Cricut Maker 4: Crafty, feature-filled and fast
I was excited to review the Cricut Maker 4, the latest in a range of versatile Cricut machines. This is not my first foray into the Cricut world. Here is a link to our earlier reviews.
Unboxing the Cricut Maker 4 was exciting, but let's face it; unboxing new technology is always exciting. Setting up was super-fast. I connect via Bluetooth, and I was up, calibrated and printing my first sample in no time. The Cricut Maker 4 has the same handy built-in storage for the tools that you will need. My model came with a weeding tool, possibly the most essential tool you'll need in your crafting arsenal. Once underway with my initial project, the speed of the Cricut Maker 4 was evident. My Cricut Maker 3 is amazing, but the Cricut Maker 4 is amazing and fast!
If you have an active imagination and if you love making things, you are going to love the Cricut Maker 4. From scrapbooking through to bespoke T-Shirt designs, you will discover a world of possibilities that far exceed my puny imagination. I am proud of my own humble achievements to date, from birthday cards to designer t-shirts. The Cricut Maker Design Space application is full of templates and sample designs to help you get started.
In my own Cricut journey, I have used Smart Vinyl, Iron on Vinyl and card. My most ambitious project to date consisted of transferring photographic images onto t-shirts. You need an eye for detail, patience and a steady hand with the weeding tool. It also taught me how to combine colour layers and how to use a heat press. I found several tutorials that helped me with the entire process. Repeating my project on the Cricut Maker 4 is a much speedier process. A little bit of research showed that some cutting tasks are up to 50% faster. It depends of course on the complexity of the cuts you are making.
The Cricut Maker machines are compatible with 300 materials. Smart Vinyl is just the beginning. I have personally viewed projects that have used embossing foil, and others that use plastic, mugs, fabric, wood and leather. There are also Smart Material Starter Kits ideal for starting out on your creative journey.
You will find the Cricut World contains a plethora of crafters who happily share their experiences and their projects. A quick visit to YouTube will have you transfixed for endless hours. If you get stuck, I can guarantee there's a creator with a YouTube channel who will steer you in the right direction.
The Cricut Maker 4 allows you to use tools that cut, engrave, deboss, emboss and print. The Cricut Maker 4 has a quick-swap housing that makes changing tools a breeze. A snap of the lever and you can replace tools in seconds.When you visit the Cricut Website, be sure to check out this section, entitled See What Cricut Customers are making. If you're needing a spark to ignite your creative imagination, this should get you started.
New Zealand has several Cricut resellers, stocking the broad range of tools, accessories and materials you will need. The Cricut Maker 4 is priced at NZ$798.
