need advice for cricut experts :-)

[mlktwins]

Hi all! I am getting ready to start my boys' scrapbooks from our Disney trip this past December. I have an Expression and the Mickey and Friends cartridge. I am new to Cricut and feel using this cartridge isn't going to be easy, but I am going to try . What is a good height to try and make some of these characters for the first time? I know at least 3", but what would you do?

Thanks so much!

 

[Lisa]

The bigger you can make the characters the better. In this situation, bigger is better! Good luck!

 

[disney-akj]

With the Mickey and Friends cartridge I recommend doing at least 4 inches, like Lisa said bigger is better. Don't let this cartridge discourage you either. It is a difficult cartridge to use, and most cartridges are a lot more user friendly. With some of the cuts like Mickey on this cartridge you have to cut the base out in both black and white to piece together.

 

[mlktwins]

Thanks ladies!!! I have 6.5 years worth of my twins' albums to do, but wanted to do this Disney one while it was fresh. Hopefully can get motivated to get the rest caught up after these are done. I come on here to get motivation and am in awe of your pages. I home school my boys though and don't have a lot of free time except at night and then I want to crash into bed -- LOL.

Any particular character I should start with that is easier than the others? We met with all the characters on the cartridge so could use any of them.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Definitely do at least 4" the first time.. make sure you use the cut on the page that shows the areas to which you will add the detail layers... My first time out, I tried to use the blackout/shadow to add the layers.. I had one scary Mickey.. wasn't til I started doing some talking to the girls that "ah-ha DUH!" moment hit that the background/shadow went underneath the detail cut, then add your layers..

 

[Reddy]

Thanks ladies!!! I have 6.5 years worth of my twins' albums to do, but wanted to do this Disney one while it was fresh. Hopefully can get motivated to get the rest caught up after these are done. I come on here to get motivation and am in awe of your pages. I home school my boys though and don't have a lot of free time except at night and then I want to crash into bed -- LOL.

Any particular character I should start with that is easier than the others? We met with all the characters on the cartridge so could use any of them.

awww I'm remembering the first time I used that cart - I cut out every single one of them at 5.5inches
OK the easiest - the faces
to me it it Mickey, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Minnie then Daisy
I think Daisy is the hardest because of her eye shadow
but to me they were all pretty easy but remember I'm a puzzle lover

 

[3pletprincesses]

The smallest I would do is 4". When it comes time to add al the tiny pieces, you will be greatful that you cute them a bit bigger LOL

 

[hopemax]

I would say 5" the first time. And remember, when you set the dial do not change it until you have cut out all the pieces. And make sure "real dial size" is turned off.

 

[saycindy]

OK let me see if this is correct. If I cut out say Mickey, cut the first outline on white, then hit the shift and cut that in black??? How about the ears and tail, wouldn't they then be in white. I've been confused about why things don't always work exactly right on those complex cuts. What about the black out shadow feature on some of them?
BTW-I almost gave up on them after trying to cut less than 4", now for me it's 4" and up ALWAYS.

 

[Reddy]

OK let me see if this is correct. If I cut out say Mickey, cut the first outline on white, then hit the shift and cut that in black??? How about the ears and tail, wouldn't they then be in white. I've been confused about why things don't always work exactly right on those complex cuts. What about the black out shadow feature on some of them?
BTW-I almost gave up on them after trying to cut less than 4", now for me it's 4" and up ALWAYS.

No cut out the outline on black - the black parts aren't cut out
I do the shadow in a different color or leave it off all together (usually leaving it off since I make them up ahead of time & don't know what color I would want him in)

close up faces, I might do smaller but I perfer the bigger too

 

[saycindy]

Sorry Reddy, another clarification needed. You cut the base but not the shift base?? Why do you need the shift base then?
Isn't the shadow button then for an even bigger shadow of that base??
Hope these questions make sense.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Sorry Reddy, another clarification needed. You cut the base but not the shift base?? Why do you need the shift base then?
Isn't the shadow button then for an even bigger shadow of that base??
Hope these questions make sense.

I can help you and I'm right in front of my Cricut with the same cartridge.

Which guy are you trying to cut? That'll help me out with walking you through it.

 

[morgansmom2000]

There's a shadow, but there is also a "base" which is kind of like a puzzle. You put all the little pieces on top of it where it cuts the lines.

HTH!

 

[rlovew]

Sorry Reddy, another clarification needed. You cut the base but not the shift base?? Why do you need the shift base then?
Isn't the shadow button then for an even bigger shadow of that base??
Hope these questions make sense.

The base you will cut in Black, many cuts you will have a specific color to cut the shift base (in the book they will give you a suggested color- it will be the second layer of your paper piecing.

Rebecca

 

[disney-akj]

Here is a picture of a Mickey and Donald that I recently did for a swap. I know I am a visual person so maybe this will help?

The base with the lines on Mickey will have to be cut in both black and white. Then you physically have to cut the white hands, eyes,etc. and puzzle piece them onto the black cut out. Unless someone else has a better way- this is how I do it? I then carefully trace the fingers, his pupils, etc. with a fine tip black marker. This Donald you can cut a black base and all the pieces can be cut out on the cricut as is and you can then glue them down. That was a lot easier.

I usually only cut the base like Reddy because the lines are helpful and there really is no need for an extra layer most of the time?

ETA: Don't get discouraged! Most cartridges are a lot easier to use than this one : )

 

[Reddy]

the shift base is the same as the base but without the guild lines
so let's pretend that you are doing page 79 - Mickey with hands behind him
first you cut the base
then his face - layer 1
actually here I would go to layer 2 & cut his shorts
then go back to shift layer1 so the buttons can be glued down in the right spot
then shift layer 2 (tongue)
the layer 3 - shoes

 

[Reddy]

Here is a picture of a Mickey and Donald that I recently did for a swap. I know I am a visual person so maybe this will help?

The base with the lines on Mickey will have to be cut in both black and white. Then you physically have to cut the white hands, eyes,etc. and puzzle piece them onto the black cut out. Unless someone else has a better way- this is how I do it? I then carefully trace the fingers, his pupils, etc. with a fine tip black marker. Donald you can cut a black base and all the pieces can be cut out on the cricut as is and you can then glue them down. That was a lot easier.

I usually only cut the base like Reddy because the lines are helpful and there really is no need for an extra layer?

try cutting shift layer 1 - that gets you the white parts - in the cricut book they are white with a black lines - there shouldn't be in physically cutting with a cart

yeah, I'm staring at the book trying to figure out why you would cut those when it is the shift layer 1
hmmm I forgot they have several of those icons

 

[disney-akj]

try cutting shift layer 1 - that gets you the white parts - in the cricut book they are white with a black lines - there shouldn't be in physically cutting with a cart

yeah, I'm staring at the book trying to figure out why you would cut those when it is the shift layer 1
hmmm I forgot they have several of those icons

So you would do like I said or how?? I am confused Because if there is an easier way, I want to know

 

[Reddy]

So you would do like I said or how?? I am confused Because if there is an easier way, I want to know

cut the white out by using shift layer1

 

[Reddy]

maybe you would understand better if I said
push layer 1 button
then shift then the button for the one you want

you did get the tongue on layer 2 but shift?? or Minnie's hair bow on layer 3 (Goofy's hat/ Donald's tie)
shift layer 1 is the white, shift layer 2 is tongues & layer 3 seems to be odd things that didn't get cut before