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Top 10 Reasons You’ll Love the Cricut Maker

Written by: | Published: January 05, 2022 | Updated: September 07, 2023

The Cricut Maker is the most advanced member of the Cricut Electronic Cutting Machine family.  This cutting machine is fantastic and full of features. Below I’m sharing my Top 10 Reasons You’ll love the Cricut Maker and it’s more than just the fabulous Cricut projects you can create!

There are undoubtedly more than 10 reasons to love this electronic cutting machine. From paper and vinyl to wood and fabric, there’s no shortage of ideas and materials you can create with the Cricut Maker!

Meet the Cricut Maker cutting machine
Meet the Cricut Maker cutting machine

You know we love the Cricut Explore Air for all it’s fantastic cutting and crafting capabilities. Well now meet big sister… and she’s strong and creative and ready to make all the Cricut projects into the wee hours of the night! (Or until you run out of coffee and go to bed).

The Cricut Maker is the Explore Air series machine plus with a whole new set of capabilities and features. I think you’re going to LOVE her!

Top 10 Reasons You’ll Love the Cricut Maker

The Cricut Maker cutting machine is fast, fantastic and ready to work with FABRIC! I was able to see it live and in person at a the original launch event hosted by the Cricut team in Salt Lake City. The things you’ve come to love about the Cricut Explore family… are all still there. With the Maker, there’s even more to love.

I’m sharing two lists below. They are really the same list, but for those you that prefer a quick answer right now, I have the top 10 short list. For those that want more detail, the ins and outs and the how’s and whys, I’m explaining more about each feature. Let’s go!

Top 10 Reasons – the short list

  1. Same fabulous but better! – Same machine at the core with more features, strength and project possibilities
  2. Cuts fabric – New blade, project patterns and mat all designed specifically for using your Cricut to cut and create with fabric.
  3. Sewing Patterns from Simplicity – 100’s of sewing patterns available in Design Space (with seam allowances).
  4. Rotary Blade – to cut fabric and all kinds of delicate materials.
  5. Knife Blade – to cut heavy duty materials like balsa and birchwood.
  6. Adaptive Tool System – to allow for more cutting control and more tool add-ons. Learn more about the Cricut Maker quick swap adaptive tool system.
  7. More Storage – the original Explore storage is new and improved to give more options
  8. Print on Colored paper – print on colored and patterned paper with print-then-cut designs.
  9. Device holder and charger – space on top of the machine to hold your devices and a charging port so you can charge while you create.
  10. iOs AND Android apps – both iOs and Android users can create on the go!
  11. Beautiful Design Details – same beautiful design with added details and just a tad bigger than the original Explore.

Ready to get your new Cricut Maker? I know you want one, go ahead and buy YOUR Cricut Maker from Cricut.com and don’t forget to check out my list of Cricut Maker must haves.

Top 10 Reasons – the More Details list

If the short list above just wasn’t enough, here’s my more details view why you’ll love these new features included in the Cricut Maker. It’s a beautiful machine with enough versatility and power to help create the projects you want to make. From paper crafts to small wood working projects, this machine can create so many different designs and projects with you!

