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Post by mymindseyedpea on Mar 21, 2021 18:09:50 GMT
I got it for my birthday and the last Cricut I had was the Expression over 10 years ago. Things have changed. I’m used to cartridges, not an app on the phone. I got this Cricut design app where you can use images from projects but I’d rather just find an app with images unless this one has it and I’m just not looking in the right place.
I plan to use it mostly for scrapbooking, at least for starters.
Can you program it to create your own image?
Any advice to share about how to use it would be great, thank you! ☺️
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Post by jjpeapea on Mar 21, 2021 23:17:40 GMT
I've been having sooooo much fun with my Explore Air 2 lately. Unless you do something kind of hack-y you have to use the Design Space software to communicate with the machine. Design Space has lots of images. But you can upload SVG files that you find free or on Etsy. Or if you are super clever you can design your own SVG files on inkscape, Procreate, and the like. You can also upload image files, like jpg, png and "clean them up" to cut the shape.
If you still have your cartridges you can put them in the slot and link them and you will have free use of the images and fonts on your old cartridges. Linking didn't work for me, but I called Cricut and the customer service rep hand linked them for me. There is a website and series of Youtubes by Jennifer Maker that might be helpful.
The Design Space software can be glitchy sometimes. I think they've released four updates in the last few weeks.
Some people get confused about the Cricut Access program. Design Space is free - it talks to your machine. Cricut Access is a monthly subscription paying for certain fonts and images they developed. They have free things, Cricut Access things and things that cost money no matter what (usually licensed characters).
Hope you have fun as well.
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Post by jjpeapea on Mar 21, 2021 23:21:31 GMT
Also, I'm in a Facebook group that is literally called "Cricut Tips and Tricks".
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Post by mymindseyedpea on Mar 22, 2021 3:35:42 GMT
I've been having sooooo much fun with my Explore Air 2 lately. Unless you do something kind of hack-y you have to use the Design Space software to communicate with the machine. Design Space has lots of images. But you can upload SVG files that you find free or on Etsy. Or if you are super clever you can design your own SVG files on inkscape, Procreate, and the like. You can also upload image files, like jpg, png and "clean them up" to cut the shape. If you still have your cartridges you can put them in the slot and link them and you will have free use of the images and fonts on your old cartridges. Linking didn't work for me, but I called Cricut and the customer service rep hand linked them for me. There is a website and series of Youtubes by Jennifer Maker that might be helpful. The Design Space software can be glitchy sometimes. I think they've released four updates in the last few weeks. Some people get confused about the Cricut Access program. Design Space is free - it talks to your machine. Cricut Access is a monthly subscription paying for certain fonts and images they developed. They have free things, Cricut Access things and things that cost money no matter what (usually licensed characters). Hope you have fun as well. Thank you so much! I will check Jennifer out ☺️ I’m glad you’re having fun with your Cricut ☺️ I have an app called Cricut Design that has a monthly membership. And thank you for the fb group idea ☺️ |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,449 
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 22, 2021 9:49:08 GMT
You may get use of Cricut Access for a week when you first get your machine. It seems like I did. However, even without subscribing to Cricut Access, I’ve seen them offer free files for a week. You have use of the designs during the week they are free. After that week is up, you no longer have use of them unless you buy them. Their goal is to get you to subscribe to Cricut Access. Most of the freebies have been files from cartridges that I already owned, which I had transferred to my Explore with the help of their customer service.
It’s been a long time since I use my Explore Air 2, however, so things may have changed. It’s an excellent machine. If I liked their software and/or their designs better, I’d use it more.
I also have a Silhouette Cameo and a lot of Silhouette files. Silhouette offers free files and you can also download the SVG, which can be imported into the Cricut software for cutting on your Explore. You can find a lot of free files from a variety of places.
Enjoy your machine!
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Post by riversong1963 on Mar 22, 2021 11:36:44 GMT
There are a lot of videos on YouTube and on the Cricut website. I've had Cricut machines since the first one came out many years ago, and I just got a Maker for Christmas. Have fun with your new machine!
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