2 Easy Projects Cricut Joy Projects
Want some joy? This little Cricut can give it to you. If you are the proud owner of a Cricut Joy, you know exactly what I mean! If you’re just getting started, you’re going to love it.
Affordable, easy to use, and small enough to take with you when you want to get together with your crafty friends for a day of crafting. It doesn’t get much better!
Cricut Joy Projects for Beginners
If you’re just getting started, you’re in for a treat. I’ve put together some Cricut Joy projects for beginners that you’re going to love.
Not only will you learn how to use your new, favorite crafting tool, but you’ll also end up with some great projects to decorate and organize your home or give away to family and friends.
If you have a lot of cardstock and scrapbook paper, you can make all kinds of cool cards to sell or give away.If organizing is your thing, you can get your refrigerator or pantry organized once and for all by making labels.
A fun couple of projects to do with your kids are fun, decorative flower pots or t-shirts. I’ll give you quick ideas and directions for each of these ideas.
Using Cricut Joy for Stickers
Three words changed my life. Adhesive-backed paper! When Cricut launched Joy in March 2020 (something good came out of that year), they also introduced an entirely new system of products.
One of my all-time faves?
As its name suggests, this paper has a sticky back. Think of it as sticker paper! For your first sticker project, let’s make either some stickers for your planner or stickers that your kids will love. Here you can find some activities with stickers for your kids.
You can also know more about how to choose the Best sticker paper for Cricut.
You’ll need:
- Cricut Joy
- Adhesive-backed paper (there’s a million to choose from)
- Grip mat
Stickers can be made from only shapes and words with the Cricut Joy – basically just words and shapes. Because the Cricut Joy is the smallest and least expensive in the Cricut cutting machine family, it doesn’t support Print then Cut functions.
Here’s the easiest way to make the stickers:
- Choose the sticker designs you want in Cricut Design Space – Just search on the “Images Tab” and choose what you want. If you want, you can add text to go with your images. Remember to load a Cricut Pen if you want to add text to your stickers.
- Choose the adhesive-back paper you like.
- Load your Lightgrip mat and paper into your Cricut.
- Click “Make” and you’re all set.
- Your Cricut will draw first if you’ve chosen text, so watch for the signal to switch to your fine-point blade that came with your cutting machine.
- Once the cutting is finished, peel the paper away from your mat.
Using Cricut Joy for Shirts or Baby Onesies
If you’ve never made any clothing on your Cricut Joy, you’re probably itching to make a t-shirt. You can totally do that! An easier option, due to size constraints on the Cricut Joy, is to make a baby onesie or bodysuit, or a child’s t-shirt.
If you want some ideas to give an original gift, you can look at this article with funny phrases for baby onesies.
Step #1 – Follow the steps above in the “Using Cricut Joy for Stickers” section with the exception being you’ll use iron-on vinyl. After your design is drawn and cut around, you’ll remove it from the Cricut, weed your design, position, and press the design on your clothing article.
If you’re feeling a little braver and more adventurous, you can make an adult-sized t-shirt. The largest design you can cut with the Joy is 4 1/2” x 48”. By creating your design in layers and rearranging your design, it’s completely possible to make adult-sized t-shirts.
You can adjust the size of your design in Design Space to fit the Joy by using the contour tool. In order to size the iron-on design properly, it should be at least 10′′ smaller than the shirt’s width, measured from armpit to armpit.
Step #2 – Cut vinyl with the Cricut
Choose your vinyl. Many people start out with the Cricut brand Everyday Iron-On Vinyl. Using it is easy and you can find it in most craft stores and online.
Load the vinyl onto your LightGrip cutting mat. Smooth out the vinyl to make sure there aren’t any bubbles or wrinkles. You might need a brayer for this.
Step #3 – Weed your design as you normally would removing the excess vinyl.
Step #4 – Press.
Now it’s time to get everything ready for pressing. Start by having a steady place to press. It takes a good bit of pressure, so a wobbly ironing board isn’t always the best option. Press following the instructions on the vinyl packaging and voila! You’ve got a cute shirt.
You can also learn How to make a bag from wrapping paper for your original gifts
Start Getting Creative with Your Cricut Joy!
The projects covered in this post for beginning Cricut Joy owners are two of the most common and easy projects there are, but don’t let that fool you.
By making these projects, you’ll get a feel for your machine and learn a lot along the way. Dive in and make your kids happy with some stickers and a great t-shirt for yourself.
You can see this article about What Does the Cricut Joy Do? where we answer the most asked questions crafters have about. 😉