One minute review
Cricut machines are the Thermomix of the craft world: a status symbol with a cult following, and the love for Cricut is guaranteed. Cricut machines were once exclusively bulky and expensive, but the Cricut Joy opens up even more opportunities for crafty types, and it's the perfect machine if you're short on space and money.
Think of Cricut as a plotter that can cut and draw. At a minimum, it works on cardstock, vinyl, and iron-on transfers. Attach blades or markers to the Cricut Joy and it will cut or draw with precision on those materials.
The Cricut Joy weighs less than 2kg and you can hold it in one hand, so you can really take it with you. And the only cable you need is the power cable thanks to Bluetooth connectivity (which, thankfully, isn't a pain when pairing your device).
The design is simple and clean, so it will look great when taking photos and videos for your Instagram or TikTok followers. When running, it's a bit noisier than expected, but no louder than your average inkjet printer.
A word of warning though: your Cricut creation can become addictive quite easily. You will get STS (Shiny Tool Syndrome) and SMS (Shiny Stuff Syndrome) and get addicted to tutorials on Instagram and TikTok. RIP your credit card and your phone battery.
- Cricut Joy vinyl machine on Amazon for €129
Cricut Joy Pricing and Availability
- Announced March 2020
- List Price € 179 / € 179 / AU € 249
The latest machine to join the Cricut ranks is the company's smallest and most affordable, bringing joy to crafters around the world.
The Cricut Joy is available to buy at most major craft stores and online retailers, retailing for $179 / £179 / AU$249. This price includes not only the machine itself, but also a carrying case. transport, a cutting sheet, a fine-point pen, a grip mat, and materials to get you started.
The ongoing cost of crafting materials will need to be taken into account, the price of which varies depending on what you are looking for. It's worth noting that you can't use vinyl or paper that's available for crafts at the store; you will need to purchase material made specifically for Cricut Joy.
Cricut Joy: What can you do?
The beauty of this machine is that you can create totally personalized gifts, for yourself or a loved one, or earn some money on Etsy.
At a minimum, you can create
- greeting cards, bookmarks, garlands, party decorations
- container labels in your refrigerator and pantry, offices and classrooms
- reusable cups, glassware, bottles and cups
- wall stickers, mirrors and cars
- clothes and bags
If you have a few hours to spare, Pinterest is the mecca for Cricut project ideas.
Cricut Joy: Design
- Smallest Cricut machine yet
- Elegant design
- comes with case
The Cricut Joy is the little brother of the original Cricut machines, which gives it some limitations; it can only cut thinner materials and only on materials up to 4,5 inches wide. With that said, you can still create a decent amount with Cricut Joy.
The design of the machine is simple and elegant, and even though the casing is plastic, the Cricut Joy is sturdy enough when you handle it. The teal clip that holds the blade is easy to find and release, making it easy to switch to pens or a new blade.
Guides make it easy to insert materials into the machine and rollers automatically move materials through the Joy. Cricut's use of "smart" materials allows the machine to "read" the material and makes sure there is enough to get the job done.
When you need to pack up, it's easy to unplug the power cord and stash your computer out of sight.
Cricut Joy - Setup and Ease of Use
- Requires Cricut Smart materials
- Easy to install and use
- Requires the Cricut Design Space app
The Cricut Joy comes with a blade and a fine point black pen, so all you need to buy separately are the materials to run through the machine and some transfer tape.
There are many types of materials and many multi-packs if you don't know what colors you want to try. That said, when looking at what materials to buy, be sure to look at Cricut's "smart" materials, as these are the only ones that work for (and fit into the small dimensions of) the Cricut Joy. Cricut Smart materials include:
- Permanent and removable vinyl (including glitter, glitter, translucent, and holographic colors)
- Pre-folded cards and inserts
- Labels and writing paper
- Iron-on (including glitter, glitter, and holographic colors)
Transfer tape is what you need to cut your design into the final product. It's like a clear contact.
There are tons of other accessories and consumables you can buy, but keep in mind that this is where your credit card can really take a hit.
Setup is pretty simple: connect via Bluetooth to your device and install the Cricut Design Space app available for iOS, Android, and desktop.
It may take some brainpower to create your design the way you want it cut. Make test cuts until you get the job done or prepare to run out of your favorite materials before a project is done.
If you're familiar with vectors and SVG files, you can also import them into the app and then let the machine do its thing.
Should I buy the Cricut Joy?
If you feel like trying something new with your craft, you can't go wrong with Cricut Joy. Before you know it, you'll be showing off your creations to friends and family, and maybe even earning some extra cash.
Buy it if...
Don't buy if...
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