Cricut Explore Machine Review – What Works, What Doesn’t
NEW MACHINE RELEASED >>> The Cricut Maker (2017) See this Cricut Maker Review Post!
IMPORTANT: The Cricut Design Space software is WEBPAGE based. You MUST have Internet connection to use it or you cannot access any images including your cartridge images. You must use the Cricut Design Space software to create anything with the Cricut Explore. (This is very unlike the Silhouette Cameo software which can be used without Internet connection. You cannot purchase items from Silhouette without Internet but you CAN design and cut.) ** The Cricut Maker is the newest machine, but still has these same issues.)
I have been really excited about the new Cricut Explore ever since it was announced. I even hopped out of bed one night when I remembered that it was the HSN launch of the machine and I bought it right away. I couldn’t wait for it to be delivered and when it finally was, I even Instagrammed it. I am a long time Cricut fan (proof = 398 posts, one app, one DVD, one checklist and my first set of stamps, Lots of Pun, was created to go with the Create a Critter cartridge). I’ve purchased and used two Cricut Expressions (a white one and then a red one), the Cricut Expression 2, Cricut Imagine, Cricut Cake, Cricut Personal and the Gypsy. I was thrilled that Provo Craft finally added .svg and other file functionality to one of their machines so they could be like all the other popular machines. So, you can imagine my disappointment when the machine and it’s software did not live up to my expectations.
What they did right: Packaging. The box is visually appealing. The contents are well protected by the cardboard inserts. It’s easy to find everything you need to get started. They even made a tray to hold important information (see that “Start Here” folder on the bottom left picture above) and included some material samples to the right of that.
I love that they added a bag to carry the Cricut Explore machine. As always, they add one mat to the package (just like they did here and here). If yours is bent a little, don’t worry about it. It will flatten out over time. You can also put it under a few heavy books to make the flattening happen faster. 😉
It’s not a huge deal but this machine really could use a handle. Getting it in and out of the bag would be so much easier if it had one. I was a little afraid that I was going to mishandle it or drop it but I didn’t. Again, it’s a small thing and not terribly important.
Here’s the front.
Press the “open” button on the left of the machine you’ll get this view.
You’ll find this storage area if you lift up the plastic doors. It’s a great place to store things. Too bad none of those accessories come with the machine. That would be a nice addition. You do get a blade and blade housing and you’ll find those are already in the carrier (the movable cutting part).
Where this machine begins to go wrong: Cartridges.
So many of the purchasers of this machine are already Cricut users, which means that they have Cricut cartridges. Those cartridges can be a big investment, especially if you’ve collected them for many years. I had over 200 of them before I sold about 150 last summer. So, owners of Cricut cartridges want to be able to use those cartridges, right? Right. Can you use them in this machine? Sort of. That little place where my cartridge is plugged in allows me to upload the cartridge to the new Cricut Design Space ONLINE software. The end. That’s how you’ll use cartridges with this machine. Online. Only. Period. You WILL NOT be using this machine and your cartridges without a computer AND Internet connection. At all. Nope. Nada. No.
AND…as I said at the very top of this post: The Cricut Design Space software is WEBPAGE based. You MUST have Internet connection to use it or you cannot access any images including your cartridge images. You must use the Cricut Design Space software to create anything with the Cricut Explore. (This is very unlike the Silhouette Cameo software which can be used without Internet connection. You cannot purchase items from Silhouette without Internet but you CAN design and cut.)
So, if you’re stuck at home on a snow day and you’re all cozy in your crafty space ready to get your craft on, you better hope you have Internet connection or your Cricut Explore is just another thing that’s shut off from the world.
Additionally, you cannot import projects from the Cricut Craft Room to the Cricut Design Space.
If that’s cool with you, then read on…because there’s more.
There are two ways to look at this “SmartSet” dial. #1=It’s smart. #2=It’s dumb. There is nothing wrong with presets. It’s not a new innovation. The Silhouette Cameo has built in settings in their software. However, the real problem comes when you combine it with the fact that you can make absolutely no blade choices. Say what? I’m saying that you cannot adjust the blade…at all…not even one little bit. That’s what makes this “SmartSet” dial a dunce. Read on to see what these two things have to do with each other.
