Whether you picked your machine yourself (or maybe you unwrapped a surprise, crafty gift this holiday season), we’re excited that you’ve joined the Cricut family! We know that staring at a brand-new machine can feel both thrilling and slightly intimidating. You might be asking, “I have the machine, but what else do I actually need to make my first project?”
If you’re nodding your head, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll break down the absolute essentials every Cricut beginner needs to go from unboxing to crafting with confidence. Here’s a quick checklist for getting started.
Before you begin…
First things first: take a deep breath. Every expert maker started exactly where you are right now. The goal of this guide isn’t to make you buy the entire craft store, but to help you identify the core supplies you’ll need to make whatever projects inspire you.
After unboxing your machine, you’ll want to follow the instructions found in your Welcome Packet (that big envelope that comes with your machine) to power, register, and connect your machine to our Design Space software. You can learn more about Design Space here on our website.
Essential Cricut Materials
Speaking of the Welcome Packet– it comes with several sheets of different Cricut materials for you to try out. Getting familiar with these materials is a great first step for any Cricut beginner:
Cardstock: From greeting cards to 3D paper projects, cardstock is a crafter’s staple.
Vinyl: This is essentially a giant sticker. It’s perfect for creating decals you can apply to water bottles, home decor, and organization projects. It comes in two main types: Permanent (for outdoor projects or things that need longevity) and Removable (great for wall decals or temporary applications).
Iron-On (HTV): If you want to customize T-shirts, tote bags, or hats, this is your go-to. Heat Transfer Vinyl, or Iron-On, has a heat-activated adhesive that bonds to fabric when you use a heat press (like those in our EasyPress family) or household iron.
A note on Smart Materials
The specific type of vinyl and iron-on that comes with our latest machines are called Smart Materials. These are designed to feed directly into the machine without a cutting mat, making long cuts even easier to achieve and saving time between cuts. You can use the machine comparison chart on Cricut.com to discover Smart Material compatibility for your specific model under the “Specifications” section.
Cricut mats
If you aren’t using Smart Materials (and, instead, opting for cardstock, Everyday Iron-on, or Premium Vinyl), you’ll need a machine mat to hold your material in place while the machine works its magic. Think of the mat like a cutting board that also keeps everything steady.
LightGrip (Blue): This has a gentle adhesive, perfect for standard paper or light cardstock. In our newest machines, this is the mat that you’ll receive in-box.
StandardGrip (Green): This mat is perfect for vinyl, iron-on, and heavy cardstock.
StrongGrip (Purple): This heavy-duty mat is for thick materials like glitter cardstock, backed fabric, or chipboard.
We have a great blog post here that helps you decide which mat is best for your project– if in doubt, check it out! Please keep in mind that cutting mats are also sized according to each machine, so double check that the mat you have is compatible with your chosen machine model.
Once you’ve selected your mat, you’ll adhere your material by laying it down flat on the mat. You’ll push on the material so it sticks to the mat, avoiding air bubbles under the surface of your material for the smoothest cutting experience.
Transfer tape
Another item you’ll want before you get started is Transfer Tape. You should have this included in your in-box Welcome Packet as well. For vinyl projects, Transfer Tape plays a really important role in moving your design onto whatever surface (or “project blank,” as we call it) that you’re trying to apply the vinyl to.
Once your machine cuts your design, you’ll weed away (or remove) the extra pieces (we’ll get to that in a second). You are then left with your design on the backing sheet of your vinyl material. Transfer Tape acts as a bridge; you stick it on top of your design to lift it off the backing, keeping all your letters and intricate details perfectly aligned, and then press it onto your final project surface. It’s the secret to the professional-looking finish we’re all chasing
Cricut tools
Having the right tools makes the process smoother and much more enjoyable. The two tools most important to your making journey at the beginning are the:
Weeder: This tool is here for you after you’ve created your design and cut it out. You’ll have excess materials that you aren’t planning to move to your final project– this is where the weeder comes in. It has a sharp point designed to help you “weed” (remove) the excess vinyl from your design and lift any material that won’t ultimately be transferred.
Scraper: This tool is used to burnish (rub) your vinyl onto the Transfer Tape and then onto your project. It removes air bubbles and ensures a strong bond.
If you’ve purchased an Explore 4 or Maker 4 machine, these tools are included within the machine box. The Joy Xtra also comes with the Mini Weeder tool, but if you’ve purchased a Cricut Joy, these are two things you’re going to want to look at purchasing separately.
If reading this list has you worrying about filling up your shopping cart, don’t sweat it– play around with the different included sample materials to get a feel for what you like best, or envision yourself using the most. That, combined with helpful tips from our YouTube channel and Cricut.com, should offer the guidance you need to make an informed materials purchase decision.
If you’ve purchased (or were gifted) a machine bundle from Cricut.com, then you’ll also have a curated combination of mats, tools, and a variety of materials we just mentioned already at your disposal. With additional material on-hand, you’ll be able to hit the ground running the moment your box arrives.
Ready to get making? Head over to our shop to grab any additional essentials needed or check out Design Space to begin a new project!
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