Cricut.. Air Explore 2.. Joy.. Joy Extra.. Oh My!!

 I'm a bonafied crafter!  Lol.  This actually means that I've got more "projects" and craft items

in my collection than actual completed craft projects.  I've become the Ariel of the Craftdom.  I've

got Who's It's and What's It galore!  I've got Thingamajiggy's and Whatchamacallit's a plenty!

If it wasn't bad enough that I went down the Sublimation and Alcohol Ink Tumbler rabbit hole that will cost an arm and a leg, I ventured headlong into the Cricut world of vinyl's, weeding and cutting

tools and things to put designs on.  

There are several different options in the Cricut world alone, in addition there's a Silhouette line as well. I started with the Cricut Explore Air 2.  After looking at all of the available colors, I chose the safe white model, although in retrospect, I wish that I had found this gorgeous red or purple model!  Dang it!

Boooooooring!!  Lol.

Unless you cut out a little design and put it on..

It won't let me upload some of the neat ideas.  Lol.

But here's the red Cricut..

                                                                   And the purple..    

And a really neat Mint color!

 However, my Cricut Air Explore 2 used to gaslight me.  I would put my vinyl at the top and it would cut down at the bottom.  I would put my vinyl closer to the bottom and it would cut at the top of the strip.  I finally decided to put a bigger patch of vinyl on the mat and that kind of fixed my issue, but it didn't always help.  I gave up completely and sold my machine after having repeatedly threatened to toss it out into the middle of a busy street!  Lol.  OMG.  It was literally driving me insane.  

One of my coworkers had a Cricut Joy so I found one and have been able to create some really nice projects, even if they are smaller than what the Cricut Air Explorer 2 would cut.  I really like how easy it is to put the vinyl on the smaller mat, feed it in and hit go and not have it dodge my vinyl.  It contains it soooo much better than the silly former bleepity bleep bleep!  : )..

When I googled Cricut accessories today?  I found out that they have come out with a new Cricut Joy, called the Cricut Joy Extra.  The reviews look great, and apparently, I'm not the only one who was having issues telling Cricut where to cut with the Air Explore 2!  This little doohickey not only cuts as well as the Joy, but it makes bigger projects like the Air Explore, while still cutting (literally!) down on the surface area on the mats.  It may just be my next big purchase! 

          

If these machines weren't enough, I also have three other Cricut machines.  Lol.

I have the Cricut Mini Press that helps make uber small projects easy..

I have the middle sized Cricut Press that has been a HUGELY successful piece of crafting equipment since I started making crafts.  I have pressed Air Fresheners, Car Cup Coasters, Bookmarks, Wine "Doozies" (can't say "Koozies" because that name is trademarked), and a few other odds and ends.....

And last but least, I have one of these on the way..  It's a Cricut Mug Press..  I've done lots of sublimated tumbler cups, but usually just print the page off, tape it and make them in my convection oven because it's soooo much easier than to try and use my 8 in 1 Heating Press (Yup!  I've got one of those after a Margarita fueled text message debacle with a relative who felt bad after it, despite the fact that I wasn't too worried about the whole deal. He said, "You could make a lot of money with better equipment, right?"  Umm.  Sure?  Lo and behold!  Here comes a Sawgrass Printer and the heating press.  Umm.  Alrighty then!!) because I haven't figured out how to set the temperature on that thing and the instructions from the press are no help at all!

Needless to say..  I realllllly have a lot of crafting equipment.  And craft supplies.  And a few completed craft projects..  However..  I have a lot of craft supplies that are just hanging out, waiting to be used.  I think I will be good once I get the Cricut Joy Extra.  Lol.  There are a LOT of other projects that I want to create, sooooo if I buy another machine, maybe I will get them done?  Right?  Right?  Suuuure.

Well.  Maybe.  Wish me luck!!