What Does Cricut Joy Do? This product was gifted in return for an honest review.
The Cricut Joy is an amazing little cutting machine that can help you with all your creative projects, big and small. If you're new to Cricut Joy or are considering purchasing one, you might be wondering what this machine is capable of.
In this article, we'll take a comprehensive look at everything that a Cricut Joy can do and what it can't do, so you can make an informed decision about whether or not this machine is right for you.
What Is a Cricut Machine?
Before I get into everything that the Cricut Joy can do, let's first take a look at what a Cricut machine is.
A Cricut machine is a cutting machine that can be used for a variety of different projects. You can use it to cut paper, vinyl, fabric, and even thin materials like cork and balsa wood.
Cricut machines come in a variety of different sizes and shapes, but they all have one thing in common: they can all be controlled with a computer or phone using the Cricut Design Space software.
As a lifestyle blogger, I love to share crafts on my website. You can imagine how excited I was to be contacted by Cricut and offered the opportunity to review this mini machine and a variety of Cricut joy materials.
Today I'm sharing my experience and view of the Cricut joy machine as well as a comprehensive overview of what the joy machine can do.
So What Is the Cricut Joy?
The Cricut Joy is a small, compact cutting machine that is designed for simple projects. It can cut paper, vinyl, cardstock, and iron-on transfers, and can also draw and score with its built-in pen.
The machine comes with 50 free ready-to-make projects, so you can get started right away on some easy and fun crafts.
One of the best things about the Cricut Joy is its versatility. This machine can do everything from cutting out simple shapes to writing and scoring your paper for you.
It's the perfect machine for someone who wants to get into crafting but doesn't want to invest in larger, more complicated Cricut machines.
The Cricut joy is also great for a beginner crafter as a stepping tool to other Cricut machines such as the Explore Air or the Cricut Maker.
How Is Cricut Joy Different Than Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker?
The Cricut Joy is the newest cutting machine from Cricut, and it's the smallest and most compact of the Cricut machines.
The Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker are both larger machines that can cut a wider variety of materials, including thicker materials like leather and wood.
The Cricut Joy is also a less expensive machine than the Explore and Maker, so it's a great option for someone who wants to try out a smaller machine without breaking the bank.
How Big Is the Cricut Joy?
The Cricut Joy is a small, compact machine that is about the size of a toaster. It's lightweight and easy to transport, so you can take it with you wherever you go, unlike a full-sized machine.
What Materials Can the Cricut Joy Cut?
The Cricut Joy can cut a variety of materials, including paper, cardstock, vinyl, and iron-on transfers.
It can cut materials up to 5 feet long and 4.5 inches wide, so you can make some pretty big projects with this machine.
The Cricut Joy can also draw and score with its built-in pen, so you can use it to create greeting cards, invitations, envelopes, and more.
There are so many Cricut materials to choose from. You can cut vinyl or use stencil vinyl to make wall decals. You can make custom stickers or custom cards using creating many other Cricut projects.
No need to buy fancy scoring tools with a Cricut joy. This machine can do so much. It's the perfect companion for making party decor, cake toppers, or super cute cupcake toppers.
There are so many popular materials you can use with this Cricut cutting machine, the possibilities are endless.
What Projects Can I Make With the Cricut Joy?
The Cricut Joy is perfect for small projects like cards, invitations, labels, and banners. You can also use it to make bigger projects like vinyl decals, iron-on transfers, and paper banners.
The Cricut Joy comes with 50 free ready-to-make projects, so you can get started right away on some easy and fun crafts. Whether it's planner stickers, smart labels or you're wanting to create stencils for future projects, the Cricut Joy can do it.
What I Love About the Cricut Joy Machine
One of my favorite things about the Cricut Joy is that it's so versatile. You can use it for simple projects like cutting paper or vinyl, or you can use it for more complex projects like drawing and scoring.
It's the perfect machine for someone who wants to get into crafting and I love that you can make iron-on stickers for clothing, hats, and other accessories.
Is the Cricut Joy Easy to Use?
Yes! The Cricut Joy is very easy to use, even for beginners. The machine comes with clear, step-by-step instructions that will walk you through everything you need to know to get started.
You can also find helpful videos on the Cricut website and YouTube channel that will show you how to use your machine and make different projects.
Cricut Joy Set Up
Setting up your brand new machine is super simple. Just unbox everything and plug in your machine, and you'll be ready to start crafting.
Log onto the Cricut Design Space app, and follow the instructions to connect your machine wirelessly. This will give you Cricut access and you can start creating!
How to Use Cricut Joy
Using the Cricut Joy is very straightforward. Just load your material into the machine and let it do its thing.
The Cricut Joy will automatically adjust the blade depth and pressure for you, so you don't have to worry about making any adjustments.
Once your material is loaded, just choose your project design and hit "Go."
The machine will do the rest! It's an amazing little machine and can make everyday life more fun for sure!
Cricut Joy Cutting Mat
The Cricut Joy comes with a cutting mat. The mat has marks on it that show you where to place your material so that it will cut correctly.
Mats have a sticky backing that holds your material in place while it's being cut.
Just peel off the backing and stick your material to the mat, and then load it into the machine.
The Cricut Joy will cut your material according to the design you've chosen, and then it will automatically eject it from the cutting mat when it's done.
You can do matless cutting or mat-free cutting using your Cricut Joy but based on my experience using this little machine I prefer to use a card mat or cutting mat every time.
