Cricut - what am I doing wrong?

[New England Eeyore]

Do any of you have this problem or know what I am doing wrong? Sometimes (most times) when I load the mats I have to do it 4 or 5 times (or more) to get it to "catch" right. It's either crooked or it doesn't catch at all. I usually have to feed it in myself, which often results in the crooked alignment. It's enough to make me get really frustrated with the machine at times, especially when I'm doing a lot of changing of colors. Which is what's happening right now and why I'm DISing instead of working on my paper bag albums. Any suggestions?

 

[Lisa]

Sounds like the mat isn't going in straight. It needs to be fed straight on otherwise it won't catch properly.

 

[New England Eeyore]

Any tips to make sure it's going in straight? I swear, I can do this a dozen times in a row. Obviously I'm trying to get it in straight, but something's going wrong.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

I've had that happen some times...
I usually line the bottom of my board up w/ the machine.. (really the left side as you are feeding it in)..

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Mine will do this occassionally, but it is usually because the mat is worn out and is kind of warped on the outer edges. I've tried to put them under books to flatten them out, but so far I haven't been successful. I really need to just throw them out.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Mine would do this, too! I think it was when my mats were worn out, but it would get SO frustrating! And it was one of those things where I would fuss about it, and DH would say, "Let me try". Then, he would do the EXACT SAME THING, and it would go in! That was even more frustrating!!

 

[happycampers]

I have had this problem too. It was pretty frequent with my first mat (that came with the machine). I didn't get near the use they claim you get wtih a mat. The edges curled up and made the problem worse. Then, because of the curl on the right side, the blade rubbed on it every time (you can see the scratch marks on that corner) and that dulled the blade. I've replaced the mat and blade. I haven't had as many problems. My new mat has stayed flat and hasn't curled. Every time I load it, I have it pressed tightly with that roller and lined up with the guide-thingy on the right side before I press the load "paper" button.

 

[SusieStone]

I have problems like that all the time. I guess that's why I am not using it much. But I bought two more carts yesterday.

What sense does that make.

 

[YodasMom]

Wow, I thought it was just me. I didn't have that problem with the first set of mats, but it's constant with the new set. I don't have a lot of strength in my hands, and I really have to push hard, quickly to get it to go in. I often end up hand-feeding it, too. I just figure that, as long as the paper still sticks to the mat, I'm going to use the mat. Otherwise, it's not economical. Boy, does it get frustrating, though!!

 

[New England Eeyore]

I'm glad to know it's not just me. I have 3 mats and rotate them pretty well so I don't really think it's the mat, although I should probably pick up a new one just to test it out. As I stare at the stupid thing I really feel like the rollers just don't sync up right and that's why it goes in crooked. Like one rolls faster than the other.

Then I have streaks where I get it in just fine for a bunch of times in a row. Who knows?

 

[Faerie]

I was having that problem and Provo had me soft reset my machine and it solved it

 

[New England Eeyore]

I was having that problem and Provo had me soft reset my machine and it solved it

How do you do that?

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

And it was one of those things where I would fuss about it, and DH would say, "Let me try". Then, he would do the EXACT SAME THING, and it would go in! That was even more frustrating!!

LOL! Don't you just hate when that happens!!!

 

[Faerie]

How do you do that?

Move each of the three dials up to the top and down to the bottom 7 times each. Sounds strange but it resets the machine and works!

 

[New England Eeyore]

Move each of the three dials up to the top and down to the bottom 7 times each. Sounds strange but it resets the machine and works!

Thanks so much! I did that this afternoon and have had no problems since (inserted mats about a dosen times so far). Keeping my fingers crossed that that was the magic answer and it keeps behaving itself!

 

[Faerie]

So glad it worked NEE!