Let’s say the “SmartSet” dial we discussed above is dead on. It’s exactly what I need in every situation. Awesome. Well, what if I decide to try something new one day? Like…cutting cereal boxes. I’m likely to try that since their past machines could do it see here and the Silhouette Cameo can do it see here. I’ll make all the changes I can to the custom settings. Sweet. I have everything set up perfectly but the blade just won’t cut the box. I make crying noises until I realize that my blade just isn’t long enough. No worries! I’ll just set it to go longer! Wait. It doesn’t move, twist or change in any way. SAD. I’ll have to abandon that project…or turn to any of my other Cricuts, Silhouette Cameo, Sizzix Eclips or KNK Zing that can cut that like a boss.
You can’t change the new blade (on left) but you could change the depth of the old blade (on right).
Cool factor. The Cricut Explore can cut and draw. Lame factor. The Cricut’s always could.
The Cricut Explore can cut and draw without you having to change from a blade to a drawing tool. Is that really a big deal? I’ve been changing from the blade to a pen for years. It’s a neat looking gimmick but it’s just a gimmick. Cricut has made pens and markers to fit their machines for years.
Here’s the pen that came with the machine writing out a thank you card that came as a complete project in the Cricut Design Space ONLINE ONLY software.
It did a great job creating this card.
TA DA! That was cool. Thumbs up to this easy project.
TWO THUMBS DOWN to the user experience with their software when trying to create your own project. I’ll keep this short. It’s difficult to locate your cartridges. They’re missing simple shadowing features. You can achieve a shadow effect but you have to make a bigger image and size it around the smaller one. That’s just old school. No software does things like that anymore and that’s just one example. Frankly, they’re missing a lot of simplicity present in other software. Don’t even get me started about their lack of logical search features.
The back of the machine.
Finally, the Cricut Explore it is not a machine that I would recommend to anyone except Cricut users who are not interested in trying a different brand of machine. There are better options for those who want .svg functionality. Take a look at machines like the Silhouette Cameo, Sizzix Eclips (or new Sizzix Eclips 2), KNK Zing (or new KNK Zing Air) machines. I’ve heard people say that the Cricut Explore is superb in it’s cutting ability compared to other Cricut machines. That may be true but if you’re looking for machines that cost about the same, have better software, cut just as well or better, you’d do better to pick something else.
All that being said, the best machine is the one that fits YOUR needs. 😉
UPDATE: There is now a wireless adapter available making the Cricut Explore Bluetooth compatible. Nice addition!
Go get your craft on, my friends!
Joy great post! You did an awesome review. I agree with everything you said and I didn’t even buy the machine hee hee!! I think the fact that they took away the ability to use the cartridges directly was so DUMB!!! And then to create yet another online program since they obviously abandoned fixing the previous one that they boasted so much about before was cray cray! But its cricut and I am not a big cricut lover anymore. I feel like they forget about the fans long ago and with the mistakes they have made in the past with discontinuing products we all spent money on and then want to take away the fact that all of us have these cartridges we would still like to use is just really idiotic in my opinion. There are probably crafters out there that don’t even want to use a computer so it really stops them from buying this machine as well. I am just still so disappointed in past problems with cricut that I will never go back over to the dark side now. 🙂 Hugs!
OMG!!! I am soooo glad I read this review!! thanks so much for your honesty!! you included things I didn’t even think of!! I didn’t buy it at the launch and I was waiting for it to come back on this month to buy it………but I’m thinking I will wait a little while longer! I may look into the scan and cut machine?! HIMCR has done a few videos on it…..so we’ll see!! I have lots of Cricuts and the SIL and lots of carts!!! thanks again!!
Excellent review Joy, will definitely help people out with their decision!!
wow—so informative, and HONEST! Thank you! I’ll stick with my Cricut Explorer, and cartridges. It seems to me that perhaps Provocraft tried to hurry things along too quickly, duplicate the Cameo, but failed. Too bad.
Sorry do not agree with this review
have been using it and just love it
The writing with PENS is very different and with more option versus the old markers and it does it without removing the blade and replacing it with a pen.
