This was originally a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cricut for Cricut. All opinions are 100% mine.
Hi friends! Today we are going to talk about the NEW Cricut Joy machine and how it’s going to be the perfect craft companion to add to your collection.
This small but powerful machine is going to allow YOU to quickly and easily personalize ANYTHING with one cut and one color, in 15 minutes or less. Best part? Since this new machine is small in size but mighty in it’s capabilities, I’m going to share with you all how easy it is for YOU and your child to get crafty with it today!
In this very post, I’m going to go over the ins and outs of this brand new die-cutting machine, as well as sharing THREE simple craft ideas that parents can help kids with, straight out of the box. This machine is going to not only be a dream come true for parents to have in their home but for their aspiring little crafters as well!
But first, before we dive into the three small projects that my son helped me with, let’s talk more about all the awesome new features this smart cutting machine has to offer!
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First and foremost, it’s compact, lightweight and portable. The Cricut Joy is Cricut’s smallest die-cutting machine ever! It fits nicely in a cubby or looks great on the counter. This fact alone comes in handy for me personally, since we currently live in a small two-bedroom apartment in Florida. As you can imagine, our current space for crafting can be a little tricky with the small square footage we have.
On that note, because of it’s size, Cricut Joy packs away easily and sets up instantly, making it super easy to move from room to room. Again, super ideal for crafters like us, since most of our craft time is currently spent on the dining room table, outside of where I normally store our craft supplies.
Not to mention since we are planning on moving to Nebraska this summer, I can easily take my machine on the road with ease. All I need to do is slip it in the Cricut Joy tote storage bag, carry it on my shoulder and place it in my car till I’m ready to use it. I bet you can’t do that with the other cutting machines out there!
Another great selling point for me? You don’t necessarily need a cutting mat on hand to get your crafts completed. Say what?! Cricut Joy has a full suite of brand-new materials that do not require a mat, meaning less to buy, fewer steps and faster results. Without the mat, it’s one less thing to carry, worry and/or mess with. I’m sure this is going to be a game-changer for so many!
New Smart vinyl comes in extended sizes, with up to 20′ repeated cut capability and no need to switch out multiple mats. Just insert the special vinyl as-is into the machine and let it do the work for you. Hello easy!
Now if vinyl isn’t your thing, no worries there either! The Cricut Joy also have exclusive blank insert card sets and printed paper packs that allow you to recreate unique & stunning results in a moment’s notice. I’ll touch more on that in a bit!
And one last thing – Cricut Joy writes too! There is a full suite of Cricut Joy compatible pens, with a variety of pen types and line weights that draw and write in a variety of styles. This means you can make a wide array of things from coloring pages to custom invitations {which we will talk about below, as well!}
GRAB YOUR JOY MACHINE VIA OUR AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK
Now that we have gone over ALL the important facts and features of this new machine, let’s get to the fun part! The crafting!
Below you will find THREE different simple projects I recently did with my son, straight out of the box, with little to no planning on our part. That’s how easy it is. We just plugged in the machine, grabbed my tablet and started planning out our projects straight from the Cricut app.
On that note, I just want to say that you shouldn’t feel intimidated by your first few projects that you create with your new machine. The three projects I’m going to share with you all below, are straight from the Cricut Design Studio program. If you can use the “search” option on their app, YOU can make these projects happen in no time. Not only is the Cricut Joy machine super easy to use but the Cricut software is too – I promise!
So I’ll let you get to it! Keep scrolling to check out the three different projects we made together and make sure you meet me at the end of this very post, for a quick wrap up!
GRAB YOUR JOY MACHINE VIA OUR AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK
Project 1 – A Simple Handmade Card
Using pre-scored pieces and your Cricut Joy machine, you can easily customize a last-minute card for any occasion. Plus you can mix and match the colors of the cards & inserts, for stunning one-of-a-kind designs that really pop from the paper! These cards are sure to wow the lucky receivers and they only will take YOU a few minutes to create!
The Craft Supplies:
- Design Space Software
- Cricut Joy Machine
- Cricut Joy Blade and Housing
- Cricut Joy Insert Cards {we used the New Romantic Sampler}
- Cricut Joy Card Mat
The Directions:
- First things first – select the card design you want. On the Cricut project page, you are going to search “Cricut Joy Insert Cards.” Scroll through the various options and pick your favorite. The design we choose was the “You Are The Best Card.“
- Read through the directions and then select “make it.”
- Choose “On Card Mat” and select continue.
- Browse all the materials and choose “Insert Card – Cardstock.”
