Cricut Machines: The Evolution of Printers (For Beginners)
While we were looking for the best Cricut machines in the market, we noticed that most people are not aware of all of the things that they can create with them. Others didn’t know they existed. Perhaps you are one of those people.
They are die-cutting machines in the shape of printers. They do a lot more than just create Christmas cards and invitations. They not only work with paper and cardboard, but they also work with porcelain, wood, leather, and glass. They are the evolution of printers.
The first Cricut machine came to market in 2006 but, they have advanced a lot since that first one. Think of Cricut machines like modern smartphones, while standard printers as cell phones from the beginning of the millennium.
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You can reproduce artwork from the internet, your computer, the design and project ideas in the kits included with these products, or design your own for free. You can even work from your smartphone or tablet instead of your PC. They all work with Wifi or Bluetooth, so there are no wires or cables to trip over.
They are all addictive, so be careful to continue your other daily activities, like going to work and keeping your eating schedules. You will find yourself waking up at 3 a.m. with a novel new idea for a project or design so, do try to keep your sleeping habits undisturbed as well.
You will also notice that these machines do wonders for your family relations, although a few arguments might ensue from who gets to use it first. The whole family can use these wonder machines to release their creative juices. You will be astonished to find what creativity your family members possess.
While Mom might be perfectly happy making personalized postcards, wall decals, and other paper-related products, the kids might prefer making personalized items with materials such as leather, wood, and vinyl. All Cricut machines come with a built-in cutting ability that cut materials, but not the user.
They are entirely safe for use by the whole family and come with a warranty when purchased from an authorized dealer. We have provided you with a “Buy” feature which takes you to an authorized dealer in this review.
Let your imagination run wild when creating original products for yourself, or your family, with these incredible machines. We are sure your imagination will run out of ideas before the capabilities of these crafters will.
Don’t fret though; we will give some great ideas for products that you can make, as well as picking out the four best Cricut machines, and what they offer. All of the Cricut makers we selected here come with instructions, but we specifically looked for machines that are easy to use for beginners. We are highlighting these four.
List of the Best Cricut Machine for Beginners of 2020
Table of Contents
#1. Cricut Explore Air 2
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The first thing you should look at with this design-it-yourself machine are the colors available to you. They are gorgeous! You will want to design your house around them. Once you have done that, you will want to have a welcoming party to show it off. Make your own invitations, and envelopes for them with the Explore Air 2.
Use it to decorate the house with snowflakes, wall decals, and paper flowers to impress your friends. You can imprint coasters for each of them with their names on them. If it’s a special occasion, you can print a message on t-shirts for them, saying “Happy Birthday, Jesse!”, for example. You can also make banners with the same message. There is nothing to stop you from making them a gift with your new crafter either.
You will have your soon-to-be son-in-law, and his friends, in stitches when you give them t-shirts with a large eye on them on the front and the words “Behave, Boys. We are watching you…” on the back for his bachelor party.
The Explore Air 2 uses a German carbide premium blade that can cut over 100 materials, from paper to leather. If you are at a loss as to which designs to use, choose one of the 60,000 images and patterns available on the online library, or pick one of the 100 images built into the machine. You can also use your own images. If you are in a rush, use the “Fast Mode” set that cuts twice as fast.
Download the Cricut Design app for iOS and Android, and design from your mobile phone or tablet. Forget all of those nasty wires. This crafter comes with Bluetooth, for wireless writing, designing, and cutting.
Give one as a gift, and guarantee yourself an invitation to all of the upcoming events.
Get on the “crafting bandwagon” today and start enjoying what you can do with this amazing machine.
- Available in 4 colors
- Windows and Mac compatible
- Comes with accessory adapter
- Includes pen, cardstock sample, and cutting mat
- Online software available for additional fee
#2. Cricut Explore Air Wireless Cutting Machine
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Be a kid again with this Cricut Explore Air Wireless cutting machine. Let your imagination make you a fashion designer today, and a wedding decorator tomorrow. This crafter will have you waking up with a smile on your face every day.
Are you tired of your wardrobe? Change it! Take out those dresses that went out of fashion last decade and re-make them with your Explore. You can print words and designs on that boring all-white dress. You can add frills to another dress, or your favorite blouse. You decide which colors you want to work with. If persimmon is “in” this summer, go with it!
Obviously, your outfits will need to be color-coordinated so, add the same colors to your handbag, scarf, or blouse. You will be amazed at what you can do with your new best friend.
The Explore uses Bluetooth to allow you to work away from your computer and without wires. It can cut over sixty different materials, from vellum to leather in sizes ranging from ¼ to 11½ inch wide x 23½ inches tall. It also has integrated storage compartments where you can keep your knick-knacks while working.
