Scrapper's Journal

Hey guys!

I got this news over at one of my fave blogs: Just a Scrappin

First up: Cricut Cartridges are going on sale for $39.99 at Michael's next week - INCLUDING Lyrical Letters and Life's a Beach at some locations. Read about it here.

Also, Provocraft is offering an AWESOME special! You can preorder the ever elusive Home Decor and a new one named Jubilee Art for $99.

But wait! There's more! :)

You can pay in 3 easy payments of $33 and get a free set of Cricut Markers, BUT if you pay in full, you get a FREE Jukebox and markers.

You can see the details and the cartridges here. This is a great deal! I ordered mine today... :)

Labels: cricut, deals, die cutting, new products, sales, specials

Hey guys!

Just got an email from one of the online stores I shop from... There are two new cartridges set to be released NEXT MONTH. Woo hoo! Here is a peek:

Life's a Beach: This is perfect for those vacation photos you need to scrap...



Lyrical Letters: A really pretty font that would be great for cards. Don't know what the special features on this cart are yet though...



Both of these are full featured cartridges and will start shipping in the middle of next month. I am getting Life's a Beach (waiting on Lyrical Letters) through Memory Making Crafts. If you want them - order soon! She needs to put her order in by March 3rd for mid March shipping.

I can't wait to see this one in person! I have lots of cruise photos waiting... :)

Labels: cricut, die cutting, new products

This is a cool cartridge. Though you can use the cut outs traditionally like diecuts, they are specially designed to be used as acrylic stamps. You can buy the cartridge alone or in a kit so you can make stamps right out of the package (though I think you may obviously need to buy the deep cut blade and housing separately).

Here is a sample of the cartridge:



And here is the kit:



Fun!

Labels: CHA, cricut, new products

Derek will freak out when he sees this. He will want a near life size Spongebob cut out for his room. Nuff said. LOL

Labels: CHA, cricut, new products

I WANT THIS ONE. LOL I preordered this one right off the bat. I can see decorating my kitchen and making plaques with vinyl with this cartridge. I can't wait to see all the images on it.

Labels: CHA, cricut, new products

Holy cow... This one will be flying off the shelves. I don't have a daughter, so I probably won't be in the market for this one, but I know many friends who will be!

Labels: CHA, cricut, new products

This one is definitely one I am going to preorder. It reminds me of antique wallpaper. I love it just for the peacock!

Labels: CHA, cricut, new products

This is a really pretty one with European flair. This is great for those who use a foreign language in their scrapbook projects:

Labels: CHA, cricut, new products

This is a really cute one. Perfect for all those milestones and the day to day events of a child:

Labels: CHA, cricut, new products

I finally got all the pictures for the new cartridges coming out... They are SO CUTE. But the wait will be agonizing. LOL They don't come out until sometime between April-June of this year...

Here's a list of what's coming out, with individual photos to come:

A Child's Year
Ashlyn's Alphabet
European Decor (Solutions)
Hannah Montana
Kitchen and Bath Decor (Solutions)
Spongebob (So going to have to get this for Derek)
Stamping Solutions (comes by itself or in a kit)

Posting the photos in separate posts here in a sec... :)

Labels: CHA, cricut, new products

These are both TOO CUTE! I know a Hello Kitty fanatic that will snap up BOTH of these! :)

Hello Kitty Font



Hello Kitty Greeting

Labels: cricut, new products

Disney Cars



Tinkerbell and Friends



Sesame Street Font



Sesame Street Friends

Labels: cricut, new products

As promised... Here are the photos on the new Cricut Cartridges coming soon...

Basketball



Blackletter



Christmas



Sans Serif



Wild Card

Labels: cricut, new products

Hey guys!

I just found out about the new cartridges and products Cricut is coming out with in the coming months (thanks Christi!!). HOLY COW I better start saving now... ;) Here's a list of what is to come (with tentative release dates). I will post a photo of each cartridge in separate posts...

October 29th:

Cricut Solutions Basketball
Cricut Solutions Black Letter (Font)
Cricut Solutions Christmas
Cricut Solutions Sans Serif (Font)
Shape Cartridge - Wild Card

October 30th:

Deep Cut Blade
Deep Cut Blade Housing (for chipboard - Yay!)
Cricut Emboss A2 Folder Kit
Cricut Emboss Refills
Cricut Heat Transfers (in various colors)
Cricut Machine Shoulder Bag (Fits the Expression too!)
Cricut Magnet Material (12x12)
Cricut Stamp Kit and Refills
Cricut Stencil Material

October 31st:

Shape Cartridge - Disney Cars
Shape Cartridge - Tinkerbell and Friends
Font Cartridge - Sesame Street Font
Shape Cartridge - Sesame Street Friends

November 30th:

GoBe Battery Pack
GoBe Solar Briefcase (Now you can take your cricut ANYWHERE).
Font Cartridge - Hello Kitty Font
Shape Cartridge - Hello Kitty Greeting

Holy cow! This Christmas Season is going to be CRAZY.

