Cricut Infusible Ink T-Shirt Source: Karen S. Freeman / iMore

Can you use Infusible Ink with the Cricut Joy? You absolutely can. Infusible Ink is actually one of my favorite Cricut projects, as I mentioned in my Cricut Joy review. Infusible Ink is different from regular iron-on vinyl because the ink is permanently infused into your fabric or ceramic blank. You don't ever have to worry about it peeling or cracking. This guide will be focused on Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets. You'll need a Cricut Joy, Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets, basic Cricut Joy tools, and some blank items to personalize.

Products used in this guide

How to use Infusible Ink transfer sheets

  1. Choose or create your design in Design Space and select Make It.

  2. Choose "On Mat."

    Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Project Choose Or Create Your Design In Design SpaceCricut Joy Infusible Ink Project Choose On Mat And Click DoneSource: Karen S. Freeman / iMore

  3. Review your artwork, keeping in mind that your design can be no wider than 5.5 inches with the Cricut Joy.
  4. Select Mirror

  5. Tap Continue

    Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Project Select Mirror Then ContinueSource: Karen S. Freeman / iMore

  6. Connect your Cricut Joy via Bluetooth
  7. Select Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet from the list of materials.

  8. Load mat and Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet into the Cricut Joy and click Go.

    Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Project Load Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet On Mat Into MachineSource: Karen S. Freeman / iMore

  9. After cutting is complete, weed your design (remove excess material) using a weeding tool or tweezers.
  10. Prep and pre-heat your blank item.
  11. Place the Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet facedown on your blank.
  12. Place a sheet of butcher paper (included with your Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets) on top.

  13. Place your Cricut EasyPress or iron on top using the time and temperature specified by Cricut's Heat Guide.

    Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Project Apply Heat With Easypress Or IronSource: Karen S. Freeman / iMore

  14. Remove the EasyPress or iron and allow it to cool completely before removing the butcher paper.

That's it! You can wash and dry your item without worrying about the design peeling or cracking. Use cold water and mild detergent for apparel, and wash it inside-out. Line dry or tumble dry it in low heat without fabric softener.

Our top equipment picks

Here are the items you absolutely need for this project.

The cute cutting machine

Cricut Joy

Crafter's delight

The Cricut Joy is a scaled-down Cricut machine that's perfect for smaller Infusible Ink projects.

Iron-on alternative

Cricut Joy Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets

Permanently infused

Infusible Ink is similar to iron-on vinyl, only it's not vinyl. It's ink that infuses right into what you're making, so there's no chance it can crack or peel over time. Transfer sheets sized for your Cricut Joy make it easy to cut out your designs so you can apply them to the blanks of your choice. There are tons of colors and patterns from which to choose.

Compatible blanks

Cricut Infusible Ink Blanks

Great results

While you can use other blanks, Cricut recommends using their own Infusible Ink compatible blanks for best results. In addition to t-shirts, Cricut also makes baby onesies, wine bags, tote bags, pillows, ceramic coasters, and more.

Additional Equipment

You'll definitely need a heat source to infuse your design. The Cricut EasyPress is ideal for the job since you can set the precise temperature and time, though you can use your regular home iron. It's also nice to have a Cricut weeding tool, which is part of the toolset, but you can use regular tweezers if you prefer.

Cricut EasyPress 2, 6-inch-by-7-inch ($117 at Amazon)

Yes, you can use an ordinary household iron (without steam!) for your Iron-On and Infusible Ink projects, but the EasyPress, with its precise heat measurements, wide surface area, and timer, is the perfect tool for the job.

Cricut Joy Starter Tool Set ($11 at Amazon)

The set includes a weeding tool, scraper, and spatula, essential tools for any project. The holes on the ends are handy for storing the tools on a pegboard.

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Trim any paper to the perfect size for your Cricut Joy
A cut above

Trim any paper to the perfect size for your Cricut Joy

Tiny crafting dynamo Cricut Joy can cut materials up to about five inches in width. So what do you do if your paper, cardstock, or vinyl is wider than that? Use one of these great paper trimmers to get any of your materials to the exact size you need for your Cricut Joy.