Cricut has a lot of different crafting machines in its lineup, and Cricut Mug Press is the newest addition to the Cricut family. It opens up a fun world of art and design possibilities. It also takes personalized gift-giving to another level. If you’ve bought a Cricut Mug Press, then congratulations in order.
But as it is the newest addition to the Cricut family, most people are unaware of it and don’t know how to set up and use this device. If you are one of those people, this blog will help you with the setup process and how to use it.
What Does the Cricut Mug Press Do?
Before starting the setup process, you must know what the Cricut Mug Press Does. In contrast, Cricut is famous for offering pro-level cutting plotters that can do almost any project. The Cricut Mug Press is designed to do one thing, which is to design mugs.
It’s an interesting and unusual product in a world of converged devices like mobile, laptops, and computers. Cricut Mug Press is compatible with the Cricut Maker, Cricut Joy, and Cricut Explore models. With the help of Cricut Mug Press and Design Space software, you can create custom mugs and tumblers.
What Comes in the Box of Cricut Mug Press?
Cricut is famous for providing a bundle of tools and accessories to help crafters get started with crafting. The same goes with Mug Press, but as it is an add-on accessory, you get fewer accessories. These accessories come in handy during the Cricut Mug Press setup process. You get the following items in the box when you buy a new Cricut Mug Press.
The Cricut Mug Press
- USB cable
- User manual
- Warranty Card
How to Set Up Cricut Mug Press for the First Time?
One of the best features of Cricut is all its products are very set up; the same goes for Mug Press. The Cricut Mug Press setup process is very simple and only involves a few steps. To set it up, you will need a laptop or desktop to set up the Mug Press for the first time. Connect the Mug Press to your computer via a USB cable that came in the box along with the machine. You will also find a user manual in the box describing the Cricut Mug Press setup process. For your ease, we have divided the Cricut setup process into easy-to-understand steps.
- First, on your laptop or desktop, launch Cricut Design Space.
- Click on the three lines in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
- Go to the setting.
- There, click on New Machine Setup.
- There you will be prompted to select Heat Press.
- First, click on the Cricut Easy Press picture, and on the next screen, click on the Mug Press picture.
- Then you will be prompted to plug in the Cricut Mug Press and turn it on.
- Next, you will be prompted to connect the Mug Press to your desktop or laptop.
- Plug the USB cable into your laptop first, then plug the other end of the cord into the backside of the Mug Press.
- Once your computer reads the Mug press, click on Continue.
- You’ll get some pop-ups about updates.
- The last pop-up will say ‘’That’s It!’’. And with that, you’ve completed the setup process successfully.
What Items Do You Need with Cricut Mug Press?
The first thing you must know is that the Mug Press is an add-on accessory that only works with Cricut machines. So you can’t use it as a stand-alone machine. You also need Cricut Design Space software to activate the mug Press. Next, you will need Cricut Mug Blanks because Mug Press won’t work for any ceramic mug. You can use mugs from other brands, but you need to use mugs known as ‘’sublimation blanks’’.
These mugs are treated with an invisible poly-coating that allows the Infusible Ink sheets and pens to infuse into the mug. There are also other items that you need to design a mug using the Mug Press. These items are infusible ink transfer sheets, ink pens, and ink blanks.
How to Create a Custom Mug with Cricut Mug Press?
Before starting your first project, you need to connect your Mug Press to a power source and connect it to your laptop or computer. Then you can move on to the next step, creating a custom mug. The process is very simple, and you must follow these simple steps.
- Open the design space app on your computer. There you will find ‘’ready-to-make-mugs’’ and plank templates.
- Select any of them to create your unique mugs.
- Once you’ve selected your design, load the cutting machine with an infusible ink pen or the cutting tool.
- Before cutting, click the ‘’mirror’’ button in Design Space and press go.
- Once your design is cut out, use a weeding tool to remove negative space.
- Turn on the Mug Press and let it preheat for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Before applying your design, ensure that the mug is clean and dry.
- Wrap the infusible ink sheet around the mug with the handle facing you and place it into the press.
- Push down the handle on the press; after a few minutes, the machine will beep, indicating the process is finished.
- Remove the mug, and place it on a cool surface.
- Once the mug is cooled down, remove the ink wrapper, and that’s all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What mugs should you use in the Cricut Mug Press?
The Cricut Mug Press uses sublimation mugs; not all are created equal. So it is advisable to use sublimation mugs by Cricut. However, you can use sublimation mugs from other brands, but they need to be 12 oz or 15 oz.
What Ink should you use for Cricut mugs?
To get the best results, you should use the Cricut Infusible Ink line of products, including Infusible Ink Transfer sheets, markers, and pens. Luckily, Cricut offers Infusible Ink in small sizes for the Mug Press, so there will be no wastage.
How Does the Cricut Mug Press Work?
You get a ‘’drawn’’ and a ‘’cut’’ option with the Mug Press. In the former, an Infusible Ink pen is used to draw the design onto paper and then pressed onto the mug. In the latter one, the Cricut cuts the design onto infusible Ink paper, peels it off, sticks it on the mug, and applies heat to make it permanent.
