The Cricut Expression machine has just hit the markets and it is a HUGE success. It is winning accolades and awards left and right for its ease of use and versatility. Scrapbook and paper craft enthusiasts the world over are falling in love with their little custom die cutting bug, and it’s sure to be a hot ticket item come this December. Why is the new Cricut Expression machine so popular? How is it different from the Cricut Create and the Cricut Machine?

The original machine was hugely popular as well with arts and crafts fans. It allowed you to create custom die cut images with the simple push of a button. Just plug in the Cricut cartridge that contained hundreds of different designs and let it do the rest.There's no end to the different kinds of scrapbook embellishment that a creative person could devise.

It would print, color, and cut all sorts of materials like vinyl, card stock, silk screens and of course paper. With over 50 different cartridges to choose from, the possibilities were mind boggling to say the least.

What won over many was how easy and simple it was to learn. No computer is required, although there is some software you can buy separately if you desire. All you had to do was plug in the cartridge, align your picture, and then watch it work. However there were some limitations to the original, and the new Expression machine really took it up another notch.

The Cricut Expression machine has a ton more options and more versatility as well. For one thing it can handle paper that is twice the size of the original, up to 24 inches in length! This opens up a large amount of different opportunities for making large decorations and signs or whatever you could imagine really. Also it has a new LCD screen that lets you see in more detail exactly what you are going to be printing to save you from making annoying mistakes. The new Expressions can also do multiple cuts so that it can cut through thicker materials like chipboard.

While it is much more powerful, it also is a bit larger than the original. This is a down side for many women who liked to take their bug with them to events, get togethers, and parties. There is even a whole line of Cricut tote bags to carry the scrapbooking machine in style.

The other downside to the Cricut Expression is the price tag. Originally it would sell for $450 or more. Now the price has dropped a bit, and you can get amazing deals on Ebay if you look. However, the price is still a big barrier for many who want to upgrade to the new machine and take their scrapbooking and paper crafting to the next level.

Which Cricut Machine is right for you? Well that’s a question only you can answer. You have to decide what you plan to do with it. Will you be using the machine often? Sometimes these things end up paying for themselves in materials and time saved. Will you be taking it with you places? Or does the size not matter? Compare the two and buy the one you are most comfortable with. Either way you won’t be disappointed we promise!

Also be sure to shop around since you can get some amazing deals on Ebay if you look. Quite often they will even throw in a bonus of extra cartridges or something when you buy, saving you even more money! You will be amazed at how many ways to use your Cricut there are.

We also wanted to share another amazing find with you: The Cricut Software: Sure Cuts A Lot. This software is not licensed by Provo Craft, the makers of Cricut, and there is a good reason for that.

See another limitation of your machine is that you have to buy a new cartridge any time you want to get some new designs or fonts, and you are then limited to what is on that cartridge. You can’t make your own custom designs, nor can you import your own fonts. And each cartridge can cost something like $50-$100. That’s expensive! Even the software that you can purchase that is licensed by Provo Craft will only let you use the shapes you already own. Owning this program is like having your own Cricut jukebox preloaded with every cartridge!

The other limitation is that the actual Cricut software doesn’t run on a Mac, and all the cool people use Apple Macintosh computers these days.

The new Sure Cuts A Lot software fixes all that, and it truly unlocks the potential of your die cutting machine. Not only is it compatible with Macintosh and Windows, it also allows you to create your own designs, import your own fonts right off your computer, and cut almost anything you could dream of! If a font runs on your computer it is also printable on your Cricut using this software. It’s super easy to use, very intuitive, and it comes with a HUGE database of designs already preloaded. You design your own shapes, import your own SVG files, weld images and modify them as you please using the Sure Cuts A Lot software.

If you’ve got a Cricut and you are frustrated with the limitations it presents and lack of Mac compatibility, then do yourself a huge favor, save a ton of money, and unlock it’s real potential with the new Cricut Software Sure Cuts A Lot.