July 10, 2019

Planner Lover DIY Tote And Coasters [Featuring Cricut’s New Infusible Ink]

Create vibrant, colorful, and long-lasting projects with Cricut’s new infusible ink! Today I’m sharing a bit about this new ink transfer material is along with two fun project tutorials.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine. This post also contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.

Have you heard about Cricut’s new Infusible Ink yet? If you haven’t, your mind is about to be blown. I recently tried it out on a couple of projects and I cannot get over how vibrant and professional they look. I’ve never used a product like this before and I am blown away!

This post includes an introduction to what Infusible Ink actually is and how it works, followed by two step-by-step tutorials for making a tote bag and a set of coasters. I cannot wait for you to see how this stuff works!!!

If you’re a Cricut user already, you’re definitely going to want to give Infusible Ink a try asap. And if you don’t have a Cricut yet, this new innovation just might inspire you to add one to your wish list!

Use the links below to jump to each section of this blog post:

Cricut Infusible Ink FAQ
DIY Tote Infusible Ink Tutorial
DIY Square Coasters Infusible Ink Tutorial

What is Cricut Infusible Ink?

Infusible Ink is Cricut’s newest innovation and is basically an ink transfer product. A good way to think about it is that you are actually dying the base material instead of adhering your design to the top of your base material (like you do with heat-transfer vinyl).

Infusible Ink delivers smooth, pro-quality, vibrant designs that last a lifetime. It’s peel-proof, flake-proof, and wash-proof. Since it’s permanently infused into your base material, you can wash and use endlessly with no worries about peeling or flaking.

One important note is that Infusible Ink launched at Michaels stores this summer and is only available at Michaels for now. It will be rolling out at JOANN and Cricut.com on October 1, 2019.

What projects can I make with Infusible Ink?

You can make some really cool, professional-looking projects using Infusible Ink! Below is a list of all of the projects you can choose from using the Cricut blanks currently available.

Tote Bag with transfer sheets
Tote Bag with pens & markers
T-Shirt with transfer sheets
T-Shirt with pens & markers
Square Coasters with transfer sheets
Square Coasters with pens & markers
Round Ceramic Coasters with transfer sheets
Round Ceramic Coasters with pens & markers

Cricut has super detailed step-by-step tutorials for each of these projects at cricut.com/infusible-ink-instructions. Infusible Ink is not difficult to use but it is a new process so make sure you follow Cricut’s instructions while you learn!

What Supplies do I need for Infusible Ink?

Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker
Infusible Ink transfer sheets or Infusible Ink pens/markers and laser paper
EasyPress 2 or another heat source
A polyester or poly-coated base material (Cricut’s approved blanks recommended)
A design created in Cricut Design Space or drawn with the pens or markers
Heat Resistant Tape
Lint roller or lint free cloth, depending on the base you’re using
Other Cricut essentials like a cutting mat and tweezers

What are Infusible Ink Transfer sheets?

Cricut has launched a line of solid and patterned Infusible Ink transfer sheets. They have a range of solid colors as well as packs of fun, colorful patterns including the Watercolor Splash pattern I used for my projects.

These are solid sheets of inks that you can cut into designs using your Cricut. Once cut, you lay the transfer sheet on your base and transfer the ink with a heat source (Cricut EasyPress 2 is recommended).

The crazy thing about the transfer sheets is that they don’t look very vibrant out of the box but the colors are incredibly vibrant once infused to your base.

What are Infusible Ink pens and markers?

Another way to use Infusible Ink is by drawing designs using these special pens and markers. They contain the same ink as the transfer sheets and come in a variety of colors so you can doodle designs, color in patterns, or insert them into your Cricut and let it do the drawing for you.

To use the pens, you simply draw your design on laser paper, lay it face down on your base, and transfer the ink using heat (Cricut EasyPress 2 is recommended).

One thing to note is that your designs must be mirrored/reverse. So unless you have amazing handwriting, you’ll need to upload your design into Cricut Design Space and have your Cricut write it in reverse.

cricut-infusible-ink-blue-marker-in-cricut-clamp

What base materials can I use?

Cricut offers a growing assortment of blanks that are specially designed to work with Infusible Ink.

T-Shirts – Men’s, Women’s and Kids’
Baby Onesies
Tote Bags
Coasters – Round and Square

One of the limitations of the Infusible Ink process is that it requires a polyester or poly-coated base material. All of Cricut’s blanks have been tested so your guaranteed great results. Try this on a 100% cotton shirt and you will be disappointed.

How is Infusible Ink different from heat-transfer vinyl (HTV)?

You may have used heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) to create iron-on T-shirts and things before. Unlike HTV where your artwork is attached to the top of your base with adhesive, Infusible Ink transfers ink becomes one with the base material itself.

If you’ve had trouble with HTV material peeling or cracking in the past, you’ll love Infusible Ink because it will never peel, flake, wrinkle or crack. It truly becomes part of the fabric or base you apply it to.

The Infusible Ink process uses transfer sheets similar to HTV and they are both cut with a Cricut and applied to a base using heat.

Infusible Ink is not a replacement for HTV and your project may work best with one process over the other.

