Mega Cricut Gift Guide – The Must-Have Accessories & Materials For Cricut Joy, Explore & Maker

Shopping for a Cricut this year? Whether you’re shopping for a gift or for yourself, here are my recommendations for the accessories and materials you’ll want to buy along with a new Cricut machine.

A Cricut is a fantastic gift for anyone who is crafty, likes decorating, enjoys organizing, or has a lot of creative school projects or hobbies. Today I’m sharing a mega gift guide filled with all of the machines, materials, and accessories I recommend gifting to a new Cricut user (or buying for yourself).

I broke this guide down by machine, starting with the small Cricut Joy then the mid-priced Cricut Explore, and lastly the premium Cricut Maker. You’ll find a list of recommended tools and materials to go along with each machine, so if you’re gifting a machine to a new Cricut user you’ll know what other things they’ll need to go with it. And if you’re looking for a gift for someone who already owns a Cricut, just find out what machine they have and this list will give you some ideas of things they might enjoy getting for it.

Which Cricut machine Should I get?

Before we dive into the gift guides, let’s first quickly go over the differences between each machine. This is the most common question I get and deserving of an in-depth blog post, but for today I’ll give you the Cliff Notes version.

• Cricut Joy – The smallest, lowest-priced machine. This is truly my favorite because it’s compact and works perfectly for the types of projects I like to do (making labels, greeting cards, small paper projects, small iron-on projects, etc.). The main limitation of this machine is its size, it cuts materials up to 4.5″ wide (as opposed to the 12″ width of the larger machines). I think the Cricut Joy is a phenomenal machine to gift because it’s inexpensive and great for beginners. I have an in-depth blog post with everything you need to know about the Cricut Joy here.
• Cricut Explore – This is a full-sized machine that cuts 12″ wide materials. It’s more affordable than the premium Cricut Maker which is a big bonus. The Explore cuts the majority of materials and really can handle a huge variety of projects from basic paper crafts to full iron-on designs. If you want to create full-size T-shirt designs, full scrapbook paper cut-outs, and larger projects like that, then the Explore is a great option at a good price.
• Cricut Maker – The premium Cricut machine! The Maker is an incredible machine. It does all of the things the Explore can do and then some. One standout feature of the Maker is the specialty blades that enable it to cut a huge variety of materials including wood, leather, and fabric. This machine is a fantastic gift for someone who does a ton of crafting or DIY, or for anyone who enjoys quilting and sewing projects (the fabric blade is a big plus of this machine!).

Cricut Joy Gift Guide

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1. Cricut Joy The petite size and ease of use make the Cricut Joy perfect for many types of organizing, crafting, and home decor projects.
2. Starter Tool Set This three-piece set includes the essential tools you’ll need for every project.
3. Smart Vinyl Vinyl is the most versatile of all Cricut materials so I always recommend new Cricut users pick up a couple rolls to start with. The Smart Vinyl line is specifically sized for the Cricut Joy.
4. Transfer Tape Transfer tape is a staple of any Cricut craft room. This roll is specifically sized for the Cricut Joy.
5. Metallic Markers A set of markers opens up project possibilities like “handwritten” labels, addressed envelopes, and personal notes inside greeting cards.
6. Insert Cards One of the Cricut Joy’s super powers is creating beautiful greeting cards in minutes. I love the color palette of this card pack (make sure you get a Cricut Joy card mat to go along with these).
7. Cricut Joy Card Mat If you’re getting the Cricut Joy Insert Cards, you’ll need one of these.
8. Smart Iron-On If you want to make small iron-on projects, grab a roll of this. I’d probably start with white or black as a basic color that can work with many projects.
9. Smart Label Writable Vinyl This material is awesome for creating custom labels for your organizing projects. You’ll want a Cricut Joy marker to write on this.
10. EasyPress Mini This petite tool is the perfect companion for the Cricut Joy! For those wanting to make small iron-on projects, this is a very helpful tool.

CRICUT Explore GIFT GUIDE

1. Cricut Explore Air 2 This machine can cut 100+ materials (everything from cardstock, vinyl, and iron-on to a range of specialty materials).
2. Cricut Explore Air 2 + Essentials Bundle If you’re looking for an all-in-one bundle to get started with the Cricut Explore Air 2, this is the one I recommend! It includes the cutting mats and tools you’ll need plus some materials to get you started.
3. Cutting Mat Variety Pack Cutting mats are a staple accessory for Cricut projects and this pack includes one of each type.
4. Gel Pen Set These gel pens enable you to create a handwritten look on your projects. There are a lot of colors to choose from, but this Peacock set is one of my favorites.
5. Essential Tool Set This 7-piece set includes all of the tools you’ll need for your projects.
6. Transfer Tape Transfer tape is a staple in any Cricut craft room. Make sure you have a roll for your vinyl projects!
7. Premium Vinyl Sampler Vinyl can be used in a huge variety of projects. Gift one or two of the sampler packs of vinyl to anyone getting started with Cricut.
8. Iron-On Sampler Unlock all sorts of iron-on projects with a pack of iron-on material.
9. Deluxe Paper Set This pack of cardstock has a variety of patterns and colors to kickstart all sorts of Cricut projects.
10. EasyPress 2 An EasyPress 2 is a fantastic tool for use with iron-on projects.
11. EasyPress Mat Protect your surface area and achieve flawless iron-on applications with this mat.

CRICUT Maker GIFT GUIDE

1. Cricut Maker This is the ultimate Cricut machine! It cuts 300+ materials.
2. Cricut Maker + Essentials Bundle If you’re looking for an all-in-one bundle to get started with the Cricut Maker, this is the one I recommend! It includes the cutting mats and tools you’ll need plus some materials to get you started.
3. Essential Tool Set This 7-piece set includes all of the tools you’ll need for your projects.
4. Cutting Mat Variety Pack Cutting mats are a staple accessory for Cricut projects and this pack includes one of each type.
5. Pen Set A beautiful set of metallic pens to create a “handwritten” look in your projects.
6. Sewing Kit If you plan to use the Cricut Maker for sewing projects, this is a great set of tools.
7. Kraft Board Sampler Make home decor, gifts, and more with this sampler pack.
8. Genuine Leather There are some cool projects that can be made with leather and the Cricut Maker.
9. Premium Vinyl Vinyl can be used in a huge variety of projects. Gift one or two rolls of vinyl to anyone getting started with Cricut.
10. Everyday Iron-On Sampler Unlock all sorts of iron-on projects with a pack of iron-on material.
11. EasyPress 2 An EasyPress 2 is a fantastic tool for use with iron-on projects.

You’re invited to join my free “4 Ways In 4 Days To Get Organized For The Holidays” Challenge. It’s a great way to dive deeper and get some free printables to help you get organized for the holidays.

Looking for more inspiration? Take a look at these blog posts:

• Gift Ideas for the Beginner DIYer
• Gift Ideas for Homebodies
• How to Make Pretty Pantry Labels with Cricut Vinyl
• The Complete Guide to Cricut Blades for Beginners

Have a fantastic day!