Joy's Life

Posted by superjoy on September 2nd, 2010 in Cricut, No they din't!! Rants!!

I love the idea of blade housings that matching the colored Cricuts, so I was happy when I bought my red Cricut Expression last year and it had a red housing in it.  I wasn’t as excited to find out that the housing was plastic.  I thought that it was likely to have problems over time and I was right.  Granted I’ve done some crazy things with my other (white) Cricut Expression, but with “Dean” (my red Expression…named after the older brother in the Supernatural tv series) I’ve taken great care of him.  I was pretty ticked off/frustrated/irritated last night when I was changing the blade in Dean and noticed this CRACK in my blade housing!

The line on the left is where it’s molded together.
The big one on the right is the crack.

I’m really mad about this!  It makes me wonder if I really needed to change my blade or if the housing just wasn’t holding it as well as it should.  I wish Provo Craft hadn’t decided to save money by cutting costs on something as important as the blade housing!

If that was the only problem I’d had with a Cricut product this week, I’d still be pretty peeved, but this is the SECOND problem I’ve had.

I went to make a video for you using the Martha Stewart Seasonal Cake Art cartridge and GUESS WHAT?!  The font in it didn’t work!   I called Cricut and they said that they had a problem with those … could I send it back?  They sent me a free label, but geeze.  I totally overpaid for that cart on HSN and it doesn’t even work!  So, I’m feeling a little mad about the whole thing.

I’m going to give Provo Craft a call today and see what they’ll do about this.  I’ll be sure to let you know what they have to say.  If you need to contact Provo Craft for Cricut reasons you can reach them this way:

Cricut® support hours
Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (MST)
Cricut® support: 801-932-1144
toll free service phone: 877-7CRICUT
fax: 801-794-9001
email: support@Cricut.com

UPDATE:

I just got off the phone with PC and the lady was super nice (they always are) and told me she’d send me out a new blade housing.  They would NOT be able to send me a new red one, so I’ll be getting the standard metal green one.  Frankly, that’s an improvement over the plastic ones.    She did ask if I had registered my machine and I had, so getting the replacement was no problem.

HOWEVER…I asked if I would have been able to get a new blade housing if my machine was out of warranty and the answer is NO.  I would have had to pay for a new housing if my machine was out of warranty.    Now, I can understand that theory in general but I really think that since the plastic blade housings are so new, they should replace those during the first 18-24 months of ownership regardless.  I’ve had my other metal housing for years with NO problems!  This seems like a bad product to me.  If you look at the leading holders for pens and embossing pens for the Cricut, like Cri-Kits.com you won’t see them putting out a plastic holder for these machines.

Well, I’m happy to get a new housing, but I’m not happy that other people will probably end up having this same problem and if their year warranty is up they’re stuck buying a new housing  just because the plastic one is an inferior product.  It’s not like PC gave us a choice and we chose plastic.  I’m quite sure that most you are like me:  You bought your Expression expecting a metal housing like you’d seen before and SURPRISE you got a plastic one.  Not right.  Hmmmm….

BTW, I asked about the Imagine and what kind of blade housing it would have, but the nice lady told me that she didn’t have that information yet.  Darn.

Yay to Provo Craft for their constant polite and friendly customer service!  I’ve never had any other kind of experience when I’ve called.  (Crossing fingers, knocking on wood.  LOL!)

14 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 30th, 2010 in Give a Ways

Hey, I’m giving away a Cricut Vinylology DVD on Paper Crafter’s Corner. Have you checked out PCC before? It is fun (I love Susan’s writing style) and informative. They always have tons of scrapping, paper crafting and stamping info plus some fun craft gossip and giveaways.  They even have state specific crafty information. I SUPER LOVE that, don’t you? Well, head on over to Paper Crafter’s Corner and check them out. Oh, and leave a comment on their post about my Cricut Vinylology DVD to be eligible to win. Ok? Super thanks to Paper Crafter’s Corner for all their awesome info and for hosting a give away of Cricut Vinylology!

Hey, the pictures of the car wash that you’ll see on that post go along with the Car Wash from a Kleenex box video that I made.  It’s right HERE.

Want to see the newest commercial for my Cricut Vinylology DVD?  Click HERE.  If you’d like to buy Cricut Vinylology click the link to your right.

Go Get Your Craft On!

