Cricut Expression users need to READ THIS

• Cricut has announced that the Cricut Craft Room will CLOSE as of July 15, 2018. 
• Legacy Machines are NOT compatible with Design Space.
• Legacy Machines CAN continue to be used as stand-alone devices.
• Cricut is offering $75 off new Explore machine or bundle for customers who haven't yet upgraded.

Read complete details from Cricut here.

I started with Expression and currently use Explore Air. If you have any questions about differences and transitioning, feel free to contact me. The decision to discontinue CCR (as well as to drop physical cartridges) was made by Cricut, not Close To My Heart. In fact, CTMH advocated for keeping physical cartridges. If you have specific comments about the decision, contact Cricut/Provo Craft.

One of the main reasons people have not upgraded yet is because Design Space is an online program and scrapbookers often craft where there is no Internet availability. Cricut has been working on this issue and currently offers Design Space Offline for iOS.

One of my favorite features of Design Space (DS) is that you can share files! For the Pretty in Pink promotion in February, we offered a Butterfly Mobile project and supply bundle. CTMH gave the DS file for everyone to use. 

Files look like this https://design.cricut.com/#/design/80804880. When you click on a DS file link, or cut and paste into your browser, the link will open the Design Space program and open the file. As long as you have the rights to use the images from the file, you can cut immediately. What a time saver! You can also share files with friends. I can send you files for Cricut Coordinating stamp sets that you purchase or help you re-size images for a project. 

The Explore machines use the same tools, mats and blades as the Expression. 

Give Away Winner and Retired List

And the winner is...Courtney!! I'm sure she'll Celebrate With Cake for winning the stamp set.

The CTMH Corporate Office recently announced a list of products that will retiring These items will no longer be available after July 31, and are available while supplies last.

Here's a printable list that I will update as often as possible as things sell out.

Here's the list in a nutshell...

Page 16 #AllTheAlbums

Page 18-91 All the workshop kits, paper packs, compliments and matching accessories (as expected)

Page 112- 115 all PML cards except gold & silver overlays

Page 120-121 Cricut Collections Art Philosophy, Artiste, Artfully Sent

Page 123 all the embossing folders except Confetti and Confetti Stars

Page 126-127 Instalife albums, cards and roller stamps. NOT the Memory Protectors

Page 129 both Cut Above kits (expected, stamps are on the retiring stamp list)

Page 130-133 all of the Designer Creations and Designed Decor items

Page 137 the four style sheets

Page 140-41 the red hearts, white stars; all the right page items except sequins and bitty sparkles

Page 142 shimmer trim in pink, Aqua, blue, purple, bronze only

Page 143 the older four colors of EXTRA thick twine

Page 144 everything except the calendar

Page 145 the separate envelopes only

Page 150 the three border punches and the two Base and Bling adhesives

Page 153 the Rolling Tote

Here's the list of retiring stamps from a few months ago.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I had some fun playing with Artfully Sent key 8...

Update: Close To My Heart's Artfully Sent Cricut Collection is still available! Here's how to find it, click on my Cricut link on the left side, or click here, then scroll down to ARTFULLY SENT. It should look like this...

Add the collection to your cart and check out. It should show up in your Cricut account and Design Space momentarily. For more info on Cricut and CTMH, click on the CRICUT tab above. Feel free to contact me if you need help or have questions.

Artfully Sent is here!!

I recently received my Artfully Sent collection, Close To My Heart's latest addition to their Cricut Collection.

• The image booklet is streamlined without extra pages.  
• There are image summary pages, sorted by type. 
• Each button is themed:  birthday, Mother's Day, etc. 
• The booklet recommends a size for each image.
• The color coding between summary pages and button pages is consistent.
• An assembly booklet is included (similar to Artiste).

It is important when using Artfully Sent that you understand the Real Dial Size button. 

When turned off, all the piece are cut IN PROPORTION to the size you have your machine set.  If  you set your machine for 5" and cut several images for a card, all the pieces will fit together properly for a card that is 5" wide.

When turned on, all the pieces are cut to the ACTUAL size you have your machine set. If you set your machine for 5" with Real Dial Size on and cut several images, they will all be 5" wide.  This means that you can cut the images for ANY size you want, not just the recommended size.  

Although a flower may need to be small to fit on a 5x7 card, you can also turn the Real Dial Size button on to cut the flower 12" wide for a scrapbook page.

In the Cricut Craft Room, Real Dial Size is shown at the bottom with examples in Aa (see above, circled in red).  Do you want the lower case letters proportional to the upper case (Real Dial Size off) or do you want all the letters the same height (Real Dial Size on)?