This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
Are you looking for recommendations on the best Cricut Gift items to get your crafter this year?
As anyone in the crafting community can tell you, this year Cricut has taken the crafting world by storm. With their amazing crafting machines (that can draw, score and cut over 100 different materials), their easy to use design space program, and consistent quality tools and materials it’s no wonder they have been featured on shows like the Kelly Clarkson Show. If you are looking to gift your loved one with a Cricut and supplies but don’t know what to get, don’t worry I have your back with this comprehensive Cricut gift guide.
Basic Cricut Must-Haves
While specific tools and materials may differ from crafter to crafter depending on their area of interest in crafting you will want to get all of these basics as a start!
Cricut Explore Air 2 & Cricut Maker
The first thing you need to choose your Cricut Crafting Machine. Cricuts has 2 top of the line crafting machines: the Explore Air 2 & Maker. Both machines are very user-friendly and can draw, score and cut over 100 materials. They are both Bluetooth compatible making them compatible to use with a computer, tablet or cell phone. So how to know which machine to gift to your loved one?
Explore Air 2
If you are looking for a more budget-friendly machine that can work with all the traditional crafting materials like Paper, Cardstock, Posterboard, Vinyl, Iron-on, Adhesive Foil, Faux leather, Kraft board etc then the Explore Air 2 is for you. As a bonus, it has a fast mode which is nice for when you are doing a bunch of projects in a day.
Cricut Maker
The Maker is the ultimate crafting machine that can do everything that the Explore Air 2 can do and so much more. If your crafter wants to be able to work with all the standard materials as well as specialty materials like Fabrics, Felt, Crepe Paper, Basswood, Balsa Wood, Acetate, Leather and Heavy Chipboard than you will want to invest in the Maker.
Cricut Access Subscription
Using Cricut Design Space is free for everyone. You can also upload your own designs (or designs you get free online from Cricut bloggers like me) However, I highly recommend getting your special someone a Cricut Access subscription.
Cricut Access comes with thousands of designs and fonts and even ready to make crafts for all occasions. I actually use elements from Cricut Access all the time in designs. If the person you are gifting is new to Cricut crafting, Cricut Access is a must to get them started.
Cricut Essential Tool Kit
Having the right tools makes all the difference in crafting. The Essential Tool Kit comes with a paper cutter/scorer, crafting scissors, weeder, spatula, tweezers, and scraper. I use various tools from this kit with every Cricut craft I have done.
Cricut Mats
Cricut has various Mats for the different materials your Cricut can work with. When you just start out with Cricut crafting you want to make sure you have a selection of mats. Then as your crafter sees what materials they use the most, they can then buy more of that type of mat.
I often find myself using more than one kind of mat for each of my projects which is why II recommend getting this 3 pack as a base must. (If you get the Maker it will also come with a fabric mat.)
Maker Tools
If you get the Cricut Maker, then you will want to get the extra Maker tools. These adaptive tools along with the fact that the Maker has more power) allow crafters to work with those specialty materials like Fabric, Leather, Basswood, Wood Vaneer, Acetate Heavy Chipboard and more.
After you get these basics now it’s time to get some great materials to get your crafter jump started right away in creating amazing projects! First lets look at Cricut’s bundles, kits and specialty tools.
Cricut Bundles, Kits and Tools
In addition to those Cricut Essentials ( Your Machine, Cricut Access, The Essential Tool Kit and extra Mats) now it is time to look at getting some other great tools and materials.
Cricut EasyPress Mini™, Raspberry + Starter Iron-On Bundle
This Easypress Starter Bundle gives you a great selection of popular Cricut Iron-on as well as the weeding tool kit to get you started with making some fun projects. The EasyPress Mini is great for smaller projects like hats, Earrings, Socks, Shoes and small custom details on clothes!
