CRICUT® KICKOFF TRANSCRIPT

CRICUT ®
®

KICKOFF
TRANSCRIPT
LESSON TWO
CRICUT JOY AND
JOY XTRA

SET UP YOUR CRICUT FOR SUCCESS WITH

JENNIFERMAKER
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 CRICUT® KICKOFF TRANSCRIPT

ABOUT THIS TRANSCRIPT

This is a transcript of the edited version of Cricut Kickoff: Know the Tools to
Use With Your Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra video. Transcripts are provided for those
who prefer to read and/or follow along with a text version as you watch the
video at jennifermaker.com/cklesson2.

Please note that this transcript was made

using an automated service, which means
there may be some mistakes in interpretation
of what I said, but we have reviewed it and
attempted to correct all errors.

If you have any questions about using this

transcript, please join me in my Cricut group
at jennifermaker.com/cricutcrafters or email
me at [email protected].

For more Cricut Kickoff lessons, visit

makeracademy.com/cricut-kickoff-lessons.

Happy making,

Jennifer
Cricut® and Cricut Design Space® are registered trademarks of Provo Craft. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with
or endorsement by them.

Copyright 2023 by JenniferMaker Creative Living

All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or
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Hello, everyone. My name is Jennifer Maker here ‘cause we’re on Lesson Two, know the
and today I am sharing all the must have tools to use, right? So we have cheat sheets
tools, supplies, and accessories that you can in here that show the blades for all of the
use with your Cricut Joy and Cricut Joy Xtra cricuts, but we list which ones are for which
cutting machines. machines, pens and markers, mats, places
for you to record all the things that you have,
This is the Cricut Kickoff Lesson Two. the things that you like, all of that, it’s all in
here.
Now in lesson one where we unboxed the
Cricut Joys, you saw that your machine So definitely get that because, you know,
came with a few things, right? So both that space to record what you have, so
had materials for a test cut in the white that you know what you have before you
envelope, right, littler one for the Joy, the start preparing for a project is really, really
original Joy, and a bigger one for the Cricut helpful, especially as a beginner.
Joy Xtra. They both also had a fine point
blade in there, but that’s where they differ, So now that we have all that out of the
okay? After that they should say they differ, way, I would love to invite you to pull up a
the Cricut Joy has a green machine mat in chair here in my craft room, and we will get
its envelope while the Cricut Joy Xtra has no started.
machine mat, instead it has a Mini Weeder,
okay, so that’s what came in your box. And Now since I know you’re going to ask me
then of course the cutting blade itself was in where to get all of these things that I’m
the Cricut Joy and the Joy Xtra machines. It about to mention, you can get these things at
is a premium fine point blade, it’s already in your local craft store or online directly from
the clamp and it includes the housing as well, Cricut, or from Amazon. In fact, I have links
so the blade and the housing. But there’s a for both of those so let’s put this one away.
lot more tools, supplies and accessories, like
a lot, a lot, a lot. And understanding them So for Cricut things, you can go to
and knowing when to use them and when not jennifermaker.com/cricutdiscount, that will
to bother with them, at least when you’re lead you to my Cricut discount, and a bunch
a beginner, goes a long way toward making of the things I talk about, they’re linked
what you love with your Cricut. right on that page. But there’s another link
and that is this one here. For Amazon I have
Now, before we get too far, I want to remind made a new link, it goes to jennifermaker.
everyone about my free Cricut Kickoff com/cricut-joy-must-haves, which you can
principal handbook that goes along with these see here at the bottom. That is a handy
lessons. You can download it right now at Amazon shopping list that links to the specific
cricutkickoff.com, just register for the class things that I bought, ‘cause I love to shop on
and you’ll get the handbook. I’ll be referring Amazon, to show you today.
to it as we go along during today’s lessons.
There are pages in there that list the various So, either way, if you prefer to go to Cricut
tools and supplies. go to jennifermaker.com/cricutdiscount,
there’s a 10% off coupon code and links there,
Let me show you real quick, ‘cause this is or shop on Amazon at jennifermaker.com/
pretty awesome. All right, so in starting in cricut-joy-must-haves, your choice.
Lesson Two, you see that okay, so let me go

