If you are into scrapbooking and arts and crafts and haven’t heard of the Cricut Expression cutting machine, you are being left behind. The Expression is a state-of-the-art personal cutting machine that can quickly and easily create numerous designs all your crafting ideas. In a nutshell, it can be used to create different designs, shapes, letters and numbers for various crafting uses, including (but limited to) scrapbooking, cardmaking and school projects.
It can cleanly cut these shapes and letters from a variety of materials, not just your average card stock paper. The Cricut Expression can cut soft plastics, poster board, window cling material, vinyl, thin chip boards and even thin magnets. You can find a Cricut Expression bundle with extra mats, blades and a plethora of accessories to really take your scrapbooking efforts to the next level.
The Cricut Expression is actually a unique adaptation of an existing product. It performs a similar function as both the Cricut Create and the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter, but is able to offer more options for increased usage. At a more impressive size than the other two, it provides access to a larger range of sizes for letters, numbers, and shapes. You also have the dual options of either a 12X12 mat, or the more impressive 12X24.
The Cricut Expression is a somewhat more expensive choice than other similar items, due to its size and lack of portability. This means, that for some people, the purchase of this item represents something of an investment. It could also be the difference between a hobby that is pursued occasionally, and something that comprises a significant portion of a person’s free time. The Cricut Expression is an item that is designed to stay on a fixed object, like a desk or a media table. It is commonly used in schools, offices, and in advertising.
A Few Things You May Not Know About The Cricut Expression:
- A common misconception is that in order to use this item, you will have to have a computer
- It will simply plug into any traditional wall outlet
- This item is typically sold with the Plantin Schoolbook font cartridge and one 12X12 cutting mat.
- If you buy a Cricut Expression Bundle, you may get lucky enough to have the Accent Essentials Shape cartridge provided, but it is not guaranteed with every order. It never hurts to ask!
- This product with produce characters as small as .25”, up to an almost unheard of 23.5”
- Ability to choose, and change between, metric and Imperial measurements
- All of the Cricut accessories that you already have, can also be used on your new Expression
- The ability to use existing Cricut accessories, means you no longer have the need to obtain and maintain those heavy die cuts
Provo Craft Cricut Expression Introduction
Some Cricut Expression Pros and Cons
PROS
- Nice wide cutting capability to handle up to 12 x 14 sheets
- Dial controls easily adjust speed and pressure for most media.
- Has many on-board controls that make such functions centering and volume cuts easy.
- It is pretty much plug and play.
- The cartridges are versatile and loaded with features, and the Expression expands on this with onboard features such ability to cut in 11 sizes and to move the cutting knife in more directions.
- No computer required, but it’s versatility can be expanded with Cricut Design Studio.
CONS
- Dependent on proprietary cartridges
- Not very portable–needs a large, clear work area.
- Many images are copyrighted and/or licensed and have limitations on use.
- Cartridge content very skewed toward children and education. I would love to see more “grown up” cartridges. I wish they had with all kinds of envelopes and card shapes, and a lot of the things I see and have on mechanical dies. I know some wouldn’t work, but most of them would.
- It needs at least 1 size in between each of the 11 sizes, because sometimes one size is too small but the next size is too big. I am a cardmakes and use 1/8 differential in my layers, because it looks better (IMHO) and I like lots of layers.
- It does not do a good job of cutting letters/numbers smaller than 1/2 – 3/4″, at least with the fonts I own. Again I know this was developed for scrapbookers not stampers.
Cricut Expression Cutting Machine with Accessories
Why Choose The Expression Over The Original Cricut
(Or Why Should You Upgrade)
Maybe you already own the original Cricut or the Cricut Create, and are trying to decide whether these would do what you want or if you “need” the larger, newer model – the Expressions.
If I were to do it over again, I would buy only the Expressions model. The original model is excellent for portability and if all you are cutting is stuff to paste down.
If you are heavily into paper arts (3D boxes, bags, bookbinding, etc.), then go for the Expressions model. It allows more creativity and has several time saving modes.
I have used my Cricut Expressions more in this one month than I’ve used the Cricut original in over a YEAR. The Cricut as it first came out actually kind of disappointed me….but I’m really LOVING my Expressions. It’s nice to have both so I can speed up production.
Cricut Expression Features That I Wouldn’t Live Without
Compared to the other Cricut machines, the Cricut Expression personal electronic cutter has added features, other than the obvious size difference. I have used the features more often than I thought I would and it’s what has really sold me on the machine.
