Everything You Need To Know To Use Cricut Infusible Ink on Coasters and Tote Bags
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We’re sharing all the tips and tricks that you need to know to use Cricut Infusible Ink! Follow along as we share step by step instructions, as well as handy hints for making Infusible Ink Coasters and an awesome rainbow crafting tote bag!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
It’s been a month and a half since Cricut launched their new Infusible Ink products at Michaels stores and I am in love. Cricut has given me yet one more way to make gorgeous handmade gifts for the ones I love! You may have seen the Infusible Ink onesie that I made a month ago (you can find it here).
Every time I show it to someone they are amazed.
“But I don’t understand,” one friend commented. “How did you make it? You didn’t get this at a store? The ink is inside the onesie! This isn’t something you could have added after.”
I understand the disbelief, because I feel it too! Every time I try to explain it, I feel like I’m explaining magic. The combination of the Cricut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets and the hot even heat from the Cricut EasyPress 2 infuses the ink right into the Cricut blanks! It’s incredible! There is no layer sitting on top which means there is nothing to peel or wrinkle! The ink from the Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet (and infusible ink pens) infuse right into the blank!
Before we get to the two new projects I made and the step by step instructions for using these magical creations, here’s the 411 on Infusible Ink:
Cricut Infusible Ink comes in transfer sheets and pens:
—> For the transfer sheets you can cut a design using your Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore and then transfer it onto a Cricut Infusible Ink blank.
—> For the Infusible Ink Pens you can draw any design you want to onto a piece of laser copy paper (what?!?!? So amazing right?!?!) and then transfer your design onto a Cricut Infusible Ink Blank. I personally think this is SO FUN FOR KIDS!!!
Blanks currently come in 4 options:
—> Coasters
—> Tote Bags
—> Onsies
—> Shirts
One you’ve created your design and picked your blank you add some heat from the Cricut EasyPress 2 and then the magic happens:
—> The ink is permanently infused INTO your blank. It becomes one with your material!
—> Because it’s infused into the blank that means that it’s seamless!
—> Infused AND seamless mean that there’s no flaking, no peeling, no cracking, and no wrinkling – ever!!!
Cricut Infusible Ink products are currently only available at Michael’s.
Our kitchen is still mid-remodel and my craft room is filled with all of the things that belong in our living room and kitchen, so right now I’m crafting on my kitchen floor! Crafting while travelling and amongst the chaos of a kitchen remodel has been so handy thanks to Cricut’s Rolling Craft Tote, Machine Tote and EasyPress Totes… Not to mention it’s saved my Cricut gear from a ton of drywall dust!
Today were are going to cover two projects– How to Use Infusible Ink Pens to Make Coasters Your Kids Have Colored In and How To Use Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets To Make A Craft Tote Bag so let’s get started!
[hr gap=”30″]How to Use Infusible Ink Pens to Make Coasters Your Kids Have Colored In[hr gap=”30″]
My kids love making art. They love drawing and coloring and are constantly asking me to make coloring sheets for them. They also love to see their art being turned into “fancy things”, so they were especially excited about this project! I used my Cricut Maker to create small circular “coaster size” coloring sheets, let them color them in and then pick their favourites to put onto coasters.
It made for a really fun afternoon of crafting! I got to get other things done while they colored all the coloring sheets in and then we came together for a fun crafternoon as we infused their artwork onto the coasters! Here’s everything you need to know to make this project yourself at home!
Materials:
–Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore
–Laser copy paper (see note below)
-Cricut Coasters
–Cricut EasyPress 2 (see note below)
A Note About Laser Copy Paper: Laser copy paper you ask? But I just have regular copy paper! Friends, I was in the same boat. I spent a bit of time digging around and this is what I found out. Regular copy paper is not recommended because of the high temperature that this project is heated at. Laser copy paper can withstand the heat. I’ve heard rumours of people who have tried regular copy paper but apparently the colors in your finished coaster don’t come out as intense. Laser copy paper can be on the pricier side, but I found this great deal for 500 sheets or Laser Copy Paper for $7.99 on Amazon (that’s 1.6 cents a sheet!!!) and if you have Amazon Prime it will get to you as quick as a bunny. I’d hate for you to ruin your pretty coaster blanks, and 500 sheets will make you a TON of coasters! Make sure you grab a roll of Butcher Paper while you are at it!