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Okay, so we’re going to begin with our blade. free by nature.
No, I need this, let’s put this over here. Okay,
the blade. So the blade, as I mentioned, So let me demonstrate both methods for you
comes already installed in your Cricut. This now, and you can decide which one you want
is your first must have tool. The Cricut Joys to use.
have just one blade, the premium fine point
blade, let me show you what the blade So we’re going to start with the aluminum
looks like. And, in fact, I would like to try a foil method. Regular aluminum foil that you
different camera angle today to see if we can probably have in your kitchen. You just pull
get a little closer. off a sheet like this, and just like a 12 by
12 sheet, and you crumple it up. That’s all
So this is the blade that comes in the Cricut you’re going to do. And you can reuse this,
Joy, this blade is the same as the blade in you don’t have to do this each time. And this
the Cricut Explorer, okay? So if you need is the method that I’ve been using for years
to replace this blade, I highly recommend and I swear by this method, so it’s just a
getting another Cricut Joy Premium Fine- balled up piece of aluminum foil, and then
Point Blade, not a knockoff. you take your blade and you press the plunger
right here on the end and, of course, always
And the Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra use this same be careful, this is a sharp blade, right?
blade, but be aware that the Joy blades are
different than other Cricut, like Explore and So you depress the blade and then you
Maker blades, right? Your blade is your first carefully basically poke the aluminum foil
must have tool and it is so important to get blade a bunch of times, a few dozen times,
good cuts. there’s no exact number. And what this
does is that cleans, it does not sharpen your
That said, you probably won’t need a new blade but it cleans your blade, it removes
blade for a very long time if you keep the one adhesive, debris, dust, oxidation, glitter,
that you have cleaned. I have never replaced little particles, all those things that could
the blade in any of my Cricut Joys, by simply prevent a good clean cut. And, like I said, I
keeping the one that I have cleaned. So if it’s have been doing this for years and I swear by
not cutting as well as it did in the beginning, it. This is fast and easy, you can keep this ball
it’s probably just got some gunk on it, of aluminum foil for whenever you need it.
adhesive, glitter, corrosion even. All those Around here in my studio I have lots of little
things can get stuck on your blade and you balls of aluminum foil.
just need to clean it off, seriously.
All right, but there is another method and
So there are two good ways to clean it, so it is a more careful cleaning method. When
I would like to demonstrate two different you do this, because when you do it this
ways to clean your Cricut blade. The simplest way there’s a few things that you have to be
and fastest cleaning method is with a ball of cautious of. One is, as you do this you can
aluminum foil. The slower and more careful actually push the dirt, adhesive, whatever,
cleaning method is with isopropyl alcohol and the gunk, up into your housing, so right up
a lint-free cloth. So that means you have two into here, and eventually over time that
more must-haves, some regular aluminum could cause issues. I can’t say it has for me
foil, like the kind you probably have in your but it’s possible that it could. If you got a
kitchen, and/or some isopropyl alcohol and piece of paper stuck up in there, right, that
something like a coffee filter, which is lint- could cause an issue. Also, it is possible that,

