Musings about the Cricut Explore....

There was a Facebook conversation this week, started by a friend who is looking for an electronic die cutter, and, as I sang the praises of the Explore I realised that I haven't really talked about it much on here, although I know that a few of you are looking at getting one

So what I look for in a die cutter is simple, I want it to cut, cleanly, without those annoying little half cut bits that you have to poke away by hand. I want the software to be easy to use, in fact I want it to be idiot proof, because I am a bit of an idiot when it comes to all this techy stuff. I don't need fancy stuff where you weld circles and triangles together and produce a good replica of the Taj Mahal, I admire folk who can do that stuff, but it's not my thing....although from what I have seen the machine is capable of it, if that is what floats your boat....and you can easily import something like Google clip art and cut that. Not to mention the fact that it writes, and you can print and cut, in fact, apart from doing the housework, it's pretty darn perfect 

You do have to be online, which was something that worried me before buying, but in fact, it hasn't been a problem at all, but I do have a good, fast fiber optic broadband 

I would, of course, like a machine that would maybe do the washing up and sort the laundry, but I don't think that's going to happen, so if a machine is uncomplicated, and cuts well without tearing, I am happy. The Explore does that, it cuts better than any other machine I have used, and they have been many, as you know. Take a look at some of these cuts, I shot them next to a ruler for size comparison......most of the cuts are really tiny, and I had no tearing or ripping of paper on any of them......  

This cat is only about 1" long........

See how the Explore coped with those tiny cats eyes?

and there is some seriously fancy stuff going on in this tiny leaf spray..... 

See how the waste from the leaves just stayed on the mat? The whole thing just lifted off cleanly, no prodding and poking tiny pieces....

and the cutting process is made pretty easy too, no more messing around with the blade to change the depth, you just turn the dial and the machine does it all for you....so this machine is definitely a keeper for me

and now on to a couple of cards that were sent to me, I always love it when I get thank you cards - who doesn't....and these were sent by a couple of blog followers who won a recent giveaway, this first one is from Lythan, I love the way she has used the die cut 'thanks' to form the main focus of the card. Lythan is one of the founder members of the Daring Cardmakers challenge blog, so you can see more of her work on there, and pick up a load of inspiration at the same time. If you love challenges, that is one to bookmark, they come up with the most original challenges. Thanks Lythan, I love the card x 

The next two are both from Debbie, a faithful reader here, and when I mentioned I hadn't been very well, she sent me this card. I really love the way she has made an ambulance out of a square, what an imaginative idea....

and from Debbie again, a thank you card, thank you so much for taking the time to make these and mail them to me x

That's it for today, see you tomorrow x