Cricut Cartridges - Choosing the Best One's?

Hi L.!

Congrats on getting your machine!! You will love it. I had the chance to use one during a crop and then loved it so much that I got an Expression for myself. I love the ability to make things as big or as small as I want. Since I scrap mostly in the 12 x 12 format, it is very handy. It is very easy to use and the CD is very informational.

Also, I just finished decorating my son's room (nursery - he is due in January) using the Paper Pups. It is not something that I would have ordinarily but, but for the project it was perfect and it will be fun having it.

I, personally, loved the Stamped Alpha. I like the irregular edges, etc. I also like Alphalicious. I have about 8 different carts including Jasmine. I like Jasmine, but I do not use it very often.

I agree with the first poster that if you were go to crops, there might be others that are willing to share their alphas with you. Depending on where you live, you might be able to find those willing to trade with you or let you borrow theirs. I live S of Cleveland and have been meaning to go to a couple of crops in the area.

Also, where did you get your cartridges & machine from? I found a great place that has sales on their carts quite often. $39.00 - which I think is a great price. www.customcrops.com They are out of IL, but have an online store. If you sign up for their email notifications, they will let you know about sales.

Happy Cricuting!! You will love it.
Feel free to email me if you need more info or would like to see pics of anything.
K.

Hi L.!!!

Congratulations ....first of all for making this purchase for you!! And secondly for buying a product that is going to change your life! hahaha

I have had the smaller Cricut for about 2 years now and I love it!! My husband bought it for me for Christmas and at first I was a little upset being that it was so expensive, but I got over that REAL fast! haha It is amazing!

#1-It is the easiest thing to use! You will have no trouble learning how, it is VERY user friendly!

#2-The cart you picked is good, I would have to say your next cart purchases are all going to depend on what you are going to do with it. I bought the Jasmine and Boot Camp so I could do the vinyl lettering on my walls (scrapping too), but the Paper Doll cart is my absolute favorite. Keeping in mind I have 2 small children and the majority of my pages right now are about them, so it pertains.

So really it depends on what you are doing with it. I have about 9 carts and I have not regreted any of them, I use them all!

Happy Cricuting!:)

PS, I am not sure if you are aware or not, but once you register your machine with the company, they will send you weekly emails with ideas and alot of good info on the machine and carts as well. I have found this useful as well as it has led me to other information. More idea blogs, etc...lets just say my cricut used to have to be brought out everytime I wanted to use it at first, but we are in the process of moving rooms around so that it is out all the time, haha it is a blast!

I love scrapbooking myself and also have a cricut machine.

I have several cartridges my favorite is Jasmine now some of them you have to watch becasue the fonts can take up a whole page ..
the machine itself is very easy to use it looks complacatied but it really isnt.
there are several cartidriges that have different designs also ,which are fun if you go scrapbooking at different places, look at your different scrapbook stores and such whenthey have crops ,sometime people will share theirs with you and it gives you a chance to try them out before buying them ..there aredifferent web site you can go to,and a lot of different prices out there so look good before you buy..
but it is nicer if you have a chance to try and use someones first it is hard to tell you which ones you will like cause everyones taste is different .good luck

I agree with everyone who said it depends what you want it for. I live in the Indianapolis area, and we have 2 Cord Cameras in the area that also do scrapbooking. Anyway, they offer classes in the Cricut. Those classes are extremely helpful in learning the machine. It is easy to use, but also good to find out the little tricks and helpful hints. Very good class for $15.00! One hint, is depending on the font, it is good to cut out the letters in Shadow mode, or sometimes they are too thin to easily scrapbook. I like the Mickey font because of the chunky letters.
Enjoy, and happy scrapbooking!
R.