Provocraft posted a video that covers several user questions about the Imagine. Among them - advanced calibration. Chris Dodge, beloved by many Imagine owners who frequent the Cricut and Yahoo Imagine message boards, gives a great explanation about how to get the best calibration possible. Enjoy the video!
Showing posts with label Cricut Imagine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cricut Imagine. Show all posts
3.18.2011
Cricut Imagine Cartridge - Better Together
I as I was preparing to purchase my Cricut Imagine, I purchased some of the original Cricut cartridges that appealed to me. Since receiving my Imagine in September, I've decided to buy only Imagine cartridges and then only the ones that really catch my eye. It seems that am awful lot of the artwork on the cartridges is "cute" in nature and I am not a person that is drawn to the that sort of thing. Not that there is any thing wrong with that but it is just not my taste. That is one of the reasons I was reluctant to buy the Better Together cartridge. It just looked so "cute"! What turned me around was seeing some of the patterns on the cartridge. I saw the cartridge for a good price on sale so I decided to take a chance and buy it. I'm glad I did as it has turned out to be my go-to cartridge lately.
If you look at the digital handbook http://www.cricut.com/res/handbooks/BetterTogether.pdf you will be able to get a good idea of the quality of the patterns. For me, they make great backgrounds for my cards. Even some of the pieces of art and phrases have come in handy. My last batch of cards for OWH was made entirely from this cartridge. Sure made my life easier! I think this cartridge is especially useful to card makers. If you are looking for card shapes, look elsewhere. But if you are looking for a nice assortment of cheerful backgrounds, with coordinating artwork, the Imagine Better Together cartridge is a great choice.
If you look at the digital handbook http://www.cricut.com/res/handbooks/BetterTogether.pdf you will be able to get a good idea of the quality of the patterns. For me, they make great backgrounds for my cards. Even some of the pieces of art and phrases have come in handy. My last batch of cards for OWH was made entirely from this cartridge. Sure made my life easier! I think this cartridge is especially useful to card makers. If you are looking for card shapes, look elsewhere. But if you are looking for a nice assortment of cheerful backgrounds, with coordinating artwork, the Imagine Better Together cartridge is a great choice.
2.10.2011
My Experiences in Making Cards for Operation Write Home
I thought I might share some of my experiences and lessons learned while making cards for OWH. I have set a goal of making 100 cards a month and keeping to that schedule has allowed me to understand some simple truths for myself. In not particular order I will talk about budget, the creative process, the assembly process, and keeping up with needed stock items (papers, adhesives, inks, etc.).
How much money one chooses to spend making cards is is highly personal. Since my own goal is for 100 cards per month, I have decided to forgo lots of little bits and adornments and stay with cleaner, simpler layouts. That means I don't have to buy lots of buttons, flowers, ribbon, and bling. $$$ Savings! With the Cricut Imagine, my primary expenses are paper, cutting mats, blades, and ink (it prints and cuts). Other than my Cricut, expenses include tape, glue and envelopes. Secondary expenses include enhancements like stick-on jewels and pearls, ink pads, some rubber stamps, paper punches, corner rounders, and ribbon. Throw in craft knife blades, paper trimmer blades, markers, and a bone folder or two and you have the bare bones of what is needed.
In one months time I will go through a minimum of 80 8.5x11 sheets of paper, 100 sheets of 12x12 paper, 2 36yd rolls of 3M ATG tape, 3 cassettes of Mono tape, 2 Zig 2 Way glue pens, 15 yards of 3M foam tape, 2 Cricut cutting blades, 2 Xacto #11 blades, 2 Cricut cutting mats, 100 envelopes, and 2 paper trimmer blades.
However, money is not the only item that must be budgeted. Creating, printing, assembling, stamping, gluing, taping, and wrapping all take time. A simple card might look like it took no time at all, but it can include elements that have 4-5 small paper layers that had to be individually cut, glued, taped, and assembled. Some of these can take much more time than anticipated. If I can find a general layout that works with three or four different elements using the same color scheme, then I can produce three or four sets of ten or twelve cards without too much trouble. When I really get a rush on, like when I made a quick batch of cards for kids, I spent 4 10-12 hour days getting it all done. You wouldn't think it took that long by looking at them, but those cards had more bits and pieces and layers than my usual cards. I usually do cards several days at a time in batches and I can get twenty or thirty done in about 3 8-10 hour days.
I really enjoy that sense of satisfaction when I package up the cards for shipment. After that box goes out, I tidy up my crafting table and get ready for the month's batch of cards.
