![\"I](\"https:\/\/platform.theverge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/05\/268504_Cricut_Joy_2_SVasani_0007.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI made both personalized stickers and bookmarks and eventually got back into a creative flow. I even painted the canvases underneath. Photo by Sheena Vasani \/ The Verge<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been testing the Cricut Joy 2 and Ultimate Plus Bundle<\/a>, which normally costs $229 and comes with a bunch of extras, including smart vinyl and iron-on sheets, as well as tools like a fine-point blade. Getting started didn\u2019t take much time. I connected the machine, installed Cricut\u2019s Design Space software on my laptop (also available on iOS and Android), and ran my first test cut in well under 30 minutes. Watching the machine cut that first design made me clap in excitement.<\/p>\n That part was easy, but the app\u2019s onboarding needs some work. For something marketed as beginner-friendly, it\u2019s not obvious what to do next or how to fully take advantage of the hardware. None of it is difficult \u2014 figuring out placement on the mat or aligning materials correctly \u2014 but none of it is exactly obvious either, especially if you\u2019re new to these concepts. Early on, I tried unsuccessfully to print something from scratch and grew discouraged after wasting some materials.<\/p>\n Design Space\u2019s interface is partially to blame. It buries helpful tutorials and project checklists at the bottom of its landing page, and visual learners should know that a lot of the instructions are written out. That\u2019s strange, given that Cricut offers a trove of clear, digestible YouTube tutorials<\/a> online that seem perfect for the app.<\/p>\n To Cricut\u2019s credit, it offers a free 30-day trial of Cricut Access<\/a>, which costs $9.99 a month once it expires. It contains many templates, tips, and guided projects created by Cricut as well as other users who share their designs in the app\u2019s community library. It\u2019s useful if you appreciate some structure with your creative pursuits. More crucially, it teaches you how to use the materials and tools included with the Joy 2. That\u2019s when the real fun started. Projects came together more quickly, and I once again felt the satisfaction of watching a design go from screen to finished product in minutes.<\/p>\n Cricut\u2019s robust community library offers a bunch of projects to play with.<\/p>\n Simple projects are where the Joy 2 works best, but it can handle some more complex ones if you\u2019re willing to step in. Multicolor designs, for instance, have to be cut in separate layers and assembled by hand, which takes time and focus. That\u2019s not necessarily a flaw, but more just something to keep in mind before you take on new projects.<\/p>\n Trying to print stickers for my baby nephew. Cricut adds cutting lines before you\u2019re guided to print.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re trying to make stickers or other printed designs, like iron-on transfers for shirts, Cricut\u2019s \u201cprint then cut\u201d feature comes in handy. It lets you print a full-color design with an inkjet or laser printer you already own, then precisely cut it out with the Joy 2. I was happy with the results, and the process is simple: The Design Space app adds cut lines around your uploaded design for the machine to follow. You then feed the printed sheet into the Joy 2, and voil\u00e0! It scans and makes the cuts.<\/p>\n Technically, the Joy 2 can handle larger projects, such as large wall decals and full-shirt graphics, but the machine can only cut about 4 to 4.5 inches at a time. You could split the design into multiple sections, manually cut each piece, then align and assemble them by hand. Then again, if you imagine yourself wanting to make larger designs more often, I suggest springing for the $199 Cricut Explore 5<\/a>. The $349 Cricut Maker 4<\/a>, meanwhile, can handle thicker materials, like fabric or leather, and can engrave, deboss, or perforate materials.<\/p>\n Starting to feel confident making my own basic designs.<\/p>\n While my idea of how a \u201cbeginner-friendly\u201d cutting machine should onboard users differs from Cricut\u2019s, the Joy 2 is a fun, relatively inexpensive gadget that\u2019s easy to recommend. I\u2019m not about to reopen an Etsy store anytime soon, but for the first time in a while, I want to keep creating.<\/p>\n Follow topics and authors<\/strong> from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.<\/p>\n Sheena Vasani<\/p>\n Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n FollowFollow<\/p>\n See All by Sheena Vasani<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Gadgets<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n FollowFollow<\/p>\n See All Gadgets<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Hands-on<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n FollowFollow<\/p>\n See All Hands-on<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Reviews<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n FollowFollow<\/p>\n See All Reviews<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Smart Home<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n FollowFollow<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n\n
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