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So for all of you who been anxiously awaiting the Gypsy update that puts Imagine content on the Gypsy and allows you to use the Gypsy to design Imagine projects. You will need to link your Imagine carts through the Imagine and they will need to be in the Imagine in order to cut them out.
Use Cricut Sync to update, do the Gypsy first and then when it’s fully done do the Imagine update.
If the Imagine update says your machine is up to date just wait a bit and try again, keep trying until it comes up and says update is available. We have told PC that it’s not coming up for some of us so they know and will fix it soon I suppose.
Have fun!!!!
I have been told that the current updates offered through Cricut Sync are safe again. They have been re-uploaded by Provocraft and are the same as the versions that were up before last Friday.
Also They are still working on the update that will allow us to link our Imagine cartridges to our Gypsy’s for those of you who have been waiting for this one. They are trying to get all the bugs out first, and the mishap with the older files slowed them down a bit since they had to fix those first.
So hopefully no later than 2 weeks on the new update 🙂
The Gypsy and Imagine updates that are coming through Cricut Sync are corrupt and will make either machine not work properly. If you already installed them and are having problems just be patient Provocraft knows about this of course and the next update released will fix everything.
I know it’s hard to not have your toys to play with but don’t try to rest them it could permanently damage the unit.
I will post again when it is safe to download the updates so keep checking back.
While browsing around Cricut’s site I found this new product today. It’s a 10 DVD bundle of videos, how-to use the Cricut and 100 projects showing step by step instructions. It’s 216.00 but the intro bundle deal is if you buy it now you get a Personal Cricut free, also a sampler Cartridge with 600 images, and some Imagine how to Videos.
Cricut's New DVD's
This will be the new TV infomercial on late nights, it has the same pay a low fee up front (shipping of 24.95) and then a payment of 63.95 and 3 more payments of 72.00. This is not an economical way to go this makes the base price before shipping fees and processing fees 279.95. Now add on the 24.95 intital shipping for the DVD’s and another 24.95 for the Cricut’s shipping, and then there is 15.00 for processing the 3 72.00 payments (5.00 each month added on). Now your total for this bundle will be 344.85.
Not really such a deal when you get it that way. If you pay the 216.00 all at once, you still have to add the 2 24.95 shipping costs but you also get a Deep Cut Blade and housing Kit. That means ultimately your paying 265.90 for the bundle which is a much more reasonable price.
Ok enough with prices I know you’re talking to me through your computer right now saying “April, come on tell us what the heck we get for 216.00 already”. 🙂 ok so here’s what you get:
10 discs of the Ultimate Creative Series on these subjects….
- Creative Card Making
- Scrapbooking for Everyone
- Clay and Wood Working
- Fabric and Needle Arts
- Glass Etching at Home
- Gift Giving and Party Hosting
- Vinyl Lettering and More
- Home Decor and Design
- Stenciling and Painting Made Easy
- Paper Crafting with Flare
Each DVD has segments with experts that will share a step by step walk-through of each project. Also there are tips and tricks for each project from basic details to Professional Secrets.
These are the experts and which DVD they appear on…..
- Howard Fullmer – Wood and Clay Coach
- Cathy Davis – Home Décor and Design Coach
- Trish Allen – Stenciling Coach
- Lisa Berrett – Paper Crafting Coach
- Wendy Switzer – Parties and Gift Giving Coach
- Jann Gray – Fabric Coach
- Brenda Smith – Glass Etching
- Heather Lancaster – Scrapbooking
- Jinger Adams – Card Making Coach
- Kristy Day – Vinyl Coach
For a limited time you’ll get this bonus pack including…..
- 1 Cricut Imagine DVD (with 10 projects)
- Instructional DVD (comes with a materials list)
- 1 Tips and tricks DVD (this has over 100 tips and tricks for the projects on the DVD’s)
- 1 Ultimate Creative Series Sampler Cartridge (it has 600 images with 6 overlays)
- A Storage case/box for the DVD’s
And last but not least you get a free Personal Cricut.
