Brush Stroke Print & Cut Mug

September 18, 2022 by Paula W

This brush stroke print & cut mug is super cute and colorful! We’ll show you just how easy it is to make this. It makes a fantastic gift.

Brush Stroke Print & Cut Mug

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Cut Files Used:

Brush Strokes
Happy/Sad – You Decide

Supply Links:

Step-by-step Instructions:

Using basic shapes, insert an 8.75×3.8” white rectangle
Import brush strokes cut file, duplicate, and place both on top of the white rectangle
Ungroup cut file and change colors to the desired color palette
Import the “you decide” cut file. Change colors to the desired color. Duplicate and place one graphic on the left side of the mug template and the other on the right side of the template
Select all the layers and flatten
Print image using sublimation printer and sublimation paper
Cut out using Cricut
Place cut sublimation on mug and tape down using heat-resistant tape
Place mug in the mug press
Once finished, carefully remove the mug and set it on heat resistant surface (like an easy press mat)
Once completely cool, remove tape and sublimation paper

Infusible Ink Mug

September 15, 2022 by Paula W

Check out this adorable Infusible Ink mug that we made. Want to learn how to make one too? Keep reading.

Infusible Ink Mug

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Cut File Used:

I Heart Coffee: https://makersgonnalearn.com/cut_files/i-heart-coffee-3/

Supply Links:

Step-by-step Instructions:

Import cut file, size to fit your mug.
Press “Make it”.
Mirror your image!
Select infusible ink sheet material setting.
Place infusible ink on the top left of the standard grip mat. Using a brayer, smooth infusible ink to mat.
Load the mat in the machine and allow your Cricut to cut it out.
Once cut is complete, unload the mat, cut off the excess, and weed the infusible ink.
Clean the mug and apply the infusible ink where you want it to go and use heat-resistant tape all around the image tightly.
Place the mug in the preheated mug press and allow to heat.
Carefully remove the mug and allow it to cool completely on an EasyPress Mat.
Then carefully remove the heat-resistant tape and infusible ink sheet.

Layer Infusible Ink in the Mug Press

September 2, 2021 by Paula W

One of the most common questions we’ve gotten since the Cricut Mug Press was released is, “Can you layer Infusible Ink in the Mug Press?” Well, today we are going to answer that question for you with our Infusible Ink tutorial.

Both Infusible Ink and the Mug Press have added such amazing new dimensions to our Cricut crafts. You can create so many beautiful designs with these products and techniques and we can’t wait to share our craft projects ideas with you.

How to Layer Infusible Ink in the Mug Press

We will share all of our Cricut Infusible Ink and Mug Press tips and tricks with you so that you can try layering Infusible Ink too. There are some important things to bear in mind to get the best possible results.

PS – We’re also testing out some off brand infusible ink sheets here. Check it out!

Materials used:

Working in Cricut Design Space

Layering Infusible Ink On A Mug Design In Design Space

For this particular mug, we used our Makers Gonna Learn Mermaid Hair Cut File. In addition, we’re using the Mug Press Template. We cut the Mermaid Hair cut file from black Cricut Infusible Ink and the Mug Press Template from a colorful piece of knock off ink.

Be sure to check out our full mug cut file collection here.

We wanted to manipulate the mermaid file first though to make it fit better on the mug. Begin by selecting the design and Ungroup. Next, grab a square from Shapes and cover the word “hair”.

Select both the word “hair” and the square and Slice. Discard the slice results. Now, you can move mermaid and hair independently of each other.

This allowed us to stack the words with the mermaid which we think works much better on a mug. Once you’ve done this, select all 3 parts of the design. Choose Align, Center Horizontally. Then, select Weld to hold your design together.

Size to fit the mug wrap. Right click the design to duplicate it so you can have a design on each side of mug.

Important tips for layering Infusible Ink

When layering you want to cut out the darkest layer first. It will get applied to the mug first and then the lighter design goes on top. If you do the reverse, it will remove some of the lighter design when you apply the darker one.

See photo above for the difference. On the left, we put the darkest layer on the mug first. On the right, we applied the lightest layer first. The adhesive from the transfer removed some of the color.

Black will not be changed by the color added over it. Other colors might be – you’ll have to experiment if you don’t want to use black.

Applying the design to the mug

Click Make It. Choose Infusible Ink for the material setting.

Apply your designs to the mug. Be sure to smooth out any air bubbles. Use heat-resistant tape to hold it in place if needed.

cricut mug press with mug in it and paddle down

Place the mug into the preheated Cricut Mug Press and heat it.

Let The Mug Cool And Peel Off The Transfer Tape

Mug After Backing Is Removed From Infusible Ink

Let the mug cool down and then peel off the Infusible Ink backing.

We like to place the mat on the table with the handle facing towards us. Put the wrap down so that it is flat on the table and wrap it around the mug towards you. This helps to get it on evenly.

Make sure one side is adhered. Then, we like to pull the second side around so we can get it nice and tight around the mug. Apply heat resistant tape all around the top and bottom of the design on the mug to hold the wrap in place securely.

Make Sure The Handle Of The Mug Is Centered So That Both Ends Of The Mug Wrap Are Completely Covered By The Press

Place it in the mug press again, making sure that the handle is centered so that both ends of the mug wrap are completely covered by the press so it all heats and transfers properly.

Finished Mug On The Left And Unused Infusible Ink On The Right

You can see the finished mug on the left and what the off-brand Infusible Ink looked like before it was applied. As you can see, there’s quite a difference, with the heat really bringing out the intensity of colors.

As you can see, the colored Infusible Ink goes over the plain black ink beautifully, given you these gorgeous results. If you make one of these layered mugs, be sure to tag us with #MakersGonnaLearn on social media so we can see your projects!

Cricut Mug Press Hacks

August 20, 2021 by Paula W

If you have a Cricut Mug Press or are thinking about getting one, you’re going to love these simple Cricut Mug Press hacks. You’re going to be wishing you knew about these sooner. But don’t worry! It’s not too late.

These Cricut hacks will transform the way you think about the Cricut Mug Press. We want all of the Cricut beginners out there to become confident and well-rounded crafters. These tips will take your mug press game to the next level!

Cricut Mug Press Hacks

We have been making so many fun craft projects with our Cricut Mug Press. We can’t wait to show you all of the tips and tricks we have learned.

