Cricut Machine for Scrapbooking

From LoveToKnow Scrapbooking

For enthusiastic crafters, the Cricut machine for scrapbooking is a smart investment.

The Cricut is a great investment for the avid scrapbooker.

About the Cricut

Pronounced like the bug “cricket”, the Cricut is a die cutting machine made by the scrapbooking supply manufacturer Provo Craft. It does not require a computer to operate and comes in three different sizes to accommodate a wide variety of crafting needs.

The most common use for the Cricut machine for scrapbooking is cutting letters to make titles for your scrapbook layouts. However, the Cricut can also be used to cut a variety of geometric shapes as well as paper piecing patterns for many of your favorite licensed cartoon characters. This makes the Cricut a natural choice for creating handmade greeting cards, home decor, and altered art projects. Parents with young children have also found that the Cricut is great for making unique book reports and science fair displays.

To learn more about the Cricut, please review the following helpful articles from LoveToKnow Scrapbooking:

Tips on Using the Cricut Machine for Scrapbooking

Cricut Die Cut Machine

Although the Cricut machine for scrapbooking is fairly easy to use, the following tips may be useful as you're working on your first Cricut project:

Rubbing over your paper with a clean brayer after pressing it down on the mat will help ensure that the paper doesn't wiggle while the cuts are being made.
Before cutting into expensive specialty cardstock or your last sheet of a particular patterned paper, test your design on scrap paper to make sure your machine settings are correct and the size is right for your layout.
To make unicase letters or letters that are all the same height, use your Cricut's "real dial size" feature.
It's not a good idea to cut chipboard with your Cricut, but the machine will cut the cardboard from cereal boxes just fine. Use the following settings: Blade – 6, Speed – 3, Pressure – 5. Once you're done adding paint, ink, patterned paper, and other decorations, nobody will guess the original source of your embellishment!
It's best to get in the habit of turning your machine off before switching to a new cartridge. Swapping cartridges while the machine is on can sometimes cause technical glitches.
If your cut didn't go all the way through the paper the first time, do not unload the mat. Hit "load mat" again to bring the mat back to the corner. Hit "repeat" to go over the cut again.
To clean dust and debris from your mat, go over it a few times with a lint roller.
If you're on a tight budget and can't afford to replace your cutting mats on a regular basis, simply coat the mat with a thin layer of repositionable adhesive when it starts to lose its stickiness. This will help you get in a few extra uses before the mat has to be replaced. (In a pinch, a small amount of masking tape will also work.)
A Xyron adhesive machine is usually the best choice for adhering detailed Cricut die cuts to your project.
Need more cartridges for your Cricut? See if your local scrapbook store allows customers to rent cartridges for a brief period of time. There are also stores that will allow you to use their die cut machines and cartridges for free if you purchase your paper from the store.

Want more information? The Cricut Web site is a great resource for Cricut owners to learn more about new cartridges and get project ideas. There is also an online message board where you can post your Cricut-related questions.

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