One of the easiest crafts to make with your Cricut is Stencils so you can make your own crafts. But figuring out the best material for making stencils with Cricut can be intimidating.
Lucky for you, I have tested and figured out the best material for making stencils on a Cricut!
So you don’t have to worry about figuring out which materials work best for stencils.
I’ll compare all the different types of materials you cause use to make stencils, and teach you which material is best for the crafts you want to make.
CRICUT STENCIL MATERIALS
There are a few different materials you can use to make stencils.
Depending on the project you are making, you have a few different options on the stencil material you can use with Cricut.
- Stencil Vinyl is translucent so you can see the surface underneath
- Removable Vinyl has a sticky backing that can easily be removed from your projects
- Permanent Vinyl creates a stronger bond with any surface.
- Mylar is a durable material that can be re-used
- Freezer Paper is dull on one side and shiny on the other.
HOW TO CUT CRICUT STENCILS
All these materials for making Cricut stencils are easy to cut with your Cricut, but not all will work with your project.
So you’ll need to understand what Cricut project you want to make so you know which type of Stencil you need for your Cricut Project.
Regardless of which material you decide to use, they all can be used with your Standard Cricut Map and your standard Cricut blade.
Just place the material on your Cricut mat and use your Cricut to cut out your design.
BEST MATERIAL FOR MAKING STENCILS
As I noted above, there are a few different materials you can use to make stencils with your Cricut, but you might be wondering what is the best material for making stencils with Cricut.
STENCIL VINYL
Stencil Vinyl was made specifically to be used for stencils.
The edges are supposed to seal your project so you don’t need to worry about paint going underneath. It is also translucent, so you can see the surface underneath the stencil.
It is a one-time use, so you won’t be able to reuse the stencil. You would need to re-cut the design again with your Cricut if you are making multiple items of the same thing.
REMOVABLE VINYL
Removable Vinyl is good to use as a stencil when placing it over an already-painted surface.
I find it doesn’t remove the paint below when you remove the removable vinyl but still offers a nice seal so nothing gets underneath.
PERMANENT VINYL
Permanent Vinyl creates a stronger bond than removable vinyl with any surface.
So I like to use it as a stencil when I’m not worried about pulling up the color/paint underneath.
I used to use permanent vinyl for all my stencils until I started using Stencil Vinyl.
MYLAR
Mylar is a durable material that can be reused because it’s a thicker material that doesn’t have a sticky back.
If I need to re-create a design over and over again, I’ll make the stencil with Mylar, so I don’t need to make multiple stencils with vinyl.
It doesn’t create a tight bond, so I use it on thicker, bigger fonts and projects.
Learn more about How To Make Reusable Stencils
FREEZER PAPER
Freezer Paper is dull on one side and shiny on the other side, but it can be used as a stencil.
It doesn’t create a tight bond to the surface, because the back is not stick, but it can work for certain projects.
Freezer paper stencil is the best material for making stencils for doormats.
If you place the shiny side down on the doormat, you can use your Cricut Easy Press to create a bond to the doormat to help keep the stencil in place by applying heat.
Keep in mind, freezer paper is very delicate. So you don’t want to cut intricate cutting designs, as it can tear easily.
I also don’t recommend using it on a brand new Standard Grip Cricut Mat. Use the new mat a few times before cutting freezer paper on it.
BEST MATERIAL FOR MAKING STENCILS WITH CRICUT
The list above is the top 5 best materials for making stencils. You can use any of these materials to make Cricut Stencils.
There are other materials you can use to make Cricut Stencils, but these are my favorite.
If you don’t have all these products on hand, don’t worry about running out and purchasing them. Use the materials you have on hand so you can practice making Cricut Stencils.
and keep your vinyl scraps or any leftover vinyl from other projects. They are perfect for small stencils.
I use to make all my stencils with either permanent vinyl or removable vinyl until I explored making different Cricut Projects and tried different materials.
One last piece of Cricut advice, go slow and be easy on yourself. Sometimes some materials can be tricky to work with. So go slow to avoid frustrations. And if the material isn’t working, try another type of material to find what works for you.
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