Cricut Explorer: First Cuts

Whoo Hooo! My Cricut Explorer arrived today!

The machine is a hefty thing, but it cuts so quietly, and it doesn't make the table shake when it cuts.  I just had to take it for a brief spin, to see how easy it was to set-up.  And it was super easy.  Trying to figure out how to access the free subscription and Anna Griffin stuff was another thing all by itself.  Nothing from the paperwork inside tells you how to access those things.  However, I went to the Cricut Facebook page and scrolled through some comments and found the answer.  Just in case you stopped here, let me tell you that you need to go to circut.com/setup, in order to get the perks promised from HSN at launch.

Now I did cut a few things

This butterfly is barely over two inches and the of the cuts are smooth.

Now this cut I will try again, because I think it was my pulling it off the mat to quickly that made the edges curl and look ragged at the fine points.

The little tiny cut at the base of the tip, did not cut cleanly, but overall I think it's a good cut.

Now of course since I found how to unlock the Anna Griffin content I decided to make the card that appears as one of the make it now projects.  I also used one of  the stamps from the Anna Griffin Chalkboard Stamp set.

I'm really disappointed that I didn't get the tool set with the score tool.  I ordered before the presentation, and didn't realize that the tool set was coming with a different tool  from what was being sold in stores.  So for the card cut above, I had to disengage the score tool function.

I can already tell that using Design Space is going to take a lot of playing around with to get use to.  Well, that's all for now.

HAPPY CRAFTING

LEGALBEAGLEPANDA

TALKED MYSELF INTO THE GETTING THE CRICUT EXPOLRER

What's up my fellow craft people?  If you checked in on the blog for the 2nd Wednesday featuring Cricut Cartridges you have noticed that I missed this month as well.  But in my defense I was clearing a spot for my new machine. 

Yes, Yes I talked myself into buying the Cricut Explorer.  It should be here tomorrow, and I can't wait. Now, if you read my last post you are probably wondering why I bought the machine.  Well here are a few reasons why I'm willing to try it out:

*I like the cut and write/score without having to change out blades or adjust settings.  This new machine has a place to house the blade, and another place to house the pen or scoring tool.

*I have the Cricut cartridges that I want (will buy the new ones I like) and most of my cartridges are already linked to CCR.  So I can buy an individual item if it appeals to me and not have to pay for the subscription. Plus I heard that the subscription can be bought on a month to month basis.  To me this means if I am doing a project that will require the use of cartridges I don't have, for that month I will pay for the subscription.

*Finally, they will allow you to cut and upload your .svg files for free.  I have a lot of .svg files since buying my Cameo, and its good to know I can use those same files on my Cricut Explorer with no problem.

I'm still a little bit worried about the cloud based system, but I figured I would get the machine, and see how it goes.  If after working with the cloud based system for a week or two I see reoccurring problems emerge, I'll just send the machine back.

I will keep you guys posted on how the machine works, troubles or joys and I will let you know how it compares to the Silhouette Cameo.  

Now the 2nd Wednesday review of a Cricut cartridge will definitely be back by April.  I will try my best to do one for March, but I know by April I will back in full swing.

HAPPY CRAFTING

LEGALBEAGLEPANDA CREATIONS