Are you tired of using heat transfer vinyl that peels off or fades after a few washes? Cricut-compatible infusible ink transfer sheets may be just what you need for your projects. These sheets are perfect for creating long-lasting and vibrant designs on your fabric or material. But with so many options out there, it can be tough to know which one to choose. So I’ve put together a comprehensive buying guide to help you make an informed decision.
In this article, we’ll be taking a look at the best infusible ink transfer sheets for Cricut, their features, pros and cons, and what makes them stand out from the rest.
Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets |
| Vibrant and long-lasting designs. Perfect for Cricut machines. Compatible with Cricut blanks and EasyPress heat press. Variety of colors and patterns. Seamless integration with fabric. |
Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Sheets |
| Perfect fit for Cricut Joy and mug press. Vibrant and durable designs. Wide selection of colors and patterns. Convenient storage packaging. |
Kasyu Smart Matless Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets |
| Convenient for matless cutting. Vibrant colors. Compatible with Cricut and Silhouette machines. |
Lucky Goddness Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets |
| Wide selection of colorful patterns. Ideal size for Cricut Joy and mug press. Convenient storage packaging. |
Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets — Best for Cricut Explore and Maker, ideal for beginners
Looking for the perfect material to use with your Cricut Explore or Maker?
You should definitely give Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets a try!
These sheets are easy to work with.
So they are ideal for people just starting out with Cricut and infusible ink.
With infusible ink you can expect a smooth and hassle-free cutting, weeding, and transfer process.
Ideal Match for Cricut Machines
Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets are specifically made for Cricut cutting machines.
With Cricut Explore, Maker, and even Joy included.
With Joy, you’ll just need to trim them down for Joy-sized mats or use the special sheets made for the compact unit.
Every Cricut machine has pre-calibrated settings for this material.
So this may help you make more precise cuts and get better results than with off-brand sheets.
Compatibility with Cricut blanks and EasyPress heat press
In addition to being an ideal match for Cricut machines, the brand’s infusible ink is also perfectly compatible with Cricut blanks.
The brand manufactures great-quality blanks for use with their infusible inks.
Such as t-shirts, coasters, etc.
And Cricut EasyPress heat press will offer a seamless transfer experience.
That’s because it’s also perfectly calibrated for working with Circut heat transfer materials.
Such as iron-on vinyl and infusible ink.
Plus, you can always refer to the awesome Cricut Heat Guide to know the exact temperature an time settings for your material.
Vibrant Colors and Beautiful Patterns
Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets come in a variety of vibrant solid colors and pretty patterns.
This line has everything from bold and eye-catching hues to elegant and sophisticated patterns.
I’m absolutely in love with their galaxy pattern.
It adds a touch of cosmic charm to any project and looks really cool.
And Cricut also partners with famous brands to let you create custom products with your favorite characters.
Check out their Disney Princess line, which is awesome for custom gifts.
Seamless and Long-Lasting Results
The real magic of infusible ink lies in its ability to become one with the fabric.
Once you apply and heat-press these sheets, the ink becomes a permanent part of the material.
You get a design that’s seamlessly integrated into the fabric, weightless, and perfectly smooth to the touch.
Cricut infusible ink won’t flake, peel, crack, or wrinkle. No matter how many times you toss it in the wash.
Protective Butcher Paper Included
Each pack of Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets also includes two sheets of protective butcher paper.
It may seem like a small detail, but it’s a nice extra touch.
The butcher paper is always necessary for infusible ink transfers.
It acts as a protective barrier during the heat transfer process.
So only your intended blank part absorbs the ink with no accidental transfer to other parts of the garment or the heat press plate.
Perfect Fit for Cricut Mats
Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets are 12″x12″.
They are specifically sized to fit Cricut mats, which come in 12″ x 12″ and 12″ x 24″ sizes.
So you can simply place the transfer sheet onto a mat without any trimming or adjustments.
Plus, they are a great fit for the standard 12″x12″ scrapbook pages.
Ease of Weeding
Weeding can be a pain.
But you can weed Cricut infusible ink sheets super-quickly manually, only using your fingers.
No need for weeding hooks or other tools (which may still be required with other brands)
Simply bend the cut sheet and roll away the unwanted parts of the design.
The cut lines will separate on their own.
It’s surprisingly easy and saves you time and frustration.
