Please come on over to my new blog and follow me there -
http://thenon-craftycrafter.blogspot.com.au/

I'll be transferring information to there from this blog as I get time. Any new tutorials/info will be posted there!


Friday, 19 November 2010

Hello Thursday - November 2010

There are eight new cartridges in todays Hello Thursday. The announcement states that they will be available in November.

Seven of them are Lite carts and one comes bundled with the Cricut Personal. I'm guessing that it replaces George & Basic Shapes rather than in addition to it.

Interestingly the Hello Thursday email doesn't say that the Lite carts are exclusive to Walmart.... I wonder.....

Download the DS Font Pack from http://www.cricut.com/CDS/Update.aspx

There's still no sign of the DS update for Car Decals.... 

Two more carts are being retired. They are Fabulous Finds and Basecamp.

Anyway, here are the official sample sheets of the new carts from cricut.com. Click on the picture to see a larger size.


Cricut Classic Font

 Cupcakes
 


Four Legged Friends


Inspired Heart
 

Jolly Holidays
 


Playtime
 


 Twinkle Toes


Zoo Day

Friday, 29 October 2010

An EXTRA Hello Thursday surprise

PC have just announced three new Seasonal Cartridges.

The DS & Gypsy updates will be available next week.

Gingerbread

Trim the Tree
Winter Lace

Friday, 22 October 2010

New Cartridges for October Hello Thursday

There's SEVEN new cartridges for this months Hello Thursday. All will be available in November.

Car Decals - Includes a font. Exclusive to cricutmachine.com. This Cart hasn't been added to Design Studio yet. (As at 10/22/10)



Not only does it have all those cute stick figures you see on the back of cars these days it also has these guys:





And something else that many people have been asking for:


Ornamental Iron - Includes a font. Exclusive to cricutmachine.com


Paper Lace - Includes a font


Quarter Note - Includes a font. Exclusive to Michaels.


Sesame Street Seasons


Wrap It Up


Smiley Cards - No images available yet. This cart is available only via Gypsy download. Your gypsy must be registered by 31 October 2010 to qualify.

Get the DS font pack update from here: DS Update

Carts retiring this month are Beyond Birthdays and Teardrop.

Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Searching in Design Studio

     Here's how the search function in Design Studio works:
  • Select View "Keywords" from the drop down box in the Cartridge Library
  • Type your search word in the box. In this example I've used "flower".
     As you're typing you'll notice the Key 1 box will drop down and start filling with results.
  • Click on the result you want to search or highlight it and press Enter
     You'll see a list of carts that contain that object.
  • Click on the double right arrow next to the View Keywords box.
     The DS keypad will change to that cartridge and the key that contains that object will be highlighted
     in green. 
  • Press the arrow key again and the next cart and/or image will be highlighted.
     Any feature keys will also be highlighted.
  • Continue pressing the arrow key to go through all the search results.
     If you can't find what you're looking for you can also try http://www.cricutsearch.com/.

Monday, 18 October 2010

Problem with drivers in Windows 7

If you have Windows 7 you may get an error when you're trying to use your Cricut with Design Studio.

This should fix your problem:

  • Close Design Studio
  • Connect your Cricut to your computer but leave the Cricut switched off.
  • On your computer select Start --> Control Panel --> Devices & Printers
You should see something like this:


  • Now power on your Cricut
  • A new device should appear under the Unspecified heading. It should be called USB <--> Serial

  • Right click the new device and select Troubleshoot

  • The troubleshooter will start and it will look for problems with your device.


  • Follow the instructions the troubleshooter gives you.

  • After you have finished try using your Cricut in DS again.

Sunday, 17 October 2010

Gypsy promotion

You won't want to miss this one if you own a Gypsy or are thinking of buying one:

Buy and register a Gypsy by Cricut by October 31 and receive 6 free cartridges downloaded to your Gypsy – including the exclusive, all-new "Smiley Cards" cartridge (and don't forget about Gypsy Wanderings and Gypsy font cartridges that come pre-loaded on the machine). It's a $419 value!
Free cartridges include:
  • Smiley Cards (new and exclusive to this promotion)
  • Tags, Bags, Boxes and More (not available in retail)
  • Christmas (not available in retail)
  • Blackletter (not available in retail)
  • Printing Press (not available in retail)
  • Indie Art (not available in retail)
All current Gypsy owners included! Simply register your Gypsy by October 31, 2010 and get access to all downloads. Register at www.cricut.com/gypsy.

Downloads will be available through a special update to your Gypsy starting November 1st.

