|
Post by OntarioScrapper on May 24, 2017 4:09:07 GMT
Did you want some of my points to get a cartridge and be in the "Circle" and get 10% off online orders? I didn't put my points in my account. You'd need enough to get the points to 3,000. I can give you the numbers to get you to 3,000. I just feel like they are wasted point sitting around. Thank you, that is a very generous offer. I don't know much about the "Circle" or if it would be something I would use. I need to find out more about it. You don't have to actually use the Circle forum (it's private for Circle members only). the 3,000 points gets you a free cartridge. There's some really nice ones you can pick from. So if that's all you get out of it, then that's plenty.
|
|
xhevoice
Shy Member
Posts: 10
Jun 11, 2017 23:02:31 GMT
|
Post by xhevoice on Jun 13, 2017 7:50:17 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. ----- If your carts are linked to your Gypsy, they are ready for you in DS, just use the same login credentials. I didn't have to connect my Gypsy, well cause the update killed it, then I cried, and complained. I bought the Explore Air and had massive problems, and I cried and complained. And I went on FB and complained so much, I was invited to a group of complainers. I then friended the CEO and told him my problems. I called CS,and they swapped out my Explore Air. It was a lemon, my new one, which was tested by the rep before she sent it to me, worked well. Then 2 weeks later another Cricut Explore Air was sent to me. I was afraid to open it because I didn't know why it was sent to me. Long story short, I love the Explore Air, but, hate DS on the PC. I miss my gypsy, but the ipad app makes up for it. I haven't used my personalsince I got the Explore Air Christmas 2015, so I think l'll gift it, if folks still use them at schools. It still works. By now, you should have your answer, I'm new to this forum, and I guess I needed to share my story
|
|
xhevoice
Shy Member
Posts: 10
Jun 11, 2017 23:02:31 GMT
|
Post by xhevoice on Jun 13, 2017 8:28:36 GMT
.... I was reading one of my favorite scale modeling forums tonight. One of the sweet gentleman had bought an Explore. He was really excited about it. He had the 330 page PDF handbook ready to go. He was cutting styrene. He was super excited about it. This is a very intelligent man. I always love his posts. He understood the mathematics and engineering behind on plotters. I could see that he was struggling with the software. He does use other software so I knew it was not a matter of not knowing graphic programs. The software was too simple for him to use and that was causing complications. I wish ProvoCraft would understand this. It makes me want to bang my head on my desk. Just because it is simple does not mean it is easy. Simple can be more complicated. ---------------- Amayalylac, It's not that the software is too simple, it's that PC should've done what Sizzix did and partner with a software making company to create solid near bug free software to work with Explore. There can be more robust features in the software, but to be honest, since you can't save your designs, it's better to create outside of DS. The issue is stability and limitations. PC idea of a project is working with one image, maybe some text, perhaps a card base. It is an antiquated way of looking at a project. So when people like us with extensive graphic related experiences want to do creative things to extend a cricut image the software balks. I spent over an hour on the phone with tech support because the software froze and crash when I wbt to print and cut. This happened in Firefox, Edge and Chrome. What was I doing? I used an air ballon from the Summer in Paris cartridge. It was two layers. I duplicated the top layer, spliced the basket out and deleted the rest. Then I applied three different patterns to all three layers, attached and flattened them. I then duplicated that image 4 times, so I had five images in 5 different sizes. I sent it to the mat and selected make 2 copies. I then selected print and all hell broke lose. This was in DS Beta. After over an hour on the phone and hearing how even though it was one splice, since I duplicated it several times, it's being read as multiple layers...blah blah....all I keot thinking is I hired vendors to program simulations in flash that were complicated and, any who... The tech screen clipped the balloon, saved it as a file and uploaded it. So going forward, when I want to modify cricut images i own, even as simply as that balloon, screen capture it, save it as a png or svg and start a new project to cut. Do not attempt to cut projects with splices, the layers are too much. Meanwhile, the ipad app, has no problems with spliced files or projects with lots of layers. They can keep the software rudimentary, just make it bug free, and let me save my orojects and images locally.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 17:24:24 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2017 10:20:04 GMT
xhevoice- Welcome to the board. I am a long time Cricut user, since the day it came out. I am old pro at it. So many of the girls over here know this. I am always making cheeky comments about the Cricut. Yes, I do get frustrated with it, mainly due to promises they don't keep but put in writing. Most of my comments are geared towards the Cricut employees who monitor the boards for customer feedback. I try to make it fun for them and not make them feel like they are being attacked like some of the other social media sites. I know your new here and maybe not have been exposed to Cricut history. Cricut sued the companies that make the third party software. They chose to sue instead of go the Sizzix route. It almost destroyed their company. This is very old history. It is all over the crafting Internet in much more details. I really don't want to rehash it, understandably. It is still a very big sore spot for many in the paper crafting communities. I am sorry for your frustration about not saving your projects offline. Cricut WILL NEVER EVER ALLOW OFFLINE SAVING! I am not yelling at you. This is their Cricut bible golden rule. It will never be broken. They invested too much in the cartridge technology years ago and with the artists licensing they had to pay they backed themselves in a corner and they can't get out of it. You will never be able to save your images offline if they are Cricut purchased. Our lovely OntarioScrapper can probably add some healthy input too about why Cricut will never allow saving of their own designs to local hard drives. Really the reason is a very big legal issue with them. It is completely on their side. They boxed themselves into a corner. It is really complicated but it does protect their artists to an extent. I will give Cricut that. I am sorry you found my post argumentative that you quoted from. That was not my intention.
