To me, the Cricut is the ultimate scrapbooking tool. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most expensive scrapbook-related machines on the market. If you invest in one these beasts, then you ought to take time to read the owner’s manual from cover-to-cover in order to learn how to use every single one of the machine’s many features. After all, you wouldn’t want to fork over all that cash just to make a few replacement letters.
Some scrappers complain that the makers of the Cricut make it too costly to purchase different cartridges for the machine. Personally, I don’t get their kvetching. If you have enough money to buy the machine, how hard is it to spring for a new font cartridge or a shape cartridge, especially if it helps you get more out of your model? I know some scrappers who have designed mini memory albums using a Cricut machine, including the book itself cut out of heavyweight cardstock in heart, star and circle shapes. What’s more, you don’t need to purchase a ton of different cartridges in order to make the most of your Cricut investment. With a little creativity you can make a host of accents for scrapbook layouts with just the basics.
For example, if you are creating a custom title for your page design with a Cricut you can cut the letters, and then mount them on the layout with foam adhesive to add a new dimension to the words. In addition, you could use the machine to cut two sets of letters from coordinating colors of cardstock. However, instead of making them the same size, cut one slightly larger than the other and layer the letters for an eye-popping outlined look. Many scrapbookers also use the Cricut to make stencils. Once you cut out the letters for your page title, use the remaining spaces as a stencil which can then by filled in with chalk, ink or glitter.