I am very happy as a user of the Explore
Just what I thought! You have to hand it to Provocraft’s marketing department though, they make it seem like their products are just absolutely wonderful…and the products never quite reach the bar. I just recently sold all but ten of my cartridges and with the money purchased a Cameo. Granted I am still learning all of its bells and whistles but it cut right out of the box and their customer service is wonderful. I said years ago when Provocraft failed (IMO) to support its customers I would never buy another PC product. Except for two CTMH cartridges and replacing mats when they are on sale, I haven’t and won’t buy their products again. Thank you for your honest review.
MCF’s Mimi
Great review! Thanks for your insights!!
Great review!
I wanted try out but, surprise sold out…
You save my time and money.
Thanks for your insights!!
I appreciate your honesty on this. I knew there was a reason that I was hesitating and taking a “wait and see” approach to this new machine. Yes, all of the Cricut hype sounds good, but I was just not completely sold. I was just on the verge of buying a Cameo when news of this new machine first hit the news waves. Now I am so thankful that I waited. In your honest opinion, would you now recommend going with the Cameo versus the Explore? I refuse to make an impulse purchase. I want to make the right decision on this. Thanks!
Thanks for this review. You answered several questions I had that the promo materials didn’t. Thank you, thank you!!
Susie
Thanks Joy for this honest review. I have been a Cricut person for many years but really lost alot after all the upkept promises. I still have an Imagine, Expression, Create and Gypsy and well over 100 cartridges. I did buy a Cameo last year and love love it. I still use my cricuts also and are not ready to part with them. The Explore is the first thing cricut has come out with in a long time that intrigued me. Having to have an internet connection to craft is not a big deal to me. But I will just wait and see months down the road what everyone thinks of the Explore and what features PC has said are coming in the near future will actually come out. Thanks
Thank you, Joy for the review. I was “on the fence” about the Explore but I purchased it. I love it. I kept my E2 and all of my cartridges are linked and waiting for me to use in the Cricut Craft Room or the Image Library of Design Space. Yes, the downside is the Internet issue. However, in the past two years, crops I attended had Internet! As for the Cameo…..I was really interested in it for awhile. A medical condition that I have made it difficult to use. I have imported SVG’s into Design Space and they cut like a dream. I am not a do it yourselfer type of crafter….and Design Space is geared to “ready made” projects. That is a downside. I do love how quiet the machine is and it cuts beautifully.
I must say I love my Cricut Explore. I read your review and I disagree. Why cricut is going to make another machine or software like the cameo silhouette. I has no sense. If I want a machine that does everything like the cameo, well I would buy a cameo, right? The explore is a different machine and a different software. It’s like comparing IPhone and Samsung cellphones, different technologies and different software as well. If I want everything that an IPhone does why I’m going to buy a Samsung. I’m sorry but for me it has no sense that you asked provocraft to incorporate the things that the cameo does to the Explore machine. What you say about the pen it’s totally wrong. There is a HUGE different in the new pen tool comparing with the old one and of course you didn’t. mention the new scoring tool, that is awesome. I know if your opinion but you missed a lot of thing in your review.
I respect your opinion and agree with a couple of things but not a deal breaker for me. I have the cameo and the new explore. The explore cutting is going to give cameo a run for it’s money. I have some doily svgs that cut better on the explore. There are several bloggers that have done side by side comparisons and they are Cameo owners as well. And I used to swap pens and blade and was a pain praying all the while it didn’t budge! Now it’s awesome. I especially love that it scores!! Great for Rosettes! I personally love not having to keep changing cartridges to cut also. And not too many people don’t have another Cricut machine to use those carts at a crop! I love the explore and recommend to all my friends and family!
You need to make sure you know more about a product before you give a review, for eg, — you can customize your cut settings
from the software to adjust the pressure at which the blade cuts – so you don’t need to adjust the blade manually. There’s
more, but you should actually spend time using the product before you bash it. People listen to you, so you have a responsibility to
make sure you give accurate advise. I find this in very poor taste Joy.