Supplies we use to create Cricut Mug Press projects:

Cricut Mug Press Infusible Ink vs. Cricut Joy Infusible Ink

You can buy boxes of Infusible Ink for the Cricut Mug Press as well as for the Cricut Joy. Each one has the same amount of Infusible Ink in the box: two sheets, each 4.5 x 12 inches.

The Cricut Joy Infusible Ink is currently priced at $7.99 and the Cricut Mug Press Infusible Ink is $6.99. The only difference between these two, besides the price, is that the one for the Cricut Joy includes two pieces of butcher paper and a small cloth.

Use Cotton Gloves When Handling Infusible Ink

Wear gloves when handling Infusible Ink

You want to handle Infusible Ink as little as possible. The ink can come off on your hands, damaging the Infusible Ink and ruining your results. This is especially true for those of you with clammy hands.

Plain cotton gloves can be really helpful in avoiding these issues.

Use A Brayer To Smooth Out The Infusible Ink

Use a brayer to smooth out Infusible Ink

Along with the gloves, a brayer can be really helpful in smoothing out your Infusible Ink sheets onto your mat. Touching only the ends, place your Infusible Ink down on the mat. Run the brayer over it to smooth it out and adhere it to the mat.

Pro tip: A scraper/burnishing tool is too harsh for Infusible Ink. It can damage the ink.

Weeding Infusible Ink

As with vinyl, we like to weed Infusible Ink on the cutting mat. To minimize touching the mat and the ink, simply turn the mat around so the Infusible Ink is closest to you.

Unfortunately, there may still be a few areas that are difficult to reach. To weed it properly, you would have to lay your hand on the Infusible Ink. To avoid this, lay down the little cotton cloth that comes with the Infusible Ink (or something similar) and lay your hand on top of that.

Place your hand inside the mug to clean it.

It’s important to clean the mug really well before you apply Infusible Ink to it. To do this, we like to place our hand inside the mug to hold it. This allows us to hold the mug securely while cleaning without touching it on the outside.

To Place The Ink On The Mug Place It Handle Facing You

Placing the ink on mug.

When placing the Infusible Ink on the mug, we find it works the best by placing the mug upside down on a sturdy surface with the handle facing you. This way you can wrap the ink around the mug, placing it flush against the tabletop.

We find this technique makes it so much easier to line up the sheet of ink perfectly and center it. Be sure to wrap it really snugly around the mug. You want it to be really tight against the mug.

We recommend using heat-resistant tape.

We highly recommend using heat-resistant tape with your Cricut mug projects. You need to tape down every part of the ink that your Mug Press won’t be able to grab hold of easily.

For example, many mugs have rounded edges that can create a gap when being heated in the mug press. Taping around those edges can ensure that you end up with a good, successful project.

We like to begin by adding the tape to the side opposite the handle first. Place it on the ink sheet first and then, fold over and press down to the bottom of the mug, working from the edge towards the middle to eliminate any air bubbles.

Pro tip: Pre-cut your tape into little pieces or use a tape dispenser to make it quicker and easier to apply.

Using A Skinny Tumbler In A Cricut Mug Press

Using a skinny tumbler in a mug press

You might be thinking that you cannot use one of those tall, skinny sublimation tumblers in your mug press. After all, if you put it in the machine and close the clamps, there will still be a gap.

Grab a piece of cardboard to wrap around the tumbler. This will help add some thickness to the tumbler so that when you close the Cricut Mug Press, the clamps will tighten around it.

In addition, you can flip the tumbler upside down to ensure that you are heating both ends of the tumbler. What about where the opening for the mug handle is? Simply turn the tumbler around.

The key here is to ensure that every single part of the tumbler has been heated in the mug press.

If you’d like to see a step-by-step tutorial on how to make a tumbler that is skinnier and longer than the size of your mug press, we have one available as a Members Only video over in our private Facebook group.

Cricut Must Haves 2021

June 18, 2021 by Paula W

If you have been following us for a while, you will recognize that these are some of our tried-and-true favorite craft products that we use all the time in our professional craft studio. However, what you might not know is that we continually try out new products, putting them to the test to see if any of them stand up to our all-time favorites. These are our Cricut Must Haves for 2021 – old favorites and a few new discoveries!

One of the more recent Cricut products to release was the Cricut Mug Press. We’re still testing it out and sharing our results here and on Youtube. We can’t wait to learn more about it and teach you our tips and tricks for using the Cricut Mug Press.

Cricut Must Haves 2021

Cricut Maker

We love all of our Cricut machines, but we definitely think that the Cricut Maker is a must-have item for our craft studio. When it comes to die-cutting, there is nothing it can’t cut. The Cricut Maker is the top-of-the-line machine for the Cricut brand and it gets a lot of use in the MGL studio.

If you’re trying to choose which Cricut die-cutting machine to buy, we’ve broken down the pros and cons for each machine, but if you want the one that does it all, that’s definitely the Cricut Maker.

cricut maker with mat, lynn lilly hot glue gun, cricut easypress mini

Nicapa Cutting Mats

Recently, we put a few different brands of cutting mats to the test. When it comes to an overall standard grip mat, we are really pleased with the Nicapa cutting mat.

It works really well for us and is more affordable than the Cricut StandardGrip cutting mat. We use standard grip mats more often for our craft projects than any other kind. As they get a bit older and “broken in”, we mark them as “LightGrip” and use them in place of buying the specific Cricut brand LightGrip mats.

Cricut Tool Caddy

The Cricut Tool Caddy is so handy for keeping our blades and tools organized and safe. They’re all in one spot and easy to find!

Scotch ATG Gun

We’ve had one of these Scotch ATG guns in the MGL headquarters for over 10 years now (since before the MGL HQ even existed!). ATG stands for Advance Tape Glider. It is perfect for card-making, paper crafts, and anything along those lines.

This adhesive applicator is easy to use, economical, and each roll lasts a long time.

It’s a dry adhesive so there’s no dry time. It’s instantly sticky! If you apply it to cardstock and oops, you put it in the wrong place, it’s easy to rub off without ruining your project. Yet, it holds your projects really well.

Many people are intimidated by refilling the ATG gun but just check out our helpful video and we’ll show you how easy it is.

