Available Now – Cricut Create-A-Critter Cartridge

This past Thursday, Provo Craft announced the release of ten new cartridges, including the Cricut Create-A-Critter cartridge.  Of the ten, this has got to be one of my favorites, and I'm counting the days until it will be available for purchase (rumor has it that it will be the end of April)!

UPDATE:  It's available now!  Visit our Create a Critter page to compare prices...

Anyway, it features fifty different animals - and each one is just so doggone cute!  They have adorable smiles, and come with whimsical accessories.  In fact, there are 100 accessories in all!

It would take me forever to list everything that is on this cartridge, so if this is the first you have heard of it, check out the sneak peek of the Cricut Create-A-Critter cartridge on their website.  Here is also a short video clip from Provo Craft introducing it...

Provo Craft also handed out preview copies of this cartridge to a few lucky crafters.  Although it's not available yet, you can start getting ideas by checking out what some of them have made: [Read more...]

The Cricut Cake – And Other Sneak Peeks!

In case you have not heard the news yet, the Provo Craft company is coming out with another new machine - the Cricut Cake Personal Electronic Cutter!  Instead of being stowed away in your craft room, this machine is meant to be used in the kitchen.  It cuts fondant, which can be used to decorate cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and candies.  Here's a picture of it...

Cricut Cake

It comes with an exclusive Cricut Cake Basics cartridge.  However, you can also use your other cartridges with it too.  The machine and Cake Basics cartridge will retail for $399.99.

In addition to the new machine, Provo Craft will be releasing 100 new cartridges this year!  Yep, you read that right - one hundred!  Crazy, huh?  [Read more...]

Coming Soon – The Sizzix Eclips

As much as I love my Cricut, I am always intrigued when I hear about new die cutters hitting the market, and on that topic, I have been hearing a lot of talk lately about the new Sizzix Eclips.  It's making its big debut later this week (January 15th, to be exact), and I suspect after that date, we will all know a little more.

However, here is what I have found out so far:

First things first, here's a picture of it...

Sizzix Eclips

Like the Cricut, it's a cartridge-based electronic die cut machine.  The cartridges will retail for $39.99 to $69.99.  What will be on these cartridges?  I'm not really sure, but Sizzix gives us this hint on their website: "Wouldn't it be great to have our award-winning designs electronically?"

However, their single clue only leads to more questions... [Read more...]

Cooking Up Some Fun with the Cricut From My Kitchen Cartridge

I bought the new Cricut From My Kitchen cartridge yesterday, and after taking a look at everything it could do, I could not wait to start "cooking" up something with it.  Unfortunately, I have been so busy playing taxi driver for my two kids, I haven't had much time to play lately.  However, I was able to put together a quickie card.  Here it is...

Card Made with Cricut From My Kitchen Cartridge

As you can probably tell, it was super simple to put together.  I cut the phone at four inches, and used my computer and printer to print out the "keep in touch" message on the right.  It doesn't get any easier than that, does it!

[Read more...]

Make a 3-D Village with the Cricut Winter Woodland Cartridge

Cricut Winter Woodland CartridgeWhen I heard that Provo Craft was releasing the Cricut Winter Woodland cartridge, my first thought was that I really didn't need another Christmas themed cart.  Of course, one look at what this one could do, and I knew I was completely wrong!

Although I like the cutout shapes and fonts on this cartridge, what I really love about it is that I can make an entire 3-D Christmas village with it - what fun!  I have always enjoyed putting together gingerbread houses (and I'm also a big collector of the Department 56 Snow Villages).  I am more than a little happy that the kids and I can now use the Cricut to make a paper crafty village.  I think it will also be great for making Christmas ornaments, as well as using as a template for our gingerbread houses! [Read more...]

What is the Cricut Gypsy?

So, what exactly is a Cricut Gypsy?  Although it might resemble a Nintendo DS or PSP, this handheld gizmo isn't for the kiddos!


Cricut Gypsy


We will have to wait just a little bit longer before it's available to buy.  In the meantime, our friends over at Provo Craft have been having a lot of fun building up the anticipation, even leaving daily clues on their website during the month of July.

In case you missed the clues, here they are... [Read more...]

Rockin’ Die Cuts With the Hannah Montana Cricut Cartridge

Hannah Montana Cricut CartridgeI wasn't too sure what to expect when I heard that Provo Craft was releasing a Hannah Montana Cricut cartridge.  However, now that I have actually seen it, I have to admit - it rocks!

When I first learned about this cartridge, I couldn't resist teasing my two boys.  I threatened them that if they did not clean up their rooms, I would buy some vinyl (preferably in pink), and use it to make die cut shapes for their bedroom walls!  However, the joke was on me.  With cool musical notes and guitar-shaped icons, they just might like the idea of a little remodeling.

My nieces (ages 8, 9, and 10) love anything with Hannah Montana, so I knew I had to get this one - if only for them.  No surprise - they love it!  In addition to the guitar and musical note icons, there are plenty of shapes with "girl appeal", including diamonds, hearts, flowers, and Hannah Montana silhouettes. [Read more...]

Making Cricut Stencil Designs and Magnets

Your die cuts look great in your scrapbooks and on your handmade cards, but what if you could use them in your home, by making stencils for decorating your walls and accent furniture pieces  Guess what - you can!  All you need is the Cuttables Cricut Stencil material.

The stencil material comes in sheets of 12" x 24" and is backed with repositionable adhesive.

If the idea of making your own stencils using your Cricut machine appeals to you, you may be interested to know you can also use it to cut your own magnets.  The Cuttables Cricut magnet material is available in sheets of 12"x 12", and is perfect for making cheery magnets for your fridge, your home office, even your car!

Both require the use of the deep cut blade and housing (and of course, your machine), but this is an easy project that is loads of fun...

Cricut Embossing With Your Cuttlebug!

Have you ever wished that you could make embossed papers that coordinated perfectly with your favorite Cricut die cuts?  Now you can, with the Cuttables Cricut Embossing Kit!

cuttables-cricut-embossing1You will need to have the deep cut blade and housing in order to cut through the thick embossing material.  You will also need to have a Provo Craft Cuttlebug machine for for this project, but I'm guessing many of you already own one!

The Cuttables Cricut Embossing Kit includes the following:

* one A2 embossing folder
* one embossing sheet (4.25" x 5.75")

Additional embossing sheets are available in refill packs of four sheets.

This project is super simple.  Here's how to make your own:

First, cut the selected design on the embossing sheet using machine.  Second, adhere the design inside the embossing folder.  Finally, run it through your Cuttlebug...

That's it!

Have You Heard About the Cricut Stamp Kit?

Did you know you can now make your own acrylic stamps using your die cutter and the Cuttables Cricut Stamp Kit.  You will need the deep cut blade and housing to cut through the material, but you can then mount your favorite die cut designs to your acrylic blocks and stamp to your heart's content!

cuttables-cricut-stamp

The stamp kit includes the following:

* one sheet of 6" x 6" material for making your Cricut stamps
* four acrylic blocks in the following sizes - 1"x 1", 2"x 2", 3"x 3", 6.5"x 2"
* a vinyl envelope for storing your stamp material

If you already have a pile of acrylic blocks laying around, you can skip buying the kit and just buy the refills.  If you are concerned about storage, the refill packs also include a vinyl storage envelope.

Give it a try, and let me know what you think!