First Day Using the Cricut Explore

Hello Scrappers! OH MY GOSH! I LOVE the Cricut Explore and the Design Space! I only did a few things today with it but I am amazed and inspired to do so much more. It comes with so much! This bundle came with the machine of course, a carrying case, Cricut mat, USB cord, Tools and more tools, Pen, Duck Tape sheets, Vinyl, white Iron On material, and a few pieces of card stock. Most of the sheets that you get are small but I think its just to start you out and let you experiment.

 I used the Vinyl that comes with the Cricut and put my name on the machine. Then when setting up my machine it asks if you would like to do a project to get an idea on how to use the machine so I clicked yes and made a 'Thank You' card. I just joined a Cricut Design Space group on Facebook and a lady did a sweatshirt using Iron On material. So I took the Iron On material they give you with the machine and decided to give it a try. I LOVED IT! So Thank you Debbi for posting the idea! I can't wait to make more shirts with

scrapbook sayings on them for me to wear or friends even. I already have plans to make some Garage Sale shirts for my mom, grandma and I. We go quite a bit during the summer to local garage sales and I think it would be cool to wear shirts that match. Then a girl at work asked if I could possible make her a shirt she could wear at her little girl's Pageants.

The Cricut Design Space is pretty simple to use and if I have any issues figuring out on how to do anything I just look up YouTube videos to help me along. Really simple to link your Cartridges to the machine and Design Space. The plus to doing that is that you wont need your cartridge again, its saved and your can access it when you log into your account. You can make any design your own just by changing the letters around, welding them together or stretching the images. When you want to create an image with multiple colors it gives you step by step instructions on when to load what paper when.

The cuts the Cricut Explore makes are so nicely done and so far I have not had any trouble at all with it tearing or not cutting through. I have only tried three
of the settings so far but look forward to trying all sorts of materials on this machine and seeing the difference. This machine will also do two things at once, write and cut, cut and score, etc since it has two different housing pieces. Great machine and I recommend it to anyone that is wanting to upgrade or someone that is just simply looking to buy a Cricut.

Video showing how the card was made.

I only have a few downfalls I see with the Cricut Explore which I am sure a lot of ladies will agree on and those are 1. You have to be on the Internet in order to use it 2. You cannot use linked Cartridges on this machine (correct me if I'm wrong). So unlike the other Cricut machines this one runs with your computer (laptop or Ipad even) only, you cannot run this on its own. The other Cricut machines you just plug in your cartridges and voila you decide what you want to cut.  But I see more positives with this machine than negatives.

It even has little compartments for your tools, blades and housing! How cute is that!?

Looking forward to using this machine and showing you ladies my creations and ideas! Have a splendid crafty time Scrappers!