The 5 Cricut Tools Every Beginner Actually Needs (And What to Skip)

If you’re new to Cricut, let me save you time, money, and frustration.

When I first started, I bought everything—only to realize that about half of it sat untouched. The truth is, you don’t need a massive craft room or dozens of tools to get started. You just need the right five.

Below are the Cricut tools I use constantly—and the ones I recommend every beginner start with.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use or truly believe in.

1. Cricut Cutting Machine (Start Simple)

This may sound obvious, but choosing the right Cricut machine matters.

For most beginners, the Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker is more than enough. If you’re mostly making vinyl decals, labels, shirts, or home décor, you don’t need the most advanced model right away.

Why it’s essential:
This is the heart of your crafting setup—clean cuts, consistent results, and endless project options.

👉 Tip: Start with one machine and grow into others later.

2. Cricut StandardGrip & LightGrip Mats

If there’s one thing beginners underestimate, it’s mats.

You’ll want at least two:

• StandardGrip (green): Vinyl, cardstock, iron-on
• LightGrip (blue): Paper, delicate materials

Why it’s essential:
Using the wrong mat can ruin materials and waste money. These two mats cover 90% of beginner projects.

👉 Amazon tip: Compatible off-brand mats can work well and cost less—I link both options in my supply list.

3. Basic Cricut Tool Set (Don’t Overbuy)

You don’t need every specialty tool Cricut sells.

Start with:

• Weeding tool
• Scraper
• Spatula
• Small scissors

Why it’s essential:
These tools help you clean cuts, remove vinyl smoothly, and avoid tearing designs.

👉 Skip for now: Foil tools, engraving tips, and specialty blades unless you already have a specific project in mind.

4. Vinyl & Iron-On (Just the Basics)

Vinyl is where most beginners get overwhelmed.

Start with:

• Permanent vinyl (for signs, decals)
• Iron-on vinyl (for shirts, bags)
• Transfer tape

Why it’s essential:
This combo lets you create the most popular beginner projects—without clutter.

👉 Beginner tip: Buy a small variety pack instead of full rolls until you know what you actually use.

5. A Simple Heat Press (or EasyPress Alternative)

You don’t need a giant professional press on day one.

A Cricut EasyPress or compact heat press works perfectly for:

• T-shirts
• Tote bags
• Small home projects

Why it’s essential:
Consistent heat = long-lasting designs. An iron just doesn’t cut it.

👉 Amazon alternative: There are excellent beginner heat presses that cost less and perform beautifully.

Tools You Can Skip (For Now)

Let me save you some money:

• Mug press
• Engraving tools
• Specialty blades
• Large material bundles

These are great—but only after you know what kind of crafter you are.

My Beginner Cricut Supply Checklist

Here’s your simple starter setup:

• ✔ Cricut cutting machine
• ✔ StandardGrip + LightGrip mats
• ✔ Basic tool set
• ✔ Vinyl + iron-on + transfer tape
• ✔ Heat press

That’s it. No overwhelm. No wasted money.

Final Encouragement

If you’ve been putting off starting because you think you need everything—you don’t.

Start small. Learn as you go. Build confidence with simple projects. That’s exactly how I started—and it’s how Nurtured Nook came to life.



If you found this helpful, bookmark it or share it with another beginner who’s ready to start crafting with confidence 💛