3 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 29th, 2010 in Cricut, Cricut Carousel, Cricut Cartridges, Cricut Lite, Joy's Life "How To" Videos, Joy's Life Videos, Upcycle, Viva Decor, crafting

Spiderman and Daredevil LOVE my car wash.

I hope you enjoy this video!  I had fun making this cute car wash.  I think I feel the most satisfaction when I find a way to reuse things that would otherwise be thrown away.  Did you know that is called “upcycling”?  Cool.

In this video, I mention another video that I made where I show you how to label the Cricut Lite tri-fold inserts.
Click HERE to view the “How to Label Cricut Lite Tri-Fold Insert” video.
You can click HERE to see all of my videos.

Have a Great Day!!

27 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 26th, 2010 in Featured Designers, Joy's Life Stamps, Lots of Pun, rubber stamping

Here is Part 2 of a two part post of cards that Ruthie created using my Joy’s Life Lots of Pun Stamps.  You can click on the right hand side of the page to see and/or order a set of Lots of Pun Stamps for yourself or click HERE. I ship USA AND Internationally using first class shipping to keep the costs down for you.

Look at this sweet frame Ruthie made!

Isn’t that touching?  It’s hard to remember that we all start out so small.

I love the way Ruthie makes such complete cards.
She even makes the insides fun and finished!

It’s as much art as it is card.  Don’t you think?

Wow.  Finished and fun through and through!  Great work!

If you want to buy your very own Lots of Pun stamps so you can have (wait for it…) lots of pun … just click the image below.

You can visit Ruthie at her blog HERE.

Thank You Ruthie!!

9 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 25th, 2010 in Featured Designers, Joy's Life Stamps, Lots of Pun, rubber stamping

Super Ruthie is so talented!  Here is part one of a two part post of cards that Ruthie created using my Joy’s Life Lots of Pun Stamps.  Super Ruthie, you ROCK!  You can click on the right hand side of the page to see and/or order a set of Lots of Pun Stamps for yourself or click HERE.  I ship USA AND Internationally using first class shipping to keep the costs down for you.

You can visit Ruthie at her blog HERE.

Thank You Ruthie!!

12 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 24th, 2010 in Just Joy

Well, that’s Super Baby…and me.

Somewhere along the way, that little baby grew taller than me, became a beautiful young lady and the sweetest, funniest and most precious girl in my life.  Somehow, those days that seem endless when they are babies are quickly gone and you wish you could press a restart button and take a quick step back just one more time.  Back then, I couldn’t fully understand women who told me those days would pass too quickly … but now I know they do.

Happy Sweet 16 to my Precious Baby Girl.

P.S.  That kid was 9 lbs and 10 oz.  I am much more comfortable this day, than I was 16 years ago.  You get what I’m sayin’ Mom’s? 

23 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 23rd, 2010 in Just Joy, travel

Here’s part one in case you missed it: Part 1.

Ok, so I finally got back on the road from Dean and Deluca.  I was about 5 pounds lighter due to all the cash I spent at D&D.  However, with the packages I was about 8 lbs heavier so D&D made me gain 3 lbs in about 45 minutes. 

My next stop was for fireworks.  I bought my boys some smoke bombs and firecrackers.  I used to have a no tolerance for those things.  I’m over that now.  It’s all due to my insane inlaws and their watermelon explosions from last summer.  I swear, you try to raise kids right then you have crazy relatives.  Thank goodness I’m totally normal.  Whew.  LOL!

So, this was my 1st time to go to a fireworks store.  Now DH, FIL and DD traveled to SC to buy fireworks before the 4th of July, but I did not go.  I was busy making the Cricut Vinylology DVD, so I missed that little trip.  They said when they got there the parking lot was PACKED!  Hilariously, most of the people in the lot were from our county in GA.  Well, I got to this place on the Sunday I was driving home and I was THE ONLY PERSON SHOPPING THERE!  Now, there were 2 ladies working inside, but they were putting together a huge jigsaw puzzle, eating pizza and watching a movie.  Why don’t I have a job there?  IDK, because that sounds cool to me.  LOL!

So…soooo empty.  I thought they weren’t open, but they were.