Everything included in the Bundle
Bonus Kit
So that’s about it, I would love to get ahold of the DVD’s but unfortunately I could never talk my husband into spending 216.00 for DVD’s (Especially when he wants some DVD set, I think it’s the complete Mash series, that I keep saying is too expensive at about 150.00). Maybe someone I know will buy them and let me borrow them so I can at least watch them and return them, heck I would pay to have them mailed to me one at a time and mail them back to someone I just want to watch maybe take some notes, maybe learn something new. 🙂
You can also buy the DVD’s only and they come with the bonus kit contents, however it’s still 216.00.
This is a nice kit for beginners, I just wish they would offer the DVD’s for sale individually as well. Maybe they will later however I bet they will be 19.95 each that way, but you wouldn’t have to buy the ones you didn’t want.
Just wanted to let all you Circlets know that the circle only rewards are up on the cricut rewards site. They are not in their own section they are mixed in with everything and you can only see them if you are a Circle Member.
There are 4 cartridges being offered:
Wall Decor and More
Create a Critter
Cindy Loo
Serenade
and 3 birds on parade
All of these are 1000 points each and won’t be available until the evening of the 12th of August.
There are a ton of other cool Circle only rewards, a neat t-shirt in 4 colors, some water bottles and some other stuff but the carts I think are the greatest reward they could have given us. I have all of them but one so I am happy I can get one I wanted if it is in stock when I get on to order it LOL :).
So if you’re a Circle Member log in and check it out go see all the neat stuff, and if you’re not a circle member well get on the band wagon LOL 😉 I hear they did a big invite recently and I say it really it worth it.
Check back later I have another post waiting to go out about some more We R Memory Keepers new products.
Ok it looks like I got my internet back 🙂 I ended up staying in a hotel and their internet went down the night of the Cricut Gala so I couldn’t update that night and then I had to travel home so now I am back and on my own internet :).
CHA was great I love going to the trade show, I got to go because Kim from Cutters Creek had a helper drop out at the last-minute, I had applied for a Blogger press pass but we get last priority and all the spots were filled fast so I was glad Kim invited me to help her!!!
I saw some really great stuff this year at the show, let’s start with the thing everyone wanted to know more about the Cricut Imagine:
Cricut Imagine
Cricut Imagine
As you can see by the pictures this is a large machine, the head is very much the same as the current Expression head, the mats are not interchangeable as far as old mats being able to be used in this machine, the reason is the new mats have black registration lines on them that the unit uses to print and then cut precisely. It will print on thin mediums like plastic sheets, vellum and regular paper, as well as thick mediums like thicker chipboard and thick cardboard like corrugated cardboards. I was told it will also cut all these items as well as it has a deeper than the current deep cut blade included.
The inks will of course be replaceable at a cost of 34.99 for black and 39.99 for color and should be available at large scrapbooking and craft retailers as well as places like Wal-Mart. I think this is a good price for the inks it is comparable to current HP ink cartridges. I asked if the ink was waterproof and was told they couldn’t comment on that but he assumed it would be as well as archival quality. I asked why they chose to go with a single color cartridge over the multi cartridge types such as Epson has and HP has gone to on higher end printers and he said they decided to go with single cartridges because it would be easier to replace and would print more pages. I can see the advantages of the multiple color cartridge system but I also see their point of view as well. They hinted around, at least when I asked, at future software having the ability to print from our computers, something like Design Studio but with the added ability to design a page or card from the bottom up by picking out the background pattern, adding elements and all on different layers to be cut out separately. I really hope this will happen, it wasn’t told to me for sure 100% coming but as I said a few PC people told me off the record this was the future they were hoping for and working towards.
