The Birch Cottage

Crafting a Handmade Home

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Blog
  • About Pam
    • Contact
    • Disclosures
    • Pam’s Musings
  • Crafts
    • Cleaning & Organization
    • Crafts
    • Cricut
    • Crochet
    • Home Decor
    • Sewing
  • Printables
    • Calendars
    • Crochet & Sewing Patterns
    • Digital Wallpaper
    • Gift Tags
    • Labels
    • Miscellaneous
    • Note Cards
    • Recipe Cards
    • Seasonal & Holidays
    • Vintage Illustrations
    • Wall Art
  • Recipes
    • Baked Goods / Breads
    • Desserts
    • Dips / Salsas
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Jams & Jellies
    • Main Dishes
    • Pizzas
    • Seasoning
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups / Stews
  • Shop
You are here: Home / Crafts / Is the Cricut Explore Air 2 Right for You?

January 11, 2021 by: Pamela Baker

Is the Cricut Explore Air 2 Right for You?

How do you know if the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the right cutting machine for you? Learn all about the functionality and cost to help you decide if the Cricut Explore Air 2 is right for you!

I originally shared my Cricut Buying Guide in my “Which Cricut Cutting Machine is Right for You” blog post to help you determine just which Cricut Cutting Machine might be the best match for your crafting style and dreams.

How do you know if the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the right cutting machine for you? Learn all about the functionality and cost to help you decide.

The blog post was rather lengthy, so I thought it might be helpful to break it up into bite sized pieces. In this post, we’ll take a look at the Cricut Explore Air 2 in an effort to help you determine if it’s the right cutting machine for you!

Download the Cricut Buying Guide

The ultimate Cricut Buying Guide

I created this 16 page e-book that you can download for free. It contains all the information that is contained in the original blog post in an easy to read format. To download your free e-book, simply subscribe below:

As a subscriber, you’ll have access to not only this Cricut Cutting Machine Buying Guide, but to the entire Subscribers Resource Library. The Library has about 200 free printable documents: everything from gift tags, wall art and holiday prints to sewing patterns, crochet patterns and more!

Features & Functionality – Cricut Explore Air 2

Cricut Explore Air 2 machine

The Cricut Explore Air™ 2 is an amazing cutting machine. And, compared to the Cricut Maker, comes at a great price. So, depending on your crafting needs, that might be reason enough to choose an Explore.

The Explore Air 2 can cut out pretty much anything you can imagine, including vinyl labels, decals for shirts, paper crafts, and more! It cuts more than 100 different materials and twice as fast as the predecessor Explore Air.

Plus, the Explore Air 2 comes in so many colors. You can easily color coordinate your machine to your craft room or personal preference.

What’s included in the box with the Cricut Explore Air 2?

Inside the box, you’ll find everything you need to get started using your new Cricut Explore Air 2:

  • Cricut Explore Air 2 machine
  • Power Cord
  • USB Cord
  • Blade and housing (pre-installed)
  • Quick Start Guide
  • 12 x 12 StandardGrip [or] LightGrip cutting mat
  • Materials for the first project
  • Pen and accessory adapter (adapter pre-installed)

If you have purchased a machine bundle, the accessories included in that bundle will be different from what’s listed above.

Mats for the Cricut Explore Air 2

The Explore Air 2 has four kinds of mats:

  • LightGrip Mat – Blue: Use for lightweight materials, including copy paper, light cardstock, vellum, adhesive vinyl, and iron-on.
    • reusable machine mat 12″ x 12″ (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm)
    • reusable machine mat 12″ x 24″ (30.5 cm x 61 cm)
  • StrandardGrip Mat – Green: Use for medium weight materials including Adhesive-Backed Deluxe Paper, and Infusible Ink™ Transfer Sheets
    • reusable machine mats 12″ x 12″ (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm)
    • reusable machine mats 12″ x 24″ (30.5 cm x 61 cm)
  • StrongGrip Mat – Purple: Use with specialty cardstock, matboard, and backed fabric
    • reusable machine mats 12″ x 12″ (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm)
    • reusable machine mats 12″ x 24″ (30.5 cm x 61 cm)
  • FabricGrip Mat – Rose: Use to cut most fabrics with Rotary Blade or Bonded-Fabric Blade
    • reusable machine mats 12″ x 12″ (30.5 cm x 30.5 cm)
    • reusable machine mats 12″ x 24″ (30.5 cm x 61 cm)

What can you make with the Cricut Explore Air 2?

