On the hunt for the perfect customized ceramic coasters? Try this simple DIY that you can make in minutes. This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.
Let me tell you how excited I am to finally share my first Cricut Infusible Ink project with you guys! When I first heard that Cricut was releasing the Infusible Ink I knew it would be a game changer. The versatility of the ink is mind blowing. If you’re ready to take your DIY and crafting projects up a notch, I highly suggest you give Infusible Ink a try with your Cricut Maker or Explore Air 2.
For my first project I decided to stick with something simple – DIY coasters. It’s safe to say that coasters are a staple in every household. With the holidays right around the corner I thought that coasters would be the perfect gift for family, friends, and party hosts.
DIY Coasters: How to Make Cricut Infusible Ink Coasters
Before you get started with this super simple DIY, you’ll want to choose the coasters for your project. Cricut makes two types of coasters that work with the Infusible Ink line. The round coasters are a poly-coated ceramic and the square coasters are poly-coated ceramic with a cork backing. They both have the same price point so it all comes down to preference. I chose to use the round coasters for this holiday design but definitely will be making a fun design in the future.
What is Infusible Ink?
Infusible Ink is unlike any other material Cricut has every created. Unlike heat transfer vinyl (HTV) it doesn’t use adhesive. It’s an actual ink that fuses together with the material you’re using, and if you don’t follow the instructions carefully can leave a mess. It’s doesn’t peel, flake or wash off – it’s literally the perfect material.
Supplies Needed for Cricut Infusible Ink Coasters
- Cricut Air Explore 2 or Maker
- Light Grip or Standard Grip Mat (I prefer light grip)
- Cricut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets
- Cricut Infusible Ink Ceramic Coasters
- EasyPress 2
- EasyPress 2 Mat
- White Cardstock
- Butcher Paper (comes in the Infusible Ink package)
- Lint Free Cloth (included in the Infusible Ink Package)
- Scissors/tweezers (optional)
Instructions for the DIY Coasters
Before jumping into your project, it’s important to note a few things. First things first, make sure that you have all of your materials before starting. Once you begin you won’t want to step away to find any missing materials. Clean hands are an absolute must. I made the mistake of taking out the transfer sheets without washing my hands first and left finger prints on the sheets. Working with Infusible Ink is different than working with any other material so you’ll want to read the instructions carefully and follow them to a tee. You don’t want to have to start all over because you made the silly mistake of not reading the directions and messing up.
Step One: Create your design in Cricut Design Space
For this particular holiday design, I chose to use a pre-made design by Natalie Malan. There are hundreds of designs to choose from in Design Space that would make festive holiday coasters.
Since I didn’t use an actual coaster design, I had to size the images to the correct size of the coaster. The coasters are 3.5″ x 3.5″ so you’ll want to make sure that your images are that size.
If you’re looking for a pre-sized coaster design, simply search for “coasters” under the images section in Design Space.
Step Two: Prepping for the Cut
When creating your design, set the designs to cut. Once all of your designs have been chosen and sized properly, click the green “Make It” button in the upper right corner.
Once you’re on the next screen prior to cutting, be sure to make sure that your image is selected to cut as a mirror image. This skip is especially important if you’re using a graphic with texts.
Select continue. You’ll want to choose Infusible Ink Transfer Sheet as your material if you’re using a Cricut Maker. If you have an Explore Air 2, use the Custom Material setting on the dial and then search for “ink”.
Be sure to use the fine point blade in side B of your machine.*
Step Three: Cutting your design
Place your Infusible Ink transfer sheet liner side down on a cutting mat. I like to use the blue light grip but the green standard grip works well too. (I find that the transfer sheets come off a little easier with the light grip mat.)
To secure the sheet to the mat, I run my hands over the material. You could use a Cricut brayer to smooth it out if you have one. If you’re using your hands, use gloves so that the ink doesn’t get all over your hands.
Load the mat into your machine and press the “C” to begin cutting.
Step Four: Weeding your project
You know all of those fancy Cricut weeding tools you have? Forget about them here. The old fashion using your hands method works best here.
Step Five: Applying Infusible Ink to coaster blanks
This is where following directions is extremely important. I made a few mistakes the first time (sharing those with you below). Using the lint free cloth, wipe your coaster before transferring the images. Place your materials in a stack in this exact order:
- EasyPress Mat
- White cardstock (to protect your mat)
- Weeded transfer image (colored-side facing UP)
- Coaster (shiny side DOWN) centered on the transfer image
- Butcher paper (included in infusible ink package)
- EasyPress 2
Step Six: Let the transfer begin
Preheat your EasyPress 2 to 400 degrees and set the timer to 240 seconds. Yup, you read that right. You’ll need to apply heat with the EasyPress 2 for a full 4 minutes for each coaster design. This will allow the design the penetrate completely through the coaster.
Once your EasyPress 2 is pre-heated, place it carefully on top of the stack. You do not need to apply any pressure or move the EasyPress 2 around. Press the “C” to start the timer.
After the timer is finished, the waiting begins. Do not remove the transfer sheet from the coaster until it is completely cooled which will take a few minutes. It will be hot to the touch, way hotter than you think. If you need to move onto another coaster design, use an oven mitt to move the hot coaster to another surface.
This was my first Infusible Ink project and I made a few mistakes along the way. Even though there were a few hiccups (honestly because I didn’t pay more attention to the instructions) this was a fairly simple project and one that I would suggest for beginners. I’m super impressed with the end result and will be handing out a set of coasters paired with wine glasses or a bottle of wine for all of the party hosts during the holidays. DIY coasters that are handmade with the Cricut Maker make the gift extra special and are the perfect way to say thanks to your host/hostess for inviting you to be a part of their festivities. Plus who doesn’t love handmade gifts!
Mistakes to Avoid
- Not using gloves was my first mistake. As soon as I took the transfer sheets out of the package, I got fingerprints all over them. My hands were wet which caused the ink to come off. I was able to still work around the fingerprints and salvage the sheets but I used gloves for the sheets after.
- When transferring the design on the coaster, I placed the design on top of the coaster instead of on the bottom and turning the coaster upside down. This made for an uneven image.
- I used the incorrect time setting for the first coaster. You can see in the image above that my EasyPress 2 was set for only 60 seconds. The entire image didn’t transfer onto the first coaster because the heat wasn’t applied for long enough.
- My designs were too big. The first time that I cut the images they were too large.
How to Care for your Cricut Infusible Ink Coasters
Proper care of your DIY coasters will ensure that they last for a very long time. You can wash them with warm water and glass cleaner. Vinegar and water works too. Do not use steel wool, colored cleansing agents, or scrubbing pads.
Have you tried to make any projects with Infusible Ink yet?
This post contains affiliate links which I may earn a commission from if products are purchased through the links listed.**
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