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like I always worry about, you know, someone I dislike teaching this method because I worry
poking themselves. I’ve also seen it where so much about blades, so please, I’m going
sometimes the blade will get stuck in the to say it again, please be very careful. Now
aluminum foil, right, so that’s about it. alcohol will dissolve adhesive and it’ll wipe
away, you know, the other things that can get
All right, so let me show you the second in the way, glitter and dust.
method. The second method involves some
isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, whatever, All right, then we need to get it back in so
okay, and you want a lint free cloth. An easier use that again, depress the plunger again and
way to do that though is, oops, to use like put it back in there. And then I like to tap it
alcohol prep pads, just get a box of these. So on my surface just to make sure it’s seated
let’s get one out. I’m sure you probably have all the way in there. There is a magnet in
some of these in a first aid kit, if you don’t there so it will, it should, you know, snap
have any right now, right? So these are, they right into place but I always feel a little
have alcohol on them already and we just nervous, so now your blade is clean.
pull out the little prep pad.
If you do this and you do it frequently, you do
Okay, so with the alcohol method we need to it anytime, like pretty much anytime you cut
remove the blade. I mean, we don’t have to glitter or cardstock, or anytime you notice
but this is the careful method so we’re going that things are not cutting properly, this will
to go all the way and we’re going to do this, extend the life so much.
okay?
But if it turns out it’s just not enough, you
So what I recommend you do is using this can buy a replacement. Let me show you
cloth to protect your fingers, but please be what the replacement looks like so we can
very careful. I dislike this method ‘cause discuss that. Hmm, where did it go? Oh, here
I don’t like touching the blade, so be very it is, all right. This is the replacement, it’s a
careful but you can, with the plunger blade in housing so you can also just get the
depressed, you can pull the blade out. This blades. So note that it says Cricut Joy and
is how you would change it too, right? You this works for the Cricut Joy and the Joy Xtra,
want to grab it by the, there’s like a little the blades are interchangeable. So when you
shaft there, oops, can you see that? You want go to get a new blade, get this blade. And I
to grab it by that part. It’s a little bit tricky, also really recommend you don’t get one of
please be very careful. There we go, so I’ve the knockoffs, that you get the Cricut brand.
taken it out. These are their machines, they’ve got it
down to a science and I think it’s just more
All right, so this is the housing so blow into reliable. There may be others out there that
it or use some compressed air to clean out are good enough but it’s hard to direct you to
the housing, because dust, gunk, whatever, them, I always use Cricut blades myself. All
can get in there. So I’ll just blow , okay? So right, so that is our blades.
that’s the housing and you want to clean that
too, and then here is the blade itself and Now how about another thing, okay, so while
so we use the alcohol and very carefully we we’re still on the topic of talking about this,
clean the blade, you can just sort of swivel it what goes into here, there is one more tool
around in there, we can get it cleaned. that goes in here. It’s not a blade, but I want
to be sure you know about it. And it’s right up
here.

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And it is the Cricut Joy Foil Transfer Kit. So with light and medium weight paper, medium
it goes right into the same clamp and you cardstock and vinyl. Both of these two mats
can use it for foil transfer, right? So while come in different sizes. There are the narrow
it’s not a blade it’s really cool, so the foil ones for the Cricut Joy and they only fit the
transfer tool fits right into your clamp and it Cricut Joy, and then there’s the wider ones
allows you to transfer Cricut foil sheets onto that are for the Cricut Joy Xtra, and they
projects to make really gorgeous cards and only fit the Cricut Joy Xtra. The mats are not
paper crafts. interchangeable between the Joy and the
Joy Xtra, so pay attention to mat size when
But I do not think the foil transfer tool is a you buy them. And the Cricut Joy actually
must have, get it only if you intend to do has this short one and this longer one. I’m
some foil transfer, like, but as a beginner this going to see if I have another short version
is something that you can put on your list for of that, but you can get it in green and blue.
another time, okay? I don’t, oh here’s another green one, right,
a long green one. So I tend to use this one,
Now let’s switch to our overhead. Move our this longer one more often on my Cricut Joy.
Cricut back here. And over here on the Joy Xtra, these are just,
there’s just this one size, okay?
How about machine mats? So for those of
you who got the original Cricut Joy, you had But there’s one more mat that’s specially
one mat in your envelope, you had a small, designed with a divider to protect the back
green standard grip mat, but the Joy Xtra had of a folded cricut insert card while you’re
no mat at all in the box. And we didn’t even cutting the design on the front, and that is
have to worry about it in Lesson One because the cricut card mat. So here’s the one for
the Cricut Joy can cut Smart materials, like the Cricut Joy, here’s a better view of it,
smart vinyl, without a mat. this one’s you used but you can see how it’s
got like a little pocket in it, and then here’s
But you do want a mat so you can cut all of the one for the Cricut Joy Xtra, all right? So
those other things that are not labeled as the way that it works is you just put the, you
Smart material, so mats are a must have, and know, the back of your card here, you just
there are three mats to choose from. slide it in and then you’re able to cut just the
front, right? It’s really cool.
There is the green standard grip map and
I’m going to get them all out, let’s move this So one important thing with the card mat, be
out of the way here. Okay. So this is the Joy sure to take the plastic cover off before using
and this is the Joy Xtra, right, that’s a size it. The first time my daughter went to use
difference, right, ‘cause they’re different it, she didn’t realize that she had to do that
sizes. So we’ve got the green standard grip because it’s not quite as obvious as the other
machine mat and it’s ideal for use with mats, okay, so there’s a plastic cover, all of
materials like vinyl, heavy cardstock, poster them have plastic covers. As I mentioned
board, and smart material or scraps, smart yesterday, be sure to save your covers so that
material scraps that are too small to feed you have them to protect them.
through the machine without a mat. This is
my go-to mat, okay, I prefer this one. Now I consider mats to be a consumable
and they will not last forever by any stretch
And we also have the blue light grip mat, and of the imagination, they will need to be
this is slightly less sticky and it’s best for use replaced over time as they get less and less

