Cricut Joy: Quick & Simple DIY Reviews

by Jkkkhssd

Can’t create/save custom cards. the save option for the project when using symmetric corners. And that’s when CricutJoy doesn’t crash when trying to bring in a free image basically you have to pay for this if you want it to work otherwise the free version is just full of bugs issues and is pretty much not operational to creating cards as simple as a thank you. and what’s concerning is CricutJoy is still better than the website and it doesn’t work well… very frustrating and disappointing when you invest so much time not to mention money to create fun projects.

by Mrsandmama

The “free” version (after you’ve paid for a machine) works okay. It has a few options. If you want access to the rest of the options, you must pay $10 per month.

After paying for Cricut Access I could not access it. I contacted Apple who told me to contact Cricut. Cricut customer service was very unhelpful and fairly rude. After not being able to find my information at first, being put on hold several times, repeating my information many times, and a few emails, I was told it was not their concern and to contact Apple. The customer service representative at Cricut was rude. I provided proof of purchase and payment and was still told it, “is not our concern to do that” - no help or resolution to gain access to the subscription.

An online chat only results in you needing to call them which, in my case, only lead to an hour of wasted time and frustration.

by Mollydoesit

I bought a Cricut Joy to be able to make two simple projects: mason jar lid labels and iron on labels with my kids’ names. The former seems entirely impossible to make. I want to use their Smart Label Writable Paper, and that material isn’t even an option on the Design Your Own tab. I am an experience Silhouette user but thought I would use a Joy for small easy projects. However, it is so incredibly frustrating to use. I would not recommend at all.
Additionally, do not purchase the product at all unless you are prepared to spend the $10/month for Cricut Access, it’s pointless to attempt to use it with out it.

by Iconicbeauty07

I’ve been trying to get my text to lock in place where I place it. For example I would want my signature to be at the bottom right of my card and when I preview my project it’s on the top right next to the sentiment I’ve written. My text then gets pushed all the way to the top. It’s frustrating when you center everything the way you want it and then you get to the end to preview and it’s pushed to the very top left corner and it’s all out of place. And to top it off as soon as I’m done designing my project I can’t even complete it because CricutJoy freezes. I’ve tried making this card for over an hour I finally gave up.

by SharAdato

App and computer keep getting stock even with the application up-to-date, I used to be able to use a few funds for free now I cannot print anything for free so it’s making me pay for this description, I don’t use it for business I use it for home and I don’t make the tags all the time so it’s not worth for me to pay the monthly fees, I just wanted to make quick name tags for my daughter stuff once in a while. It has taken me an hour to set up everything because the applications keep getting shut down, I’m very computer savvy so it has nothing to do with how well I managed the application either in the computer or the phone. It is a great machine but they need to work on their software and give you a little bit more options for free since I already pay for the machine.

by ScottinStep

Just bought a cricut joy - because I wanted to quick and easy use from my iPad while having a portable machine.
So I bought the machine, new case, and the label starter kit. Upon launching CricutJoy , while at a client, I tried to do the vinyl label starter. As soon as I thought the screen to adjust the size, app crashes. This happened over and over. So - I deleted CricutJoy , restarted the ipad, redownload CricutJoy - same thing crash, Crash, CRASH.

CricutJoy is totally useless and defeats buying a protable machine.
I wasted 45 minutes of billable time at a client’s home where I was trying to label containers. I couldn’t bill for that time and now have a very expensive paper weight. I should have looked at CricutJoy version history first - there’s been no updates for over 5 months.
I called to get tech support but the wait was over 1.5 hours. I emailed support and the auto response said it could be multiple days before I heard back….I’m guessing that reply will basically be automated and non-helpful. That’s TBD.

I give it a week and then I return the machine. Oh - and the 3-pack of pens that was included, 1 of the pens was half empty. No quality control happening with this company right now.

by Bamboow1

I purchased this over the summer thinking it was going to make my life easier. The first couple times I used it CricutJoy on my phone worked. After I tried to use it a third time CricutJoy never wanted to work when it came time to printing. I will always get an error telling me to try again later. So I would always have to use the program on my computer. I have a great Internet connection so that’s not the issue. My Internet connection works for everything else I use on my phone except for CricutJoy. I wanted to use it for quick easy projects when I didn’t feel like using my full size silhouette. At this point I feel like the Cricut Joy was a waste of money for me.

by Klovett03

I am soooo frustrated with CricutJoy right now. I am in the middle of completing and order for a PAYING CUSTOMER. I have spent 3 days trying to get the machine to update. Connected to my computer, says the update is complete AND I’m able to start a project on there. Machine still isn’t working on my phone. App is stuck in an endless loop of needing to download and then waiting for hours. I have tried everything, shutting down, rebooting, uninstalling, logging out. I read reviews and this has been going on for 2 weeks or more. It sounds like there is an updated app coming?? Where is it?? And do NOT tell me to contact customer service so they can “help me”. I would give less stars if I could. I am frustrated!!!!

