Cricut Joy Shopping Guide - What Supplies You Need & What You Don't

Thinking nigh ownership a Cricut Joy but a little confused by all of the options for tools and materials? Check out this shopping guide for everything you need to know as a Cricut beginner.

The Cricut Joy has chop-chop risen to the rank of my very favorite crafting tool. I still LOVE, honey, love my Cricut Maker, simply the petite size and ease of use makes the Joy perfect for most of the projects I tend to practise with my Cricut (aka labeling and organizing things mostly).

If you are considering buying a Cricut Joy, I'chiliad writing this buying guide but for you. I hope the thoughts and opinions I share below will feel like we're both standing in the Cricut aisle together and I'thou a friend telling you lot all about what to purchase and what to skip.

With its smaller size and lower toll point, the Cricut Joy is what I recommend if you are interested in getting your first Cricut. While the smaller size poses some limits on the size of projects you can create, the Joy will do nigh everything I detect the majority of beginners want to exercise. There are of course exceptions, but I'd say the Joy is a skillful fit for well-nigh.

If you have no thought what the Cricut Joy is or how information technology compares to the other Cricut machines, jump over to my Cricut Joy FAQ weblog post. That will give you lot a groovy introduction to this small yet powerful cutting car.

Related: What is the Cricut Joy and what materials does it cut?

<<Pivot THE Prototype Beneath FOR Later on!>>

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Cricut Joy Shopping List

Hither's a quick rundown of the auto, tools, and materials I recommend you pick up to become started! I will get into more than particular almost all of these in the next section but wanted to give you a listing that's quick to skim first.

Must-Haves – Machine + Tools

• Cricut Joy Machine
• Starter Tool Gear up (unless you already accept Cricut tools)

Must-Haves – Materials

• Smart Vinyl  – You can become permanent or removable  — pick what You need for your preferred projects. I normally just buy removable unless it's a project that will be near water or outdoors. I too recommend getting a roll of white and/or black to start with since these colors are very versatile.
• Smart Transfer Tape – this is sized for Smart Vinyl ( buy if you lot're getting permanent or removable vinyl — non needed for Smart Labels or Smart Iron-On)

Nice-To-Haves – Materials

• Smart Labels – If you desire to label things, the new Smart Characterization material comes in both a vinyl and paper grade.
• Cricut Joy Pens – If you lot become the writeable Smart labels or want to write/draw on greeting cards or other paper projects – note that the machine comes with i black pen.
• Cricut Joy Insert Cards – If you want to make greeting cards, these are amazing!
• Carte du jour Mat – If you're getting the Cricut Joy Insert Cards, you'll need one of these.
• Smart Atomic number 26-On Vinyl – If you want to brand small atomic number 26-on projects, grab a ringlet of this. I'd probably start with white or black as a bones color that tin can piece of work with many projects.
• Cricut EasyPress Mini – Prissy to have if y'all plan to practice a lot of projects with iron-on cloth. The mini is great for small projects, y'all may likewise desire to consider the medium size if you plan to do larger projects.

Overnice-To-Haves – Accessories

• Cricut Joy Tote Bag – This padded tote will protect your Joy and has a nice shoulder strap to accept it on the go.

What Cricut Joy Tools & Materials Do You really need?

Hither's my personal thoughts on what materials you'll want to pick up to go with your new Cricut Joy. This is my ain encephalon dump and I promise it will feel similar we're standing in the store together and I'grand telling you most each thing and why yous should or should not go it.

Note: Beneath are my thoughts on the most popular Cricut materials you can use with the Cricut Joy. Bank check out my total Cricut Joy materials list for a comprehensive list of every type of paper, vinyl, fe-on, and more than that this baby Cricut machine can cutting!

Cricut Joy Machine

There are dissimilar Cricut Joy bundles available and the exact bundle contents often vary depending on the retailer. Bundles are a great style to become started but my recommendation is to make certain the bundle includes materials y'all will really be likely to use.

So take a look at my recommendations beneath and decide what you're interested in doing with your Cricut Joy. If you find a bundle that'southward a good friction match with what you want, dandy! Otherwise, you lot can society everything individually.

