Cricut Solutions Cartridge "Snow Friends"

[JoAnney]

Hi All...sorry if I'm not posting this in proper "forum" but I'm not real good at any of this posting stuff.

I received the Cricut SOLUTIONS Snow Friends Cartridge and finding it VERY ?? frustrating I guess. Thought it would be easy to use with my 6 yr. old granddaughter and we could make them up in NO time...WRONG!! The pieces are SO tiny (buttons, eyes, nose, etc.) and if you select the mittens on one, it cuts mittens and face pieces but I don't want green eyes and mouth if I choose green for the mittens?? Does anyone who has this understand what I'm talking about?? Would be happy to email you if easier.

I finally decided to just cut everything along with the snowman base in white, and color the tiny pieces with a Sharpie marker vs.wasting paper on 3 little tiny eyes and the mouth. Maybe I'm just not getting how it works??

Any help or suggestions greatly appreciated..I love the snowman and their little outfits, but found making ONE snowman takes me well over an HOUR to cut, and assemble, etc...also don't like that the back side looks so unfinished..you'd have to use them to glue down (vs.hanging) so as to not be able to see the back.

[TheOtherMeg]

I'm sorry I can't offer any help. That's the one holiday mini cart I didn't buy because I thought the snowpeople looked a little weird and there were going to be too many pieces for each one -- just what you found out.

I've seen darling cards & crafts made with it, but it does look time-consuming!

I love the other two holiday mini carts, but the snowman one didn't tempt me.

[sherry107]

JoAnney- I am right there with you-loved the cart but I am having a really hard time cutting them-the one hat on snowman# 4 just ends up as scratches!! It is supposed to look like stripes!! I have tried alot of different cutting combinations with pressure -and depth--arrgghhhhh! very frustrating!! I hope someone can come to our rescue here!!

[JoAnney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheOtherMeg

I'm sorry I can't offer any help. That's the one holiday mini cart I didn't buy because I thought the snowpeople looked a little weird and there were going to be too many pieces for each one -- just what you found out.

I've seen darling cards & crafts made with it, but it does look time-consuming!

I love the other two holiday mini carts, but the snowman one didn't tempt me.

THANKS for your response. I'm new to the Cricut ( I have the smaller one ) but have never used/seen the Solution Cartridges until now. The ones I have all have the book, etc. and not just the overlay (as these do). Maybe those who have used the Cricut machines more than I, would do okay with this cartridge... ????

[TheOtherMeg]

The new Love Struck seasonal mini cart also has some extremely detailed cuts. People on the Cricut board have been saying to cut at a slower speed and, if you need to, increase the pressure.

That doesn't help with the number of tiny pieces on the Snowman cart, but maybe it'll help get the bits cut out properly at least.

[Scrapjanny]

Unfortunately, some of the detailed shapes on these cartridges need to be cut at pretty large sizes in order to be "workable." It can be very frustrating, I agree. I was making a baby Eeyore 2 days ago, and I cut everything at 4 inches. Even at that size, I had some trouble with the smaller pieces tearing. I was using cardstock, and I tried changing the speed, pressure, blade depth, etc. I usually color in the smaller pieces too, JoAnny. Like you, I sometimes cut out in white and just color eyes, lips, etc. I hope you have better luck next time you try to cut them out. I feel your pain and frustration.

[pjw2855]

JoAnney....Actually, it's very easy to get the colors for the pieces you want. Just change the color paper for each cutting. Yes, you will end up with pieces in the wrong color, but just trash those and use the proper color ones. You can also push the stop button after the machine has cut the piece in the color you want.

The only way to get around that is to use the Design Studio and "hide" the ones you don't want in the particular color in your machine. Takes several changes of color paper either way, but worth it in the end.

I find if I'm making smaller figures, that tweezers work well for the really tiny pieces to assemble.

Cutting the various layers for the die cuts is the same on any cartridge. It's a bit time consuming, but well worth it in the end. That's the fun of crafting!

I've done many of the Disney characters in both my Cricut and Expression in 11.5 inch and also in 5.5 inch so that I can show people with either machine they can make the figures. I use these figures in my demos and classes.

I can understand that for a child, all this would not be much fun. But we as adults can see the end result and therefore enjoy the whole process. I find when you get the eyes on the character, they come to life.

Patti

[JoAnney]

Thanks everyone!! for your response, help, suggestions..I knew I could count on you!!

The snowmen we made were 3" (going to use them for hanging ornaments) and since the mittens, eyes, nose, etc. are MADE to co-ordinate to the body size of the snowman, guess it only makes sense, they will obviously be MUCH smaller to all match up. Just that this 'ole gal and her bi-focals have a heck of a time seeing those tiny pieces!! and getting them picked up, and positioned correctly...hahaha

I do agree they are SUPER cute though...maybe for a child I will just suggest that she color in the tiny pieces as she's only 6 so probably wouldn't matter..just "fussy pants" Grandma who was frustrated...LOL...

Take care ALL...appreciate the help SO much.

[JoAnney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherry107

JoAnney- I am right there with you-loved the cart but I am having a really hard time cutting them-the one hat on snowman# 4 just ends up as scratches!! It is supposed to look like stripes!! I have tried alot of different cutting combinations with pressure -and depth--arrgghhhhh! very frustrating!! I hope someone can come to our rescue here!!

I know exactly what you're talking about!! I thought the brim on one of the hats was the twig for the arms ..hahahaha....and my little pieces ended up cutting out terrible as well...UGH!! Gave up and ending cutting my own little twigs...and for the brim of the hat I cut the bottom off and didn't use the brim piece so...do what you gotta do eh? hahaha

I DO like the main outfits tho that you can pick up cute papers to make up their outfits...glad I wasn't the only one having problems, because I hesistated to even do this post, thinking people might think I'm crazy!! ( I am, but wouldn't admit it..hahaha)

Cya!!!

[booklvr]

I had a few problems too with that. I ended up making them a little bigger than I wanted to so I could see the pieces, they turned out cute. I used them for decorating some gift bags. I just used a sharpie to do the face details. I could not see half of them so instead of frustrating my self, I drew them on.

[JoAnney]

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklvr

I had a few problems too with that. I ended up making them a little bigger than I wanted to so I could see the pieces, they turned out cute. I used them for decorating some gift bags. I just used a sharpie to do the face details. I could not see half of them so instead of frustrating my self, I drew them on.

GOOD IDEA for the gift bags.."I" never thought of that?? (duh)...would be CUTE * CUTE * CUTE glued on (and that way you can't see the back of them, etc...know what I mean...like you might when used for a hanging ornament like we wanted ..stupid things would always "FLIP" to show back side...hahaha)

Will TRY ?? to remember that idea for next year...thanks for idea!!! Take care!