Cricut for Cheap!
Here are my recommendations for Cricut dupes, accessories, and supplies for crafters on a budget!
I have been crafting with Cricut for 6 years now. I bought my Explore Air 2 in 2018 and have used it in almost every single cosplay project since. I also use it in my everyday life and have used it to make decals for my car, decorate my 3D printers, and help with weddings. I was even the go-to Cricut expert when I worked at JOANN in college!
However, a very common complaint about Cricut is how expensive it is even after the upfront cost of buying the machine. This is often cited as a factor that intimidates newcomers and prevents them from getting into the hobby. Well, I am here to tell you that you don’t have to spend an arm and leg on tools and supplies. Here’s my secret: I buy all my accessories, vinyl, and everything else for my Cricut projects from third-party, off-brand vendors on Amazon and Ali Express for just a fraction of the cost.
Here are my tried and true finds from Amazon that I personally recommend! (If you make a qualifying purchase through the links in this article, I may earn affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. I personally use and genuinely recommend the majority of the products mentioned. Note that prices listed may change or fluctuate.)
Heat Transfer Vinyl
I recently made a cape for my Starlight cosplay for which I had to cut and iron on 600 stars to make “custom” fabric. I used 10 feet of 12 inch wide glitter HTV. That much in Cricut vinyl would have cost me $78 before tax! Even with coupons and discounts, that amount of vinyl from Siser or Oracal name brands would have set me back at least $40. Instead, I was able to buy 12 sheets of 12”x10” gold glitter vinyl for only $13.99!
With off-brand vinyl, you also have more options in colors, sizes, textures, and finishes. Beyond just glitter, the sky is the limit! Here are some awesome iron-on vinyls I have found:
Glitter HTV - $9.99 for 12in x 5ft roll
3D puff HTV - $12.99 for 12in x 6ft roll
Stretch HTV - $8.99 for 12in x 12ft roll
Bundle of assorted colors of regular HTV - $25.99 for 47 12”x10” sheets
Chrome and holographic HTV - $11.90 for 12in x 6ft roll (*I have not tried these)
Blades and Mats
Replacement blades are one of the most expensive parts of owning a Cricut. A two-pack of fine point blades goes for $13. Although mats are replaced a lot less frequently, a 3 pack from Cricut is as much as $40 for the regular size or still more than $20 on sale! Fret not, because you can get knock-off mats for less than half that cost and a lifetime supply of blades for the same. I bought a 50 pack of blades that includes deep point blades over a year ago and have barely made a dent in it.
6 pack of 12”x12” mats including standard, strong, fabric, and light grips - $15.99
4 pack of 24” long mats including fabric, strong, standard, and light grips - $23.99 (*I have not tried these)
Other Vinyls and Accessories
I’ve talked a lot about HTV, but here are some other listings for your non-iron-on vinyl projects:
Permanent outdoor vinyl - $18.98 for 12in x 50ft roll (*I have not tried this)
Gridded transfer tape - $15.99 for 12in x 50ft roll (*I have not tried this)
Stencil vinyl - $6.99 for 12in x 6ft roll (*I have not tried this)
Weeding tool set - $9.99 for set of 6 vs $27 for the official Cricut set
Did you know you can get knock-offs of the EasyPress? A 9”x9” EasyPress 3 is $199.99 regular price and $99.99 on sale. HTVRONT (a brand I have purchased from many times) sells their larger, 10”x10” version of the EasyPress 2 style heat press for $79.99 in several colors. I have not personally tried it, but they sell many other heat press machines and are a trusted brand.
If you’re wondering if this style of heat press is even worth it, let me tell you: I used to be an EasyPress hater. I thought they were overpriced irons. But then, I got a 9”x9” EasyPress 2 on sale with my JOANN employee discount and boy did it change the game for me and I haven’t had a failed HTV project since! If you do try out the HTVRONT press, do let me know how you like it.
I do want to mention that a huge contributor to my success with HTV is the Teflon mat. I got a small one for my EasyPress back in the day, but you can get much larger ones for half the price without the Cricut brand. Here’s a 12”x12” one for $7.98.
I also want to give an honorable mention to these pen adapter sets. The Cricut pens are expensive and dry out easily. With these, you can fit any pen or marker into your machine and open up a world of possibilities!
Once you’re able to stop worrying about the cost of crafting, the possibilities become endless. I hope I’m able to open up some new doors for you and inspire you to continue creating!
