Welcome Dora - Dora the Explorer

Hi Guys, 

So today I thought would do a  post with regards to my new machine and the pros and cons of it. I have to say I am a very lucky lady to get this, I mentioned it only once or twice to hubby but didn't think I would be in for a chance of getting one as I had only just purchased a Cameo machine. Bless him he come to me after getting some unsettling news from the hospital and told me to get it ordered before it sells out! I wasn't asking twice!

I also took photos of the unpacking of it, to show you exactly what you get in the box because some websites are not 100% clear of what you get. 

I will leave the photos as small so that you can view it easier on a tablet or a phone. 

(Please ignore the holes in the wall I moved my second monitor so I could fit him in that slot and snapped a photo, before I could repair and paint it)

I haven't labelled all the photos, as it is pretty clear what is what but I have outlined below what was in the box. 

What Is In The Box 

Cricut Explore Machine 

12 X 12 Green Mat - This is the standard sticky mat 

Power Cable 

Pen - For drawing

"Start Here" envelope

"Project Material" envelope 

USB lead - Machine to Computer - Hubby measured it for me and it is about 2 meters long.

Carry Bag

What is in the "Start Here" Envelope 

Warranty Booklet

What's In The Box Booklet 

Tips and Tricks Booklet 

What is in the "Project Materials" envelope  ** contents may change**

8.25 x 10 inch - Blue Duck Tape

8.25 x 10 inch - Multi-coloured Duck Tape

2x A4 Black card stock

5.25 x 4 inch - Teal blue card

11.75 x 3 inch - Iron on Vinyl 

Instructions for Duck tape and Vinyl. 

So that is what we get in the box I ordered mine on the 16th at 3 o'clock via Amazon and as I am a prime customer I took delivery of her on the 17th at lunch time. Less than 24 hours - perfect.

Okay the most important bit. 

Pros and Cons 

Pros 

Can use both SVG and Cartridges

Quiet at cutting

Can use a pen and a blade together

Cons

Design studio is internet based only

Design space is not 100% user friendly, I would say I am confident with a computer and it even has me baffled at some points.

Design studio can be slow. 

Now I have had her for a few weeks and to be totally honest it has been a love / hate relationship I have hated her and got her box back out ready to ship  her back, but really liked the idea of combining all my SVG/ Cutting files and cartridges together to create unique layouts/cards - so I have persisted with her and to be honest I am really starting to fall in love with her, the other day I didn't have a certain image on any of my cartridges but I did have it in a SVG file so I could combine the two without having to start up the cameo machine! 

I will keep on playing with her and I will do a comparison between the explore, the Cricut original and the cameo machine and I will try and do it in a easy to view chart for you.

Please remember these are only my opinions on the machine I am no way affiliated with Cricut and I receive no profit from them for doing this post and I purchased the machine with my hubby’s hard earned cash - ha ha.

Thanks for stopping in! 

Crafty Hugs

Kelly

xxx