What Is a Cricut Machine?
Courtesy: Cricut
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Let’s cut through confusion, shall we?
Honestly, my first Cricut machine purchase was based merely on impulse, fueled by lockdown boredom in 2020. I’d had a Target gift card floating around in a junk drawer; two hours after I’d fished it out, I’d spent its funds on an intriguing, strange device, the Cricut Explore Air 2. I’d had scant understanding of its capabilities, or what it even was, at the time of purchase.
Fast-forward to present day: I am Cricut-crazy. (I’ve since upgraded to the souped-up model, the Cricut Maker.) In fact, I’ll talk about Cricut machines to anyone who’ll lend an ear—often with the harried energy of someone desperate to maintain listener interest. Even so, my friends struggle to grasp what the hell a Cricut machine really is. Ergo, this broad overview of what a Cricut is (and what it isn’t) is for them.
More importantly, dear reader, this article is for you. May it be your pivot point—or, at least, an aide, into the kooky, beautiful world of Cricut.
What is a Cricut machine?
Cricut is a die-cutting machine (…the hell is that?).
Essentially, it’s a cutting robot—one that creates clean, intricate cutouts; cutouts that indisputably exceed anything the good ol’ hand-and-scissors approach could possibly produce.
Cooler yet, the Cricut machine can cut an array of materials, including card stock, tissue paper, faux leather, wood, stickers, and even super-thin plexiglass in the case of the Cricut Maker.
The input for the cutting design comes from a computer—your computer—via a software called Cricut Design Space. The software is free to download, and necessary for transmitting your designs from your computer to your Cricut. In other words, the software ‘tells’ your Cricut machine what to cut.
What Can a Cricut Machine Do?
A Cricut machine cuts all sorts of images—including intricate images—out of or into the material(s) of your choosing. The possibilities with a Cricut machine are virtually endless (stencils, stickers, etc.). Perhaps a better question is what can’t a Cricut machine do?
…What Can’t a Cricut Machine Do?
A Cricut machine is not a printer. I repeat: A Cricut machine does not use ink. That said, Cricut machines can work in tandem with your household printer. (For example, Cricut can cut printed images into sticker sheets.)
How Much Space Does a Cricut Machine Consume?
Size matters — at least, it matters for city-dwellers who live sans garage, or the space for a designated craft room. Below, the measurements of the various Cricut machine models (length x width x height, rounded to the nearest whole number, in inches). It’s also worth noting: you’ll need ample space (around a foot) behind the machine.
Cricut Joy: 9 x 6 x 4
Cricut Explore Air 2: 22 x 7 x 6
Cricut Maker: 6 x 7. x 22
The Bottom Line: What is a Cricut Machine?
Cricut is a die cutting machine; i.e. a ‘magical’ robot equipped with blades and the ability to communicate with your computer—specifically, via a free, downloadable design software, Cricut Design Space. With the help of interchangeable blades, the Cricut literally slices designs into the material of your choice.