A Note About Cricut EasyPress 2: Please do not attempt to do this with an iron. You will not be happy with the results. The Cricut EasyPress 2 has an even heat plate that let’s you set an exact temperature (up to 400F) that will leave you with perfect results every time. Not only is it great for iron-on materials, it’s also the perfect companion for Infusible Ink. I also love how portable it is so I can bring it with me when crafting with friends!
Directions:
Step 1: Log into Cricut Design Space and select the designs you would like to use. I’ve created this cut file of designs that I cut out for my kids to color in, as well as this cut file of all of the designs that I would like to one day make into coasters!
If starting from scratch or using my second cut file you’ll want to:
- Make sure your design is set to draw (find this in the top toolbar under linetype).
- Select a circle from under shapes. Size it to 3.5 inches (the size of the round Cricut Infusible Ink Coasters) and make sure it’s linetype is set to cut.
- Size your design so that it fits inside the circle and move it so it’s centered laying on top of the circle (you may need to right click and move the image you are drawing to the top layer) and center it.
- Select both the circle and the drawing and click the attach button (in the bottom right hand side tool bar).
Step 2: Now you are ready to cut! Click “Make It” in the upper right hand tool bar. Click on each mat and slide the “mirror” slider to mirror your image.
Select copy paper as your cutting material, load your Infusible Ink Pen into your machine, load your cutting mat into your machine and click the cute little Cricut C on your machine to start cutting! Sit back and watch your Cricut draw, that’s one of my favorite things to watch my Cricut do!
Carefully remove your coaster coloring sheets from your cutting mat.
Step 3: Use your Infusible Ink Pens to color in your coaster coloring sheets. Pick your favorite ones and get ready to infuse them onto the coasters! (Tip: We didn’t do this and had no problems but you may want to put an extra sheet of paper underneath what you are coloring to ensure the ink doesn’t bleed through onto the surface you are coloring on.)
Step 4: Set the temperature of your Cricut EasyPress 2 to 400F and the timer to 240 seconds. Lay out your EasyPress Mat and cover it with a piece of cardstock.
Set your coaster on your EasyPress Mat with the shiny side facing up. Use a lint roller or a lint free cloth to wipe any dust or lint from your coaster. Don’t skip this step, it’s an important one to make sure your design infuses into the coaster properly.
Lay your design onto your coaster with the colored side facing down. Use your Cricut Heat Resistant Tape to tape the design into place.
Flip your coaster so the design is facing down, cover your coaster with butcher paper and press using your Cricut EasyPress 2. Do not move the EasyPress around. Keep it as still as possible.
When your EasyPress beeps that the timer is done, carefully lift your EasyPress being careful not to disrupt the coaster. Your coaster is going to be VERY HOT, so don’t touch it. Leave to cool and for your ink to finish infusing until your coaster is cool to the touch.
Remove the tape and paper and reveal your design! Voila! You’ve created a beautiful coaster! Tip: Use a larger EasyPress 2 to infuse ink into multiple coasters at once!
I can’t tell you how amazing these coasters are. The ink is infused right into the coaster, it’s not sitting on top! It’s shiny, full of color and looks so professional! No one will ever guess you DIY’d them!
My kids loved making these so much! My daughter already took her succulent coaster to her bedroom to put on her nightstand and my son is using his raccoon coaster in the living room right now!
Ready for our second project for today?
[hr gap=”30″]How To Use Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets To Make A Craft Tote Bag[hr gap=”30″]
Can a girl every have enough bags for toting her crafting supplies around in? Nope! I don’t think so! I love the way this bag turned out so much! It has such a pretty watercolor look thanks to the rainbow Infusible Ink. I love that I was able to personalize it 100% the way I wanted to. It’s definitely going to become my go to tote bag!
