Official Guide to Vinyl for Cricut Crafting
Publish Date:
Jun 18, 2021
Author:
By Crafting Spree
So you’re looking to learn more about vinyl for Cricut crafting? SWEET! Well you’re in luck because we’re here to lay it all out for ya answering (hopefully)all your vinyl questions like what is the difference between HTV, adhesive vinyl and permanent vinyl? What are the best vinyl storage ideas? What are some fun vinyl project ideas? We’ll discuss all of that and more with this ultimate guide to Vinyl for Cricut projects!
Jump to the topics you're the most interested in by checking out our table of contents below and clicking the link to the subject you want to learn more about!
Table of Contents
Jump to the topics you're the most interested in by clicking on a topic below!
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Types of Vinyl
There are 3 different typed of vinyl you can work with for Cricut crafts:
HTV/Iron-On Vinyl:
If you’re looking for a permanent solution for adhering a design to fabric or any kind of textile that will NOT melt under high heat then HTV and iron-on vinyl is exactly what you want! HTV and iron-on vinyl when used in combination with a heat source such as a heat press, Cricut EasyPress, or an iron will melt the adhesive layer of HTV and iron-on vinyl onto your textile so that it essentially liquifies enough to function as a superglue when dries as it cools. So for custom clothing, personalized socks, or one-of-a-kind aprons and so much more, HTV and iron-on vinyl are your best friend for a long-lasting design transfer… that is, unless you are using sublimation or sublimation-compatible blanks (see below). Check out this heat transfer vinyl heat guide as well as the best brands of HTV.
Learn more about sublimation to see if that’s a better design transfer method for your project, or
discover which material is the best for your Cricut design transfer project to determine what material to use for your Cricut project. Who knows, there might just be an entirely new design transfer material or process you hadn’t even heard of before!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Easy to make smaller projects using an iron if you don’t have a heat press | Eventually it will peel and crack after enough sun exposure, washing, etc. |
| Easily customizable | Low quality HTV/Iron-on will not last long |
| Many color/pattern/sheen options | Heat press required for larger projects |
| Beginner-friendly | Risk of burns during heat transfer process |
| Budget-friendly | Will require trial and error if using an iron and not a heat press with temperature and time settings |
| Long-lasting | Not suitable for meltable surfaces or hard surfaces such as glass or porcelain (textiles most suitable) |
Removable Adhesive Vinyl:
Removable adhesive vinyl is temporary vinyl that’s great for projects that you don’t need or want to last forever as well as projects that you want to be able to remove without damaging the surface it was first applied to.
Removable adhesive vinyl is great for making things like stencils (temporary, one-time use) and wall or window stickers that can easily be removed without taking any of the wall or paint with it. Check out the top best brands of removable adhesive vinyl and discover why they’re such a fan favorite!
To be certain removable adhesive vinyl is the best material option for your project, check out our interactive guide to learn which material is best for your Cricut transfer project. Review the pros and cons of removable adhesive vinyl below and jump to the top removable adhesive vinyl project ideas.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Low Cost | Not suitable for long-term use projects |
| Beginner-friendly | Can bubble during application process- takes time to get the hang of applying |
| Easy to Weed | Fewer color/pattern/sheen options compared to HTV/Iron-on vinyl |
| Easily removed if the first application wasn’t a success- just remove it and try again! |
Permanent Adhesive Vinyl:
Permanent adhesive vinyl is *WOW* permanent! It’s intended to be applied to surfaces that you never plan to remove it from. For example: car decals, signs, shadow boxes, labels, are all projects that permanent adhesive vinyl would be perfect for. If you’re looking for something that will last, permanent vinyl is a great option. Discover even more permanent adhesive vinyl project ideas for more inspiration and learn what the best brands of permanent adhesive vinyl are.
Other design transfer materials and processes may be an even better option than permanent adhesive vinyl for your project, so if you’re unsure which material or process is best for you, check out our guide to discover the best material to use for your Cricut project just to make sure!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Affordable | Not suitable for short-term use projects |
| Great for permanent car decals! | Can bubble during application process- takes time to get the hang of applying |
| Beginner-friendly | Fewer color/pattern/sheen options compared to HTV/Iron-on vinyl |
| Easy to Weed |
Vinyl Project Ideas
Vinyl is such an awesome Cricut material because not only are there three different kinds of vinyl:
permanent adhesive vinyl,
removable adhesive vinyl, and
iron-on/HTV, but each kind of vinyl unlocks SO many different project opportunities! However, it’s really easy to get overwhelmed when presented with too many options and creative freedom, it can be a bit overwhelming to decide what to create. That’s why we created this list of the top vinyl project ideas for Cricut crafters below:
Top 5 Removable Adhesive
Vinyl Project Ideas:
1. Wall Stickers:
Learn how to make wall stickers out of adhesive vinyl in this DIY Cricut wall stickers tutorial
2. Stencils For Glass Etching:
Stencils can be used for a variety of projects, from glass etching to rug painting, here are just some ways you can use your custom Cricut-made stencils below.