>>> Buy This: Cricut Joy

>>> Might As well Want This: Cricut Joy Tote Bag (Non required by whatsoever ways, but this padded tote volition protect your Joy and has a prissy shoulder strap to have it on the become. If you lot plan to shop in the dorsum of a cupboard or travel with your Joy, this is worth the purchase. It'southward meaty and has room for your car and charger.)

Here'south what comes in the Cricut Joy box:

• Cricut Joy auto
• Blade + Housing — this is a special i that fits the Joy then you won't need any other blades
• Fine Point Pen, Black (0.four mm) — this is a special one that fits the Joy
• StandardGrip Mat, 4.5″ x 6.5″ (11.iv cm 10 16.5 cm) — this is a special ane that fits the Joy
• Welcome card
• Power adapter
• Gratuitous trial membership to Cricut Admission™ (for new subscribers)
• 50 ready-to-make projects online
• Materials for a do cut

A couple of things to note on that list are that it does come with a cutting mat but it does not come with whatever Cricut tools. Y'all don't need a ton of tools, merely you will want a few of the basics (more than on those in a 2nd). Information technology also doesn't come with materials across a minor piece for a practice cut, so you volition also need some materials earlier you can start creating.

Must-Have Tools

Cricut has a diversity of tools. If you're just getting started, stick with the starter pack that has the 3 main tools you demand. These are virtually all I ever use! If you don't already have Cricut tools, yous'll desire these.

>>> Buy This: Starter Tool Set

Agreement The Dissimilar Materials

Smart Materials

Earlier we dig into each material I recommend, you lot first need to know that Cricut released a brand new type of cloth called Smart Materials that are specific to the Cricut Joy.

Smart Materials don't crave a cutting mat and are sized to the width of the Cricut Joy (which is smaller than the other Cricut machines). This is a new feature that's simply an option on the Cricut Joy and allows you to skip the step of sticking your cloth to a mat–Smart Materials feed straight into the Joy so you can become cutting faster and you can cut longer designs since y'all aren't limited to the mat length.

For a beginner who doesn't already ain Cricut materials, sticking to the Smart Materials is a smart idea. They will brand things just a scrap quicker and easier and you volition avoid the hassle of cutting down the other 12-inch broad Cricut materials to fit the smaller Cricut Joy that'south limited to 4.25 inches broad.

All that said, Cricut Joy can cut many of the regular Cricut materials and other materials like scrapbook paper, cardstock, etc. (Cheque out the full Cricut Joy materials listing here)

>>> Summary: If yous are a beginner and don't already own Cricut materials, stick with the new Smart Materials to start with for simplicity'south sake. Any Cricut make material with the word "Smart" in the name volition exist compatible with your Cricut Joy.

Vinyl & Transfer Tape = Must-Haves

Vinyl is the master material I use with my Cricut machines. It comes in a ton of dissimilar colors and is sticky on the dorsum. This is what I utilise for almost all of the labels in my house where the private letters are cut out (like in my pantry).

You'll also almost e'er desire transfer record when you lot're using vinyl. This is basically a clear, sticky contact paper that helps you lot motion your cutting out letters/shapes from their backing onto the container or any yous are applying information technology to. At that place are some situations where yous won't need it, but you'll definitely want to have a roll of it on hand.

>>> Buy This: Smart Vinyl(designed for the width of your Cricut Joy and doesn't require a cutting mat)

>>> Buy This: Transfer Tape

Notation: Other non-"smart" vinyl (Cricut brand or any other craft vinyl brand) will work with your Cricut Joy, you'll merely need to cut information technology to fit onto your Cricut Joy cutting mat.

Smart Labels = Recommended if you like labeling things

I of the big selling features of the Cricut Joy is the new Smart Label material! Cricut has not had a characterization fabric like this earlier.

If you desire to utilize your Joy as a label maker, you'll want to try out either the Smart Characterization Vinyl -or- Smart Label Paper. You don't necessarily need to order both correct abroad, you could just choose one to start with.

The Smart Label materials are gluey on the back and writable, making them like sticker paper. It comes in both a newspaper form or a vinyl. You can cutting out any shape of characterization you want and you'll use the Cricut Joy pens to write on your labels (this is opposed to regular vinyl that is not actually writable).

