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The Cricut Explore Design-and-Cut Machine

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Once upon a time, I was VERY artistic and crafty! I drew ALL the time, I created things ALL the time and I loved it! I had so much time, when I was younger, to do those things and I was good at it!

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Now that I am older, I do not have time to sit down at a table to scrapbook or create something from scratch. I WISH I did, but logically I just don’t have the time. Maybe when my little 20 month old is a bit bigger and not so needy, but right now? No way.

Cricut Explore

So, when I was contacted if I wanted to review the new Cricut Explore Design-and-Cut Machine, you better believe I was excited! Maybe now I COULD make some crafts and get creative again!!

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This machine is supposed to do pretty much everything. No more doing it on your own. This machine can cut so well.  It can get the perfect cut on nearly any material, by simply using the Smart Set™ dial. It can cut paper, vinyl, cardstock, fabric, wood, leather, and much more!! Oh the possibilities!!!!

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I can’t believe how nicely and perfectly this machine cuts. It can cut as small as  ¼ inch tall with exceptional precision. It can also cut a wide range of shapes and sizes and it looks sooo good!!

One of the MANY things I love about the Cricut Explore is that you can browse the ‘Make It Now’ (which is a FREE companion app) projects in Cricut Design Space™ and be inspired with projects for home décor, parties, cardmaking, scrapbooking, school projects, and more. There are SO many projects/ideas in this section!! It makes creating things a cinch!! There is SO much to this area that I am STILL learning.

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Gosh, browsing the hundreds of ready-to-make projects (over 50,000 images!!!), is draining!! LOL. Oh the ideas, oh the possibilities! My goodness the projects I can make. It makes my head spin! I can even upload my own images, so I have a lot of possibilities!! The holidays are coming and I can see a lot of fun projects coming into play! What is also pretty cool is that you can even use the Cricut cartridges you already own if you happen to have some lying around from another Cricut you own!

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So far, with my Cricut Explore, I have made a few birthday cards and a decal for the back of my sons phone (a cute, perfectly shaped little rhino!!!). I love how this machine cuts so well. It is so neat to watch this machine go to work, after you tell it what you want it to do. It is pretty easy, once you figure it all out. That took me a bit and I am STILL learning and have SO much to learn about this machine.

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Setting up this machine was very simple. Then I hooked up the cord it comes with, to my laptop and downloaded the Cricut app/icon to my desktop. Now, when ever I want to use my Cricut, I just hook the cord to my laptop, click on the Cricut icon and the library of ideas pops up and I can get to work. That part was the easy part! Finding what to make, is the hard part! So many choices!!!

The only part I am having problems with  understanding is how to create my own project from scratch. That is proving to be quite difficult for me as I have yet to figure it out. I will have to watch more videos on that and ask around!

Machine Features & Details

  • Smart Set™ dial for material selection
  • Dual carriage heads
  • Integrated storage compartments
  • Cricut Design Space™ software
  • 50+ free project ideas
  • 100+ free images
  • Compatible with PC/Mac
  • Included in the box:
    • Cricut Explore® machine
    • German carbide blade
    • Metallic silver pen
    • USB cord and power cord
    • 12″ x 12″ StandardGrip Cricut®cutting mat
    • Getting started guide
    • Black and jade Cricut® cardstock
    • Silver Cricut® vinyl
    • White Cricut® iron-on
    • 2 Duck Tape® sheets


About Kim Delatorre

Kim Delatorre is a mommy to three beautiful, smart kids and wife to an amazing husband of 24 years! She enjoys reading, writing, spending time with her family, and blogging.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  9. Terry Bellender says

    Actually I would be gifting this forward to my daughter for a Christmas present. I have an 18 month old grandson that she would be able to do crafts with him on this machine(she’ll run it of course not him lol)

  12. Theresa D says

    The first think I would use it for is to make this years Christmas cards. I would also use it to make album pages for my sons scrapbook.

  20. Jill Myrick says

    I would make cards for family and friends, a wall border for my sons room and some wall decals for my daughters room.

    jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

  21. Kimberly Hilbert says

    I would love to use this for my journals, art journals and scrap books. I’d also love to see how it works on vinyl and put that on my water bottle that’s stainless steel.

  24. Birdiebee says

    I would make scrapebooks for two of my my grandkids of their mother before she passed away.

  25. Sarah Cool says

    I would make flash cards and birthday and holiday cards and eventually wedding invitations 🙂

  26. Da-Hedgehogi says

    Oh, I would love to make some Christmas cards or small decorations for the play room.

  28. Cassandra Eastman says

    I would love to use it for scrapbooking and making cards! Christmas cards would be super fun to make with it!

  32. Stephanie B says

    All of my holiday cards this year! I did homemade cards last year and they were a hit! Continuing the tradition this year will be great!

  34. Jessica H. says

    I really need to work on my girls baby books. They are 10 and 9 now, so I am a tad behind. 🙂 Thank you so much for this wonderful giveaway!

  35. Marlynn Pulido says

    What would I do with the cricut explore? Just what couldnt I do with it. I would really use to help family on their kids birthday parties and also for my own personal arts and crafts. I feel it will allow to do a greater amount of work in less time and I would really love that since I am always working projects and sometimes two or three at a time

  37. Wanita says

    If I were to win the Cricut Explore, I would make beautiful cards and unique jewelry/gifts. It would enable me to really amp up my business.

  38. Wanita says

    HSN had these on special and I procrastinated too long and they sold out. 🙁 I could really kick myself. I need on sooooo badly.

  41. Jeane Campbell says

    Next up are Halloween cards for all the grandkids! Then there are the October birthday cards to make. Better get busy!

  45. Natalie F says

    I would use it to make Halloween decorations. Like pumpkins and ghosts. I would decorate for my kids Birthdays and use it for scrap booking. And for making greeting cards. I would love to have it, thanks for the option to win!

  47. Christina Foley says

    I would love to make cards for the holidays… and other crafts for gifts.. frames, wall decor, etc

  61. Kathy Luman says

    I would make some home decor. Decorate picture frames, make my own cards and share it with my grand kids so we could do some crafts together.

  63. Amanda says

    I would love to use this to make thank you cards! My friend had one and we did that and also started my daughter’s baby book with it. I’d like to complete that and make two more for my twin boys!!

  68. Joanna Reed says

    Oh gosh…If only there was more time in my life for crafts! ! I love scrapbooking and need some fresh ideas. This would be awesome as my old circuit has about seen it’s last project :-\ … fingers crossed for this one!