Cricut Joy Mat Size
The Cricut Joy cutting mat is 4.5 inches wide and 6.5 inches long. It's a smaller mat than the mats that come with the Cricut Explore Air and Cricut Maker machines, but it's just the right size for small projects like cards and banners.
What Blade Does the Cricut Joy Use?
The Cricut Joy uses a blade that is exclusive to the Joy machine. The blade is called the Fine-Point Blade, and it's specifically designed for cutting light materials like paper and vinyl.
Cricut Joy Accessories & Materials
The Cricut Joy comes with everything you need to get started on your first project. In the box, you'll find the following:
- Cricut Joy machine
- Cricut cutting mat,
- Fine-Point Blade
- Basic Materials For Your First Project
You can also purchase additional accessories and materials for your nee DIY best friend. Some popular accessories include:
- Additional cutting mats in different sizes
- A variety of blade types for cutting different materials
- Vinyl in a variety of colors and patterns
- Iron-on transfer material
- Cardstock in a variety of colors and textures
- Patterned paper
- Envelopes
- Rulers and scoring tools
- Storage for your Cricut supplies
Making Stickers With Cricut Joy
One of the best things about the Cricut Joy is that it can cut continuous lines of vinyl, so you can make stickers! Both beginner crafters and more serious crafters can have fun with this Cricut maker in the craft room.
Cricut Joy Stickers
To make stickers, all you need is some vinyl and a cutting mat. Just load your vinyl onto the mat and insert it into the machine. Then choose your design and hit "Go."
Cricut Joy Sticker Paper
The Cricut Joy can also cut sticker paper, which is a material that has adhesive on one side and is backed with paper.
Sticker paper works well with Cricut joy mats as it is held in place for the whole cut and the Cricut joy cuts perfect every time.
How to Make Stickers on Cricut Joy?
Sticker paper is great for projects like labels and jar labels.
To use sticker paper, just load it onto the Cricut joy card mat and insert it into the machine.
Then choose your design and press go on your mini machine. Then watch the Cricut joy work its magic as it cuts out your design.
Once it's done, just peel off the backing and stick your new sticker wherever you'd like!
Smart Vinyl Cricut Joy: For Making Stickers and Labels
Smart Vinyl is a special type of vinyl that has an adhesive backing.
It's very easy to use with the Cricut joy machine blade and you don't need to transfer the design onto another material.
All you need to do is load the Smart Vinyl onto the cutting mat and insert it into the machine.
You then choose the design you need on the design space software and you can begin making your everyday projects.
Smart materials are great because they are specifically designed to work well on the Cricut joy card mat.
What Is Weeding and Why Do I Need to Do It?
Weeding is the process of removing the excess vinyl or paper from around your design.
It's an important step in the vinyl and sticker-making process because it ensures that your final product will look clean and professional.
To weed your vinyl or paper, simply use a Cricut weeding tool to gently peel away the material that you don't need.
If you're new to weeding, start with a simple design so that you can get the hang of it.
Once you've mastered the basics, you can move on to more complex designs.
The Perfect Companion for DIY Lovers
The Cricut Joy is the perfect machine for DIY lovers. It's small and compact, so it doesn't take up a lot of space. And it's easy to use, so you can make professional-looking projects without any hassle.
Pros and Cons of the Cricut Joy
Here are the pros and cons of buying a Cricut joy machine.
Joy Machine Pros:
- Small and compact cutting machine
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Great for beginners
- Can cut a variety of materials
Joy Machine Cons:
- Can't cut as many materials as the Explore Air and Maker machines
- The blade is not as sharp as other Cricut blades
- The mat is smaller than other Cricut mats
Is the Cricut Joy Worth It?
The Cricut Joy is a great machine for anyone who loves DIY projects. It's easy to use and it's very versatile.
If you're looking for a machine that cut all materials, then the Cricut Joy is not the machine for you.
If you're looking for a machine that's easy to use and great for small projects, then this Cricut machine is definitely worth it.
The Cricut joy works well with smart materials and the Cricut design space is super easy to learn and it can fit snug on your coffee table or crafting bench.
Where Can I Buy Cricut Joy?
Looking to add a Cricut joy to your craft room?
The Cricut Joy is available for purchase on the Cricut website and Amazon.
In the USA you can also find it in major retailers, like Michaels, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Hobby Lobby.
In New Zealand, you can get a Cricut joy machine from Spotlight.
In the UK you can buy a Cricut joy machine from Hobbycraft and Currys.
You can also purchase other Cricut machines from the above locations.
You might like to check out the Cricut Maker or the Cricut Explore Air. They are both popular and machines too.
Get a Cricut Joy on Amazon!
You can order a Cricut Joy smart cutting machine and other machines from Amazon and it's simple to do! Just visit this page here for the best Cricut Joy deal.
You can also purchase materials on Amazon:
Cricut Joy Carrying Case: See Here!
Cricut Joy Smart Materials: See Here!
Cricut Machine precision tools: See Here!
So What Can a Cricut Joy Do?
In a nutshell, this amazing little machine, aka the Cricut joy can do the following things…
- Make beautiful Labels & Stickers
- Cut & score light materials such as paper and cardstock
- Write & draw with a pen or marker
- Connect to your computer or phone via Bluetooth
- Use the Cricut app for design inspiration, and Cricut project tutorials.
- Make gorgeous cards and envelopes.
You won't ever need to buy a birthday card again! The Cricut Joy is not just a one-trick pony! You can make SO much with this machine. I'd definitely recommend it.
This gadget is actually new for me and it's cool!