I really do like the projects I saw that were made with this machine, it’s like hybrid scrapbooking in a way but still different. I really like that you can print 12×12 patterned paper and it’s infinite so you’ll never run out of paper in the middle of a project, unless of course you run out of ink LOL :). I was told that you can print 125 12×12 pages on best per ink cartridge, this is a small number comparably I do realize that but maybe the cartridges are smaller or maybe the pictures are of a higher quality I will have to see more to know that. I do know that I can print about 800 pages on the text + image setting which is the normal equivalent, this is on my Epson. Now it has separated colors too so that may make a huge difference as I have a high-end HP printer that will get about 400 pages on normal and about 200 on best full color 8×11, the Epson would be full color 12×12, but on photo it might be more like 200 full color 12×12.
Here are a few examples of some things that were cut and printed on the low setting and the high setting from what I was told:
Printed and Cut with the Imagine on Best
- Printed and Cut on the Imagine on Fast
Notice the vibrant crisp dark color on the top image which was printed on Best, and the muted washed out color on the cake this was done on fast. It’s still a good image and would look great distressed like take some sand paper and rub and scratch some of the image to make it look old. Maybe use some sepia ink or chalk around it to give a worn look.
This shows the machine cutting things out after they were printed I really like the ability with the Imagine to print an image and then cut it into parts thus giving us the option to have depth to our projects, here are a few projects showing this: Cute layered cow project
A few more Imagine projects
The images that they have put together and the patterns for the backgrounds are really nice, I think the characters I saw were really cute like the chef and the cupcakes above so darn cute :).
I really like everything I have seen from this machine and I cannot wait to get one, I was one of the few invited to the Gala so I will be receiving one from PC in the fall when they are finished and available to the public.
The release date is sometime in October of 2010 in time for Christmas and will be featured on HSN. There should be a website live www.cricutimagine.com it’s not fully ready yet but make sure you keep checking it so you can see more about it as they release info.
One thing I did ask was if they were working on the machine becoming backwards compatible with the current Cricut cartridges, an example would be the ability to print faces on the paper dolls or print accents that we have been drawing in on our own, or the ability to print the little things on cutouts like eyes or buttons etc. things that we need tweezers to place on now. I was told that no they were not considering that at least not right now, I asked if maybe there would be an accent Imagine cartridge made to go specifically with certain cartridges sort of like the new Cuttlebug folders. He said yes that this could be a better possibility in the future but it wasn’t something they had in the works right now.
I have a few other photos from Provocraft showing the inks, mat, and some of the imagine cartridges:
Cricut Imagine Ink Cartridges and Mat
Cricut Imagine Best Friends Cartridge
Cricut Imagine Cartridge that Comes With the Unit, Imagine More
Cricut Imagine Kates Kitchen Cartridge
Cricut Imagine Nursery Tales Cartridge
Cricut Imagine Yummy Cartridge
Some more Provocraft new things are a new Cuttlebug machine, it’s green and has a handle that lies flat now for easier storage, however I would have thought they would have made it better by changing the embossing size ability but they said that was not something they felt the public wanted at this time. Here are a few photos of the newer unit and some new folders I thought were really cute:
New Cuttlebug Machine
New Cuttlebug Handle Out
New Cuttlebug Handle In
Party Bird Folder
Cars and Trucks Folder
Baseball Diamond Folder
Gecko Folder
Circus Monkey Folder
Juggling Circus Beaver Folder
Bowling Folder
I didn’t get any more photos of the other folders but these were the few that really jumped out at me, I think he said there are 27 new 4 piece sets coming out this year and a ton of them coordinate with the cartridges already out, I didn’t see very many of those out on the table but the ones I saw were nice.
I do have some images though straight from Provocraft notice the names as they go with the cartridge of the same name, see also some new names we haven’t seen yet:
New Cuttlebug Folders
New Cuttlebug Folders
New Cuttlebug Folders
New Cuttlebug Folders
These are the new names I was talking about, see above the “Coolio”, “Nifty Fifties”, “Birthday Bash”, and “Boys Will Be Boys” I do believe these will be the next 4 announced, but don’t hold me to that I am just guessing :).
