What Can You Do With a Cricut?

[anne930]

Please forgive me - I am a newbie scrapbooker. I hear everyone writing about the cricut machine. I know it is quite expensive. Can anyone tell me what it's good for and if it's a good investment for someone just getting started? I am working on a Disney Cruise Scrapbook now and don't really know how many other scrapbooks I will do. But I have learned it is fun and addicting.

I know you guys will tell me the truth.

 

[fAnnF]

I use it to cut my letters for titles. I own 6 or 7 font cartridges, and I cut most my titles. I also own the mickey and friends cartridge and cut the fab 5 out for pages. I'd suggest looking into different machines. I'd either go with a cuttlebug and the dies which you can get a good price with joann's coupons or the cricut.

 

[123SA]

I think one of the reasons to get a cricut is the other things it can do -- outside of scrapbooking. You can cut tags, in the size you want (within the limitations of the machine) which you can use for scrapping of course, but also for card making or presents. I volunteered to cut out huge sea animals for vacation bible school -- just to decorate the classroom. It would be useful for school projects, too. Some cartridges have gift bags, boxes, envelopes and bookmarks to cut out.

I had sizzix. With sizzix you are restricted to the size of the die. With the cricut, I was able to enter into the machine the space I had available for my title, it cut it to fit. If I want to cut out a one inch letter E, or a full page letter E, I can.

If you haven't yet, check out the message board at cricut.com You will be able to find lots of projects that you can do with the cricut.

One last thing, it really is very easy to learn. A few times I had questions, I went to the message board and found the answer -- without posting.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

I have to say, I love my cricut! Like the previous posters said, it is wonderful to be able to cut out letters at whatever size you need. I was forever running out of just one letter in a sticker set, or something like that. I have several font cartridges, but I also have several shape cartridges. I love to use the little designs on my pages. Like 123SA said, it's very easy to use--and I am NOT tech savvy, at all. The Cricut board is very helpful, and it's easy to find the answers to any questions you might have. With the new Expression coming out (the one that cuts up to 23 1/2 inches), I think the original Cricut is dropping a little more in price--or at least that's what the woman at ACMoore said .

After re-reading this, I'm not sure I'm any help at all!

 

[anne930]

Thanks for the insight about the cricut. And thanks for sending me to the cricut website and message boards. There's a lot of great ideas and layouts there. It's amazing to see how much creativity everyone has. I am taking a basic scrapbooking class tomorrow and am really looking forward to getting started on "my" scrapbook.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

I hope you have fun at your class today!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

Ditto SIOH.

Enjoy yourself!!

 

[lexnconsmom]

I too make letters with it but I have used mine to make minnie mouse ears and bows for a border. My son has used it to make book marks for himself with the animal kingdom cart. I really enjoy mine. I have used the disney carts alot since we just got back from dl.
michelle

 

[Lisa]

And just to be an enabler today...ACMoore is selling the Cricut today for $139.

 

[anne930]

Thanks! I've heard a lot about AC Moore - unfortunately, the closest one is about 100 miles away. We have Hobby Lobby, Michaels, and Joann's. I have fallen in love with a new scrapbook store in our area called Archivers, which is where I took the class. I loved it! I worked on my first 3 pages this weekend and am having a blast. I am struggling with purchasing things separately or making a long term investment with the cricut. I am still exploring my options, though. In the mean time, I don't want to glue anything down permanently until I decide.