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Cricut Joy Review – Is This Cricut Machine Worth it?

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Cricut Joy Machine

Thinking about buying a Cricut Joy but have questions? You’re in the right place. In this Cricut Joy Review, I’m going to lay out exactly what the Cricut is, what it does, and if it’s the right machine for you.

The Cricut Joy is the smallest of the Cricut line of machines. It may be small, but it still can help with a large number of craft projects. It measures just 5.50 x 8.40 x 4.25 inches. There are also carrying cases available for the Cricut Joy, so you can easily pack it up and take it wherever you want to. It’s so simple; you can use it anywhere you have a wifi signal to use the Cricut Design Space app and an outlet to plug in the machine.

Cricut Joy Features

The small size and portability of the Cricut Joy are the most prominent features. Weighing just under 5 pounds, you can take this machine and your supplies with you on vacation or to have fun crafting at a friend’s house if you want. It’s also a great choice for those with limited crafting space in their homes since it can be easily stored on a small shelf or even in a drawer.

Because the Cricut Joy is compact and easy to use, this could be a great gift for any preteens/teens who enjoy crafting.

The Joy is capable of cutting over 50 materials, including Cricut Joy Smart Materials. The Smart Materials are unique in that they can be cut on this machine without a cutting mat. Because you can use the Smart Materials without a mat, the Joy can make cuts up to 20 feet long. In addition to cutting, the Joy can draw any shape and it writes in a wide variety of styles.

The Cricut Joy has one clamp for the blade housing. If you want to use a pen to draw part of your project, you will be prompted to switch out the blade and load your pen. This is different from the larger Cricut machines that have two clamps so you can use a blade and pen without having to switch them out. It’s important to note that regular Cricut pens don’t fit in the Cricut Joy clamp; you’ll need to have Cricut Joy specific pens. Fortunately, Cricut sells a wide variety of pens for the Joy and they’re not terribly expensive.

The Cricut Joy connects to Cricut Design Space (their design software) with Bluetooth wireless technology. You can use Design Space on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or even your smartphone. This makes it simple to use your Cricut Joy just about anywhere you can plug in and get a wireless signal.

 

How Does the Cricut Joy Work?

The Cricut Joy is probably the easiest Cricut machine to set up and operate. Like all the other Cricut machines, it needs to be paired with Cricut Design Space Software. To get started, you literally just plug in the Joy, open Design Space on your computer or mobile device, and click on the link to set up your new machine. It takes less than 5 minutes!

Cricut Design Space is the free software required to operate any Cricut machines. It works on any computer or mobile device. It’s easy to learn, and there are free tutorials available at learn.cricut.com to help familiarize yourself with all of its features. These tutorials will help you learn the basics of Design Space, as well as step-by-step processes for specific projects. There are many free files available on Design Space, but there is also a subscription option, known as Cricut Access. A subscription to Cricut Access gives you thousands of files and projects to upload to your Design Space account. If you don’t want to subscribe to Access, it’s possible to purchase files on Design Space individual

Every function done with the Cricut Joy is done through Design Space. Unlike the larger Cricut machines, the Joy doesn’t have any buttons or dials on it. 

If you’re using any of Cricut’s Smart Materials, you won’t need to use a cutting mat. You can load the materials directly into the Cricut Joy. You’re not limited to using Cricut Smart Materials, though. You can use most regular Cricut brand materials, as well as other brands, and simply cut them to fit on the Cricut Joy cutting mats.  

What Does the Cricut Joy Come With?

When you purchase a Cricut Joy, you’ll get the following:

  • The Cricut Joy machine and power adapter
  •  Cricut Joy blade and housing
  • Cricut Joy fine point pen (black)
  • Standard Grip Joy Mat
  • Welcome card
  • Warranty information
  • Free trial membership (for new subscribers) to Cricut Access 
  • Materials for a practice cut 

There are additional accessories you can purchase for the Joy, such as a Foiling Tool, card mats, and pens in different colors and widths.

Of course, you’ll also need to purchase materials to get started crafting with your Joy. Fortunately, Cricut also sells this machine bundled with different materials and supplies on their website.

How Much Does a Cricut Joy Cost?

The Cricut Joy is Cricut’s most affordable machine, with a regular price of $179.00. It is also sold in several different “bundled” options on the Cricut website.  The bundles include materials and accessories along with the Joy machine so you can get started on projects right away. These bundles have a regular price of around $250, but they frequently go on sale through the Cricut website. The Cricut Joy machine + materials bundles are a great value and would cost considerably more if all included items were to be purchased separately.