I had to ask where the smoke bombs and lady finger firecrackers were because I don’t know a thing in the world about that stuff and I could have just as easily left with a missile or something had I been left to my own devices.  One of the ladies walked me though a maze of explosives.  I have to say, it was impressive.  I saw all kinds of interesting things.  Things I should never get near with fire.  Hey, I know my limitations.

Well, this is what’s left in the bag after I passed out 2 big boxes of smoke bombs and a passle of firecrackers.

And…the journey continues.  So,I left the fireworks place behind me and hot footed it to somewhere I’d never been.  Somewhere ELSE I’d never been.  What can I say, it was a day of adventure.  Pretty low key adventure, but still.  I’d never been to A.C. Moore.  It’s a craft store like Hobby Lobby or Michael’s.  We just don’t have them in Georgia.  So, I planned to make a stop on my way home.  I’m glad I did!

Woo hoo!  I made it!  Ok, I went into my 1st A.C. Moore.  I liked it!  It reminds me of a cross between Michael’s and Hobby Lobby.  It’s like if Michael’s and Hobby Lobby had a little brick fronted baby.

Here’s part of their ink AND Inkadoo display. I was impressed with their Inkadoo selection.  It went further to the right and the left.

Woah.  If owning paint could make me a painter, I’d be Claude Monet.  Instead, I’m more Jackson Pollock.

Yes, lots of stores have paint, but I like the way they display it.  They seemed to have more than other craft stores.

You can try this spray to restick your Cricut mats.

There are a lot of things on the market that will help you with resticking.  Whatever you decide to use to restick your mats, be SURE it is REPOSITIONABLE and NOT PERMANENT!

You’re going to be SHOCKED!  I actually didn’t buy much at A.C. Moore.  I had so much stuff from the show and some other recent purchases I didn’t need much.  I couldn’t leave totally empty handed though, so I bought these things:

Yes.  That’s really all I bought there.  Then you know what happened?  I got home and DH said we have a huge thing of Goo Gone in the garage.   We do?!  ARGGGHHH!  Well, this is small and craft size, so I’m happy to have it.  (That’s just what I tell myself so I don’t get irritated for buying something I already had.)  Shoot!

Oh, yeah!  I bought this cinammon babka from Dean and Deluca.  It was delicious.  HOWEVER, the boys kept not pronouncing it correctly so they went to school and told everyone they had vodka for breakfast.  Nice.  Mom of the year award, right here!

Alright.  And now for the big butt in the sky.

Tomorrow, I’ll have a crafty post for you.  Butt free.

14 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 21st, 2010 in Just Joy

There are a lot of pictures in this post so keep reading!  LOL.

As you know I spent last Thursday through Sunday in Charlotte, NC setting up, taking down and working in the Scrapbook Corner.com booth with Cricut Dan and his wife, Shelly.  Well, let me give you the Joy’s eye view of the trip.

1st…Known Fact: SuperJoy is not a fan of heights.  See this post for previous SuperJoy’s Weakness.  So, I was super happy when the hotel front desk clerk told me I was on H3.  Whew. Who knew that H3 meant a variety of possible floor choices?  Who knew that there would only be a few elevator buttons that only gave some basics plus about 5 “H” labeled buttons?  Not me.  Not until my elevator kept whizzing on up way past what my senses knew to be the 3rd floor.  I’d say it was something like floor 15.  Here are my friends across the street.

I’ve been up higher, but still.  After a few days, I was able to get closer to the window without having to run back toward the door before my knees buckled.  Embarrassing.  Well, you can’t be SuperJoy without pushing yourself.  I don’t like heights, but I’ll not let that hold me back from doing anything.  So, expect to see me in Chicago in that glass box in the Sears tower.  I’ll be carrying my Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker for some quick action blended courage.  LOL!

Guess who used to watch Felicity?  Yep.  That was me.  Well, if you ever watched it you know that she had a job in Dean and Deluca, right?  I’m a Southern girl.  It was years before I found out that Dean and Deluca (started in NYC) was a real place!  So, it turns out that my hotel in Charlotte is right next to Dean and Deluca!!  Holy Cow!!  Whee!  Now…sad face.  When I finally got time to go there it was Sunday.  Guess what?  The in town D&D is closed on Sat and Sun.    Stop crying!!  It’s ok!  The story gets better.  I was able to find another one that was open!  Whee!  I checked out of the hotel and headed to the very important Dean and Deluca.  (Ariel singing please…Ahh ahh ahhh…Ahhh ahhh AHHHH).