Your review misses the mark and has some very serious misinformation concerning the smart set dial . You can add your own materials to the dial. Choose custom on the dial and then when you go to cut you can choose a preset material or there is a box at the bottom (I think material settings??? I don’t have my machine set to this computer so I can’t see it for sure) and add your own settings for your own materials. So, as someone who has used both machines Explore is certainly my favorite. I can use other software to create my own cut files, or design endlessly with the cartridges I have, or just chuck out a quick make it now project… I’ll stick with cricut.
Awesome, thorough review Joy! I didn’t even know about the new machine, but enjoyed reading what you had to say about it. 😉
Great post, Joy. Thanks for all of the info.
Bless you for writing this honest, unbiased review, Joy. (You have always been forthright and helpful — some of the many qualities I like best about you!) I have been on the fence about adding the Explore to my arsenal, which already includes 2 Cricut E’s, one Cricut Cake, a Cricut Expression 2, a Gypsy and a Jukebox (and 160 cartridges) plus Silhouette’s Cameo and Portrait. I’ve been toying with the notion of either an Explore or Brother Scan and Cut. Do you have any experience or knowledge about the latter?
I am a bit irked that there is no way to access your cartridges when remote from the Internet and laptop — how dumb! Does the Explore interface at all with the (unsupported/discontinued) Gypsy? How about with the (otherwise useless) Jukebox? I hate that ProvoCraft seems to throw products out into the marketplace untested and when their faults are found in real time (e.g., the Imagine), they’re abandoned by PC. Will this “latest and greatest” Explore be ProvoCraft’s Edsel? Time will tell.
Again, I so appreciate YOU!
Fondly,
Ellen – CardMonkey
http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com
Lynne, I’m curious what you don’t agree with. Everything Joy mentioned is truth about the features, not opinion. Is the pen thing the only thing you can defend about this machine?
I have liked my all my Cricuts. I also have a lot of cartridges. I waited a year before I bought a Cameo. I set it up picked a image and it went through the whole cycle but never made a cut. (DISAPOINTED).I watched lots of videos to try to learn what to do. I had a 1 year membership where I chose ALOT of images to cut. I then signed for a 2nd year,(DUMB). The more I tried to learn this machine the frustrated I got. The Cameo has too many buttons . Its hard to learn what each button does, and understand why you have to change buttons to weld, It takes a genious to figure what to pick for a cut line, and adding or removing score lines. Its like trying to learn another language. I think it is user friendly, I love that you can choose a image and after you edit it , size it , The mats are set up by color. So you know where to put the paper down and not waste a lot of paper.
Joy you did a great review. The one thing I like is: if I don’t like the Explore , I can always send it back. Amazon is great like that…
DawnRI…
Thanks for the honest eval. I too have purchased many cricut machines in my crafting years, and I can honestly say that I am not interested in this machine. I just don’t like the idea of having to have my computer and internet in use to craft. I think PC is just punting. Like always, they are so quick to put out products and discontinue all of the ones that we have already spent lots of money on. They get us with their promises and the proposed fixes, however those fixes never seem to happen. They just move on to their next product.
You adjust the blade by using the dial. If you want something thick like the cereal box she was talking about you would choose custom on your dial. Then when you hit “go” you can choose what you are cutting and it will tell you if you need deep cut blade. You can cut metal! Chipboard, which is probably thicker than the cereal box discussed. And every image comes in with a shadow, just can’t see until you detach or change color.
Wonderful review! I was pretty skeptical about all the boast. I have the Cricut expression. I never updated the firmware when they changed the machine so it wouldn’t cut .svg files. I have tons of .svg cut files from SVGCUTS. Love them my machine cuts them better than the cartridges. I rarely use the cartridges anymore as I can’t work with them like I can the .svg files using SCAL. Thanks for being so thorough in your review.
I don’t agree with this review at all. You can change the blade pressure and you can save your own settings for your own materials. The settings are also perfect, so easy and has worked every time for me perfectly.
You did not even mention the fact that the images are so all together so you don’t have to look for the layers anymore and you can see the images as they look finished in full color and saves you time. I no longer need my hand books.
The writing is much different than the older machines. You can use the fine point pen and address and cut labels for envelopes, in one step.