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sticky or as the adhesive that’s on the mat both the Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra. And on the
gets, you know, some of it will get scraped pen I want you to see that it’s written right
away over time or it’ll just get too dirty, that on the side, “Fine point pen 0.4, black.” All
kind of thing. the pens are identified this way so that you
know, okay?
But you can keep them going for a long time,
really quite a long time by cleaning them But there’s a lot more pens, there’s so
with alcohol free baby wipes. So it doesn’t many more pens. There are permanent
matter what the brand is, it just needs to markers, so these are really permanent,
not have any alcohol in them because alcohol more permanent than the other ones. There’s
will dissolve adhesive, right, so no alcohol. things like glitter gel pens, there are opaque
But if you notice that your mats are not gel pens, these are great for dark colors,
sticky enough, just wipe them down with blacks, they look amazing. More gel pens,
baby wipes and let them dry. So I recommend permanent metallic markers, so there’s lots
you add some baby wipes to your must have and lots of pens that you could get. There’s
shopping list too. also watercolor pens and infusible ink pens,
looking for those. Glitter gel pens, pens, I
So those are our mats. There are no other have a lot of pens here.
mats and there’s no, for those of you who are
familiar with the Cricut Explorer and Maker Are they over here? They are. Infusible ink,
and Venture, which has a strong grip mat and pens. So I’ll explain what infusible ink is
a fabric grip mat. Those are not options for a little bit later, but there’s a lot, a lot of
the Cricut Joy, so that you’re not surprised by options here. Now I suggest that you store
that. your pens, either tip down or on their side to
keep the ink ready to flow. This is important
Okay. Now in your box you had a pen, so to note because the pens come like in a box
every Cricut Joy and Cricut Joy Xtra comes like this, like they’re usually hanging on the
with a Cricut Joy Pen in the box. The Cricut store shelves or whatever like this.
Joy Pens are great for writing on cards,
making labels and embellishing paper crafts. So when you get them when they’re brand
These pens are water-based, acid-free, non- new or if you’ve stored them this way, the ink
toxic and permanent after they dry. It’s very really isn’t ready to flow, okay, so keep this in
important to note that Cricut Joy Pens are mind. So if the pens weren’t stored right and
sized only for the Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra’s don’t seem to be working, flip them upside
clamp. You cannot use them in the Cricut down for a few hours, this typically works.
Explorer, Maker, or Venture, and you cannot And don’t just assume it’s no good because
use the Explorer, Maker or Venture Pens in right out of the box it’s not working, you
your Joy. need to make sure the ink is flowing.

