Whether someone just bought their Cricut and is unsure where to start or just starting cardmaking, the question is always the same.
“What are your recommended tools and materials to start crafting with a Cricut?”
So, I have compiled a list of my favorite tools and materials for you to check out. I have included convenient shopping links to my favorite stores for you as well.
I hope this list is helpful!! This page contains some affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you). Read my full disclosure policy here.
CRICUT MACHINES
CRICUT MAKER 3
This is the gold standard of Cricut machines. A powerhouse of a machine that cuts times faster than it's predecessor!
CRICUT MAKER
This is the ULTIMATE DIY cutting machine – in my opinion. This is the Cricut that I use most often. The Maker uses an adaptive tool system and exclusive QuickSwap technology that cuts at a force up to 4,000 grams!
CRICUT EXPLORE 3
The Cricut Explore 3 has all the features of the Explore Air 2 without the dial. Now, everything can be controlled within Cricut Design Space.
CRICUT EXPLORE AIR 2
This is the latest version from the Explore family of cutting machines. With the Smart Set Dial and the ability to cut at a force up to 400 grams, this machine is incredible! You can make much larger cards than the Cricut Joy, as well as cut a larger variety of materials!
CRICUT JOY
This machine is a little baby version of the bigger Explore Air 2 or Maker but definitely is a powerhouse! It can quickly make simple cards as well as cut long sections of vinyl projects (up to four feet of continuous cutting!) It even has the ability to cut WITHOUT A MAT! The Cricut Joy also has the incredible Card Mat that makes incredible cards using the Cricut Insert Card Packs!
CRICUT EASYPRESS 2
Cricut’s heat press is such an excellent press because of its even heat and ease of use!
CRICUT EASYPRESS MINI
This pint-sized press fits in your hands and is great for those littler projets like jewelry, hats, and shoes.
THE BASICS
CRICUT LIGHTGRIP CUTTING MAT
This pretty light blue mat is perfect for standard papers, light cardstock, vellum, and more.
CRICUT STANDARDGRIP CUTTING MAT
Ah, the green mat. My friend. My buddy. I know you well. This mat is THE single most used mat I have. With this mat, you can cut medium and heavy cardstock, iron-on, vinyl, infusible ink, and more.
CRICUT STRONGGRIP CUTTING MAT
This mat is used when you are crafting with thicker or heavier materials like leather, balsa wood, basswood, acrylic, and aluminum.
CRICUT CARDMAT
(CRICUT JOY ONLY)
I love this little mat! The CardMat allows you to slip in an Insert Card and cut only the top layer. The adhesive holds that top layer in place and the film prevents the cut from harming the bottom, or inside layer! It can cut cards sized at 3.5 x 4.5, 4.25 x 5.5m, and 4.5 x 6.25.
The Cricut CardMat is only available for Cricut Joy at this time.
CRICUT FINE-POINT CUTTING BLADE
Every machine will come with a fine-point cutting blade. This blade is plenty sharp enough to withstand all that crafting.
CRICUT EASYPRESS MAT
If you are going to use Heat Transfer Vinyl, you need a mat. Cricut has several sizes depending on your EasyPress and material size.
TOOLS
CRICUT SCORING WHEEL
(CRICUT MAKER SERIES ONLY)
The scoring wheel is part of the QuickSwap Tool System and is only for use with the Cricut Maker. There are two wheels available for the Scoring Wheel. Depending on how heavy your cardstock is, you will want both the single and double wheel tips!
CRICUT SCORING STYLUS
The scoring stylus can be used with the Cricut Explore Air 2 and Maker. The tool fits into CLAMP A of your machine and will score fold lines for cards, envelopes, boxes, as well as other 3D projects.
CRICUT QUICKSWAP HOUSING + TIPS
The QuickSwap Tool System is available exclusively for the Cricut Maker. It consists of the QuickSwap Housing as well as interchangeable tips that do different things. I already recommended one – the Scoring Wheels.
Other tips that may be useful in your crafting would be the Perforation Tip, Wavy Tip, Engraving Tip, and Debossing Tip.
CRICUT KNIFE BLADE
This blade is awesome for cutting thick material like leather, faux leather, and wood.
CRICUT FOIL TRANSFER TOOL
This tool is incredible. It applies foil to materials like cardstock and leather without the use of heat! It includes three tip sizes – fine, medium, and bold. The different tips allow for the design to be more prominent depending on which you choose!
The foil transfer tool is only available for the Explore Air 2 and Maker.
