Cricut EasyPress 2 What You Need to Know

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

Using iron on vinyl has never been easier.  Here is what you need to know about the Cricut EasyPress 2 to create amazing projects.

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One of the first things I made when I got my Cricut Explore Air 2 a few years ago was a custom shirt for my daughter.  Since then I have made probably 100 shirts for my kids,  and the process has become so much easier thanks to the Cricut EasyPress 2.

How is the Cricut EasyPress 2 Different from Irons and Heat Presses

If using iron on (or heat transfer) vinyl is in your crafting future, you will have to consider what method you want to use to apply it to your projects.  Irons and heat presses work fine, but here is why the Cricut EasyPress 2 is a perfect choice.

The Cricut EasyPress 2 has a solid heat plate.  Unlike an iron, there are no holes in the heating plate, similar to a standard commercial heat press.  Which is crucial for iron on success.  Like a heat press, the Cricut EasyPress 2 can heat up to 400 degrees, have edge to edge heating on the heat plate and have exact temperature and timer controls for perfect pressing.  But that is where the similarities end.

Let’s talk about size and weight.  The Cricut EasyPress 2 is lightweight and small enough to fit in any craft room.  The largest EasyPress 2 only weighs a little over 8 pounds. It can easily be stored on a shelf or in a cabinet and can easily be transported.  A standard heat press usually becomes a permanent fixture once placed in a craft room.  It’s weight and size makes it a bit harder to move around much.

A Cricut EasyPress 2 heats up in less than half the time.  A heat press takes about 8 minutes to reach the average temperature to start pressing iron on projects.  In less than 3 minutes you can start pressing your projects with the Cricut EasyPress 2.

What Size EasyPress 2 Should I Buy

When trying to decide which EasyPress 2 will work for you, you will need to ask yourself a few questions.  First off, what kinds of projects will you be making?  Small projects? Baby items? Projects that need versatilty in movement while pressing? Adult sweatshirts or tote bags?

Answering these questions will help determine which EasyPress 2 would be best for you.  With 3 different sizes of Cricut EasyPress 2 small (6″x7″), medium (9″x9″) and large (10″x12″) there is a size for any project.  The small size is perfect for baby onesies, hats and bibs.  While the larger size will fit sweatshirts, tote bags, large wall decor and more.  The most important thing to remember when pressing an iron on project is to not press on seams, zippers or trim interfering with the heat plate to create a successful outcome.

I will say that the Cricut EasyPress 2 9″x9″ size is the one I use the most.  My go to iron on craft project is custom shirt, mostly for my kids.  I find the medium size is just what I need for making t-shirts.  But that is just my personal preference.

Different Cricut Iron On Materials

There are so many options when it comes to iron-on materials.  You may sometimes hear the term heat transfer vinyl.  It is essentially the same thing as iron-on, Cricut just calls their material iron-on.  Below are 6 types of iron-on materials and some information on how to use each one.  Even though they are all iron-on materials, they each require a little different heat and application techniques.

Everyday Iron-on is durable, versatile and easy to use.  This is the one I recommend if you are new to iron-on, and the one I probably use the most.  It’s pretty forgiving and there are so many colors to choose from.  This is also the type of iron-on you should use as the base layer of any mutlit layered iron-on project.

Foil Iron-on is another favorite of mine.  It brings a fun shine to a project.  It’s a little more temperamental than everyday iron-on.  It can be layered on top of everyday iron-on  to really finish off a project.

Glitter Iron-on comes in as many colors, if not more, than everyday iron-on.  This is another iron-on material that can really add some sparkle to a project.  I find that glitter iron-on is fairly easy and forgiving to use as well as everyday iron-on.  However, there is NO layering on top of glitter iron-on.  When in the wash, any iron-on material that is layered on top of glitter will come off.

SportFlex Iron-on is the type of material to use if your base material has some stretch.  Which means it’s perfect for active wear.  SportFlex iron-on can NOT be layered at all.

Patterned Iron-on is a fun option when a solid color iron-on just won’t do.  With all the different patterns, it’s easy to customize any project to your exact taste.  Patterned iron on can be layered, but not used as the base layer.

Holographic Iron-on is a mix of foil and glitter combined! It really adds some sparkle to a project, but unlike glitter, the finished texture is smooth.  It can be layered on top of everyday iron-on, but never used as a base in layering projects.

Strong Bond Guarantee

Some of the iron-on materials come with a strong bond guarantee.  The strong bond guarantee means that when these particular types of material are used as directed, you’ll be completely happy with the results. If not, Cricut will replace it for free.

Heat Settings for Cricut EasyPress 2

As mentioned earlier, the Cricut EasyPress 2 heats up in just a few minutes.  The small one takes about 1 minute to reach temperature, medium size about 2 minutes and the large one takes about 3 minutes.  Which is perfect for an impatient crafter like me.  Each type of iron-on material will have specific heat and time setting depending on the type of project you are making.

A chart showing all the different types of base materials and iron-on materials will come with the machine, but you can also check out the Heat Settings Interactive Guide on the Cricut Site.  Not only will it tell you the temp and time for your project, but it will tell you if a material is warm or cold peel.  Some iron-on materials, like foil and patterned, need to be cooled before removing the plastic carrier sheet once they have been pressed.  Make sure to take note of those instructions.

Which Machines Cut Iron On Materials

When it comes to cutting iron-on materials, I prefer using a Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore Air 2.  But really any of the Cricut cutting machines available now will be able to cut iron-on materials.  And if you didn’t have a cutting machine, you could still use the Cricut EasyPress 2 to iron on designs that you cut out of iron on vinyl by hand.  It also comes in handy if you just want to iron your shirt too. 🙂

On What Materials Can I Apply Iron On

When it comes to creating a project using iron-on, there are so many options to use as a base material.  There are at least 15 materials iron-on can be applied to.  Some of my favorites are of course cotton/poly t-shirts, wood, leather, corkboard, chipboard, silk, felt, burlap and more.  Which means creating amazing Cricut Iron-on projects has endless possibilities.

Iron-On Project Tips

A few last minute reminders when using iron on material with an EasyPress 2, remember to mirror image your projects in Design Space before sending them to your machine to cut.  Also, place the iron-on material face down (shiny side) down on the cutting mat before loading it into the machine.  When you remove the unwanted/extra iron-on material from your project, leave the design you want in-tact on the carrier sheet.  The carrier sheet is used as a productive barrier between the iron-on material and EasyPress 2 during pressing.

I also really recommend the Cricut EasyPress mat.  It is the perfect surface to use as the base under your projects while heating.  They hold the heat just right, help create a successful project.  There will be instructions on the Interactive heating guide on if you use an EasyPress mat or a folded towel under your project.

Now that you know everything you need to know about the Cricut EasyPress 2, what project are you going to make today?

Happy Crafting!

Liz