Cricut EasyPress™ 2, Raspberry - 9" x 9" + Everything Iron-On Bundle
This 9x9 Easypress Bundle comes with everything you need to get started making custom shirts. It comes with the 9x9 Easypress, Easypress Mat, Carrying tote, an assortment of Cricut Iron-on, the essential tool kit and weeding tool kit. This mid-sized Easypress is perfect for various sized shirts and bags.
Applicator and Remover Set
This set is essential if you get the maker and intend to use specialty materials (like fabric, felt, crepe paper, wood etc) The brayer helps you get a more secure grip of the material on the Cricut mat and the broad tipped tweezers are great for removing those specialty materials.
Precision Cutting Bundle, Blue
Cricut's Healing Mat, Precision Ruler, and True Control Blade are great supplemental tools that Cricut offers. I use mine all the time for projects.
Cricut BrightPad™, Rose
Cricut's Brightpad I large, lightweight, durable and comes with different light settings. This beauty is great for weeding those fine designs and my kids love to use it for tracing/drawing. It's the best Lightpad I have ever used and I find myself using it all the time.
Sewing Kit
If you get the Cricut Maker and are planning on using it to do a bunch of sewing projects I recommend this great Cricut Sewing Kit. It comes with 8" Fabric Shears,, Thread Snips, Seam Ripper, Pin Cushion and Pins, Measuring Tape, and Leather thimble.
Lastly, I recomend checking out Cricut’s Amazing Materials offered. Here are some of my favorite:
Top Cricut Materials
Cricut has an amazing selection of materials available for their crafters and they are coming out with more all the time.
Infusible InkMaterials
Infusible Ink is a heat-activated ink that sinks into your material for a permanent design. Cricut has a bunch of gorgeous Infusible Ink sheet designs (that you cut like Iron-on), pens and blanks available to make amazing custom shirts, bags, and coasters.
Cricut Iron-On Vinyl
Iron-on can be cut with both the Explore Air 2 and Maker. Cricut has an amazing selection of Iron-on Vinyl available. Traditionally you use Iron-on for custom clothes and accessories. However, I love using Iron-on with my paper crafting for a fancy embossed look. You can also use Iron-on with other materials like wood and glass.
My favorite Iron-on's that I use all the time are the Everyday, Glitter & Foil Iron-on.
Cricut Faux Leather
Faux Leather can be cut with both the Cricut Explore Air 2 & Maker with the fine point blade. It is great for Custom accessories like earrings, bracelets, and headbands. I have also used it to make custom covers for notebooks. Cricut has both suede and pebble finished faux leather.
Cricut Vinyl
Vinyl can be cut with both the Explore Air 2 and Maker. You can customize soo many projects with Vinyl. Like with their Iron-on Cricut has a great selection of Vinyls available (both permanent and removable). Vinyl is great for making signs, labels, decals and more. Cricut even has sampler packs where you can get multiple colors at once.
Cricut Paper Products
Paper crafters will love the variety of paper products Cricut offers. From Cardstock to Posterboard, Shimmer Paper, Corrugated Cardboard, Kraft Board, Foil Paper, and even Scrapbook Paper.
Cricut Premium Fabric
You can cut all different kinds of fabric with the Cricut Maker to sew to make clothes, dolls, bags, quilts and more. Cricut has a selection of beautiful premium fabrics to use with your Maker.
Cricut Crafting Felt
Felt is another specialty material you can cut with your Cricut Maker using the Rotary Blade. Cricut offers sampler packs with various colors of 12x12 crafting felt.
Wood
Wood is something that you can cut with the Cricut Maker using the Cricut Knife Blade. Cricut offers Basswood in 2 sized as well as a selection of wood veneer for your projects.
Seriously, you can’t go wrong with Cricut when it comes to crafting gifts. Any crafter would be over the moon to receive any of these gifts.
If you or your special crafting someone needs inspiration for projects to do after they get their Cricut gifts make sure to check out all the awesome Cricut DIY tutorials and free SVG cut files on my site –>HERE<–
