The Cricut Expression machine from Provo Craft is making a big impact on the crafting community. Avid scrapbooker, teacher, business owner, whoever you are if you have paper cutting needs and paper projects then the Expression is a machine you should seriously consider.
The Cricut Expression cuts paper but also cuts vinyl, card and vellum too using cartridges to create shapes and fonts. There is a twelve by twelve inch mat or a twelve by twenty four inch mat for bigger designs. The machine is able to cut as small as a quarter of an inch which means those small pieces of paper no longer need to be wasted. There are thousands of designs for you to choose from on many different cartridges.
The Cricut Expression uses cartridges the same as the original machine but the original is not able to cut out as small or as large as the Expression. There are also other features the Expression has that the original does not like language and unit of measurement changing, portrait or landscape cutting, multiple cuts with thick materials and mirror images with a flip feature. The original also does not have the LCD screen that the Expression has which means you can see what the next cut is going to be.
Unlike the original the Expression is not designed to be a portable machine, it is larger and takes up more room. It is more expensive than the original because of its extra capabilities and features which gives crafters more choice in designs. Larger cutout options makes it particularly useful for teachers creating display boards, businesses creating noticeboards and crafters creating banners.
Having a cutting machine makes life a lot easier for crafters and though the cost of the Expression is high it has dropped from its first very high price of $499. Shop around for discounts and you can get one for closer to $300. You do not need to be an expert in either technology or crafting to use the Expression. But you may have to get more cartridges for greater choice of shapes and lettering, and the cutting mat and blades may need replacing sometimes. There is a tool kit that is optional that comes recommended just because it makes it easier to pick up the paper off the mat. Once you have one though you will not want to go back to hand cutting that is for sure!
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