New Gypsy cartridge downloads are easy! Just connect your Gypsy to your computer and you'll automatically be prompted how to start. In just a few steps, you'll be able to download all six cartridges containing thousands of images! And with Gypsy, you'll have all the cartridge artwork and keypad overlays on your Gypsy screen, so there's no actual cartridge, handbook, or packaging.

You only have a few weeks. Don't miss out!!

Friday, 1 October 2010

Cricut Circle blog is open

Here's the link to the new Cricut Circle Blog: http://cricutcircleblog.org/

It's open for ALL to see until October 11. After that it will only be available to Cricut Circle members.

The Circle has been opened for one week. Click on the GET CIRCLED link at the blog to go to the membership page.

While everyone can view the blog at the moment, you must be a Circle member to enter the challenges.

Saturday, 18 September 2010

The new Cricut message board is open for business!

Here's the link to the new message board: http://main.cricut.com/forum/

Use your EMAIL ADDRESS to login - not your username.

The password is the same as the one you are using on the old board.

The new board is faster than a speeding bullet. It has a totally different look but I find it super easy to get around. Hope you do too!

You can still post on the old board for now. On October 1st the old board will be locked and will then be Read Only. (So all your old posts will still be there for a while). No word as to when/if they'll remove the old board.

Don't forget to bookmark the new address.

See you at the new board!

Narelle

Friday, 17 September 2010

Cricut message board is on the move!

UPDATE: The new message board is  open for business. Here's the link: http://community.provocraft.com/

PC have advised that the new message board will be available by the end of this week! Fingers crossed that it goes ahead as planned and without any problems. Thanks PC for all the hard work you do!

The current message board will still be around for a while but all new threads will need to be created on the new board. Threads on the old message board can still be posted to for now.

September Hello Thursday carts have been announced

It's Hello Thursday again and PC have released 3 new cartridges and retired two more.

The two carts being retired are Stone Script and Indie Art. Get yours while you still can!

The three new carts are Birthday Bash, Nifty Fifties and Shall we Dance.

Click here for the Design Studio Font Pack update:  http://www.cricut.com/CDS/Update.aspx

Birthday Bash and Nifty Fifties will be available in October. Shall we Dance is available to Cricut Circle members only. Membership closes today (9/17) at midnight MST so email me if you still want an invite.

(Members who join this quarter will still receive the French Manor cart. Shall we Dance is the cart for the next quarter.)


Here's the sample sheets from the three new carts. Enjoy!

Birthday Bash



Nifty Fifties


Shall we Dance?

Thursday, 16 September 2010

The Cricut Circle - extended due to technical difficulties

Message from PC:

Due to some Circle Members having system issues with the friend referral system we have decided to extend the contest until Friday September 17, 2010 until 12:00am MST.   There will not be any further extensions after this, so make sure you have all of your interested referrals sign up. 

So if you want to join... hurry!

In preparation for the launch of the Cricut Imagine Provocraft have opened the Cricut Circle for new members. To join you need a referral from an existing Circle member. If you know a Circle member ask her for an invitation.

If you don't know a circle member and have been thinking about joining send me an email (girlfromoz2009@hotmail.com) and I'll send you the invitation.



I should say that having new members join from my invitation DOES benefit me. Here's how:

  • Every person that I refer and signs up to join the Circle by Sept 13th 2010 prior to the launch of the Cricut Imagine will be able to participate in this Cricut Imagine offer.
  • Every person that signs up from my recommendation will earn me an extra 100 reward points per signed up friend to be rewarded by Oct. 1st in my rewards account.
  • For the first full year membership that signs up from my recommendation I will receive a free Gypsy from the Cricut Circle.
  • For the top 10 Cricut Circle members that sign up the most members PC will be giving me a free 2011 Cricut Circle membership.
  • Of the top 10 Cricut Circle members the top two Cricut Circle members that have the most friends sign up will also enjoy a spot on the 2011 Cricut Cruise along with a guest of their choice.
If you have a friend who is in the Circle you may want to join with a referral from them so that they get these benefits. But if you don't know anyone in the Circle and would like to join please let me know.

To avoid any problems with signing up the email address I send the invitation to should match your cricut.com message board email address.

So what do you get for your circle membership and how much does it cost?