Materials:
–Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore
-Cricut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets
-Scissors
-Cricut Infusible Ink Tote Bag
–Cricut EasyPress 2 (see note below)
A Note About Cricut EasyPress 2: Please do not attempt to do this with an iron. You will not be happy with the results. The Cricut EasyPress 2 has an even heat plate that let’s you set an exact temperature (up to 400F) that will leave you with perfect results every time. Not only is it great for iron-on materials, it’s also the perfect companion for Infusible Ink. I also love how portable it is so I can bring it with me when crafting with friends!
Directions:
Step 1: Log into Cricut Design Space and open the I’d Rather Be Crafting Cut File. I have two options available for you one where the words “I’d Rather Be Crafting” are in a separate color like I did on my bag, and one where it’s all one color. Measure your bag and size your design to the size that you would like it to be.
Step 2: Now you are ready to cut! Click “Make It” in the upper right hand corner. On the next screen, click the slider under each cutting mat to mirror your image.
Select Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet as your cutting material. Load it onto your cutting mat with the liner facing down and the colored part facing up. (Note the color of your transfer sheet will intensify when it’s infused into your blank.) Load your cutting mat into your machine and click the cute little Cricut C on your machine to start cutting!
Step 3: Now it’s time to weed your project! Remove the transfer sheet from the cutting mat and cut the excess transfer paper from around your design (don’t throw it away, you’ll want to save it for another project!) Gently roll your design so that the cut lines separate and are more visible. Carefully remove the negative pieces from around and in your design leaving just your design on the liner.
If you are doing the words for your design with a different color of Infusible Ink, then you will want to cut away the clear plastic liner in the holes where the word goes in the center of the two banner spots, and you’ll also want to trim away the clear plastic liner from around the words.
Step 4: Set the temperature of your Cricut EasyPress 2 to 385F and the timer to 40 seconds. Lay out your EasyPress Mat and lay your Cricut Infusible Ink Tote on top of it. Slip a piece of cardstock inside the bag to catch any Infusible Ink that may transfer through the front of your tote.
Use your lint roller to remove any dust or lint from your tote. Don’t skip this step, it’s an important one to make sure your design infuses into the tote properly.
Use your Cricut EasyPress 2 to press your tote bag for 15 seconds. This is also a very important step that you don’t want to skip because it removes any moisture from your tote that would keep the Infusible Ink from working properly.
Lay your designs down on your tote bag with the ink down, plastic liner up. Since I was using two different colors of Infusible Ink I paid extra close attention that there was no plastic liner underneath any of my design that would keep it from transferring to the bag. You may want to use heat resistant tape to secure it into place so that the pieces don’t shift.
Cover your design with butcher paper and then press using your EasyPress 2 for 40 seconds, keeping the press still for the entire time applying even light pressure (do not slide it around). When the timer beeps carefully lift your EasyPress trying not to shift the butcher paper or design. Allow too cool.
Once tote bag has cooled carefully lift the butcher paper and then lift the liner with design. If any design remains on the bag lift it carefully using tweezers (don’t use your fingers because this could cause ghosting effects).
Voila! You have a beautiful new crafting tote bag that’s perfect for carrying around your Cricut craft supplies!
Want to use Cricut Infusible Ink to make a shirt or a onesie? Make sure you check out this post and follow those instructions!
Disclosure: Thank you to Cricut for working with us on this post. As with all articles on Hello Creative Family, all thoughts and opinions are 100% our own. We only share things we love and we certainly love our Cricut!
[hr gap=”30″]Tell me… Have you used Cricut Infusible Ink before? Leave any questions that you have in the comments! I’m happy to answer them I want to help you get the most out of your Cricut crafting experience! What would you like to see us do with our Cricut next? [hr gap=”30″]
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