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,118
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on Jun 13, 2017 14:59:14 GMT
I was trying to use Design Space to make a Disney themed shirt. I had bought the design I wanted to use. No problem there. Then I tried to add text in a font that I wanted. It was SO SLOW to change the font, or to do anything with the lettering.
Is this normal, or was I just probably on during a time that their site was getting high traffic and therefor bogging down?
|
|
|
Post by nightnurse on Jun 14, 2017 3:28:10 GMT
I feel like DS has been a lot slower lately. I also noticed that the more fonts I've added, the longer it takes to load them and switch between them
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,118
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on Jun 14, 2017 17:08:18 GMT
I feel like DS has been a lot slower lately. I also noticed that the more fonts I've added, the longer it takes to load them and switch between them Thanks, that explains a lot. I have a ton of fonts installed on my computer. It's not an issue for my Cameo, just when using Design Space.
|
|
|
Post by garagesaler on Jun 15, 2017 0:29:43 GMT
I don't even try Design Space with my computer anymore. I know it should work, but I usually end up getting frustrated. My DD uploads the images we want to use on her computer for us, since I am also technologically impaired. I use my IPad with DS, and it works pretty well. I still wish they would add more features to the app, like being able to upload images, and printing with patterns. I save all my images on both the IPad and in the Cloud. You can use Design Space offline on the IPad, but the image already has to be loaded on your IPad. Using the IPad reminds me of using my Gypsy, but it is much easier.
|
|
|
Post by OntarioScrapper on Jun 25, 2017 22:29:09 GMT
.... I was reading one of my favorite scale modeling forums tonight. One of the sweet gentleman had bought an Explore. He was really excited about it. He had the 330 page PDF handbook ready to go. He was cutting styrene. He was super excited about it. This is a very intelligent man. I always love his posts. He understood the mathematics and engineering behind on plotters. I could see that he was struggling with the software. He does use other software so I knew it was not a matter of not knowing graphic programs. The software was too simple for him to use and that was causing complications. I wish ProvoCraft would understand this. It makes me want to bang my head on my desk. Just because it is simple does not mean it is easy. Simple can be more complicated. ---------------- Amayalylac, It's not that the software is too simple, it's that PC should've done what Sizzix did and partner with a software making company to create solid near bug free software to work with Explore. There can be more robust features in the software, but to be honest, since you can't save your designs, it's better to create outside of DS. The issue is stability and limitations. PC idea of a project is working with one image, maybe some text, perhaps a card base. It is an antiquated way of looking at a project. So when people like us with extensive graphic related experiences want to do creative things to extend a cricut image the software balks. I spent over an hour on the phone with tech support because the software froze and crash when I wbt to print and cut. This happened in Firefox, Edge and Chrome. What was I doing? I used an air ballon from the Summer in Paris cartridge. It was two layers. I duplicated the top layer, spliced the basket out and deleted the rest. Then I applied three different patterns to all three layers, attached and flattened them. I then duplicated that image 4 times, so I had five images in 5 different sizes. I sent it to the mat and selected make 2 copies. I then selected print and all hell broke lose. This was in DS Beta. After over an hour on the phone and hearing how even though it was one splice, since I duplicated it several times, it's being read as multiple layers...blah blah....all I keot thinking is I hired vendors to program simulations in flash that were complicated and, any who... The tech screen clipped the balloon, saved it as a file and uploaded it. So going forward, when I want to modify cricut images i own, even as simply as that balloon, screen capture it, save it as a png or svg and start a new project to cut. Do not attempt to cut projects with splices, the layers are too much. Meanwhile, the ipad app, has no problems with spliced files or projects with lots of layers. They can keep the software rudimentary, just make it bug free, and let me save my orojects and images locally. Honestly I don't understand why Cricut would keep going to the only online route. Competitors allow this. I do think Cricut wants you to see their "advertising" to gain more money. If there was an offline option then crafters would see the new premade projects all the time. So from a business standpoint maybe this is why the do this. I haven't downloaded DS3 yet but recently read in one of my groups that DS2 is going away soon so I guess I need to do that! I have found that you can't do anything really complicated or DS has a hissy fit. I tend to just do simple things. Anything that is more complicated I split up the project into different files and that seems so solve my problems. InkScape is free and I have it but just haven't played around with it it.
