Meet the brand new Cricut Joy, your DIY best friend!
What is the Cricut Joy?
Cricut Joy is a uniquely compact and portable machine that makes crafting easier than ever AND it fits in the palm of your hand! No, really! The Cricut Joy weighs under 4 pounds and measures only 5″ x 8″ (when closed). Don't let the size fool you though - there are some amazing features!
Cricut Joy as a starter machine:
I've met a lot of crafters who put off getting a Cricut machine because they aren't sure where to start, which is totally understandable! Cricut Joy is the perfect machine for brand new Cricut users looking for a way to make quick projects without a ton of commitment. In no time at all, this new mini machine will become your go-to for quick projects like cards, labels, tags, custom clothing, and more!
This machine also light enough to take anywhere you want. You can move it throughout the house to make creating projects more convenient. Or take it on the go!! Think weekend craft retreats, getting the classroom in order, or getting creative on vacation!
Cricut Joy as a companion machine:
If you already own a Cricut Explore and/or Maker machine, Cricut Joy is the perfect companion to your larger machine! Save your full-sized machine for larger designs and denser materials, and this new mini machine will quickly become your go-to for quick projects like cards, labels, decals, and more!
Think of it this way: we usually grab our phones when we want to take quick photos, right? But sometimes, we need photos captured by cameras with all of the bells and whistles. The Cricut Joy is like grabbing your phone - it's quick, convenient, and gets the job done well. Your larger machines have the extra features and tools for larger projects and denser materials. The Cricut Joy isn’t a replacement machine - it’s an adorable little friend for your larger Cricut!
How is the Cricut Joy different?
The Cricut Joy is definitely unique compared to the Cricut Explore and Maker machines. It's made to be simple. There are no buttons or dials, and it powers on as soon as you plug it in. The cut width is 4.5″ wide, compared to 11.5″ on Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker.
Cricut Joy Blades and Pens:
The Cricut Joy has a single blade. No extra scoring tools or specialty blades. There is also a special line of Cricut Joy pens and Infusible Ink markers to write and draw on your projects, but you will need to switch between the blade and the pen in the single housing.
Matless Cutting:
A new and exciting feature is MATLESS cutting with adhesive Smart Vinyl and Smart Iron-On Vinyl! These “Smart” materials have a thicker backing that makes it possible for you to cut them without having to use an actual mat.
You can cut continuous images up to 4.5″ wide by 4 feet long with adhesive Smart Vinyl, and it can also cut repeated shapes up to 20 feet long. That means that you can cut vinyl wall decals for an entire room in one single cut! This is perfect for home decor, classrooms, pantry labels, and SO much more!
Cricut Joy Cards:
One of my favorite features of the Cricut Joy is the streamlined card making! The all-new Cricut Joy Card Mat and Insert Cards sets allow you to easily create gorgeous cards in minutes, which is perfect for all of those last-minute moments!
**Watch for some fun card tutorials to come soon!!
Can I use my other Cricut tools and materials?
When you're investing in a Cricut machine, it is important to know what other accessories you will need to consider and how you can save money in the long run.
Mats: You can only use Cricut Joy mats with this machine. However, you do have the ability for matless cutting when you use adhesive Smart Vinyl and Smart Iron-On Vinyl, which will save you on mat usage.
Blades: The Cricut Joy blade and housing are smaller than the other machines, so other blades will not fit.
Materials: Actually, yes! Materials like iron-on vinyl, adhesive vinyl, and cardstock, just need to trimmed to fit a Cricut Joy mat to be cut with the Cricut Joy. Most materials that can be cut using a fine point blade on your Explore or Maker can be cut (with a mat) on your Cricut Joy machine.
Tools: All the items in a craft tool set can be used with your Cricut Joy materials. Pens, however, are different. Like the blade, you can only use the Cricut Joy pens and Infusible Ink markers in the Cricut Joy housing.
One of my first projects with the Cricut Joy was this "Make Today Awesome" block, because I HAD to try out the matless cutting! It went seamlessly, and I was done in less than 10 minutes.
Directions:
- Paint a 2x4 block in the color of your choice. I went with a color similar to Cricut Joy blue! Let it dry completely.
- Open the Make Today Awesome Design Space project and size it to fit the block.
- Cut the file out with the Cricut Joy using white adhesive Smart Vinyl.
- Use a weeding tool to remove excess vinyl.
- Cut a piece of transfer tape slightly larger than the design. Lay it over the vinyl and press it down well with a scraper tool.
- Remove the vinyl backing and place the vinyl down on the face of the block. Press it down well with the scraper tool.
- Carefully peel the transfer tape away from the vinyl.
- Enjoy your new piece of home decor!
Where can I buy a Cricut Joy?
You should be able to purchase the Cricut Joy machine and materials at these retailers: Cricut.com, Amazon, JOANN, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby.
What do you think? Do you have any Cricut Joy questions?
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