Okay, so if you go to the store to buy some, Now I do not think that a pack of pens is a
be sure you get the right ones for your Cricut. must have when you are just starting out,
Now the clamps are different sizes between because you have a pen in the box. So get
the Joys and the other machines because the them only if you need them.
Joys blade had to be specially sized to work
the way that it does, right? Okay, so you’ve And by the way, I am a strong advocate for
got a fine point blade, sorry, you got a fine getting only what you need when you need
point pen with a 0.4 size tip in black, with it. I don’t ever want anyone to buy anything

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that they can’t afford, ever, nor do I want don’t have to, you can actually use an old
you to just be drowning in craft supplies and store loyalty card, an expired credit card,
overwhelmed with what to make. So this you know, just one of those plastic cards. I’ve
is very important to me, that you are just also used them in a pinch when I like have
getting the things that you need for your forgotten or lost my scraper, those work too.
projects. These are better, of course, but you can use
that if you need to while you’re first getting
My recommendation, ‘cause at some point started, but scrapers are definitely a must
in this video you’re going to be like, “Oh have.
my gosh, there’s just so much stuff, I have
to...” Either you’ll be like, “Oh, I have to get The weeding tool is used to remove the
all this stuff before I can start crafting.” Or excess vinyl from a cut, which we call
you’ll be like, “Oh, I just, I can’t afford it.” weeding. This is how you get all those bits
Or, “I’m overwhelmed and I can’t even do out of your designs that you don’t want. I also
anything.” This is the two things I notice. use the weeding tool on intricate paper craft
projects because sometimes you have to poke
So my suggestion is to pick a project that you out the little bits that don’t, they’re so small
really want to do, we’ll talk more about them they don’t just fall out, right, so this is also
at the end of Lesson Two, and buy just the another must have.
supplies for one project. Do the project, feel
amazing because you did it, and then move And then another thing is the spatula, here
on to the next one and get those supplies. we go. This is the spatula. The spatula tool
This is how I work and this is how I avoid that is another option, and it’s used for removing
feeling of “Oh my gosh, there’s so much stuff. delicate materials from your machine mats
What do I do?” Even though there is so much without ripping or tearing. It is super useful
stuff, clearly. I just get what I need, aside if you have a lot of intricately cut cardstock
from teaching you, of course, ‘cause that’s that you need to remove from your mat
something I need to teach you. without damaging it.

All right, now let’s talk about tools. There are So if you were following me during “Merry
a lot of tools that you can buy for your Cricut Maker Mingle,” we had lots of intricate
Joy and Joy Xtra. Some are useful, some are projects because I love them. One of them
less so. The ones I recommend you get, the was our Christmas tree and we recommended
ones that I use all the time are, I’m going to that you use the scraper when you’re
switch my camera again, actually let’s bring removing those little delicate parts, because
them over and then switch the camera. sometimes they will want to have a mind of
their own and they’ll stick to the mat and
Here we go. I recommend the scraper, this just rip, right? So if you use this you can
is the scraper, and the weeding tool, which gently lift them up without damaging them.
looks like this. These are the must have tools
for sure. The scraper is great for getting little So all three of these actually come, very
bits off of your mats and for creasing things conveniently, in a Cricut Joy Starter Toolkit.
too, but mostly it’s for cleaning your mats. I You can get this one, but keep in mind that
have both a small one and I have a big one, the Joy handcrafting tools like this are not
which I also really like. So two different sizes any different from the ones with the Explorer
of the scrapers, they’re awesome. Now, if an Maker. So if you have another set of Cricut
you don’t want to buy a scraper tool you crafting tools like this one, feel free to use it

