Wednesday, September 29, 2010

A little Cricut Love

As a scrapbooker/crafter I tend to always want the latest and greatest new gadget.  Last year was no exception.  After playing with a Cricut at the local scrapbook store while making the cut-outs for our cake walk wheel for the Boo Bash, I fell in love.  It went to the top of my Christmas List!

I was so excited when I opened my gift from my mom, and I had a brand new Cricut Expression! I had heard so many great things from other crafters and scrapbookers that I was envisioning all the cool things I would be able to make.  Then I saw the price of the cartridges and got discouraged.  I played around a little with the two that I had and was able to make some cute Valentine's for my daughter's class:
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I was pretty impressed with how quickly I was able to make these.  I had 30+ of the little lollipop flowers done in one evening.  After this project the Cricut just sat back in the corner waiting for the next time I would need it.

I don't think I turned it on for almost 4 months until I needed it to help me make the Closet Clothes Dividers that I made for my friends Candy Coated Baby Shower. Again, I just used basic shapes and letters.  I still wasn't willing to make any investment into cartridges.

Then I read a blog by Kelleigh Ratzlaff about programs you could use with your Cricut to cut ANY design and ANY font!  I have worked with digital scrapbooking supplies and was familiar with what could be done with Photoshop and a Printer.  I just always hated the cutting part.  Now that Kelleigh and Mari were offering cutting files I was very interested.   It still took 3 more months, but I finally bit the bullet and bought Sure Cuts A Lot.  I have spent the last few weeks finding cutting files and downloading them.  Now I have SO many ideas in my head.  Banners, favor boxes, cupcake wrappers, cupcake toppers, party supplies galore right at my fingertips!!  I have also found a few more digital scrapbook stores that sell cutting files, and I am always on the lookout for more:


Later this week I will be showing you how I made our adorable Boo Bash invitations with digital scrapbooking supplies and my Cricut.  I can't wait till you see them!

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7 comments:

Leslie said...

Oooooh! I've been looking into getting a Silhouette because of the cartridge issue and I really want to make my own designs. I can't wait to see what you've done with this software, and I'm going to go check it out now!

Anonymous said...

The JoAnns by our house rents the cartridges out which I thought was a good idea.

Love this gadget...don't know if it'll ever reside in our house though!

Bonnie Alaniz said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog! I'm dying for a Cricut!! It seems like the ideas and projects are endless! Enjoyed your blog! Lots of great ideas!!

Angie said...

New follower here!
I love the color of your cricut! I've never seen that color before. I have the plain ole white one hehe. But i just looove my cricut too! The cartridges are so much :( Ive had my since march and only 4 cartridges. Hoping DH gets me to sure cuts a lot for xmas. I look forward to seeing you ideas!

Unknown said...

Thanks for following me! I am following you back and I too am a fellow Cricut Lover! Although I am totally jealous of your Expression as I have the original model and it doesn't do as much.. but SOMEDAY I am going to upgrade.. but I am in LOVE in the meantime! Happy Crafting!
Amie @ Pinkapotamus

Tashia said...

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower! I love meeting new people and getting to share ideas through blogging! Very cute blog!!!

Happy Friday!

Tashia @ http://homeinspiredbliss.blogspot.com

Elizabeth said...

To the lovers of the expression. Last year I had to get up before the sun on Black Friday and fight my way through the crowd at Walmart to get this for my daughter. The price was cheap-cheap-cheap. Worth it! I love all the things she does with it.

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