A full years membership costs $275. For that you get:
  • Four exclusive cartridges a year, one each quarter (starting with French Manor), ONLY available to The Cricut Circle members
  • Special buying privileges like rebates, monthly coupons, and opportunities to buy other exclusive products for your Cricut, from friends and partners of Provo Craft
  • Extra reward points and special cricut.com discounts
  • A members-only bracelet with an exclusive Cricut Circle charm
  • A special Cricut Circle Community will come together through an exclusive Cricut Circle forum on cricut.com
  • Inspiration and education from exclusive Cricut Circle webinars, swarms, meet-ups, and events
  • A fun Cricut Circle blog and a monthly project-inspired online magazine to fill your mind with ideas galore
There is also a quarterly membership option.
 
Take care

Narelle (GirlfromOZ)

Sunday, 5 September 2010

The Cricut Circle - extended due to technical difficulties

Message from PC:

Due to some Circle Members having system issues with the friend referral system we have decided to extend the contest until Friday September 17, 2010 until 12:00am MST.   There will not be any further extensions after this, so make sure you have all of your interested referrals sign up. 



In preparation for the launch of the Cricut Imagine Provocraft have opened the Cricut Circle for new members. To join you need a referral from an existing Circle member. (Yes, I'm a member).

If you have been thinking about joining send me an email (girlfromoz2009@hotmail.com) and I'll send you the invitation.

I should say that having new members join from my invitation DOES benefit me. Here's how:
  • Every person that I refer and signs up to join the Circle by Sept 13th 2010 prior to the launch of the Cricut Imagine will be able to participate in this Cricut Imagine offer.
  • Every person that signs up from my recommendation will earn me an extra 100 reward points per signed up friend to be rewarded by Oct. 1st in my rewards account.
  • For the first full year membership that signs up from my recommendation I will receive a free Gypsy from the Cricut Circle.
  • For the top 10 Cricut Circle members that sign up the most members PC will be giving me a free 2011 Cricut Circle membership.
  • Of the top 10 Cricut Circle members the top two Cricut Circle members that have the most friends sign up will also enjoy a spot on the 2011 Cricut Cruise along with a guest of their choice.
If you have a friend who is in the Circle you may want to join with a referral from them so that they get these benefits. But if you don't know anyone in the Circle and would like to join please let me know.

To avoid any problems with signing up the email address I send the invitation to should match your cricut.com message board email address.

So what do you get for your circle membership and how much does it cost?

A full years membership costs $275. For that you get:
  • Four exclusive cartridges a year, one each quarter (starting with French Manor), ONLY available to The Cricut Circle members
  • Special buying privileges like rebates, monthly coupons, and opportunities to buy other exclusive products for your Cricut, from friends and partners of Provo Craft
  • Extra reward points and special cricut.com discounts
  • A members-only bracelet with an exclusive Cricut Circle charm
  • A special Cricut Circle Community will come together through an exclusive Cricut Circle forum on cricut.com
  • Inspiration and education from exclusive Cricut Circle webinars, swarms, meet-ups, and events
  • A fun Cricut Circle blog and a monthly project-inspired online magazine to fill your mind with ideas galore
There is also a quarterly membership option.
 
Take care

Narelle (GirlfromOZ)




Friday, 20 August 2010

Two more carts retiring

This month's Hello Thursday email announced that the Soccer and Zooballoo cartridges are retiring.

Check here for the full list of retired/retiring carts: Retiring carts list

Saturday, 14 August 2010

New carts added to Design Studio

New carts have been added to the Design Studio Font Pack. CDS Update




Boys will be boys
 


CM Cheerful Season

CM Reminisce Accents



Christmas Cards
 
 

Christmas Village



Martha Stewart All Occasions



Martha Stewart Elegant

Martha Stewart Seasonal


Thanksgiving

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

Tea bag holder to share

Here's another file I did this week.

Jennifer from the cricut message board was looking for a DS/gypsy cut file for this:

http://mytimemadeeasy.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=144

Here's what I came up with. I think it's pretty close...




Click on the links below to download the files.

Tea bag holder cut file for Design Studio
Tea bag holder .gypsy file

Saturday, 17 July 2010

Pennant Garland cut file

I haven't shared a cut file for ages! So I thought it was time I did something about it...

Celeste from the Cricut.com message board was looking for a DS cut file for the pennant garland she found at this blog: http://www.oncewed.com

It's a great design. Thanks Anna  from Once Wed for sharing the directions and template!




I love a challenge (and I was avoiding the ironing....) so I jumped right in.

Here's what I came up with. It uses George & Basic Shapes and fits on the 12x12 mat.


I've added the red lines to indicate where to fold.

Here's the DS file: Pennant DS file
Here's the Gypsy file: Pennant Gypsy file

Enjoy! I'd love to see pics if you use the file.