I am a major fan of diecutting (or smart cutting) machines and the crafting possibilities that they open up. Bring the Cricut Maker into the mix and the options grow even more. It’s a dream machine! To say I’m excited to be working with The Wholesaler SA, the sole distributor of Cricut in South Africa, would be a huge understatement! I honestly did a happy dance when my delivery arrived. Clearly the rest of the family was excited too, as my toddler decided to try set up her own images. Love her!
What is a diecutter / smart cutting machine?
The simplest way I always explain it is that it’s like a printer, but instead of printing a line it cuts it. Most smart cutting machines work for thin materials such as paper, cardboard and vinyl. What makes the Cricut Maker extra special is that its strength allows you to cut through up to 300 different materials, including thin woods (up to 2.4mm), leather and so much more. It also comes with a rotary blade for smooth fabric cutting and additional blades that can be used for scoring, debossing, engraving, foiling and perforating. This is a game changer for crafters or small business owners.
Thanks to The Wholesaler SA, we now have a range of Cricut machines and accessories available in South Africa. Click here to find a full list of approved retailers, including convenient options such as Loot and Talealot.
First impressions of the Cricut Maker
The Cricut Maker is BEAUTIFUL! The designers have clearly thought through what their customers want. Right from when you open the box and are greeted by beautiful packaging through to the actual machine design, it’s all sleek and beautiful. I love the neat storage for your tools both on the left hand side of the machine and within the opening drop-down flap (see pictures below). Cutting out a project is really convenient as the machine has built in bluetooth. You can cut out your projects straight from the Cricut Design app on your phone or tablet*, stand your device in the convenient built in slot and even charge it via a USB port at the same time. You can of course connect to your computer too, but the convenience of a phone is a great plus.
I decided to dive right in and run my first project by cutting fabric and second project with leather and iron-on heat tranfer. So much fun! I’ll be posting more about them in the next few weeks, but you can be sure I was impressed.
*Designs being cut with the knife blade require a computer connection as they generally take longer to cut.
What comes in the box?
- Cricut Maker Smart Cutting Machine
- Premium Fine Point Blade (cuts vinyl, paper, cardboard, iron-on heat transfer and more)
- Rotary blade (cuts fabric, felt and more)
- Fine Point Pen (used to draw a design rather than cutting)
- Two cutting mats (light grip and fabric grip)
- Welcome pack (including material for your first project)
- Set-up instructions and warranty information
- Plugs and connection cables
My added extras
I was extra excited about the ability to cut Balsa wood and leather so I’ve also got the knife blade and strong grip mat as well as the standard grip mat and Cricut basic tool set.
Be sure to follow along on Instagram (@puresweetjoy) as I put the Cricut Maker to the test and post some free SVGs for you to use too. You can also find loads of inspiration over on The Wholesaler SA’s Instagram.
Happy crafting!
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