Picking a Cricut machine to match your crafting style!

Once you enter the Cricut world everything gets so much more exciting!! In terms of WHAT you can do, the possibilities are endless. So when looking at what type of Cricut machine/machines you will need it is honestly best to consider what uses you will have and what projects you plan to make and match the machine to fit your craft style. I have broken down below the TYPES of machines available (Machines: Maker/Explore/Joy series, Heat Presses: Easypress/Mug Press/Hat Press, and Cricut lighting (Bright 360/Brightpad) and what projects they are best for/what limitations you may find.

Breaking down what the difference is between the types of machines, what they can make, tips and the price point!

Already know what Cricut machine you want to buy and want to know the best place to buy it from in Canada? Check out this post.

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Cutting Machines: The Cricut Maker Series

What is the Cricut Maker?

The Cricut Maker series of machines are pro-level machines that allow you to cut the most amount of materials and use ALL of the available blades that Cricut makes. There are two machines in this series

The Cricut Maker which is the original model
Cricut Maker 3 (NEW MACHINE!) which does everything the maker does but with addition of cutting Smart Material (matless printing).

NEW MACHINE! Cricut just announced the Maker 3! Check out our post to read about the features, cost and how to buy in Canada!)

What Types of projects can you make with a Cricut Maker or Cricut Maker 3?

All sorts of paper crafts including: Cards (there is a card mat that cuts up to 4 cards at one time!), banners, mandalas, paper flowers, etc.
Customize clothing, tote bags, make-up bags (using either Heat transfer vinyl or Infusible Ink)
Cut wood, chipboard and wood veneer for projects like puzzles (or a doll clothing hangers!)
Cut fabric for clothing, quilts and small projects (bonded or unbonded)
Use the machine to add decorative elements such as foiling, embossing, scoring, etc.

The Cricut Maker Highlights:

Compatible with ALL 13 Cricut blades for cutting and for adding decorative details (Explore series can only use 6 blades) so think very carefully about what type of blades you want to work with when choosing your machine.
Cuts over 300 different types of materials!
Can cut thicker materials such as balsa wood and leather
Cuts fabric
Bluetooth enabled
Cut up to 12”x24” on the Maker and up to 20 feet on the maker 3 when using Cricut Smart Materials

Machine Tips:

If you are buying the Maker you really should buy some or all of the blades that go in it as that is the best way to maximize what you are able to do with the machine and it really is what sets it apart from the Explore series.

Pricepoint:

The Cricut Maker and the Cricut Maker 3 are typically regularly priced around the ~$550 CAD price point. However, the main difference is that when they go on sale the Maker typically gets more of a discount than the Maker 3. When buying a machine I always suggest these two simple tips.
1. 1. Absolutely sign up for Cricut Access as you get 10% off machines when you are access member.
  2. Buy a bundle! You need materials, tools and accessories for your machine so you may as well get a steep discount on it! Sometimes the bundles are the same price as the machine would be when the bundles go on sale.

Not sure what materials or accessories you need? We have you covered! Here is a fantastic list of what each of the materials, accessories and tools do so you can decide if you need them.

Cutting Machines: The Cricut Explore Series

What is the Cricut Explore?

These mid-range machines are compatible with the most popular blades and materials. There are two machines in this series

Cricut Explore Air 2,
Cricut Explore 3 which does everything that the Explore Air 2 does but with the addition of cutting smart material (Matless printing)

What Types of projects can you make with a Cricut Explore Air 2 or Explore 3

All sorts of paper crafts including: Cards, banners, mandalas, paper flowers etc.
Create custom clothing, tote bags, make-up bags (using either Heat transfer vinyl or Infusible Ink)
Cut bonded fabric (cannot cut unbonded fabric)

The Cricut Explore Highlights:

Compatible with 6 Cricut blades for cutting and for adding decorative details
Cuts over 100 different types of materials!
Bluetooth enabled
Cut up to 12”x24” on the Explore Air 2 and up to 20 feet on the Explore 3 when using Cricut Smart Materials

Machine Tips:

If you are buying the Explore make sure it will be able to cut the variety of materials you want to craft with. It cuts a lot of material but has some limitations such as around fabric and thicker materials such as wood.

Price point:

The Cricut Explore Air 2 and the Cricut Explore 3 are typically regularly priced around the ~$350-$400 CAD price point. However, the main difference is that when they go on sale the Explore Air 2 typically gets more of a discount than the Explore 3. When buying a machine I always suggest these two simple tips.
1. Absolutely sign up for Cricut Access as you get 10% off machines when you are access member.
2. Buy a bundle! You need materials, tools and accessories for your machine so you may as well get a steep discount on it! Sometimes the bundles are the same price as the machine would be when the bundles go on sale.

Not sure what materials or accessories you need? We have you covered! Here is a fantastic list of what each of the materials, accessories and tools do so you can decide if you need them.

Cutting Machines: The Cricut Joy Series

What is the Cricut Joy?

The Cricut Joy machine is compact and great for small projects (Check out our post on the Cricut Joy for more information on what it can do) or the perfect starter machine! A lot of people start with a Joy and then end up with a Maker or Explore and the Cricut Joy as well.

What Types of projects can you make with a Cricut Joy:

Cards! This machine has a Card mat and an easy to use app that allows you to make Custom cards in minutes.
HTV for small totes and bags as well as smaller projects for clothing
Vinyl for labelling anything from pantry items to your kids water bottles and lunch boxes!

