Cricut Basics - ScrappingTable, Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL), Make the Cut (MTC) & Cricut Resources

The Cricut is a wonderful cutting system and I would like to help you build a solid foundation of understanding about it.

Whether you're a new owner or a seasoned veteran, you deserve to know about opportunities and resources that will help you get the most from your Cricut.

Happy Scrapping,

Cricut Beginnings

	When the Cricut was being designed, its manufacturer understood that many users would want a system that was portable and didn’t require a computer. So, they created the Cricut as a “cartridge-based” system with built-in “intelligence." Each Cricut cartridge is actually a computer memory chip with creative content stored on it. The built-in Cricut intelligence looks for the presence of a cartridge in order to function. In fact, without the presence of a Cricut cartridge, you can't even load paper to cut.


Cricut Design Studio (CDS)

At the same time, the Cricut manufacturer also realized that many users would want to do more creative work with cartridge content than the Cricut's built-in intelligence could perform. So, they created a software program called Cricut Design Studio also called "CDS." Cricut Design Studio installs on your computer and the Cricut is connected with a common USB cable. However, CDS only extends the cartridge-based system. It does not let you use creative content that exists on your computer such as fonts & dingbats, shapes, images or your own designs.

But doesn't CDS include all cartridge shapes?

The latest version of Cricut Design Studio contains a library of images that represent content from all Cricut cartridges so you can set-up custom designs. However, you must own the corresponding cartridge to cut your design. Cricut Design Studio checks to see what cartridges the images are from and then requires you to insert the cartridge(s) into the Cricut cutting machine before you can cut your customized work. As a practical matter, you can only customize content for cartridges you own or intend to purchase. In other words, you need to keep buying cartridges.

When free means "kinda-sorta free"

If you have been searching the Internet for information about the Cricut or Cricut Design Studio, you may have come across websites that offer free “.cut” files. These are customized works with Cricut Design Studio. However, to use these free .cut files, you must own the cartridges to cut the designs! For example, let’s say you download a free .cut file that has a mix of shapes used to create a unique design and then open it in CDS. You can see the work on your Cricut Design Studio cutting mat. However, in order to cut the design, you must own the cartridges that correspond to the content used in the design. This means you could be required to buy two or three cartridges just to use a free .cut file. At an average discounted price of $40, you could end-up spending $80 to $120 or even more to use "free" .cut file designs.

It's a small (and expensive) world after all...with Gypsy

Toward the middle of 2009, the Cricut manufacturer introduced a single-function electronic device called Gypsy. While the basic concept of "creating on the go" is appealing, the central issue is the same as Cricut Design Studio. You can customize images that represent cartridge content but you must actually own the cartridges to cut your creations. Not only that but, when you synch your cartridges with the Gypsy, no other Gypsy can use them. Ever! (See my Gypsy Talk page and video.)

*A break-through product for the Cricut: Sure Cuts A Lot* software (SCAL)**

Recognizing the simple fact that Cricut owners own their machines like a computer printer and sensing users' desire for true creative freedom and cost savings, an innovative software firm introduced a program called Sure Cuts A Lot at the beginning of 2008. "SCAL" lets you customize creative content located on your computer rather than looking to a Cricut cartridge. In the autumn of 2009, the company reached a major milestone and introduced
Sure Cuts A Lot 2.0 with many more features to let Cricut owners vastly expand their creative possibilities.

*New on the Scene: Make the Cut!* software (MTC)**

During the 2009 Christmas season, a second software firm introduced a product called Make the Cut! to compete with Sure Cuts A Lot. Though similar, each have unique features and slightly different user interfaces. Creative Freedom, Control, Savings!
What do Sure Cuts A Lot or Make the Cut! mean to you as a Cricut owner? A lot! True creative freedom, complete control over the Cricut you own and cost savings. Sure Cuts A Lot or Make the Cut! let you use thousands of free fonts & dingbats, shapes, clip art, images and even scanned designs. You only need to own a single cartridge to keep in your Cricut cartridge slot. It can be any cartridge; even the least expensive one. SCAL and MTC simply send cutting instructions to the Cricut using the same open source communication protocols as Cricut Design Studio.

What's the Bottom Line?

Without SCAL or MTC!	You have one option when using your Cricut by itself or with Cricut Design Studio or with a Gypsy: Continue buying Cricut cartridges. There are more than 100 cartridges. If you buy just one-fourth of them at an average of $40 each you will spend $1,000 or the price of a very nice laptop computer. Many Cricut owners have told me they purchase cartridges because of a few desired shapes. This makes your Cricut use even more expensive!

With SCAL or MTC!	You have unlimited options when using your Cricut with Sure Cuts A Lot or Make the Cut! software: Free creative resources including fonts & dingbats, shapes, images and clip art. Your own designs. Use ANY program to create designs that can then be cut with your Cricut. You can even draw or modify shapes in Sure Cuts A Lot 2.0!

*For the less than the price of one new Cricut cartridge, Sure Cuts A Lot 2.0* or Make the Cut! software products are amazing values!**