|
|
|
Post by OntarioScrapper on Jun 25, 2017 22:30:16 GMT
I feel like DS has been a lot slower lately. I also noticed that the more fonts I've added, the longer it takes to load them and switch between them Thanks, that explains a lot. I have a ton of fonts installed on my computer. It's not an issue for my Cameo, just when using Design Space. DS3 is suppose to handle massive font libraries better.
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Jul 12, 2017 6:01:37 GMT
Watching HSN with Anna Griffin and her new print and cut cartridge and printer, then she says Vinyl is the favorite thing crafters like to use with Cricut. I sense ProvoCraft has pushed Scrapbooking out to pasture.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 17:24:24 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2017 6:53:50 GMT
I noticed most of the Instagram Cricut photos are vinyl and the Cameo diverse projects. What is funny the Cameo is a real vinyl plotter since that is what Graphtec created that plotter design for. The Cricut was made for cardmakers and scrapbookers.
I think the origial Cricut scrapbookers and community left a really bad impression on Cricut and they want to concentrate on a different marketing sector. Even though it makes me sad the direction thry want to go I do understand.
I wonder where that leaves the newset trend crafter, the planner girls? I do fall in that category. We are making paper piecing files like crazy now and printing stickers. Hopefully, PC will expand on that. I think Cameo is doing better for planner girls in file offerings. Maybe, because I prefer Silhouettes store and never use Cricuts store.
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,118
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on Jul 13, 2017 17:35:12 GMT
I assumed that once you had your design on the Cloud in the DS software, that you could access it with your iPad. Not so? How do I get it on my iPad then?
(Edited to stick to my question.)
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Jul 14, 2017 1:00:43 GMT
I wonder where that leaves the newset trend crafter, the planner girls? Hey I thought of you, I am not a Planner girl but I was happy to see some of the cute images in these (hope these links work because it's in Design Space): Cutie Planner Files
Whimsical Planner Pieces
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 17:24:24 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2017 7:04:23 GMT
scrapnnana I thought we could do this too. I am waiting to get my iPad Pro before working with DS. I am not any help at all, sorry. Do you think it is a bug on their server side? I swear you can use your own files offline with the iPad. Night Owl Oh, I love!!!!!! Those are so Kawaii. I don't know if you use Silhouette's sofware but they have the cutest donut dog at the store right now. I havent bought him yet because I am doing a clean install of Win 10 Creator's Update. I am updating and upgrading all my graphic's software. I found him- www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/177694Is Cricut now calling digital collections cartridges? I noticed the sets were listed as buy cartridge. I was telling my DH tonight about Cricut going more into vinyl. I told him I understand the direction they want to go too but I hope they don't fall down that rabbit hole too deeply since my Cricut is my embellishment machine. I am updating my art studio too and I took a good hard look at my die cut machines. I use my Cricut to make so many embellishments. I never realized that until I laid out all my projects.