Another optional cost is a subscription to Cricut Access. A 30-day free trial to Cricut Access is available to new subscribers when you purchase any Cricut machine. Otherwise, the subscription costs $9.99 per month. For that price, you have access to over 200,000 images, 700 fonts, and thousands of ready-to-make projects. Additionally, Cricut Access members get a 10% discount on purchases made on cricut.com.

How Long Does the Cricut Joy Blade Last?


All of the Cricut blades are durable and last a decent amount of time. How long your Cricut Joy blade lasts depends entirely on how often you use your machine, and what materials you are cutting. On average, Cricut says their blades should last an average of six months, although it’s not unusual for the blades to last longer.

Replacement blades for the Cricut Joy are affordable at a price of just $12.99. You can tell if it’s time to replace your blade when it seems to tear your materials more than making nice clean cuts. 

Limitations of the Cricut Joy

While the Joy is a great little machine that is capable of many craft projects, it does have some minor limitations.

Because the Cricut Joy is a smaller machine, it is limited to smaller-sized projects than what can be accomplished on the larger Cricut machines. The largest cutting mat for the Joy is 4.5” by 12”. However, if you use Smart Materials which don’t require a cutting mat, the Joy can cut designs measuring 4.5 inches by 20 feet! 

While the Joy does cut 50 different materials, that is still not as much as can be cut with the large machines. It is capable of cutting quite a large variety of materials, including card stock of various sizes, poster board, assorted types of iron-on and vinyl, acetate, and even faux leather.

The only accessories available for the Cricut Joy are the blade, Joy pens of various colors and styles, and a foil transfer tool. This really isn’t a huge limitation, though. These three tools can be used for hundreds of different creative endeavors.

Is The Cricut Joy Right For You?

The Cricut Joy is a great machine for someone who enjoys crafts such as making greeting cards and invitations, vinyl decals for household goods & vehicles, labels to organize your home, and smaller iron-on projects. Instead of wrapping gifts to your loved ones on paper, you can create personalized gift bags and boxes with the Cricut Joy. You can even make customized party and holiday decorations for any occasion. Even though this smaller machine is limited in the size of what it can produce, it is capable of a surprising amount of creative tasks. 

If you’ve been curious about what you can make with a cutting machine but were hesitant about the cost, the Cricut Joy is a great choice! It is easily the most affordable cutting machine on the market, and the ease of use is unparalleled. The more you play with it, the more you’ll realize just how much you can create with it.

The Joy is also useful for small business owners or entrepreneurs who can use it to make custom labels, signs, and packaging for their products. 

Because of its compact size, the Cricut Joy is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a large crafting space in their home, such as those who live in a small apartment or dorm room. Because it’s portable, you can take it along while you travel.

The Cricut Joy is a remarkable little machine with large crafting capabilities. It’s a great choice for anyone curious about what a cutting machine can do, or even as an additional Cricut machine for when you need to complete smaller projects. 

IndieStitch Review | Is it Worth the Cost?

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What Is IndieStitch?

IndieStitch is a fun subscription service for anyone who likes to sew, or who wants to learn new sewing techniques and patterns. The company was started by a woman who loves to sew but realized she enjoyed her hobby much more when she had all the necessary materials at hand; ready to begin a project. 

Each month, IndieStitch subscribers receive a box with a new women’s clothing sewing pattern and all needed sewing supplies. Subscribers get a chance to review the pattern and fabric choices for each month before they are mailed out. After reviewing and confirming their fabric preferences, they will receive a box in the mail with everything needed to sew the project for that month. You literally could sit down at your sewing table and get started as soon as you open the box!

Get Started With IndieStitch

Of course, everyone has different tastes and it’s no guarantee that every pattern or included fabric will appeal to everyone. For that reason, if you don’t happen to like the pattern or any of the fabric choices for a particular month, you can just skip that box. That way, you won’t waste time or materials making something that doesn’t appeal to you.

The patterns from IndieStitch are usually for basic women’s wardrobe items that will easily suit anyone’s style. Past boxes have included patterns for skirts, dresses, buttoned shirts, tank tops, t-shirts, pants, pajamas, and more. Since a digital copy of the pattern is included as well as a printed copy, you’ll be able to make your favorite projects many times over.

