Cricut help

[bibbidibobbidiboo07]

Not sure if I am asking in the right place, but after taking part in a FE on a recent cruise and admiring others work where I suspect cutting machines must have been used I began to wonder if I needed a one and what I would use it for, things like card making and gift tags and probably a lot more. So is it worth me looking at a circut and if so which one? I do enjoy making things and getting the end results but I could do so much more I think.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[GrumpyMom25]

I would think you're fine posting here since it would be considered Arts an Crafts but you'll get a lot of responses in the Scrapbook section of Creative Community.
I started out with the original Cricut and now have an Expression. Would love to upgrade to an Imagine or Expression 2 but it's not in the budget. I use mine mostly for scrapbooking, card making, making tags and gift card holders.

 

[rlovew]

There are many things to use it for. I use it for both my scrapping and my cardmaking. They certainly have cartridges that will help with cards and tags.

Rebecca

 

[wdwdancerwannabe]

I love love love my cricut!!! couldn't live without it. Start simple with letters and simple shapes. ..don't try to do the intricate layered things until you get use to the machine.......or you'll just frustrate
yourself.

 

[mecllap]

The first thing I made with my first 6-inch Cricut was a layered Mickey Mouse! It was a little tricky but turned out cute. I quickly graduated to an Expression. I got into it for scrapbooking, then made a few cards, then vinyl wall and car decorations. Recently have been making signs to help out for the task I do as a volunteer at the VA. Grandson uses it sometimes for school projects (labeling/titles).

There is a learning curve -- lots of helpful videos on YouTube. The Cricut can be addictive and expensive if you get into collecting cartridges -- try to zero in a few that will have multiple uses for you.

Its accompanying gadget -- the "Gypsy" hand-held design planner is also fun to have it adds a lot of flexibility (you can take it with you, plan cut-outs, and cut things out later -- kind of in mass production).

 

[bibbidibobbidiboo07]

Anyone have any pictures of things they have made with their cricut?
Will I be alright with the cricut create?

 

[PrincessNancy96]

The cricut create will allow you to do portrait cuts unlike the baby bug which will only allow you to cut vertical. The create will also allow you to flip the image.. so if you need a flower facing left and the cartridge only faces right.. you will have it's mirror image. The mats for these are 12".

The expression will allow you to flip, multi-cut (good for thick paper, glitter paper), cut full page, cut length of page, cut portrait and it can use mats from 12'' to 24".

I had the baby bug... sold it to a friend..
I have the create.... holding it for dd when she goes off to college
I have the expression that I LOVE!!!!

if you go to the top of this sub-forum under virtual scrapbook sticky start at the last pages you will find various layouts that have cricut creations on it... some of them are more intricate because they used a program called SCAL to join things together or make images based off clipart, svg files... but you will get to some postings that are true cricut cuts...

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

I went to my first weekend crop last year, when I was just getting into scrapbooking. It seemed that everyone had a Cricut there. Before that, I'd gone to a crop night at M's and the lady running the class couldn't figure out how to work the Cricut. She was tearing up another woman's 12x12 paper, making it appear so complicated to use, and that really scared me off from getting one.

But then the weekend crop changed my mind. The ones who brought their Cricut expressions were really insightful, answering all my questions and helping me decide to take the plunge and purchase one. They made it look so easy and fun.

I use my Cricut for scrapbooking and other crafts. I made a travel journal to Disney with my cartridges. I found that when I had a trip or something special coming up, I looked through all the cartridges available and picked out what cuts I would want in deciding what carts to buy. I grew my cart collection this way, and never paid full price for any cart.

From every review I read and in talking to friends, I decided the Expressions was the right one for me. They all seemed to graduate to that one if they started with the smaller machines first.

 

[Reddy]

I started with the baby then got SCAL then moved up to the Expressions - most things I post are using SCAL so no cart
when my E breaks - I'll get something that will use SCAL since cricut will no longer let us

 

[jacksmomma]

As Reddy mentioned, there is a computer program called Sure Cuts A Lot. It allows you to cut computer files instead of being limited to what is on the carts, but the makers of the Cricut are in a legal battle with the makers of SCAL. After a certain period of time SCAL will no longer work with the Cricut. If you are interested in using SCAL research your machine very carefully and pick one that will support the program.

If you do not care about that and are okay with buying carts then I would recommend the Cricut Expression if you can afford the extra cost. It is nice to be able to cut large things, borders, etc and with the expression I can cut envelopes to go with my cards.

 

[bibbidibobbidiboo07]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm now thinking can I wait til Jan and buy the expression when I come over to Florida, maybe order before we leave at Walmart and collect it over there. But can I wait until then? Its Ds first birthday in Sept and I would have loved to have made something for then using my machine - no idea what but was hoping invites, etc Disney themed. But I may have to wait!
They are so expensive to buy over here!!!!

 

[SalandJeff]

Thanks for all the replies, I'm now thinking can I wait til Jan and buy the expression when I come over to Florida, maybe order before we leave at Walmart and collect it over there. But can I wait until then? Its Ds first birthday in Sept and I would have loved to have made something for then using my machine - no idea what but was hoping invites, etc Disney themed. But I may have to wait!
They are so expensive to buy over here!!!!

I have seen people on ebay who sell cuts they have made on their Cricuts. Most are pretty inexpensive. You would have to see if any ship internationally, but that would allow you to have something for ds' birthday and wait until January to purchase the machine. Just a thought.

 

[bibbidibobbidiboo07]

Thanks for the suggestion - I may just do that. I have a friend in America so I often get things shipped to her and she ships to me, its often cheaper that way.

 

[morgansmom2000]

Ooooh, I love my Cricut! We went on a cruise last November, here are some shirts I made using iron on vinyl and my Cricut.

For Pirate Night:

Each one had the year on the sleeve

and a hidden Mickey

We were on board for Halloween, so we did the Mickey tie-dye shirts and I added a jack-o-lantern face to make them look more like pumpkins

And, this one got a lot of attention from Mickey. When he saw it on Castaway Cay, he did the peace sign, and this was our Christmas card this year.

I also used my Cricut to make markers for our countdown calendar.

 

[mecllap]

Wow--those are adorable. Well done!!!

 

[logan&tylersmama]

wow -- super cute!!!
jennifer

 

[bibbidibobbidiboo07]

Thanks for posting the pictures. Excellent work, love the hidden mickey and t shirts. Blimey if i can learn how to do all that it will be well worth it. I was outbid on e bay for cricut create, so I'm now considering getting the expression through walmart on line but I'll have to wait until January!!!!!
I figured for what I would pay here for the create I can get the expression over there, still cheaper.
Anyone recommend any cartridges??? Or other things you consider must haves?

 

[rlovew]

Thanks for posting the pictures. Excellent work, love the hidden mickey and t shirts. Blimey if i can learn how to do all that it will be well worth it. I was outbid on e bay for cricut create, so I'm now considering getting the expression through walmart on line but I'll have to wait until January!!!!!
I figured for what I would pay here for the create I can get the expression over there, still cheaper.
Anyone recommend any cartridges??? Or other things you consider must haves?

Your main comsumables on the cricut are mats and blades- you will want to keep some onhand. The best cartidges for you probably depend on what you want to use it for- they have a variety of good font carts, there are also card carts, as well as shape carts.

On shapes I use my paper doll carts the most.

Rebecca

 

[morgansmom2000]

Thanks for posting the pictures. Excellent work, love the hidden mickey and t shirts. Blimey if i can learn how to do all that it will be well worth it. I was outbid on e bay for cricut create, so I'm now considering getting the expression through walmart on line but I'll have to wait until January!!!!!
I figured for what I would pay here for the create I can get the expression over there, still cheaper.
Anyone recommend any cartridges??? Or other things you consider must haves?

It's very easy to do! I also used the Cricut for the first time to cut fabric a couple weeks ago. I made the banner for our team for the Relay for Life. I was shocked at how easy it was!

All the wording and the moon and stars are fabric

 

[bibbidibobbidiboo07]

Love the banner, I saw a craft on disneys family web site for a bag using Mickey heads cut out of fabric so I guess with the right cartridge that would be something I could do. So many ideas!!!!!