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The Ultimate Guide to Cricut Joy

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Cricut has added to its line-up with Cricut Joy! Cricut Joy is a compact cutting machine that is the perfect companion to your Explore or Maker, and isn’t intimidating for the brand new Cricut crafter.

new Cricut Joy machine

This post is sponsored by Cricut.

I am so excited to be able to finally start talking about the newest smart cutting machine in Cricut’s line-up: Cricut Joy! In January 2020, I took a trip out to Cricut headquarters in Utah to learn more about this compact little Cricut and how it’s going to help you add a little joy to your life!

I love this compact cutting machine so much, that I wrote an entire book on how to use it! Grab my Learn Your Cricut Joy eBook!

Learn Your Cricut Joy eBook Cover

What is Cricut Joy?

Cricut Joy is a compact cutting machine, less than half the size of Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker—making it perfect for people without a dedicated crafting area. It’s pared down a bit from the other Cricut machines, with a single carriage, which can hold the blade, a pen or marker, or a foil tool. But don’t let its size fool you—it has some fun new features!

Over the next few weeks, I have tutorials that will show you how to make all sorts of easy but unique projects using Cricut Joy. Check out these posts (links are added as posts go live):

Cricut Joy on Desk

Cricut Joy is designed to be a companion machine to the Cricut you already own. 

Use it to make quick projects without having to break out your Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker, or having it running at the same time as your other machines when you’re in super-crafting mode!

Cricut Joy is the perfect machine to get your foot in the Cricut door and see if it’s for you.

I have so many readers who are so nervous to try using a Cricut. Will they be able to figure it out? Will they understand all of the mats, blades, tools, and materials? Will they actually *use* it? Cricut Joy is the perfect machine for brand new Cricut users looking for a way to make quick projects without a ton of commitment.

What is Cricut Joy?

And whether you’ve had a Cricut for years or you’re just taking your Cricut Joy out of the box, it’s small and light enough to travel with, making it easy to take to crafting weekends with friends, to work for organizational projects, or even just around the house to make creating projects more convenient.

The Cricut Joy is a compact cutting machine

How is Cricut Joy Different than Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker?

Cricut Joy has both some limitations compared to other Cricut machines, but it also has capabilities the other machines do not. Let’s take a look at both:

Comparison of Cricut Joy to Cricut Maker

Cricut Joy is simple. It has no buttons and is powered on when you plug it in. The cut width is 4.5″ wide, compared to 11.5″ on Cricut Explore and Cricut Maker. It has a single blade—a fine point blade. No fancy scoring tools or specialty blades. The housing can also use a pen and a foil tool, but you need to switch between the blade and the pen and the foil tool.

Cricut Joy open with pen inserted

But then there are also never-before-seen features on Cricut Joy. My favorite is the new Cricut Joy Card Mat, which makes it incredibly easy to make cards, as you’ll see in an upcoming post.

There is also matless cutting for new Smart Vinyl and Smart Iron On (yes, that is cutting without a mat!). They also have Smart Labels with writable vinyl, which are designed to be written on using the Cricut Joy pens or markers. These “smart” materials have a thicker backing material that functions like a mat—meaning you don’t need an actual mat to cut them.

The adhesive Smart Vinyl comes in several lengths, including a super long 20′ roll in certain colors. Single cuts can be up to 4′ long, and if you are cutting shapes smaller than that (think pantry labels or wall decals), you can cut that entire 20′ of vinyl in a single go. Despite being a smaller machine, the matless cutting feature actually allows you to cut so many more images in a single go. Plus, no need to buy new mats!

Additionally, Cricut offers transfer tape in long, narrow rolls now, perfect for Cricut Joy projects using Smart Vinyl!

Your Cricut Joy can also cut a small range of other materials in addition to these Smart Materials, including regular iron on vinyl (HTV), regular adhesive vinyl, cardstock, Infusible Ink transfer sheets, and even Cricut felt and Cricut faux suede and faux leather. Learn more in my post about what materials a Cricut Joy can cut!

What Can I Make with Cricut Joy?

Easy projects are the name of the game when it comes to Cricut Joy! Think one color, one cut, one application. Perfect for simple ideas and brand-new Cricut users.

You can create a little happiness in just minutes, including:

  • Card projects for all sorts of occasions
  • Organization labels for pantry, craft room, work, etc.
  • Adhesive vinyl decals for mugs, tumblers, phone cases, and more
  • Wall decals and borders
  • Iron on vinyl decals for simple shirts and baby bodysuits
  • Cardstock cards, banners, and party decorations
  • All of the above make great gifts!

