Make Your Own Koozie with a Cricut

Did you know that you can make your own koozie with a Cricut and Heat Transfer Vinyl or Infusible Ink? It is so easy to make custom koozies yourself right at home.

Perhaps you want to make party favors or even gifts for someone you love. Either way, you can design your own koozie right in Cricut Design Space or even use one of our designs below!

Video On How To Make Your Own Koozie

Everything covered in the post below is actually in a video that you may want to watch instead. Whether you want to use Heat Transfer Vinyl or Infusible Ink on your DIY koozie project, we have the instructions in the video below!

Can’t watch or missed some of the steps? No problem! Just keep reading. We are going to cover using Heat Transfer Vinyl first then you will find the instructions for using Cricut Infusible Ink on a can koozie after that.

Make Your Own Koozie With Heat Transfer Vinyl

Supplies Needed To Make A DIY Koozie With Heat Transfer Vinyl

• Can koozies (I am using these polyester koozies from here)
• Cricut machine (see which is my favorite here)
• Heat Transfer Vinyl (I am using Cricut Everyday Iron-on but you might want to use SportFlex if your koozies have a lot of stretch)
• Cricut cut file (get the one I used here)
• Weeding tools (optional)
• Cricut EasyPress (or an iron)
• EasyPress Mat (optional)
• Teflon Protective Sheet

How to Make Your Own Koozie with Heat Transfer Vinyl

Step 1: Cut Your Design From Heat Transfer Vinyl

Start by cutting your design from the heat transfer vinyl of your choice using your Cricut machine. You will want to cut the design with the shiny side (carrier side) down on your mat (adhesive side up). Be sure to mirror the design before cutting.

Step 2: Weed Design

Once cut, you can weed the excess away from your design. Weeding tools make this easier but are optional. You only want to be left with exactly what you want to transfer to your can koozie.

Step 3: Set EasyPress To Correct Temperature

Look up the time and temperature for the type of HTV you are using on the Cricut heat guide here. Set your EasyPress to these settings. NOTE: You can also use an iron for this step.

Step 4: Add Can Kooize To Mat

Add the can koozie to the EasyPress mat or a folded towel.

Step 5: Pre-Heat Can Kooize

Put the Teflon protective sheet on top and pre-heat your material for about 15 seconds. Remove the sheet and cool.

Step 6: Add HTV Design To Can Kooize

Then put your weeded HTV design on top. Cover with a Teflon protective sheet and press with the EasyPress for the recommended amount of time.

Step 7: Remove Carrier Sheet

Allow your DIY koozie to cool. Then peel back the liner from your design. Start at a corner and go slow so if the HTV is not stuck to your koozie you can return the liner and repeat the pressing process.

If it has adhered, remove the carrier sheet completely, and you are well on your way to making custom koozies with heat transfer vinyl!

Now that you know how easy it is to make your own koozie with heat transfer vinyl, you can dream up a ton of designs! I actually made the three designs below while experimenting with heat transfer vinyl on custom koozies. I am sure you can design your own koozie and come up with some amazing projects as well.

But I couldn’t just stop here!

Read on to learn more about using Infusbile Ink for this project instead.

Make Your Own Koozie With Infusible Ink

First up, we have the Cricut Infusible Ink sheets, then we will also use the Infusible Ink Markers below!

Supplies Needed To Make Personalized Koozies With Infusible Ink

• Can koozies (I am using these polyester koozies from here and also these sublimation blank koozies)
• Cricut machine (see which is my favorite here)
• Infusible Ink sheets and markers (you can read more about using it here) (buy at Michaels in-store or online here)
• Cricut cut file (get the one I used here)
• Tweezers (optional)
• Cricut EasyPress (required for Infusible Ink)
• EasyPress Mat (required for Infusible Ink)
• White cardstock
• Butcher paper
• Lint roller
• Laser copy paper
• Heat resistant tape

How To Make Your Own Koozie With Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets

Step 1: Cut Out Your Design In Infusible Ink

Cut your design from a sheet. Remember to cut liner side down on the mat and mirror your design before cutting. It is also better to remove the mat from the material and not the material from the mat. You can see more about cutting here.

Step 2: Weed Design

Then, you will want to weed your design. Bend the Infusible Ink to crack it then lift away excess with your fingers or with tweezers. Do not use weeding tools. If using your fingers make sure they’re dry and you’re not touching the ink too much. You can see more about the weeding process here.

Step 3: Set EasyPress To Correct Temperature

Check the Cricut Heat Guide for the correct time and temperature for your koozie and material.

Step 4: Add Cardstock To Mat

Add white cardstock larger than your Infusible Ink sheet to your EasyPress mat.

Step 5: Place Koozie On Top Of Cardstock

Put the koozie on top of the cardstock on the mat.

NOTE: A little note about what type of koozies will work with Infusible Ink. You will want something that is either labeled for sublimation or has a high polyester content. The Infusible Ink process is a chemical reaction and these are required in order for your finished custom koozies to be permanent designs.

Step 6: Lint Roll Koozie

Be sure to lint roll the surface as any debris can affect your final project.

Step 7: Add Butcher Paper Over Koozie

Then add butcher paper over the top of the koozie.

Step 8: Press Koozie For 15 Seconds

Press for about 15 seconds with the EasyPress to remove moisture.

Step 9: Remove Butcher Paper

Remove the butcher paper and allow to cool.

NOTE: These velcro koozies can curl up while hot but they will go back to being flat once cool.

Step 10: Place Infusible Ink Design On Kooize

Once cool, add your weeded designs to your can koozie. I like these velcro versions because it is easy to put a design on the front and back.

