[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Cricut description

[Bernice Bird]

Thanks Tracey,
I had a totally different idea of what that machine does.
Bernice

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf
Of Tracy Carcione via NFB-Krafters-Korner
Sent: Friday, December 24, 2021 8:38 AM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists' <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Tracy Carcione <carcione at access.net>
Subject: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] Cricut description

Someone on another list described the Cricut machine her daughter has.  It
seems like a great description, and I thought people here might find it
interesting.  

Another person on the list says it's not as easy to use as the describer
thinks, but at least now I know more about it.  I'm pasting her description
below my signature.

Tracy

 

We just got home from our daughter's house, and I got a great demo of the
cricket.

 

Like a scanner, it can hook up to your PC, or Bluetooth from your phone.  

 

Jada has the cricket app on her phone, and has a projects folder.  The files
consist of various projects where the Cricket draws and cuts the project.

Think of it as a printer on steroids, that not only prints, but actually
will draw a design, with a stylus attachment on the machine itself.

 

The actual unit looks similar to a horizontally long, narrow print feed.

You can use any thickness paper, card stock, and even some thin metal sheets
for your projects.

 

There is a sticky mat about 18 by 24 inches, and you lay your material on
top of that.  (Oh yes, you can also use fabrics, and make T-shirt transfers
as well).

 

Once you have chosen the material you want to use, you go to the PC or phone
and choose the project file you want the Cricket to execute.  Our daughter
created a series of Christmas name tags on card stock with cutout stars with
a To and From field.  I chose red for the color, but there are loads to
choose from.

 

She created special name tags for our Christmas gifts that had cutout print
letters in them so we could read them.

 

The project file she used is one she created herself, although you can
download others, and actually subscribe to receive access to new project
files and ideas.

 

Back to the unit.  On one side is a holder that houses the various styluses
and cutting and scoring blades to be used.

 

Once you choose a project file, you are given directions as to which pens
and blades to use and insert them into the unit, along with necessary
pressure to cut through the material but not damage the mat on which it is
mounted.  Once that is done, you place the mat face-up in the feed and press
the button to turn on the unit.  It sounds very much like a quieter matrix
printer, and the mat goes slightly back and forth as the project is created.

 

Once done, the mat feeds back out the front of the unit.  You can feel where
the machine has made cuts in the material used.  You then remove them from
the mat by using another tool like a spatula.

 

So that's my experience with the Cricket.

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