With the DIY renaissance that has erupted over the last few years, avid crafters and hobbyists of all levels have been on the hunt for the ideal, versatile crafting assistant to aid with projects ranging from cardmaking and t-shirt printing, to sticker making and creating vinyl decals.
One singular craft machine which has emerged as a cut above the rest, pun intended, is the humble die-cutter. More specifically, the Cricut – which has essentially become synonymous with die-cutting machines.
Presently, the situation is rather chicken-and-egg-like, whereby newbies to the world of DIY crafting struggle to comprehend which came first – die-cutters created by competitor brands, or the Cricut. Likewise, it’s a struggle to determine whether the computerised die-cutter was actually invented by the Cricut company, as they seem to produce the most popular models fit for amateurs and experts alike.
What exactly is a die-cutting machine?
Though we explained this in our round-up of the 10 best die-cutters on the market, I’ll briefly summarise it for you.
Die-cutters can cut out both intricate and simple shapes using a specialised die-cut piece. A die is a thin metal shape with a raised outline on one side, known as the cutting edge. Remarkably similar to cookie cutters in both appearance and function, the shape of the die-cut piece is what will be cut out on your paper. Some of the more advanced machines even allow you to engrave onto metal and glass.
The first manual die-cutting purpose-built for crafting was actually invented way back in 1977 by LaDorna and Bob Eichenberg from the comfort of their humble two-bedroom abode. LaDorna was an art teacher on the hunt for a device that could help teachers to cut out paper and cards quickly, easily and without a fuss.
The original die-cutter was sold as the Ellison LetterMachine and was later renamed the Sizzix in the early 2000s. Despite my research I still can’t seem to figure out just who came out with the first digital die-cutter – it appears to be a toss-up between the two most popular brands: Silhouette and ProvoCraft’s Cricut.
Fast-forward a few decades, and the Cricut has emerged as the market leader within the world of die-cutting machines, mainly due to their ability to create accessible, compact and sophisticated devices that any crafter – in theory – can learn to use. The Cricut Joy Xtra can cut, write, draw and foil so that you can add your own intricate and unique touch to any project.
The Cricut Joy Xtra, as the name suggests, is one of the brand’s newer machines, previous models developed by Cricut include: Cricut Joy, Cricut Explore, Cricut Venture, and the classic Cricut Maker.
Created in response to a demand for a wider cutting area (8.5 inches, compared to the 5.5-inch Cricut Joy), the Cricut Joy Xtra also includes a ‘Print Then Cut’ capability which allows crafters to create full-colour stickers rather than single-colour decals. The Cricut Joy Xtra can also be used in tandem with the brand’s creative platform known as Cricut Design Space, through which users can share buyable pre-set designs.
Without further ado, let’s get into the intricacies of this review.
Buy now: Cricut Joy Xtra (machine only) – £219.99, Cricut
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Key specifications
Dimensions: 31.7 cm x 15.2 cm x 13.9 cm
Weight: 2.7 kg
Max cut size using machine mat: 20.8 cm x 29.7 cm
Max cut size using Smart Materials: 21.6 cm x 1.2 m
Cut speed: 5.65 in per second
Included accessories:
Cricut Joy™ Fine Point Pen
Cricut Mini Weeder
Welcome card
USB cable Power adapter
Free trial subscription to Cricut Access™ (for new subscribers)
100 free, pre-designed projects in the companion app
Materials for a practice cut
User friendliness
The fact that Cricut has essentially built its brand on user-friendly, accessible electronic die-cutter machines made me believe that the Joy Xtra would be an absolute breeze to use. Boy, was I wrong. Though setting up the software on my computer was relatively simple, when it came to embarking on the pre-set tutorials, I immediately felt impatient and befuddled. It’s worth noting that I’m a first-time user of electronic die-cutters, so experts in the field should take my words with a pinch of salt.
I began with a simple pre-set sticker design, which was offered on the design space for free – a small image of a whippet dog. Getting to grips with the sizing and the mirrored printing was likewise, relatively simple. With the live-action instructions delivered by one of three videos available, I was able to pop my silhouette-like sticker on the back of my phone within minutes. That, however, is where any ease in using this machine stopped for me.
When it came to attempting more sophisticated designs and crafting options, such as using the fine point pen, it was incredibly difficult to create so much as a name tag without smudging. I also found, when returning to the area I was most comfortable with – sticker making – that I could create little more than silhouette designs using the black vinyl paper that came with my machine. The tutorial failed to instruct me on how to layer colours, and my amateur brain was not equipped to teach itself.
What’s more, if you find it difficult to design on Cricut’s digital platform, there are only so many free designs on offer (100 to be exact, though not all of them are very good). Sophisticated labels and stickers have to be bought.
Functionality
I thought that, due to its hefty price tag, the Cricut Joy Xtra would come equipped with everything I needed to get started on my die-cutting journey.
However, after just a few minutes of use I came to the realisation that in order to make any kind of sophisticated, layered decals or designs, I’d need far more vinyl paper in a larger variety of colours than the two small sheets of black and white provided in the starter kit.
Likewise, in order to test the foiling, I need to purchase the relevant accessories. This meant that I couldn’t review the machine for its full capabilities, without nearly bankrupting myself with the extras (ironic, given the name of this supposedly improved kit).
This was because, contrary to what I thought, a Cricut Joy Xtra will indeed set you back £219.99, but it’ll only come equipped with enough materials for a practice cut. If you’d like a full set of materials, you’ll have to fork out an eye-watering £457.80.
As such, my immediate thoughts when it comes to purchasing the Cricut Joy Xtra is that you shouldn’t invest in this device unless you’re sure that, alongside purchasing the necessary accessories, you’ll get decent bang for your buck in terms of the projects you create.
Design
A huge win for the Cricut Joy Xtra is that it is indeed a joy to look at. A far cry from cumbersome guillotines used during primary school days, or the cheap-looking plastic manual die-cutters – Cricut is certainly the Apple of electronic die-cutting manufacturers.
Verdict
Don’t be fooled by the sleek and compact design of the Cricut Joy Xtra, for this electronic die-cutter is a highly sophisticated device that we wouldn’t recommend for first-time crafters, the faint-hearted or the impatient.
It takes time and practice to get to grips with the machine, and you’ll have to bear the brunt of many failed attempts before perfecting your crafts – which not only costs you time, but a decent sum of money, thanks to the need for buying additional accessories and vinyl sheets.
