How do you know if the Cricut Joy is the right cutting machine for you? Well, don’t be fooled by the Cricut Joy’s compact size.
I recently shared a blog post titled, “Which Cricut Cutting Machine is Right for You“. There is a LOT of information in that blog post. So, I thought I would break it down for you into bite-size chunks.
In this blog post, we’re gonna dive into the Cricut Joy in an effort to try to help you determine if the Cricut Joy is the right cutting machine for you. Let’s take a look at this little dynamo!
Download the 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:
Once you confirm your subscription by clicking on the link in your confirmation email, you will be redirected to the download in the Subscribers Resource Library. The Library is really a shared Google Drive folder and is full of free printable documents, cut files, patterns and more that are available exclusively to subscribers – just like you!
Please note that these instructions are for NEW subscribers only. If you are an existing subscriber, you’ll find a link to the download in an email from The Birch Cottage or you can simply go to the Subscribers Resource Library and search or browse for the download.
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 Joy™
The Cricut Joy™ is a cute, fun little cutting machine. And the newest member of the Cricut family. But, don’t let its size fool you.
This compact machine is less than half the size of the Cricut Explore or Maker. Although it is limited to a cut width of 4.5″ it does offer mat-free cutting (can cut up to 20′ of “smart vinyl” in a single time) and has a Card Mat (making it perfect for making cards). It’s pared down a bit from the other Cricut machines, with a single blade and pen holder.
Note: When you’re cutting with a mat (blue or green), your design can’t be larger 4.25 x 6.25/11.75 in. And when using the Card Mat, your design can’t be larger than 4.25 x 6 in.
What’s included in the box with the Cricut Joy?
Inside the box, you’ll find everything you need to get started using your new Cricut Joy:
- Cricut Joy machine
- Blade + Housing
- Fine Point Pen, Black (0.4 mm)
- StandardGrip Mat, 4.5” x 6.5”
- Welcome card
- Power adapter
- Free 30-day trial membership to Cricut Access (for new subscribers)
- 50 ready-to-make projects online
- Materials for a practice cut
Mats for the Cricut Joy
With the Cricut Joy, materials labeled with the word “Smart” don’t need a Cricut mat. However, other materials like cardstock and vinyl need a mat to be cut. The Cricut Joy has threekinds of mats:
- LightGrip Mat – Blue: Use for lightweight materials, including copy paper, light cardstock, vellum, adhesive vinyl, and iron-on.
- reusable machine mat 4.5″ x 6.5″ (11.4 cm x 16.5 cm)
- reusable machine mat 4.5″ x 12″ (11.4 cm x 30.5 cm)
- StrandardGrip Mat – Green: Use for medium weight materials including Adhesive-Backed Deluxe Paper, and Infusible Ink™ Transfer Sheets
- reusable machine mat 4.5″ x 6.5″ (11.4 cm x 16.5 cm)
- reusable machine mat 4.5″ x 12″ (11.4 cm x 30.5 cm)
- Card Mat – Designed to work perfectly with all Cricut Joy cards, including Insert Cards (sold separately).
- reusable machine mat 4.5″ x 6.25″ (11.4 cm x 15.9 cm)
Cricut Joy is perfect for all those basic crafts that you might complete, like iron-on vinyl, adhesive vinyl or cardstock.
What can you make with the Cricut Joy?
Cricut Joy is a simple, compact and efficient cutting machine. It has no buttons and is powered on simply when you plug it in. The cut width is only 4.5″ wide, compared to 11.5″ on Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker.
It has a single fine point blade. It does not use any of the specialty tools or blades. The housing can also use a pen, but you will need to switch between the blade and the pen.
Two features that are unique to the Cricut Joy are the Card Mat and mat-free (matless??) cutting with the use of the Smart Vinyl or Smart Iron On. These “smart” materials have a thicker backing so you don’t need a mat for cutting.
So, quick and easy projects are the forte of the Cricut Joy. You can easily and quickly make these small-ish projects:
- labels for organizing your pantry, craft room, home office, etc.
- adhesive vinyl decals for mugs, tumblers, phone cases, and more
- wall decals and borders
- iron on vinyl decals for shirts, bags and small objects
- cardstock cards, banners, and party decorations
The Cricut Joy might be the right cutting machine for you if:
- you have limited crafting space
- you’ll be doing basic crafts
- like to travel with your crafts
- you want a companion to your Explore or Maker
Here are a few Cricut Joy craft projects to inspire you:
Which Cricut Machine is Right for You?
Here are some resources to help you determine which Cricut Cutting Machine might be best for your crafting needs:
- Which Cricut Cutting Machine is Right for You?
- Is the Cricut Explore Air 2 the Right Cutting Machine for You?
- Is the Cricut Maker the Right Cutting Machine for You?
Cricut YouTube Videos
I put together an entire collection of Cricut tutorials that you will find in my Cricut YouTube Playlist.
Buy Cricut Joy on Amazon
Remember
Remember, the keys to selecting the Cricut Cutting Machine that’s right for you is for you to:
- Learn about the features and functionality of each machine.
- Determine how you think you will use the machine.
- 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!
