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Post by OntarioScrapper on Jun 24, 2016 20:13:34 GMT
I thought we should have a main thread for this. This way if you do have a question, it may be found here! Anything goes. You can praise your Cricut or curse it. I have 3 machines right now. I started out with a Cricut Create. It cuts 12x6 and was very handy for my scrapbooking and card making needs. I had also bought a Gypsy (trying to sell both now that I do not use them). I then was gifted an Expression 2 from my husbands work since I did so many things for them with my Create. I plunged into the Explore. I did not like the fact that I could not cut a perfect circle with the E2. At this point I had many cartridges and had moved to the Craft Room because the Gypsy was getting too small for my aging eyes. I learned Design Space. Okay, I LOVE the Explore itself. Cuts those circles perfect and does very tiny detail. The problem I have is with Design Space. It can be glitchy as hell. The flash based system is its downfall. When DS works, I am happy with the Explore. When DS does not work well, I am frustrated since DS has no offline function. I have used my iPod with the app to get a project done. Since the App is not flash based, it works great. However the app is limited. No uploading images and your font selection can be small. Though there is an App for fonts. Problem is you can find a font on your computer but if you can not find it for your App, you can not use it. To get around this, some crafters just upload on their computer and then head to their iPad etc. They also will make SVGs in another program and upload from there. Design Space was not made to do complicated files. That is one of its big flaws.
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Post by Linda on Jun 24, 2016 20:54:45 GMT
I have a Cricut (Expression, I think - it cuts 12x12...mine is a cheerful yellow) and I managed to buy SCAL just before it was no longer offered for Cricut. I've never actually used my Cricut cartridges (I have 3 that came with my machine) - I exclusively use SCAl either with SVGs or I trace and cut.
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Post by refugeepea on Jun 25, 2016 1:34:15 GMT
I have the Cricut Expression (I think). It's purple. I bought it for the specific purpose of using the SCAL software before it got banned. My old laptop died and I still need to load the software onto my new one. I haven't used it very much lately. I probably have under 10 cartridges. My favorite is George.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2016 8:27:51 GMT
OntarioScrapper- You beat me to starting a Cricut thread. ! I am so glad you did. We really need it. I have a massive Cricut history. I have been with them since practically day one. I was even one of the first people ever to post at the old message board. I started with the baby Cricut. I loved that machine so much. I miss it. I got talked into the Expression. I loved with the Expression we could cut very small. Got the Gypsy. I can't even tell you how many times I have got that thing mixed up with my Playstation PSP and Vita. I am not joking. I actually got a good Gypsy. Never had issues with it. My DH opened it up and found the wires loose. He soldered them for me. She is still going strong. Went to the Imagine and it broke. I actually really loved the Imagine. Then I got the Aqua Expression. Next to the Baby Bug my Aqua Expression was my favorite. I used her for years with a combination of my Gypsy & MTC. She started to get on her legs and I knew she was going to go soon. She is still working. I have 98 cartridges. I really held out on the Explore. I know that many of us who have been with Cricut from the beginning were labeled as cheerleaders or haters. I am neither one. I like the Cricut. I like their designs. I get frustrated with the company and I don't really trust them. One of the employees asked me outright if I would spy for them. I am still hurt about it to this day. She is no longer with ProvoCraft. OntarioScrapper- That is why I say I am not really surprised at what happened with you all on the FB groups. I am still surprised it is happening. I did end up getting the Explore this Black Friday. I bought the pretty peach one. It doesn't have the bluetooth built in and it's only the single blade holder. I am very happy with it. I really do love my Cricut and I love the designs. I think this is the best die cutter I have ever owned. I have owned several versions of the Graphtec machines too- Wishblade, Silhouette SD, Cameo. I even owned a BossKut Gazelle. I don't say lightly the Explore is the best die cutter. The hardware is absolutely amazing. The way it cuts is just stunning. OMG that !@#$%% software! It is the worst! I swear PC is their own worst enemy. Creating such a stunning cutter and such horrendous software. If you are advanced at die cutting then the software is so hard to use. I know that can really be on that person. It is too basic. If you never have done die cutting before or need basic then I guess the software is a dream. Seriously if I was going to recommend a basic cutter to somebody then I would probably recommend the Explore. The Flash version of Design Space is just I don't even have words, lol. I use my Explore with my designs I own. I have not bought anything from their online store. I seriously doubt I ever will. Not anything against it but I am still working on a gift card that Cameo gave me five years ago. I use my Cameo and MTC for SVG's. I use Cameo's software for Print & Cut. My favorite cartridges are- Summer in Paris, Hello Kitty Greetings, Hello Kitty Font, Art Deco, Art Nouveau
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Post by swimchick1984 on Jun 25, 2016 12:00:15 GMT
I love all the close to my heart cartridges.
