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Post by cannmom on Mar 26, 2016 3:51:44 GMT
My Cricut is easily the most expensive scrapping tool I own and I use it on probably less than 25% of my layouts. I can't even use the excuse of not wanting to drag it out because it's set up and ready to go all the time. Sometimes I'm really good about trying to use it and sometimes I just ignore it and pretend it doesn't exist.
Any advice and tricks form anyone on how to use it more often. Do you use yours or are you like me and shun it sometimes?
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Post by grammadee on Mar 26, 2016 4:13:13 GMT
It seems to me from going to crops that there are two kinds of scrappers.
One group can't make a page unless they cut the title and probably at least two embellishments for it. When the power goes out, they can't continue scrapping--even when the sun is shining through the windows.
Then there are the rest of us. We have a Cricut, but we don't go there first when planning a page.
The only time I think to use a Cricut is if I can't find the stickers I need, or I need a particular element for my page, and it is not on any patterned paper or layered sticker I own.
I also have a Vagabond and lots of dies, which I use more often than the Cricut, but again it is not the first thing I think of.
I find that my Cricut will sit for a long time ignored. Then when I use it once, I tend to go to it again. Sometimes I precut elements or backgrounds I think I will use for a page or card: cut lots of Christmas pieces for cards, for example. I get lots of inspiration from Pinterest, and when I see something I know I can create with the Cricut, I am motivated to give it a try.
But I am happy to have it when I need it, but not feel driven to use it for everything I make.
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Post by cmpeter on Mar 26, 2016 4:45:00 GMT
I am not a letter sticker fan. I use my Cameo for almost all my titles and frequently my journaling.
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Post by Ryann on Mar 26, 2016 5:09:25 GMT
Not a scrapbooker, but a card maker, and I don't use it often. I did use it a couple weeks ago to cut out enough easter/spring shapes to make a banner for my home's entry way. Every time I use my Silhouette I think to myself how easy and quick it is to use and wonder why I don't use it more often. And yet, I don't use it more often.
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Chinagirl828
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Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,670
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Mar 26, 2016 5:58:47 GMT
For me the best way is to cut a whole lot of shapes or words that I use often enough to keep in a dish on my desk. I cut them in papers that I will either use frequently (like gold or silver glitter or foil) or can easily alter (like white cardstock). I find that if I have to leave my project in the middle to find and cut something I will just look for a way to work around it, but if I just have to reach out and grab them they are definitely making it onto my pages.
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Deleted
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Nov 1, 2024 6:36:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2016 9:46:33 GMT
I have a Cricut, Cameo, Vintaj & Cuttlebug. I love them all for specific things. I think that is the big thing for me when it comes to die cutting I use those machine for specific things and not my go to for everything. I always like to think of my die cutting machines like my sewing machine. My Cricut is mainly my paper piecing machine. I never cut out titles. I don't think I have ever cut a title with a Cricut. I have cut titles with my Cameo.
I tend to power cut with my machines. I will make a lot of embellishments all at once. Cut out things to have in my stash. I will set down to work on a specific project. I made a peacock last week. After I made the peacock I haven't turned on my machines since then.
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Post by streetscrapper on Mar 26, 2016 12:47:57 GMT
I use it for all the time - for layouts and for cards. I definitely couldn't live without it and fall into the category "can't make a page without it" and if the power goes out and the sun is shining, I'd have to find something else to do! I design every layout and most cards in the Silhouette software - something I learned from Kerri Bradford - and since I started doing that, I stopped buying things that I can easily make. I no longer have a ton of stickers and embellishments that never seem to be the colour I need because if I make my own, everything always matches perfectly. That is the one scrappy tool that I couldn't live without and if, god forbid, it were to break, I'd buy another one before it had time to cool down! The hum that my family always hears coming from my scrap room is from my well used Cameo!
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Post by woodysbetty on Mar 26, 2016 13:17:53 GMT
I use my vagabond more than my wishblade....I love shapes for my cards and tend to use thickers for titles so my wishblade doesn't get used much...I think that's why I never upgraded to the cameo...