Step 11: Add Butcher Paper Over Top Of Design

Then put the butcher paper back over the top.

Step 12: Add Infusible Ink Design To Koozie

Press according to the Cricut Heat Guide. Be sure the EasyPress covers your entire design as you will want to press just once.

Step 13: Lift EasyPress

Be sure to lift the EasyPress straight up, so as not to move the stack while hot. Allow to cool completely. Then remove the butcher paper.

Step 14: Remove Backing Paper

Remove the backing paper and you will see that your design is now on your DIY koozie!

You have just learned to make your own koozie with Infusible Ink! Once the pressing is complete, your design is permanent and no further steps are needed.

I did want you to note the color difference that comes from the Infusible Ink sheets. You can see the roll I cut my design from compared to the yellow of the completed flower.

You can also see another example below with the ”Seas the Day”. Remember to look on the outside of the box of the Cricut Infusible Ink Sheets for color when designing your projects. The colors will really pop after pressing, so you really can’t look at the sheets before being pressed to determine the final color.

DIY Koozie Printing with Infusible Ink Markers and Pens

You can also use these same methods for making a DIY koozie using the markers and pens instead. Just draw your design mirrored onto copy paper that is rated for use in a laser printer. Then press it in a similar manner as above.

You will want to cover your mat with butcher paper and your koozie with white cardstock to protect your EasyPress from bleed-through. You will also need heat-resistant tape to hold the design in place.

Have questions or want to see one pressed? Scroll up and watch the video!

Can You Use The Infusible Ink Sheets On Colored Blanks?

I get this question all the time and the answer is yes but there is a catch!

Infusible Ink will allow the color of your blank to come through the ink. So, for our example, we added a blue heart to a green koozie. The result is a dark green heart instead of a blue one. You can see the same blue sheet applied to an off-white blank below for comparison.

So, while you can apply the sheets to the colored can koozies, you cannot predict what the final color will be once pressed.

Heat Transfer Vinyl Versus Cricut Infusible Ink

So, what is the difference? Why choose one over the other for your DIY koozie? If you are going to make your own koozie with your Cricut, you should weigh your options. Here are a few things to consider:

• Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) can be felt on the surface even after it is pressed. So, if you are looking for a more professional finish, Cricut Infusible Ink is the way to go.
• Cricut Infusible Ink is more expensive than HTV so there is a cost factor to consider.
• If these are going to be used for a long time, HTV will have a tendency to crack and wear. You will not get this same effect with Cricut Infusible Ink.
• Want to make a design on a colored can koozie? See our note above as Infusible Ink might not be the best option for your design.

So, in my opinion, if you are making these for a quick party favor that won’t be used long, grab the heat transfer vinyl. Want to make professional-looking gifts that will last forever? Cricut Infusible Ink is the only way to go.

Either way, you can make your own DIY koozies right at home using your Cricut machine.

Design Your Own Koozie

The designs that I am showing are just the tip of the iceberg! Get creative and start making custom koozies of your very own with your Cricut machine. You can even use some of our free SVG files for your koozies! If you can imagine it, you can put it on a DIY koozie!

So, will you be making a few koozies of your very own? What do you think? Will you use heat transfer vinyl or Cricut Infusible Ink? You really can’t go wrong with either one.

Just be wary that the Infusible Ink may change color when added to colored koozies. But the results may be fun and they will definitely be a surprise.

Be sure to keep custom koozies in mind when you are planning your parties and other events. Everyone loves a good koozie and now that you know that they are easy to make, you will love them as well!

So, be sure to try to make your own koozie with your Cricut. Both of these methods will work with the Cricut Joy, Cricut Explore series, or the Cricut Maker machines so there really is no excuse not to try.

Grab your supplies and whip up some personalized koozies for any event.

So, make your own koozie today and tell us about it in the comments! Happy crafting y’all!

FAQs About How To Make Your Own Koozie

If you have questions about our how to make your own koozie tutorial, I have answers for you! Please leave your question for me in the comments if you don’t see it already answered below!

Where Did You Buy Your Koozies?

I bought my polyester koozies from Amazon and my sublimation koozies from Coastal Business Supplies!

Are These Koozies Foam or Neoprene?

The koozies I used in today’s tutorials are neoprene and they were all polyester.

Can You Use Infusible Ink On Neoprene Koozies?

Yes, however, since all koozies are made differently, I would make sure to double-check what the fabric is made up of. If you see that the fabric is polyester, then you can use Infusible Ink on it.

Can You Use Infusible Ink And Do Designs On Both Sides Of The Koozie?

Yes, you can!

For today’s project, I only decorated one side of the koozie, but you could easily decorate both sides. If you want to decorate both sides all you need to do is repeat the steps on the other side of the koozie.

The Infusible Ink Left A Light-Colored Box Where My Transfer Paper Was (Surrounding My Design). How Can I Fix This?

I have seen this happen occasionally, so I understand the frustration!

To fix this issue I recommend cutting the paper around the infusible ink as close to your design as possible. Then cover with the paper then cover with parchment as a double layer. It is most likely the material reacting to the heat.

5 More Drinkware Crafts

Did you love this tutorial on how to make your own koozie, and are looking for drinkware crafts? Then check out the projects below!

• How to Make Full Wrap Sublimation Mugs
• Wine SVG: Free Files for Your Crafts
• DIY Coffee Mug Sleeve: Customize with Your Cricut
• How to Use a Tumbler Press for Tumblers and Mugs
• DIY Drink Pouches Using Cricut Color Changing Vinyl