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BRAND NEW! Cricut Joy Xtra this brand new machine is a new Cricut Joy with a little more WOW. Still small and fabulous but now with Print-then-cut, new materials and a lot of extra crafting fun. Learn More.

Cricut Joy – Get Started Guide

Written by: | Published: February 28, 2020 | Updated: August 29, 2023

The Cricut joy is a small electronic cutting machine perfect for crafting all your big ideas. You don’t have to be an avid crafter to love the Cricut Joy. Have you heard of this cute little crafting tool?

Start Crafting – Cricut Joy Get Started Guide!

BRAND NEW! Have you heard about the Brand New Cricut Joy Xtra? more options, more fun. Click Here to Learn More

Cricut Joy - Share a Little Joy - perfect craft tool for the whole family

The Cricut Joy is a must have craft tool for all kinds of cool projects… quick, easy and great for kids to craft with too.My high school kid loves using it for her own crafts and school projects.

Hello Cricut Joy - little cutting machine on my desk

Learn more about this handy little cutting machine and then head to the bottom of this article to learn how you can make your own monogrammed mug in just a few minutes! The Cricut Joy really is the best little craft tool you didn’t know you’d love so much.

Personalizing and handmade gifts are easy with the Cricut Joy

Create with Cricut Joy

Whether you’re looking to add some personality to your home organization, want an easy answer to customize – everything or you love to craft and own all the Cricut machines up until now… the Cricut Joy can add a little extra WOW to your everyday projects.

Hello Cricut Joy - little cutting machine on my desk

Buy the Cricut Joy!
Shop for the Cricut Joy, Cricut Joy bundles and Cricut Joy accessories. Find everything you need to get started with this adorable cutting machine! 
Buy the Cricut Joy from Cricut.com

Cricut Joy can go anywhere you are

Key Features of the Cricut Joy

The Cricut joy is the smallest member of the Cricut cutting machine family. But don’t let the size fool you, this little machine can do so much!

  • Compact and portable
  • Mats are optional
  • Perfect companion to larger machines
  • Compact & Portable
    Joy is Cricut’s smallest smart cutting machine ever! It fits in a cubby or looks great on a counter. Joy packs away easily and sets up instantly, making it super easy to move from room to room.  Not having to transport a mat, combined with the smaller material size, makes the whole system compact and portable. No craft room required.

It’s perfect for party set up on the go! Bring your Cricut Joy into the party room and set it up to cut extra decor accents while you set up the table.

Cricut Joy helping with the party
  • Perfect companion to larger machines
    Cricut Joy is the perfect companion to your Maker or Air 2! With this new machine, you are able to quickly and easily personalize anything with one cut and one color, in 15 minutes or less, right from your kitchen counter or coffee table.  It is fun, functional, and simple to use. Practical, everyday projects have never been more accessible or easier! If you already have a Maker or Air 2, Joy opens additional creative possibilities with unique features and is the perfect companion for quick, mat-free projects and long cuts.
The small but mighty Cricut Joy is a perfect companion to the larger Cricut machines
  • Mats are optional!
    The Cricut Joy has a full suite of materials that do not require a mat, meaning less to buy, fewer steps, and faster results. New Smart vinyl comes in extended sizes, with up to 20’ repeated cut capability, and no need to switch out multiple mats. 
Set the Cricut joy right on your desk - it will wait for your creativity to strike and you'll be ready to go
Set the Cricut joy right on your desk – it will wait for your creativity to strike and you’ll be ready to go
  • NEW Accessories and Materials
    Joy exclusive blank insert card sets allow you to create unique and stunning results in a moment’s notice.
    I’ve even got a new paper pattern set you’ll be able to buy for this machine. Keep and eye out, I’ll share more later!
  • Joy writes, too!
    A full suite of Joy-compatible pens with a variety of pen types and line weights draw and write in a variety of styles.
Cricut Joy comes with a black pen for drawing and writing

Where to Buy Cricut Joy

Buy the Cricut Joy!
Shop for the Cricut Joy, Cricut Joy bundles and Cricut Joy accessories. Find everything you need to get started with this adorable cutting machine! 
Buy the Cricut Joy from Cricut.com

Hello Cricut Joy and so many materials!

Cricut Joy Materials You can Buy

  • Cricut Joy Machine
  • Cricut Joy Starter Tool Set
  • Cricut Joy Smart Everyday Iron-on
  • Cricut Joy Smart Vinyl Permanent
  • Cricut Joy Transfer Tape Roll 48in
  • Cricut Joy Smart Label Vinyl, White
  • Cricut Joy Markers and Pens
  • Cricut Adhesive Backed Deluxe Paper I’ve designed a paper pattern set too!
Personalize all the things with Cricut Joy

What can you make with Cricut Joy?

If you are familiar with the Cricut family of cutting machines, you’re probably also familiar with all the different projects you can make with these tools. The Cricut Joy fits right in with a huge array of material types that the blade can cut. Here’s a quick list of some of the things you can create with the Cricut Joy.

  • Custom Tshirts
  • Personalized Tote bag
  • Greeting cards
  • Gift Tags
  • Lunch notes
  • Organization labels
  • Party decor
  • Outdoor signs
  • Stickers
  • Decorate Water bottles
make a personalized mug with Cricut Joy in minutes!

Make a personalized mug in minutes!

Here’s a quick tutorial you can make with your Cricut Joy. In just a few minutes you can create a monogram to customize a gift for someone special. Use these same techniques to personalize anything that you can put vinyl on. No mat needed for this example. If you don’t have the Smart Materials vinyl, use standard permanent vinyl and a mat specifically designed for Cricut Joy.

Materials

  • Mug
  • Cricut Joy cutting machine
  • Cricut Design Space app
  • Smart Materials permanent vinyl in black
  • Cricut Joy Tool Set
  • Transfer tape

Instructions

  1. Go to Cricut Design Space and choose a font, creating a single letter you want to cut out. Follow the onscreen instructions to cut the image.
  2. Remove the vinyl from your Cricut Joy.
  3. Weed the extra vinyl from around the monogram.
  4. Using your burnishing tool (the little hand spatula), transfer the vinyl using transfer tape.
  5. Apply the monogram to the mug and rub into place.
Cutting Vinyl with the Cricut Joy
Cut permanent vinyl with Cricut Joy
Apply vinyl to your mug

That’s it! There are already hundreds of projects available in Cricut Design Space, just waiting for you and your Cricut Joy to come along and get creative. You can jump in and make something fancy or you can dip your toe and make a one-cut project to test things out.

Hooray! You've created a personalized mug, perfect for gifting!

The Cricut Joy is really going to change the way we think about personalizing and creating little touches of handmade goodness… I can’t wait to see what everyone creates!

Learn about Cricut Joy - plus a tutorial to help jumpstart your creativity
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Jen is Passionate about Creativity. She is the owner and "doodle in charge" of JGoode Designs, a Denver based design studio. She is an illustrator, mixed media artist and creative lifestyle blogger. Jen has been a creative professional since 1998 but says she's been an artist since she was old enough to eat glue.

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1 thought on “Cricut Joy – Get Started Guide”

  1. Just received a Cricut Joy and can’t wait to give it a try with Christmas approaching!
    I look forward to making some easy creations to give.

    Reply

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