A few of the enhancements I really like (and USE) on the Expressions machine vs. the original Cricut:
- The ability to switch from portrait to landscape orientation mode. This really helps use up all the available space on your loaded paper. It used to bug the heck out of me that I could see all this ‘wasted’ paper on the Cricut original because the machine was too ‘dumb’ to know how to cut in a different orientation.
- Pop up digital display. This little preview has helped me in stopping a mistake before pressing the CUT button more than once.
- Auto Fill. The machine can fill a page with as many cuts in the size you designate. If you need a lot of duplicates, you can input your design and size and the machine will automatically calculate how many it can cut on whatever you have loaded. So you don’t waste any paper if you are doing multi cuts of the same design. Great for classrooms.
- Count feature. If you need a specific number, this feature will help you keep track of how many have been cut. It also calculates for you how much paper you’ll need.
- Auto Maximum. If you want to get the biggest image size possible on the paper you have loaded but don’t want to keep guessing (like you do on the original model), this is a great feature.
- The ability to cut longer than 12″. This may not seem like a big deal at first, but if you cut 2″ letters on a name like “Kennedy” on one of the cartridges that has end caps, this can make the difference of actually being able to do this right or piecing parts together and having it look like crap. Also nice if you are making big signs using the pens instead of cutting.
- Mirror image feature. This is terrific if your image needs to have a true front and back.
- Mix and Match. You can now do more than one style in one pass with this feature, by combining several creative features in one cut. Big time saver.
- An 8 way blade positioner vs. 4 way on the old machine.
- Not having to cut paper before loading. I just slap down a 12 x 12 and I’m ready to go.
- Centering feature. If you are trying to crop a photo or other image into a shape, this feature will allow you to center the needle over the image to get as near a perfect cut as possible.
- Fit to page. This allows you to get the biggest size of a given image without having to guess what size will fit.
- Line return – lets you ‘type’ on your Expression so it acts like a typewriter.
Who Would Benefit From The Cricut Expression?
In case you are wondering whether or not the Expression is worth the money you shell out for it, the answer usually depends on what you will be using this machine for.
If you are simply someone who enjoys scrapbooking every now and then however and you do not see yourself using this machine that often, you might be better off buying the few pre-cut shapes and letters you get from crafts stores.
On the other hand, if you are serious about scrapbooking and often make lovely albums as gifts for friends, you may find it very useful. For those who are running a specialty store where you make handmade invitations, scrapbook souvenirs for parties and special occasions, as well as professional scrapbook artists who also specialize in making these things for people who need them, may also find this machine well worth what you pay for it. In these cases, owning a Cricut Expression will save you lots of time and money that you would have to spend with stickers or expensive die cuts.
Expand On Your Cricut Expression With Accessories
While the Cricut Expression is great on its own, there are lots of accessories that you can purchase to expand on its capabilities.
Use Multiple Cartridges At Once
There is an accessory “Juke Box” that allows you to pop in multiple cartridges so you don’t have to switch out each one every time you want to switch. Comes in handy for those using the Studio program and those who purchase a Cricut Expression bundle.
Use The Cricut With Your Computer
If you want, you can purchase a Cricut software called Cricut Design Studio to allow you to add the power of your PC to manipulate the cartridge images/fonts).
Actually all the Cricut machines can hook up to a PC with the purchase of the Studio program. You can *ONLY* cut the objects you have cartridges for. The program allows you to manipulate the objects so you can do things like weld designs together.
There are third party programs on the internet that are supposed to allow you to cut your own vector graphics with the Cricuts, but beware that if anything happens to mess up the internal software of your Cricut, you’ve just made yourself an expensive doorstop. ProvoCraft will drop you like a hot potato if you use anything other that official PC branded product with the Cricuts.
Save Money With A Cricut Expression Bundle
While you can buy the machine on its own, without cartirgdes, you will get the most out of your money if you buy a Cricut Expression bundle. Each store offers a different bundle, and when you shop around you can definitely find the one the suits you best. Bundles usually include the Expression and one or two cartridges and, depending on the price, even some accessories like extra mats, blades, spatulas, vynil sheets etc.
Careful shoppers can find great bundles at amazing discounts, however the stocks don’t last long and there’s no guarantee you will be able to find the same bundle again. So, if you see something you like that is within your budget, don’t wait too long or you may miss on a great oportunity.
Cricut Expression with 2 Cartridges: $274 – Best Value!
