Cricut Expression $188.00

[tubachick]

We went to Toys r us first then hit walmart around 2 am. Only had black left on the Big E, looks like it was four of each color, decided to get it, sleep on it and I could always return it later. (yeah right) Now I will be searching for the 12 x 24 mat, I think that would be great for school stuff, and the 12x12 one for me!!! (yeah, that's my justification working.... )

 

[jacksmomma]

Ugh! I had the red one in my cart for a few hours, but upon DH's recomendation I put it back. It really is not in the budget right now. I feel sort of silly because I teared up when I put it back. Oh well...maybe next year.

 

[moikturtle]

We went to Toys r us first then hit walmart around 2 am. Only had black left on the Big E, looks like it was four of each color, decided to get it, sleep on it and I could always return it later. (yeah right) Now I will be searching for the 12 x 24 mat, I think that would be great for school stuff, and the 12x12 one for me!!! (yeah, that's my justification working.... )

I wish I had seen this sooner. JoAnn had the Cricut mats/accessories on sale today (Saturday) for 40% off. There wasn't even a sign up in mine (and I don't remember seeing it in the ad), but as it was ringing up the sale prices came up. It worked out that the 12x12 was $7something and the 12x24 was $10something. Maybe call your JoAnn in the morning and see if the sale is the whole weekend? Also, not sure if you opened your Expression yet, but it does include a 12x12 at least to hold you over until you get more.

 

[niklynn1]

x

 

[hopemax]

I think the problems you are describing are newbie errors, and can easily be overcome.

The first time you use a mat, it will be overly sticky, so little pieces will be hard to take off. They sell a spatula to help remove pieces from the mats, and it is very handy. I think Walmart has them for ~$8. After the first couple of uses, it will become much easier to remove stuff. Then you might have to worry about it not being sticky enough. To delay that, I will wipe off the maps with baby wipes, when I amd done for the day.

Adhesive, for the paper piecings/letters I use either a Zig (this is the brand) Pen, with a chisel tip. Walmart sells these for ~$2.50. Or I also use the Xyron tape that fits the 250 model. You can buy the refill for about ~$5, and not even get the machine for it.

Also, you will have to play around with blade, speed, pressure settings to get it to cut the different types of paper without tearing, and cutting all the way through. Use your scraps to play around with it, to get a feel before you start working on major projects for the page. I think we all wasted a lot of paper in the beginning.

 

[niklynn1]

x

 

[jacksmomma]

I think the problems you are describing are newbie errors, and can easily be overcome.

The first time you use a mat, it will be overly sticky, so little pieces will be hard to take off. They sell a spatula to help remove pieces from the mats, and it is very handy. I think Walmart has them for ~$8. After the first couple of uses, it will become much easier to remove stuff. Then you might have to worry about it not being sticky enough. To delay that, I will wipe off the maps with baby wipes, when I amd done for the day.

Adhesive, for the paper piecings/letters I use either a Zig (this is the brand) Pen, with a chisel tip. Walmart sells these for ~$2.50. Or I also use the Xyron tape that fits the 250 model. You can buy the refill for about ~$5, and not even get the machine for it.

Also, you will have to play around with blade, speed, pressure settings to get it to cut the different types of paper without tearing, and cutting all the way through. Use your scraps to play around with it, to get a feel before you start working on major projects for the page. I think we all wasted a lot of paper in the beginning.

The problems you are describing are the same ones I had when I first got my baby bug 2.5 years ago. Just get some junk paper and play around with it. The mats are very sticky when you first start out. Also, the spatula (or pancake flipper as it is called at my house) is a must have! They also sell a tool pack that has several different tools in it, one of which I call a dental pick. It is a small pointy hook. I use it a lot too for getting the placement of tiny pieces just right or poking out the negative space on some of the cuts. As far as adhesive, I have a 3M glue bottle that has a fine tip that works great for those tiny pieces.