by 5797nyc

CricutJoy is a joke. If I could give it 0 stars & would. Why you can’t access the same fonts available for free in design space is beyond words!!!! Yeah there are FREE fonts with CricutJoy but VERY LIMITED!!! Cricut you should be ashamed of yourself making people join access membership. What a ripoff!!!! I’m very disappointed. Then again I don’t know why Cricut has been making people spend so much money on their machines then coming out with new and improved one a year later and not offering the ability for older models to be compatible with the improvements. I’m so done with Cricut.

by Lor.Par

I was overwhelmed when I got my Cricut Joy. I thought it was more of a beginners way to learn how to expand my crafting. After experiencing a beginner’s confusion with learning to write with my Joy I contacted customer support. Not only did the associate know less than myself, he talked to a supervisor. His advice was that I needed to just get the Cricut Joy App for my iPhone. CricutJoy seems to imply it will be easier to create. There is no apparent way to go back once you have started. I have deleted more projects than I have created. CricutJoy relies heavily on paying for Cricut Access. Why would I pay full price when CricutJoy has such limited abilities? I have a laptop which works just fine. By the way there are little to no free card inserts available. The Cricut Joy is a card making machine. If I had known how difficult getting writing only fonts would be as well as indicating my machine is a Joy on Design Space and you can ruin a card by getting the “bubble” effect while trying to write inside the card I would not have bought the Joy. The Cricut Joy makes half a card or rather a blank card in minutes. Truly customizing one takes much, much longer.

by Maibee27

CricutJoy is required for using a Cricut joy machine, but it leaves much to be desired. It does not interact with the Cricut design space app, and is overall very rudimentary. You cannot create mock designs with multiple colors. CricutJoy crashes if you try to change certain size of parameters of images. There’s no way to change the overall size of a design without cancelling and starting new. Another frustrating part is that you have to create a design under the category of vinyl, iron-on, etc. If you like your design and want to turn it into a different category item, you have to start completely from scratch. CricutJoy is frustrating, but has potential if the user face becomes easier with more dynamic design settings.

by BP Creations

CricutJoy has been great since I got my new Joy for Christmas. Right before the new update came, CricutJoy started shutting down and kicking me out right in the middle of a design. Thought I would do the update to see if that helped the situation. Now it is EVERY time I go to make a new project it is kicking me out. I have to save every 2 minutes so I don’t lose anything I’ve been working on. If this issue was fixed, I would have no issue with CricutJoy ! It is awesome! Please fix this issue tho!

by Jrabb92

I like CricutJoy it does make using the joy a lot easier but one of the main features of the joy is the card maker and CricutJoy does not have the cards on it which was disappointing. Also it said one of my items was to big upon adding it, I made it smaller and it still would not let me proceed. Obviously it’s newer and the glitches need to be worked out but I do hope they add the cards to CricutJoy. Overall everything else is easy to use and figure out. I also like how it gives links to a website on extra instructions on how to use certain material.

by Keek_DaSneak

I’m trying to create a Christmas card that is designed by Cricut themselves. The pictures shows two colors. Green and red. But it will only draw in one color. It never prompts me to change the pen to draw the other color. What a disappointment. I bought this machine to make cards because they were taken off the Explore and made it seem like we would only be able to make cards with a joy. Now I see mats for the explore where you can make up to 4 cards. What is going on?

by Theguitaristofthisband

I purchased the Cricut Joy back in February, and was using the regular Cricut design space when I discovered that CricutJoy was available for my specific model. I downloaded it and was pleased that the sizing was already fit for my Cricut Joy. I would’ve appreciated an email saying this was available since the Cricut company can tell which model a person has. Would’ve saved me a lot of time instead of trying to design cards that would not fit this machine. Then when I did start using CricutJoy I like some of the features, but it is very limited. The graphics I am able to add usually never correspond with the searches I make, the text feature is so glitchy and my text boxes always get messed up, and CricutJoy crashes constantly and won’t save my work. Yesterday I had a card all made and the inside was all written out and then the text box decided to condense and widen across the page so it was completely off the side margins and then it crashed so I lost all of my text. Please do some work on CricutJoy and give us an update!!!

by Obcessed

I started working on a project they took me about 30 minutes to design. I initially thought I would need a 7 inch long piece of vinyl but only ended up needing 5 1/2 inches. It won’t allow me to change the mat size that I need which means I have to completely re-create the project in order to use it which is really frustrating. Also editing text size is a pain. The formatting of size of the text box is not easy to use in CricutJoy . Everything else is pretty good.

by Sdk4eva

CricutJoy is ok. I just use the Joy for cards, tbh. The search results need to be updated. Unrelated things always pop up in my search. Would be cool if the available cards were more current…like fall showing up in Oct instead of Fathers Day cards. Also would love to have more color choices to correlate with the already available insert cards. Would help give a better idea of how the card is going to turn out.