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instead. These actually match the Cricut Joy actually has interchangeable tips that can
original, they don’t match the Cricut Joy Xtra change into weeding tools, right? So it’s your
but, you know, there’s the three tools right choice which one you might want to use,
there. there’s four different tips, I love using that
one, I use it nearly every day. And I personally
All right, another tool that I consider a must consider the TrueControl Knife to be a must-
have these days is the brayer. This is a rubber have in my studio, you’ll see me using it all
roller that helps you adhere your material to the time.
your mat, which means you get better cuts. I
use it pretty much every time I put material Now if you do use the TrueControl Knife you’ll
on a mat, and I believe it really makes a also want a Self-Healing Mat, like this one you
difference in getting great cuts on my cricut. see right here. This is a Self-Healing Mat right
You just press down and you just go like this, here, this is the Cricut brand, in fact. This is
right, it’s all you have to do. So I can consider not, however, an adhesive mat like the kind
this a must have at this point, right? It’s a that you put in your machine, but it’s rather
little pricier than the other tools but... And like an, it’s an extra thick mat, you put it on
initially I thought, “Oh, it’s just an accessory your work surface and you can use it to cut
that I really don’t need.” I don’t think I had things with your craft knife. I also just like
it for like the first six months of using my working with it because it is really easy to
Cricut, I was just using my hands to press clean and it allows me to protect my surface.
everything down. And then I got this and I’m
like, “Wow. Well, all my cuts are just working I’m going to switch my camera down just a
out great,” like especially if you have a mat little bit so you can see. And the Cricut ones
that’s seen better days, the brayer can really have these cute designs on them, they have
help ‘cause it really pushes your material different colors, and then on the reverse side
down into the adhesive and it really helps it it has got a grid on it so if you like those, the
stick, and that stickiness is so important. kind with a grid. Now, and it’s self-healing,
which means that it’s made of little tiny
Okay, so let’s move onto our next one, which pieces of material that are pressed together
is this one here. All right, another tool that create a solid surface, and when you cut
that I think is really handy to have is the on it the blade actually goes between these
TrueControl craft knife. It has a special razor tiny pieces, you can’t even see them with a
sharp and non-stick blade on it, you saw me naked eye. This separates the pieces rather
using it for opening the Cricut boxes and all than cuts them into the entire surface, right,
those seals up, and our envelopes yesterday, thus we call it self-healing. I always craft
right? Craft knives like this are used for doing on one of these mats, usually this largest
manual cuts, and sometimes that means a one that I have here which is an 18 by 24,
project almost cut all the way through, but because I also find it so much easier to keep
it’s hanging by a tiny little bit due to a design clean than my normal work surface, if I get
issue or just a little hiccup, and you can any adhesive on it I can just use some alcohol
easily cut that out with a craft knife, right, so to wipe it right up.
that you don’t have to just start over.
Now there’s a couple of other tools for the
And there’s actually, you can get it as a Cricut Joy that are not sold by Cricut, but
TrueControl Kit, which is just the knife, I still find super useful. For example, some
there’s some replacement blades in it, or weeding containers. And I’ll show you what
there’s another version that you can get that those look like, I have a few different ones

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here. There’s a lot of things on my desk. For a Okay, another one that I really like is, again,
weeding container you can just use whatever not a Cricut branded thing, but you’ve
you have, of course, but let me show you probably seen me talk about these before,
this one that I really like. It is... Here we go. magnifying glasses. These are so cool. Let
Actually, it’s sold as like a nail polish holder me grab the box of little... There’s different
but you can like put it right on your fingers magnifications too. So this is what it looks
as you’re crafting, right, so you can just, it like and I love it, like, so I used to, before I
goes right on your fingers like this, right? So discovered this I would just wear like extra
you can just, oops, there we go, so you can readers, I would sometimes like have like
just see it, kind of like a ring. And the way it two or three on my head to see things,
works is that as you’re weeding something, ‘cause I didn’t know these existed. Greg
you can just pick up the little bit of vinyl and introduced me to these, and there’s different
you can put it right into the slot like this, and lenses in here so you can change whatever
keep going. And that’s important because magnification you have. They are supposed
when you’re weeding vinyl you want to keep to work for those who have glasses but it’s
all that vinyl away from your project area so one of those your mileage may vary things,
it doesn’t slip back into and get stuck onto some people who have glasses love them
something else. So this is one version of it, and some don’t. So it’s up to you, but I love
this is what I call a weeding ring. these and they just go right on like this. They
might look a little funny but they totally work
There’s another version of it which is hinged, amazing for seeing closeup things. And that’s
and it’s really similar. Let me switch the a big deal so that you’re not accidentally
camera again so we can see a little higher up, weeding the wrong thing as you’re working,
there we go. It’s bigger too. It’s got a suction right? Some of those cuts can be very tiny.
cup on the bottom, it goes like that and
you can tilt it like this, you know, as you’re And now, as I said, like these glasses, all the
working on it. So this works the same way, things I’ve mentioned are linked in my list
you just pick up your piece of vinyl and it jennifermaker.com/cricut-joy-must-haves.
just slides right off into there. And one more, I think one of them is missing, maybe one
which one you’ll get depends completely on of the weeding tools, but if it’s missing, I’ll
your preferences. This one here is a little... make sure. I keep all of my shopping lists up
Let’s move this one over, there we go. This to date so not to worry if it’s missing at the
one is a little stand and you would just leave moment.
it on your desk and then you can just scrape
the pieces of vinyl off into the container Now I would like to talk about materials.
like this, and this one also says it’s great for There are a lot of materials that are specially
resting your tools on. sized for the Joy and the Joy Xtra. I have
some of them here, but one thing I think is
So those are three different ways and, of really important for you to know is that you
course, if you have a Kleenex box that also can use larger materials, so long as you cut
works great, an old baby wipe container, the them down to size. So that means that if you
ones that come in canisters, you can make have a Joy, especially the original Cricut Joy,
your own things. Whatever you have that a trimmer like this is a must have for getting
works for you is fine. I just happen to like materials down to the right size for your mat,
these little things here. This is probably my right? So you can buy the regular size things
favorite one though, this is the one that I’ve and then just trim them down.
share the most.

