Whenever a new thing comes out that seems to make life easier for the avid scrapbooker, I always have to try it out. So when Provo Craft came out with the Cricut machine, I had to check it out. $250 - $300 seems like a lot to pay for any tool, but here’s what this baby can do:
It’s cartridge-based system allows you to cut thousands of beautiful shapes, letters, and phrases in a variety of styles with just the touch of a button. Cricut font and shape cartridges put hundreds of the freshest shapes, letters and phrases created by leading scrapbook designers at your fingertips.
Intricate designs and multi-layered shapes in sizes from 1 inch to 5.5 inches are only a press of a button away–giving you the freedom to easily create the fabulous layouts you’ve always imagined. No other cutting system gives you more ways to express your personality and creativity.
Here’s the Pros:
1) It’s portable. You can take it wherever you want (especially to crop nights!). No need for a computer.
2) It is lightweight. I picked it up and it was not heavy at all….lighter than a Sizzix machine.
3) It cut about 10 different sizes from 1″ to 5.5″. It does font and shapes.
4) It cuts 6×12 paper. BUT, I LOVED THIS….you can use a scrap of paper also. If I have a little 2×2 scrap of patterned paper I need a tag out of, I put it in the machine and position the blade exactly where I want the cut to be. There is very little WASTING paper. I love, love, love this feature!
5) THERE IS A USB PORT! The girl at Provo Craft told me that the USB port is there for future technology that is being developed for the machine. She said she believes that someday it will be able to do what the Wishblade will do in creating TTY fonts. YIPEE!!!
6) THe keypad on top is extremely user friendly.
So what are the drawbacks?
1.) It’s expensive.
2.) You have to buy more cartridges to get other fonts shapes and they cost $80-90.
3.) You have to replace the cutting mats after 35-50 cuts and they cost about $10 for 2 mats.
4.) It won’t cut chipboard. Only cuts up to .5 mm.
If it wasn’t for the expense of the machine, I would recommend getting this today. In fact, if it would work with computers and TTY fonts, I would say all scrappers should own one. So if you are really in the market for a diecut machine, this one is probably the best one out there. But if you just like cool new toys like me, maybe wait for version 2.0.