The Best Blanks for Cricut and Silhouette Projects
Need project ideas for Cricut and Silhouette? Learn the different types of blanks available for crafting with SVG files and where to find the best blanks for Cricut and Silhouette projects.
If you are new to the world of crafting with a Cricut or Silhouette machine, you may be wondering where to get blanks for crafting. But let’s back up…you may not even know what a “blank” is. Today I’m sharing the different types of blanks for Cricut and Silhouette projects and where to find them. By the end of this post, you’ll have so many ideas for projects
Before I dive into the types of blanks and where to find them, you’ll need to know the basics of crafting with SVG files. So here are some basic posts on what exactly SVG files are and how to work with them to create the designs that you will ultimately place on your blanks. The posts below are specifically Silhouette Cameo because that is the cutting machine that I use. However, you can also use a Silhouette Portrait, Cricut Maker, Cricut Explore or Cricut Joy to cut SVG files.
BASIC SVG & SILHOUETTE STUDIO POSTS
- How to Use Silhouette Cameo 4: A Guide to Getting Started
- How to Use SVG files: Tips, Tricks & Ideas
- How to Import Files Into Silhouette Studio
- How to Weed Vinyl
- A Beginner’s Guide to Heat Transfer Vinyl
- How to Cut By Color in Silhouette Studio
- How to Separate SVG files into Layers
WHAT IS A BLANK?
A blank is any item that serves as a base for your project. Think t-shirts, mugs, keychains etc. If you are a beginner, all the options may be overwhelming. I’m here to break it all down and let you know where to find the best blanks for your Cricut and Silhouette projects
ADHESIVE VINYL BLANKS
Insulated tumblers
A super popular item that people customize are tumblers. I find that stainless steel tumblers work the best with adhesive vinyl. I have never had issues with my vinyl peeling off or not sticking. For this reason, I recommend stainless steel over any tumbler that has a coating. Tumblers can be found at Walmart, Target or Amazon.
Water Bottles
Plastic water bottles are another great option for personalization. Although these do not last nearly as long as stainless steel, they are an affordable option to use for gifts for kids, summer get-togethers, and more.
Coffee Mugs
If you are anything like me, your coffee mug is part of your daily ritual. It’s a staple in my day and I’m not quite sure what I’d do without it. My fave is a simple white mug that any design can stand out on. I avoid tapered mugs because it placing vinyl on anything tapered can get tricky. Inexpensive coffee mugs can be found at your local Dollar Store, Walmart, Target or Amazon.
Wooden Signs
Remember how I said that I’ve made so many shirts that I’ve lost count? I’ve probably made way more wooden signs than t-shirts. My attic is filled with sooo many signs for Christmas. Wooden signs are the perfect beginner project for any vinyl crafter. The signs come in so many sizes. Here are just a few examples
- 12 x 12 wooden signs
- 8 x 10 wooden signs
- 11 x 14 wooden signs
- Circle wooden signs
Acrylic Keychains
I have not ventured into working with acrylic yet but I’d love to make acrylic keychains sometime soon. Amazon has a wide variety of acrylic keychains to choose from.
Ornaments
If you’ve been around this blog long enough, you know that I’m a big fan of homemade Christmas ornaments. I like to use plastic ball ornaments instead of glass for obvious reasons. Wood slices and porcelain tiles are also great options for customizing ornaments.
Storage Containers
There are so many types of storage containers but my favorite by far are jars. Mason jars are great to use to store kitchen and pantry items like flour and sugar. You can also use jars to hold display items in a craft room or office.
HEAT TRANSFER VINYL (HTV) BLANKS
T-shirts and Onesies
One of the most common projects that people make with vinyl is custom t-shirts. I have made so many t-shirts over the years that I have lost count. My absolute favorite brand of shirt is Bella Canvas. I love that they are lightweight and super soft cotton. If you want to buy in bulk, I recommend Amazon. If not, you can purchase them at your local craft. I get mine at Michaels and I can almost always use a coupon for a discount.
Baby onesies are also very popular for crafting. Personalized onesies make great baby shower, holiday, and birthday gifts. You can find a 6-pack of onesies at places like Walmart and Target.
Blank Canvases
I’ve made a few projects with stretched canvas over the years. I usually get my canvas at Michaels. Amazon has a good selection of blank canvases too.
Tea Towels
Tea towels are great to customize for the holidays and give to family and friends. I made some a few years ago for Christmas. These are great to buy in bulk on Amazon or you can get a pack of 2-4 at Walmart or Target.
Koozies
Every summer party and celebration needs a koozie. Personalized koozies have become very popular and many people use them as party favors for events like bachelorette parties and weddings. Koozies are affordable and can be purchased in bulk on Amazon or if you need just a few, head to your local craft store.
Tote Bags
Everyone needs a tote bag, right? You can customize tote bags for just about any purpose. Beach and pool bags are some of the more popular themes to customize. Amazon for bulk and Michaels or your local craft store if you need just a few.
Wine Bags
Wine bags are great gifts for the holidays or any celebration. Check out your local dollar store for inexpensive wine bags or buy in bulk from Amazon.
Makeup Bags
Makeup bags are a great gift for teenage girls. They are also fun for bridesmaids gifts. Amazon has a wide selection of makeup bags
SUBLIMATION BLANKS
Sublimation is the process of infusing ink into your blank. If you want to sublimate, you’ll need blanks made specifically for sublimation. These blanks have a special coating ( e.g mugs) or are a special type of material (e.g polyester t-shirts) that allow for the ink to seep into the blank. Cricut sells infusible ink blanks like shirts, bags, mugs, and coasters but you don’t need to buy Cricut brand products. You can find off-brand sublimation blanks in your local craft store or on Amazon. You’ll also need special sublimation paper/infusible ink transfers or Cricut infusible ink sheets.
Now that you know the best blanks for Silhouette and Cricut projects and where to find them, make sure you never run out of SVG files or project ideas. Join my Cut & Craft SVG Club for monthly SVG bundles, project tutorials and more!