Meet the Cricut Maker cutting machine - a tool for every Maker
Cricut Maker cutting machine – a tool for every Maker – Ashish, Cricut CEO, talking about the Cricut Maker
  1. Same fabulous machine but even better! – Ok, this really isn’t a new “reason” to love a new machine. For me it’s the more important reason I love this Cricut machine. I already love my Cricut Explore Air 2. I love using Design Space and I’m really happy with all the craft time fun I can have with this tool. The Cricut Maker is all of that, but even better. There are more features, more capabilities, improvements to things I already love and even more projects try. Keep reading and you’ll see what I mean.
  2. Cricut Maker cuts fabric – the new Cricut Maker has been re-engined to work with fabric. It comes equipped and ready to create with a new rotary blade and special fabric specific mat. You read that right… fabric! Now, I know some people have been cutting fabric with their Cricut machines. I haven’t had much luck with it. I’ve always wanted to cut fabric that I can use in my sewing projects… appliqués, patterns, etc. Now the Cricut Maker has been design to do just that! I tested the cutting abilities and they are beautiful. Same clean lines you’d expect if you cut by hand! Not a sewist? No problem! Crafters can unite knowing that there is no material we can’t craft with using our Cricut machines… well most all materials. I haven’t found one yet that I can’t cut.
  3. Sewing Patterns from Simplicity in Design Space
  4. Rotary Blade – I know I already talked about the rotary blade in #1, but it’s significant enough to mention again. Not only does this blade cut fabric nicely, it will also be your best friend for cutting delicate materials. I hear it will cut crepe paper perfectly! So think.. you’re not just limited to fancy cardstock and craft papers. Let’s experiment with all the materials from tissue paper to balsa wood – the Cricut can handle it!
  5. Knife Blade – Cut thicker materials with the new knife blade. Cut balsa wood or birchwood… or how about thicker cardboard or even chip board. Now your creativity can go even further with more materials and cut options!
  6. Adaptive Tool System – so you already read that the new Cricut Maker comes with a rotary blade and a knife blade will soon be available. Things more options to come. This new Cricut machine has been designed to allow for more tools as the team imagines more tools to make. So as they think up more ways to help you create, the machine is ready for new tools to be added… you’ll just have to wait and see what’s next!
  7. More Storage – The pen holder on the Maker has been redesigned to hold more of your tools and accessories. There is a deep cup and a shallow cup to access a variety of items easily. Additionally, the in-door accessory holder has also been redesigned to include a few additional compartments. All your Cricut accessories have a home!
  8. Print on Colored paper – What!? Yes, it’s true. The print-then-cut feature is paired with the Cricut Maker to allow for printing on colored and patterned paper. You no longer are limited to printing your Cricut designs on white paper. So go ahead, get creative and print layers of art and cut your pretty designs with more fabulous color!
  9. Device holder and charger – We use our mobile devices to create with our Cricut machines and now the Maker has a place to put those devices while we work on our projects. Set your phone or table in the device holder at the top of the machine. And, there is a usb port on the side of the Maker so you can plug your device in and charge it while you are creating. handy, I say!
  10. iOs AND Android apps – You can set up your cut designs from anywhere with the mobile apps available for both iOs and Android. Easily create the layouts you want to create on your iPhone and save for later then finish on your computer. You can send designs to cut right from the mobile app or save to your Design Space account and access it later.
  11. Beautiful Design Details – actually, the design is even prettier and the size is slightly bigger with the Cricut Maker. But not much bigger. The Cricut Maker will still fit in your carrying case and should still fit on your favorite craft shelf. They’ve also included a little extra fancy bling and texturing.
Features of the Cricut Maker
Features of the Cricut Maker

Recommended: Top Cricut Maker Questions Answered

What’s Different About Cricut Maker?

Let’s be honest: not everyone loves change, especially when we already love or are happy with what we have. So here’s the low-down. There’s a few things that are changing with the new Cricut Maker that you might find yourself wondering… why did they do that???

I’ve got answers for you! And, I think these are even more reasons to love this new machine.

No More Open Button – Nope, the open button is gone. To open the doors on this machine, simply lift the top door and the bottom door will follow. It’s quite elegant to see. Who needs extra buttons anyway?

No More Dial – eeek, what!? My first thought was, “they what!?”. I use that dial all the time. I forget I’ve changed materials mid-cut and I love that I can easily just change the material setting right there. I love my material dial.

No worries, my friends! The dial isn’t needed. You can still pause the project at any time. The pause button is still there. If you forget you aren’t cutting cardstock but are cutting vinyl instead, just hit pause. All the options are in Cricut Design Space and just waiting to help you whenever you need it. I do love this new design feature.