Bone Folder

A bone folder helps create really crisp lines when making folded projects like greeting cards. If you are a card maker, you need this tool! You can use an old gift card in a pinch, but this works even better and they’re very inexpensive.

Scoring Stylus

Here’s another essential tool for all of the paper crafters and card makers out there. The scoring stylus can be used in either the Cricut Maker or the Cricut Explore Air. The Scoring Stylus goes into Clamp A, meaning that unlike the Scoring Wheel for the Cricut Maker (which goes into Clamp B), we don’t have to stop partway through the project and switch it out for our fine point blade.

Cricut TrueControl Knife

The Cricut TrueControl Knife is one of our all-time favorite tools. We love that it has this really great ergonomic handle that makes it so easy to use. It is also designed not to roll off your work table, making it much safer than many other craft knives.

One of our favorite features is the touchless blade changing, another great safety feature. Finally, it is super sharp and works really well! You can keep the housing forever and just change out the knife blade as needed (which isn’t very often – they last for a really long time!).

Pin Pen Tool

The Pin Pen tool comes from 143Vinyl. It’s a weeding tool with a bit of a difference. It looks like a regular pen but when you click it, it has a little needle in place of the pen tip.

This is perfect for weeding tiny parts of your design, like the insides of letters in your text. Think about how handy this would be for an intricate design like a mandala.

Our Favorite Weeding Tool

We found this off-brand weeding tool on Amazon and it has quickly become a favorite in our studio. This is great for the bigger pieces and outer edges of your project.

This is similar to the ones you can buy from Cricut, but we find these are a bit sharper and more durable, whereas the Cricut ones tend to bend over time.

scraper tool from 143vinyl, cricut true control knife, offbrand weeding tool, measuring tape

Our Favorite Burnishing Tool

This is a simple scraper tool (squeegee) from 143Vinyl. It’s so inexpensive but it’s the best tool we’ve ever found for burnishing our Cricut craft projects.

Cricut also makes a scraper tool, but this one is less expensive and we find it lasts longer. It has a little more flexibility to it than the Cricut one and that little bit of give helps us burnish our projects without damaging them.

Because the Cricut tool is so stiff, it has a tendency to break off at the corners and then can tear the vinyl as you burnish it.

Measuring Tape

People sometimes scoff at this suggestion, but we find that a good measuring tape is essential! Our motto is always measure twice (or three times!) and cut once.

Many times when we have had a craft fail in the past, it’s because we didn’t take the time to measure and verify those measurements. So, we ended up cutting out a design that didn’t fit on our blank. Or that was too small to look good on the shirt we were making. This wastes time, energy, and materials!

We prefer a measuring tape over a ruler because it can wrap around items like tumblers and mugs as well as measure straight flat surfaces like picture frames.

Cricut EasyPress Mini

We’ve talked about all of the various models before and how to choose which EasyPress is the best for you. If you’ve watched many of our videos, you will see us singing the praises of the Cricut Mini EasyPress over and over again though.

If you can only get one, the Mini EasyPress is the one we consider our all-purpose heat press because it works for the majority of what we make. It is really affordable and so versatile. We love the control we can get with it and we get amazing results every time.

This is probably the #1 must-have item we would suggest out of all of these!

PS – recently we tested the Cricut EasyPress Mini vs. the Dododum Mini Heatpress. Be sure to check out the results!

Lynn Lilly Hot Glue Gun

The Lynn Lilly hot glue gun from Surebonder is our go-to glue gun! You can use it wirelessly for up to 2 minutes or attach the cord directly to it and use it like a standard glue gun.

We love the precision tip on it! It helps us get into those small spaces without leaving behind giant globs of glue. It takes the mini hot glue gun sticks but it’s just a bit bigger than a typical mini glue gun making it quite comfortable to work with.

Our Favorite Craft Sealants

We have a few different craft sealants that we like to use depending on the type of project we’re making.

Minwax Polycrylic – If you use a soft brush, this leaves behind very few brush strokes and gives great protection to your Cricut projects.

Dishwasher Mod Podge – This is an amazing way to make your project dishwasher safe. The only drawback to it is that it requires a cure time of 28 days, but after that it is food safe and dishwasher safe.

Minwax Fast Drying Spray Polyurethane – This is so handy since it simply sprays on. Be sure to use in a well-ventilated area.

You can find out more guidance on which sealer to choose here.

Alcohol Pump Bottle

These little alcohol pump bottles are so handy! We find them at the dollar store or Amazon. Simply press your paper towel on it 1-2 times and then you can use it to clean your non-porous surfaces before applying vinyl to them for a much better adhesion.

Masking Paper Transfer Tape

You will save a ton of money using this masking paper transfer tape. It works well for most projects because while sticky, it’s not overly sticky giving it just the right amount of adhesive to transfer your vinyl designs without damaging them.

rolls of vinyl for die cutting in storage rack

Starcraft Vinyl

We love Starcraft vinyl. It’s a premium vinyl that performs really well time after time. They have a wide selection of colors available and we get great results from this product. It makes all the difference in crafting more easily and in the durability of our finished projects.

Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl

For HTV, Siser EasyWeed is still our favorite. Again, it’s easy to use and holds up really well on finished projects. We can teach you more about the different kinds of vinyl and when to use them. Once you find the right vinyl, it’s going to make your crafting so much easier and more successful!

Wondering about the best blanks to use with your Cricut projects? We’ve got you covered there too!

What are your Cricut must-haves? Tag us on social media with hashtag #MakersGonnaLearn and let us know. We’d love to try them!

Top 10 Cricut Products

May 31, 2021 by Paula W

Today, we’re sharing our Top 10 Cricut Products – ranked from worst to best. We’ll be showing you some of the products from the Cricut brand that we aren’t fans of as well as those that we absolutely cannot live without. Before you buy anything else for your die-cutting crafting, you’re going to want to check this out.

We aren’t including the Cricut machines in this product breakdown. If you want to learn more about the different Cricut machines, check out this post: Which Cricut should I buy?

Top 10 Cricut Products

We love Cricut. Our Cricut machines are our favorites, and in our opinion, they are the best die-cutting machines out there. Cricut also has other products – tools and accessories – that we love and use on a regular basis. Unfortunately, they have a few that we think need improvement and we think it’s important to share those with you as well so you can make an informed purchase.