Interested in making some stencils? Check out this tutorial on how to make stencils out of adhesive vinyl with your Cricut.
3. Temporary Stickers/Window Stickers:
Who doesn’t love a good temporary car decal or window sticker?? Check out these temporary stickers other Cricut crafters made out of adhesive vinyl below, and learn how to make stickers with adhesive vinyl.
4. Storage Labels:
I love me some good organization! Here are some fun ways other crafters made their own DIY labels using their Cricut and adhesive vinyl. Learn how to make labels with your Cricut and adhesive vinyl.
5. Picture Frames:
Photo frames are such a versatile blank to customize with adhesive vinyl! Here are just some of my favorite ideas of what you can do to transform a picture frame into a gorgeous and/or functional work of art with adhesive vinyl. Learn
how to customize a photo frame with adhesive vinyl and see what you can do!
Best Permanent Adhesive
Vinyl Project Ideas:
1. Mugs:
If you don’t have a mug press and aren’t looking to use waterslide decals that are a little more finicky to work with, than permanent vinyl is such a great option! Learn how to customize a mug with permanent vinyl and get inspired by this Cricut permanent vinyl mug project idea below:
2. Signs:
Who doesn’t love a personalized sign? I know I do! Here is one of my favorite permanent vinyl sign ideas below. Learn
how to make a sign with permanent vinyl and start creating fun one-of-a-kind signs today!
3. Car decals:
Here is just ONE amazing DIY Cricut car decal idea that other crafters have made below. How fun is this!? Learn how to make car decals with Cricut vinyl and doll up your car with fun decals!
4. Coasters:
Custom coasters are just too much fun NOT to do. If you’re interested in making some fun DIY coasters, check out this tutorial that walks you through
how to make coasters with permanent vinyl and get inspired with this fun permanent vinyl coaster project idea below:
5. Shadow Boxes:
Shadow boxes are such a sweet way to honor a loved one who has passed as well as preserve precious moments and memories. Check out this amazing DIY shadow box project idea below and learn
how to make a shadow box with Cricut vinyl
so you can create your own custom shadow box.
Easy Heat Transfer Vinyl Project Ideas:
1. Shirts & Hoodies:
Custom apparel is probably the top most popular Cricut HTV project idea. It’s such a versatile gift idea that you can make perfect for anybody. Check out this custom shirt idea below and learn how to make t-shirts with heat transfer vinyl.
2. Aprons:
If you’re looking to craft a DIY gift for cooks then what’s better than a fun customized apron? Learn how to make aprons with iron-on vinyl or HTV and get inspired by this HTV project idea below!
3. Pillowcases & Tea Towels:
Pillowcases and custom tea towels are another super popular HTV project idea because with so many SVG designs and HTV colors and patterns to choose from, you can customize them to be perfect for anyone you have in mind. Learn how to make pillowcases and how to make tea towels with your Cricut HTV or iron-on vinyl and check out this iron-on vinyl project for some extra inspo:
4. Tote Bags:
If you’re looking to go green or to help others go green or you’re just a fan of tote bags (can you really have too many tote bags?) then this project was MADE for you! Learn how to make tote bags with iron on vinyl and take a look at this fun custom tote bag idea below:
5. Hats:
Hats are another great HTV project idea because they’re a way less expensive way to create custom hats compared to ordering custom embroidered ones. Learn
how to make hats with HTV and iron-on vinyl and check out this DIY custom hat idea below:
Vinyl Hacks:
Saving Money on Vinyl
The #1 way to make your vinyl projects easier to weed and thus easier and less stressful to create, is by using quality vinyl. Not only will it be easier to weed than cheap, low-quality vinyl, but it’ll also last longer on your project and be easier to work with all the way around. Discover the best brand of vinyl and continue reading below for some tips & tricks on saving money on vinyl:
Join a Cricut Deals Group
If you’re not currently part of a Facebook deals group like Nifty Thrifty Deals, it will rock your world. If you only bought Cricut supplies when they were on sale, you could save between 50%-80% on all your supplies and better yet: instead of browsing the internet and Amazon yourself and wasting time searching through hundreds of listings for the best deal or sale on high-quality vinyl or other Cricut supplies and materials, you can let someone else do the deal hunting for you by just joining a Cricut deals group and staying in the loop on the latest deals!