How much money one chooses to spend making cards is is highly personal. Since my own goal is for 100 cards per month, I have decided to forgo lots of little bits and adornments and stay with cleaner, simpler layouts. That means I don't have to buy lots of buttons, flowers, ribbon, and bling. $$$ Savings! With the Cricut Imagine, my primary expenses are paper, cutting mats, blades, and ink (it prints and cuts). Other than my Cricut, expenses include tape, glue and envelopes. Secondary expenses include enhancements like stick-on jewels and pearls, ink pads, some rubber stamps, paper punches, corner rounders, and ribbon. Throw in craft knife blades, paper trimmer blades, markers, and a bone folder or two and you have the bare bones of what is needed.
In one months time I will go through a minimum of 80 8.5x11 sheets of paper, 100 sheets of 12x12 paper, 2 36yd rolls of 3M ATG tape, 3 cassettes of Mono tape, 2 Zig 2 Way glue pens, 15 yards of 3M foam tape, 2 Cricut cutting blades, 2 Xacto #11 blades, 2 Cricut cutting mats, 100 envelopes, and 2 paper trimmer blades.
However, money is not the only item that must be budgeted. Creating, printing, assembling, stamping, gluing, taping, and wrapping all take time. A simple card might look like it took no time at all, but it can include elements that have 4-5 small paper layers that had to be individually cut, glued, taped, and assembled. Some of these can take much more time than anticipated. If I can find a general layout that works with three or four different elements using the same color scheme, then I can produce three or four sets of ten or twelve cards without too much trouble. When I really get a rush on, like when I made a quick batch of cards for kids, I spent 4 10-12 hour days getting it all done. You wouldn't think it took that long by looking at them, but those cards had more bits and pieces and layers than my usual cards. I usually do cards several days at a time in batches and I can get twenty or thirty done in about 3 8-10 hour days.
I really enjoy that sense of satisfaction when I package up the cards for shipment. After that box goes out, I tidy up my crafting table and get ready for the month's batch of cards.
1.17.2011
Operation Write Home - Cards for Kids
I was reading on the Operation Write Home web site that parents serving abroad were looking for cards they could send their young children. In response, I quickly put together these four, in groups of 10. I hope the parents and kids enjoy!
1.02.2011
More Cards for Operation Write Home
I read on the Operation Write Home site that they really needed more Thank You, Miss You, and Thinking of You cards, so I put a few together rather quickly. I also was able to make two different layouts for Valentine's Day cards. Those needed to be post marked by January 7, but I got a hustle on and got them done in 2 days. Most images and layouts are taken directly from the Cricut Imagine cartridges Imagine More, Imagine More Cards, and Best Friends. You'll find photos below. Forgot to take a photo of the second V-day card. It was of an owl standing on a mushroom and I stamped "Owl Always Love You". It ended up pretty cute because I left most of the leafy pieces loose to give the card more dimension. My first time using glue dots. I thought a box of three hundred would last a while, but I made 24 V-day cards and used most of the dots. Go figure. It did save me time over cutting the 3M foam tape I usually use. These cards photoed very flat but they are somewhat dimensional. I'll use better lighting next time.
10.12.2010
More Card Samples for Operation Write Home
Here are some more card samples I made with my Cricut Imagine that I am shipping to the OWH reshipper. I feel a real sense of accomplishment that I was able to reach my personal goal of 100 cards for this shipment.
10.10.2010
Cricut Imagine and Operation Write Home
When I first became aware of Operation Write Home, I was a handcrafted card maker. Nothing was automated, although I did use a Cuttlebug to help with dry embossing. I thought long and hard about how I wanted to proceed with OWH and knew that I would never be able to make a great number of cards with how I was set up. My cards were no works of art, certainly not compared to what I had seen in magazines. So my mind started to work on this issue of limited numbers and mostly handmade vs machine assisted and the ability to increase my card production by quite a bit. As my past posts indicate, I decided to purchase a Cricut Imagine and I believe it is one of the best crafting investments I have ever made. It has revolutionized my card making similar to how the Cuttlebug enhanced my use of dry embossing. As long as I have white paper, I have access to libraries of printed and solid cardstock. In the past 3 days, I have made over 100 A2 sized cards to send to our troops overseas. This will be my first shipment, but I wanted that shipment to be over 100 cards and the Imagine helped me reach my goal. I LOVE my Imagine. Here are a couple of examples. Nothing fancy, but I hope you and the troops like them!
10.06.2010
I'm in Cricut Heaven
My replacement Cricut Imagine arrived yesterday but it had a bum power supply. I called Provo Craft and the customer rep I talked to - wish I could remember his name - sent me a replacement over night - at no charge!! WOW! It came in today around 11am, and by golly, that bad boy worked like a charm. I've been printing and cutting all day. As a matter of fact, my original cutting mat cracked in 3 places. Thank goodness I had a replacement! Anyway, I really felt behind in getting my cards together for Operation Write Home operationwritehome.org so I've put my effort in that direction. I was planning on using the new Cricut Christmas Cards cartridge to make a ton of holiday cards, but it isn't compatible with the Imagine right now. Word has it that the fix is in the next update slated for next week. The deadline for mailing the cards for Christmas is October 30. If I am brave and decide to install the next update - and it works - I just might make it under the wire for that mailing deadline. I knew I wouldn't make the Oct. 15 deadline for Thanksgiving and I'd hate to miss ALL the holidays this year. Fingers and eyes crossed!