Please note: these are our opinions. If you have found that some of the ones we mention as being “fails” for us work well for you, that’s great! We just like to let others know our experience so they can see any pros and cons before they buy.

Products we talk about in this post:

From Worst to Best Products:

1 – Cricut Brightpad

The Cricut Brightpad is our least favorite of all the products that Cricut has come out with. We have never really found a need to use ours. When we did use it – for testing purposes – we didn’t find it to be that successful or to really make a difference in our crafting success. In addition, we love to weed on the mat. We think it is the best weeding technique there is and that’s just not possible if you’re using a Brightpad.

We do need to make note of the fact that we have studio lights where we are working so that may make a difference for us. We have also heard from some people who have some visual impairments that this product has been essential and such a big help for them. For us though, it actually takes us extra time to use it, rather than saving us time.

2 – Cricut Weeder Tool

This is the tool with the hook on the end of it that you use for weeding. Lots of people use this, but we have found that for the amount of use you get out of it, it’s pretty pricey. Weeding is something you will do a lot when it comes to making die-cutting craft projects, so you want the best tools for it!

We have been hunting for one that works well and is at a better price-point and we have found one we just love! The one we like is an off-brand one on Amazon that tends to be priced a couple of dollars cheaper than the Cricut weeders.

With as much crafting as we do in the Makers Gonna Learn studio, a Cricut weeding tool will only last us about a month. The tip will get bent and sometimes we can straighten it out again and get a little bit more use out of it, but then that’s it. Sometimes the tips will even break off after fixing them a few times.

With the off-brand weeding tool, we have never had this issue. They never bend and last us so much longer. The metal in the tip is so much stronger. Ultimately, they’re a much better deal for your money.

In fact, this company makes a line of tools that you might want to check out. If the weeding tool is any indication, they’re worth trying!

3 – Cricut Glitter Vinyl

We have had a lot of issues with this vinyl. It cuts fine but it is almost impossible to weed and apply. We’re not fond of most Cricut vinyl – there are so many better products out there to use. But the Cricut glitter vinyl is the worst.

We find that to even transfer it over, we have to use the Cricut Strong Grip Transfer Tape and even then, we have to work really carefully to get it to work well. It’s just not worth the effort.

Instead, we prefer to use Starcraft vinyl. It works so well for us and there are so many colors to choose from. Their glitter vinyl is smooth, not textured, making it cut, weed, and apply flawlessly.

4 – Cricut Scraper Tool

We do use a scraper tool every single day for burnishing, but not the Cricut ones. They don’t last very long at all. Because they’re made from such a hard plastic, they chip easily as you use them. Then, they’ll start digging into the vinyl and leaving marks, scratching it, or tearing it.

Our favorite scraper tool is the 4″ squeegee from 143Vinyl. It has more give to it and won’t chip. Some of ours we have had for years and they still work just as they did when we first got them. Because they’re a bit bigger, we find them easier to hold and manipulate too.

5 – Cricut Mug Press

The Cricut Mug Press is a product we really like. Yes, we could live without it, but we have found we really enjoy using it. If you like making good-quality mugs with permanent designs on them, you’re going to love the Cricut Mug Press!

However, you need to know that there are limitations on this machine. The sizes and styles of mugs you can make with it are limited and since it’s a mug press, obviously, you can’t create t-shirts and signs and welcome mats with it. If you aren’t passionate about making mugs, this probably isn’t worth your investment.

6 – Cricut Cutting Mats

We do like the Cricut cutting mats. They have a variety of types and sizes, including a StrongGrip, LightGrip, StandardGrip, and FabricGrip. The mats work well and cover a wide variety of materials that you might be working with.

However, we have found that Nicapa mats are high quality as well and they are much cheaper than the Cricut ones. In fact, we did a comparison of Cricut mats with Nicapa and another off-brand that you might want to check out. The Nicapa ones are only available in StandardGrip but those are the ones we use the most anyway. So, at least you can save money on those.

In addition. once you have broken these mats in and they’ve lost some of their grip, you can certainly use them in place of the LightGrip mats as well.

Pro tip: We always keep the clear sheet that comes on the mat to protect it. So, use a permanent marker and write on that sheet “StandardGrip” or “LightGrip” to keep them straight.

7 – Cricut Printable Vinyl

Cricut Printable Vinyl is a good product. We used it for many years and were very successful with it. It’s a good price too, so we have no complaints there.

However, we prefer Zicoto printable vinyl. While the Cricut kind has a matte finish, Zicoto has a glossy one. This glossy finish seems to take the ink even better than the Cricut brand and our results are always beautiful. An extra perk is that the Zicoto vinyl is already water-resistant.

When we do need a matte printable vinyl, we turn to the Cricut brand because it’s a good solid product. But, we do find that the Zicoto brand printable vinyl is superior and the one we reach for most often. If you use a lot of printable vinyl, you should check it out and see if you’re as much of a fan as we are!

8 – Cricut TrueControl Knife

You might be looking at this Cricut TrueControl Knife and thinking, uh, that’s just an X-acto knife. Well, you’re right. It is a craft knife similar to the X-acto brand, but we prefer this one so much more than any other we have ever tried.

First, it has a cap on it. This helps prevent those accidental nicks and cuts, protecting your hands and anything the knife might come into contact with while being stored. It also helps protect your blade!

It has a textured grip that makes it easy to hold onto more securely and keeps it from slipping around in your hand. It has a locking mechanism on it that allows you to change your blades without even having to touch them (so much safer!).

You only have to buy one and then you can buy refill blades for it. Our blades last about 3 months before we have to change them. It even has a little notch on it so that when you place it down on your work surface, it won’t roll. And, it comes at a really good price that we think is well worth it.

9 – Cricut Kraftboard

We like a good thick, high quality cardstock that can be used both in our Cricut Maker and our Cricut Explore Air 2. The Cricut Kraftboard is perfect for this. We will even use 2-3 layers of this in place of having to use chipboard (so it’s perfect for you Explore Air owners!).

Because it is a bit thicker than standard cardstock, it does take a bit longer to cut, so bear that in mind. We think it’s well worth the time because of the quality of the material. We have yet to find a cardstock that we like as much as this kraftboard.

10 – Cricut EasyPress

We love our EasyPresses. Cricut did a great job of making these with crafters in mind and this is by far, our favorite of their products (besides the cutting machines themselves). We use them all the time even for non-Cricut projects like sewing and quilting.

