Cricut Mug Press Review

Are you tired of your plain-looking mugs? If your answer is in the affirmative, you may want to try the Cricut mug press to create perfectly flat and permanent images on the mugs.

Okay, so what exactly is the Cricut Mug Press? It is simply a user-friendly machine that comes in handy to help you custom-make your mug.

The device works with infusible ink to transfer the design you want onto polyurethane-coated mugs. Now, this is not a new concept because mug presses have been in existence for a while. The thing is that Cricut’s products are designed to seamlessly fit with other systems and machines from the stable. 

As a brand, they have put in a lot to ensure you get the most out of:

• User-friendliness
• Safety
• Professional results

You will realize that most mug presses in the market skip out on one or more of these concepts. Anyway, this review is going to cover everything you need to know about the mug press so you may want to keep it here for more.

Cricut Mug Press Key Features

Wouldn’t you like to know what features you are going to get when you purchase the Cricut mug press? Here you go!

1. Dishwasher and Microwave Safe

The mugs you customize using the mug press will be life proof and they can be compared to professionally done ones.

Being microwave and dishwasher safe, you can use the mugs and trust that will last a long time without peeling or fading.

2. Auto-Shutoff Feature

You may be indisposed or even forget to turn off your machine when you need to. Not to worry, this mug press automatically shuts off after 13 minutes of inactivity. That is a good thing wouldn’t you say?

3. Uniform Heating

You want the design you pick to be transferred accurately and uniformly to your mug. As such, you will be pleased to learn that the heat plate inside the machine heats evenly from both the base and the side to deliver perfect results.

4. One-Touch Function

All you have to do is press a single button to get the mug press functioning. It comes with LED lights that track the transfer process and you will get an alert once it is done.

5. Insulated Case

Since the Cricut mug press is an electric device, there is always the risk of suffering burns or damage to your worktop. This machine comes with an insulated case so you never have to worry about burning your fingers or worktop as the case takes care of that. 

On What Materials Can this Heat Press be Used?

The first thing you need to know is that the mug press is made to function with Pens, Transfer sheets, and Cricut Infusible Ink Mug Blanks.

Now, you have probably never used Infusible ink before but that is nothing to worry about simply because it is extremely easy to use.

Simply put, the mug press is designed to work with Cricut mug blanks because they are optimized for the same. However, you can use sublimation mug blanks because they come with a unique coating that allows the ink to transfer.

How to Use The Cricut Mug Press

It is only natural for you to want to find out how the Cricut Mug Press works but before that, you want to gather the tools you need and that would be heat-resistant tape, infusible ink transfer pens or sheets, and a Cricut mug blank.

Once you have those, you will need to follow the following steps.

Step 1

The first phase involves design where you will be required to use the Cricut design space software and your cutting machine.

Here, you can use a template or create your design. Once you are satisfied with the design, it will be ready for cutting and you will need Infusible Ink transfer materials for the process.

Note that you cannot use regular vinyl because it will only sit on top of the mug surface when pressed on. Infusible ink effortlessly fuses with the mug hence longer-lasting and professional-looking transfers. That is the whole point, isn’t it?

Step 2

Take the heat-resistant tape and put it over your cut-out design. This is supposed to secure it. At this point, you want to ensure that the tape covers your entire design otherwise you risk compromising the result.

Step 3 

Next, there is the attachment stage that involves putting your cut design onto the mug. What you want to do at this point is to peel off the back of the design and place it carefully where you want it on the mug.

After that, you want to turn the mug press and insert your mug. Locate the start button and press it. As soon as you do that, the transfer process will begin and when it is done, you will hear a beep.

Step 4

Upon completion of the transfer, all the five lights on the mug press will flash so then you want to pull up and take out your mug. It will be very hot then so be careful and also let it cool completely before using it.

You now have your customized mug so feel free to drink from it and wash it without worrying that the design will come off.  It is as permanent as they come.

What is Good About It?

Surely, the Cricut mug press has to come with benefits. It does, and here are some of them.

The Cricut Mug Press is not only easy to use but fun as well and delivers excellent results always. It functions exactly how you would expect it to. All you have to do is place your mug inside and lower the lever.

Within a few minutes, you will have a vivid, custom design that will not fade, peel, or rub off. It will be dishwasher safe as well.

You will be able to create your designs using infusible ink pens and infusible transfer sheets if you are not interested in using templates. 

All you have to do is create the design you want in the design space, cut it using the Cricut machine, and simply attach it to your mug for pressing.

As for the pens, you can use the Cricut machine to freehand or draw your design. That means that you can get your kids to draw or trace something they had already done and paste it onto your mug.

With the pens, you can use the Cricut machine to draw your creation, or you can freehand it. That 

How Better Is It than Ordinary Mug Presses

Is the Cricut mug press better than the others in the market? 

That is a question you may be asking yourself and it is valid. Well, the Cricut Mug press does stand apart from the rest, and here’s how.

First, it features a one-touch setting to make your user experience simple and easy. All you have to do is press the start button to automatically heat the machine and correct the temperature.

The self-timer and temperature control features guarantee flawless results every time. Moreover, the Mug press automatically switches off when it is done transferring and that will give you peace of mind, wouldn’t you agree?

Another thing is that other mug presses usually come with an open face design that makes it easy for you to get accidentally burnt or press your mug too loose or too tight.

With the Cricut mug press, there is no guesswork. Its ingenious design applies the correct amount of pressure and heat every single time for perfect results.

Lastly, while other mug presses will require you to adjust the settings manually, you won’t have to do that with the Cricut mug press. It is compatible with 11-16 0z mugs without having to adjust anything. How cool is that?

Therefore, the Cricut mug press is better than others in the market by far.

Pricing

Now, you can buy the mug press on Amazon, JOANN, and pretty much all craft and big box stores. It is great that you can access this product both online and offline right?

Anyway, it goes for an average of $200 but you also want to keep in mind that you will need to purchase the ink transfer sheets that go for $7 for two. 

The ink pens go for $7 for three and the mugs go for as low as $6 depending on the ounces. Of course, you can use sublimation blanks, you just have to make sure that they are about the same shape and size as Cricut mugs.

The price may be unaffordable for some especially since there will be a need to purchase materials for each project.

As the name implies, this is a single-use machine and that makes the price point somehow harder to meet.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Cricut Mug Press

The following faqs are supposed to give you a clearer insight into Cricut mug presses because they are some of the most commonly asked.