I also no longer have to score my own rosettes, it does it for me.
It does cut small intricut cuts much better than the Cameo, it is much quieter than any other Cricut and Cameo, not sure about the others, I have not heard them.
It also cuts many more materials than the other machines.
You are right it does have to be hooked up to the internet, so if that is the deal breaker don’t buy it. I on one hand am always hooked up to the internet, and have always used CCR, CCR seams primative after using Design Space.
Only being able to use cartridges linked is the smartest thing Provocraft did. They are not selling you a cartridge so you can link it and sell it again. It’s kinda like buying a DVD making a copy then selling it. It’s not the way business want to work. when you linked your cartridges you agreed to the terms and were not suppose to sell them. So they are just making sure we are keeping up with our side of the deal.
One other great thing you did not mention, you can use Design Space from any computer, up to 2 at the same time. So if you wanted to share your account with your sister in another state you could.
There is so much more good stuff you have not mentioned but this is just a comment.
I just read your review and I’m glad I did. I knew a new machine would come out to compete with the Cameo. I love my Cameo however I do have the Cricut Expression and a lot of cartridges. My question is…is there a way to get some of the cartridge designs on to the Cameo? If so could you please share the best way to do this. Thanks you for any help.
Thanks for the review, I believe it was honest and a good depiction of some of the major issues for the new machine. I am struggling with the software and have from the very beginning, when PC’s CS had to call me at home to get the software loaded properly. People on the board kept talking to me like I didn’t understand the instructions and didn’t follow the setups. It turned out to have a major glitch that needed to be fix and my computer found it. PC’s CS put a note out about it in my post after they helped me. There are some problems with the software, but I do love the machine and how it cuts. I am still committed to it for now, so I will continue to try to work with it. If it doesn’t get easier for me to create though I might have to walk away from it and return it. I miss many of the easy features that I use as a scrapbooker and card maker. I do not do projects. i do have a Cameo that I enjoy so this makes it easy to walk away if things do not improve with the learning curve. Once again thanks for giving us your straight forward opinions. They are truly appreciate.
JOY,JOY,JOY! at last. Someone willing to say it like it is about PC. I run Cricut workshops and I have an Expression (not the II) and when I craft I like it to be almost instant. Computer based crafting is not instant. Quite frankly I wouldn’t touch the Explore with a ten foot barge pole. I think that people will tire of being tied to a laptop etc. Provocraft are too fond of releasing products without adequate testing and then dumping said products when they go wrong. As for importing svg’s. What about all the fuss they made about SCAL and MakeTheCut?They went to the extent of ‘doctoring’ the Cricut machines so that if you tried to use 3rd party software it would make the machine unable to cut to cartridge. Now, suddenly, you can import svg’s into the Explore! What a bunch of hypocrites!
I LOVE my Expression and cutting to cartridge, but having seen the Brother Scan’n’Cut on Create and Craft TV here in the UK, if I was in the market for another, DIFFERENT type of cutter I would probably go for that one.
Thank you Joy for being honest.
Time will tell if this machine will go the way of the last disaster the Imagine
Heather
Thanks for the review.Nice machine. I wish it was a stand alone and cartridges could be used without the internet.
Thanks for this information. I am just watching and waiting. Software has not been Cricut’s strong point and never has, but I would still like to be able to have the software on my computer and be able to use a cartridge without linking online to only use online. Provo Craft just doesn’t get it. If I own this stuff, I should be able to use it On something I OWN.
I purchased the newest Cricut at launch and have it sitting and waiting for me to give it a try. I had ordered a new laptop from Amazon and was waiting for it to arrive, which it did today. I will now be able to try out me Explore. I was against this machine at first but the more I read about it, the more intrigued I became I own the original Cricut, original Expression, Expression 2, Imagine and a Cameo. I have yet to try my Cameo as it intimidates me. Being familiar with the Cricut products, I feel less intimidated by the Explore.
I feel that you may have rushed to judgment and perhaps did not give it sufficient time to really try it out. I am excited about the ability to write with this and the ability to score plus use my cartridges. I think I will wait to link them and just use the online and svg files I have been collecting. I will definitely come back and give my honest opinion once I have really given the machine an honest try.
