The Cricut Materials Handbook: Take the Guesswork Out of Materials, Blades, Mats & Cut Settings – Digital Download

New – August 2026!

Not sure which blade to use?
Wondering which mat works with your material?
Need to know what cut setting to start with?

With so many Cricut materials, tools, mats, and machines to choose from, it can be hard to know what works together and where to start.

The Cricut Materials Handbook is a practical, full-color digital reference guide designed to help you quickly find the material, machine compatibility, blade or tool, mat, and starting cut setting you need — without searching all over for answers or relying on guesswork.

This is not a step-by-step Cricut course.
And it’s not a collection of full projects to follow.

It’s your go-to Cricut materials reference for those moments when you’re ready to make something and find yourself asking:

“Can my Cricut cut this?”
“Which blade and mat should I use?”
“What setting should I start with?”

Simply find the material you’re using, check the recommended setup, make a test cut, and start creating with more confidence.

What’s Inside the Cricut Materials Handbook

This 145-page, full-color digital handbook covers a wide variety of Cricut materials along with the practical information you need to start working with them.

Quick-Reference Guides

Quickly check:

• Which materials work with Cricut Joy, Joy Xtra, Explore, Maker, and Venture machines
• Recommended blades and tools
• Recommended Cricut mats
• Starting cut settings
• Material loading and mirroring information
• Helpful cutting notes and tips

You’ll also find a Blade & Material Quick Match Guide to help you find the right setup even faster.

Adhesive Vinyl

Learn about and compare materials including:

• Permanent and removable vinyl
• Smart Vinyl
• Stencil vinyl
• Chalkboard vinyl
• Window cling
• Frosted glass vinyl
• Transfer tape basics

Iron-On (HTV)

Find practical guidance for:

• Everyday Iron-On
• Smart Iron-On
• SportFlex Iron-On
• Flocked Iron-On
• Puff (3D) Iron-On
• Glitter Iron-On
• Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets
• Mirroring and pressing basics

Paper & Cardstock

Get guidance for working with:

• Light, medium, and heavy cardstock
• Glitter cardstock
• Patterned cardstock
• Vellum
• Crepe paper
• Corrugated cardboard
• Poster board
• Kraft board

Plus tips for choosing the right paper and mat, scoring and folding, and removing cardstock cleanly.

Printable & Sticker Materials

Explore:

• Printable sticker paper
• Waterproof sticker paper
• Printable vinyl
• Printable iron-on
• Photo paper
• Waterslide decal paper
• Sublimation paper
• Printable magnet sheets
• Print Then Cut basics

Specialty Materials

Learn how to approach materials including:

• Laminating sheets and pouches
• Acetate
• Acrylic
• Shrink plastic
• Foil transfer sheets

Plus guidance for choosing the right blade or tool and testing specialty materials before committing to a full project.

Fabric & Soft Materials

Find tips and starting information for:

• Cotton fabric
• Bonded and unbonded fabric
• Felt
• Faux fur
• Monk’s cloth

Wood, Leather & Other Sturdy Materials

Explore materials including:

• Basswood
• Balsa wood
• Chipboard
• Wood veneer
• Genuine leather
• Faux leather
• Tooling leather

You’ll also learn what to check for when working with thicker materials, including clearance, compatibility, and secure placement.

Material Substitution Guide

Don’t have the exact material a project calls for?

Use the Material Substitution Guide to help you find another material that may work for your project.

Material Test Tracker

Keep track of the settings that work best with your own Cricut machine and materials so you can easily reference them the next time you make.

Why You’ll Love This Handbook

✔ Quick and easy to reference while you craft
✔ Helps take the guesswork out of blades, mats, tools, and settings
✔ Includes compatibility information for multiple Cricut machines
✔ Gives you a recommended starting point instead of leaving you to figure it out alone
✔ Helps you make smarter test cuts before using an entire sheet of material
✔ Includes project inspiration and creative ideas throughout
✔ Helps you confidently explore materials you may not have tried before
✔ Includes an interactive table of contents in the digital edition so you can jump directly to what you need

You don’t need to memorize every Cricut material or cut setting.

Find your material. Check your setup. Make a test cut. Start creating.

Keep the Cricut Materials Handbook open on your device or nearby at your craft table, and you’ll always have a reliable place to start when you’re wondering “What do I use for this?”

Your digital purchase also includes free ebook updates, so when updates are made to the handbook, you’ll be able to re-download the newest version at no additional cost.

All of the products in this bookshop are digital downloads only.

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