Simple Cricut Joy Projects

Here are some super simple one color, one cut, one application projects that are perfect for Cricut Joy!

Cricut Joy and Cricut Design Space

Recently Cricut added a dropdown menu in Cricut Design Space that had you choose your Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker machine. Since I use both my machines all the time, I found this a bit annoying (mostly because I’d forget to change it between machines), but now it makes sense. Cricut Joy has been added into that dropdown menu and Design Space changes when you have it selected.

Cricut joy in an office with Design Space

You will see different options than you do for the other two machines (primarily in cut size and in the Prepare screen after you’ve hit Make It). I’ll walk through some of these changes in the individual tutorials above. For now, just know that when you are making a project with Cricut Joy, you’ll want to have it selected in that dropdown menu.

Do I Need Cricut Joy if I Have Another Cricut?

I really love having both! I’ve really been surprised at how often I’ve turned to my Cricut Joy for projects since I’ve gotten it. In particular, I am enamored with the card-making ability and the Insert Card sets that Cricut is releasing along with Cricut Joy (which include a card to cut, a colored card insert, and an envelope.)

Cricut Joy can make cards quickly

I thought I’d reached the age where my friends had stopped really having babies. But nope! In the month that I’ve had the Cricut I’ve had four baby showers. Oh, and three birthday parties for kids in my boys’ preschool class. And Valentine’s Day is this week, so I am making cards for that as well. It’s so quick and easy!

I am also planning on taking it to a crafting retreat this summer—it will be so much easier to bring than my larger machine. I love the portability factor.

For small, easy projects, Cricut Joy is a game changer. But I still craft with my other Cricut machines all the time for larger materials and denser cuts—this isn’t a replacement machine, it’s just an adorable little friend for your larger Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker.

Can I use my Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker Mats, Blades, and Materials?

Mats: No, you will need to use Cricut Joy mats. But since you can cut the Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl and Smart Iron On without a mat, there are most likely fewer mats to buy overall.

Blades: No, Cricut Joy’s blade and housing are different, to fit the smaller size of the machine.

Materials: Many of them, yes! If you have standard iron on (not Smart Iron On), you can cut it to size and use it with a mat in your Cricut Joy. Same with adhesive vinyl. You can also cut cardstock and other materials that can be cut using a fine point blade on your Explore or Maker.

Where Can I Buy Cricut Joy?

Check out this post for where to buy the Cricut Joy!

Cricut Joy pin image

Get a Cricut Joy on Amazon!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. Christie says

    This is a really interesting new toy! I”m not sure if I’ll be jumping on board with it- but it might be nice for my cricut-less sister that uses my machine! :)

    Reply

  7. Ann Brown says

    That would be wonderful to travel with. I would love one!! I would love any of them..lol just cant afford one now but always look at the tutorials about them. Good luck to me

    Reply

  15. Regi Ly says

    I’m in love! I use my kitchen table for my cricut projects, and it has just become such a hassle. This is a total game changer! I’m all in!

    Reply

  18. LDL says

    Hi,

    Just wanted to know if it is possible to insert an embossing pen (American Crafts Cutting Machine embossing pen) in place of the pen marker and using the “drawing” option to let the Cricut Joy emboss?
    The Joy won’t know that it’s not a pen marker. Besides, the size of both the pen marker and the embossing pen is the same.

    Wouldn’t this work to emboss cardstock using the Cricut Joy? Perhaps it won’t emboss with force but a slight force enough for it to be visible.

    Thanks.

    Reply

    • Amy Motroni says

      Hi there,
      I’m not sure if it would fit, because the carriage on the Joy is so small. I also don’t think it would be enough force to really make any difference, but you can always try it!

      Happy Crafting
      Amy, HLMS Reader Support

      Reply

  19. Lee Ann says

    Great article! I ordered the Cricut Joy from HSN and I’m waiting for it to arrive. Can you make planner stickers with the Cricut Joy? Do they sell sticker paper for the Joy?

    Reply

  20. Sharon says

    I just bought my Cricut Joy Bundle on HSN because the hosts (Anna Griffen included) said it’d do your own designs. Though it looks perfect, I’m hearing HERE doing my own designs is not possible? I don’t care if that’s a future development, but can we do our own designs with the Joy?

    Reply

    • Shawn says

      You can definitely make your own designs and projects. I don’t know what other people are talking about. Look up videos about Cricut’s design software, Design Space. I’ve made tons of custom vinyl and iron-on designs for cars and t-shirts, as well as quite a few cards on the new Cricut Joy.