I'grand hoping they will come out with boosted colors in the future, but hither are your options right at present…

>>> Buy This: Smart Characterization Writeable Vinyl -OR- Smart Label Paper (The paper feels like regular newspaper that's sticky, so basically sticker newspaper. The vinyl has a glossy surface so I remember it will stay cleaner and be better around possible moisture, though I don't know how the ink from the pens will hold up to water. I will personally gravitate to the vinyl for my labels around the house and probably only use the paper labels for office projects like labels file folders or binders or that sort of matter.)

>>> Might Desire To Buy This: Cricut Joy Pens (The base motorcar comes with a black marker that you can use on your labels, but if you want to write in other colors y'all'll need to choice up a pack of markers too.)

Cricut Joy Insert Cards = Recommended if you desire to brand greeting cards

Besides the Smart labels, the other large selling point of a Cricut Joy is the ease of making greeting cards. If you want to make cards, grab a pack of Cricut'due south new Insert Cards (tons of color options) and you'll also need a Cricut Joy Card Mat.

Cricut has a lot of pre-designed greeting cards for the Cricut Joy so you can just choose a design in the Cricut Design Space software and apace whip upward a really cool greeting card in a jiffy. I'thou really impressed with the ease of this procedure and the packs of insert cards of genius! I shared the card-making process in activeness over on Instagram if yous want a peek at how it works.

>>> Buy This: Cricut Joy Insert Cards

>>> Buy This: Cricut Joy Card Mat

>>> Might Desire To Buy This: Cricut Joy Pens (The base car comes with a black marker that you lot can apply to write on the inside of your cards, but if you want to write in other colors you'll need to pick up a pack of markers as well. Or you can skip the markers birthday and just handwrite a message inside the cards.)

Fe-On Material = Recommended if you want to add designs to habiliment or fabric items

Only like the vinyl, atomic number 26-on cloth is available in the new "smart" format designed specifically for Cricut Joy or else y'all can employ other iron-on and cutting information technology to fit the smaller mat size of your Joy.

I don't use iron-on often, but information technology is fun to play effectually with. I typically employ this to add designs/words to clothing, though proceed in mind that the Cricut Joy is meant for modest projects then it wouldn't be platonic for making big designs on adult T-shirts though it is big enough to create designs for baby onesies). Y'all can also use iron-on to add labels to fabric bins and things like that!

Cheque out this fabric alphabet banner I fabricated for my girl's plant nursery for an idea of the blazon of project you can create (I made that imprint with my Cricut Maker and it could be done with the Joy if you lot made a few more cuts).

>>> Buy This: Smart Iron-On (designed for the width of your Cricut Joy and doesn't crave a cutting mat)

>>> Might Desire To Consider This: Cricut EasyPress Mini (although you can utilize a household iron, Iron-On fabric works better with the EasyPress. I dear my mini for fiddling projects and it would pair well with the Joy! Learn more about the EasyPress Mini here.

Note: Other non-"smart" iron-on cloth (Cricut brand or whatsoever other craft iron-on vinyl brand) volition work with your Cricut Joy, you'll just need to cut information technology downwardly to fit onto your Cricut Joy cut mat.

Infusible Ink = Fun to play with only probably not something you lot'd demand initially

This is a new specialty iron-on cloth that creates beautiful saturated colorful designs (read more than nearly Infusible Ink in my blog post here). This is non actually necessary for beginners only something fun to think about down the road!

Infusible Ink is a fairly new product for Cricut and they've made rolls of information technology in the Smart format for Cricut Joy. My advice is to try out some of the other common materials listed above and and then venture into Infusible Ink later. It's a super cool innovation and actually cool for adding designs to habiliment and fabric projects.

>>> Skip This For Now: Smart Infusible Ink

Alrighty, that'southward a full rundown of what I'd tell whatsoever friend whose considering buying a Cricut Joy! I hope this shopping guide is helpful to yous!

Stay tuned for future Cricut Joy projects and inspiration hither on the blog soon. In the concurrently, be sure to add the Cricut Joy to your wish list!

More Cricut blog posts:

• What is the Cricut Joy and what materials does it cutting?
• DIY Labels Made With Vinyl And The Cricut Maker
• How To Make Pretty Pantry Labels With Cricut Vinyl
• 25 Personalized Gifts Made With Cricut

Take a fantastic day!

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