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The trimmer, for those who are unfamiliar and they have Joy sized versions. You can of
with this, it’s got a blade, you can change course use the larger version if you want, it’s
this blade if it gets dull or you’ll lose it the same stuff.
‘cause that’s totally happened to me. So you
just put your material in here and close this. And then iron on, and all of these, by the
way, that I’m showing you, these are smart
There’s a swing out ruler, sometimes a lot materials that Cricut makes. Those are the
of people don’t realize that’s there, and ones that are just like what we did yesterday
you want to put your material up, you know, in lesson one where you didn’t have to have
against this as a guide so that you get a nice, a mat, you can just put it right into your
straight 90 degree cut on your material. And, Cricut, so that’s why it’s sized for it because
yeah, so a trimmer is just so useful. Cricut then you can put it right in.
makes one but, you know, there’s lots of
other brands out there too but I have a bunch So there’s smart iron-on in a variety of
of these because they came in kits. different colors, there’s glitter, all sorts of
cool things, and then there’s infusible ink.
All right, so now, as I mentioned, there are
specific materials that you can, that are Now infusible ink is a sublimation product
made for the Cricut Joy and Joy Xtra that are and it allows you to do sublimation crafting
special, so let me give you a look at these without having a sublimation printer, so they
things. have already basically pre-printed the colors
and designs onto transfer sheets and then
One of them are these insert cards, so they you can use your Cricut to cut out words,
come in different colors and textures and shapes, whatever you want, and then you can
styles. There are foil transfer insert cards, sublimate with them. So it’s super cool.
there’s just regular cards, all sorts of cards,
and they work in tandem with the card mats There is both infusible ink transfer sheets
that I showed you earlier, okay? So that is one and there’s markers and pens, so you can
option if you’re into cards, there’s lots and make mugs and T-shirts and tote bags where
lots of different ones. There’s also vinyls and the ink just goes right into the surface and
infusible ink that’s sized just for your Joy. So doesn’t wash away or crack or peel, which
these are the smaller size. can happen with iron on vinyl, but still each
has their place. So they’re sized materials
Down here I have vinyl, adhesive vinyl. It for both the original Joy and the Joy Xtra,
comes in both permanent and removable. You okay? And the Joy Xtra, because it has an
use permanent for things that you want to extra, you know, obviously it’s bigger so it’s
be more or less permanent, like putting onto materials are larger, but it also has that print
glass, things that you know you want to stay then cut sensor inside that we don’t have on
there. You use removable vinyl for decorating the Cricut Joy.
things that you know you’re going to remove
later or when you remove it you don’t want So we get one more extra material with the
to damage it, like a wall. Cricut Joy Xtra, which is a variety of different
printable sticker paper. So there’s a bunch
And transfer tape, you need to have transfer of different ones, there’s some that are
tape when you use any kind of adhesive just paper, there are some that are vinyls,
vinyl, whether it’s permanent or removable, there’s all sorts of cool colors, holographic,