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Post by justjac on Mar 26, 2016 15:08:15 GMT
I rarely use my Cricut. I've had trouble a few times with the paper ripping instead of cutting, and with the paper being too stuck to the mat. I guess I never practiced enough to be comfortable with it.
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Post by ILoveToScrapPea on Mar 26, 2016 15:27:39 GMT
I'm still in the process of learning how to use my Cameo because I just got it at Christmas. I'm still scared of it, lol.
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GiantsFan
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,486
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Jun 27, 2014 14:44:56 GMT
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Post by GiantsFan on Mar 26, 2016 15:36:49 GMT
When I paper scrapped, I used Cricut for every title and date and sometimes shapes.
Before I got Cricut I used Quickutz and now I also have a Sil Portrait. I only occasionally use them now for card making or other paper crafts. But two weeks ago when I needed a full 8.5x11 of teeny tiny four-leaf clovers my Portrait was ready to go. I also make a lot of birthday banners. I use SCAL with Cricut and have the file already saved, so all I have to do is load paper, cut and assemble.
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Post by Linda on Mar 26, 2016 16:04:10 GMT
I have a Cricut with SCAL and a QK (handtool and an Epic 6). I don't use on every layout - I tend to use for titles and if I'm struggling to embellish something - because I can ALWAYS find either a cut file or an image I can trace
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paperkake
New Member
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Jun 29, 2015 14:03:56 GMT
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Post by paperkake on Mar 26, 2016 16:29:12 GMT
Sadly, I probably use my cameo four times a year. I love it and know that it can do so much but I am honestly too lazy to use it. I like the ease of ephemera packs and thickers. Should probably sell it to someone who would use it but just haven't reached the point of accepting I am not a techy scrapper.....yet
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,605
Jun 28, 2014 21:14:36 GMT
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Post by kitbop on Mar 26, 2016 16:55:04 GMT
Sadly, I probably use my cameo four times a year. I love it and know that it can do so much but I am honestly too lazy to use it. I like the ease of ephemera packs and thickers. Should probably sell it to someone who would use it but just haven't reached the point of accepting I am not a techy scrapper.....yet This. exactly this. I'm just lazy!
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Post by nancydrew on Mar 26, 2016 17:03:38 GMT
Although I don't use my Cricut on every page or card I make, I do use it on most of them. It's hard for me to justify spending money on Thickers and embellishments when I could so easily make them. That doesn't stop me from still buying a lot though.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
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Jul 8, 2014 20:17:31 GMT
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Post by scrapaddie on Mar 26, 2016 23:33:13 GMT
i use mu cricut or my scan n cut most of the time! Or dies... in spite of my michines, i still love dies!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Mar 27, 2016 0:41:52 GMT
I use mine on almost every layout I make--unless I'm not working at home. When I'm at home (where it is permanently set up) I design the whole layout sketch in the Funtime software, including the title, paper piecings, tags, journaling blocks, everything right down to the sizes the photos need to be printed in. I almost never use any premade embellishments on those layouts.
But when I'm at a crop somewhere else, I bring all my other themed stuff that I compulsively buy and try to force myself to only use that stuff. I have to admit that I find scrapping that way to be very difficult and frustrating for me because it's so easy to get everything to work exactly the way I want it to when I'm at home using my cutter.
Now when I'm making cards, I tend to use my Cuttlebug and thin dies more than my electronic cutter. Those projects are typically one-offs and thrown together quickly, so I'm more likely to use what I have in front of me, scraps, etc. on them and I don't want to take the time to turn everything on for one card.
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Post by LisaDV on Mar 27, 2016 0:49:34 GMT
My cameo is set up on my desk. So easy to use. I do use it a lot, but not on every single layout. I tend to go in spurts of every single layout and then not at all. But it still probably averages out to 60-70% usage. I also have items that I think I'll use frequently cut out to the side so I don't have to stop. I treat them like my other embellishments
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Post by riversong1963 on Mar 27, 2016 1:14:35 GMT
I use my Cricut and/or my Silhouette for almost every layout I make. I don't buy many pre-made embellishments or letter stickers. If I don't use my electronic machine(s), I use my Big Shot.