Although i do hate their website and their tech issues. I updated something and then it would not cut from design studio to my circuit. After a lot of frustration, and one random google search about an hour later I stumbled upon what was wrong and fixed it. but so frustrating.
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Post by ferblover on Jun 26, 2016 16:06:59 GMT
Thanks for starting this! I have an Expression, an original, a gypsy, an an Explore sitting in a box because I am afraid to take it out. I got the dreaded email a few months ago about suspending the Gypsy and knew that meant i had cartridges I would not be able to access if something happened to by beloved gypsy. All cartridges are over on CCR but I am still afraid to take the machine out of the box, lol. I figure I will have to do it soon, we have a Back to School Social and I am responsible for cutting out name tags(it is the last week of July, yes we start school way early!). Kids get a shape based on their grade and then a color of that shape based on their teacher. This way kids who can't read can still figure out that hey that kid will be in my class while playing at the park and eating their Hawaiian Snow. I started to plot out the shapes but then got tripped up by auto fill and logged out in terror, lol!
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Post by grammadee on Jun 26, 2016 16:21:13 GMT
I love all the close to my heart cartridges. Those are my favorites as well. I love their cut out card fronts and 3D centres, and their seasonal and event phrases. I have the Expression, and have never even tried to hook it up to my computer or to a gypsy. I have a collection of cartridges, but I don't use the Cricut a lot. Usually when I want to create a little extra something for a page: a background pattern, a specific element. Sometimes for a title, and then I am searching for the welded titles included with the various cartridges. I like that most times I can google search for a particular set of words or element with the words "Cricut Cartridge" and I can find out if one of my cartridges actually has that phrase or element (faster than going through all the little booklets).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2016 8:25:26 GMT
ferblover- Take the poor Explore out of the box. Do you have room for both the Expression & the Explore? I kept my Expression. It comes in handy for when you don't want to be online or Design Space is down. I will say as a late night crafter I have never encountered Design Space down though. My thinking is that is when it would be down for maintenance and repairs. I will say ProvoCraft keeps up with their serves fairly well. OntarioScrapper & I bark about the sucky software. Because it is really sucky. Seriously, it is not that bad. It could be old AOL software from the day. Once you get past the quirks and put yourself in a mindset for it to be simple then your good to go. If you are a Gypsy user it is a lot different. I admit I had trouble with that because I got into CCR and Gypsy habits. I have a Cameo so I have those software habits from Silhouette Studio & MTC. grammadee- I do a lot of Googling too when looking up images for my Cricut carts. I even caught myself doing that when I am using Design Space.
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Jul 4, 2016 4:15:10 GMT
Hi Cricut Peas. I have a question for you. I have an original Expressions and several cartridges. I have friend who has the Explore. Can she borrow a cartridge and use it without linking it to her account? If it does link to her account will I still be able to use the cartridge in my Expressions?
thanks.
ETA: I had been googling for this answer and couldn't find it. Right after I posted I found out that
1. You must link a cartridge in order to use it with the Explore/Air. 2. There is no way to un-link it, but I would still be able to use it in my old Expressions.
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Post by dualmaestra on Jul 4, 2016 5:28:52 GMT
Hello, another Cricut user here. I never got the baby bug, but got the original expression on a black friday. Used it and really liked it. When the pink Expression came out, I sold the original and bought the pink one at Michaels. I used the old Design Studio software to weld every now and then. when the Gypsy was released, I got it on it's release date. I really like it. I did stop updating it many years ago-- about the time many were complaining they died after updating.
