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Tag: cricut cutting machine

Still Wondering What is the Cricut Gypsy?

So people have been asking, what is the Cricut Gypsy? In a nutshell, it is a handheld cricut design studio, but better. Better because the cricut gypsy is portable and does not need a computer to design your layouts.

I was one of the lucky ones to get a Cricut Gypsy, and it arrived on my doorstep last Thursday and I Love it!  It is lighter than I thought it would be which is great since it will be in my hands a lot.  I posted on the message board yesterday that I am starting to like football.  I watched a game with my hubby; well I sat with him while I designed with my Cricut Gypsy.  How cool is this I can spend quality time with Hubby and we are both doing something that we enjoy!

I know that the first thing you want to do when you take it out of the box is turn it on.  I also bet that a lot of you thought that it didn’t work when you hit the big silver button on the front of the machine.  That is because that is not the on/off switch.  The on/off switch is on the side of the machine.  But you would have known that if you read the manual.  I have also been reading the message board good & bad.  All I can say is read the manual on line, (yes it is online, it didn’t come with the machine) but lots of companies are doing that now.  It does keep the cost down and easier for updates too! If you don’t want to read the entire manual before you start then don’t complain when something supposedly goes wrong.

Still wondering what is the Cricut Gypsy and how it can help you? It gives you more time to be creative because you can use it pretty much everywhere.  Also, you don’t need to go to the eye doctor.  You can make the images larger on your screen.  Read the manual and it will explain how to change the default size of the images.

The one thing I do have to say is you better really love or like your Cricut Gypsy a lot, before you link your cartridges to it.  First because once you link a cartridge, it’s for that Cricut Gypsy only. Your cartridges will never work in another Cricut Gypsy machine again.  It WILL work on your Cricut cutting machines. And I also heard that if you link, you can not return your Cricut Gypsy.  So think before you link. (I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it).

I have also learned that since you can sit and relax anywhere using the Cricut Gypsy, you can really get into looking at all the cartridges out there that you do not own, and even design pages with them, so that when you do have some money saved up, or your birthday rolls around you will know what to ask for.

I hope that answers the question, What is the Cricut Gypsy? Everyone, even me, have a lot of questions on how to do this and that.  It’s called learning a new piece of equipment.  Remember when you first got your Cricut cutting machine?  You had ton of questions then too.  It was the same as with your Design Studio.  All I can say is practice makes perfect.

So pick up that beautiful Cricut Gypsy and start learning all there is to learn about it/her/him.  And I betcha you will love it.

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

Putting Your Best Cricut Ideas Into Your Cricut Projects

Looking for some Cricut projects?  Here are some Cricut ideas for you.

Now that you own your Cricut cutting machine, why don’t you start making great Cricut projects such as handmade greeting cards?  Start selling them either at local craft shows, online, or at specialty shops in your area.

Now days everyone could use a little extra cash.  Your first of many cricut projects will be to make an assortment of about 10 to 12 cards.  Be creative, there are a ton of Cricut ideas you can think of. Included in this assortment you should have a couple of Birthday cards (make sure you make feminine, masculine and also cards for a child), also include Thank You, Anniversary, Get Well and even a Sympathy card.

Some more Cricut projects that you can make on your Cricut cutting machine would be to make blank inside note cards for any occasion.  You can have some Cricut card ideas such as flowers on the cover or maybe just the word hello decorated with some other shapes.  You can package them up in sets of 4-6 cards.

With your Cricut cutting machine making all kinds of Cricut projects are all at a touch of a button.  All kinds of Cricut Ideas will start flowing from your creative mind.  You can even make decorated boxes to put your cards into.

Now you need to take your Cricut projects along with some of your Cricut Ideas and take them around to a few shops (Florists, Bakery, Salons, and small Gift Shops) and talk to the owner. Have your pricing available for each shop owner. Personalize the price sheet with the name of the company that you are going to sell them at.  You will come across looking like a very professional business person and not just a crafter trying to sell your Cricut card ideas.  Some owners may even let you leave your cards in there shop on consignment and just take a percentage if you sell them.  (I have done consignment in the past in at a local florist and also an upscale nail salon and did great.  What a better place to display your Cricut card ideas than in an atmosphere that is 95 percent women, who are the best shoppers.  Besides the cards that I had on display, I also received special orders for Baby Showers and Birth Announcements) Just don’t forget to leave your business cards at these shops.  Customers may want to contact you personally for special orders. You can also sell online a great place online is called Shop Handmade, it’s great because it is free.  Or you can also sell your Cricut projects at local craft shows.  . While creating your Cricut card ideas, don’t forget Christmas cards and other big holidays that people send cards such as Valentines Day, Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day!

