This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click a link and purchase an item that I recommend, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.
If you’re a beginner with your Cricut or if you’re thinking about buying a Cricut here are some Cricut Must Haves For Beginners. At the end of this post I also outline the Cricut must haves for 7 types of Cricut projects.
You can also watch my video on the Cricut must have accessories below.
Jump to Sections in this Post
Tool Set
A basic Cricut tool set is an absolute Cricut Must Haves For Beginners and seasoned Cricut users. The Cricut tool set comes with scissors, tweezers, a scraper, weeder, spatula, and blade cover.
Why You Need the Basic Toolset:
These tools are essential for crafting with your Cricut.
Blanks
If you don’t have any blanks, then you can’t do much with your Criuct. I created a post on Where To Buy The Best Blanks For Cricut Projects. Amazon is one of my favorite places to buy blanks for my crafting projects.
Why You Need Blanks:
You will need blanks such as shirts, glassware, wood signs, etc. to make your Cricut projects.
Scoring Wheel/Stylus
If you have a Cricut Explore Air 2 like myself, you need a Cricut scoring stylus, but if you have a Cricut Maker you will need a scoring wheel. Both scoring tools allow you to create deep score lines for perfect folds.
Why You Need a Scoring Stylus/Wheel:
For a Cricut beginner you can use your scoring tool to create greeting cards, gift boxes, 3D home decor, birthday cards, pillow boxes and so much more.
Extra mats
Why You Need Cricut mats:
When I bought my Cricut machine it came with a mat, but after much crafting, the mat became less sticky. As a Cricut beginner your one mat will do you justice for a little while, but as you ramp up your crafting you’ll want to buy some extra Cricut mats or buy some adhesive spray for your Cricut mats to make them sticky again.
Amazon always has a great deal of 3 12×12 Cricut mats for $15.
Easy Press or heat press
As a Cricut beginner you will likely want to try your hand at creating tshirts, tea towels, makeup bags and more. With the Cricut Easy Press you can make all of those things. The Easy Press comes in 3 different sizes a 6×7, 9×9, and 12×10.
Why You Need a Cricut EasyPress machine:
Using an iron can get the job done, but you likely aren’t applying enough pressure, distributing the heat evenly or pressing down for a long enough time. All of that hassle is reduced with an Easy Press machine.
A heat press is similar to an easy press and can be used to make tshirts and more.
Watch this video on my Cricut EasyPress 2 review.
Easy press mat
You can also buy an Easy Press mat to go with your Easy Press machine.
Why You Need a Cricut EasyPress mat:
The Cricut EasyPress mat gets rid of any moisture/steam and wrinkles in your material, prevents you from messing up your HTV, and lets you create the perfect press every time.
Bright pad
The Cricut bright pad assists you with weeding tedious projects. If you’re a Cricut beginner and don’t know what weeding is, it’s the process of removing scrap vinyl from your design with your Cricut weeding tool.
With the bright pad, you lay your vinyl on the pad so that you can easily see the pieces you need to weed from your vinyl.
Why You Need a Cricut Bright Pad:
You need the Cricut Bright pad if you find it hard to see tiny pieces of adhesive vinyl or heat transfer vinyl.
Carrying case
If you travel often and want to take your crafts on the road with you, you should invest in a Cricut carrying case. This bag has extra padding so you won’t scratch or damage your machine and also has storage pockets for your vinyl and Cricut tools.
This carrying case can fit any Cricut or Silhouette machine.
Why You Need a Cricut Carrying Case:
You need a Cricut carrying case if you want to protect your machine while you’re traveling.
Transfer tape
Transfer tape is a must when using your Cricut. There are many brands of transfer tape and many opinions on which is the best. My personal favorite is JH Best Crafts transfer tape and I like the Cricut brand of transfer tape also.
Transfer tape is very important when applying your vinyl to whatever surface that you are crafting on.
Why You Need Transfer Tape:
You need transfer tape if you’re planning to use adhesive vinyl to make tumblers, wall decals, car decals, wood signs, laptop decals, etc.
Cricut pens
I love that the Cricut machine can write because my handwriting isn’t the best. You can buy a variety pack of Cricut pens to create coloring pages, address envelopes, and so much more.
Note: There are certain fonts that you can use in Cricut to write letters that aren’t bubble letters. You can also download fonts from Dafont.com.
I hope you enjoyed this post on essential tools for Cricut beginners. Comment below and tell me what your Cricut must-have tools are.
Why You Need a Cricut Pens:
You need Cricut pens if you plan to write or draw with your Cricut machine.
Cricut Machines
- Cricut Joy: https://cricut.pxf.io/oqGD1o or https://amzn.to/3slWNCh
- Cricut Joy Xtra: https://cricut.pxf.io/JzjXG2 or https://amzn.to/3SDjWuz
- Cricut Explore Air 2: https://cricut.pxf.io/oe9NyE or https://amzn.to/3QQsNYt
- Cricut Explore 3: https://cricut.pxf.io/BXM52W or https://amzn.to/3suIWJP
- Cricut Maker 3: https://cricut.pxf.io/kjYL5V or https://amzn.to/3ME1TAt
- Cricut Venture: https://cricut.pxf.io/5gqEVo or https://amzn.to/478Okl0
For Most Projects
- Cricut basic toolset: https://amzn.to/3BEUREZ
- Tweexy: https://amzn.to/3sZ1U7p
- Transfer tape: https://shrsl.com/3e8oj
- Cutting mats: https://amzn.to/3BEV3UJ
HTV Projects
- Heat transfer vinyl: https://amzn.to/3uXRTvT
- Cricut EasyPress 2: https://amzn.to/47O7xZz
- Heat press: https://amzn.to/3M19bg3
- Teflon sheet: https://amzn.to/3h5E7gS
- Tshirt ruler: https://amzn.to/46eNtxV
- Dark printable heat transfer paper: https://amzn.to/49tbnsl
Wood Projects
- Wood stain: https://amzn.to/34XpQQD
- Wood paint: https://amzn.to/36nXaRb
- Stain brush or paintbrush: https://amzn.to/3JZNdrZ
- Adhesive vinyl: https://shrsl.com/3e8ol
- Transfer tape: https://shrsl.com/3e8oj
Drinkware
- Adhesive vinyl: https://shrsl.com/3e8ol
- Transfer tape: https://shrsl.com/3e8oj
Cupcake/Cake Toppers
- Cardstock: https://amzn.to/3p0Ijm7
- Toothpicks or bamboo skewers: https://amzn.to/3LMxoq5
- Double-sided foam tape: https://amzn.to/3h3olDe
- Double-side tape: https://amzn.to/35abtZ8
- Hot glue gun: https://amzn.to/3HbNoOS
- Mod podge: https://amzn.to/3sWzP0H
- Acrylic paint: https://amzn.to/36nXaRb
- Gold flakes: https://amzn.to/3sXCGq1
Paper Crafts
- Cardstock: https://amzn.to/3p0Ijm7
- Double-sided foam tape: https://amzn.to/3h3olDe
- Double-side tape: https://amzn.to/35abtZ8
- Hot glue gun: https://amzn.to/3HbNoOS
- Bearly Art glue: https://amzn.to/3IbNwPC
- Quill: https://amzn.to/3v68Ouk
Stickers
- Glossy sticker paper: https://amzn.to/3RXmTFY
- Matte sticker paper: https://amzn.to/3PTGzI7
- Waterproof glossy sticker paper: https://amzn.to/3FdGU3l
- Waterproof matte sticker paper: https://amzn.to/3rLXSD3
- Printer: https://amzn.to/3JOg969