This past Black Friday I got the Explore Air. However, I cannot use most of the almost 100 cartridges I have because they are linked to my Gypsy. Last winter I tried to connect my Gypsy to Craft Room and was unable to do it. I have to get this squared away soon, so I can transfer them to my Explore.
I did use the Explore to cut many things for Christmas, I really liked it. Have not played with the software much, but so far I wish it were more like the Gypsy or the original software. I don't find it as easy to use as those.
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Post by dualmaestra on Jul 4, 2016 5:31:06 GMT
Hi Cricut Peas. I have a question for you. I have an original Expressions and several cartridges. I have friend who has the Explore. Can she borrow a cartridge and use it without linking it to her account? If it does link to her account will I still be able to use the cartridge in my Expressions? thanks. ETA: I had been googling for this answer and couldn't find it. Right after I posted I found out that 1. You must link a cartridge in order to use it with the Explore/Air. 2. There is no way to un-link it, but I would still be able to use it in my old Expressions. You are correct, you cannot cut straight from a cartridge. You have to link it, and it can only be linked once. I have to find a way of transferring all my cartridges linked to my Gypsy to use with my Explore. That is one of the reasons I am keeping my Expression, for quick cuts straight from the cartridge
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Post by wonderwoman on Jul 4, 2016 7:25:04 GMT
So glad to see this thread.. I spent the last several hours updating the firmware on my Create & Expression..What a nightmare .. I couldn't get the machine to go into update mode even chatted with the Cricut help line no luck.. Finally found help online for do a forced reboot..
How do I link my carts to the Craft Room? They are already linked to my Gypsy. Tia~
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Jul 4, 2016 15:17:39 GMT
So glad to see this thread.. I spent the last several hours updating the firmware on my Create & Expression..What a nightmare .. I couldn't get the machine to go into update mode even chatted with the Cricut help line no luck.. Finally found help online for do a forced reboot.. How do I link my carts to the Craft Room? They are already linked to my Gypsy. Tia~ I don't have a Gypsy, but in my search I saw that when you link your Gypsy to the Cricut Craftroom the cartridges on it will be on your account. I use SCAL so I haven't updated my Cricut firmware since 2.34.
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GiantsFan
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Post by GiantsFan on Jul 4, 2016 15:21:14 GMT
Hi Cricut Peas. I have a question for you. I have an original Expressions and several cartridges. I have friend who has the Explore. Can she borrow a cartridge and use it without linking it to her account? If it does link to her account will I still be able to use the cartridge in my Expressions? thanks. ETA: I had been googling for this answer and couldn't find it. Right after I posted I found out that 1. You must link a cartridge in order to use it with the Explore/Air. 2. There is no way to un-link it, but I would still be able to use it in my old Expressions. You are correct, you cannot cut straight from a cartridge. You have to link it, and it can only be linked once. I have to find a way of transferring all my cartridges linked to my Gypsy to use with my Explore. That is one of the reasons I am keeping my Expression, for quick cuts straight from the cartridge This is the reason I'm keeping my Cricut as is, easy cartridge cuts without the use of my computer. When I want something other than what's on a cartridge I use SCAL. I also have a Silhouettte Portrait....
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Post by wonderwoman on Jul 4, 2016 22:27:37 GMT
I wish I had gotten the SCAL.. Can you use the E2 in the Cricut Craft Room or only an Explore? Tia~
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Post by deltakaren on Jul 5, 2016 12:58:10 GMT
Cricut Craft Room (CCR) is for the Expressions, Design Space (DS) is for the Explores. I don't use my Expression 2 as much as I should. I wish CCR was available off-line, so many times it is so slow or just locks up.
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Post by riversong1963 on Jul 5, 2016 13:18:56 GMT
I am loving my Explore! The only two things that bother me are the poor quality of the Design Space software and the fact that I can't use the projects that I made in CCR with DS. I've already asked the folks at Provo Craft, and I was told they aren't compatible. I have worked around that problem with screen shots, though. It's a bit time consuming, but if I really want to use a project, I do it.
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scrapnnana
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 5, 2016 18:20:36 GMT
I have Expressions 1 & 2, and a Gypsy that still works (or did the last time I tried using it). I have 104 cartridges.
