I was a little skeptical when I first saw the Cricut at Michael’s in the display case. I debated whether or not this machine was going to have a return on the investment. I have manual die cutters (Sizzix, Quickutz, ZAZ, etc.) and many dies that I have invested in to build my collection.
But I decided to buy it after seeing it on tv and reading alot of reviews, everyone seemed to just love this thing. And guess what: this product is fantastic! It is compact when closed, so it won’t take up unnecessary table space. It is also very light and has a comfortable handle for traveling and it can cut each shape in 11 sizes from 1 inch to 5.5 inches. Most cartridges are around $90; compare that to quickutz & sizzix alphabets which retail for $150, can only cut one size, and take up a lot more storage space.
Blades are easy to replace and the cutting mats seem to last longer than cricut suggests. You’ll get more life out of them by rotating the mat each time you cut and also storing it with the plastic sheet to keep dust from accumulating on the sticky surface.
I’ve heard of people having difficulty cutting thicker cardstock with this machine, but we have been able to cut bazzil easily by setting the blade depth to 6 and the speed & pressure to their max settings. I’ve used both the Cricut and Xyron Personal Cutting System extensively and would recommend the Cricut.
Yes, it is a bit of an investment, but it is honestly a better deal than many of the cheaper systems out there. The Cricut personal machine is great for those who just don’t have the room (or the money) for the larger version. The cutter is fast, accurate and user friendly. Now that everyone is after the new Expression, if you shop around I’m sure you get very nice deals on a gently used original Cricut.
Are you ready to buy? We have a nice list of some of the best deals on eBay.