What materials can I cut with my Cricut Maker

A guide to what materials you can cut with a Cricut Maker. 

This post is sponsored by Cricut but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. 

Did you know the Cricut Maker can cut over 300 different materials? The number one reason people buy the Cricut Maker is because of it’s versatility to cut different thicknesses. Not only does it apply more pressure than the Cricut Explore Air 2, It’s faster and has an array of adaptive tools. The Cricut Maker can cut everything from Vinyl and iron-on to basswood, veneer and fabric. Check out a full list of materials here. 

What Makes The Maker Different From Other Cricut Machines?

Now I have tried a lot of the cutting machines on the market and what makes it different is its ability to cut thicker materials such as chipboard, leather, balsa wood and some fabric without backing. The extra-deep Knife Blade cuts through dense materials up to 2.4 mm (3/32″) thick. The Cricut Maker can cut out sewing pattern and comes with a larger variety of tools. Cutting over 300 hundred materials, from the most delicate paper and fabric to the tough stuff like mat board, leather, and basswood. 

Can the Cricut Maker cut wood?

This was my main reason for getting this machine. My favorite material to cut on it is basswood. It has opened up a whole new world of craft projects for me. The Cricut maker can cut basswood, balsa wood and veneer.  Learn how to cut basswood here and how to cut wood veneer here. 

Using wood and veneer I have made ornaments, signs and cut 3D shapes. 

How thick can the Cricut Maker cut?

The Cricut maker cuts up to 3/32 of an inch or 2.44 mm. In order to cut this thickness you will need the knife blade.

Do I need a knife blade to cut through thicker materials with my Cricut Maker?

Yes! The knife blade is shaped similar to an exacto knife. It makes a series of cuts that slices through thicker and denser materials such as balsa wood, leather, matboard, and Cricut Chipboard with ease and precision. It’s great for projects with extra dimension like puzzles, models, leather goods, wood decor, and ornaments. The knife blade is sold separately. 

Tips for cutting with the Knife Blade

The cuts do take time. My number one tip is to turn off Sleep Mode on your computer before starting a cut. If Bluetooth connection is broken you will need to start your cut over. You can also use the USB cord to connect to your computer for longer cuts. 

Want to learn about the other Cricut Maker tools? Check out this post about the adaptive tools. 

What Materials Can I Cut With My Cricut Maker?

One of the main reason Cricut Maker is my main die-cutting machine is it’s versatility to cut a large range of materials. Check out the complete list of materials here. 

• Paper
• Cardstock
• Vinyl
• Iron-on Vinyl
• Infusible Ink
• Chipboard
• Basswood
• Wood Venner 
• Felt
• Leather
• Kraft Board
• Craft Foam 
• Fabric
• Burlap
• Faux Fur
• Fleece
• Velvet
• Vellum
• Poster Board
• Sticker Paper

For different materials you will use different cutting mats. Theres a standard grip, light grip, strong grip and fabric mat. There are also different blades and tools called the adaptive quick swap tools and you can learn all about them here. 

Which Cricut Blade should I use?

Not sure which blade to use with your material? The great thing about the Cricut Maker is that it will tell you which blade to load once you select you material in design space. Even if you insert the wrong blade the Maker auto detects which blade is in the machine. This has saved me a bunch of times! You can also use this as a reference guide. 

So let’s talk about my favorite aspects of the Cricut Maker

• Versatility to 300+ materials
• Over 12 different tools
• Ability to not only cut and write but also engrave, deboss, score and perforate. 
• Cut unbonded fabric
• Machine Speed
• Professional cutting quality
• Perfect machine for creating items to sell

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