Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
which 1 would it be and why?
I just took the plunge and ordered a sizzix from hsnDOTcom. Its a bundle that comes with some cartridges (includes a font, and Doodlecharms), but I know I want to buy Bags, Tags, and Boxes.... otherwise, I am lost.
Help! Please post a pic or link to anything really awesome yu made with your favorite cartridge if you can...
i know there are tons of cartridges out there, some are $75, and others are $30.... anyone know the difference (other than the box)... are there less shapes in the cheaper ones?
thanks so much! i am so excited, i wanted this for forever and finally (thanks taxes LOL) am getting one...
I got an e-mail from CricutMachine.com about a sale with new carts at $34 and many carts at $27. There are a lot of Mother Day sales going on.
What cart would I buy? If you like a cart with shapes like the Nesties look at the Storybook cart for the scalloped shapes. If you would like seasonal shapes (apples, pumpkins, trees, turkeys etc.) look at the Paper Doll Dress Up cart.
If you go on the cricut website look for the handbook for a cart to show you all it has. The back of the box only shows a little of what the cart can do.
The newer cartridges, like Once Upon a Princess, Give a Hoot, Just Because Cards, Robotz, etc. start at $89.99 and stay there for quite a while, eventually M's and J's will have sales for around $39.99 and you can get them for that price. On-line stores will sometimes offer the newest cartridges for around $45 or so. Then there is e-bay, which I don't do, but many do quite successfully.
Most cartridges are considered full cartridges, they are in the boxes and blister packs. The box are usually in 3 color arrangements, green stripe means class room cartridges, blue stripe means mostly images (there may or may not be an alphabet), the peach stripe means Font cartridge (always an alphabet, sometimes a few other images).
The cartridges without boxes are called solution cartridges, they are more specific to a theme, like the basketball one. They sell for less
New within the past year PC introduced some solution styled cartridges, they actually have fewer images than what's on a solution cartridge, and are called seasonal cartridges. There have been 3 seasonal releases, 3 cartridges in each release.
Since PC has announced some retiring cartridges, including Tags, Bags, Boxes and More, and the fact that some of the older cartridges aren't in such a big demand. Cartridges, such as Locker Talk, Going Places, Speaking of series, I've also seen them sort of on clearance for $29.99. It's possible some or all of these older cartridges will retire as PC introduces new styles and new cartridges.
For the most part, most Cricut owners wait for sales and get their cartridges for prices between $30 and $40 on average. Some luck out and get them for less, sometimes on clearance, or bundles. Sort of depends on what promotional is going on.
For example, the Wal Mart is my town is remodeling and reduced some cartridges from $60 to $30, I picked up 2, they are older cartridges. Then 2 weeks later another older cartridge, Jasmine, was reduced to $10, so I added it to my collection. I was able to drive to a Costco that was hosting a "Road Show" and picked up 3 of the newest cartridges for $33 each, you had to buy 3 cartridges. To me that was a good deal for brand new cartridges. Some people have had tremendous luck on e-bay getting cartridges between $15 and $25 dollars. I once got a cartridge on clearance at J's for $24, just because the label on the plastic package was trashed.
Now, as for a basic supply of cartridges, this is what I like to keep in mind.
Seasonal Cartridge
Christmas or Winter Cartridge
Baby Themed Cartridge
Cartridge for the Guys
Flower themed cartridge
Box making cartridge, it's great to make little coordinating containers
Wedding themed cartridge
Card Cartridge - Wild card or Just Because
Everything else just falls into things you like, Disney for me, Sports for my guys, Once Upon a Princess for DD, Life's a Beach because we like the ocean, etc....
You'll end up with a nice choice of images if you cover the basic things you do and like.
My favorite and "go to" cartridge is Plantin SchoolBook. In fact I was up until nearly 2 am this morning cutting out the letters to spell "Welcome Home" and "thanks" to put on posters today that we are making when my husband's Battalion returns from Iraq. I love the font on there and there's shapes too.... I also cut out sheets of stars.
I got the same email yesterday about cartridges on sale and was like "wow" the prices have really gone done from the days when they were $89.
have fun and enjoy your Cricut.
~ Pam
__________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
Storybook by far...it has the 'top note' cut and many other really unique shapes. I paid full Walmart price ($60) for it and have used it more than any other cartridge so far in these last 3 months.
