I was really hesitant to get this machine. I wasn't sure I would use it all that much and for what? I can cut out paper right? Then one day I saw some really beautiful signs made with vinyl and I wanted one. I did not want to spend big money on the Maker so I got the Explore Air 2 on the easy payment plan (HSN) and glad I did. It will do everything the Maker will do for what I need. I'm perfectly happy with my Explore Air 2.
This machine can cut just about anything! It has a deep cut blade that will go through chipboard and balsa. It cuts everything I've thrown at it so far. It cuts paper, craft foam, chipboard, vinyl, aluminum, leather, fabric, and does so much more than just cut. It will kiss cut stickers so you can peel them off the backing. It scores fold lines, it draws and writes whatever you want to say in any font you have. It can even etch glass, metal and plexiglas. It can also cut fabric. And it can emboss or "deboss" too.
One glitch I've noticed is that I have to unplug it or sometimes turn it off and back on to reset it when it messes up occasionally. But that's with any computerized machine.
You can buy an engraving tool made by Chomas Creations to fit the Explore Air 2 and you can emboss by turning the cutting blade over or putting the scoring tool into the "B" clamp. Pad your sticky mat with a spongy layer like leather or craft foam when you emboss and tape your paper to it. You'll have to engineer a holder for the embossing stylus if you move it over to clamp "B". Wrap paper tape around it to get it to hold. Why would you do that? Because on the "cut" setting you will get a deeper emboss than you will on the settings for clamp "A".
Order the engraving tool straight from Amazon if you have prime and you can get it for the same price delivered the next day! That's what I did!
I may have started out to make signs with my Cricut (I bought way too much vinyl) cause I've only made one sign so far... I know. But, I did discover the 'print then cut' feature and proceeded to print and cut out just about every flower graphic and fancy lacey paper pattern I had. I even scanned some flowers in using my scanner and GIMP. The GIMP is a free program that is equivalent to PhotoShop. It will let you edit your own graphics and make your own flowers to cut out.
Get Inkscape, it's a free program that will draw (like Illustrator) and let you make SVGs that will resize in the Cricut design space and allow you to share your creations with other Cricket people.
So now I'm designing files directly in Design Space. I've had my Explore Air 2 for less than a year so don't give up if you got one and haven't used it yet. Don't be intimidated, just unbox it and plug it up. Take a look around and you'll probably find something you want to make. That's how it all gets started.
I fell in love with Anna Griffin cards and flowers so that's what I've been doing with mine. Designing and making cards and little paper engineered stuff. I cut out a lot of stuff with it. I made all my Christmas presents last year with my Cricut. It's just that much FUN.
This machine can cut just about anything! It has a deep cut blade that will go through chipboard and balsa. It cuts everything I've thrown at it so far. It cuts paper, craft foam, chipboard, vinyl, aluminum, leather, fabric, and does so much more than just cut. It will kiss cut stickers so you can peel them off the backing. It scores fold lines, it draws and writes whatever you want to say in any font you have. It can even etch glass, metal and plexiglas. It can also cut fabric. And it can emboss or "deboss" too.
One glitch I've noticed is that I have to unplug it or sometimes turn it off and back on to reset it when it messes up occasionally. But that's with any computerized machine.
You can buy an engraving tool made by Chomas Creations to fit the Explore Air 2 and you can emboss by turning the cutting blade over or putting the scoring tool into the "B" clamp. Pad your sticky mat with a spongy layer like leather or craft foam when you emboss and tape your paper to it. You'll have to engineer a holder for the embossing stylus if you move it over to clamp "B". Wrap paper tape around it to get it to hold. Why would you do that? Because on the "cut" setting you will get a deeper emboss than you will on the settings for clamp "A".
Order the engraving tool straight from Amazon if you have prime and you can get it for the same price delivered the next day! That's what I did!
I may have started out to make signs with my Cricut (I bought way too much vinyl) cause I've only made one sign so far... I know. But, I did discover the 'print then cut' feature and proceeded to print and cut out just about every flower graphic and fancy lacey paper pattern I had. I even scanned some flowers in using my scanner and GIMP. The GIMP is a free program that is equivalent to PhotoShop. It will let you edit your own graphics and make your own flowers to cut out.
Get Inkscape, it's a free program that will draw (like Illustrator) and let you make SVGs that will resize in the Cricut design space and allow you to share your creations with other Cricket people.
So now I'm designing files directly in Design Space. I've had my Explore Air 2 for less than a year so don't give up if you got one and haven't used it yet. Don't be intimidated, just unbox it and plug it up. Take a look around and you'll probably find something you want to make. That's how it all gets started.
I fell in love with Anna Griffin cards and flowers so that's what I've been doing with mine. Designing and making cards and little paper engineered stuff. I cut out a lot of stuff with it. I made all my Christmas presents last year with my Cricut. It's just that much FUN.
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