Ease of use
These sheets are generally super-easy to use and a breeze to cut.
As I’ve said above, you don’t need to fine-tune any settings, trim them, or learn any complex weeding techniques.
Cricut offers clear instructions for every step of the way.
Along with a special Heat Guide where you can find all the necessary settings.
All this makes Cricut Infusible Inl pretty much problem-free and perfect for beginners.
Pros:
- Vibrant colors and beautiful patterns are available.
- Seamless and long-lasting results with no flaking, peeling, cracking, or wrinkling.
- Designed specifically for Cricut machines, ensuring a perfect match and precise cuts.
- Each pack includes protective butcher paper to prevent unwanted ink transfer.
- Easy hand-weeding process for hassle-free removal of excess material.
- Perfect match for Cricut infusible ink blanks and EasyPress heat press.
- Ideal for beginners.
- Versatility for Various Projects
Cons:
- Less budget-friendly than no-name sheets.
Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Sheets — Best for Cricut Joy and the ideal size for mugs
If you’re a proud owner of a Cricut Joy, you’ll love these Infusible Ink sheets!
Plus, they’re the perfect size for making mugs with a mug press, and you won’t even need to trim them for this purpose.
Perfect Match for Cricut Joy
These infusible ink sheets are specifically designed for the compact Cricut Joy cutting machine.
Cricut Joy also has a pre-calibrated setting for cutting the brand’s own infusible ink materials.
All the Great Features in a Smaller Size
Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Sheets offer the same great features as their larger counterparts, just in a smaller size.
These sheets measure 4.5″ x 12″, which is a perfect fit for Cricut Joy mats.
Great for mug press
What I also love about these sheets is that they are the ideal size for the Cricut Mug Press and mug blanks!
No need to trim them down to make professional-level DIY mugs.
But of course, these sheets are versatile and can be used for other projects, including clothing, coasters, and more.
And they are perfectly compatible with Cricut blanks too.
Choice of Colors and Patterns
Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Sheets also come in a number of pretty colors and patterns, just like their larger counterparts.
Two Sheets in Each Package
When you purchase a package of Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Sheets, you get two Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets.
This gives you the freedom to create more than one project or have a backup in case you want to try a design again.
Pros:
- Perfect fit for Cricut Joy.
- All the great features in a smaller size
- They fit well with the Cricut Mug Press and mug blanks.
- Choice of colors and patterns.
- Two sheets in each package.
Cons:
- Smaller size may limit project options.
Kasyu Smart Matless Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets – Best infusible ink for matless cutting
Say goodbye to the hassle of placing and removing ink sheets on and off your cutting mat with Kasyu Smart infusible ink.
This is the perfect solution for anyone who has trouble with these steps.
The set contains 12 sheets, each measuring 12×11.8 inches.
Smart Matless Cutting
Cricut makes a line of smart materials for cutting without a mat.
However, they haven’t ventured into smart infusible inks.
Thanks to Kasyu, a Chinese manufacturer, you can give infusible ink matless cutting a try.
These transfer sheets have a special backing that allows you to feed them directly into your cutting machine.
Vibrant and beautiful colors
The colors included in this set are incredibly bright and pretty.
However, keep in mind that they look a bit dull before the transfer.
Only when you apply heat the colors truly come to life and pop with vibrancy.
Great Cricut compatibility
The good news is that Kasyu Transfer Sheets are perfectly compatible with Cricut machines.
The matless cutting option is available for Cricut Explore 3 and Maker 3 only.
These units have the right settings for smart materials.
Smart sheets can also be used with Silhouette machines or older Cricuts.
But that way you’ll only be able to cut them on the mat.
Matless cutting limitations
Make sure you use a whole 12″x11.8″ sheet if you want to cut it without a mat.
Don’t trim it down or cut it into smaller pieces for this purpose.
Only a complete sheet of Kasyu smart ink can be fed directly into the machine without a mat.
Any leftover scraps or smaller pieces should be cut on a mat.
Lack of Instructions and Weeding Challenges
Unfortunately, Kasyu Smart Matless Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets don’t come with instructions.
However, you can refer to the Cricut heat guide to learn what heat and pressure settings you should use.
Also, be prepared for a slightly trickier weeding process compared to Cricut Infusible Ink.
You’ll likely need to use a weeding hook to pick up the unwanted pieces.
Whereas Cricut Infusible Ink can be weeded with bare hands.