- Once you have your card material on the mat, insert the mat into the machine and hit cut.
- When the cut is complete, remove the mat from the machine. Now carefully peel the mat away from the card to reveal the design.
- Now grab the coordinating card insert and tuck it into the corner cuts of the card, one at a time, until all the corners are aligned and the insert lays flat inside the card.
- Wool-ah! That’s it! Enjoy your impressive new card!
GRAB YOUR JOY MACHINE VIA OUR AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK
Project 2 – DIY Paper Bookmarks
Using the Cricut Joy Pens in your machine, you can design your own coloring page paper bookmarks within minutes! These would be great for parents to make with kids, so they can hand out to their friends, family members and teachers. You could also use this idea for birthday parties, in the classroom, as a quick gift for the holidays – whenever!
The Supplies:
- Design Space Software
- Cricut Joy Machine
- White Cardstock
- LightGrip Cricut Joy Mat
- Cricut Joy Pens {the machine comes with a black}
- Cricut Paper Trimmer
- optional – single hole paper punch, scissors and craft yarn
The Directions:
- In the Design Space app, you are going to search for “bookmark” designs. We decided on the “Places We Go Bookmark.”
- Now grab your paper trimmer and white cardstock.
- Trim down the cardstock so it will fit on your mat.
- Go ahead and secure it in place on the mat.
- Next up – you are going to hit “make it” on the Design Space app and follow the prompts to insert your Cricut pen or marker into your machine.
- When the machine is done drawing, you are going to change out the marker for the cutting blade.
- Follow the prompts to cut the bookmark shape out of the cardstock.
- When the machine is done cutting, remove the mat from the machine.
- Now carefully peel the mat away from the finished bookmark.
- Now you can either gift/enjoy it as is or you can hole punch a single hole on the top of the bookmark, to add the string for added flair. The choice is yours!
GRAB YOUR JOY MACHINE VIA OUR AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK
Project 3 – Smiling Flowerpot
This project is something adults can make with kids, to gift to someone special on Mother’s Day, Teacher Appreciation or just as a friendly surprise you leaves on someone’s doorstep. All it takes is a little bit of permanent vinyl and a flat surface flowerpot to make it happen!
The Supplies:
- Design Space Software
- Cricut Joy Machine
- Smart Vinyl {any color you like, we used permanent black}
- Cricut Joy Transfer Tape
- Weeder
- Scraper
- Small Planter
The Directions:
- In the Design Space app, you are going to type and search for “planter face.” The project we followed is the “Cute Planter Face Sticker” and this should be the first project you see in the lineup.
- Next up – you are going to hit “make it” on the Design Space app and follow the prompts to cut the images from the vinyl {psst – because we are using Smart Vinyl there is no need for the mat. Just load the special vinyl sheet into the machine as is and it will know what to do!}
- When the machine is done cutting, you are going to remove the unneeded pieces of vinyl using your weeder tool.
- Next use your transfer tape and your scraper to apply your smiling vinyl design to your flowerpot.
- And that’s it! You are ready to gift it away!
GRAB YOUR JOY MACHINE VIA OUR AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK
GRAB YOUR JOY MACHINE VIA OUR AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK
Well friends, this is where I wrap up this post. Simply put – the new Cricut Joy is fun, functional, and super simple to use.
Just think of all the handmade cards, gifts or small home decor pieces you can make. Or those vinyl shirts with quirky sayings so your child can stick out from the crowd. Not to mention all the scrapbooking pages you can make and finally knock off your to-do list. You are going to be able to tackle so many practical, everyday projects that have never been more accessible or easier!
My son is already talking about all the labels we are going to make for our new home in the coming months and all the shirts he wants me to design/make for him as well {with lots of car and truck designs, of course!} I’m excited to finally get back to sending some “happy mail” to friends and family in the coming days, as well. I’ll be sure to share more of what we make on the Glued To My Crafts website soon!
So on that note, I really do hope I inspired you to give some thought to buying your own Cricut Joy Maker today. Not just because it will make your crafty life a lot easier but because I know it’s going to bring you so much joy in your craft life. Literally!
If you need more info on the machine or want to purchase one today, be sure to check out the official Cricut webpage. You can also find tons of inspirational craft ideas using the machine on their Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram and of course – Pinterest!
Then, when you DO decide to purchase your own Cricut Joy, I want to hear from you! You can always let me know your thoughts on the Glued To My Crafts Facebook page or you can also tag us on Instagram when you complete your first project, straight out of the box! I seriously can’t wait to see what you make and what you think. Till then, happy crafting my dear friends!
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