Our EasyPress Mini is our favorite of all of them because of its versatility. We like the control of it and the results we get with it. Recently, Becca tried out an off-brand mini press that she really liked too. You can see her comparison of the Cricut Mini Easy Press and the Dododum Mini Press here.

If you’d like to see our comparison of all of the Cricut EasyPresses so you can decide which one is best for you, be sure to check out this post: Which EasyPress Should I Buy?

Do you have some Cricut products that you just love? Or maybe some off-brand ones to recommend to us? Let us know and we’ll check them out.

Air Fryer Sublimation

May 25, 2021 by Paula W

The title of this post might have you scratching your head – Air Fryer Sublimation? Yes! After hearing people talking about using their ovens and air fryers for sublimation, we wanted to try it for ourselves. Today, we are sharing our results with you!

We’re going to give you all of our tips and tricks, recommendations, and pros and cons of using an air fryer or a Cricut Mug Press for your sublimation projects. We love using Cricut Infusible Ink and we were very excited to try this out!

For an in-depth look at exactly how to use the Cricut Mug Press, be sure to check out our post and video on that here. – All About Using the Cricut Mug Press

Air Fryer Sublimation

If you are wondering how to sublimate a mug in an air fryer and how it compares to using the Cricut Mug Press, this is the post for you.

Supplies You Might Need:

Fur Mama Cut File
Cricut Mug Press
Air Fryer
Cricut Infusible Ink Mugs ***See more information about mugs below.
Off Brand Mugs
Cricut Infusible Ink Transfers
You can also use Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Transfers
Or Cricut Infusible Ink Transfers For Mug Press
Heat Resistant Tape– we highly recommend using this tape whether you are working with the Cricut Mug Press of the air fryer. You will need much more of the tape with the air fryer than for the mug press.
Lint Roller
Cotton Gloves
Brayer
Cricut EasyPress Mat
Heat-resistant gloves – these are essential if you are using the air fryer. You will during the sublimation process need to flip your mug, so you will need hand protection to do this as it will still be quite hot. We don’t want anyone getting burned! With the mug press, since the handle is always sticking out of the press, it doesn’t usually get that hot and you can easily remove the mug by holding the handle.

Let’s talk first about choosing mugs for your project. If you are using a Cricut Mug Press, it has very specific restrictions on what size mugs you can use. Air fryers, on the other hand, come in a variety of shapes and sizes. So, it’s a matter of trying various mugs to see what will and won’t fit.

Dimensions for mugs to be used in the Cricut Mug Press:

11-16 ounces
Diameter of 3.2-3.4 inches
Maximum height of 4.72 inches

With the air fryer we used, all of these basic mugs that will fit into a mug press, also fit into our air fryer. Just like with the mug press, we could only fit one mug into the air fryer at a time.

comparing air fryer sublimation with cricut mug press

Prepping your mugs:

Whether for the Mug Press or the air fryer, it’s so important to prep your mugs. We always place one of our hands down in the mug to hold it and then, using a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol, we clean it really well. This helps remove any bits of dirt and oils from your fingers (from handling it) and ensures a cleaner infusion of ink onto your surface.

A lint roller is also very helpful for clearing away any bits of debris that may be on your mug. Once cleaned, try not to touch the mug, other than by the handle.

Price Comparison between Air Fryer and Cricut Mug Press:

Remember that these are the current prices at the time we filmed our comparison. Prices may fluctuate without notice. We are only providing them for comparison purposes.

The air fryer that we are using is a Chefman TurboFry 3.6-Quart and it is currently listed on Amazon for $49.99. If you’re looking for an air fryer for this, you need to be sure you get one that is large enough to hold mugs.

The Cricut Mug Press is currently listed on Amazon for a special price of $185 with a regular price of $199.99.

Using the Cricut Mug Press

Begin by preheating your Mug Press. Once you have created your Infusible Ink design, wrapped it around your mug, and applied the heat-resistant tape, you place it in the press with the handle sticking out.

The Mug Press has automatic settings on it. Close the lever and the Cricut Mug Press will sense what type of blank you are using, the room air temperature, and other conditions. Based on those it will heat your mug to the correct temperature and for the correct amount of time.

One thing about this – you won’t know exactly how long it’s going to take before your mug is ready. It could take 3 minutes or 8 minutes. The benefit of this, though, is that the machine takes all the guesswork out of it.

using an air fryer for sublimation on mugs compared to using a cricut mug press

Using the Air Fryer

Prep your mug and add your design in the same way you did for the Mug Press. Heat your air fryer to 375 degrees. We turned the timer way up to 40 minutes. That is much more time than you need but you need to allow time for the machine to heat up.

Please be sure to read the instructions that come with the air fryer that you buy. For the one we’re using, it requires 10-15 minutes to heat up before using. To be sure it is good and preheated, we wait until it gets to the 20 minute mark before using it.

Pull out the tray. Pop the mug into the tray and place it into the machine. Because there isn’t enough space to stand the mug up, you have to lay it down on one side.

So, heat that side for 3 minutes, and then using your heat-resistant glove to protect your hand, pull out the tray again. Flip your mug over to the other side and put it back into the air fryer. Heat for another 3 minutes.

Whichever method you use for heating your mug, Cricut Mug Press or Air Fryer, when you take the mug out of the machine, you need to let it cool. We like to use our EasyPress mat for this. Place the mug on the mat and let it cool for 10-20 minutes. Occasionally, it will take even longer than that so be sure to handle it with care.

Once the mug has cooled down, remove the heat-resistant tape and peel away your design.

Comparing the Mugs

When making mugs using sublimation, you’ll notice that there are two different styles of designs that people use. One is an all-over design that basically wraps the mug in color and adds a design within that color. The other style leaves the majority of the mug the same color it is to begin with, and then adds a design to that.

The Cricut Mug Press works beautifully for either type of design. However, we didn’t have much luck with that all-over design in the air fryer. If you really love the type of design shown on the right, then we can highly recommend the air fryer method to you. It will take a little more tape and you will have to pay a little more attention to it, but it worked really well. At a savings of about $150 over the mug press, it would definitely be our choice.

