Papercraft Haven and More

  My path to owning my own Cricut machine - came really different than most of you!  I didn't scrapbook with anyone who had one, but ended up knowing enough about scrapbooking, computers and die cut machines to be able to demonstrate the Cricut machine and what it did!  I actually demonstrated the Cricut Cake machine.....and then the regular Cricut scrapbooking machine later on for a local Michael's Craft store.    After moving to Sacramento, CA - a wonderful friend of mine, sent me one of her old machines...I just had to get a power cord!  From that point - even after it was destroyed by a vindictive person...I was able to get a machine at a local pawn shop!!!  The best thing - it's actually a better model than the one I got for free, which I am happy for!!!  Since working with the machine for a while, I have a few beginner tips for you: You really TRULY don't need each and every cartridge out there known to mankind...  Look at w...

Since we have been talking about cards this week, I decided to show you a few cards that I have done using the Cricut machine - with the cartridges I have!  All you have to do is add saying stamps to die cuts, mix in background papers and you have one of a kind cards!  As you can see with the examples here, die cut shapes can be used in different card styles and themes, depending on what you happen to need at the time!  If you do not have a machine of your own, find a friend who does, and use theirs, - or go to a crop night at a local craft store in order to use their machine for free! Just make sure to die cut extra shapes for use later on!  At least try it out before you purchase it!  For me, using it for the alphabets alone for my scrapbook projects have been a time saver as well as a money saver!  You can then see how adding cards to the mix, will start to save money over time as well!  Just don't purchase a ton of cartridges, or at least have ...