FAQ: Do I need to buy Cricut-branded basswood sheets for my 1:12 miniature crafts?

The question we hear most often for new Cricut miniature crafters is whether they need to buy the Cricut-branded basswood sheets. The short answer is, no! But you might want to anyway. Here are some considerations to keep in mind.

Cricut-branded Basswood Sheets

The Cricut-branded basswood sheets (link or link) are very high quality. (Hence the price, in addition to the brand premium.) We have seen sales for as low as $11.99 for a pack of four, 6 by 12 inch sheets. That’s 4.1 cents per square inch. The pros are that they are easy to cut and take stain beautifully.

Midwest Products Basswood Sheets

Also high quality (and relatively high cost) are the Midwest Products brand of sheets (link). (Unlike the Cricut brand, they come in different thicknesses, so make sure you stick to 1/16″ if you want to be able to cut them in your Cricut.) These we have seen on sale for as low as $70 for a pack of ten, 8 by 24 inch sheets. That’s 3.6 cents per square inch. So, a bit cheaper than the Cricut brand, if you are buying a large quantity.

Generic Basswood Sheets

Lower quality 1/16″ thick basswood sheets can be purchased on Amazon in the range of $15 for ten, 12 by 12 inch sheets (link). That’s 1 cent per square inch. The lower quality means you will get more miscuts on the machine. But once you get the cut right, they still look beautiful, especially if you are painting them.

Our Approach

We use Cricut or Midwest Products branded basswood sheets in our finest projects, especially if we will need more intricate cuts, good uptake of stain, or just want the cutting to be the easiest. We use generics if we have extra time to fiddle with the cuts, are making prototypes, are primarily cutting squares and rectangles, or plan to paint the finished item.

Any brands that we are missing that you recommend?

(This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase on Amazon using one of the links, we receive a small commission. #affiliate)