The Cricut Joy Highlights:

Tucks away easily in a cubby or drawer if space is tight.
Great for a travel machine or one to take to the cottage!
Compatible with smart materials!
Cuts over 50 different types of materials!
Bluetooth enabled
Very little learning curve!

Machine Tips:

This machine has its on app! So make sure you download it so that you can make custom cards!

Price point:

The Cricut Joy is typically priced around $250 CAD but does frequently go on sale. When buying a machine I always suggest these two simple tips.
1. Absolutely sign up for Cricut Access as you get 10% off machines when you are access member.
2. Buy a bundle! You need materials, tools and accessories for your machine so you may as well get a steep discount on it! Sometimes the bundles are the same price as the machine would be when the bundles go on sale.

Heat Presses: The Cricut EasyPress line

What is a Cricut Heat Press?

A heat press is used to transfer heat required material (Heat Transfer Vinyl & Infusible Ink) to a blank (such as a shirt, tote bag or mug). Cricut has an entire line of Heat Presses including the Easy Press, The Mug Press and the Hat Press and the NEW AutoPress.

If you are someone who wants ALL the information – check out our detailed guide to Cricuts Heat Presses that breaks down everything you need to know!

What Heat Presses are available?

Cricut Easy Press: Cricut has created the EasyPress to help with optimizing the transfer of vinyl and infusible ink to the item you are putting it on. Using a heat press is FAR superior to using a household iron when using HTV and it is necessary when using Infusible Ink (which will not work properly if transferred with an iron). The EasyPress comes in three sizes with the most common being the 9×9 inch.
- - Mini: Super great for making small items or odd shaped items like shoes or hats. A lot of people usually get this in addition to one of the larger presses
  - 9X9″ Easy Press is the most common size and great for making shirts (especially for kids), totes etc. and is not too heavy.
  - 12″x10” Easy Press: This is the largest and works perfectly if you are making a lot of adult clothing but some find it is heavy
Cricut AutoPress: Cricut just launched this brand new product, the Cricut AutoPress in March of 2022! It is a full heat press that is able to auto-adjust to thicknesses up to 2″ allowing you to create with clothing, bags and even wood! The machine also will auto adjust the pressure and eliminates the need to flip over the garment to press the back. This is available for purchase in Canada through the Canadian Cricut website and is the largest and most expensive of the presses

Heat Press Tip: There is a cricut heat press guide that is SUPER helpful that will ensure you are putting the proper heat onto your project and for the proper amount of time.

Price point:

Mini: This is the most cost effective of the machines at $99 and it does frequently go on sale
9″x9″ EasyPress: They usually run around ~$275CAD range however the original model does go on sale quite frequently (the difference being the EasyPress 3 model can be set/controlled by an app)
10″x12″ EasyPress: They usually run around ~$350CAD range depending on if you get the original model or the EasyPress 3 (the difference being the EasyPress 3 model can be set/controlled by an app). If you can catch it on sale, the original model gets more steeply discounted.
AutoPress: This is a professional grade press and is priced as one. The cost is around $1,300CAD and since it is a new machine it doesn’t frequently go on sale.

When buying a machine I always suggest signing up for Cricut Access as you get 10% off machines when you are access member (limited to $50 with the autopress).

Heat Presses: The Cricut Hat Press & Mug Press

What Specialty Presses are available?

Mug Press: Cricut’s mug press allows you to make microwavable/ dishwasher safe custom mugs using Cricuts infusible ink (We wrote a detailed look at Cricut’s new Mug Press and how to get it in Canada here!). This is absolutely fantastic if you have kids as you are easily able to make custom mugs with their drawing for grandparents or for gifts.

Cricut Hat Press is another new machine that Cricut announced in March 2022. This machine has a curved heat plate and a hat form (both come together!) that provide a tight fit to a hat to allow for easy transfer of HTV or Infusible Ink.

Price point:

Mug Press: Cricut’s new mug press is typically priced at $280 CAD for the machine.
Cricut Hat Press: Cricut new hat press is typically priced around $200 CAD for the machine and pressing form.
TIP: When buying a machine I always suggest these two simple tips.

1. 1. Absolutely sign up for Cricut Access as you get 10% off machines when you are access member.
  2. Buy a bundle! You need materials and accessories for your machine so you may as well get a steep discount on it! Sometimes the bundles are the same price as the machine would be when the bundles go on sale.

Cricut Lighting: Lamps & Brightpads

Why lighting?

Lighting is essential to all craft rooms, so Cricut has come out with a line of lighting for craft spaces.

What lights are available?

Brightpads: A brightpad is a lit surface that you can put your project on to make for much easier weeding of difficult materials such as glitter vinyl or intricate projects. They have two versions of this machine the difference is that one has a cord and the other is cordless.

Cricut Bright 360 lamps: Cricut has recently released professional quality LED multiway adjustable lights for your craft room. There is a floor lamp and a table lamp ranging between $280 & $350CAD. They are LED and fully adjustable. Click here to read all about the features cost and how to buy in Canada!

For me, I found that taking a look at what crafts inspire me and what crafts I thought I would make really helped me narrow down honestly what machine I wanted to buy. I did know that I wanted to craft everything for the kids (clothing, puzzles, wall decals, etc.) so my first machine was a maker, since then I have branched out and added to my collection. So when I am recommending a machine to someone I always start asking about what projects they would like to make to match the machine to their craft style. I hope the above ultimate machine guide was helpful to you in choosing the best Cricut machine to match your craft style!

Looking for more? Check out which accessories you really need to get started!

Wondering where to buy a Cricut in Canada? Click here!

Happy Crafting!