You can join our Cricut deals group: Nifty Thrifty Deals where we share an average one one deal per hour all day everyday (sometimes we fall behind or scheduled deals fail to post but we do our best!) and many of the deals we’ve shared have been AMAZING at over 50% off everything from Cricut carrying cases and infusible ink transfers, to Disney vinyl rolls, grip mats, and replacement blades. You’ll want to check deals daily though because some deals like lightning deals can last as short as only a few hours, sometimes less if they sell out before the deal ends so when you see a great sale you definitely want to act fast if you don’t want to risk losing out!
Shop the Sales
In addition to joining an online Cricut deals group like Nifty Thrifty Deals, you can also save money by shopping the sales in stores like Michaels , Joann’s, Heat Transfer Warehouse, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, and Cricut’s online sale section!
Buy in Bulk
Buying in bulk is another smart way to save, especially if you’re running a shop or side hustle selling the items you’re customizing with vinyl. Heat Transfer Warehouse offers amazing bulk buy deals as well as Amazon and other online retailers. If you know you’re going to be using vinyl a LOT, consider buying in bulk and save your money for other things!
Check Amazon Lightning Deals Often
If you’re a fan of good deals, Amazon lightning deals are another AMAZING way to save. Many Amazon sellers will have crazy good lightning deals for a short period of time and they’re easy to miss out on but luckily there are new deals going on all the time!
You can save a ton of time sifting through Amazon lightning deals though by joining an online Cricut deals group like Nifty Thrifty Deals who does all the deal hunting for you and posts the best deals! Nifty Thrifty Deals in particular is awesome because we share a new deal nearly every hour of every day (like I said, there are some KILLER deals out there) but let us do the deal hunting for you and browse through all the latest deals by joining Nifty Thrifts Deals.
Save your Scraps
Saving your vinyl scraps is another awesome money saving hack, possibly the best one because it’s a way to get even more use out of material you’ve already purchased! Imagine you’re using a 12” x 12” sheet of vinyl to cut out a 12” tall star: there’s no getting around the fact that that large of a shape requires a square foot of vinyl to be placed on the grip mat, but how much vinyl would you be wasting if you disposed of all the remaining pieces you didn’t use? Vinyl scraps can always be used for future smaller projects. You can even use vinyl scraps for projects as small as nail stickers!
You can go as crazy or simple as you want when it comes to saving vinyl scraps but sometimes it’s as easy as trimming off a large square or rectangle of vinyl that remains after your design is cut out and putting it in a drawer for future use. Besides, the worst case scenario is you get sick of saving scraps and find you never use them and throw them out at a later date, no harm done, but at least you tried it right? The ideal outcome though is that you’ll find yourself using scraps once in a while and saving a lot of money on materials over time! Woohoo! Saving money!
Don’t Be Afraid of Off-Brands
It’s often assumed that high-quality means name brand and while sometimes that’s true, we’re finding that that almost couldn’t be farther from the truth when it comes to Cricut crafting which is pretty darn counterintuitive. But, have you ever used Cricut brand vinyl or transfer tape and found it generally irritating and hard to work with? Ultimately it depends on the person, there are some people who swear by brands like
Cricut,
Siser, and
Oracle, and others who have sworn OFF those brands because they just weren’t as easy to use for them. It depends on the person but one thing is certain: off brands can be high-quality too.
You will want to do your research to make sure an off-brand is in fact high-quality and worth testing out but here are some good guidelines to follow to ensure quality buys:
Quality Deal-Hunting Checklist:
1. High average customer rating
In general it’s a really good idea to automatically rule out products with an average customer rating of below 4 stars out of 5. I actually don’t buy ANYTHING online if it has an average customer rating of below 4.5 stars.
2. High average customer rating
You also want to read the reviews to get a general understanding of what people do and don’t like about it. For example if every 4 star review says something along the lines of “good for the price. Hard to weed” and you’re looking for something easy to weed, you might not want to get that product. On the flip side though if the reviews are pretty split and most are very good reviews with photos of quality materials, and some reviews are 1 star reviews by people who say they just got their Cricut and this was their first time trying a vinyl project and it was a nightmare, it might be safe to chock those kinds of low star reviews to operator error and not a vinyl quality issue.