How do you know if the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the right cutting machine for you? Learn all about the functionality and cost to help you decide.

The Cricut Explore Air 2 is an electronic cutting machine that sort of resembles a printer. And although you can write on paper using your Explore, it’s specialty is cutting. The Explore uses a precision blade to cut out pretty much anything you can imagine, including:

  • iron-on vinyl for t-shirts, tote bags, etc.
  • paper gift boxes
  • gift tags
  • stencils for wood signs
  • vinyl quotes and designs for coffee mugs
  • greeting cards
  • monogrammed water bottles, towels and more
  • paper flowers
  • pantry labels
  • Christmas ornaments
  • leather earrings

The Cricut Explore Air 2 might be best for you if:

How do you know if the Cricut Explore Air 2 is the right cutting machine for you? Learn all about the functionality and cost to help you decide.
  • you have space available for a bigger machine than the Cricut Joy
  • you’ll be doing more advanced crafts
  • you’ll be crafting a lot
  • you want to craft with more than the limited products available with the Cricut Joy
  • looking for a budget friendly option – but, yet is powerful and fast
  • you make and sell crafts

If you really plan to stick to cardstock paper projects, iron-on and vinyl, the Explore Air 2 is a great option for you.

Learn More

Here are some resources to help you determine which Cricut Cutting Machine might be best for your crafting needs:

  • Is the Cricut Joy the Right Cutting Machine for You?
  • Is the Cricut Maker the Right Cutting Machine for You?
  • Which Cricut Machine is Right for You?

Here are a few Cricut Explore Air 2 craft projects to inspire you:

  • Giant Paper Peony Flowers
  • DIY Personalized Welcome Door Mat
  • Home Sweet Home Project

Cricut YouTube Videos

I put together an entire collection of Cricut tutorials that you will find in my Cricut YouTube Playlist.

Cricut YouTube Playlist

Buy Cricut Explore Air 2 on Amazon

Remember

Remember, the keys to selecting the Cricut Cutting Machine that’s right for you is for you to:

  1. Learn about the features and functionality of each machine.
  2. Determine how you think you will use the machine.
  3. Take your budget into consideration (Joy – $180, Explore – $250, Maker – $400)

Then, once you’ve made a selection, learn everything you can about your Cricut.

Happy crafting!

Pam from The Birch Cottage
Learn How to Recycle Christmas Cards to Make Gift Tags
Easy to Sew Tissue Holder {with Video & Pattern}

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Sign-Up for The Birch Cottage Newsletter!

Pam Baker The Birch Cottage
Hello and welcome to The Birch Cottage! I'm Pam, wife, mom, nana (mawmaw), dog mom and creative behind The Birch Cottage blog. Come explore The Birch Cottage where I hope you'll find inspiration to craft a handmade home. I love sharing my passion for family, cooking, sewing, crocheting, crafting and all things DIY. Thank you for visiting!
[Read more about Pam]

Search this site!

Popular Posts

Download this free printable face mask pattern
Learn to sew a microwave safe bowl cozy
The secret to super moist meatloaf
24 Classic Christmas Mantels by The Birch Cottage

Disclosure:
Posts may include affiliate links for your convenience. All opinions are our own. You are reading and following advice from The Birch Cottage at your own risk. Always use safety precautions. You should read and follow manufacturer’s directions for the products and tools you use. Read more.

Privacy Policy:
The privacy of your personal information is important. We make every effort to safeguard your information and will never sell it to third parties. Read more.

Terms of Use:
You are welcome to link to this site or use a single image and brief description to link back to any post. Republishing posts in their entirety is prohibited without permission. All images are property of The Birch Cottage. Do not crop or remove watermark. Do not reproduce without link back or permission. If you do link to this site, please contact us to let us know. All free printables offered are for personal use only. Pinning is always welcome and appreciated. Thank you!

  • Blog
  • About Pam
  • Crafts
  • Printables
  • Recipes
  • Shop

© 2021 · Fun Genesis WordPress Theme by, Pretty Darn Cute Design