If, however, you know that you want to be able to make the all-over designs or both kinds of designs, we suggest you go ahead and get the Cricut Mug Press for the best, most consistent results. This is the best choice if you don’t want to be limited. If you want to see all of the mugs we made with the air fryer – brands and styles that we tried – be sure to watch the video below. Mug comparison begins around the 12:53 time mark.

Overall Pros and Cons

Of course, one of the most obvious pros and cons here is the price. The Cricut Mug Press is 4 times the price of the air fryer. However, the air fryer is more limited in the style of designs you can successfully use.

The mug press is safer to use because you can simply pick up the mug with the handle to remove it from the press. With the air fryer, you must wear heat-resistant gloves to remove the mugs (and remember, you have to do that twice for the air fryer).

The air fryer doesn’t have the even heat distribution of the mug press. The mug press was specifically designed for this job, so of course, it has been tested and tested when it comes to making mugs. The air fryer was tested for making food. While we had good luck with the air fryer for certain kinds of mugs, it’s important to note this.

With the mug press, it’s sort of a set-it-and-forget-it-kind-of-process. You put it in and the mug press is designed to sense the air temperature of the room and so on, in order to heat the mug to just the right temperature and for just the right amount of time. With the air fryer, it can be a bit of a guessing game to get time and temperature right. And remember that different air fryers can perform differently). Even then, you have to time it yourself and be sure to turn it over at the halfway point.

Finally, depending on the design of the air fryer, you might be able to fit larger items into it than in the Cricut Mug Press. Bear in mind, that a larger air fryer may perform differently and you may not get the results you’re looking for.

We Ditched The Cricut Mug Press For an Air Fryer – Here’s What Happened

Using Off-Brand Mugs in Cricut Mug Press

May 13, 2021 by Paula W

We have had so many people asking us the question, using off-brand mugs in Cricut Mug Press – is it possible? The answer is YES you can, but there are some that worked better for us than others. We’ll take you through our testing process and share our results with you here.

Our goal with testing these out is to save you time and money. We want to find the most efficient ways of using these mugs, the best mugs for the job, and the most economical options for you so that all you have to do is buy your supplies and sit down and craft!

Using Off-Brand Mugs in Cricut Mug Press

Materials and cut files used in our mug testing:

Be sure to check this out too: How to use the Cricut Mug Press

Criteria to keep in mind when shopping for mugs:

Mugs can be the size that holds 11-16 ounces.
They can have a diameter of 3.2-3.4 inches. Diameter is the measurement straight across the circle – for example, in this case, the measurement straight across the opening of the mug. (see diagram below)
The maximum height of the mug can be 4.72 inches.

Value comparison:

Please bear in mind that prices are subject to change at any time. These were recorded at the end of April 2021. It’s also important to keep an eye on any promotions. Cricut often has sales going on and you may see sales and coupons available at other places as well.

Cricut – Two pack of 15 oz. mugs is $8.99 ($4.49 each) Six pack of 15 oz. mugs is $24.99 ($4.16 each). Thirty-six pack of 12 oz. mugs (did you even know you could buy them in a 36-pack???) is $74.99. ($2.08 each)

Salus – Two pack of 11 oz. mugs is $14.99 ($7.50 each)

PYD Life – Sublimation Stainless Steel Tumbler Style Mugs with Lids – Four pack of 10 oz. mugs is $49.99 ($12.50 each). Sublimation Metal Camping Style Mug – Four pack of 12 oz. mugs is $22.99. ($5.75 each).

Performance of the different mugs:

When testing these mugs, we tried to keep the variables consistent to get results that were as accurate as possible. For example, we made the mugs on the same day so that the room temperature, humidity, and other such factors would be the same. We heated them in the mug press one right after the other. And we used the same products on each – for example, the same heat resistant tape.

Basic Mugs:

The Cricut brand mug is on the left and the Salus brand mug is on the right. They are very similar but the red is just a bit deeper on the Cricut mug.

Other than that, the results are comparable and if you’d like to use the Salus mug, we can certainly recommend it. However, if you are looking for the best value for your money, you want to go with the Cricut mugs. They are less expensive and the savings are quite significant even if you don’t buy the jumbo pack of 36 mugs!

Camping and Tumbler-Style Mugs:

There are definitely some issues with these mugs. You can see that with the mug on the left, if you compare the color to the Infusible Ink that we used, it got good saturation.

However, there were definitely some other problems. With the camping mug, you can see that it has a lip on it. Obviously, that lip is going to interfere with the press being able to squeeze that ink onto the mug. To try to overcome that, we did pull the mug up and place it in the mug press higher to try to work around the lip of the mug.

One of the issues we had with this camping mug was that it wouldn’t register in the Cricut Mug Press. When we put it in and clamped it down, the mug press didn’t seem to know there was a mug there. This is how the mug press determines how much heat and how much time to use for your project.

Since we couldn’t use their auto-settings, we had to manually time the heating of the mug ourselves. We know that the average time these mugs would take is 6 minutes, so that’s how long we heated it for. Clearly, it didn’t work well up at the top near the lip of the mug as we have uneven ink coverage there.

With the tumbler-style mug, we did figure out that it’s tapered in a bit near the top of the mug. We were able to adjust for that in our future experiments with it. Perhaps, it’s a similar situation with the camping style mug and with further testing, we might be able to come up with a hack for it.

Second Test of Camping and Tumbler-Style Mugs:

You can see that in our next test, the camping mug’s performance was even worse. Because the mug press couldn’t detect that the camping mug was inside of it, we wanted to try adding something around the mug that would help create more pressure and assist the press in registering that a mug was present.

So, this time we used our heat-protective Cricut sheet and wrapped the mug in that. Unfortunately, it still didn’t register. We set a timer again since we knew that the machine wasn’t going to automatically time it. This time we used 8 minutes – we had used 6 minutes last time, but with the heat-protective sheet in there as well, we assumed it would need more time.

Based on our testing, it just doesn’t seem like the camping mug is a good choice for using in the Cricut Mug Press. When it comes to the tumbler-style mug with a lid, we had much better results, but they still weren’t perfect.

As mentioned before, we figured out that it tapers in just a bit at the top and therefore, the compression of the mug press up there isn’t perfect. This led to some inconsistencies with the ink coverage. Does that mean these mugs can’t be used in the mug press?

