Cricut has just added the Cricut Joy Xtra to the family, and I’ve added it to mine. Already a big fan of the Cricut Maker 3, Cricut EasyPress 3 and Cricut Hat Press, I was keen to try the Joy Xtra for its convenient size, but also to try out some new projects with the introduction of the Waterproof Sticker Sheet and Printable Iron On transfer.
The Cricut Joy Xtra has already taken prime spot on my desk, for that reason alone – it fits perfectly, but it’s the fact that it’s a convenient size, yet still packs a punch with what it can deliver that has impressed me.
My first project with the Cricut Joy Xtra was creating stickers to personalise a cross-body luggage piece, a clear iPhone case and a water bottle. The Print and Cut functionality in the Cricut Design Space gave me the flexibility to experiment with some fonts and colours outside of the Design Space first, then transfer in to print.
The step-by-step instructions within Design Space easily guided me to my printer, then to the Cricut Joy Xtra itself, and I was super impressed with the accuracy of the cut.
I also gave the Print and Cut functionality a go with the new Printable Iron On transfer. The project? Creating a retro inspired music t-shirt. Sometimes I can find the Cricut Design Space a little limiting for specific projects like this, so it was great to be able to design some elements outside of the Design Space once again, before importing the file in and printing.
This time around, the Cricut Joy Xtra prompted a calibration cut first, which was straight-forward and gave me confidence in a precise cut. I was super impressed that from my desktop I was able to print and press a bespoke t-shirt design. It’s something I’ve only ever imagined a big printing machine and press could be capable of.
Since these two projects, I’ve also been using my Cricut Joy Xtra for other small-cut vinyl projects, just for the sheer convenience of its size, within reach on my desk.
One project in particular involved me creating nail-art decals, which were quite intricate and only 1.5cm in width each. I felt that the Cricut Joy Xtra was able to cut these designs effortlessly – in particular, noticeably more accurate than I recall the Cricut Maker 3 being able to do on another fine-detail project I worked on recently.
Who do I think the Cricut Joy Xtra is perfect for? Probably someone who has had a bit of experience with more advanced Cricut Projects already, but wants something conveniently sized for their workspace or creative space. I can definitely see myself using this machine day-to-day for most of my projects, and leaning on my Cricut Maker 3 for only larger-scale projects.