Thanks for starting a dialogue about the new machine. Btw… I had never had a problem with any of my Cricut products until recently when I had a piece of plastic break off the handle of my Anna Griffin Cuttlebug just about 9 months after purchasing it. I called Provocraft and they promptly sent me a new one without even asking for the old one back. I also have the Gypsy and Jukebox. Awesome customer service in my opinion.
Hi Joy,
Finally, just the facts and nothing but the facts, something most of us have been waiting to hear. I have been researching the Explore, reading everything I can get my hands on, and watched all the videos published, and the fact is, it is not up to par, as you stated. One video producer even stated she had to cut her intricate design twice due to wrong settings on the SmartSet dial, which meant she had to fiddle with it. At least on my Expression I know what to set my dials to. Then there’s the whole Design Space…you can’t create like you did in CCR, or DS, or Gypsy. You search for your design, insert it on the mat, and before you can work on it, you have “ungroup” it, and then you can weld, or do anything else…more unnecessary steps. Yes, it may now cut perfect circles, but the Cameo has been doing that for some time now. As for the svg files, that too is not up to par. It will not import files in their native size, which means you have to make adjustments so the pieces will fit. Now, with all that said, I love CCR, DS, and my Expression, but when Cricut balked at the use of svg’s with their machine, well, they lost me…and a lot of other people. So I thank you Joy, for doing a great job at giving us the facts. Oh, and you’re right, it should have a handle…one drop and it’s done for…$300.00 down the drain. Looking forward to your next project.
Thank you for this honest review! I have been searching and debating for weeks on which cutter to buy. Today I purchased my Cameo and I look forward to using your tutorials to get the best out of this device. Thank you again!
Sernearia,
Congratulations on your new machine! I hope you have a great time using it!
Joy, thanks for your honest assessment of the Explore.
No one is addressing the new cutting machine user. I am new to this world and I have to say that I am truly amused by all the passionate people either for or against PC. I have noticed a few things on my journey.
1. There is a certain amount of user error that goes with most if these machines. I got the Imagine at a killer price, even after reading how much people hated it. It works fine, just a bit moody. BUT, I took the time to educate myself on how to use it. 2. I find the cartridge system to be archaic. So who cares that you can’t plug it into the machine and try to push the right little buttons and line it all out on the tiny little screen. As a new user, I want to see exactly what my project will look like when I’m done. I like that you are designing on the computer and I also like that it is cloud based. Now I’m not limited to a specific computer. I can pack up the machine and head to my sister’s house and plug in on her computer. I can work at my desk top, laptop, inside or outside and my iPad if that happens. This is a GOOD thing for those of us that like technology. And, they gave people early access to design space and I can say that it was incredibly easy to use. I could quickly start my own project, easily search for images (they use tag words!), or pull up my own image sets from carts I had linked in CCR, just that SIMPLE.
3. People are not educating themselves before jumping to conclusions. YES, you can cut cereal boxes, there is a deep blade housing that you just switch out. FAQ on cricut.
4. No one machine fits every person’s needs, which is why I’m assuming so many of you have one of everything else.
I have to say that your little blog entry freaked me out a bit since I ordered on launch night and am waiting for extended shipping here shortly. I almost cancelled my order but got online and educated myself more and I am in love. I don’t even have the machine yet AND I CANT WAIT!!!
So people, do your own homework, take info from everywhere and make your own choice. Don’t let someone else’s bad experience ruin it for you. You never know what has contributed to it 🙂
@MelodyLane….
“Only being able to use cartridges linked is the smartest thing Provocraft did. They are not selling you a cartridge so you can link it and sell it again.”
I’m sorry, but this is one of the STUPIDEST things Provo Craft has done. They should of had a way to UNLINK in the first place. If this was to be an intended function of carts., then they should have started linking from the get go when they came out with Cricut Design Studio. I bought the orginal cricut BECAUSE of CDS and because I could sell my carts. if I didn’t like them or use them. Then what does Provo Craft turn around and do? They come out with Gypsy and Discontinue CDS which would have been fine, except NOW you have to link? THAT my dear is what was unethical and immoral.