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Jul 14, 2017 11:29:36 GMT
I was telling my DH tonight about Cricut going more into vinyl. I told him I understand the direction they want to go too but I hope they don't fall down that rabbit hole too deeply since my Cricut is my embellishment machine. I am updating my art studio too and I took a good hard look at my die cut machines. I use my Cricut to make so many embellishments. I never realized that until I laid out all my projects. I use my Cricut to make page titles and embellishments for scrapbooking, I have no interest in making home decor or cutting vinyl for t-shirts, etc.
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,118
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on Jul 14, 2017 20:15:16 GMT
I still use my cutters for scrapbooking embellishments. I also use them for card making, home decor, glass etching, t-shirts, gift boxes & bags, leather projects, and whatever other types of projects it can cut. It's one reason I am addicted to electronic cutters. They are so versatile in what projects they can do. I am not into planners, but I can use planner stickers for paper crafting.
I haven't noticed if they are catering more to the t-shirt crowd or planner fans. I do see a lot of planner designs at the Silhouette Design Store (I have a Cameo as well as an Explore Air 2), and a lot of phrases that can be used for either t-shirts or home decor tiles. Designers can create both those types of designs fairly easily, so if you see a lot of them, it may just be the easiest way for designers to produce a lot of cutting files, and not necessarily be based solely on what the actual demand is. I assume there is pressure for designers to produce a certain number of files within a certain time frame.
I have noticed that I have a harder time spending my credits these days, both at the Silhouette site and the Cricut site. I know that part of it is because I have a lot of cutting files to choose from, but it's also partly because I have not been all that thrilled with what I see available at either site recently, regardless of category.
It's one reason that I am starting to go back to making my own cutting files again. And one reason I am so frustrated with DS. It's crappy software for those of us who want to design our own. Even combining a Cricut Disney design with a phrase is time consuming and frustrating. I need to try updating the software and see if it deals with my font library better. If not, I go back to designing in Illustrator.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 17:24:24 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 9:04:53 GMT
Night Owl I don't have any interest in making T-shirts or home decor either. That is kind of unique because of my hobbies is home decor. I just never was into the vinyl craze for home decor. Probably because I am one of the layered Bohemian decorating girls. scrapnnana- That is why I love my machines too because they are so versatile. I did really notice that the Cricut was my go to embellishment machine. I think it is because I have collected so many design cartridges over the years. When I bought my Cricut it was because I wanted to recreate all those beautiful Jolee's stickers. I use my Cameo for so many diverse projects like nail art, titles, printing. The Cameo is my sticker machine. I tease all the time that my Cameo is my glorified sticker machine. I do make printables/stickers on the Cricut too. It is usually a cartridge design where the Cameo is my own artwork. I recently laid out all my artwork to see what supplies I really use and don't use. I also did this to see where I want to grow. I just thought it was really interesting where I tend to gravitate towards one machine over the other. I never noticed that before in all my years of die cutting. I really thought it was about even. I also noticed that even though I have owned other cutters over the years I always go back to Cameo & Cricut combination. I am an Instagram junkie. I have been getting my Cricut news from Instagam. I have noticed there are a lot of vinyl creations now when you follow the Cricut tags. I think it is really popular so Cricut is using that is their hot market. I am happy for the vinyl creators. I am happy for ProvoCraft that they can delve into new and different design artists. I thought their design artists were getting a little stale and nothing was trendy for awhile now. It might not be a good thing for scrapbookers right now but in the long run I see it as a positive. It has been a long time since I could say I see a positive with Cricut, lol. Cameo does have a lot of phrases. This last month was overwhelming with all the new designs that were phrases. They had puppy donut. I have a donut pillow and my dog loves that pillow. My DH is always "teasing' her with it. It is her favorite game. When my husband saw puppy donut he screamed it was our baby. I played with Design Space 3 a little bit more in depth last night. I do really like this version. I should say my computer likes this version. Hopefully DS3 won't be so drama filled. I do have one grump. I don't like the grid. I know we can turn it off. This is a minor cheeky grump. Those lines are really busy. It is like Cricut threw every line they could think of on those grids, lol.
|
|
|
Post by riversong1963 on Jul 15, 2017 14:01:04 GMT
I use my die-cutting machines, including my Cricut Explore Air and Cake Mini for many things. I consider them tools (or is it toys?), so it doesn't matter what the sites are "pushing" at any given time. I do see the increase in home decor projects being featured, though. I use the projects section of the Cricut site mostly for ideas and inspiration, but I make my own projects and very rarely use the pre-made ones. Most of the pre-made designs require you to buy at least one file from the store, and I can usually find a similar file that I already have.