      Reply

  22. Olivia says

    Id like to use cricut felt sheets to make little felt succulent plants, would I be able to do that with the cricut Joy or would I need a different machine? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Amy Motroni says

      Hi Olivia,

      The Joy won’t be able to cut felt. The Maker really cuts felt the best.

      Hope that helps!
      Amy, HLMS Support

      Reply

  24. Maiah Koslovsky says

    Hi I am looking to start selling stickers that I have designed on Procreate, would I be able to cut them out on Cricut printable sticker paper using the Cricut joy? I can’t seem to find an answer to this anywhere, Thank you!

    Reply

    • Brenda G. says

      I tried making stickers but the Cricut Joy is not compatible with the Print then Cut feature. Totally let down. I was hoping I could cut just a few stickers with the Joy. I suggest to email them and request the Print and Cut for the Joy cutting machine. Maybe they can customize this feature to make it compatible.

      Reply

      • Tara Hanna says

        So u cannot make custom stickers at all with the joy? Am I understanding correct?

  27. Patricia says

    I’m a speech therapist looking into possibly getting a Cricut for cutting my materials. Would Cricut Joy be appropriate in cutting laminated paper materials? Thanks!

    Reply

  29. Lisa says

    Does Cricut Joy allow me to create my own design (on the Procreate app for example) and cut it out on the cricut? Or can I only use the pre-made designs on the app?
    Thanks!

    Reply

  30. Amy Motroni says

    Hi Lisa,
    You can use desktop design space and upload your own designs.
    Happy Crafting!
    Amy, HLMS Support

    Reply

  33. Amy Motroni says

    Hi there,
    It can’t embroider a monogram or anything like that, but you could cut vinyl or iron on monograms with it.

    Hope that helps!
    Amy, HLMS Support

    Reply

  35. Miriam says

    Hi, I have 2 questions, 1. May I use the cricut joy smart iron on, on wood?
    2. I have a cricut joy, if i cut the cricut infusible ink 12×12, to fit the cricut joy, will it work? Thank you

    Reply

  36. Crystal Summers says

    Hi Miriam,

    Thanks for reaching out!
    Yes, the iron-on will work on wood. As far as cutting the infusible ink, you can cut it down to fit the Cricut Joy, as you mentioned.

    Happy crafting!
    Crystal, Community Manager

    Reply

  37. Ana Rios says

    Hi, I’m new in the whole Cricut business thing, but I’ve been really interested in purchasing one! Just quick question, does Cricut only work on paper that is from Cricut or can it be supplied from other brands, as long as it meets the measurements?

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Ana,
      Welcome! I’m excited for you to join the Cricut club! You can use any paper or material that meets measurement requirements. However, Cricut machines are calibrated to cut Cricut materials, specifically. You may find with other brands, you will have to experiment with the pressure/depth settings when cutting. Let us know if you have any other questions!
      Good luck!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Mirna,

      Yes! You can create stickers for balloons using the Cricut Joy. You will just need to size accordingly so the design fits your machine. You can use any type of Cricut vinyl for your projects. 

      Cori has a great vinyl for balloons tutorial and a free Halloween SVG here: https://heyletsmakestuff.com/skull-balloons/

      Let us know if you have any other questions.

      Happy crafting!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

  39. Anne says

    I saw you answered about the balloon question. My question for that is can you create something with 2-3 different colors or is it only one color it will create?

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Anne,
      Yes, you can create designs with multiple colors in Design Space. As long as it’s small enough, you can cut it on the Cricut Joy machine. I hope this answers your question. 
      Happy crafting!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

  40. Natalya says

    I’m looking to make vinyl sticker labels for 10mL roller bottles for essential oils. Will the Cricut Joy be able to do labels that small and am I able to cut them in different fonts of my choosing?

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Natalya,

      The Cricut Joy would actually be perfect for a project this size! You can design your labels using any font you would like within Design Space or one you purchase or upload. Let us know if you have any other questions.

      Happy crafting!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Audrey,
      You sure can! The joy can only cut a maximum of about 6 inches wide, so take that into consideration. However, it can cut continuously up to 20 ft long! I hope this helps.
      Happy crafting!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

      • A jay says

        Hi I’m looking at buying a cricut
        I’m totally new to all this and looking at setting a small business selling personalised cups to start with which cricut would be best for this

    • Cori George says

      It can cut Cricut felt and bonded fabric using the fine point blade. I wouldn’t say it’s the *best* at cutting these materials, but it does an okay job. It does not cut other felt or unbonded fabric—for that you’ll need Cricut Maker’s rotary blade. Hope that helps!

