Cricut Joy 2 cutting machine

What to know

Home crafters who want to personalize cards, labels, decals, or stickers without dedicating a worktable to a machine will find the Cricut Joy 2’s compact format relevant.

It cuts materials up to 4.5 inches wide and works with more than 75 materials, including vinyl, iron-on, cardstock, and printable materials. It can also write, draw, foil, and score designs.

This Ultimate Bundle adds Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, cardstock, insert card sets, printable vinyl, and a Cricut EasyPress Mini LT. The included supplies are presented as enough for up to 75 projects, giving beginners several ways to try the machine before buying more materials.

How to use it

Choose or customize a design in Design Space on a mobile or desktop device, then connect the machine through Bluetooth. The app includes templates and step-by-step design flows, so you can start with a ready-made project rather than build every design from scratch. Its free content library includes images, fonts, and projects, additional content can be purchased individually or accessed through a paid subscription.

For full-color stickers, print a design on a home inkjet printer and use the Joy 2 to recognize and cut around the printed image. Keep in mind that the cutting width is 4.5 inches, so the machine is intended for smaller projects rather than wide, oversized designs.

Practical tips

A useful first project might be a set of pantry labels: pick a template, personalize the wording, cut it from vinyl, and apply the labels to jars or storage containers. The included card supplies also make it possible to try a personalized greeting card, while printable vinyl opens up a different route for colorful artwork.

The machine’s weight of just over 2 lbs makes it easier to store between projects than a larger crafting setup. That compactness is the tradeoff: shoppers who regularly need wider cuts or want a machine for larger-format work may prefer a more spacious model. The bundle is more appealing if you want materials and a mini heat press on hand, rather than buying only a cutting machine and sourcing each supply separately.

Before you decide

Can it make full-color stickers? Yes. Print the design with a home inkjet printer, then have the machine cut around the printed image.

Does the bundle include materials? Yes. It lists Smart Vinyl, Smart Iron-On, value cardstock, insert card sets, and printable vinyl, along with the EasyPress Mini LT.

Do you need design experience? The product information describes Design Space as a free app with templates and guided design flows. More content is available through individual purchases or a paid subscription.

When it makes sense

A solid pick if you mainly make small personalized items and want a compact cutter with a starter assortment of supplies. It also suits someone who expects to switch between simple labels, cards, and printable stickers instead of focusing on one material. You may want to skip it if your typical projects need cuts wider than 4.5 inches or if you already have a well-stocked supply collection and would rather choose materials à la carte. The bundle’s appeal depends on using those included supplies and the mini press, not just on the machine itself.