I like the Expression and Gypsy for taking to crops. I bought the first Expression solely because I liked about 6 cartridges. I thought those 6 would be plenty. Nope. Then I got the E2 on Black Friday because it could cut better detail.
I considered buying the Explore, but I couldn't get past the need to be online (ours can be a bit unpredictable) and the inadequate capability of the software for design work.
I like both of my Expressions, and my Gypsy. However, I prefer my Cameo. It cuts better than my Expressions, and I love the software. If the Explore had better software, I would buy it, and I suspect it would be my favorite, but as it is, for now I can wait either for a better Cameo or for an Explore that isn't tied to the internet (and has decent design software).
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Post by wonderwoman on Jul 6, 2016 2:09:00 GMT
For portability nothing can beat the Cricut Create with the Gypsy.. Small and easy to tote..
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2016 4:32:27 GMT
I agree happywife the Create & Gypsy are the best combo. Least it was my favorite.
For all the Gypsy users trying to link their cartridges to the online software- CCR or Design Space. I used Cricut Craft Room to link my cartridges a few years ago. They all went in seamlessly to my online account. You can find everything in the menu file on CCR.
I have linked one cartridge with the Explore. OMG was that fast and simple!!!! I loved it. I couldn't believe how fast it was. There was no going through steps just plug the cartridge in and link it. If Design Space could be that wonderful for other things, lol.
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Post by marysue63 on Jul 12, 2016 18:19:01 GMT
I just bought the Explore, it's being delivered today! I've never used a Gypsy, CCR, or DS so it's all going to be new to me. I can't wait to get started!
So my question, and granted I haven't looked yet, where do you all go for ideas? I read that the Explore can cut something like 50 different materials. So great, it cuts leather, but what kind of project do you use with leather? I'm good with cards and scrapbooking, I'm hoping to branch out more with this new machine.
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Post by wonderwoman on Jul 12, 2016 20:50:46 GMT
I have Expressions 1 & 2, and a Gypsy that still works (or did the last time I tried using it). I have 104 cartridges. I like the Expression and Gypsy for taking to crops. I bought the first Expression solely because I liked about 6 cartridges. I thought those 6 would be plenty. Nope. Then I got the E2 on Black Friday because it could cut better detail. I considered buying the Explore, but I couldn't get past the need to be online (ours can be a bit unpredictable) and the inadequate capability of the software for design work. I like both of my Expressions, and my Gypsy. However, I prefer my Cameo. It cuts better than my Expressions, and I love the software. If the Explore had better software, I would buy it, and I suspect it would be my favorite, but as it is, for now I can wait either for a better Cameo or for an Explore that isn't tied to the internet (and has decent design software). This is me minus the Cameo and add a Create & Cake Machine ..lol With all the carts I have which is over 100, I Don't think my brain could learn a new system..lol.. I can just barely remember how to use the ones I have..
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Post by OntarioScrapper on Jul 12, 2016 22:58:55 GMT
So glad to see this thread.. I spent the last several hours updating the firmware on my Create & Expression..What a nightmare .. I couldn't get the machine to go into update mode even chatted with the Cricut help line no luck.. Finally found help online for do a forced reboot.. How do I link my carts to the Craft Room? They are already linked to my Gypsy. Tia~ Tia, if you have problems linking your carts through Craft Room, call Cricut. They can manually link them for you. However they will ask you to take a picture of every cartridge to do so. Sometimes the linking doesn't work well. Also if you have a cart like George, you have to call to get it linked. There are a few that just won't link to Craft Room.
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Post by OntarioScrapper on Jul 12, 2016 23:02:21 GMT
I agree happywife the Create & Gypsy are the best combo. Least it was my favorite. For all the Gypsy users trying to link their cartridges to the online software- CCR or Design Space. I used Cricut Craft Room to link my cartridges a few years ago. They all went in seamlessly to my online account. You can find everything in the menu file on CCR. I have linked one cartridge with the Explore. OMG was that fast and simple!!!! I loved it. I couldn't believe how fast it was. There was no going through steps just plug the cartridge in and link it. If Design Space could be that wonderful for other things, lol. I've been told on the FB pages that you can't link a Gypsy to Design Space. It has to be through Craft Room and they will show up in both. I agree, the linking on your Explore to DS is fast and too bad DS isn't like that itself!