Well, actually, we still think they are a great option for it! In order to be successful though, you may have to adapt the designs that you use. We “reversed” our design and decided to print on the actual design part of it, leaving the background of the mug white (as it is). This worked beautifully as the design was no longer going up near the top of the mug where that tapering in occurs.

Summary of results:

So, if you’re looking for mugs for your Cricut Mug Press, what would we recommend? When it comes to the basic mugs, it is clear that while the off-brand mugs performed really well, at current prices, the Cricut mugs are the best value. With the tumbler-style mugs, we found that they worked quite well with certain types of designs that avoided the tapered part at the top of them. However, they are quite pricey at the moment.

The camping mugs are the only ones we can’t recommend at all. We weren’t able to get good results from them at all and don’t think they are a good option for the mug press.

There, of course, may be more off-brand mugs that will work in the Cricut Mug Press. In some cases, you may need to add extra heat-resistant tape to them. We’ve also heard of people having success by turning some mugs upside down in the press.

It’s important to make note of this point: You can’t use just any mug – like ones from the dollar store. You need mugs that are designed for specifically for sublimation. Sublimation/Infusible Ink mugs are designed with a special coating on them made to “take” the ink really well and hold it permanently.

If you plan to experiment on your own with some mugs, the strategies we have listed here are possibilities that you can try. If you find some that are successful for you, we would love to hear about them!

All About the Cricut Mug Press

April 30, 2021 by Paula W

With it recently hitting the shelves and causing quite a stir, we thought it was about time to tell you All About the Cricut Mug Press. In this post, we are going to answer your Mug Press questions and give tons of Cricut hacks, Cricut tips, and helpful advice to aid you in making an informed decision about the Cricut Mug Press.

If you are thinking about getting one, you need to check this out. We’ll tell you what you need to know (and maybe what hasn’t been talked about yet)!

Everything You Need To Know About The Cricut Mug Press 1

All About the Cricut Mug Press

If you are looking for an in-depth step-by-step tutorial on how to use the Cricut Mug Press, be sure to check out our helpful post and video on it.

Supplies You May Need:

Cut Files We Used on the Mugs in The Video Below:

About the Mug Press Itself:

It’s important to note that you can’t change the temperature or set a timer on it. This is because it’s supposed to have “smart technology” that does all of that for us.

You plug it in and turn it on. The Cricut Mug Press will sense the air around it and will adjust to it, preheating itself to the correct temperature. Once you slide your mug in and close the paddle, it then automatically detects how much time it’s going to take to heat up your mug properly.

Heat times will vary according to the blank you use, the size of it, the air temperature, and so on. You will see a sequence of lights coming on – these will tell you how much time is left in the heating process.

The machine itself is fairly compact and doesn’t take up much space. It can hold an 11-16 oz. mug. The diameter of the mug can be between 3.2 and 3.4 inches. The maximum height of the mug you can use is 4.72 inches.

About Infusible Ink:

Cricut has a variety of different Infusible Ink products that we want to go over for you:

Regular Infusible Ink comes in many colors and patterns. In one pack, you will get 2 sheets, each one being 12 x 12 inches. It’s quite affordable for the amount you get and it can go a long way. This works with any of the Cricut machines including the Cricut Mug Press.

You’ll also find packages of Infusible Ink that are packaged specifically for the Cricut Joy or the Cricut Mug Press. For example, the ones for the mug press have a symbol of a mug on them. They say “Ideal for the Cricut Mug Press” on the package.

In these packages, you get 2 sheets, each one being 4 1/2 x 12 inches. The one marketed for the Joy is slightly more expensive than the one for the mug press. The only real difference, though, is that it includes some butcher paper and a little cloth.

What you might not know is that all of these Infusible Ink products are the same! They can all be used in all of the machines. The only difference is the size of them and the fact that the ones marked for the Cricut Joy include some butcher paper and a little cloth while the Mug Press ones do not.

So, we recommend just buying the packages of the larger sheets. This gives you more value for your money and since it works in all of the machines why pay more?

Pro tip: If you are prone to having clammy hands, you can damage the Infusible Ink when you touch it. For that reason, you may want to work with the smaller sheets. It can be a little easier to limit the handling of it that way.

You can, of course, buy the larger sheets and cut them down before using them on your mat. A brayer comes in really handy for smoothing them out on the mat without touching it. We try to only touch the edges as we handle it as well.

Another solution: wear cotton gloves. It may sound crazy but it can really help!

About the mugs:

We already mentioned the sizes of the mugs you can use, but another common question is about brands. Can you use something other than Cricut brand mugs in your Cricut Mug Press? The short answer is yes.

We do have a comparison post/video coming up soon where we tested out various mugs in the Cricut Mug Press. This will give you all the ins and outs of which ones performed best and what to look for.

We will tell you, though, that we found for quality and price, we just couldn’t beat the Cricut brand mugs. We did find some mugs on Amazon that worked just as well, but they were a higher price than the Cricut ones.

Pro tip: when looking for mugs, think about the shape of them. We bought some that flared out at the top where the lip of the mug is. To do an overall design where the Infusible Ink goes from top to bottom of the mug simply didn’t work with this style. Instead, we were able to use them with a design that would only add ink where the cut file itself was and the rest of the mug was left blank with its original color showing through.

So, if you have a craft fail with a mug, you can always try approaching the project in a different way. Change your design like we did, put the mug into the press upside down, move the placement of the design, and so on.

How does the Cricut Mug Press compare to other mug heat presses?

Many of you have asked this question, specifically when it comes to the 5-in-1 heat presses that can do mugs, plates, hats and shirts and so on. The answer? It depends.

If you already have several of the Cricut EasyPresses (which we LOVE!) and you are only looking for something for mugs, the Cricut Mug Press is the way to go. The other heat presses are bigger and bulkier and you simply don’t need one like that if you already are set up with some Cricut products.

If you are starting from scratch, we recommend you look at reviews and prices and decide from there, bearing in mind how much space you have for these machines as well. One thing we will advise is that if you aren’t already passionate about wanting to make mugs, why invest in a mug press at all? For most projects in your die-cutting craft room, a Cricut EasyPress Mini will be all that you need.

If you’re only going to make a few mugs a year, there are so many ways to make them and make them well without a mug press. However, if you want to make tons and tons of mugs and you want the permanence of the Infusible Ink designs you get with the Cricut Mug Press, this machine is well worth the money. If you’re passionate about Infusible Ink, you are going to love this.