The cartridge slot has been removed – They took out this slot to make the tool storage bigger. But no worries, if you have cartridges you haven’t synced to Design Space and don’t currently own an Explore or find yourself getting a hold of tangible cartridges, you can get an external cartridge drive to sync your cartridges.

If you have already synced your cartridges with your current Explore machine, then you’re all set. You don’t need to repeat the process with this new machine. Your designs are already available in Design Space. Don’t forget, when you buy a “cartridge” through Design Space, you own those designs the same as if you bought the tangible cartridge. So you no longer need the cartridge slot anyway.

The Cricut Maker is the a fantastic new addition to the Cricut family of cutting machines. Whether you want to create sewing projects, paper projects or something entirely different… the Cricut can help you cut it! You’ll be making projects for every occasion with your Cricut. I’d love to hear all about it!

Love the Cricut Maker
Love the Cricut Maker

Where to Buy Cricut Maker

The newest Cricut Maker is the Maker 3. You can buy this Cricut Maker cutting machine online from a wide range of retailers depending on where you live. Each retailer may offer different bundles and deals throughout the year, so I like to check them all. I prefer to shop directly from Cricut, but sometimes there’s a better deal elsewhere. The Cricut team is fabulous and always happy to help!

Also available at Walmart, Target, HSN, Hobby Lobby and more.

Don’t forget this list of Cricut Maker must haves

I love that the Cricut team is always working to improve what they provide. They didn’t just create a machine and let it be. They listen to the things we, as customers, say. They hear our complaints and they get excited about the things we love.

They are constantly looking for better ways to help us do what we do best… create! This new Cricut Maker is a beautiful piece of crafting equipment. With all these features and accessories, we will be able to create even more fantastic things.

I can’t wait to hear all about what YOU create!

Read about: How to Use Cricut Maker and Fabric – Oh how I love this feature!

When you get your machine, please stop back by and tell me about it. I’d love to celebrate the moment with you!

10 Reasons You Will Love the Cricut Maker
10 Reasons You Will Love the Cricut Maker
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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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6 thoughts on “Top 10 Reasons You’ll Love the Cricut Maker”

  1. I just received a new maker for Christmas and while I am so excited to use this and already love it I do find it a bit overwhelming and know I just have to jump in and get started. New is always exciting and scary.

  2. Thank you for sharing your thoughts of loving the new Cricut Maker. My daughter gave me her old original Cricut Cutter with about 50 cartridges about 6 months ago and I fell in love with it but feel very limited with it so I just purchased my first newest member of the Cricut family, the Cricut Maker ? My daughter has and is a paper, vinyl and iron on crafter. I am a crafter of MANY mediums, so I was VERY EXCITED to make my new purchase and get started creating, my problem is that I’m not familiar with all of the welding, layers etc. I have tried searching for a user manual that I can print off and learn how to use my New Cricut Maker’s basic tools. So my question is, do you have any suggestions of where I can find a site that I can print off a help page of the meanings and usage of all of the tool icons? I would truly appreciate any help or advice that you could give a newbie with a creative mind and soul!
    Thank you in advance

    • Hi Cheryl,

      I am So Excited for you and your new family member (wink)! I do not know of a printable manual right now, but I will see what I can find for you. Until then, there are a number of help articles and information in the Cricut Help Center, I would start there. For me, I love to try out all the things, click all the buttons and see what happens… I know that’s not for everyone, but I seem to learn best by breaking things – ha! I’d love to hear how you’re doing with your machine now.

  3. I’ve been looking at the maker for my school library. I talked with someone that told me I would need to purchase cartridges. I want my students to be able to design things themselves. Is this possible or am I going to have lots of extra expenses with this machine?

    • The Explore and Maker series machines do not require cartridges at all. If you have them, you can connect the art to your account – but these machines all create designs from software you connect through your computer. So Many Images!

      • I’d really love to see a one time purchase that would allow us access to Cricut Access. As a school, I am not able to purchase subscription services. I got the Maker through a grant and I really want my students to use it as much as possible. Has Cricut considered an access for education plan?

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