Labels: cricut, new products

If you are interested in demonstrating your Cricut machine in your area, there may be an opening... This thread was posted on the Cricut Messageboard:

Attention Cricut Fans!

Have you ever thought about demonstrating the Cricut and all its fun and exciting capabilities. Have you ever watched a demonstrator in a store and thought, “Hey, I could do that”? Well, here’s your chance to show off all your Cricut knowledge. We are looking for Cricut fans who are energetic and passionate about their Cricut machines. We want to show everyone how the Cricut can impact their lives, there is so much you can do with this wonderful machine. If you are interested in demonstrating the Cricut and all the fun things you can do with it for stores like Wal-Mart, JoAnn’s, etc. Then please respond by going to this link and responding to this thread. http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=2486305 Some of the perks for being a demonstrator would be earning points that can be redeemed for ANY Provo Craft products, a special Cricut Demonstrators package, and the recognition of being a Cricut Demonstrator. If this is something you are seriously interested in, please vote and reply on the thread. This demonstrator opportunity is for anyone here in the United States and in Canada so help spread the word we are looking for a SWARM Army and need over a 1,000 Demonstrators for this new program. If you have already voted and signed up to be a Demonstrator on the thread then please excuse this e-mail, but please forward it on to your friends- Thank you! DemoKim

So reply to that post if you are interested... :)

Labels: cricut

Provocraft is getting ready to release two new Cricut Cartridges... They look pretty cute!

Storybook reminds me of fairytales. I can see using this cartridge for little girl pages (crap I have no little girls) and wedding albums. I think I may get this cartridge for my wedding album... Check it out:

The 2nd new cartridge is called Graphically Speaking. This one is really cool too! I can see using this one for all kinds of cards, my boy layouts, and lots of other projects.

They come out in mid-July and many online stores are already taking pre-orders for them. I think I may wait until they come out so I can see all the images on each cartridge...

They look like lots of fun though! :)

Labels: cricut, new products

You might remember my delight in finding out about Sure Cuts Alot...

Well I had to get a new laptop (my one year old Acer's Motherboard decided to give up on me), and I just reinstalled the program today. Lo and behold.

THE WELDING AND SHADOWING FEATURES HAVE BEEN ADDED!

Woo hoo! This make this piece of software awesome in my opinion. This feature was added on March 7th.

There is also a new forum for help, and support at:

http://forums.surecutsalot.com/

My new laptop is a Vista... Don't let the rumors of Vista incompatibility scare you...

I run this program in Windows XP mode since it runs smoother for me that way.

To do that is easy. Just install the program. Once installed, RIGHT click its icon (not left click as that will start the program).

Click Properties.

Click the Compatibility Tab.

Check the box next to "Run this Program in Compatibility Mode For"

And then choose Windows XP in the list below that.

(NOTE: I have not tried it under different platforms such as Windows 2000, etc.)

Click OK and you are done.

A great little program - I had a question on the install and got an answer a couple hours later. The company has been top notch so far!

They could make the cutting process a little faster and dare I say it, this program would be perfect....

Labels: cricut, new products, sure cuts a lot

So CHA is this weekend, and I can hardly wait to see what new cartridges that Provocraft is coming out with for the Cricut! I have been lurking on the Yahoo groups, and I heard that these are the rumored new Cartridges:

Camping - I am like the ONLY person I know who has never been camping before in her life... LOL Don't think I need this one.

Soccer - My boys are into sports, but do not play soccer - so don't need this one.

Baseball - A MUST. They play every year for the local league.

Indie Art - No idea what this one will be. But will probably be a must have... LOL

Home Accents - Again, no idea what will be on this one, but sounds like one I will want.

Wedding - This one will probably be a very useful one! But I have all the supplies for my wedding album (sitting in my studio with my photos, waiting for me!) and I don't foresee using diecuts other than title fonts (which I am al good on)... This would be great for cards, but I don't make too many wedding cards. So unless there is a an awesome bunch of shapes I want on this, I am going to pass.

Pooh and Friends - How frickin cute does this sound?? Not sure how much I will use this one, but I will probably get it anyway cause I love Pooh. LOL

Pooh Fonts - A maybe - definitely have to see what this looks like...

So it looks like I will probably want half of these. Hmmmm. Better start saving now! :)

Labels: cricut, new products

I was surfing and discovered this wonderful blog for all those who have a Cricut and the Design Studio Software.

The Softcuts Sharing Blog shows LOTS of ideas and designs using the Cricut Design Studio Software and various cartridges.

