How to Cut on a Cricut Joy Without a Mat

August 3, 2020 Mom MD Hawaii

This post goes over how to cut on a Cricut Joy machine without a mat. It was designed to cut without a Mat using their special SMART materials, but you can also cut plain vinyl.

Watch the YouTube Video to see how to cut on a Cricut Joy without a mat, commonly called “mat-less” cutting.

I LOVE my Cricut Joy. It’s the super cute baby Yoda of the Cricut World. The Cricut Joy uses SMART materials to do mat-less cutting. See how easy it is to cut on a Cricut Joy without a mat. Below are the step-by-step instructions.

Step 1

Cut down your vinyl to exactly the same width as SMART vinyl, 5.5 inches. The thicker the backing of the vinyl, the more like SMART vinyl it is, and the better it works in the Cricut Joy. SMART vinyl basically has a super thick backing that acts like the mat. Of note, cutting mat-less wastes the edges on the vinyl.

Step 2

After clicking “Make it,” Design Space will ask, “How will you load all your materials for this project?” Choose “Without Mat.” This choice also has the designation “For Cricut Smart materials only.” Click “done,” review the design, and when satisfied, click “Continue.”

Step 3

Insert the vinyl into the Cricut Joy, which will align the material and ensure that there is enough material for the design. A straight perfectly cut top edge is key to keeping the vinyl from jamming or feeding crooked within the machine.

Step 4

Click “Go,” and let the Joy cut out the design. After completion, click “Unload.” Weed the vinyl and then apply in the usual fashion either with transfer tape or by hand.

See below for more about the Cricut Joy and available special materials.

Cricut Joy Machine Contents:

What’s in the box?

Joy Machine
Black Pen
Small green mat
Power cord
Starter project (small amount of smart vinyl, small piece of card stock)
Let’s Get Started instructions

Card Mat

The card mat allows for super quick and easy cutting of cards in the Cricut Joy machine. The Cricut Joy Card Mat does not come with the machine and must be purchased separately. It is worth purchasing only for card making. There is NO card mat available for the Cricut Maker or Explore.

Cool and New Special Materials for the Cricut Joy

Insert Cards

Insert cards make producing beautiful, personalized cards quick and effortlessly easy. These insert card packs are not necessary, but very convenient. DIY insert card sets can be made by making cards 4.25″ x 5.5″ with inserts sized 4″ x 5.25.” Don’t forget to purchase envelopes 4.37″ x 5.75.”

Quick Customizable Ready to Make Cards on Cricut.com

Smart Label

All Smart materials are designed to be cut without a mat in the Cricut Joy. Materials with thicker backing would be best to trial for mat-less cutting as above.

There are Smart versions of all the other favorite Cricut Materials, including infusible ink sheets/pens, iron-on, vinyl, glitter, and holographic.

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments. Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Linked in. Let me know if you are LUCKY enough to have a Cricut Joy and if cutting mat-less was successful for you. The product links above are provided for your convenience with no cost or obligation to buy. I am a Cricut and Amazon affiliate and may make a small commission if you choose to use the links to buy products, at NO COST to you. All opinions are my own.