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scrapnnana
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Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
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Post by scrapnnana on Mar 27, 2016 1:37:55 GMT
I use my Cameo for most layouts, even if it's just for a title or some small embellishment. I use it for cards, small gift boxes and bags, and vinyl projects, so I use it often when I am crafting. I don't use my Cricut as often because it's not as quick and easy to find what I want, and I don't have it set up and ready to use right now. My Cameo is set up all the time.
After we move, I will have both machines set up and ready to use. Right now I don't have much crafting time and won't till after I am settled in my new house, but I love my electronic cutters and miss having time to use them.
Tips for using your cutter more? Maybe instead of taking the time to find a design among your cartridges to fit a layout or other project you want to do, choose a design you like and try to figure out a project to make with it.
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amom23
Drama Llama
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Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Mar 27, 2016 15:58:22 GMT
I have a Cricut that never gets used. I don't scrapbook a lot anymore and really don't have a space to leave the Cricut set out.
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Post by cannmom on Mar 27, 2016 20:40:46 GMT
I have a Cricut that never gets used. I don't scrapbook a lot anymore and really don't have a space to leave the Cricut set out. I do think that having it set up and ready to use makes a difference. I know that if I had to set mine up every time I would not use it.
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kate
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Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Mar 28, 2016 20:01:35 GMT
Not a scrapbooker, but a card maker, and I don't use it often. I did use it a couple weeks ago to cut out enough easter/spring shapes to make a banner for my home's entry way. Every time I use my Silhouette I think to myself how easy and quick it is to use and wonder why I don't use it more often. And yet, I don't use it more often. Replace Silhouette with Cricut, and I could have written this exact post myself. I do use my Big Shot more than the Cricut - I have many embossing folders in addition to a smallish collection of dies.
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Post by chaosisapony on Mar 28, 2016 20:07:17 GMT
I got a silhouette a few years ago and just never could use it as efficiently as I could my old cricut with scal. Everything became way more time consuming and frustrating so I just pretty much quit using it.
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Post by Dictionary on Mar 28, 2016 20:24:29 GMT
Well when I am making layouts and/or doing PL I use it more frequently. Right now not so much. I am sewing and making cards so it's just sitting in there. But I have used it for a lot of stuff. I would ask myself or you rather, why aren't you using it? I think once you figure that out it may help you to use it more.
I do find taking the time to find a font, setting the width and matting my cardstock can be a little time consuming but I go to the website that lets you see all your fonts so you know what your title will look like, and I weld my titles so I don't have to do one letter at a time..that makes it pretty quick to get titles done. Perhaps you just need to set yourself some goals so you will use it more.
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Post by 950nancy on Mar 29, 2016 0:49:24 GMT
I probably use it about the same as you do. I do use it vinyl and make things for other people almost as much as I do for myself. I have the Silhouette and use it more often than my Explore.
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Post by onlywork2scrap on Mar 29, 2016 1:39:07 GMT
i use my Portrait on every layout and take it to every crop. My Cricut, not near as much. In fact, I gave it away. I don't use my dies as much, but I can't part with them.
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Post by kiwifarmer on Mar 29, 2016 7:22:46 GMT
I have several cutting systems....cricut, silhouette, slice, scan n cut ( dont ask!!!)
However....I hardly use them, reaching for my cuttlebug dies much more often .... not sure why. Think I like the instantaneous effect of the cuttlebug, no faffing about with a laptop, power etc
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Mar 29, 2016 13:46:40 GMT
You mean the one stored under the bed in the box?
Oh, that would be never.
It's the original Silhouette, back when it was still made by QuicKutz. I had bought it when it was on sale for $99, right before a newer model was coming out.
I used to use it quite often, but now I don't have a dedicated computer to hook it up to, or a place to put it.
Honestly, I don't even miss using it. It frustrated me more than I enjoyed using it, all with paper sometimes tearing, and trying to figure out exactly how to size the design I had. I much better like just using my ZipeMate manual diecutter.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Mar 29, 2016 13:54:45 GMT
Any advice and tricks form anyone on how to use it more often. When I did used to use mine, I did have a dedicated space and computer for it, and that made all the difference in the world. It's too much work to have to hook it up to everything just to make embellishments.
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