Anyone have a Cricut Explore or Silhouette?

[ssmjlm]

Semi MMM related, but for Christmas I need to figure out if I want the Cricut Explore or the Silhouette.

I've had a cricut personal (6x12) for years for scrapbooking, etc, but I've always wanted a bigger one.  My mom said she would get me a bigger one for Christmas, but I'm not sure which one.

I don't have a ton of cricut cartridges fwiw.  I do need something that's easy to cut paper with as I've heard issues with silhouette cutting.


@natariru which one do you use for your etsy shop?

[my4girls]

How does the Silhouette cut? cartridges like the cricut? I have a personal cricut and a larger one but I only use the personal one because I have make the cut and now it's not compatible with my large cricut. I never updated the firmware on my personal so it still works and it's the best thing ever. they support the silhouette still so that would get my vote over a cricut any day and look into a third party software like make the cut to go along with it

[ssmjlm]

my4girls I believe silhouette has it's own software.

Cricut has their craft room software, but I believe the explore uses a new software since it's computer based. You can use cartridges with the explore, but all of the design work is still on the computer, it doesn't have a screen like the expressions did.

[Deleted]

Get the silhouette. I just bought one because I am so tired of paying circuit for cartridges. I have 15 of them and still couldn't find a pumpkin. You can use mtc with the silhouette. I just updated mine from when I has the circuit. Also overstock had a great price. You can sign up for emails and get an extra 10% off.

[my4girls]

www.make-the-cut.com/

this is what I have and use with my cricut, it lists the silhouette as a compatible machine. It's seriously awesome- with the disclaimer that I really know nothing about the silhouette, but I assume you have to pay for the files you want to cut. Make the cut- I can cut any true type font- I just go to dafont, find what I want and download it and now it's on my make the cut and I can use it. you can find free svg files all over the internet now, they also have a library available for free within the MTC program or I recently converted few jpeg to svg using a free online converter and cut them. I just threw a Phillies themed baby shower- I converted the logo to an svg file and cut it with make the cut.

Just something to think about since you are looking for a new machine already- a third party software like MTC or the other one I have heard about is sure cuts a lot, would push me away from a cricut

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2014 13:48:14 GMT -5 my4girls said:

www.make-the-cut.com/

this is what I have and use with my cricut, it lists the silhouette as a compatible machine. It's seriously awesome- with the disclaimer that I really know nothing about the silhouette, but I assume you have to pay for the files you want to cut. Make the cut- I can cut any true type font- I just go to dafont, find what I want and download it and now it's on my make the cut and I can use it. you can find free svg files all over the internet now, they also have a library available for free within the MTC program or I recently converted few jpeg to svg using a free online converter and cut them. I just threw a Phillies themed baby shower- I converted the logo to an svg file and cut it with make the cut.

Just something to think about since you are looking for a new machine already- a third party software like MTC or the other one I have heard about is sure cuts a lot, would push me away from a cricut

The silhouette software that comes with it cuts fonts. It just doesn't cut svg or jpg files so you need a third party software to do that. I downloaded so many new fonts. It's like Xmas.

[ssmjlm]

I wanted a silhouette a couple years ago, but never bit the bullet. I guess it's the unknown since I've had my cricut forever at this point.

[my4girls]

I should have stayed out of this post because now I am looking at the silhouette and want one

[orangeblossom]

Sept 29, 2014 13:50:41 GMT -5 @ffbride0813 said:

Sept 29, 2014 13:48:14 GMT -5 my4girls said:

www.make-the-cut.com/

this is what I have and use with my cricut, it lists the silhouette as a compatible machine. It's seriously awesome- with the disclaimer that I really know nothing about the silhouette, but I assume you have to pay for the files you want to cut. Make the cut- I can cut any true type font- I just go to dafont, find what I want and download it and now it's on my make the cut and I can use it. you can find free svg files all over the internet now, they also have a library available for free within the MTC program or I recently converted few jpeg to svg using a free online converter and cut them. I just threw a Phillies themed baby shower- I converted the logo to an svg file and cut it with make the cut.

Just something to think about since you are looking for a new machine already- a third party software like MTC or the other one I have heard about is sure cuts a lot, would push me away from a cricut

The silhouette software that comes with it cuts fonts. It just doesn't cut svg or jpg files so you need a third party software to do that. I downloaded so many new fonts. It's like Xmas.

It cuts SVGs, you just have to upgrade the software to the designer edition. It's about $50, but can be found cheaper all over the place.

I know you can import jpg's.  They also developed pixscan, that I think may work more with jpg's. 

[orangeblossom]

I love my Silhouette. When I first started researching machines it was between the Silhouette and Pazzles. I really like Pazzles, but decided against it because of the cost, and I didn't know if I would stick with using it.

In the future I may upgrade to it.

The Cricut, does have thew new Cricut Expression that is more Silhouette like, and you don't have to use cartridges.

[suburbanzookeeper]

I bought a Silhouette off of Amazon a few months ago, I have one of the smaller ones. I upgraded the software to be able to cut SVGs, I paid $24 on eBay for a new product key card (so half price). I sold my Cricut as soon as I had my Silhouette. I had the make-the-cut software but it was so outdated since it no longer supported the Cricut that it was just a pain in the ass to use. 

[ilikedonuts]

We have a Cameo. I love it other than the fact that right now I wish it scored things.

The new Cricut looks awesome. And it cuts and scores at the same time.

The scoring thing is just something we are dealing with for the girls' birthday invites so that's why its something that stands out to me. I know scoring isn't a huge concern for most people lol

[ilikedonuts]

We made these yesterday (okay DH did because he's way better then me!) for the girls' birthday invites

We did buy these files from the SIL store, but usually DH just traces everything. These are the first ones we've bought and we've had the machine since 2012.

[orangeblossom]

Sept 29, 2014 16:45:23 GMT -5 ilikedonuts said:

We made these yesterday (okay DH did because he's way better then me!) for the girls' birthday invites

We did buy these files from the SIL store, but usually DH just traces everything. These are the first ones we've bought and we've had the machine since 2012.

Very nice.  I'm impressed you've only bought one file so far.