You can also download the shared files to be cut on your own machine (as long as you have the necessary cartridges) - genius! I will definitely keep this blog in my faves! :)

Labels: cricut, downloads, scrapbooking ideas, scrapbooking resources

... and bought Sure Cuts Alot to test it out on my Cricut Expressions... After a few minutes I was up and running!

The program is pretty simple and straightforward. You can see all your installed fonts and cut them. What you see it what you cut. Here were some of my experiences/concerns:

* Before starting you have to be sure your Cricut Firmware is updated (you can do this using Cricut Design Studio (Free Trial, or Full Retail Version). You need Firmware version 1.1 for Cricut, and 2.1 for the Expressions machine.

Here is a link for the Free Trial of Cricut Design Studio.

* You also need a program called libusb for this program to work. You can download it here:
http://craftedge.com/products/libusb.html

* Designing is pretty easy. You just click where you want the application to cut your design, choose your font, and type away. You can resize by dragging.

* NOTE: Welding and Shadowing are not yet available. Disappointing yes, but it is in the works as a future feature that will be available for free upgrade later. Free is good!

* It can also cut shapes and comes with a basic library of shapes. Looks like there may be future shape files available for download - fun!

* It will only cut installed fonts - so be sure they are installed before you open the program, or else they won't show up in the font list.

* You have to have a cartridge inserted for the machine to be able to advance the mat. Doesn't matter which cartridge, but there does need to be a cartridge inserted.

* I did a test cut using my fave basic font - Georgia. It cuts great BUT painfully slow. But a tradeoff I would make if it meant I didn't have to buy any more font cartridges (yeah right, but that's my reasoning anyway... LOL). Maybe this is another thing that will be worked on...

* From my experience, it looks like the pressure is still controlled by the dial itself. I will email customer support though to make sure that is the case... NOTE: I heard back from a VERY QUICK responding customer service. The pressure is controlled by the knob on your machine.

The only worry I have is Provocraft's reaction to this program. There is speculation that they could come out with a Firmware Update that will block this program. Not sure if that is possible (or even legal)... But time will tell I guess.

All in all I think as it is, it is worth the $69.95 special that it is selling for right now. Not sure that it is worth the $90 retail price though - at least not without the welding/shadow features... But it is a solid first effort and freeing all those TTF's that we have on our computers!

I will update this review as I use the program more, and as new features come out...

Labels: cricut, new products, reviews

Wow - I was very surprised to hear it, but apparently a company has made software that allows the Cricut to cut fonts on your computer - SCORE!

http://www.craftedge.com/index.html

Looks like someone beat Provocraft to the punch... They really should have released the Design Studio Software with this capability... I am ***this**** close to buying it to try it out! If it works, my Wishblade is going to need a new home...

I wonder what Provocraft is going to do about it? Is there anything they can do? I doubt it right?

Or maybe this company has some sort of deal with Provocraft? Who knows - but I think this will be AWESOME if it works!

Labels: cricut, new products

Provocraft is doing another "Buy Two Get One Free" promo, this time for WalMart only...

You buy the cartridges between Feb 1 - Feb 29 at Wal Mart, fill out the Rebate Request and send it off by March 31st with your $14.95 payment for shipping and handling.

You will get a free cartridge of your choice (from a selected list)...

I did this rebate when they did it in December and got Printing 101 for free - great deal!

Labels: cricut, sales

It shipped and I got it today! Woo hoo! This was the free cartridge rebate that was going on late last year where you buy two cartridges and get the 3rd free. I think I sent my form in around December 15th, and I just got it today - not bad!

I was kinda worried since out of all the offered cartridges, there was only one I didn't have - Printing 101. But I figured I could always sell or trade it for another if I got one I already had. I had heard about people getting their 2nd, 2rd, and LAST choice (RUH ROH), so I was happily surprised that I got my first choice:



I soooo want to play with it, but I have 4 papers due before next Friday. ((sigh)) So... playing will have to wait I guess... :)

Labels: cricut

Get em while they're hot guys. Bargain Pack is having a Cricut Cartridge sale from December 4th - 13th. Their cartridges are all $42.50 - INCLUDING the Expressions Cartridges.

RUN - DON'T WALK - this is a super deal! :)

Here is a link to the sale:
http://www.bargainpack.com/cricutsale.htm

Happy Shopping Guys! :)

Labels: cricut, sales

I came across a cool new way to store your Cricut
Cartridges the other day and I thought I would share...

For those of us that have LOTS of cartridges, this
could be useful... Rather than keep your cartridges
in all those bulky boxes, you could keep them in a
Bugsafe.

Isn't it the cutest thing? It comes in two sizes - one
holds 12 cartridges, and the other holds 24. I think
this is definitely a cool, innovative storage idea...

You can order them directly here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5364627

I am definitely going to have to get one of these before
our next military move...

Labels: cricut, storage