I get it.

Starting out as a beginner Cricut user can be super intimidating.

You don’t know what to buy, what you need to learn and where to begin. Since you don’t have an unlimited budget or time, these Cricut hacks are some great tips from experienced crafters that will save you serious cash and frustration. Check them out!

Please note this post contains affiliate links that may provide me a small commission at ZERO added cost to you, which make it possible to bring you more free content!

1. Use Glad Press ‘n Seal instead of transfer paper as a very cheap substitute!

This is an awesome hack in a bind. I also think that a great budget friendly substitute that works a bit better is use contact paper that works great for transferring images for about $5 on Amazon or at Walmart. (via Artsy Fartsy Mama)

2. Remove tiny pieces from Cricut cutouts with a sticky lint roller.

A lint roller can also be used to remove glitter or left over debri from your cutting mat AND helps keep them sticky at the same time! Seriously, this is like a 3-for-1 hack 🙂 (via Pinterest)

3. Use Dollar Store pencil grips to get Sharpies to fit in the Cricut Explore pen holder.

They sell adaptors that do the same thing, but this $1 hack is totally genius! (via Susie B’s Crafty Cabin)

4. Cheap Way to Clean Your Cricut Mat

My favorite way to quickly and easily clean my mats is just plain Dawn soap and warm water. Or, if its just a quick clean up I will use a non-alcoholic baby wipe. However, some people swear by Awesome spray (yep, that’s the brand name) that you can get at Dollar Store. I’ve been told to only use it on the older mats (with flowers) though. I try to keep things as natural as possible and steer clear of harsh chemicals, so Dawn and warm water or baby wipes is the way to go for me!

5. How to “Resticky” Your Cutting Mat

Is “resticky” a word? I don’t think so, but it gets the point across so we’re going with it!

When you first get your mat, it will feel SUPER sticky. However, over time, it will start to loose the stickiness, so this is a great trick to make it last longer so you don’t have to replace them so often (again saving money!)

Simply tape off the edges of your mat with painter’s tape and spray this magical stuff lightly over your mat to get your sticky back. Buy a bottle of Easy-Tack here. For more info on this method, check out this post by The Scrapmaster.

Also, (bonus hack!) I mentioned above that new mats are almost too sticky. Well, you may want to press your hands all over them a few times to help “wear” them in before your first project. Also, make sure to use the right mat. The green mat will be too sticky for cardstock at first so you’ll want to use your blue mat.

6. Use a tennis ball to get vinyl to stick to textured walls.

Super smart! Makes the vinyl stick really well while being gentle on your walls. Win win! (via Craft E Corner)

7. If you lose your burnishing tool, use a credit card or old gift card to rub the design well for an easy transfer after weeding.

8. Cut freezer paper using your Cricut to create a stencil that is practically free.

A great trick if you want to make a wooden sign for instance.

9. Keep the plastic sheet that comes with your mats and put it back on after use to prevent pet hair or dust from sticking to them.

10. Store your vinyl rolls in an Ikea holder on a lazy susan.

This storage hack is absolutely genius and SUPER cheap! It works so well, you’ll think it was made for vinyl storage. (via It Happens in a Blink)

11. Wrap masking or painters tape around your hand to easily remove scraps when weeding.

You won’t believe how much this simple tip will speed up your weeding process which can get quite tedious for more intricate designs. (via Pinterest)

12. Mark the top side of your cutting mat to make sure you load it correctly.

This is important for beginners to avoid costly mistakes that could mean cutting through your mat if loaded incorrectly!

13. To sharpen your Cricut blade, poke it in and out of a ball of aluminum foil.

This is perhaps one of my favorite and most useful hacks. You won’t believe the difference and how much more life you can get out of a blade when you do this regularly. It’s like maintaining your car or any other piece of equipment.

14. Spice up your designs with new fonts! Find a TON of free ones at dafont.com.

Just be careful if you are using them on products you are selling – you will need a commercial use license.

15. Download Inkscape to create your own SVGs for free!

Need help learning how to master Inkscape? Check out our membership that includes an entire course and 4+ hours of videos on How to Create SVGs Using Inkscape.

What to read next: 9 Genius Cricut Ikea Hacks for Crafters

Which of these Cricut hacks was your favorite?

Pin this post to refer back to it later: