Cricut Newbie!

[kkayluvsdis]

Hi Everyone,
This is my first time posting on this thread. I have been scrapbooking for a few years (and don't have nearly as many pages completed as I should ) and I just got my first Cricut machine as a birthday present! I'm a bit overwhelmed to say the least. My main question is where is the most affordable place to buy the cartridges? Do any of you have any recommendations of "must have" cartridges? Anyone want to show me pics of pages made with the use of the Cricut? I unfortunately do not have space for all my scrapbooking stuff right now, so everytime I want to do anything with it I have to lug it all out of storage--big pain in the butt! Okay, so I'll stop blabbing. Thanks in advance for your help. I'm hoping you all will be motivation for me--I swear, if I had a place to keep all my supplies handy I would be a scrapbooking fool!
-Kelly

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I'm actually going to point you to www.cricut.com they have a whole message board dedicated to the Cricut. And they have separate forums for each cartridge.
As for my favorites, I really like Calligraphy and alphalicious for Fonts and Joys of the Season and Paper Dolls for shapes.
Most affordable - I know you can get them online but I buy mine at Michael's and ACMoore when they are on sale. You can not use their coupons on the Cricut accessories.

I hear ya on the lack of space, I'm dealing with that issue now. The best advice I can give you is that as you build pages have a notebook handy and jot down what you need a cricut cut for, then have a Cricut Session, where you break out all the supplies and cut everything you need at once.
Also buy some baby wipes for your mats, after each session gently wipe the mat down with a baby wipe. It will clean the surface and re sticky the mat for a bit. After it's dry place the protective cover back on the mat and store it.

Let us know if you have anymore questions!

 

[kkbeaton2]

My favorite cartridges are (of course) the Disney ones. I have so many Disney pics, that I use them all of the time. I like Cuttin' Up for a font cartridge (if I'm not using Mickey or Pooh font) and I also like the Storybook font. I love the Paper Dolls cartridge (there are so many extras on it - not just dolls). Doodlecharms is a good one to have also - they have something for every season on there (snowman, hearts, watermelon, Santa, etc).

I buy a lot of my cartridges on line, because I live 2 hours away from the closest Michael's or JoAnns. I buy a lot from hallmarkscrapbook.com, some from creativexpress.com which they will price match when someone like Michael's will have a sale (you have to phone it in though).

I do something similar to BAMB. I sketch my layouts, and figure out what needs to be done on the Cricut so that I can do it all at once, and then I don't lose my ideas for the pages. It also will go alot faster for me that way.

 

[kswm30b]

If you want some Cricut examples, here's a thread where I have my LOs from my Oct '07 book (160+ pages, and still not done!) I use the Cricut on many of these pages, and in the thread, list which carts I used on which pages. Hopefully it'll motivate you!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1848955

I haven't had a chance to paper scrap since my Sept Disney trip, but I'm definitely going to start up again in the new year. I miss my Cricut so much, I'm sure it's lonely, lol.

I'm probably just repeating what's been said here, but my fav carts are the Disney ones (Mickey & Friends, Mickey Font, and the 2 princess ones. I got the Tink cart this month, but haven't used it yet) and Paper Dolls. The extras, as already mentioned, are fantastic! I think my fav fonts are Alphalicious & Opposites Attract.

 

[kkayluvsdis]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I so far have really just been playing around/practicing with my Cricut. I am totally new to it, so I am trying to learn the ins and outs. I picked up the Mickey Fonts cartridge at Walmart yesterday. They had a bunch of Disney ones on clearance. I paid $35, hopefully a good deal. I also checked out the sales at Michael's, but most of the font ones were sold out! Okay, you guys have motivated me to go practice some more! Thanks! -Kelly

 

[JustcallmeHappy]

So the baby wipe thing really works? I am new here too and just got a cricut from DH for xmas

 

[patchchild]

Oooh, baby wipes. I'll have to try that. I'm already losing the stick off my first cutting mat.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

yes, baby wipes will work.. I've also used a soapy wash cloth and let it air dry!!!

 

[dsneygirl]

Also buy some baby wipes for your mats, after each session gently wipe the mat down with a baby wipe. It will clean the surface and re sticky the mat for a bit. After it's dry place the protective cover back on the mat and store it.

Let us know if you have anymore questions!

I've never heard that before! I will definitely try it. Around here we buy baby wipes by the case

 

[JustcallmeHappy]

I heard (From several sites) that if you use baby wipes or something else it could void your warranty (I have NO clue how they would know)