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Post by OntarioScrapper on Jul 12, 2016 23:09:07 GMT
I just bought the Explore, it's being delivered today! I've never used a Gypsy, CCR, or DS so it's all going to be new to me. I can't wait to get started! So my question, and granted I haven't looked yet, where do you all go for ideas? I read that the Explore can cut something like 50 different materials. So great, it cuts leather, but what kind of project do you use with leather? I'm good with cards and scrapbooking, I'm hoping to branch out more with this new machine. Most of the ideas can be found on FaceBook groups and Pinterest. Just googling can get you to some good blogs though. The FB groups did get me into vinyl. The Explore cuts it like better. For my friend, I cut out sayings for her windows with vinyl. She takes old windows and puts the vinyl sayings on them and whatever else she feels like and sales them. She used to use the wall stickers from the dollar store but now she can have whatever saying she wants. This year I'm going to try putting vinyl on Christmas balls for my craft sales.
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Post by marysue63 on Jul 13, 2016 17:57:10 GMT
I have another Cricut Explore Air question. I bought mine on Amazon with no accessories. When it's open the bottom cover has storage area. The spot on the left looks like it's designed to hold something specific. I can't find anything on line that says. Does anyone know?
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Post by OntarioScrapper on Jul 14, 2016 23:57:55 GMT
I have another Cricut Explore Air question. I bought mine on Amazon with no accessories. When it's open the bottom cover has storage area. The spot on the left looks like it's designed to hold something specific. I can't find anything on line that says. Does anyone know? The small compartment on the left is for your blade accersories. You can put extra blades in the spot closet to you. There's a magnetic strip with indents fr the extra blades. The spot furthest from you is for the blade housings. I have a deep cut blade housing and that's where it is stored until I need it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2016 12:03:34 GMT
I agree happywife the Create & Gypsy are the best combo. Least it was my favorite. For all the Gypsy users trying to link their cartridges to the online software- CCR or Design Space. I used Cricut Craft Room to link my cartridges a few years ago. They all went in seamlessly to my online account. You can find everything in the menu file on CCR. I have linked one cartridge with the Explore. OMG was that fast and simple!!!! I loved it. I couldn't believe how fast it was. There was no going through steps just plug the cartridge in and link it. If Design Space could be that wonderful for other things, lol. I've been told on the FB pages that you can't link a Gypsy to Design Space. It has to be through Craft Room and they will show up in both. I agree, the linking on your Explore to DS is fast and too bad DS isn't like that itself! I thought I wrote that you can only link Gypsy through CCR. I probably wrote something that came out all jumbled. Sorry everyone. I have been very, very ill. I have been more dyslexic than usual because of it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2016 12:13:53 GMT
marysue63- I store my deep cut blade housing in that little compartment area too. I also keep my deep cut blades in the little blade holder so they won't get mixed in with my other Cricut blades. The other compartment I store my Cricut scoring tool and one of Cricut's markers. My machine came with a free marker. Also my adapter to write with is in one of those compartments. I got the Cricut with the single blade housing and not double.
Most of my inspiration comes from Pinterest, YouTube & Googling.
In other Cricut news I put the Explore through a lot of work this week. I finally got fed up with Microsoft Edge and went to Google Chrome. It was a lot easier. I know everyone's computers are different. Some of you might find Chrome a nightmare and Edge better.
I put my Windows 8 computer back in my art studio. It was just becoming too much of a hassle to take my Windows 10 gaming computer in my art studio. Of course Windows 8 does not come with Microsoft's Edge. I downloaded Google Chrome and it worked great with my Explore & Win 8 computer. I tried Chrome/Expore on my Win 10 gaming computer and got the same results.
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Post by marysue63 on Jul 18, 2016 18:23:12 GMT
I'm sorry, but I have one more question. I downloaded the Cricut app onto my ipad, but I can't seem to link my cartridges, is that correct? Should I just use Design Space (which I have no experience with) and forget about the app? What's the advantage of the app?
Is it just me or is the Explore just way more complicated to get started on? When I got my Expession I was able to use it right out of the box and never felt the need to use any of the software programs. Maybe that was the wrong thing to do...
I'm just a simple girl, trying to cut out some simple letters!
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