Recommended Resources & Crafting Tools
Welcome to Creative Makery’s curated list of our favorite crafting tools and resources! As crafters ourselves, we’ve tested countless products and these are the ones we genuinely recommend. Please note: Some links below are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we truly believe in!
⚠️ Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support Creative Makery and allows us to continue creating quality designs and helpful content. Thank you for your support!
📚 Quick Navigation
- Cutting Machines (Cricut & Silhouette)
- Heat Presses & Heat Tools
- Sublimation Printers & Supplies
- Vinyl & HTV
- Essential Tools & Accessories
- Sublimation Blanks
- Design Software & Resources
- Learning Resources
- Recommended Starter Kits
✂️ Cutting Machines (Cricut & Silhouette)
🌟 Best for Beginners:
Cricut Explore 3
Why We Love It: Perfect balance of features and price. Fast cutting, wireless connectivity, works with all materials beginners need.
Best For: Vinyl decals, iron-on projects, paper crafts, fabric cutting
Price Range: $$$
Silhouette Cameo 4
Why We Love It: 12″ cutting width, works with third-party software, no subscription required for Design Space features.
Best For: Users who want more design freedom, wider cutting area
Price Range: $$$
⭐ Best for Advanced Users:
Cricut Maker 3
Why We Love It: Cuts fabric, leather, basswood, and more. 10x faster cutting. Smart materials for matless cutting.
Best For: Serious crafters, small business owners, quilters
Price Range: $$$$
Silhouette Cameo 4 Plus (15″ width)
Why We Love It: Extra-wide 15″ cutting area, perfect for larger projects and small business production.
Best For: Business owners, large format projects
Price Range: $$$$
💡 Pro Tip: Both brands are excellent! Cricut is more beginner-friendly with better built-in software. Silhouette offers more design freedom and no subscription requirements.
🔥 Heat Presses & Heat Tools
For Beginners:
Cricut EasyPress 2 (9×9)
Why We Love It: Affordable, portable, consistent heat. Perfect for hobbyists.
Best For: Small projects, t-shirts, tote bags, occasional use
Price Range: $$
For Small Business:
PowerPress Heat Press (15×15)
Why We Love It: Industrial quality at affordable price. Digital temp control, even pressure.
Best For: T-shirt businesses, production work, consistent quality
Price Range: $$$
Specialty Heat Presses:
Cricut Mug Press
Why We Love It: Perfect mugs every time. No tape, no guessing. Works with sublimation and infusible ink.
Best For: Mug makers, sublimation crafters
Price Range: $$$
Hat Press Attachment
Why We Love It: Expands capabilities for custom caps and curved surfaces.
Best For: Hat decoration, curved items
Price Range: $$
🎨 Sublimation Printers & Supplies
🌟 Best Sublimation Printer for Beginners:
Epson EcoTank ET-2800 (with sublimation ink conversion)
Why We Love It: Affordable entry into sublimation. Tank-based = low cost per print. Easy to convert.
Best For: Beginners, home crafters, small production
Price Range: $$
Note: Requires sublimation ink conversion (sold separately)
Sublimation Ink:
Hiipoo Sublimation Ink for EcoTank
Why We Love It: Vibrant colors, specifically formulated for EcoTank printers, good value.
Sublimation Paper:
A-SUB Sublimation Paper (8.5×11, 110 sheets)
Why We Love It: Excellent ink transfer, minimal ghosting, good value pack.
📖 New to Sublimation? Check out our Beginner’s Guide to Sublimation Printing
🎨 Vinyl & HTV (Heat Transfer Vinyl)
Our Favorite Vinyl Brands:
Siser EasyWeed Heat Transfer Vinyl
Why We Love It: Industry standard. Easy to weed, applies at low temp, durable, huge color selection.
Best For: T-shirts, tote bags, apparel (HTV)
Oracal 651 Permanent Adhesive Vinyl
Why We Love It: Perfect for stickers, car decals, outdoor use. Lasts 6+ years outdoors.
Best For: Decals, stickers, signs, water bottles
Cricut Removable Vinyl
Why We Love It: Great for wall decals, temporary decorations. Removes cleanly without residue.
Best For: Wall decor, temporary projects, renters
Budget-Friendly Vinyl:
HTVRONT HTV Starter Pack
Why We Love It: Great value variety pack. Good quality for beginners and practice.
🛠️ Essential Tools & Accessories
Must-Have Tools:
Weeding Tool Set
What It Does: Removes excess vinyl from your designs. Essential for detailed work.
Cricut Transfer Tape (12″ x 12′)
What It Does: Transfers vinyl from backing to your project surface. Get the strong grip version.
Squeegee/Scraper Tool
What It Does: Burnishes vinyl for better adhesion, smooths transfer tape, removes air bubbles.