About sublimation blanks:

When it comes to sublimation blanks in general, they can vary widely in terms of how well they take the ink from one brand to the next. If you want to use Infusible Ink on fabric, remember that it doesn’t work well on cotton. You need a fabric that is at least 65% polyester in a t-shirt when using sublimation or Infusible Ink.

You can’t just use any old material with sublimation or Infusible Ink. They are treated with a special coating to allow them to take the ink properly. So no, you can’t just grab any old item from the dollar store and use it with Infusible Ink.

Do I have to seal Infusible Ink projects?

Infusible Ink is about as permanent as it gets! It is dishwasher safe, microwave safe, and is very durable.

Prepping your surfaces:

When working with Infusible Ink, you do have to take special care with your surfaces. Your mug, for example, needs to be prepped really well. The ink will not transfer properly if there are any finger prints, oils from your fingers, dust, or debris on the mug.

We like to use a lint roller on it to get up any little bits of debris. Then, you need to wipe it really well with a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol to ensure that it is thoroughly clean.

How do I get the best possible seal on the Infusible Ink in my Cricut Mug Press?

When you wrap your design around the mug and put it into the press, as soon as you put that paddle down, the mug press is going to squeeze the ink to the surface of the mug. This is nearly foolproof, but we have had a few times where there was a spot here and there that didn’t get as much ink coverage as we would like.

So, we like to use heat transfer tape to give it that extra little bit of security in holding things in place, especially along the edges.

Is it worth the hype?

Should you invest your money in a Cricut Mug Press? You won’t like this answer but, it depends.

You have to decide how passionate you are about making mugs and whether it’s worth the money. It definitely works really well and you can create beautiful mugs with it. But that’s all you can create with it.

For someone like Rachel, she loves mugs and has a large collection of them. So, making mugs to give as gifts for other people is something she would really enjoy doing and she could see herself getting a lot of use out of the Cricut Mug Press.

It’s a lot of fun to use, but do bear in mind that there’s a learning curve and you may need to practice a bit before you master it. We do think it’s a great product though and well worth it if mugs and Infusible Ink are something you love!

Everything You Need To Know About The Cricut Mug Press

Using the Cricut Mug Press

April 6, 2021 by Paula W

The Cricut world has been all abuzz with the news of their new mug press! Many of us got a little sneak peek of it so we were intrigued from the very beginning. So, here we are with our brand new machine showing you what you need to know about using the Cricut Mug Press.

Before we get started, you might be wondering why you might want a mug press. After all, we’ve given you several craft project tutorials showing you how to apply vinyl to mugs. Well, the Cricut Mug Press is meant for making infusible ink designs on your mugs easily and flawlessly.

Using the Cricut Mug Press

Be sure to check out our Cricut Mug Press unboxing video too!

Okay, let’s start crafting. We can’t wait to see the results with this new mug press!

Materials Needed:

*Get the best deal and find many more of our amazing cut files and fonts as part of our Makers Gonna Learn membership.

How to Use the Cricut Mug Press

Using Template For Cricut Mug Press To Size Design

Creating your design in Design Space:

Begin by adding the mug press template to your canvas in Cricut Design Space. Next, we pulled in a square from Basic Shapes and resized it to make a rectangle because we want the majority of the mug to be black and then we will cut the Makers Gonna Learn logo out from that. So then, we imported the MGL Logo cut file and duplicated it twice so that we have 3 of them.

Click Make It To Send Your Project To The Mat

Arrange the logos in the rectangle. Once happy with the placement of your design, select everything. Choose Attach. Press Make It. Since we’re going to be using Infusible Ink, be sure to select Mirror. Press Continue.

Placing Infusible Ink On Standard Grip Mat

Cutting out your design:

Choose Infusible Ink for your material setting. Place your Infusible Ink sheet on your cutting mat. We like to start in one corner and carefully lay it down from there, using our brayer to ensure that it is laying down properly on the mat without touching it too much with our fingers. The oils from your fingers can dilute the ink and prevent you from getting results that are as vibrant or bold as you expect.

Cricut Machine Cutting Out Infusible Ink Design

Load the mat into your Cricut machine and press the flashing Cricut button.

Remove Excess Infusible Ink Sheet From The Design

Remove the excess Infusible Ink from around the design. Then, weed the rest of your design. Once your design is completely weeded, flip the mat over and gently peel the mat away from your design.

Prepping your mug and adding the design:

Prep your mug by cleaning with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. Once you have cleaned it thoroughly and let it dry completely, use the lint roller to go over the mug and ensure that there are no little bits of debris left.

Line up your design and wrap it around the mug. We like to sit the mug on our work surface while we do this to ensure that it’s good and level. You want to be sure that the handle of the mug is centered between the ends of your piece of Infusible Ink. Once you’re happy with it, lay one side down and then pull on the remaining part of your design to create a little tension as you wrap it around the rest of the mug. This will help ensure a nice, flat design with no bubbles.

Using Tape To Secure Your Design On The Mug

Press down the tabs well. Then, we like to use some small pieces of heat resistant tape around the top and bottom of the mug to ensure that our design is really well adhered.

Placing your mug into the Cricut Mug Press:

Heat up your mug press. Once it’s heated, the green light will come on. When inserting your mug into the press, you might want to go in at an angle (especially if you haven’t taped it all around the bottom) so the Infusible Ink doesn’t get caught on the sides of the press. You also want to be sure to place it so that the handle is right in the center of the opening. You want to be sure that the mug press completely covers the Infusible Ink on each side.

Leave the mug in the press until all 5 lights are lit up and the green button is flashing. It will beep at you to indicate it’s finished as well! Lift the lever and carefully remove the mug from the machine. We like to place it on the EasyPress mat to cool. It can take quite a while for it to cool thoroughly. After 20 minutes, ours felt like we had just put a warm cup of coffee in it.

Carefully Peel Away The Tape And Peel Up The Infusible Ink Sheet

Once it has cooled, you want to carefully peel up the tape and start peeling away the carrier sheet for your Infusible Ink design.

Look at our beautiful finished mug! We found this to be an easy process, but it is a bit time-consuming given the heating and then cool-down time. Still, we love the results and can see us using this mug press time and time again.