Product Features
|
Product Details
Would you like to give feedback on images?
|
A much larger unit than the portable Cricut Create or Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter models, the Cricut Expression model uses the same cartridges, blade housings, and blades, but it's meant to stay on a worktable or in a media room. The unit's LCD screen shows exactly what's being typed for the next cut, and its larger size allows for creating bigger die cuts for classroom decor, scrapbook layouts, signage, and more. A user manual, Quick Start guide, blade assembly, and 12-by-12-inch cutting mat come included, as well as three cartridges: a Dolls shape cartridge, an Accent Essentials shape cartridge, and a Plantin Schoolbook font cartridge. The cutting machine measures approximately 25-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 12 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
62 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love my cricut machine,
By
This review is from: Cricut Expression Personal Electronic Cutter 290817 With 3 Cartridges (Kitchen)
My passion for card-making naturally led to my desire to purchase a personal electronic cutting system. In reading various cardmaking magazines, I noticed there were only a few personal electronic cutting systems to choose from, but the choice was pretty obvious for me.
After watching the Cricut informercial ([..] I became intrigued. The Cricut system is made by Provocraft ([...]). I did searches on Ebay ([...] and Craigslist ([...]) in hopes of finding a good deal. At the time, the resale price on these sites was so close to the price offered at WalMart ([...], that it didnft make sense to try to buy it used when I could have a new one and the ability to conveniently return it if there was a problem. I also liked that WalMart and Michaels ([...] carried other Provocraft products such as cartridges, mats, pens and a toolkit. There also was a wide variety of cartridges I could select from both WalMart, Michaels and Ebay. Each cartridge contains a unique set of images or fonts. Some of the cartridges include: Animal Kingdom (animals); Mickey Mouse (Disney), Christmas Cheer (Seasonal), and much more. Only once did I pay a ridiculous amount for a cartridge ($99 for Paperdolls). At the time, it was very new, widely popular and hard to get. Now, as a rule, I only purchase cartridges when they are on sale. Michaels often has a sale where these cartridges are only $35 - $40. If I bring a Michaels ad to WalMart, any cashier can perform a price match. WalMart is great about price matching cricut cartridges, dvds, etc. There are 3 versions of the Cricut cutting system: 1. Cricut (original) 2. Cricut Expressions 3. Cricut Create (Sold Exclusively at Michaels) I purchased the first model and loved it right away. A few months later, I then sold my system on craigslist and ordered their largest system, the Cricut Expressions from WalMart. This model is capable of cutting larger sizes up to 12 x 24, the standard scrapbook size sheet is 12" x 12". The third model, the Cricut Create, is an improvement on the first small model and sold exclusively at Michaels. The other great features of this cutting system is the ability to draw. You can replace the cutting blade with Cricut pens to draw, instead of cut, images. You can also purchase Cricut Vinyl adhesive sheets to cut images for decorating the interior of your home. There is also the ability to connect your Cricut machine to your computer via a USB cable. You can then use the Cricut Design Studio software to prearrange the layout of your images before cutting. The Cricut Design Studio software also allows you to view the images of all Cricut cartridges, but you can not cut with them unless you own the cartridge. Another option is to use a third party software, such as Sure Cuts A Lot to cut from your existing fonts or to create your own images to cut. This product is by Craft Edge and is available on ebay or by clicking this link: [...] This machine is lots of fun, versatile, and widely available by big retail giants. I would highly recommend purchasing this machine. For more information on crafts, see my blog at [...]
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice machine but I expected more for the $$,
By
This review is from: Cricut Expression Personal Electronic Cutter 290817 With 3 Cartridges (Kitchen)
The machine itself is really great, and fun to have. It comes in rally handy for making all kinds of things. The drawback is that they claim you save money by not having to purchase all the bulky die cuts you would have on hand for scrapbooking, the only part I find true about that is the bulky part. Instead of having single dies, there are several patterns on each cartridge. But as far as saving money, I really do not see it.
The drawback is you have to purchase their cartridges, which are not very cheap; especially of you will only use some of them every now and then. Before I purchased this machine I had a plotter, I purchased this product to rid myself of the bulky plotter. You can guess what is still taking up space in my crafting room, yes it is the plotter. I think this product would be better if you were able to hook it to your computer, which you can, but be able to use it to access a website with designs on it, perhaps even on a subscription basis, or for one to purchase each design that want to use as they need it, kind of like embroidery designs. Instead, for now you have to purchase cartridges each time you want to do something new. I cut a lot of fabric for quilting with this machine. That part I really love. I can pick a design, and each one comes out the same as the last, then I can fuse it to a block and stitch around it to keep it on my quilt top. I also use this machine for making tags. I deal in a lot of vintage quilts from estate sales, some come with a story and I am able to print the story and cut it out as a tag to attach with a safety pin to the quilt so my customers know what they are buying. I also integrate this with some of my graphic work. I am able to cut shapes and vinyl to add to projects with my art work to help make things a little more personal and different. I love this machine, but feel like they need to work a little harder on the pricing of the designs.
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Machine - Pros & Cons...,
By Scrap-a-holic (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Cricut Expression Personal Electronic Cutter 290817 With 3 Cartridges (Kitchen)
CONS:
Don't get me wrong... I really enjoy my Cricut Expression, but there are times when I think it's overwhelming and enjoy using my Cuttlebug more (which has NEVER failed me!) With the Cricut Expression machine, I've done a ton of trial and error. I use all different types of paper (cardstock, construction paper, chipboard, etc.), and each of these require different blades and pressure. It is frustrating to have to do it over and over until you find the right setting. I've wasted quite a bit of paper due to this. I still have yet to master cutting through the thickness of chipboard that I have, even with the deep cut blade. I think I'll give in and just buy thinner stuff. PROS: I love that I don't HAVE to buy their Cricut cartridges - I can use the software I downloaded and hook it up to my computer. This gives me endless amounts of different fonts and designs. Although a computer isn't required to use the machine (if you use their cartridges), I find it much easier and less expensive to use the software! The possibilities are truly endless with this machine. I have done some pretty intricate designs that I wouldn't have been able to do elsewhere. I can make my pictures and fonts as big or as small as I want and I love that! I do think the machine is easy to use but it takes some time to learn. If you would mainly use the Cricut Expressions machine for fonts, I wouldn't recommend it. However, if you're truly looking for unique designs and you have some patience, the Cricut Expressions might just be what you're looking for!
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
|