Cricut Infusible Ink: What You Need to Get Started

Share the love!

Ready to try Cricut Infusible Ink? Here’s what you need to buy to get started making great Cricut Infusible Ink projects!

Cricut Infusible Ink is a fun new product that gives us commercial-grade, permanent heat-transfer effects with vibrant color that is peel-proof, flake-proof, and wash-proof. The new heat transfer product is exclusively available only at Michaels Online now and will be at Michaels stores starting Friday, June 21, 2019. Starting October 1, 2019 all products will be available at other retailers and on Cricut.com.

Go Shopping for Cricut Infusible Ink at Michaels Online Now!

Tip: Michaels has a coupon for free shipping on order over $49 here: Free Shipping $49+

Curious what Cricut Infusible Inks are and what they can do? This video tells you all about Cricut Infusible Inks and how this cool technology works:

This morning someone asked “What should I buy to get started with Cricut Infusible Ink?” and I created this post to help you figure that out!

So let me tell you what you need to buy (or have on hand) to make some awesome Cricut Infusible Ink projects! This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)! Read my full disclosure policy.

Here’s are the basics you’ll need for Cricut Infusible Ink projects — this is a quick shopping list of items. Details on each item are below it!

What You Need to Buy to Get Started Making Cricut Infusible Ink Projects

Now the details…

Cricut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets

If you want to put big bold designs on things, you’re going to want to use the Infusible Ink transfer sheets — this is the main way to get the inks onto your projects. The Infusible Ink transfer sheets are 12″ x 12″ papers on plastic carrier sheets that you can cut on your Cricut then apply onto your projects. The sheets come in a LOT of different colors and patterns. I just counted up how many colors and patterns are available today (release day at Michaels Online) and I count over 50 different transfer sheets, as follows:

Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets in Solid colors (19 and counting):

• Black (available on its own and also in the Black Botanicals pack, Shaylee pack, Buffalo Check pack, and Western Sweetheart pack)
• True Blue
• Cherry Red (available on its own and also in the Shaylee pack)
• Red (in the Triangle Brights pack)
• Rose Pink
• Yellow (in the Jungle Safari pack and the Wildflower pack)
• Bright Green
• Green (in the Jungle Safari pack)
• Palm Green (in the Tropical Palm pack)
• Dark Gold (in the Leopard and Animal packs)
• Light Gold (in the Animal pack)
• Warm Grey
• Black
• Ultraviolet (purple)
• Purple (in the Animal Brights pack, looks to be slightly darker than Ultraviolet)
• Aqua (in the Mermaid Rainbow pack)
• Turquoise (in the Animal Brights pack)
• Dark red (in the Cabbage Rose pack)
• Navy blue (in the Wildflower pack and the Tropical Florals pack)

Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets in Patterns (35 and counting):

• Black Botanicals (a black and white floral pattern — I think you could color the flowers in with the Infusible Ink markers!)
• Watercolor splash (a multi-color pastel)
• Rocks (a photographic-quality sheet of river rocks) [River’s Edge pack]
• Brown pattern (this looks like soil or leather to me) [River’s Edge pack]
• Bugs (super cute!) [Jungle Safari pack]
• Green camo (it could also be foliage) [Jungle Safari pack]
• Pink watercolor [Jungle Safari pack]
• Leopard print (gold and black) [in the Leopard pack]
• Tiger print (gold and black) [in the Animal pack]
• Cheetah print (gold and black) [in the Animal pack]
• Cheetah multicolor [blue, aqua, pink, purple) [Animal Brights pack]
• Leopard multicolor (blue, green, yellow, black) [Animal Brights pack]
• Kaleidoscope colors [in the Triangle Brights pack]
• Brushed gray/metal [in the Carbon Fiber pack]
• Black and gray diagonal stripes [in the Carbon Fiber pack]
• Palm leaves and ferns [Tropical Palm pack]
• Tropical flowers (in blues and reds) [Tropical Floral pack]
• Tiny flowers in yellow (red and blue flowers on a yellow background) [Wildflower pack]
• Tiny flowers in pink (dark pink on a medium pink background) [Wildflower pack]
• Bright flowers on black (whimsical flors and leaves) [Shaylee pack]
• Pink cabbage roses (on a greenish blue background of leaves) [Cabbage Rose pack]
• Grey tire treads [Steel Plate pack]
• Black patterns [Steel Plate pack]
• Red pattern [Steel Plate pack and Western Sweetheart pack]
• Gray pattern [Steel Plate pack]
• Buffalo check (red and black) [Buffalo Check pack]
• Blue jeans [Western Sweetheart pack]
• Red bandana [Western Sweetheart pack]
• Turquoise pattern [Rainbow pack]
• Rainbow [Rainbow pack]
• Rainbow flowers [Shaylee pack]
• Pastel rainbow [Mermaid pack]
• Pastel rainbow scales [Mermaid pack]
• Pastel rainbow stripes [Mermaid pack]
• Green pattern [Mermaid pack]