Read the reviews and judge it for yourself but in general my attitude towards trying new Amazon products is that the worst case scenario is you try it, hate it, return it, and get your money back and lesson learned! No harm done- just be sure the brand you’re trying out WILL in fact accept free returns because you definitely don’t want to be out your money AND stuck with a garbage product.
3. Google it
When in doubt, Google it, am I right!? It’s always a great idea to google the product you’re considering trying out so you can check out forums and reviews of the product from places OTHER than the site you’re considering buying it from. In general, Amazon is pretty good about monitoring reviews however sometimes sellers do shady stuff to warp product reviews (have you ever read product reviews that are about a completely different product than that listing is for? It’s possible this is a result of the seller selling a high quality item until they got high average reviews, and then swapping out the listing item for a low-quality product so they could make it appear high-quality as the previous reviews are still tied to that listing… shady stuff!). If you just Google it, you’ll likely uncover any shady stuff if there’s any shady stuff to uncover. If everything checks out, you’re in the clear! Try it out!
Best Deals on High Quality Vinyl:
When hunting for deals on vinyl, just like deal-hunting for any craft material or supplies, make sure you’re not sacrificing quality for a low price. I know it can be super tempting to cheap out on materials that are so much less money that other brands but you’ll quickly find that if that low price is BECAUSE of it’s low quality, that it’s just not worth it in the end. You want to save omney on materials and supplies where you can but you want to do it in the right way.
What’s the right way to deal hunt without sacrificing quality?
Glad you asked! In general there are some really great guidelines to follow when looking for the best deals on vinyl and other craft supplies and materials online, and the easiest thing you can do to avoid buyers remorse is to follow our Quality Deal-Hunting Checklist.
The best way to save money on high quality vinyl is to buy it on sale but don’t worry! We’ve done the hard part for you and found the best sales and everyday low price buys on high quality vinyl with stellar reviews, and we’ve posted them below. We also encourage you to do your own deal hunting at other online vinyl retailers like Michaels, Cricut, and HTVRont.
Best Deals on Quality HTV/Iron-On Vinyl:
Best Deals on Quality Removable Adhesive Vinyl:
Best Deals on Quality Permanent Adhesive Vinyl:
Best Brands
Remember, name brands don’t always mean high quality, and off brands don’t always mean low quality. Some name brands are not fan favorites. Take the Cricut brand for example- a lot of crafters are not too fond of Cricut brand vinyl. And on the flip side,
my favorite brand of permanent adhesive vinyl happens to be an off brand (a lot of my favorite Cricut supplies and materials are off brands actually, check out some of my favorite
off brand Cricut essentials and see how much you can save for an even BETTER product!)
Top Brands of Removable Adhesive Vinyl:
Top Brands of Permanent Adhesive Vinyl:
Top 5 Best Brands of Vinyl:
1. Siser
Siser, specifically Siser EasyWeed Vinyl is a definite fan-favorite brand of vinyl among Cricut crafters. You can buy it by the roll, in sheets, and in bulk so it’s a great option for a number of different crafters whether you’re a hobby crafter looking to buy some for occasional projects, or an Etsy shop owner needing to bulk buy high quality vinyl in a budget-friendly way. Check out all Siser vinyl types and read some Amazon reviews of Siser EasyWeed to learn more about what people have to say about this brand.
How to save on Siser EasyWeed Vinyl:
There are a number of different ways you can buy Siser Easyweed Vinyl and the retailer that offers the best price depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re needing a smaller quantity fast, Amazon is a great option, whereas if you’re looking for bulk buy discount, Heat Transfer Warehouse might be a better bet. Below are some top online retailers who sell Siser EasyWeed Vinyl:
- Amazon
- Michaels
- Heat Transfer Warehouse
- Walmart.com
2. HTVRont
HTVRont is another great vinyl brand. It’s readily available on Amazon in a number of different rolls and colors. They sell HTV and adhesive vinyl as well as transfer tape and other Cricut craft-related accessories. With super fast Amazon-famous shipping and frequent sales and markdowns, it’s easy to see why this brand is so popular. Check out HTVRONT reviews to learn more about what people have to say about this brand.
How to save on HTVRont Vinyl:
HTVRont seems to have more products available on Amazon compared to Siser and this is a huge plus for those of us looking to save some money because Amazon often has deal days, lightning deals, and more online sales events that encourages their merchants to lower prices and thus save us money on ALL the crafting supplies! A great way to save some money on HTVRont vinyl is to browse their products every once in a while to see if and when their items go on sale. You can also join a deals group like Nifty Thrifty Deals on Facebook to stay in the loop on current deals on Cricut and craft supplies. There are deals on vinyl going on ALL the time and we post these deals often so if you’re not in a rush to buy and have a little bit of time to spare and save you money, staying in the know on sales like Amazon Lightning deals and limited time deals is a great way to save on high-quality products like HTVRont vinyl!
