Q. What are the major differences between the Cricut Expression and Cricut Personal machines (Cricut Create)?

A. The smaller Cricut Personal Machine is designed to be more portable and is useful where space is an issue. The Expression cutting Machine is more for stationary use and offers results on a larger scale. The Cricut Expression Machine will cut a 12” x 12” x 12” x 24” medium, whereas the personal Machine will cut no larger than 5 1/2”.  Thus the Expression is well suited for the classroom or the serious or professional crafter.

Q.  What’s the USB Port for?

A. Eventually, the USB Port will enable you to tap into your computer.  This will open a whole new world of exciting uses for your Cricut Cutting Machine.  Details will be forthcoming soon! 

Q.  What do the Extra buttons do?

A. Nothing now…they are reserved for features and upgrades that are currently being created.

Q.  What’s the Mix ‘n Match Feature?

A. It allows assigning of individual Creative Features to each character within the same user session.

Q. What’s the Auto Fill feature?

A. It allows you to duplicate selected character(s) as many times as possible within the remaining page area depending on the dial size you have selected.

Q. What’s the Fit to Page feature?

A. It resizes selected character(s) to be as big as possible on the remaining page area.  You do not use the “dialled size” with this feature.

Q. What’s the Portrait feature?

A. This feature allows you to rotate selected characters and cut up to 23.5″ tall using the length of the 12″ x 24″ mat and paper.  Or, you can cut up to 11.5″ tall using the 12″ x 12″ mat.

Q. What’s the Fit to Length feature?

A. Using the size dial, you set the length, not the height of the character(s).   Any selected character(s) will fit to the dialed size.

Q: What’s the Fit to Length feature?

A. Using the size dial, you set the length, not the height of the character(s).   Any selected character(s) will fit to the dialed size.

Q: What’s the Flip feature?

A. This feature allows you to flip or produce a mirror image of the selected character.

Q. What’s the Center Point feature?

A. With this feature, you can accurately position the blade over the center of a desired area (such as in a photo) in preparation for making your cut.

Q. What’s the Quantity feature?

A. It allows the user to specify the number of selected characters they would like to produce at the dialled size.  The Cricut Cutting Machine calculates how many pages will be necessary, and will guide the user through loading each mat.

Q. What’s the Multi-Cut feature?

A. It allows each contour of each glyph to cut 2, 3, or 4 times according to the Multi Cut setting instead of the usual single cut. The repetitive cuts allow the Cricut Expression Machine to cut deeper each time and eventually all the way through thicker stock such as chipboard.

Q. What’s the Portrait feature?

A. This feature enables rotation of selected characters.  It allows the user to cut up to 23.5” tall using the length of the 12″ x 24″ mat and paper, or up to 11.5″ tall using the 12″ x 12″ mat.

Q. What’s the Mat Size feature?

A. It allows the user to choose either the 12″ x 12″ or 12″ x 24″ mat size.

Q. What’s the Line Return feature?

A. This feature allows the user to move the blade to the next line after a cut has been made.

Q. What are the special settings?

A. The following preferences and options are available with the special settings: Language (English, Spanish, German, French) Units (Inches—1/4ths, Inches—10ths, Inches—100ths, cm, mm)Multiple Cut (2, 3, 4) Turn on/off display graphics Are the Creative Features the same for each cartridge? Only Shadow and Blackout tend to be the same for each set. The other Creative Features are handpicked by the artist and design team and can be different for each cartridge.

Q. How long will the blade last?

A. About 1000 image cuts, this varies depending on what type of material you are cutting and how deep you’re setting your blade.

Q. How long will a cutting mat last?

A. Each mat will last anywhere from 30 to 40 full-page cuts, depending on the size of cuts and what type of material you are cutting. This also may vary depending on how much you pull your material off the mat and reposition it when cutting. We recommend that you use and rotate many mats at the same time. This will extend the overall life of each mat. Your mats will also last longer if they are kept clean and covered with your clear cover in between uses.

Q. What can the Cricut Expression® cut?

A. Cricut Expression® will cut a wide variety of materials: paper, card stock, heavier card stock, some chipboards, vinyl, window cling material, thin magnets, wall paper, pre-pasted wall paper and boarders, poster board, some fabrics (treated with heat and bonding fusible backing), fabric papers, metallic papers, Shrinky Dinks™, and the list goes on and on…

Q. What is the New Deep Blade and what will it cut?

A. The New Deep Blade has a special blade housing and a special blade that allows you to cut through thicker chipboards, stamping material for creating your own stamps, most fun foams, thicker Shrinky Dink™ material, all of the materials that the original blade will cut and more…

Q. What are the Cricut™ Inks?

A. These are great wide tip markers that enable you to create great layout titles, larger journalizing and labels of all sizes. You can also outline and accent your cut images prior to cutting them or you can even create your very own embroidery and crewel patterns with Cricut™ inks.

Q. How many images come in a cartridge?

A. Our Cricut™ cartridges come with a wide range of images from 2300 to over 6000 on just one cartridge. You receive up to 100 uniquely different images on your main keypad overlay. You then receive up to 7 different creative versions of each image per cartridge. You can also cut up to 11 different sizes on the Cricut™ personal electronic cutter and over 40 different sizes on your Cricut Expression® machine. This provides you with almost unlimited image options.

Q. What is the glass etching solution? Is it toxic?

A. The glass etching solution is manufactured by Armour Etch and is a permanent glass etching solvent. This is not intended to etch large surfaces but is great for creating special gifts and mementos for yourself and loved ones. The glass etching solution is an acid. You should wear protective clothing. Remember to also protect your furniture and counter tops. Read and follow warnings and directions on the bottle.

Q. Is the glass etching permanent, or will it rub off?

A. Glass etching is permanent. It has chemically etched your glass.

Q. Is vinyl permanent? Where do I get more vinyl?

A. You can purchase many different types of vinyl and Cricut Expression® will cut most of them. You can purchase vinyl for wall phrases, furniture embellishing, stencilling, accenting walls and special boxes and bins… at most of your local, larger chain craft stores. You can also purchase many types of vinyl at local vinyl distributers in your larger towns and cities.

Q. Who do I call if I have maintenance or repair questions or concerns?

Q. Where do I buy more paper, cardstock?

A. You can buy paper, cardstock and other supplies from many of your national large craft chain stores (ie. Wal-mart, Michaels, JoAnns, Hobby Lobby, AC Moore and more...).

Q. How do I cut fabric on the Cricut Expression®?

A. After applying necessary Heat and Bonding, you will want to play a little with your machine, since each blade and machine varies slightly. However, we have found that setting your blade on 3 or 4 and setting your pressure dial to medium or high and placing your speed on low to medium are the best ranges for ensuring quality cuts. We show you this again in your special Project DVD which comes with your package.

Q. How do I create stamps with the Cricut Expression®?

A. With your special Deep Blade, you can cut stamp material as well as a wide range of thicker mediums (like chipboards, fun foams, magnets, …) You simply purchase a sheet of stamp material from your local craft chain store and place the sheet on a new Cricut cutting mat. Set your deep blade to 4 and your pressure to high. You’ll want to set speed to medium or low. These directions are identified on your special Project DVD that comes with your expression package. Then you place your cut stamp on a clear acrylic block and begin stamping.