Now that summer is coming up, and there won’t fail to be a wedding, or two. Offer to make the invitations and decorations for them. Let the Explore pay for itself while having fun exploring the nooks and crannies of your imagination. If it’s a large wedding, and you want the guests to meet each other, make each invitation singular and in the shape of part of a puzzle.
This idea will invite them to search out another invitation that fits their piece of the puzzle. Make ten puzzles and give prizes for the first three completed puzzles. Make personalized leather bracelets for each guest as gifts and mementos of the occasion.
Once word gets out of what you can do, you will be the decorator of choice for weddings to come.
- Easy to use
- Prints and folds
- Adapter and pen included
- Iron-on, cardstock and vinyl samples included
- Only prints at 100 dpi
#3. Cricut Explore One Cutting Machine
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Having a large family can be wonderful, but kids sometimes tend to fight and argue over the smallest things. This Cricut machine will help them keep track of what is whose. Make it a day family project to put names on all of their possessions. No more bickering over who the cup belongs to. This machine lets you print names on towels, school utensils, clothing, and especially diaries.
Once the “This is mine!”, “No, it’s not!” problem is history, make redecorating-the-house a weekend family project. Let them impress you with what they can make with the Explore One for their rooms; from wall decals to embedded words and images on their pillows.
You will find yourself not worrying about peace and quiet anymore. You will know exactly what they are up to when you can’t hear them arguing and shouting. Enjoy some “me time” when they have tired themselves out being original and have gone to bed. You will find yourself hard-pressed not to go directly to your crafting machine to make your own creations.
Take some confusion out of your kitchen jars by labeling each one with their contents. No need to look for the almond flour, or nuts jar anymore, everything will be named. Perhaps you might want to go through your old pictures and add embellishments to your favorite photos.
Watch the “A” notes come back from school for their beautiful school science fair projects, book reports, or the “My Family Tree” poster. This die-cut machine can cut vinyl, fabric, leather, and cardboard. It has a “Smart Set Dial” that will cut nearly any material on its own, without you having to choose the setting for it.
Discover what the Cricut Explore One Machine can do for you today. It might just change your life!
- Free cloud-based apps for PC, Mac, ipad, and iphone
- Pre-made projects
- Easy to use
- Smart set dial
- ‘Design Studio’ is slow
- Adapter not included
#4. Cricut Maker
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Have you wondered why your best friend is now so happy, and relaxed after he bought his family a Cricut Maker? It’s because they are all enjoying the benefits of having one in their household. Maybe it’s time you had a look at what it can do for you.
Imagine what you can do in your garage with a die-cutting machine that can cut through many materials. We suggest you also buy the New Rotary Blade and start making projects that include cutting heavier materials like 2.4mm balsa wood, cardstock, poster board, vinyl, iron-on, mat board, craft foam and chipboard. You can make vinyl stickers for the rear windshield of your car, or exciting decals for the RV, or truck.
Let everyone know that you are crazy about Iron Maiden or Hot Cars! Watch as everyone can’t help checking out your truck with its awesome stickers. Make them for others and make some extra money on the side. The simplicity of this machine will make beginners look like pros.
Be creative with what you can do with this Cricut machine.
Ok, you can let your wife and kids use it too once in a while. Let the little guy embed his name on his baseball bat. Let your teenage daughter embed an image and the words “I’m Fly” on her favorite sweater. Let your mother-in-law use it for her quilting projects.
Watch all the sports events you want to by letting your wife go wild, creating crafts on your new Cricut Maker. It cuts over 300 different materials, so none of you will ever be at a loss as to what you can create with it. It even comes with a docking slot that holds your tablet or smartphone while you’re busy crafting away.
Do yourself, and your whole family a favor and buy one today. It’s like discovering a great new sport where you make up the rules. Go for it!
- Powerful, rotary blades
- 2 cutting mats included
- Materials for your first project included
- Available in 4 colors
- You need to remove lightweight materials slowly when finished
Final Conclusion
Whether you use your Cricut machine as a printer, cutter, folder, decorating, or labeling tool, you will be thrilled with the results. We found that the Cricut Maker is best for heavier projects due to its heavy-duty cutting abilities. It is also easy to learn to use and versatile.
We discovered that the Explore Air 2 is the easiest for beginners to use due to its user-friendly software. It is also the quietest of the four. If you want to mainly use your Cricut machine for making banners, invitations, decorations, or decals, you should consider the Explore One Cutting Machine.
Regardless of which one you choose, you will have a great time discovering what you can make with these fantastic craft makers. You will wonder how you ever did without one.
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