Below are the top online retailers who sell HTVRont vinyl:
- Amazon
- HTVRont.com -(they have some great sales in their clearance section!)
- Walmart.com
3. Oracal
Oracal is another popular vinyl brand because of its high quality and low price as well as also having frequent AWESOME sales on Amazon. Just today I saw a 24 pack of Oracal 651 vinyl sheets for half off on Amazon so it’s no secret that this brand is a great one to add to your Amazon watch list if you’re looking to get some more vinyl but aren’t ion too big of a rush and have some time to spare to wait for the next great sale!
Below are some top online retailers who sell Oracal Vinyl:
- Amazon
- Heat Transfer Warehouse
- Walmart.com
4. YRYM
YRYM seems to be an Amazon fan-favorite along with Teckwrap (the next brand we’ll talk about). YRYM like HTVRont also sells a bunch of other Cricut craft-related products on Amazon that deliver a really high quality that crafters have found to be long-lasting and easy to use, but at a low price. This brand is a great one to try if you’re not loyal to any particular brand and want to try out products that are more budget-friendly.
Below are some top online retailers who sell YRYM Vinyl:
- Amazon
- yrymht.com
- Walmart.com
5. Teckwrap
Teckwrap is another brand I hear a LOT about all over the Facebook Cricut crafting groups. People who use Teckwrap swear by it similar to people who use Siser EasyWeed. Teckwrap and Siser seem to be the top 2 brands for customer loyalty because they deliver name-brand quality at an off-brand price. My favorite thing about Teckwrap vinyl though is their HUGE range of colors, patterns and shine. Every roll of Teckwrap vinyl I’ve seen is just absolutely stunning and to know it’s high quality and low priced makes it even better! Not to mention the fact that they make adhesive AND HTV vinyl. There is some debate on whether Teckwrap adhesive vinyl is removable, permanent, or semi permanent but it sounds like it leans more towards permanent so I’d definitely try a different brand of removable vinyl if you are looking for something that’s easily removed, residue-free.
Below are some top online retailers who sell Teckwrap Vinyl:
- Amazon
- Walmart.com
- Teckwrap.com
Vinyl Storage Ideas
Top 5 Vinyl Roll Storage Ideas:
- Over-The-Door/Closet Cubby Organizers
- Wrapping Paper Storage Bags
- Wall-Mounted Vinyl Roll Holder
- Cute Basket
- DIY Vinyl Roll Holder
Top 5 Vinyl Sheet Storage Ideas:
- Paper Tray/Cubby Organizer
- Over-The-Door/Wall-Mounted Paper Holder
- Desktop Paper Holder
- File Folder/File Box
- File Cabinet/Desk Drawer
Weeding Vinyl
A lot of Cricut crafters’ biggest complaint about vinyl, and vinyl projects is weeding. Nothing is more frustrating than finally deciding on a project, and purchasing all the materials and supplies you need just to discover that the project is a far bigger pain in the patootie to do but don’t worry, we’re here to help!
What is weeding in Cricut crafting?
Weeding is the process of removing the pieces of vinyl that are not part of your final design, so you can imagine that if you have a detailed, or super intricate design, weeding can take a VERY long time and can be a lot harder and more time-consuming than it looks. Check out our guide to weeding hacks for beginners to make your weeding life that much easier!
Weeding Tips & Tricks
We’ve compiled a list of some amazing weeding tip & tricks as well as some of the top weeding hacks and handy vinyl weeding tools! Hopefully there are some new tools or tricks you haven’t tried before that will make your weeding life so much easier!
Check out the full vinyl weeding hacks list or review our summary below.
Best Weeding Tips & Tricks:
- Use quality vinyl
- Get a Weeding Tool Set
- Use a Scrap Collector
- Use a Light Pad
- Use Transfer Tape
- Remove the vinyl backing, not the transfer tape (watch transfer tape tutorial)
Discover the best brands of high quality permanent adhesive vinyl, removable adhesive vinyl, and HTV/Iron-on vinyl to avoid wasting money on cheap low-quality vinyl that will lead to weeding nightmares. Save money on high-quality brand vinyl by checking out the best Amazon deals on vinyl for Cricut projects.
For more tips, tricks, hacks and more, check out our top weeding hacks.
Get in on more Cricut project ideas, hacks, tutorials, and more by following our social channels!
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