Limited Color Selection, but a Wider Range Available
The color selection for smart Kasyu sheets is pretty limited.
However, the brand also offers a larger line of traditional infusible inks that you can cut on a mat.
These sheets have a much wider range of colors and patterns to choose from.
Pros:
- Smart matless cutting convenience.
- Vibrant and pretty colors.
- Compatibility with Cricut and Silhouette machines.
Cons:
- Lack of instructions.
- Weeding them may be harder than weeding Cricut ink sheets.
- Limited color selection for smart materials.
- Matless cutting option is only available for Cricut Explore 3 and Maker 3.
Lucky Goddness Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets – Great sheets with cute patterns sized for Cricut Joy and mugs
If you want to take your Cricut Joy or mug projects to the next level with an adorable and unique touch, then you absolutely must try out the Lucky Goddess Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets.
A Colorful Array of Patterns
Lucky Goddness offers a large selection of fun and colorful infusible ink patterns.
You can buy Christmas, Halloween, and other holiday-themed sheets.
As well as patterns like plaid, paisley, marble, watercolor, etc.
There’s a really nice and wide range of designs.
So you’ll have many options to bring your creative visions to life.
However, don’t be discouraged when you receive these sheets.
Initially, they may appear pale and dull compared to Cricut inks.
But once you apply heat and give them a good press, the colors come to life.
They become bright, vibrant, and the end result is gorgeous.
Ideal Size for Cricut Joy and Mug Press
When you purchase these sheets, you’ll receive 14 pieces, each measuring 4.5″x12″.
This size is actually ideal for the Cricut Joy machine and its 4.5″ wide and 12″ long cutting mats.
It’s also a great fit for the Cricut Mug Press.
You won’t need to trim these sheets down to make infusible ink mugs.
Storage Convenience
Lucky Goddness sheets come with really great original packaging bags.
They provide convenient storage to keep the material from fading or getting damaged.
It’s always nice to have a reliable storage solution for your crafting supplies.
Weeding drawbacks
The manufacturer recommends using tweezers for
weeding these sheets.
This is usually needed when dealing with intricate designs and small details.
This differs from the usual manual weeding process of Cricut infusible inks.
Challenges in Alignment and Lack of Instructions
I’ll be hones, using Lucky Goddness Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets can be a bit more challenging compared to the premium Cricut sheets.
The ink layer of these sheets doesn’t hold as well onto the liner, which can make alignment a bit trickier.
When using them with the mug press, there’s a chance the ink transfer may shift.
So, be careful to get everything aligned just right.
In addition to that, I’ve found that no instructions are included with these sheets.
So you’ll need to refer to the Cricut heat guide for proper heat settings.
You can also read my guide on how to cut infusible ink to learn all the application steps.
Pros:
- Large selection of fun and colorful patterns.
- Ideal size for Cricut Joy and mug press.
- Nice original packaging for convenient storage.
Cons:
- Alignment challenges.
- Requires a weeding hook and the process is a bit more difficult than with Cricut ink.
- Lack of instructions.
Cricut infusible ink transfer sheets overview
Infusible ink transfer sheets for Cricut are an amazing type of heat transfer material.
They are different from regular iron-on or heat transfer vinyl.
Infusible ink transfer process actually infuses the ink into the fabric or base material.
Here’s how it works:
- You can kiss-cut any design on it using a Cricut cutting machine.
- Then you’ll need to weed away the unwanted parts.
- After that, place the infusible ink transfer sheet onto a compatible material, such as polyester.
- Then you’ll need to apply heat and pressure.
- The ink will turn into a gas and infuse into the material as it cools.
- This process creates a seamless and vibrant design that won’t crack, peel, or fade over time.
Infusible ink transfer sheets have a few awesome advantages:
- Since the ink becomes part of the fabric, your designs will last for a long time and will stay looking great.
- Plus, the finished design or logo feels super soft and smooth because there’s no extra layer on top of the blank.
- Infusible ink transfer sheets produce incredibly vibrant and true-to-life colors.
- With these sheets, you can get super creative and personalize all sorts of things!
Think custom t-shirts, tote bags, coasters, and even baby bodysuits.
And the results will have a professional finish that’ll make your projects stand out.
Best infusible ink transfer sheets for Cricut buying guide
There are a few key things to consider when choosing infusible ink sheets.
