One of the very first things a new Cricut owner should want to learn is all about vinyl for the Cricut. This vinyl guide for Cricut users will help you navigate the world of vinyl. There are several different types of vinyl and they all have specific uses.
This ultimate vinyl guide for Cricut users will teach you what types of vinyl there are and the uses for each kind. Also included in this guide is what tools you need to complete a vinyl project and where you can buy craft vinyl.
When I first received my Cricut machine the first thing I wanted to learn about was about the vinyl. I jumped right in and started making projects even though I didn’t know about the different kinds of vinyl.
This caused me to do a lot of projects wrong. I want to keep you from making those same mistakes so lets jump right on into this guide.
Types of vinyl for Cricut users
There are three main types of vinyl. Permanent, removable and Heat transfer vinyl.
What is removable vinyl?
Removable vinyl also called indoor vinyl or Oracal 631 is just like it sounds. You are able to remove the vinyl once you have applied it without it leaving behind a sticky residue.
Removable vinyl is good for projects like wall decals. You want to be able to remove wall decals at some point and removable vinyl is best for that.
What is permanent vinyl?
Permanent vinyl also known as outdoor vinyl or Oracal 651 is vinyl that can withstand outdoor elements like rain. It is water resistant and very sticky. It will leave behind a sticky residue when removed.
Permanent vinyl is perfect for projects like car decals that need to withstand all types of weather and still look good. Also permanent vinyl is good for projects like tumblers or water bottles that need to be able to be washed over and over again.
What is heat transfer vinyl?
Heat transfer vinyl(HTV) also known as iron-on vinyl is a type of vinyl you apply by heating it up. You can use an iron or a Cricut Easypress. I have the Cricut Easypress now but when I started I just used a regular iron I bought from Walmart.
Heat transfer vinyl is used mostly on fabrics like t-shirts, onesies, or canvas totes. My favorite thing to make with HTV is t-shirts. I love wearing t-shirts so being able to make my own is a big plus for me.
Each of these vinyls can come in different types of designs. Some of the options are:
- matte
- glossy
- metallic
- glitter
- holographic
- glow in the dark
- patterned
- Printable
There are also a few special types of vinyl that include:
- chalkboard vinyl
- dry erase vinyl
- window cling vinyl
What tools do you need to work with vinyl?
- weeding tool(like a little hook that you use to remove the parts of the vinyl you don’t want in your final design)
- transfer tape (for removable and permanent vinyl to be able to pick up the design and transfer it to your blank item)
- Iron or Easypress (for heat transfer vinyl)
- scraper tool (to apply pressure to the design to help it stick and get bubbles out)
Where can you buy vinyl to use with your Cricut?
There are many places to buy craft vinyl. Here’s a few of them:
- Hobby Lobby (in store or online)
- Michael’s (in store or online)
- A.C. Moore (in store or online)
- JoAnn’s (in store or online)
- Cricut.com
- Expression’s vinyl (online)
- Amazon.com
- Happy crafters (online)
Now you know all about Cricut vinyl. I hope this vinyl guide for Cricut users has been helpful so you can now start all your great project ideas.
If you liked this post comment and let me know. Tell me which type of vinyl you are working with right now!
If your just getting started with your Cricut you may want to check out my article on using the Attach function in Cricut Design Space.