Cricut Infusible Ink Pens and/or Markers

If you want to do any drawing or coloring with Infusible Inks, you’ll want to get the pens (fine tip) or markers (broad tip). The pens and markers currently come in these colors:

• Neon (bright yellow, bright green, orange, pink, bright blue)
• Basics (black, brown, pink, purple, green)

A Cricut EasyPress or Heat Press

A Cricut EasyPress 2, which goes as high as 400°F or a heat press that gets as hot are your first choices. A first-generation Cricut EasyPress is also an option, though you’ll need to press for a much longer time than the EasyPress 2, the colors may not be as vibrant, it won’t work with ceramic coasters.

Alas, household irons do not get hot enough for Cricut Infusible Ink, which needs at least 390°-400°F (205°C). Irons also do not have a large enough heated surface to cover most T-shirt designs (and if you press in more than one pass, you may get bad results).

Check out the Cricut Heat Guide for more specific details!

Here are the results of MY test with the Cricut EasyPress 2 (left) and Original EasyPress (right):

EasyPress Mat

Cricut recommends that you use the EasyPress Mat because it helps eliminate moisture and directs heat to your Infusible Ink design during the transfer process. For standard heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) projects, afolded towel works fine, but it just does not provide the required surface for a successful Infusible Ink transfer. Besides, the mats are really good and great for BOTH kinds of heat transfer products.

A Cricut Infusible Ink-compatible blank (shirt, bag, coaster, etc.)

Cricut guarantees that their Infusible Ink sheets and markers work on their own blanks. Here’s what they currently have for sale:

• Women’s V-Neck Shirt (sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL)
• Men’s Crew Neck Shirt (sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL)
• Youth Crew Neck Shirt (sizes S, M, L)
• Baby Bodysuit (0-3 mos, 3-6 mos, and 6-9 mos)
• Tote bag with black handle
• Round Coasters (4)
• Square Coasters (4)

Cricut Cutting Mats

Use a green StandardGrip for the transfer sheets and a blue LightGrip for the copy paper you draw your Infusible Ink pens and markers on!

White Butcher Paper

Sheets of butcher paper come in the Infusible Ink transfer sheet packs, but you can also get a roll of Butcher paper just to have on hand.

White Cardstock

You’ll want white cardstock in 80 lb. weight to protect your pressing mat from the inks. If you don’t have this, you can use four layers of butcher paper instead.

White Laser Copy Paper

This is for the Infusible Ink pens and markers!

Heat Resistant Tape

You’ll need this if to keep your Infusible Ink designs on the coasters when you press them!

Lint Roller

Use a lint roller to clean the shirts and tote bag before you apply the Infusible Ink.

Lint-Free Cloth

Use a lint-free cloth to clean the coasters before you apply Infusible Ink — a lens cloth works great here!

Tools

Tweezers, weeding tools, scissors, and a craft knife come in handy as well! The tweezers help you lift the corner of the paper to avoid ghosting on your material.

Want more help using Infusible Ink? Sign up here!

If you have more questions, please ask it in my Facebook group or email me at [email protected].

Love,

Want to remember this? Save the Cricut Infusible Ink Supplies Guide to your favorite Pinterest board!