Upgrade Your Mousepad Game with DIY Cricut Infusible Ink Mousepads

 If you spend a lot of time using a computer, having a comfortable and functional mousepad can make a big difference in your daily routine. However, store-bought mousepads can be expensive, and you may not find one that perfectly suits your style or needs. That's where DIY mousepads come in! With the help of a Cricut machine and Infusible Ink, you can easily create your own custom mousepad that is not only affordable but also unique to your taste. In this article, we will guide you through the steps of making your own DIY mousepad with Cricut Infusible Ink. 

What do you need?

• Cricut

• Cricut tools

• Standard Grip Mat

• Cricut Infusible Ink Transfer Sheets

• Heat Resistant Tape

• Easy Press 

• Easy Press Mat

• Sublimation Mouse pads 

What do you have to do?

Step 1: 

• I started over in Design Space. I measured my mouse pads and I created a square that was slightly larger than the pad. Then I created my design to fit into that square.

• After I had my design all set I welded it all together (not including the square, just the design). Then I centered that on my square and sliced it.

• Then it was time to cut. Infusible ink transfer sheets feel almost like a thick paper. They are placed pretty side up on a standard grip mat. Try to not use your hand as much to press down and use a brayer instead. The oils from your hands can sometimes ruin the ink. Select the Infusible Ink transfer sheet setting and mirror your image. I also always select more pressure with Infusible ink sheets. It makes it a little easier to weed when doing this.

 

• Weeding Infusible Ink sheets are much different than vinyl. Start by rolling the sheet a little and you’ll hear some cracking (that’s a good thing). Then just use your fingers to peel away the negative space. Try not to use the weeder tool too much. It can sometimes poke the ink into the backing and mess up your image.

Step 2:

• Now it is time to transfer! I always place a piece of cardstock over my Easy Press mat when working with infusible ink just in case. Then I put the mousepad on the cardstock.

• Now it is time to transfer! I always place a piece of cardstock over my Easy Press mat when working with infusible ink just in case. Then I put the mousepad on the cardstock.

Next, I put the transfer sheet face down towards the mousepad. I lined it all up and made sure the design was in the center of the pad. Then using the heat resistant tape I taped down the transfer sheet to the cardstock. The transfer sheet needs to be as close to the pad as possible. Really tape it down and make sure it stays in place. Then place the butcher paper that comes with the transfer sheet over the top. I always check the Cricut EasyPress heat guide to know exactly what temp and for how long to heat. For this project I picked tote bag as it seemed the closest to a mousepad. The guide told me 385 degrees and to press for 40 seconds. And Press!!!

• Allow the project to cool completely. It is super hot! After it is cool, peel the tape off and pull back the sheet. And just like that you have an awesome personalized mousepad! Infusible Ink is just the coolest thing. It really ‘infuses’ to the blank unlike vinyl that sits on top of the blank.

I sincerely hope that my tutorial on creating your own DIY mousepad using Cricut Infusible Ink proves helpful to you. If you find this tutorial to be beneficial, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share it with others who may also find it useful. Your support means a lot to me and helps me to continue creating content that can benefit others. Thank you so much for your support