Another of many Cricut projects you can make in your Cricut cutting machine is to create a Custom Baby Shower or Wedding Shower or even Wedding Invitation, with your Cricut cutting machine.  There are so many Cricut ideas for these types of cards.  There are a lot of Cricut cartridges that are made especially for these Cricut projects.  In the Cricut Solution series there is a cartridges called Wedding for all the great wedding shapes you can think of and they also have Home Accent cartridge that has beautiful swirly shapes and  flowers that you can also use for a wedding theme.  If you decide to go the Baby Shower or Birth Announcement route, there are great Cricut cartridges such as New Arrival and soon to e released A Child’s Year.  Which ever route you take make sure that you make several samples in a variety of styles. Take them to Wedding Shows; contact Wedding Planners in your area, Bakeries, Florists and Baby Boutiques.

I can’t stop thinking of Cricut ideas. I just had another one for a fantastic Cricut project.  See I told you that your Cricut Ideas will start to flow once you get started using your Cricut cutting machine.  If you have any party centers for children birthday celebrations in your area you can offer decorated and personalize goodie bags, and Name tags.  Show them samples of different themes that you have (depending on the Cricut cartridges that you have). You may even make up a catalog to leave there so customers will be able to see the selection that you have to offer.

Have fun and be creative.  Cricut Ideas and Cricut projects will start popping you’re your head.  I guarantee it!

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

Great Cricut Card Ideas

Why spend another penny on a store bought greeting card now that you own a Cricut cutting machine. You paid a lot for that Cricut, so let’s put it to work. Here are just a few Cricut Card Ideas that will get you started and allow you to use any of your cricut cartridges you choose.

The next holiday coming up on the calendar is Easter. When I think of what cricut card ideas I can come up with, I think of how your family and friends will react when they receive a handmade greeting card made by YOU. Now that you have your Cricut cutting machine and a variety of cricut cartridges, it is so easy to add your personal touch to a card.

If one of the cricut cartridges you have is the Cricut Doodlecharms cartridge, you can make a really cute handmade greeting card of the Easter Bunny or an Easter Basket filled with colored eggs. Or maybe another one of your cricut cartridges is the Cricut Wild Card cartridge so you can make a Filigree Easter Egg card. Another one of my Cricut Card ideas is if you have the Cricut Stretch your Imagination cartridge. You can make a card with a Bunny coloring Easter eggs or a bunny in a basket.

As far as all of the cricut card ideas I could come up with for Easter, not all of them need to have bunnies or eggs on them. Here is an example of using a different one of your cricut cartridges called A Walk in My Garden cartridge. With this cricut cartridge you can make beautiful daffodil, hyacinth, or tulip to be the theme of your card. You are the artist of this Easter card, show your creativity and have fun.

Then the next big card day is Mothers Day. Think of how your Mom will feel getting a handmade greeting card from her child. You will totally make her day. No matter what cricut cartridges you have you will be able to find some thing that will put a smile on her face, and of course you will do all of this with your magnificent cricut cutting machine. It could be as simple as a basic flower from the Plantin SchoolBook cartridge, that you cut into different sizes and layer on a card, and then add the words Happy Mothers Day, or to the Best Mommy in the World.

The great thing about your Cricut cutting machine and all the cricut cartridges that are available to you is that it gives you thousands of Cricut card ideas. You will see that your cards look so professional you will not be able to wait to send them out or start selling them. I’m going to get busy making my handmade greeting cards on my very own Cricut cutting machine, how about you?

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

What is the difference between A Cricut Cutter and a Cricut Cutting Machine?

The answer is nothing.

The Cricut cutter or also known as the Cricut Cutting Machine, Baby Bug, Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter, or Original Cricut, is the greatest thing that has come to the market for creating endless possibilities for all of those crafters out there.  If you are into scrapbooking, card making, handmade party decorations, school projects that take all weekend cutting out shapes and letters, and the list goes on and on, this Cricut cutter is for you.

First of all, speaking from someone who used to love her QuicKutz Squeeze, this Cricut cutter “die-cut” machine surpasses it by a mile.  The Cricut cutter is lightweight and easy to use. It also has a handle for easy carrying.  No computer is required. The Cricut cutting machine simply plugs into any normal wall outlet. Besides the blade and Cricut cutting mat that comes with the Cricut cutting machine, you need a Cricut cartridge. The machine usually comes with two cartridges, a font cartridge and a shapes cartridge to get you started.

The Cricut cartridges are also small and lightweight, and each comes with a simple keypad overlay, and manual to make it easy to use. Although some may say that the cartridges can be a little pricey (I have seen them priced from $39 all the way up to $100), they are well worth the cost if you consider the fact that each cartridge has hundreds of designs that can be used in virtually thousands of styles and sizes, all in one cartridge. On the Cricut cutter you can cut from 1″ to 5.5″.  No more storing hundreds of die cut plates, which come in bulky sizes.  Another positive is you will have more space in your craft room.

Also available are replacement blades and mats at reasonable prices, and other accessories such as tools and carrying cases.

I personally think that the Cricut cutter is by far a best investment you can make for your crafting needs!