The Cricut Expression – Value for Money?
There are a variety of paper cutting machines out there for crafters and scrapbookers to choose from but amongst those are the very popular three machines from Provo Craft. There is the original personal cutter, the Expression and then a blend of those two machines called the Create. The Expression is particularly favored by buyers and this article will look at the differences between the Expression and the original machine.
The machines all do essentially the same basic thing which is to use cartridges that can be bought to cut out your choice of shapes, phrases and fonts. It makes scrapbooking so much quicker and more fun but is also perfect for other paper crafting projects like card making and home decorations. The accuracy of the cutting technology cannot be faulted and the Cricut Expression is able to cut a variety of materials such as soft plastics and vinyl as well as thin to thick paper.
The Cricut Expression is not portable like the original; it is heavier and larger however what you loose in portability you gain in functions. This machine takes two not just one mat; a 12″ by 12″ and a 12″ by 24″. Also it will help you save money and stop wasting paper as there is less chance of making mistakes with an LCD screen that allows you to monitor what you have typed in.
As with the other two machines the Cricut Expression is a stand alone machine which means it does not require a PC to work. It has a keyboard built in so that you can type in your selections. When you buy a cartridge you also get with it a keyboard overlay so that buttons correspond to the shapes or font that are on that cartridge. Cartridges are not machine specific meaning if you are going to upgrade from the cutter to the Expression any cartridges you have purchased so far are going to work perfectly still. There are a lot of cartridges available to buy with either shape or font themes and come in many different styles so whatever the project there is a cartridge just perfect for it.
If you do not have a Cricut Expression it is a great buy for paper crafters. There are more functions and features on the Expression than the original and you can cut a wider range of sizes. That added to the LCD screen makes it a worthwhile investment. If you own the original and are considering whether to upgrade just think about whether those extra features will meet your crafting demands better and if so go for it!