My favorite and "go to" cartridge is Plantin SchoolBook. In fact I was up until nearly 2 am this morning cutting out the letters to spell "Welcome Home" and "thanks" to put on posters today that we are making when my husband's Battalion returns from Iraq. I love the font on there and there's shapes too.... I also cut out sheets of stars.
I got the same email yesterday about cartridges on sale and was like "wow" the prices have really gone done from the days when they were $89.
have fun and enjoy your Cricut.
~ Pam
That is so terrific that your husband's battalion is coming home. Please tell him thank you for doing such a great job serving our country- we are so proud of these men and women. My son came home from Iraq a year ago- the lifting of the worries and nightmares seem to disappear at once.
That is so terrific that your husband's battalion is coming home. Please tell him thank you for doing such a great job serving our country- we are so proud of these men and women. My son came home from Iraq a year ago- the lifting of the worries and nightmares seem to disappear at once.
Please add my thanks to this message as well. I am so grateful that he would put his life on the line to protect the freedom of my family. We are so glad that your husband will be home, safe and sound with his family.
My favorite and "go to" cartridge is Plantin SchoolBook. In fact I was up until nearly 2 am this morning cutting out the letters to spell "Welcome Home" and "thanks" to put on posters today that we are making when my husband's Battalion returns from Iraq. I love the font on there and there's shapes too.... I also cut out sheets of stars.
I got the same email yesterday about cartridges on sale and was like "wow" the prices have really gone done from the days when they were $89.
have fun and enjoy your Cricut.
~ Pam
Pam,
I'm so pleased the group is coming home, enjoy the time with your family. I'm sure you will get lots of wonderful pictures for your family to treasure!
thank you all so very much ~ your kind notes are so wonderful. I only have 24 or 25 days and a wakeup call left (he's either coming in on the 26th or the 27th of this month.. so glad that May is finally here) thank you again.
blessings ~ Pam
__________________ "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
ladies, thanks so much for al the advice, i was so confused about what to do with the cricut, i watched the infomercial twice in a row before ordering (not from the infomercial LOL but i just kept saying these dingbats on tv can do it, i CAN WORK A CRICUT TOO lol)
pam, a special thanks to your husband and his battalion, for rotecting America and freedom.
-laura s
I really love the Storybook combined with images from Sentimentals. Currently my two favorites. Followed closely by Create A Critter - such cute images.
Make sure you actually ordered the Cricut and not Sizzix first.
Tags, bags and more is on the discontinued list.
Personally, rather than rely on what someone else is using go to the cricut . com site and view the library of cartridges. Decide what you would use and buy that. Just because I use a cartridge, it doesn't mean that you would if our styles are totally different. There are over a hundred cartridges so it can seem overwhelming to a beginner so I can understand your question.
Seeing what someone else has made can be costly as some use the design studio or/and gypsy and you will be tempted. They are add ons for the Cricut so it will cost money to purchase them and any accessories to use them. : )
I love the Wild Card cartridge. It makes tons of cards and matching envelopes. It could make hundreds of cards with no two the same depending on paper used and embellishments. It is a great cartridge. Well worth the $29.95 I bought it for online.
My vote is for Storybook too. I lent it to a friend and she had it for ages. It was torture to be without it for so long. My second favorite is New Arrivals. I have been making shower invite like crazy for all my friends. I love my Cricut!!!!!
hmmm, i wil look into Storybook, thanks. also i will look at the card images, i had no idea there was a card cartridge.
thanks for the help, i am setting up my new baby tonight. his name is Jiminy Cricut LOL
Is Jiminy a regular Cricut or an Expression? The reason that I ask is that you will be very disappointed about what you can make with a regular Cricut and the TBBM (Tags, Bags, Boxes & More) cart. The card cart's are doable w/the regular Cricut, but matching envelopes are tricky (or impossible), based on size limitations.
That being said - enjoy Jiminy!
Pam - just wanted to add my thanks to your husband (and everyone in his battalion) for his service to our country.
i got the expresson, the 12 inch one... i couldn't see getting the little one, and the price wasn't much more... now LOL anyone figure out what handy diecuts they have made in 12x24 size? LOL come on.... enable me... i want the biger mat anyway LOL
If You could only buy one cricut cartridge...
