Cricut Joy Review

Overall Rating

4.1

Introduction

Cricut Joy is a compact and easy-to-use cutting machine that is perfect for a variety of creative projects. It can cut a wide range of materials, including paper, vinyl, and iron-on, and is ideal for personalizing home decor, creating custom gifts, and more.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my review on the Cricut Joy! As someone who enjoys working with die cutting, I often found it hard to get the correct cut out, thus having to constantly start over.

That is until a friend of mine introduced me to the Cricut Joy. Let me tell you it has made my crafting experience a whole lot easier.

As someone who enjoys crafting, having this machine has made more ideas possible. I feel like I am not limited to the different ways I can create things with die cutting.

As the reader, you may be curious as to why I enjoy this machine so much. Well, let’s start my review off right and get you introduced to your new best crafting friend!

Cricut Joy Product Overview

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For starters, this machine is so small. The size of it is 8” by 4” by 4” letting you put it anywhere as well as store it away without wasting practically any space. You can also get a travel case to take it with you wherever you need to go!

It also comes with an app that you can download on your computer, phone, or tablet, which is a cool feature, as there are no buttons on the machine. You control it all by the app!

You can also set and forget this device. Meaning, you don’t have to stay and wait for it to be completed. Once you start it, you can go work on other things that you need to do. You will get a pop-up notification on the app once it is done!

You will also be happy to know that you can make a lot of projects in under 15 minutes. If you are like me and get busy often, this is helpful because you can still get those projects done without spending too much time on it.

What Features Make It So Impressive?

For starters, this machine can make matless die cuts. It makes it so much easier when undertaking projects. However, it can only do this with certain materials. On top of that though, it can accommodate material up to 20 feet in length.

It features its own line of specialized pens that you can use for any project. Whether you want to stylize something, you are cutting or make unique labels for things around the house. It can do it all.

It doesn’t use as much force as other die cutting machines. It makes it a breeze to get smaller projects done quickly.

It measures and straightens out any material you place inside it. It is great as I can sometimes forget to check my material, or I will misjudge how much material I need. This machine checks how much I have before even making its first cut.

The blade that comes with it is specially designed for the Cricut Joy. Meaning, there is only one type of blade that this machine can use. The cuts that this blade creates are so precise that they make your projects look amazing!

What’s Included?

Here are a few things that your Cricut Joy will come with once you make your purchase:

  • Cricut Joy Machine
  • Blade and Storage for the Blade
  • Materials for a practice cut
  • Welcome Card
  • Power Adapter
  • Black Fine Point Pen
  • Free Trial for Cricut Access™ for new Subscribers
  • 50 ready to make projects online
  • Standard grip mat

What Projects Can the Cricut Joy Complete?

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Now you are probably wondering, what type of projects you can complete with this fantastic machine? Well, I will be happy to share those with you, as I have found a lot of different projects during my time using it.

With the Cricut Joy, you can make labels to organize anything in your house. You could organize the spices in your cabinets, anything in your craft or sewing room, or things on your desk at work.

You can also create adhesive vinyl to decorate things like mugs, phone cases, and more. It is fun to put your creations on the items you use every day. What better way to show off your own style than by doing this?

If you are someone who likes to create cards for special occasions, then this is another option you can explore with this wonderful machine. You can also create some banners and decorations to display during those special occasions.

I am a person who enjoys drawing. I like that I can use my own designs to personalize anything that I use this machine for. It allows me to add a personal touch to gifts, making it more meaningful to the person I give it to.

How Long Does It Take to Set Up?

The instructions that come with this make it so simple and easy to set up. For me, it took about ten to fifteen minutes to get it up and running. That was honestly a blessing to me since it can be difficult for me to understand instructions at times.

They give you step by step instructions with pictures on each page. Having the visual pictures made it easier because when I first opened it, I didn’t know what went where.

You will also have a sample project to complete after you get everything set up. It will help ensure that you understand how this machine runs and what you need to do to start different projects.

How Much Does It Cost?

The price for the Cricut Joy comes to $179. Which, in all honesty, is not a bad price for what this product has to offer. With all the features that are included you know you will be getting your money’s worth.

Through my personal use with this project, I felt that my money was not wasted when I decided to purchase it. At first, I wasn’t sure, but after using and seeing what it can do, I am happy I bought it.

The Main Benefits

With everything that has been stated so far, I want to go over a few additional things that make this an excellent machine for any crafty person.

For starters, this machine is so easy to use that it’s excellent for beginners and experts alike. You can find additional help online by watching videos about other people’s experiences with it.

Your time is more precious than money, and the amount of time you can save using the Cricut Joy will bring you real joy. There have been times where I needed a project done last minute and was able to complete it before it was due.

This machine also comes with many different accessories that you can purchase. It creates endless possibilities for what you can create. For instance, I enjoy being able to use glitter gel pens to add a little sparkle to my projects.

Something that I purchased to go with my machine was the carrying case. It made it easier to take wherever I went without having to worry about if it would be okay. It fits your machine perfectly, along with the adapter and a few other things.

Pros and Cons

There will always be pros and cons to anything. So, with that being said, let’s go over some of, in my opinion, the pros and cons while using this product.

Pros

  • You can take it practically anywhere you go.
  • It is affordable for a die cutting machine. 
  • Its design is super compact and looks absolutely adorable.
  • You can get free designs online, which is a great convenience. 
  • Easy to use for the beginners.
  • Fully controlled by an app on your phone, PC, or tablet.
  • Very easy to operate. 

Cons

  • It is a small device, which limits you on the size of projects.
  • It is limited to certain types of materials.
  • Unable to cut thicker materials so you might want to keep in mind.
  • Some people have noted that the software it runs on can be difficult to use.

However, even though there are some downsides, I still enjoy using this machine each day. As I have found things I dislike, it doesn’t make me think I shouldn’t use it anymore. To me, this product has brought way more good than bad.

Conclusion

Do I recommend the Cricut Joy? The answer is yes! This little machine has been a great help for me as I tend to take on many different crafting projects. It saves me time and helps me get multiple projects done in one day. Who can say no to that?

The best part is, my husband has even found it fun to use. He wouldn’t normally consider himself a crafty person but has found that using this machine for die cutting can be pretty entertaining.

I hope this article was helpful to you. If you think Cricut Joy would be an excellent tool for you, don’t forget to check it out. It will be one of the best crafting tools you can own.

Happy crafting!