Cricut Joy 2 cutting machine

Fit and sizing

Its 4.5-inch cutting width makes the Cricut Joy 2 a compact way to handle smaller, everyday craft projects without setting aside much workspace.

At just over 2 lb, it’s also easy to move and store between projects. The bundle includes materials for up to 35 projects, so you can start with cards, labels, decals, or other small designs.

The narrow working width is the main tradeoff. From the way it is set up, this machine is better suited to compact projects than to large, wide designs.

Pros

The Joy 2 cuts, writes, draws, foils, and scores, and works with more than 75 materials, including vinyl, iron-on, printable materials, and cardstock. That range gives it room for more than one kind of craft without requiring a large machine.

For example, you could create a simple label for a storage jar, then switch to a custom card. For full-color stickers, print a design with a home inkjet printer and use the machine to recognize and cut around the printed image. Bluetooth connects it to a phone or desktop device through the free Design Space app, which includes guided design flows and templates.

You’ll appreciate it if you want a portable machine for small personalized projects and like having starter materials included. It’s not for you if your usual projects need a wider cutting area or you want a machine focused on large-format work.

Spec sheet

• Name: Cricut Joy 2 Essential Bundle
• Type: Cutting machine
• Cutting width: 4.5 in (11.4 cm)
• Weight: Just over 2 lb (0.91 kg)
• Material compatibility: 75+ materials, including vinyl, iron-on, printable materials, and cardstock
• Bundle contents: Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, Value Cardstock, Insert Card Sets, and Printable Vinyl, supplies for up to 35 projects
• Digital content: 25 additional images and 1 font with purchase
• Connection and software: Bluetooth and the free Design Space app

Is it worth it?

This bundle makes the most sense if you want to get into cards, stickers, labels, and other smaller personalized projects, and would rather have a selection of supplies on hand than buy every material separately. The included content and app library can help get a first design moving, even without prior design experience.

What matters most is whether the width fits the projects you actually make. A pantry label or a small card design suits the machine’s compact format, a large, wide decoration calls for a different approach. The bundle’s project count is an estimate of what the included supplies can support, not a promise that every project will use the same amount of material. If the 4.5-inch cutting width matches your plans, the starter materials and portable size make this a practical way to begin. If your priority is larger work, choose a machine with a wider cutting area instead.