New Cuttlebug Folders - these are the dual purpose ones that emboss and cut all in one
Continuing with Provocraft product news Yudu has some great new products out this year as well, although lets hope that they keep their promise of them arriving in stores before Christmas as last year it took forever for the new stuff to come out. There is a new product called Screen Printing Adhesive and can be used with the new screen coming out only, the new screen will be a 70 mesh which is a more open mesh allowing the thicker glue medium to pass through it with ease.
So this will give us the ability to make things with glitter, foil and flocking. All of which will also be sold by PC for the yudu, the glitter is pretty much a standard fine glitter and you could use Martha’s if you had it on hand before buying specific Yudu glitters. PC claims their Yudu glitter line will be washable and not wear off like regular glitter would but i do believe any glitter would work just fine. Next they have a foil sheet line so you would screen the glue let it dry tacky and then stick the foil sheet down and rub until it sticks to the glue these will come in various colors. And lastly they will have a flocking sheet that you do the same way, wait for the glue to become tacky and then stick down the flocking sheet and rub it until the flocking sticks and again these will come in various colors. I can see a huge potential in this product you could use it on paper products and wood and fabrics to add neat glitter, foil or flocking designs. Here are a few photos:
Yudu Screen Printing Glue
Example of a shirt printed with ink first and then screened with glue and glitter added
Example of foil
So cute onsie with example of foil
Yudu Flocking Example
I still love my Yudu machine and cannot wait until this stuff comes out I am going to make a ton of cool stuff.
Ok onto the Cricut Cake, this machine seemed to have a huge following this year a lot bigger than I actually thought it would which is good, I wish I had a use for it to justify the purchase I just don’t make enough cakes and cupcakes right now, well I guess I do I make something every month of the year since we have a big family with 7 of us living here and a bunch of other family close by we have either a birthday or a holiday or both every month of the year. I still can’t afford to buy one of these those but I wouldn’t say no if PC offered me one to play with or if I won the one over on Martha Stewart. I do have the Cake Cartridge that comes with it though a friend of mine had an extra one from her bakery and she just gave it to me, I haven’t used it to create anything yet though.
So here are the new products announced for this machine:
Cricut Cake Premade Frosting Sheets
Cricut Cake New Tools and Covers
Cricut Cake New Aprons
So some of you know I was invited to the Cricut Imagine Gala, it was a blast I met some great new people and some I already know from the internet only. They had an airbrush tattoo artist giving tattoos to anyone who wanted one so we got in line and I got the Playboy Bunny on my chest it was the one he said no one had asked for yet and I thought why the heck not. They had music and finger foods and a bar out in the waiting area. They rushed us all into a great room with big fluffy white couches and more music dimmed lights and some high top tables. We got to see an awesome artist named David Garabaldi who did some really nifty painting with a DJ and awesome dance music. We watched the video footage of the 2 finalists stories for being the first to recieve an Imagine, got to see the Imagine introduced and hear them talk about it a little bit. At the end we all got a gift bag with a cool Imagine t-shirt, Cricut Imagine sunglasses (the same ones being given out at the trade show), a Cricut Cartridge, and a Certificate for a new Imagine machine 🙂 yep I said it we all got an Imagine. It was so awesome everyone screamed and jumped for joy definitely a joyful room. I got the cartridge I wanted which was “Country Life” I had been wanting this one because we live on a farm out in the country and it’s perfect for my life and my family. The other ones given out were the new ones Winter Frolic, Happy Hauntings, and Rock Princess.
Here are a few photos, one of me and the 2 ladies I met and spent the entire Gala with (I am the one on the right), and a couple of the artist painting:
My New Friends and Me at the Cricut Gala (I'm on the right)
David Garabaldi at the Cricut Gala Painting Martin Luther King
David Garabaldi at the Cricut Gala
Alright finally I have a few photos of other products I liked at the show that I will share with you here not too many though, maybe I will post more in another post later but for now these are it :).
One new paper line I love is the new Harry Potter line coming out I just love the papers and embellishments and who doesn’t have a son who went as Harry Potter at least one Holloween, I know my son has been him like 3 or 4 times but he looks oddly very much like Harry :).