Let’s break them down:
1. Vibrancy and Color Accuracy
You want those designs to pop!
Look for transfer sheets that deliver vibrant, true-to-color designs that stay bright even after washing.
2. Durability and Longevity
Nobody wants their design to fade or peel after a few uses.
The best transfer sheets create a strong bond with the fabric.
So your art stays intact and can handle regular wear and washing.
3. Ease of Weeding
Weeding is the process of removing the excess material after cutting your design.
It can be a bit tedious.
So it’s important to choose transfer sheets that make it easy to weed out the unwanted parts, leaving you with clean and detailed designs.
4. Ease of Use and Application
Look for transfer sheets with clear instructions and user-friendly application processes.
You’ll want sheets that are easy to cut precisely and position accurately on your material.
5. Availability of Design Options
Get your creative juices flowing!
Look for transfer sheets that offer a wide range of design options, patterns, and colors.
Having plenty of choices allows you to personalize your projects and make them uniquely yours.
What materials can I use infusible ink on?
Infusible Ink is specially made for compatible blank products that are either made of polyester or have a special polyester coating.
You can get creative and use it on various items like t-shirts, tote bags, baby bodysuits, and coasters.
Just make sure your base material has a good amount of polyester for best results.
Can I use Infusible Ink on non-Cricut blanks too?
Absolutely!
Of course, Cricut blanks work seamlessly with the brand’s inks.
But you can also use your ink sheets on other high-quality polyester blanks or sublimation blanks with a special polyester coating.
I suggest doing a little test first to make sure the base material can handle the heat press process without any issues.
How do I actually transfer the Infusible Ink designs onto my material?
You’ll need a compatible cutting machine like Cricut to cut out your designs from the Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets.
Once you’ve weeded your design, use a heat press, like the trusty Cricut EasyPress, to apply heat and pressure.
Just follow the recommended temperature and time settings for your specific material, and voilà!
Can I use a regular household iron instead of a heat press for Infusible Ink?
No, this is not recommended!
To get the best results, it’s important to use a heat press, like the special Cricut EasyPress, or a mug press.
The heat and pressure from a regular household iron may not be enough for a successful transfer.
Will my Infusible Ink designs stay vibrant and intact over time?
Yes! Once your design is transferred and infused into the material, it becomes a permanent part of the fabric.
You don’t have to worry about your designs cracking, peeling, flaking, or fading over time.
They’ll stay vibrant and will look fantastic, even after multiple trips through the washing machine.
Can I layer different Infusible Ink designs on top of each other?
No, don’t do that!
Since the ink turns into gas with high heat, the layers will mix and the designs will be ruined, and will look muddy.
Can I cut Infusible Ink sheets by hand instead of using a Cricut machine?
It’s best to use a Cricut cutting machine with Infusible Ink sheets because they need to be kiss-cut.
You won’t be able to kiss-cut the ink layer only manually.
And you need to keep the carrier sheet layer intact, since it’s necessary for transferring your design onto a blank.
The machine, on the other hand, will do it quickly and easily.
How long should I heat press Infusible Ink designs?
The recommended time and temperature settings for heat pressing Infusible Ink designs depend on the specific base material you’re using.
Always consult the Cricut heat guide or follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Can I reapply heat to an Infusible Ink design if it didn’t transfer properly the first time?
Infusible Ink designs are meant to be a one-time transfer.
Once heat-pressed, the ink permanently infuses into the material.
If you try to reapply heat after the initial transfer you may damage the design or base material but won’t be able to fix any mistakes anyway.
Can I use Infusible Ink on dark-colored fabrics?
There’s no point in using Infusible Ink on dark-colored fabrics since the vibrant colors won’t show up well.
Always use Infusible Ink on light-colored or white polyester fabrics.
How should I wash garments with Infusible Ink designs?
Care for them like you would do for any regular clothing with prints.
Just wash them inside out and follow the specific care instructions for the base material.
To wrap up, I’ve done some research and analysis to find the best infusible ink transfer sheets for your Cricut, which are definitely Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets.
They are high-quality, durable, and versatile.
And all the top products on this list basically meet high standards and provide great results.
When choosing the right one for you, consider factors such as color range, compatibility with different surfaces, and ease of use.
Ultimately, it’s up to your specific needs and preferences.
I hope this guide will be helpful in making your decision. Thanks for reading!