by Papersue

I have the Cricut joy and think it’s the cutest little machine. I’ve made a couple of things to try it out with no problems. Then yesterday I decided it was time to make an Easter card. I got all the way to “make” and it wants me to do an update. Okay, well it just sits and spins like it’s updating and never finishes. My Bluetooth says it’s connected and the pairing light went solid when it did. So I don’t know! And, because of this I can’t make anything. Very frustrating. Sad, because I love the machine.

by Funness Is Key

I love using CricutJoy for doing projects on my Cricut Joy, but I mainly use CricutJoy just for cards. CricutJoy is really easy to use compared to Cricut Design Space. However, on Cricut Design Space there are a lot more options when you search within a project (for example: search animals, and a lot more shows up on Cricut Design Space then Cricut Joy app). I do love how CricutJoy has everything made for Cricut Joy exclusively. It’s easier to just select things that you know will be compatible with your machine rather than try to figure out on the other app, whether it will work for you or not. It also is easier because when you are making a card or cutting out an object, it will show you what will come out and what will stay on which is really helpful for cutting things with my Cricut Joy. The main complaint that I have had for cricket design, space, and Cricut Joy app is the access plus. It is super annoying if you don’t have it, and will limit your ability to create things that you enjoy to create. And also, I do think it is green, more strict by the day. Less and less things are free now, just FYI. I hope you enjoy using CricutJoy overall it is pretty great there just a few of the minor issues that I stated. I still enjoy using it despite that. I hope this review was helpful.

by Cori_HLMS

I downloaded CricutJoy when it first came out and found it glitchy and I wasn’t able to do much with it at all. When I signed in today I was pleasantly surprised to see that I was able to make an easy project no problem. It’s very pared down compared to the full app—I think beginners would find it easy to use. I do wish that it made cards! Cards are my favorite Joy project so this is something I wish was included.

by GypsyBoricua

I bought 2 Joys, one for me and one for my 7 year old granddaughter. With CricutJoy, I no longer have to hover over her and help her. CricutJoy is very easy for her to use. I use it on my iPad Pro and she uses it on her regular iPad. Yes, CricutJoy is for an iPhone, but we just expand the screen as neither one of us has an iPhone. It is quick and easy for uncomplicated projects.

I do need to experiment some more, but for her, it is perfect!!!

by Sig And Me

I was really on the fence about getting the joy, because I have the other machines .. I have to tell you it is the best thing ! I truly enjoy it . So compact and easy to take with me . I just grab and go , almost every thing is there for me.. The card mat is the greatest.. I’m so glad I took the plunge. I also got the case and love it .. the other machines a great too but to big to take where I go. They are for at home and my larger projects . Thank You Cricut !!!

by Ecm.inc

If you get error messages in initial connection to JOy, see note here….I tried 10 times to connect. I have auto updates on phone, so not sure why 14.6 was my latest update. Go check your iPhone software version to make sure you have 14.7 if you get that fluke error message. Works like a charm. User error on my end. Sorry cricut, I will try to go erase my earlier review. :)

by 😄 Yeah

I have the joy and was excited to find out about CricutJoy! Unfortunately as soon as I go to sign in it throws me out every time. Ugh
Update: I received an email front the developers saying they fixed the issue. I am able to finally login!!!!!! So excited to use CricutJoy along with design space!!!

by JO FACE

I have tried multiple times to login without success. iPhone and IPad are both up to date. I have deleted and re added CricutJoy without success. Even restarted iPhone and iPad without success. I keep getting the unexpected error message when trying to log in. Wrote to customer service, sent them a screenshot. Told to call customer service. On the phone with customer service for 26 minutes and still have not spoken to anyone. Very disappointed in this company.

by Mystic Cedar

Love my Cricut Joy I literally get lost for hours and designing new and cool iron Ons for everyone and everything. From crosses to fairies to puzzle pieces with hearts my Cricut Joy never lets me down from small to large. This little machine is mighty banners too bumper stickers.
Iron Ons to label making the project is mine for the taking. From 6 inches to 20 feet long my Cricut Joy can do it all if you don’t have one get one perfect gift for that somebody on your guest list that’s hard to shop for this will keep them thrilled with new ideas forever can’t go wrong

by Willow Whisp

This Application specifically for the Cricut JOY is beyond simple. CricutJoy . Is so user friendly, I can design (with so many chooses), gather my items & make a card in less than 10 mins. With this new app for the JOY your creativeness has just expanded with the ease of navigating CricutJoy , portability, size & just all around making fun projects. EnJOY all the projects you make.

by Sshanm

Please fix the edit function. CricutJoy closes every time I try an edit a saved project. Also please make it easier to move items around I. The project. Would change to 5 star if these things where working.