Organizing Under The Kitchen Sink With Cricut Maker 3

I just got a brand new Cricut Maker 3, and I used it to organize under my kitchen sink. Here’s my full review of the Maker 3 and my honest opinion on how it stacks up to the original Cricut Maker. Sponsored by Cricut

Last week I unboxed my Cricut Maker 3 and took it on a test drive. I was immediately super impressed with how fast it cut out my test decal and couldn’t wait to start making home organization projects with the Smart Vinyl. I decided to tackle under my kitchen sink, which was slightly embarrassing, and put my new Cricut Maker 3 to the ultimate label-making test. Here’s my full review of how the Maker 3 did, the pros and cons of the new machine, and what I think about the new Cricut Smart Materials.

Cricut Supplies I Used:

1. Cricut Permanent Smart Vinyl in both black and white
2. Cricut Transfer Tape
3. Weeding Tool
4. TrueControl Knife
5. Self-Healing Cutting Mat
6. Cricut Maker 3
7. Cricut Vinyl Roll Holder

Design Labels In Design Space

First I designed my labels in Design Space and adjusted the sizing to fit the containers I bought to go under the sink in the kitchen. I also designed an oversized label for our trash can, too.

My son likes to make fun of me for putting obvious labels on things, so a giant “trash” label on the can seems like something he will really pick on me for. But that’s what moms do right? We do things just to annoy and embarrass our teenagers.

How The Vinyl Roll Holder Attachment Works

I attached the Cricut Roll Holder onto the Maker 3 because my vinyl rolls are pretty chunky. I am instantly in love with this new handy tool because not only does it keep vinyl off the floor, but it has a sliding cutting knife integrated inside.

The Cricut Roll Holder just slides into slots on the front door of the Maker 3, so it’s really easy to attach it when you’re doing larger projects. It works with both the Maker 3 and the Explore 3, which is pretty cool that it can be interchanged between the machines.

You don’t need the Roll Holder for all projects, and it’s not required for the Maker 3 to work properly. It’s totally optional, but if you plan on using larger, longer rolls of vinyl or if you know you’ll be making big projects, I highly recommend getting one. This might be my absolute favorite accessory for the new Maker 3 and Explore 3.

Cutting Labels With Cricut Maker 3 and Cricut Smart Vinyl

Once I created my labels in Cricut Design Space, I clicked the Make It button to get started setting up my Cricut Maker 3 for cutting. If you have an original Cricut Maker, you’re used to seeing the cut preview screen automatically pop up. With the Maker 3, things are just a little different. First you have to tell Design Space if you are cutting with or without a mat.

You can only cut without a mat when you’re using Smart Vinyl, which is a special vinyl with a special backing that “holds itself up” while being cut without needing a mat underneath. You can read all about Smart Materials in this post.

The Maker 3 can still cut regular vinyl, iron-on vinyl, Infusible Ink, fabric, paper, and all the specialty materials like leather and basswood, you just need to use a mat with them. You also need to use a mat for all scrap materials, too. Matless cutting only works for full-width sheets.

*Side note, the Maker 3 doesn’t come with a mat. If you don’t have any cutting mats and are new to Cricut, I suggest getting one Standard Grip mat (the green one) and one Light Grip Mat (the blue one). You’ll need them for a lot of projects.

Cricut Maker 3 Speed Versus Original Cricut Maker

This is the moment my eyes got huge and I started to get super excited. I always thought my Cricut Maker was a pretty fast cutting machine, but when Maker 3 started rocking and rolling, I was beyond impressed. This baby can MOVE!

The Cricut Maker 3 cuts so fast that I didn’t even have my next color of vinyl ready yet before the first one finished. And maybe it was the new blade or maybe it was the Smart Vinyl, but it seemed like the cuts were cleaner and easier to weed, too.

Throw in the fact that I didn’t have to deal with mats and this project time was pretty much cut in half. I had blocked out an hour to make and install the labels on my containers, and it took me a total of 20 minutes. 20 MINUTES!

How I Organized Under My Kitchen Sink With Cricut Maker 3

So step one was to design the labels and step two was to have the Maker 3 cut them out. Once all the labels were cut, I weeded the excess vinyl, burnished on some transfer tape, and cut the labels out into individual pieces.

Now to the fun part! Let’s stick these labels on the containers! First things first, make sure your container is clean and free of oils and residue. Wipe it down with an alcohol pad or eyeglass cleaner and dry the surface with a microfiber cloth. I usually use an alcohol prep pad from my first aid kit.

Position the label on the container where you want it, burnish it in place with a scraper or credit card, and carefully pull away the transfer tape.

(PS: If you’re new to Cricut crafting, here’s what “burnish” and other Cricut crafting words mean)

The best transfer tape removal method I’ve found so far is to pull a corner back and fold it flat over the rest of the transfer tape, then pull away at an angle while keeping the tape flat. I basically just slide it over itself. (See the photo above, because explaining it in words is a little hard to do)

Under My Kitchen Sink Before:

Under My Kitchen Sink After Cricut Maker 3 And Smart Vinyl:

Cricut Maker 3 Review Recap

• Cricut Maker 3 is the same size and similar in weight to the original Cricut Maker
• It no longer requires a mat if using the new Smart Materials in full-width sheets
• Maker 3 can cut up to 12 feet versus the 23 inch max capability from the Maker
• The Vinyl Roll Holder is super helpful and highly recommended
• Maker 3 cuts crazy-fast!
• Smart Vinyl is really easy to weed
• Cricut Maker 3 makes home organization labeling projects really fast and easy

More Cricut Maker 3 Projects Coming Soon!

If you loved this review and can’t wait to see more projects and tutorials with this new machine, my blog is the place to be! I have a bunch of Maker 3 projects lined up and can’t wait to share them all with you. And in the meantime, check out my archives for Maker, Explore, and Joy projects, as well as all the Cricut Education you need to start as a newbie.

And while you’re here, don’t forget to grab my Cricut Font Guide. It’s totally free and helps you narrow down fonts for all types of projects, plus my favorite font pairings. Drop your email below and I’ll send it right over.

Ready For Another Step-By-Step Organizing Project?

The next semester of The Organized-ish Craft Room is open! This is my self-paced workshop-style training for how to plan, set up, organize, and maintain your craft space, no matter how big or small it is. If your craft room (or closet, or dining room nook) needs some serious organization, this course is for you. Enrollment fills up quickly, so grab your spot before the doors close.