Before the kits are mailed each month, subscribers will get the chance to review several fabric choices to use. You won’t have to worry about making a clothing item in a color or pattern that might not be flattering to you.  IndieStitch’s patterns are also very inclusive. The patterns are available in a wide range of sizes because people come in a wide range of sizes!

What Is Included in an IndieStitch Box?

In each IndieStitch monthly box, subscribers receive:

  • a digital copy of the pattern, direct from the designer
  • a full-size printout of the pattern, ready to cut
  • the chosen fabric for the project
  • coordinating thread and notions
  • and a few fun surprises!

You will literally have everything ready to begin sewing as soon as you unpack the box. How many times have you wanted to start a sewing project, but procrastinated because you didn’t feel like going to the fabric store? Or, have you been partway through a project and suddenly realized there was some other notion you didn’t have in your supplies? Because the IndieStitch box contains everything you’ll need, you won’t need to make a last-minute run to the fabric store for anything at all. This is so convenient! It’s easier to be motivated to start a project when you have everything provided for you.

Get Started With IndieStitch

How Much Does An IndieStitch Subscription Cost?

IndieStitch has three different subscription price options. The flexibility of these price options means that there is a subscription choice to meet just about any budget and time consideration. 

If you want to pay on a month-to-month basis, with no long-term contract, the cost is $59.95 per month. The shipping cost is only $5.00. Billing is done monthly. There is no commitment to this option, and you can cancel it any time you want.  This is a good choice if you just want to try a box for one or two months to see if an IndieStitch subscription is something you’ll enjoy. Keep in mind that the subscription does become more affordable if you sign up for a six or twelve-month contract. 

A six-month subscription to IndiStitch is $27.47 for the first box, then $54.95 per month for the remaining five months. That works out to the first box is half price! Shipping is also $5.00, and billing occurs monthly. According to their website, this is IndieStitch’s most popular subscription option.  If you’re confident you’ll enjoy the subscription but aren’t sure if you can make use of a 12-month contract, this is probably your best choice. 

The 12-month IndieStitch subscription costs $24.97 for the first box, then $49.95 per month for the remainder of the contract. Like the other options, the shipping cost is only $5.00, and the cost is billed each month. This option is great if you know you’ll enjoy sewing throughout the year, and this is the best value per box. 

In addition to the subscription options, there is an option to send a special IndieStitch gift subscription to someone who would enjoy it. Gift subscriptions are available for one, three, or six-month lengths. While the price for a gift subscription isn’t quite as good a value as a regular subscription, this is a fun, unique gift idea for your creative hard-to-buy-for loved ones.

Get Started With IndieStitch

Is IndieStitch Good For Beginners at Sewing?

Most IndieStitch patterns are described as being good for beginner/intermediate sewers.  There is an assumption that anyone ordering their sewing kits has some very basic sewing knowledge and is comfortable using a sewing machine. If you’re a beginner who wants to learn new skills and explore new projects, IndieStitch could be a good choice for you. Teenage or even preteen girls might enjoy IndieStitch as an easy and fun way to learn how to make their own clothes. The patterns and accessories are all supplied, which makes any project less intimidating to tackle.

In addition to providing fun, good-quality crafting supplies, IndieStitch has a great private online community where members can ask questions and share sewing tips with each other. Members also have access to an online monthly “sew along” video for each current project. If you are a beginner who learns best through visual instruction, these videos are a great way to improve your skills.

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Is IndieStitch A Good Value?

Perhaps one of the best indicators of IndieStitch being a good value is the convenience of having all your needed supplies readily available. Since you’ll have everything necessary to begin sewing, you’ll save time (as well as money) by not having to make a trip to a fabric store for anything.

Get Started With IndieStitch

Not only does IndieStitch send its subscribers a complete sewing project kit each month, but it also provides a fun online community and instruction videos. The included digital copies of all patterns mean that you can make your favorite projects many times, customizing them to suit your style. The fabrics sent in each IndieStitch box are very good quality, as are all the included accessories. Any piece of clothing made from these kits should be fairly durable and long-lasting.  The price of a subscription box each month compares favorably to what one would spend if you purchased everything included individually, and access to the online community and instructional videos is like getting sewing instruction included, too.

An IndieStitch subscription is a good value for anyone who enjoys sewing, whether you’re a beginner looking to improve your skills or a more experienced sewer who enjoys simple but useful projects. Having the option to choose from several fabrics each month, as well as being able to skip any month, helps ensure that you won’t be paying for sewing kits that you won’t like. IndieStitch is definitely a quality subscription service that is worth trying out.