|
|
|
Post by 50offscrapper on Jul 29, 2017 6:49:32 GMT
|
|
|
Post by OntarioScrapper on Jul 30, 2017 20:18:08 GMT
I played with Design Space 3 a little bit more in depth last night. I do really like this version. I should say my computer likes this version. Hopefully DS3 won't be so drama filled. I do have one grump. I don't like the grid. I know we can turn it off. This is a minor cheeky grump. Those lines are really busy. It is like Cricut threw every line they could think of on those grids, lol. You spoke too soon. Last update for DS3 has some crafters screaming on FB. Is there a function to turn off the grid? I've used the new DS twice so far. I have to go to it tonight and I hope I don't get the glitches others are having. Several have had to uninstall and re install DS3 to get it to work again.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 17:24:24 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2017 6:49:53 GMT
OntarioScrapper I am not having any trouble with DS3 (knock on wood). I hope you didn't have any trouble either. In options you can turn off the grid. So far I really like DS3. I think I get a more positive experience not getting FB news about the Cricut. It seems like a lot of the girls brought over the negativity from the Cricut MB to Facebook. Girls remember a couple of weeks ago we were talking about Cricut and the vinyl trend? I wrote that Instagram I have been seeing a lot of vinyl. This week it seems like the Cameo is vinyl and the Cricut is art projects. How funny is that? The machines are going back and fourth in trends, lol. Has anyone bought anything new Cricut related? I haven't bought anything at all. I am thinking of upgrading my Cuttlebug, if that counts.
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Jul 31, 2017 8:28:30 GMT
They are announcing something "big" today. My guess is some kind of printer/scanner/copier thing because Anna Griffin was selling one on HSN.
|
|
|
Post by OntarioScrapper on Jul 31, 2017 23:26:47 GMT
They are announcing something "big" today. My guess is some kind of printer/scanner/copier thing because Anna Griffin was selling one on HSN. Still nothing. I'm guessing the same thing also. Tuesday morning now.
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Aug 1, 2017 4:38:30 GMT
Still nothing. I'm guessing the same thing also. Tuesday morning now. That Anna Griffin printer is getting some bad reviews.
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Aug 1, 2017 8:06:17 GMT
Somebody posted they got an e-mail from JoAnns that had a "Cricut Maker" machine in it. Looks like something you use for thicker materials.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Apr 26, 2024 17:24:24 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2017 8:47:56 GMT
I peeked at her printer. It is a really pretty color. I really like Anna. I swear with all the stories of the horrid scrapbook stars lately I feel like Anna is the last of the classy ladies in this industry. I also love that her items are elegant.
HSN's description for the printer was very vague. I looked up the regular Verite on Amazon. It had terrible reviews. I am sorry it is getting bad reviews. Anna does license her name to quality items. Kodak does make nice printers.
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Aug 1, 2017 14:51:41 GMT
Live announcement is happening now, big b.s. speech by the CEO I have on for background noise. First thing he is showing is some kind of heat press for vinyl, $149. Second is a machine that cuts thicker material, has more cutting force.
|
|
|
Post by Night Owl on Aug 1, 2017 15:12:13 GMT
Showing the new machine now "The Cricut Maker" (HA JoAnns accidentally sent an e-mail out last night with it and spoiled the surprise). Releasing sewing projects to go with it, this machine will cut fabrics. Got to get back to work but glad it's not something that will tempt me, I will stick with my Air 2.
|
|
scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,118
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
|
Post by scrapnnana on Aug 1, 2017 16:15:30 GMT
I couldn't access the live announcement. No sound on their test clip, and then it appeared that the live feed was done through Livestream. I tried to access it, but got an error message. You have to have an account with Livestream, or so it seemed at first glance. While I could request the 30 day trial, it's a paid sub after that. Not going there.
I already have a decent heat press, and the cutters I have are sufficient for the crafting I want to do. I'm not excited about the new release. Guess that will be a good thing for my wallet.
Edited to add: they have a video for the Cricut Maker on the Cricut.com home page now. It looks like the added abilities are for fabrics, thicker leather, and thin wood. The blade used for cutting fabric is a roller blade, and it lifts up completely and repositions for sharp corners. It does look like an interesting machine and has potential from the looks of it, but it's still not anything I need or would use.
|
|