The Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter is quite simply the most significant advancement in the home crafting toolbox in the last ten years. Forget scissors and stencils, forget complicated equipment and software - the Cricut range of cutting machines is designed to automate some of the fiddlier cutting jobs whilst keeping the fun in your craft - all from compact and portable machines that are light enough to be carried with you wherever you need to take them. These are truly revolutionary devices, with all of the technology packed on-board, meaning that there's no need to attach them to a computer in order to realise your designs. Read on to find out more about the full product set from the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter range, including how they work and what are the key differences between the models.
First off, they all work in a similar manner. To get around the need to attach the machines to a computer, and have the designs stored in software - the designs for the Cricut machines are all loaded onto cartridges. Now each cartridge has a specific theme - if you want Disney characters, there's a cartridge for that; if you're into sports designs, there's a theme for that; if you like doing calligraphy, there's a theme for that. In fact, there are literally hundreds to choose from. When you buy a Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter, you will get a couple of cartridges as standard. You can also buy packages where a couple of extra cartridges are included, at a reduced price. Thereafter, you need to buy additional cartridges as and when you need them. They can get quite pricey, so it's best not to buy them too often, and build up your collection over time. They do make for great gifts - they'll give your partner of loved ones a never-ending supply of Christmas and birthday options!
With your cartridge installed and your design selected, there are two other things you need to decide. Firstly, what are you going to cut? With any of the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter machines, you can cut paper, card, vellum or vinyl on the replaceable cutting mat. Secondly, what size character or shape are you going to cut? Depending on which cutter model you have, you can cut shapes varying from a quarter of an inch high up to twenty three and a half inches (in the Cricut Expression model). Program in your options, hit a button, and marvel at the results. Highly professional designs produced with consummate ease.
There are three craft work models to choose from. The entry-level model is the original Cricut Electronic Personal Cutter - which offers great portability, measuring only 17-4/5 by 9-2/3 by 12-8/9 inches and weighing only 7 pounds. It will cut shapes from 1 inch to 5.5 inches tall.
At the other end of the scale is the Cricut Expression Personal Electronic Cutter. Still portable, this model is slightly larger at 25-4/5 by 9-1/25 by 12 inches and weighing 21 pounds. The Expression offers a greater variety of cutting options with 6 modes and 4 functions, and is able to cut shapes from only ¼ inch up to an amazing 23-1/2 inches tall.
Finally the Cricut Create Personal Electronic Cutter is somewhere in the middle. Sold as offering the portability of the original cutter (measuring 17-1/2 by 9-1/2 by 12-1/5 inches and weighing 16 pounds) with the versatility of the Expression cutter (it can cut shapes from ¼ inch up to 11-1/2 inches tall) - this model offers the best of both worlds.