Now I need to get to a local craft store to buy more cutting mats and another color cartridge. Stand back, I'm getting serious here people. <smile>
Now I need to get to a local craft store to buy more cutting mats and another color cartridge. Stand back, I'm getting serious here people. <smile>
10.04.2010
My New Cricut Imagine Arrives Tomorrow
I can't tell you how excited I am to be getting my replacement Imagine in tomorrow. I've missed not being able to go in and play on my machine. Making cards and card elements is addictive - kind of like that old potato chip commercial "bettcha can't eat just one." I thought I would be more disciplined while it was gone and print out lots of projects, but I've been under the weather. The Imagine will certainly cheer me right up! Projects I need to do before I go out of town in a couple of weeks is a) make card sets for my daughter for when we go visit her, b) make a card set for my bff and send it to her, and c) get cracking on more cards for Operation Write Home. The Imagine REALLY helps me make more and nicer cards than I could on my own and that alone is worth the money I spent on it. I have endless supplies of really nice papers and cute layouts if I want plus elements that help me think up all sorts of things. I'll probably burn through at least 50 sheets of paper before Friday, no problem. AT LEAST that much. Thank goodness I have over 200 sheets of white 12 x 12 available and at least that much white 8.5 x 11. With extra ink and extra blades, I'm good to go!
10.02.2010
Provo Craft Provides AMAZING Customer Service!
If you have been reading my blog, then you know I had trouble with the update to my Cricut Imagine. After all was said and done, I ended up having to return my Imagine for a replacement. That is the BEGINNING of the story.
Simply said, Provo Craft provides AMAZING customer service. Everyone I dealt with at Provo Craft was professional, friendly, and really listened to my concerns. Technical Support and Chris Dodge: I don't know how he does it, but Chris seems to be everywhere answering questions for everyone. This guy is like a Cricut Super Hero (ta da - super hero music in background). He helped me as if I were the only PC customer with a problem. Really, and I mean REALLY patient and knowledgeable. Customer Service and LeAnne Rodeback: Once Chris and I decided I needed to return my Imagine, LeAnne was so responsive and took care of the trouble ticket while I stayed on the line. She also sent followup emails, letting me know they shipped my replacement Imagine BEFORE they received the one I shipped! What company does this?? She even sent me an email last night asking if I had included anything other than just the machine and electrical cord. I told her yes and the items and she replied immediately and showed the trouble ticket she had opened asking for 2 day shipping for those items. Oh my gosh! They must be losing money on me by now. To top it all off, last night I got an email from Jim Colby, VP of Product Development for Provo Craft. He apologized for my initial experience with the Imagine not being a positive one. At the end of the email he gave me his direct email, phone and cell phone!!! OK people. NO company does this. I mean, this was just a $500 machine and they are bending over backwards to make us happy. I bet every single Imagine owner who has had trouble has gotten this same treatment. Beyond impressive customer service!
I've been reading lots of complaints and comments on the various forums and groups about how disappointed people are with the Imagine, blah, blah, blah. Lots of BMW - bitch, moan, and whine! OK, folks - if you want the latest and greatest then you have to expect a few growing pains. We are dealing with something totally new here and I, for one, am astounded at how GREAT the IMAGINE is! Let me repeat that. The Cricut Imagine is FANTASTIC! AMAZING! So much POTENTIAL! All of you nay sayers out there- just you wait. In six months I bet you will be pooping your pants when you see all the Imagine can do. No, I have no insider info. As a matter of fact, this is my first Cricut product EVER. But. Once the computer interface software is available, hold on to your teeth, Grandma. This thing will knock your wig off! I just know it in my gut. I trust my gut.
So while some of you choose to spin your wheels complaining about one little thing or another, I'm going to be having enough fun for everybody. I have a lot to learn but learning is fun, too. This is the most fun I've had with crafting since - well, maybe since I first discovered the Cuttlebug! Still love my bug. If the Imagine ever becomes capable of embossing well, I might just have a fit of delight.
I SO heart my Imagine. Read it and weep you complainers.