CRICUT JOY FOIL TRANSFER TOOL
Delivers just like the tool for the Explore and Maker series machines but made specifically for the Cricut Joy.
CRICUT BASIC TOOLS SET
This set includes the tools you will most likely use the most. It comes with a pair of Cricut scissors, small scraper, tweezers, weeding tool, and spatula.
CRICUT SCRAPER
The Scraper tool is so helpful for many things. Not only does it help to remove the little bits left over after you have removed your paper from your mats, but it also helps to press your folds.
CRICUT BRAYER
I use my brayer for every single project I make. I run the brayer over my materials after I apply them to the mat. This helps to ensure the paper adheres well and that my cuts are perfect.
CRICUT WEEDING TOOL
The weeding tools can help remove any negative space from a design that didn’t come up when you removed your card from the mat or is too small to remove with your fingers.
CRICUT TRUECONTROL KNIFE
This is Cricut’s version of the exacto knife. It is perfect for trimming paper, vinyl, and other materials in a snap!
BEACON 3 IN 1 CRAFT GLUE
This glue is my NUMBER ONE pick for best adhesive!
This glue dries clear, almost never buckles, and even can act as glossy accents!
This is solvent-based so there is a slight odor as well as some strings like a hot glue gun from time to time.
ART GLITTER GLUE
This glue is amazing for layering papercrafts. The precision tip allows you to apply smaller amounts of glue to the tiniest portions of your paper.
TIP – The Art Glitter Glue comes with a pin that seals the tip when not in use. Make sure you put that pin back in whenever you aren’t using the glue!
Also, don’t worry. There is no actual glitter in this glue!
ADHESIVE TAPE
This permanent adhesive does not need any dry time or “bond time” so if you are making something in a rush, you do not need to hold anything together to wait for it to bond. AMAZING! It comes in its own holder and has a cap to help with drying out.
REPLACEMENT FINE-POINT BLADES
This is just a good thing to have. Blades don’t last forever, and if you are cutting a lot, you will want to have extra blades on hand. Nothing is worse than having to stop crafting to go pick up supplies or wait for Amazon to deliver!
MATERIALS
CRICUT CARDSTOCK
This kind of goes without saying. Lots and lots of cardstock! My thinking is cardstock can be used with so many projects that you won’t waste it by any means! I typically shop when there is a sale or a pattern that I know I will use for a current or future project (think holiday cardstock).
I would recommend cardstock with a weight of at least 80 lb (216 gsm) or higher for making cards.
CRICUT INSERT CARDS (CRICUT JOY ONLY)
The Cricut Insert Card Packs are another fantastic product that saves you time and energy when making cards. Designed to be used with the Cricut CardMat, you can easily make a custom greeting card in merely minutes.
The packs come in a variety of colors and also include envelopes!
The Cricut Insert Card Packs are only available for Cricut Joy at this time.
CRICUT ULTIMATE PEN SET
I include these in almost every papercraft I do. I have terrible handwriting, and these pens, which are available in beautiful colors, have saved me the embarrassment of people not being able to read the messages I write in their cards! Having these on hand will for sure take your card making to another level!
CRICUT INFUSIBLE INK PENS & MARKERS
These pens allow you to draw or color designs and then infuse them into t-shirts, bags, pillows, and more. SO COOL!
CRICUT JOY PENS
The pens exclusively for the Cricut Joy allow you to create beautiful drawn designs on your cards or other small projects.
CRICUT REMOVABLE VINYL
The adhesive-backed material doesn’t require any glue, comes in beautiful colors and styles, and can save your time and patience by not needing to hand glue certain embellishments like text or intricate designs.
CRICUT IRON-ON VINYL
This versatile material can be used in a variety of ways from t-shirts to decor to paper crafts!
CRICUT INFUSIBLE INK TRANSFER SHEETS
Infusible Ink is Cricut’s answer to sublimation. Create vibrant t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, and more with this incredible product!
CRICUT FOIL TRANSFER SHEETS
Used with the Foil Transfer Tool, these foil sheets allow you to create beautiful foiled designs.
TRANSFER TAPE
I recommend the VinylEase Transfer Tape. It reminds me of a large roll of masking tape, and while it is low tack, it gets the job done when applying vinyl to your cardstock. In fact, this is my go-to transfer tape for almost all of my vinyl projects!
DIVIDER TRAY
I think a tray is ESSENTIAL when making cards and paper projects with little bits and pieces. The divided tray keeps things organized and in one place instead of having them all over your craft table! You will see a tray very similar to this in my YouTube videos!