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Craftsy Review – Is it Worth It?

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What Is Craftsy?

If you’re reading this you probably already know what it is. But just in case you’re a long-time follower that hasn’t heard of it, then let me share my Craftsy review with you. I think you’ll like it.

Craftsy.com is a creative resource website offering classes and resources for a wide variety of artistic interests. If there’s any creative endeavor you’ve always wanted to try, there’s a good chance Craftsy has a class covering that subject! The topics include (but are not limited to) popular crafts such as knitting, sewing, and baking, along with unique subjects such as woodworking, paper crafting, and various art techniques.

A Craftsy membership grants a subscriber access to over 1500 classes in 20 different categories, downloadable patterns, and recipes, along with the opportunity to participate in various Livestream events.  If you are unsure about becoming a member, Craftsy also offers a number of free classes. You can also purchase classes one at a time, without committing to an annual membership.

If you’re short on time I’ll just say this. Craftsy is definitely worth the cost. There are some good things and bad things but overall it’s great.

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Classes Offered by Craftsy


Craftsy offers well over 1500 classes on a wide variety of creative topics.  That sounds a little overwhelming, doesn’t it? Thankfully, the Craftsy website is very user-friendly, and they have organized the class listings to make it easy to find hobbies that interest you!

The classes are arranged under the headings of Fabric Crafts, Yarn Crafts, Food, Art, and Living. There are numerous subcategories under each of these headings. For example, under the heading “Fabric Crafts”, you’ll find subcategories of Quilting, Sewing, and Embroidery.  

It can be overwhelming to find the “right” class for your interests.  For example: in the category of “Knitting”, there are 171 different classes! They range from a variety of techniques to specific projects.

Craftsy makes it easy to narrow your choices if you are looking for a particular instruction, though. Still using the “Knitting” category as an example, you can refine your search by choosing topics such as “Scarves and Shawls” or “Lace & Brioche Knitting”. 

Many of these classes include bonus materials, such as PDF documents with patterns or step-by-step instructions, and once you buy or upload a class you can go on the Craftsy website any time and watch it again and again.

The Craftsy instructors are all qualified experts on the topics they’re teaching. Links to each class often include introductory bios for the instructor. You’ll find many professional authors, teachers, artists, and craft business owners who are ready to share the wealth of their knowledge.

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Craftsy’s Classes and Video Quality

There is no shortage of online DIY videos available for just about any skill you’d want to learn. It can be frustrating because not all instructional videos are made the same!  The videos on Craftsy are clearly produced by professional videographers and lighting teams. They’re bright and easy to see all the details.  Perhaps most importantly, the sound quality of their video classes is excellent! There are few things more frustrating about watching instructional videos than not being able to hear everything or understand what the instructor is saying.

 

Craftsy Cost – Their Pricing Plans

Basic membership to craftsy.com is $8.99 per month or a slightly discounted rate of $89.99 per year. This gives you access to all of the online video classes, printable bonus materials, a weekly email newsletter with ideas and helpful tips, and access to occasional live online instructional events. Additionally, you can share your Craftsy membership with up to three friends or family at no additional cost to you or the “guest members” you invite. That’s like getting four memberships for one price! This is a great value, especially for families with creative youngsters.

The annual price for a Craftsy members ship of $89.99 seems a little steep at first, but consider how many classes you or your family might be interested in purchasing. Prices for premium classes on craftsy.com range from $4.99 to $69.99, with the average seeming to be around $30. Three or four classes will probably cost you the same amount as an annual membership (which gives you access to over 1,000 classes).  While craft supply stores and local yarn stores routinely offer in-person classes, they typically cost $50 to $100, and you won’t have access to video to “retake” the class as often as you’d like.

 

Is Craftsy Right For You?

A Craftsy membership is a great resource for anyone who enjoys creating and learning. If you are always wanting to learn new skills, or improve on your current hobbies, this is a fantastic website.

The classes are best suited to people who are comfortable learning online and don’t feel the need for the social aspects of being in an “in-person” class.

The convenience of being able to watch the classes anytime is perfect for people who have busy work schedules, or who work shifts that don’t coincide with most in-person class times.

One special area of note is a category called “Fun For Kids”. These classes aren’t necessarily geared towards being specifically for children, but they are simple and enjoyable for any creative kids. These suggested classes could be a great resource for home-schooled children, or to keep creative minds engaged over holiday breaks.