Ahhh, peach gummy candy.  My new favorite!

No, Dean and Deluca is NOT just like Whole Foods or Fresh Market.   It’s SPECIAL!  Ok, it might be a little like them, but I super LOVE D&D the best “est” “est”.  That’s 2 “est’s” so you know it must be awesome.  I spent many, many $’s in D&D and didn’t regret a cent of it.

Coffee is not an expense.  It’s a necessity.  So, I shouldn’t even consider the prices of those two items.

I did need some new oven mitts and these ROCK!  Look at their little grippy hands.  Now, you know what really gets pricey?  The fact that when I got these home I saw how good those colors and stripes look in my kitchen.  I’m thinking of a window treatment re-do!!  (That’s 7 windows. )  I think DH just started crying.  LOL.

Check out my $6 grilled cheese.  It’s 2 kinds of cheese on rosemary bread.  Perfect for my drive home.

You know what I really LOVE?  Besides Cricut?  How did you guess?  Yep.  That’s it!  Rice Crispy Treats.  So, you know they had my number when they placed these luscious things at the checkout.  This one has some kind of marshmallow creme and chocolate covered strawberry gummy candy in the center.  Don’t judge me.  Rice Crispy Treats are my catnip.

Are you ready for the close up?

Can you tell I was enjoying my new tiny camera?  Yeah.  It’s super easy to use for a quick shot of important things like this over indulgent treat energy bar.  LOL, let’s pause for a moment to reflect on the fact that I just called this rice crispy treat stuffed with candy an ENERGY BAR!  That sounds like something Paula Deen would say.  Hmmm.  I do love her.

Well, I also got a Dean and Deluca shirt so I can pretend like I work there while I serve myself coffee in my kitchen.  And…there was more candy and goodies, but I have 3 kids and a husband so…I’m lucky to be able to have anything left to show you.  LOL!  Now…off to find my new fav locally…gummy peach candy.

Tomorrow Part 2 of my trip which will include a giant butt in the sky AND some crafting things that I found/saw/purchased.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

15 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 20th, 2010 in crafting

That’s right!  Free shipping on the Cricut Vinylology DVD until August 23!

Click HERE to get yours.

Have you seen the newest Cricut Vinylology Commercial?  HERE IT IS.

4 Comments

Posted by superjoy on August 18th, 2010 in Cricut Vinylology DVD, Give a Ways, Joy's Life

What a day!!

Oh My Crafts.com is giving away (2) of their twenty pack vinyl and transfer tape to TWO winners!! YAY!! And I’m going to give those 2 winners a copy of my Cricut Vinylology DVD and a vinyl application tool!

BUT THAT’s Not all!!

I’m also offering FREE SHIPPING until midnight Monday, August 23 on my Cricut Vinylology DVD.  Don’t worry, if you buy it and you’re also the winner I’ll just refund your money. So, don’t hesitate to go ahead and make your purchase.  I’ll end free shipping after August 23 and I’ll use Random.org to draw a winner on August 24.  All you have to do to win is leave a comment on this post.

CLICK HERE to purchase the Cricut Vinylology DVD.

Did you know that Oh My Craft’s vinyl is one of my favorites?  I especially heart the ladybug red color.  Also, it’s exactly the same vinyl as the Cricut vinyl.  So, you’re getting exactly the same quality when you buy OMC’s vinyl as you do with the Cricut vinyl.

Check out Oh My Craft’s blog and their Facebook page.

Thank you Oh My Crafts for the great donation of vinyl!!  I know the winners will super love it!

Have a great day everyone!  Be sure to Check out the new Cricut Vinylology Commercial above!

And the WINNERS are…

mlharrell54
2010/08/21 at 10:50 PM
Having a young grandaughter has given me the courage to try new things.
I recently gave cutting magnet sheets a try, to make magnetic animals.
I think I’m ready to dabble in vinyl.
Thanks for the chance.

cajuncupcake
2010/08/18 at 11:42 AM
So glad for this site and awesome giveaway! I need to play with some vinyl!!! Thanks, Joy!

I’d like to thank everyone for participating and also especially thank Oh My Crafts for the generous donation of their AWESOME Vinyl and Transer Tape!

236 Comments