      Reply

  44. Ellie-Mae Wilson says

    how do you make stickers? what paper do you use? ive seen a video, but id like just a pink colour background can i do that?

    Reply

  45. Crystal Summers says

    Hi Syeda,

    You can use stencil material. Cricut actually makes a stencil vinyl, linked here.Hope this helps.

    Good luck!
    Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

    Reply

  47. Angie says

    Hi! I’m looking at the Joy for easy scrapbooking projects. Wording labels and small pictures as embellishments. Will it work well for that? Also, could it take an already printed picture and cut it into shapes? If not is there another that will?

    Reply

  48. Crystal Summers says

    Hi Angie,

    The Cricut Joy is perfect for scrapbooking projects. However, it does not have the print then cut feature that the Explore and Maker machines have. You wouldn’t be able to cut a printed picture with it. Here’s a link to a blog post, which compares the features of each machine: https://heyletsmakestuff.com/cricut-machine-differences/

    I hope this helps!
    Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

    Reply

  49. Karl Donnelly t says

    My main interest is making titles and logos for book covers, using gold vinyl.
    One of your contributors states that it won’t ‘draw and then cut’. What does that mean ?
    Regards
    Karl Donnelly

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Karl,

      The Cricut Joy does not do the  “print then cut” function, which is where you can print a 4-color image (a photograph for instance) and then cut around it. However, it can cut vinyl and other materials if you are simply looking to cut vinyl for the books, etc. It sounds like the Cricut Joy does what you need it to!

      Hope this helps!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Man

      Reply

  50. Norma says

    Hi I am looking to purchase Cricut joy if I can use it to print bible verses and apply in lanterns. Will I be able to do this. Thanks

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Norma,

      Are you looking to print in the same way a printer does? If so, the Cricut Joy wouldn’t work for this. It is not a printer, but rather a cutting machine. However, if you are looking to cut bible verses out of vinyl and stick on lanterns, then YES you can definitely do that! 

      I hope this helps!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

  51. Vicky says

    I’m looking to cutting my own cardstock sleeves like you see on slider boxes but I want them without the inner box part just the sleeve to insert wax melt clam shells into. Would I be able to do this with this machine? Thanks in advance

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Vicky,

      Yes, you can cut cardstock with the Cricut Joy. You’ll want to check the dimensions of the unfolded sleeve, however. The Joy machine doesn’t cut as large as the Explore or Maker since it’s a smaller machine.

      Hope this helps!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

  52. Tyra says

    So the Joy can only make basic shape stickers, but not like company logos? I’m very new to this but I want to make custom baby shirts but not sure if the Joy would be compatible

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Tyra,

      The Joy will not cut stickers. It does not have the print then cut feature that other machines do. However, you can make custom shirts using iron on vinyl. It cuts just like the Explore and Maker machines. 

      I hope this helps!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

  53. Dorothy says

    Can I use this as a stand alone machine? I’m looking for something small and I wonder if I have to have another Crichton machine to use it?

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Dorothy,

      The Cricut Joy is its own machine. You don’t need another Cricut machine to make it work. Keep in mind, it is smaller than the Explore and Maker versions, as it only cuts 6″ wide. It’s perfect for card making and paper crafts. You can cut long decals/images using smart materials and the matless cutting feature, though!

      Happy crafting,
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

  54. Lynda I Torres says

    I’m new at “crafting” and would like to know which machine would be better to make customize t-shirts? I was planning to buy the cricut joy because I will be new at this but wanted to make sure it will work?. Thanks

    Reply

  55. Isabella says

    Hi there,

    I am wanting to buy a cricut printer in order to start a business in photo craft gifts. For example the Spotify plaque gifts. Is a cricut enough for this process or would a cricut explore be a better option?

    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Crystal Summers says

      Hi Isabella,

      The Cricut Joy would be perfect if you are looking to create items smaller than 6×12″. It only cuts up to 6″ wide. If you would like to cut larger, then the Explore would be better because it cuts up to 12″ wide. I do want to point out that the Cricut machine is not a printer, though. You will need a printer to print photos. If you want to use the Cricut to print then cut, then you’d need the Explore version, as the Joy does not perform this function.

      Hope this helps!
      Crystal, HLMS Community Manager

      Reply

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