Because Infusible Ink transfers ink directly into the base material, it works best with light-colored fabric and bases. Since HTV adheres as a layer on top of your fabric or base, it can be applied to any color of base material.

HTV can also be applied to a huge range of fabrics and base materials whereas Infusible Ink is limited to polyester or poly-coated bases.

Which Cricut machines are compatible with Infusible Ink?

Infusible Ink is compatible with all Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore family machines, as well as Cricut EasyPress 2 and Cricut EasyPress. I used my Cricut Maker (aka my favorite crafting tool).

Related Article: What Materials Does The Cricut Maker cut?

What Heating methods can I use With Cricut Infusible Ink?

The Cricut EasyPress 2 is the recommended heat source and that is what I used for my projects with great results. Infusible Ink requires high temperatures (around 400°) and the length of time you apply the heat is very specific (the EasyPress’s timer comes in handy for this).

If you have the original EasyPress, it will work but it doesn’t get quite as hot as the newer EasyPress 2 so your results may not be as vibrant.

Cricut Infusible Ink Tote Bag Tutorial

I created a fun, colorful tote bag to carry around all of my notebooks and planner supplies. If you’re a planner girl and obsessed with office supplies like I am, then I know you’ll love this project!

I was really excited to test out both the Infusible Ink transfer sheets and markers so I created a design that put both to the test!

Supply list

Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker
Watercolor Splash Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets
12×12 cardstock or laser paper
Infusible Ink neon blue marker
EasyPress 2 or another heat source
Tote Bag Blank
Standard Grip Cutting Mat
2 Sheets Of Butcher Paper (included with transfer sheets)
2 Sheets Of White Cardstock
Heat Resistant Tape
Lint Roller
Design (download mine in Cricut Design Space)

Step 1 – Cut And Draw Your Design

Open your design in Design Space and make any adjustments to the size so it fits your tote bag. Click “Make It” and be sure to mirror everything. Select “Browse All Materials” and search for Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet.

Follow the on-screen instructions which will guide you through cutting out the circle design and drawing the words with an Infusible Ink marker.

For the words, place a 12×12 sheet of white paper onto a cutting mat and load into your Cricut. Insert the blue Infusible Ink marker into the auxiliary clamp of your Cricut and press “Go”. Your Cricut will draw all of the words for you! (Make sure your design is mirrored).

For the circle design, place an Infusible Ink transfer sheet onto a StandardGrip cutting mat, liner side down. Load the mat into your Cricut machine and press “Go”. Your Cricut will cut out the circle in a jiffy.

cricut-maker-on-table-cutting-infusible-ink

Step 2 – Weed Your Design

Remove the transfer sheet from your cutting mat and weed the negative space. Infusible Ink transfer sheets are thicker than your typical adhesive vinyl and weeding is easiest by “cracking” the cut line and using your fingers or tweezers to pull the excess material off of the adhesive liner.

Remove the word design from the cutting mat, weeding away the excess paper.

Step 3 – Apply Your Design

Use your EasyPress 2 to infuse your design into the tote bag! Set your EasyPress 2 to 385°F (195°C) and 15 seconds.

Cover the Cricut EasyPress Mat with cardstock to protect it. Slide the mat and cardstock inside the tote bag. Make sure it’s centered with the tote.

Use a lint roller to clean the entire surface of the bag. Any tiny little debris will result in imperfections so this step is important!

Cover the tote bag with a sheet of butcher paper. Place your EasyPress 2 on top of the butcher paper and heat for 15 seconds to remove wrinkles and moisture. Remove the butcher paper and allow the tote to cool completely.

Place your circle design face down on the tote making sure it is centered. The clear adhesive liner should be on top and will stick your design in place so it doesn’t shift.

Place butcher paper on top of your design and heat with the EasyPress 2 for 40 seconds at 385°F (195°C). Take care to hold the EasyPress in place so your design doesn’t slide around! If your EasyPress 2 is not large enough to cover the entire design, repeat this process until all areas of your design has been heated for the full 40 seconds.

Remove the EasyPress 2 and allow the project to cool completely before removing the butcher paper and transfer sheet. You’ll notice that all of the ink from your transfer ink is gone and has literally been infused into the fabric of the tote!

You’ll see in the below photo that when I first pulled up the transfer sheet, I noticed some of the ink hadn’t entirely come off of the transfer sheet. I carefully laid it back down in the same place and applied another round of heat and that did the trick.

The next step is to infuse the lettering over top of your circle design. Place the lettering face down on your tote, aligning the lettering with the circle design underneath. Use heat resistant tape to secure your design into place so it doesn’t shift while heating.

Place butcher paper on top of the design and press at 385°F (195°C) for 40 seconds. When the beep sounds, carefully lift the EasyPress and repeat if necessary to heat the entire design.

Allow the project to cool completely before pulling away the butcher paper and laser paper.

Isn’t this tote so cool?!

And check out the close-up to see how the ink literally looks like the bag was bought that way. You really do get professional-looking results!

Cricut Infusible Ink Square Coaster Tutorial

The second project I created is a set of coasters! I was skeptical that the ink would actually infuse into the coaster itself but the results shocked me. You can’t at all see a ridge around the design, it’s completely smooth and the ink really did become one with the coaster base.

The coasters follow the same process I used on the tote bag only with different heat settings.