If you’re ready to join you can use my special link below to sign up.

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Small Things That Could Be Improved

The range of topics and quality of instruction on Craftsy is outstanding. However, there are a few minor things I feel could improve the website:

Some of the classes have a tab for “class discussion”. It’s an area where students can ask questions and offer tips among themselves. It doesn’t seem to be available for every class, though. It would be nice if that was a standard feature for all classes.

Another helpful feature would be if classes shared links to purchase suggested materials. It would be a timesaver to be able to purchase a class and the materials all on one page. At the very least, a page with links to suggested suppliers could be helpful.

Finally, there isn’t much of an online social aspect to being a Craftsy member. It would be fun if there was a way to share photos of completed projects from classes, and to connect with other members.

Conclusion: Is Craftsy Worth It?

Given the wide variety and professional quality of the classes offered, I think Craftsy is a good value, especially with the option to share a premium membership with up to three friends or family members.

Get Craftsy Now

Being able to try free classes, or just buy one or two of interest is a great way to give Craftsy a try if you’re unsure about paying for an entire year. If you’re a person who is comfortable with online classes and is always curious to try new skills or hobbies, you will love Craftsy. 

Evelyn Wood’s Vintage Sewing School Review – Is it Worth It?

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I signed up for Vintage Sewing School by Evelyn Wood a few months ago. I loved her YouTube videos and wanted to get more specific instructions. There are a lot of good reviews online but I don’t usually trust those. If you know me then you know I like reviewing things myself and getting my own experience to share with you. 

So the big question is if Vintage Sewing School is worth it? I’m going to share my honest reviews of it here in this post. Some of the other Vintage Sewing School reviews online are so good that they seem to be fake but after checking it out myself I now think they’re real. It’s so hard to trust things online these days.

If you’re short on time I’ll give you the final verdict here of this Vintage Sewing School review here…

I strongly believe that paid training and content for sewing is the way to go. You get so much more detail from creators and teachers when you pay for the content. I have reviewed other online sewing schools and I have to say that I like Vintage Sewing School… but I like Creativebug better. If you are here to make a quick decision then just sign up for Creativebug AND Vintage Sewing School. Evelyn is an absolute gem. Her courses are very easy to follow and her personality draws you in. She has formal training in sewing unlike some of the other sewists that are teaching online. 

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How Much Does Vintage Sewing School Cost?

The Vintage Sewing Membership costs $19 per month. This is a reasonable price to pay for an online sewing school in my opinion. This is in line with all of the other sewing schools online. The big difference for me with Vintage Sewing school is that it’s worth more than what she charges.

Other schools charge about the same price but their lessons are much quicker and don’t explain things as in-depth.

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Evelyn Wood’s Vintage Sewing School Courses and Projects

I loved her courses. Some of her videos can get a little bit long-winded if you’re not a beginner. You can skip through some of the sections if you already know the terminology.

The projects she does are a lot of fun. You can see that there’s a difference between the free YouTube videos and the videos inside the membership. She really does pay attention to all the details.

Evelyn said in one of her videos that the overall goal was to be able to sew without instructions or follow-alongs. This is what it’s all about.

Something else I find nice is that Vintage Sewing School has a focus on sustainability. Other sewing schools that I’ve joined didn’t have this as a focus at all (with the exception of Creativebug).

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Vintage Sewing School Coupons and Discounts

I sent an email to Evelyn and her customer service responded quickly to say that they didn’t currently have any coupon codes. Don’t let that stop you though. She does have a free beginners course that would be an amazing place to start if you’re new. If you’re not new to sewing then you can go straight for a paid program. Some things really are worth paying for!

Vintage Sewing School Customer Service

Vintage Sewing School is a big program with a lot of members. With that said, I think their customer service is amazing. I’m skeptical if it’s actually Evelyn sending emails or not because there are so many members that I don’t think she would have time. It still feels personal and they solve any issues very quickly though. I was impressed.

Overall Conclusion for Vintage Sewing School

I say you should definitely sign up for the free trial to see for yourself if you’re a beginner. If you’re not a beginner then go straight for the gold which is the full membership!

Evelyn seems to be a genuine person and I love her fun personality.

Her teaching skills are great. She doesn’t have a shady background like other sewing schools (not to mention names but you may have heard about the other people doing bad business). Give Evelyn a chance and I think you’ll come to the same conclusion.

This wraps up the Vintage Sewing School review. I hope this has been helpful for you! Post your thoughts in the comments!