Harry Potter 2010 Paper Line From Creative Imaginations
I liked another one of their new lines a nice Halloween or Gothic Paper line:
Creative Imaginations
I also liked this new line from Jillibean Soup called Chicken Soup it’s a farm based line and is just so super cute 🙂 :
Jillibean Soup - Chicken Soup
Jillibean Soup - Chicken Soup
Look at those cute little piggies LOL 🙂 I just love them. I tell you I saw a farm, country, folk art type of trend this year in a lot of the new items as well as a continuation of the nature and outdoorsy animal trends from last year.
I have a ton more info and photos but I wanted to get this stuff up as soon as I could so you all wouldn’t have to wait for too long, as it is it took me a few days after I finally got home from the show, I will start working on the rest of my photos and probably post more next week.
And remember any questions you have about anything please feel free to post them I will try to answer them if I can 🙂
For all you Gypsy owners, there is a new software update, it will include the newly announced cartridges as well as the Princess one from the last update if you did not update then.
This is not a software update it is just a cartridge update, those of us with the photo app will continue to have the photo app and those who don’t have it they are working on getting it fixe so all can have it.
Enjoy 🙂
Just hook your Gypsy up to your computer and start the Gypsy Sync program to download the update.
Also they updated Design Studio with the same cartridges as well so if you own that program here is the link to that download:
http://www.cricut.com/CDS/Update.aspx
It’s just a font pack so scroll down to the font packs.
I saw they added some new cartridges so I thought I would post about it in case anyone was interested 🙂
The First one I have info for is called “Just Because cards” this is full of neat things for cards for all kinds of occasions and for just because I wanted to send you a card occasions. I love the cuts in this cart and will definitely be getting this one.
I have 2 photos now and will post handbook shots later:
Just Because cards
Just Because Cards
So the next one is “Give a Hoot” a wonderful nature cartridge I love this one we have Raccoons that try to steal my garbage every night they are so cute but so messy I took some photos of them and now I need this cartridge so I can scrap my adorable couple who likes to dine at chez Bella Blu Cans the finest garbage in the neighborhood 🙂
So here are 2 pictures of this one and later I will post some handbook shots:
Give a Hoot
Give a Hoot
The next one I have for you is called “Preserves” This would be cute for anyone who makes jams and jellies or if you like fruits.
I have 2 pictures of this one as well and will post more handbook photos later:
Preserves
Preserves
And last but not least is “Straight From the Nest” this is really nice cartridge full of birds and cages and trees and leaves and some really pretty scroll work too. This will be an HSN exclusive cartridge though so you won’t be able to get it anywhere else.
Here are 2 pictures for you and again I will upload handbook shots later tonight:
Straight From the Nest
Straight From the Nest
They are also going to be releasing Serenade in April for purchase alone.
All of these say they will be available in March.
Also they will be retiring a few cartridges so get them now before the prices skyrocket. Here is the list of the ones being retired:
Blackletter
Christmas
Sans Serif
Street Sign
So come back later tonight to see the handbook photos of the 4 new cartridges, I am still working on them and can get more done after the kids go to bed. If they aren’t up tonight they will be no later than noon tomorrow.
So I know some of you have already seen these carts from another blog, I thought I would post the pics my friend took as well, they are very much the same photos though I just wanted to put them on here with all my other CHA stuff 🙂
Thanks to my friend who went to the show just for me to take some of these photos 😉
Looks like we are in for some spending this year 🙂
Farm Life
Farm Life
Halloween
Halloween
Halloween
Halloween
Halloween
Halloween
Nature
Nature
Nature
Nature
Nature
Nursery Rhymes
Nursery Rhymes
Nursery Rhymes
Robots
Robots
So they just released the pretty blue one a little bit ago and now there is going to be an awesome red and white one with a pretty butterfly on it. It’s going to be an HSN exclusive sometime in February 2010 and will come with a bunch of new folders as well.
Here are 2 pics of it for you:
Red Cuttlbug HSN Exclusive
Red Cuttlebug HSN Exclusive
Bella Blu Design 