This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

I don’t think that it’s any secret that I am a HUGE Cricut fan. I don’t exactly try to hide it, do I?

There’s a very good reason that I am a huge advocate and fan of the Cricut brand.

You see, this intricate and intelligent machine changed my life. Being a Cricut user has changed my life and has taken me in so many amazing directions. Not only that, it has opened so many amazing doors for me.

I got my first Cricut machine 4 years ago. I purchased the Explore Air and I thought that machine was the greatest thing since sliced bread… little did I know at the time that Cricut was going to come out with a machine to top all machines — the Cricut Maker.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cricut. All opinions are my own. Also, this post contains affiliate links – should you choose to purchase through these links I make a small commission at no cost to you.

Ahhh, just saying the name gives me goosebumps. I love my Cricut Maker and it is seriously the must-have piece of equipment in any craft room.

In this post, I am going to share with you guys the 5 top reasons why I love my Cricut Maker. Hopefully, this will inspire you to get a Cricut Maker or if you already have one fill you with a little bit of creative mojo.

Reason #5 – The list of materials you can cut is … wow.

You guys. This machine can cut 300+ materials — THREE HUNDRED PLUS. That’s right, you are 100% reading that correctly. Everything from the most delicate fabric and paper to matboard, leather and even this basswood.

Take these stunning faux leather earrings for example. If you want to make these it’s really easy! I even have the project saved and shareable in Design Space.

For this project you will need:

• Faux Leather – Black, Brown and Champagne
• Patterned Iron-On™ Sampler, Rustic Lodge Lumberjack
• 6mm jump rings
• Earring Wires

Step One:
Cut your materials to the right size before placing them on your mat. I used a Strong Grip mat since I was cutting Faux Leather.

Step Two:
Put your Cricut Maker to use to cut the project! You can find the project here.

Step Three:
Once your Maker is done cutting, weed the Buffalo Plaid HTV and press it onto the brown Faux Leather pieces that you cut that are the same size as the Buffalo Plaid. To press mine, I used the Cricut EasyPress Mini. It’s the perfect tool for this job.

Step Four:
Using a jump ring and a earring wire, put your earrings together.

It’s that simple!

Reason #4 – The adaptive tool system

Where do I even begin with the adaptive tool system? I really could sum it up in one word — GENIUS. The adaptive tool system with QuickSwap™  allows you to quickly switch between scoring, engraving, debossing and ever perforation.

For this fun Christmas project, I used the Debossing tip on some aluminum tape.

Reason #3 – I can make my own t-shirt for pretty much any occasion.

This reason is completely all my own. It seems so simple and pedestrian but it really is one of the main reasons I have a Cricut. I absolutely love the idea of being able to whip up a high-quality t-shirt whenever I want.

Perfect example — my son was asked to go and cheer on the people riding to raise money for Type 1 Diabetes in the JDRF Ride to Defeat Diabetes. It was the day before and I thought, man he should really have a shirt to wear. It’s so fantastic to be able to just walk right over to my Cricut Maker and make a shirt within a matter of minutes.

Reason #2 – Handmade gifts from my hands to my family’s heart.

There is no better feeling in the world than giving someone a gift that you made with your own two hands — even better than that is giving them a gift that is handmade but such high quality.

When I make a gift with my Cricut Maker, whether it is a mug, a shirt or even something simple as a card, I get the most heartwarming compliments and praise. Now, I don’t just do it from the praise but it’s so satisfying to know that you have given a gift that someone will cherish for years to come.

Reason #1 – A professional-level tool made for people like you and me. 

This one goes without saying. I love how easy the Cricut Maker is to operate. It’s so user-friendly — I mean sure with anything there will be hiccups and learning curves but once you get it, you get it.

Not only that, owning a Cricut Maker means that you belong to one of the largest DIY families out there. The Cricut community is a great place to learn, have fun, share projects and inspire other people.

Having this machine allows me to do that.

This is when I was lucky enough to attend a Cricut Meet and Greet. This is my sister and I with the CEO of Cricut, Ashish Arora.

If you’re scared or nervous about getting a Cricut Maker, don’t be. There’s lots of help and support out there. There are a ton of really great Facebook groups for Cricut users. I also have a group of my own, too. If you haven’t joined it yet, please do so!