Simply said, Provo Craft provides AMAZING customer service. Everyone I dealt with at Provo Craft was professional, friendly, and really listened to my concerns. Technical Support and Chris Dodge: I don't know how he does it, but Chris seems to be everywhere answering questions for everyone. This guy is like a Cricut Super Hero (ta da - super hero music in background). He helped me as if I were the only PC customer with a problem. Really, and I mean REALLY patient and knowledgeable. Customer Service and LeAnne Rodeback: Once Chris and I decided I needed to return my Imagine, LeAnne was so responsive and took care of the trouble ticket while I stayed on the line. She also sent followup emails, letting me know they shipped my replacement Imagine BEFORE they received the one I shipped! What company does this?? She even sent me an email last night asking if I had included anything other than just the machine and electrical cord. I told her yes and the items and she replied immediately and showed the trouble ticket she had opened asking for 2 day shipping for those items. Oh my gosh! They must be losing money on me by now. To top it all off, last night I got an email from Jim Colby, VP of Product Development for Provo Craft. He apologized for my initial experience with the Imagine not being a positive one. At the end of the email he gave me his direct email, phone and cell phone!!! OK people. NO company does this. I mean, this was just a $500 machine and they are bending over backwards to make us happy. I bet every single Imagine owner who has had trouble has gotten this same treatment. Beyond impressive customer service!
I've been reading lots of complaints and comments on the various forums and groups about how disappointed people are with the Imagine, blah, blah, blah. Lots of BMW - bitch, moan, and whine! OK, folks - if you want the latest and greatest then you have to expect a few growing pains. We are dealing with something totally new here and I, for one, am astounded at how GREAT the IMAGINE is! Let me repeat that. The Cricut Imagine is FANTASTIC! AMAZING! So much POTENTIAL! All of you nay sayers out there- just you wait. In six months I bet you will be pooping your pants when you see all the Imagine can do. No, I have no insider info. As a matter of fact, this is my first Cricut product EVER. But. Once the computer interface software is available, hold on to your teeth, Grandma. This thing will knock your wig off! I just know it in my gut. I trust my gut.
So while some of you choose to spin your wheels complaining about one little thing or another, I'm going to be having enough fun for everybody. I have a lot to learn but learning is fun, too. This is the most fun I've had with crafting since - well, maybe since I first discovered the Cuttlebug! Still love my bug. If the Imagine ever becomes capable of embossing well, I might just have a fit of delight.
I SO heart my Imagine. Read it and weep you complainers.
9.29.2010
Cards made from Pagoda cartridge
Here are a couple of simple cards I made with my Cricut Imagine as I did a first look at the Pagoda cartridge.
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| Doll: light pink print for body, darker pink for face, black for shadow. Background: coordinating card stock embossed with Cuttlebug. Printed patterns from Nursery Tales. |
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| Doll: light pink print face, darker pink print sash, Flowers: top layer same light pink print as face, shadow same as sash, Background: coordinating card stock embossed with Cuttlebug. Printed patterns from Nursery Tales. |
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| Fans and kimonos printed by Cricut Imagine using patterns from Nursery Tales. Glued single sheet of rice paper atop embossed card stock. |
9.27.2010
Cricut Customer/Technical Support
I put a call into Cricut Customer Service this morning letting them know that I might have killed my Imagine.
While I wait to have my Imagine back in working order, I thought I'd share a couple of things I printed in my first hours of owning the Imagine.
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| My daughter just adopted a dog so I thought she might enjoy this goggle-eyed dog. From Best Friends |
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| From Nursery Tails |
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| From Nursery Tails |
9.25.2010
Updating My Cricut Imagine
Tammy at imaginecritters.blogspot.com posted about the new update available for the Imagine. Of course I went straight there and downloaded it immediately http://www.cricut.com/imagine/support.aspx (only available for PC users at this time). I brought my laptop into my craft room and turned on the Imagine. I waited until the main screen came up (print/cut, etc.) and inserted the USB cable into the Imagine and the other end into my laptop. I then launched the Imagine sync software from my desktop. The transfer process took as much as 5 minutes, possibly less. The update contains both an operating system update and some content additions. As I write this, my Imagine is still processing the update - total time so far about 20 minutes. I'll update when I can determine what has been added or improved. Please check Tammy's site as she is much more experienced than I with the Imagine and will likely give you a more thorough evaluation.
Imagine Update Screen
Cricut Sync After Update
Imagine Screen During Internal Update
Imagine Update Screen
Cricut Sync After Update
Imagine Screen During Internal Update
9.23.2010
My Pink Stamper Challenge
If you use Provo Craft's Cricut, then you probably already know about mypinkstamper.com . Robyn is a ball of energy, talent, savvy business woman, wife, and mother rolled into a beautiful and gregarious package. Her web site achieved an astounding 5 million visitors and she is celebrating today with some give aways and challenges. This is my entry for her challenge to make a card using a bird. Since I am a brand new Cricut Imagine owner, this is very elementary, but I am learning. BTW, I used one of her polymer stamp sets in making the card.
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