Teflon Sheet (16×20)
What It Does: Protects fabric and vinyl during heat pressing. Reusable, essential for HTV.
Heat-Resistant Tape
What It Does: Holds sublimation transfers in place during pressing without melting.
Lint Roller
What It Does: Removes lint/dust before pressing. Clean surface = better results!
Upgrade Your Workspace:
Craft Storage Cart (Rolling)
Why We Love It: Organizes vinyl, tools, and materials. Mobile = craft anywhere!
Cutting Mat Storage
Why We Love It: Keeps mats flat and protected. Extends mat life significantly!
🎁 Sublimation Blanks & Products
Where to Buy Quality Blanks:
Sublimation Mugs (11oz & 15oz)
Why We Love It: Consistent coating, dishwasher safe, bulk pricing available.
Polyester T-Shirts (Bulk)
Best For: Vibrant sublimation printing. Available in many colors.
Sublimation Tote Bags
Why We Love It: Popular seller item, easy to press, good profit margins.
Coaster Blanks (Hardboard & Cork)
Why We Love It: Quick projects, popular gifts, easy for beginners.
💡 Wholesale Blank Suppliers:
- Jondo – Great for mugs and drinkware
- Coastal Business – Wide variety of blanks
- Conde – Professional sublimation supplier
💻 Design Software & Digital Resources
Free Design Tools:
Canva (Free Version)
Why We Love It: User-friendly, tons of templates, great for social media graphics and simple designs.
Inkscape
Why We Love It: Free, open-source vector editor. Great for SVG editing and creation.
Premium Design Resources:
Creative Fabrica (Subscription)
Why We Love It: Unlimited downloads of fonts, SVGs, graphics. Huge library for crafters.
Adobe Creative Cloud (Students & Teachers Discount)
Why We Love It: Industry standard. Illustrator for SVGs, Photoshop for graphics.
🎨 Need SVG Files? Shop our Creative Makery SVG Collection!
📚 Learning Resources & Communities
YouTube Channels We Love:
- Cricut Official – Official tutorials and tips
- Silhouette America – Machine tutorials and project ideas
- Jennifer Maker – Detailed Cricut tutorials for all skill levels
- Mr. Crafty Pants – Sublimation and heat press tutorials
- Makers Gonna Learn – Business tips for crafters
Facebook Groups:
- Cricut Crafters Community – Huge active group, helpful members
- Sublimation Crafters Unite – Troubleshooting and tips
- Silhouette Cameo Crafters – Project ideas and support
- Craft Business Owners – For those selling their creations
Our Own Guides:
- Beginner’s Guide to SVGs & Vinyl Cutting
- Comprehensive SVG FAQ
- Beginner’s Guide to Sublimation
- Comprehensive Sublimation FAQ
🎁 Recommended Starter Kits (by Budget)
Budget Starter (~$300):
Perfect for trying out the hobby:
- ✅ Cricut Joy or basic Silhouette Portrait
- ✅ Small vinyl variety pack
- ✅ Basic weeding tool set
- ✅ Transfer tape roll
- ✅ Standard grip cutting mat
What you can make: Stickers, simple decals, iron-on projects on small items
Intermediate Kit (~$600):
Perfect for regular crafters & side businesses:
- ✅ Cricut Explore 3 or Silhouette Cameo 4
- ✅ Cricut EasyPress 2 (9×9)
- ✅ Variety pack of HTV and adhesive vinyl
- ✅ Complete tool set (weeding, squeegee, scissors)
- ✅ Transfer tape and Teflon sheets
- ✅ Blank t-shirts and blanks to practice on
What you can make: Custom shirts, mugs (with mug press), decals, signs, small production runs
Pro/Business Kit (~$1500+):
Perfect for serious crafters & business owners:
- ✅ Cricut Maker 3 or Silhouette Cameo 4 Plus
- ✅ 15×15 heat press (PowerPress or similar)
- ✅ Epson EcoTank printer with sublimation ink
- ✅ Bulk vinyl rolls (HTV and adhesive)
- ✅ Professional tool set
- ✅ Sublimation paper and blanks
- ✅ Craft storage and organization
What you can make: Everything! Full production capability for selling online or at markets
💡 Our Advice: Start with the intermediate kit if you’re serious about the craft. It gives you enough capability to create quality products and decide if you want to invest more!
🌟 Ready to Start Creating?
Get professional SVG files to use with your new tools!
Questions About Our Recommendations?
Contact Us – We’re happy to help you choose the right tools!
Disclaimer: Prices and availability are subject to change. We strive to keep this page updated with our current recommendations. Last updated: December 2024
❤️ Happy Crafting! ❤️
The Creative Makery Team