I’m an Etsy seller — Get the only Cricut you need on sale now on Amazon

One might argue there was nothing good about 2020, but if nothing else, it forced most of us to get some hobbies… which is how I found myself learning how to use a Cricut Smart Cutting Machine by July and opening my own Etsy shop to sell stickers in November.

With a Cricut, the only limits are your own imagination. You can cut over 100 materials, but some of the most popular are vinyl (which I use to decorate everything from plastic Starbucks cups to DIY welcome signs for my front door), iron-on vinyl (perfect for T-shirts), and cardstock (my personal favorite material — I love to DIY birthday cards and make bookmarks with a thermal laminator).

Using additional tools, the Cricut can also write for you, score paper to achieve perfect folds, and add shiny foil transfers to cardstock projects.

Now, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a bit of a learning curve or that using a Cricut doesn’t require some kind of artistic background.

Let me be super clear: Anyone can learn to Cricut! However, I will say my graphic design background helped immensely when I started to formulate projects of my own.

If you want to start, there’s really no better time: all five of Cricut’s machines, from the tiny Joy to the commercial-sized Venture, are on sale during the Amazon Big Spring Sale.

My personal machine, pictured above, is the Cricut Explore 3. It falls right in the middle of the five-machine lineup in both size and capabilities, and I upgraded to it from the since discontinued Explore 2 shortly after it was released in 2022.

It’s also the machine I’d recommend to a first-time user over both of the smaller devices available for a number of reasons: it can handle larger projects and cut a wider range of materials than the Joy or Joy Xtra can, it supports Print then Cut (which is how I make all of my stickers and bookmarks), and is a lot more intuitive to first time users than a machine without buttons, like the Joy.

Now, lets break down the differences between the other standard Cricut smart cutting machines:

• Cricut Joy

  

  The smallest Cricut is perfect for DIY-ers who imagine they’ll only work on smaller projects, since it supports a cutting mat less than 6-inches wide. If you want to replace trips to the card store with handmade, personalized cards, this is the Cricut for you.

  BUY NOW $149.00 $99.00

• Cricut Joy Xtra Smart Cutting Machine

  

  Little Cricut Joy’s big sister is the newest Cricut to hit shelves, and it’s on sale for the second time ever during the Big Spring Sale. Using the same low profile design as the Cricut Joy, the Joy Xtra adds the ability to use the Print then Cut feature because it supports cutting mats large enough for a standard sheet of paper.

  BUY NOW $199.00 $179.00

• Cricut Maker 3

  

  Mastered the Explore 3? The more advanced Maker 3 is every advanced crafter’s dream. It can cut over 300 materials, including felt, fabric, and thin sheets of wood. With additional blades, you’ll also be able to engrave metal sheets, and slice leather.

  It has almost all of the same capabilities as the Explore 3, though, so if you don’t see yourself using the premium materials listed above, you may not need this advanced of a machine.

  BUY NOW $429.00 $379.00

Frequently Asked Question:

What exactly does a Cricut do?

While each of the Cricut machines have slightly different capabilities, here’s what they all share: the ability to cut materials on-demand. Using the brand’s Design Space software or app, you’re able to set up projects, including cards, vinyl stickers, and so much more. Then, using Bluetooth, your computer or tablet with link up with the Cricut to cut, score, or draw whatever you’ve dreamt up.