NEW! Cricut Mug Press - a First Look

Customize coffee mugs with Cricut Mug Press and get professional looking results! Plus dishwasher safe, no-peeling and perfect results!

Cricut just announced today that it will be releasing a brand new machine – the Cricut Mug Press beginning March 11, 2011! It’s actually another type of heat press machine that was created specifically for use with mugs. But, not just any mug will do!

If you’ve ever made a custom mug using adhesive vinyl or heat transfer vinyl, the results just aren’t quite professional looking. They look nice, but they also aren’t durable. For one, they can’t be washed in the dishwasher and the vinyl tends to peel with time.

But, with infusible ink, Cricut mug blanks and the brand new Cricut Mug Press, that’s all about to change!

Cricut mug press machine and coffee mug with "HOME" and West Virginia

What is the Cricut Mug Press?

The Cricut Mug Press helps you to create pro-looking mugs right in the comfort of your own home. Whether you enjoy making mugs for yourself or as a handmade gift, you only need a few minutes to make a true mug masterpiece.

Basically, the Cricut Mug Press is a super user friendly mug press that lets you make beautiful mugs in minutes. There are no heat or pressure settings to remember and the results are amazing. It’s small, easy-to-use, and works perfectly.

How does the Mug Press Work?

To understand how the Mug Press works, it’s helpful to know a little bit about sublimation.

Sublimation

Sublimation in its simplest form is a method of printing that transfers a design INTO a material or fabric using ink and heat. The ink actually becomes a part of the material that it is applied to, such as mugs or shirts.

Although primarily popular for print on demand t-shirts, sublimation can also be used on ceramic, wood and metals, etc, that have a special coating on them to receive the sublimation inks. You can’t use just any mug or material. You have to use the mugs that have the special coating and are specifically designed for use with sublimation.

Cricut Mug Press

So the Cricut Mug Press is used with specially coated mugs and infusible ink. Once you apply your design to the mug, you simply place it in the mug press, press down on the lever and the Cricut Mug Press works its magic. The Cricut Mug Press takes the ambient temperature of the mug and the room into consideration and heats to the perfect temperature. It takes about 6 minutes.

You don’t have to guess what temperature or how long to press the mug or even how much pressure to apply. The Cricut Mug Press does that all for you!

The process is pretty simple, beginning Thursday, March 11, 2011 within Design Space there will be mug design templates available for purchase. There will also be a project design templates that will allow you to create your own custom mug designs using other elements and images.

Once the press is preheated, mugs get loaded in and secured tightly by pressing a lever. Small indicator lights illuminate to indicate progress. The press makes a beeping sound when the transfer is complete.

The mug handle remains cool to the touch throughout pressing, allowing it to be removed from the press safely. You’ll want to set the mug on an EasyPress Mat or other heat resistant surface. In a few minutes, when the mug is cool to the touch, simply peel off the paper or adhesive backing to reveal a beautiful new design.

Use with Infusible Ink Designs

Using your designs is very similar to working with Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets or heat transfer vinyl when making t-shirts with a Cricut machine: simply choose your desired mug wrap, cut the design using your Cricut machine (works with Joy, Explore Air 2, Explore Air 3, Maker, and Maker 3), then weed the Infusible Ink and attach it to your mug.

Use with Infusible Ink Markers

For Infusible Ink Pens or Markers, load a marker into your Cricut machine and when its finished drawing, attach the design to the mug with heat resistant tape, wrap the mug in a few layers of butcher paper to protect the press from bleeding ink and get ready to load the design into the press.

Cricut Mug Press with coffee cup that says "purpose" and wreath design

What You Need

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Besides the Cricut Mug Press, you will need a lint roller to make sure your mug is as clean as possible before applying your design. You’ll also want to have:

You can use other brands of mugs besides Cricut, but they must be sublimation mugs. Also, Cricut recommends the use of their products for best results.

Where to Buy

Beginning March 11, 2011, the Cricut Mug Press will be available for purchase on Cricut.com and some of your favorite craft retailers and online, such as:

Cost

Retail price is $199 for the mug press itself. A box of two 12 oz. mugs is $6.99, a box of two 15 oz. mugs is $8.99, and a gray & white 15 oz. mug is $5.99. You can also get larger quantities of mugs at a discount — a box of six 12 oz. mugs is $19.99, a box of 36 mugs is $74.99, and a box of six 15 oz. mugs is $24.99.

HINT: If you subscribe to Cricut Access (or already have), you’ll get DISCOUNTS! This is a great time to sign up for Cricut Access because it can pay for itself very quickly with the purchase of the Cricut Mug Press, Cricut mugs, and Infusible Ink. You can learn all about Cricut Access here.

Tips & Helpful Resources

Both the large size of Infusible Ink transfer sheets and the special mug-size sheets can be used. If you use the large size, be sure to place your transfer sheet on your cutting mat FACE UP with the sheet curl going from side to side, rather than top to bottom, as this will make it easier to wrap around your mug later.
Use heat resistant tape to help secure and align your design on the mug.
Don’t peak! Allow your mug to cool before you remove your liner, regardless of how tempted you are to look at it.
And don’t put the mug in upside down.
The zone heating system will help heat the bottom of the mug so you get consistent transfers (a feature not a part of other mug presses).
Infusible Ink can be layered for absolutely beautiful and amazingly colorful mugs.
Be sure to use mugs designed for sublimation. Other mugs simply will not work.
Mugs in sizes from 11 oz. to 16 oz can be used with the Cricut Mug Press.
For best results, use white mugs.
Allow 1/2″ clearance on each side of the mug for your designs. In order for the designs to heat and transfer properly, you’ll have to keep your design at least 1/2″ away from each side of the handle.

Here is a round-up of some of the best preview videos on the new Cricut Mug Press:

And you’ll find more information on Cricut.com About the Cricut Mug Press and Fundamentals

Cricut Mug Press Designs

The folks at Cricut have been busy preparing for the launch of their new mug press machine. Including, making designs available in Cricut Design Space and to Cricut Access members. Here are a few of the designs you’ll find in Design Space:

8 mugs with different designs for use with Cricut Mug Press

You’ll even find a mug design template file all ready for you to use. Here are some links to some of the templates and other mug press designs that might be helpful:

Mug Design Setup – This template is for use with infusible ink transfer sheets. Before you click on “Customize”, scroll down on the project details page to the Finished Size drop-down box and select the style and size of mug you want to design.
Drawn Mug Design Setup – This template is for use with infusible ink pens. Before you click on “Customize”, scroll down on the project details page to the Finished Size drop-down box and select either the small (12 oz) or large (15 oz) size mug.
Personalized Mug and Gift Box – Pictured in above image top left.
Ocean Mugs
Personalized Bridesmaids Mug
Best Nana Mug
Caffeine Club Mug
Wide Painted Strokes Mug
Drawn Monogram Mug
Block Monogram Mug