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and there’s ones that are UV resistant as discovered. All right, did I miss anything
well. And there’s really a lot of stuff, as I was really important? I mean there’s so much
setting up today I’m like, “Whoa, there’s so more. Let me, since we mentioned iron-on
much stuff here.” I can’t even fit it all here, vinyl and infusible ink, let me just show you
it’s always been a problem though. Even from these things.
the very beginning, we’ve always had issues
fitting all this stuff here. Cricut sells solves lots of blanks, so these are
infusible ink-ready ceramic coasters, tote
And then for cardstock. Cricut does sell bags, you could also use these for infusible
cardstock, it’s not typically available like in ink. Either one, I’m sorry, iron-on ink, so
craft stores you have to order it mostly from either iron-on or infusible ink with these
cricut.com. You can get some from Amazon, work great. Same for the shirts. These are
but I tend to not use Cricut’s cardstock, also infusible ink ready but you could also
not because it isn’t great quality because use them for iron-on vinyl. And, there’s
it absolutely is, it’s amazing quality, but really a lot, there’s some square coasters.
because it’s hard to get in the colors I want, These are aluminum with a cork back. I did a
it’s not their main thing, I have observed. bunch of tutorials on these, if you’re curious
about how to use them I have tutorials on
So I tend to use other kinds of cardstocks pretty much everything there is. And then to
that I can get, but your cardstocks, there’s so transfer either infusible ink or- iron-on vinyl
many different brands. or infusible ink, you need a heat source that
gets hot enough.
Some of my favorite brands besides Cricut are
Recollections, which I have here, it’s a shade Now if it’s iron-on vinyl you can just use
of blues, and you can order that from Amazon your household iron, I have a video on that
and get it from craft stores. as well, but if it’s infusible ink your iron
probably won’t get hot enough, it needs to
And I also like American Crafts, AC, which get up to 400 degrees fahrenheit, so Cricut
is called AC Cardstock and Darice, which sells heat presses.
is, I forget what, they’re like a child brand
of another brand, whatever. But I want This is the mini heat press, and I like to
to caution you on one thing, and this is pull this out when we’re talking about the
something that beginners experience quite a Joy because it’s so cute and great for small
bit. projects, but they also make bigger ones too.

Whites and blacks, in particular, they can be There’s a nine by nine and a 12 by 10, and a
really tricky, those colors of cardstock, and easy press, and a 12 by 15 Cricut Autopress.
if you’re having a problem cutting white or
black, assume the problem is your cardstock So there’s lots of options from small to large
and try a different brand or a different pack, based on what your needs are. And, again, I
or something like that. There’s something believe in getting the supplies and tools for
about the fibers in the white and the black the project that you’re working on, right? So
cardstocks that are harder to cut. You may don’t, if you resist temptation to just buy all
have no issues whatsoever, but if you are the things that you see, even when you know
having issues you can probably assume it’s when they’re on sale, because if you don’t
your cardstock, if it’s white or black, I’ve have a purpose for them then you’re spending

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your money, you’re taking up space in

wherever you’re crafting, and some of these
things do have an expiration date. Vinyl and
infusible ink depends, you know, after one,
two, three years, it depends, things will start
to dry out or not be as effective, the adhesive
will start to age, the ink, all sorts of things,
so buy things as you need them.

Please, for your own sanity, because it is

really very overwhelming to be like, “Oh, I
have to have all these things.” And then you
get the things, what happens is you get all
those things that you think that you need and
then you go to make a project, and you still
don’t have the color or the style or the size
you need. This is what I see happening and
I don’t want that to happen to you, I don’t
want you to find that you’ve just spent a lot
on materials but still can’t make anything,
right?

So until our next class, this is Jennifer Maker

reminding you to craft a life you love.

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