clean surfaces. It's perfect for using to make seasonal scenes for your windows and for adding decals to your car.
Acetate sheets are great fun to work with. They can be folded and scored to make cute little favour boxes, cut to shape to make a shakeable card or cake topper, and even turned into pinwheels and festive wreaths.
If you've ever wanted to give making your own party decorations a go, party foil is the material you need! It comes in a range of colours and with the collection of party decor designs on Cricut Design space you'll be spoiled for choice with what to create.
The Cricut Maker machine has an improved cut force and a few additional tools that give it more cutting capabilities than other Cricut machines. It can work with all the materials listed above as well as some speciality items...
Cricut Makers are able to cut a whole range of fabric thanks to the fabric grip mat, the rotary cutting blade and the deep-cut knife blade. Here are just a few examples of the fabric it can cut:
The knife blade on the Cricut Maker allows you to cut through a range of different density wood materials such as:
These materials can be used to make craft models, toys, puzzles or just as additional decorations to existing projects.
Aluminium sheets can be engraved using the Cricut Makers engraving tool which gives you a great way to personalise a special gift. You can get aluminium sheets from Cricut directly or try out the engraving tool on other blanks such as dog tags or key rings.
You don't have to use Cricut-branded materials with your cutting machine, there is a wide range of materials available from other companies that work just as well. There are a few things to consider if you do choose to use off-brand materials
Different brands of vinyl or iron-on can vary in thickness. In order to make sure you get an accurate cut and don't waste materials, you'll need to do some test cuts and potentially adjust the cut pressure and depth.
Cricut Smart Materials have been developed so that you don't need to use a cutting mat with them in your machine. Other brands of materials will not work in the same way and will require you to use a cutting mat to get accurate and clean cuts. Cricut machines won't always come with cutting mats in the box (unless you buy a Cricut bundle deal) so you will need to purchase these separately.
Time and Temp (for HTV)
Different brands of HTV will work at different temperatures and pressing times, so it's important to make sure you know the manufacturer's pressing instructions before using. It's also important to know if the HTV you are using is hot or cold peel otherwise you can risk ruining your project. Hot peel HTV requires you to peel the carrier sheet off of the top of your design while it is still hot, and cold peel needs you to wait until the design is fully cool before removing the carrier sheet.
Removing the carrier sheet at the wrong time will result in you pulling your design away from the fabric.
There's such an array of Cricut materials you can use, it can feel daunting to know which to project to start next!
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