A few days ago, I went to my cousin’s house and saw a new Cricut Joy collecting dust in the corner. Being a crafter myself, I couldn’t resist asking her why. She replied that she was confused about how to use it. With a smile, I offered to help. From unboxing the machine to setting it up, I guided her through each step, even teaching her how to create her first project.
Then, I realized that some beginners may not have even opened the box and could use my assistance. That’s why I have prepared this guide for you all. Just like I helped my cousin, I will tell you how to use a Cricut Joy from scratch. However, it is necessary to follow this guide till the end because every piece of information is important for using your Cricut Joy.
Step 1: Unboxing the Cricut Joy
If you have already unboxed your Cricut Joy machine, you can continue to the second step below. If not, let’s take a look at what you’ll find inside the box:
- Welcome card
- Cricut Joy machine
- Power adapter
- Fine Point pen (0.4 mm)
- StandardGrip mat
- Sample of smart vinyl
- Around 50 pre-made projects
- Free Cricut Access for 30 days
Step 2: Setting up Your Cricut Joy Machine
Setting up a Cricut Joy is a crucial step in learning how to use a Cricut Joy machine effectively. Let’s start by setting up the machine first.
Prepare Your Cricut Cutting Machine
- Place the Cricut Joy machine on a flat and clean surface near the electric outlet.
- Assemble the machine’s power cord and insert one end into the machine and the other end into the electrical outlet.
- After that, turn the power button on, and a light will illuminate the machine.
Connecting a Cricut Joy to Your Computer
The Cricut Joy does not have a USB cord, so you have to connect the cutting machine to a computer via Bluetooth.
- Turn on the Cricut Joy machine 10–15 feet away from your desktop computer.
- Next, locate the Bluetooth option, turn it on, and wait for the computer to detect your machine.
- Now, select Cricut Joy from the list, and if asked for a PIN, enter 0000 and hit Connect.
Downloading and Installing Cricut Design Space
Downloading and installing Design Space on your desktop computer is necessary to complete the process of how to use a Cricut Joy machine.
- Go to cricut.com/setup, agree to Cricut’sterms and conditions, and download the file.
- After downloading Design Space, locate the file you see on the screen and install it.
- Once the software is installed, launch it, create a Cricut ID and password, and sign in.
Note: If you want to access Cricut Joy from mobile (Android or iOS), download the Cricut app from the Play Store or App Store.
Adding Your Cricut Joy Machine in Design Space
Once you have installed and signed into the Cricut software, it’s time to set up the Cricut Joy. To do this, launch the Cricut software, click on the drop-down menu, and select New Machine Setup > Cricut Cutting Machine > Cricut Joy. Also, make sure the connection is established.
Step 3: Using a Cricut Joy to Make a Project
You will need to cut vinyl with Cricut Joy to personalize a wooden tissue holder. Here’s what you need for this project:
- Cricut smart vinyl
- Unfinished wooden tissue box
- Cricut Joy machine
- Computer or transfer tape
- Design
Create a Design in Design Space
- Open the Cricut Design app and select the New Project tab.
- After that, use the Text function and a text and change its font.
- Once you have the design ready to cut, click the Make It option to move on to the next page.
- Then, select the mat page. There is no need to mirror this project. Click Continue.
- From the All Browse Material option, search for vinyl and select it as a material.
- Now, load the green vinyl into Cricut Joy without using a mat.
Cut & Weed Out the Vinyl Design
- Once everything is ready, go back to Design Space and hit Continue to begin cutting.
- Once the machine completes cutting, it automatically stops. Now, unload the smart vinyl and weed out unwanted designs.
- Next, cut the transfer tape to the size of the vinyl and apply it to the design.
Apply Your Design
Finally, place the vinyl on the wood with the adhesive side up and use the screen to ensure it adheres properly. Next, carefully remove the transfer tape from the vinyl to reveal an amazing result. Now, I can safely assume you have understood the entire process of how to use a Cricut Joy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you make using a Cricut Joy?
Cricut Joy is a smart, compact, and portable machine that can be used to create different projects. Below, I have listed some of the Cricut Joy projects.
- Vinyl mug
- Greeting cards
- DIY pillow
- Leather earrings
- Wall art
- Tumblers
- Cake toppers
- Stickers
- Labels
- Banners
- T-shirts
- Jewelry
How does Cricut Joy work?
The Cricut machine works with the user-friendly Cricut Design Space or Cricut Joy app. Users need to install one of these and start a project. Also, the Cricut Joy connects to devices via Bluetooth. Once everything is set up, the user designs it and sends it to the machine. Finally, the Cricut Joy will cut or write according to the selected settings.
Do I need a computer to use a Cricut Joy?
That’s not necessarily true; you can also use your mobile device to use Cricut Joy. All you need is a device where you can download and install Cricut Design Space to command the Cricut machine. However, all of this can also be done from a mobile phone or tablet. So, it depends on the user’s preference and their comfort level.
Conclusion
The Cricut Joy is a beginner-friendly crafting tool that is compact yet versatile. Setting up the Cricut Joy and learning how to use it may not be too difficult for beginners. I have discussed everything in detail in the blog post above. If you followed the instructions exactly, you can now use your Cricut Joy without any hassle.
Read more: install cricut design space app
Source: how to use a Cricut Joy