Further more your DVD analogy is ridiculous. I can play a DVD and resell it if I tire of it; i don’t have to link it or Download it to ANYTHING in order to use it. They aren’t even the same medium for crying out loud. Viewing a movie and crafting are NO WHERE near the same thing.
What I say isn’t going to matter to you anyway….
YOU WERE GIVEN AN EXPLORE, FROM PROVO CRAFT, FOR FREE; OF course linking Carts. is no big deal to you, you have already recouped aprox. $300 by the “gift” of your machine. I also notice when you post on youtube videos (that aren’t your own) and other craft sites/blogs YOU NEVER disclose you got a machine FOR FREE FROM PROVO CRAFT and by not doing so is VERY Dishonest. What else have you been “gifted”, that you haven’t fully disclosed? Your comment isn’t just a comment…it’s a biased one.
Thanks for the review! My sister is a cricut gal. I was a wishblade person because I love all the files I could get on line.! I tried talking her into not getting her first cricut but she has loved them and was all set on getting the explore. I told her to wait on reviews! The one thing I have learned is to never buy with out some input! She will keep cranking away with her current cricut until she decides what she wants to do. I an loving my new KNK Maxx Air! they have come a long way with the programing with these machines since they first came out with them. I’m so glad my computer crashed and I had to finally upgrade my cutter because I couldn’t get new computer to run old program. Thanks again for the review and so glad I stumbled across you today!
Thank you so much for this honest review. I was absolutely all for this machine. I’m a Cricut girl and I’ve been extremely happy with my Cricut experience, however I’ve really been wanting the SVG import/create ability. I was starting to have concerns as some of the information just wasn’t out there. I already use the Craft Room and I love that but not happy that none of the cut files I’ve already created can be transferred. I’ll have to really think on this now and see what happens. I really respect you as a crafter and user of craft products, I know it probably took some guts to write this but as a fellow crafter I really appreciate this information. Thank You!
An obvious biased and flawed assessment of the Explore.
Nice to read an HONEST assessment of the new machine by someone other than a person “bought” by PC (i.e. who received their machines, subscriptions, and a boat load of cartridges for FREE). Of course those folks are going to say nothing but perfect things about anything they are given. THANK YOU for your honesty.
Thanks Jane for setting the record straight concerning MelodyLane. Where ever she posts, its the same ‘paid mouthpiece’ lip service about how great this machine is. Kudos to you!
“You don’t have your machine set to this comptuer”??? Can you only cut from one computer? This has been one of my questions no one has answered. If I go to a crop can I not share computers/cricut with others? What is going to keep multiple individuals from using the same account? Thanks
Anytime Nadia,
I also tire of her hype. But mostly, I tire of the fact that she isn’t up front about what she was given. There is nothing wrong with her receiving the machine, but omitting that fact while talking it up, shows a huge lack of integrity.
Thanks for this article. I am also a sewer and I applique a lot. I was looking at Brother’s Scan ‘n Cut but I thought the new Cricut Explore might serve 2 purposes for me. Using my existing cartridges and cutting out fabric. But from your article that’s not possible. I am forgetting the Cricut Explore. I’m not really a Cricut fan anyhow. I had a problem with there customer service a couple of years ago and after that I was never really a fan. As a matter of fact, I bought a Pazzles at a craft show but it too is web based.
Thanks again
Ann Brogan
Great review Joy! I really always consider your insight and knowledge. I did purchase the Explore and I actually do love it! I have the Cameo too-I actually purchased it 6 months ago. I am still sucked into the Cricut world. It speaks to me. I am just feel lucky that my hubby loves me enough to let me have the best of both worlds I guess. The fact that you need wifi does not hold me back especially with iPad version coming this fall. Love this option!!!! Love that all of this does not take up even more room on my computer. Thank you for you’re honesty. Keep on inspiring and informing us all!!!! Love your life!!!
i AM LOOKING FOR A MACHINE THAT WILL ALLOW ME TO MAKE MY OWN PATTERNS AND CUT THEM OUT. i WOULD LIKE TO USE FUN FOAM WITH & WITHOUT ADHESIVE BACKING AND MATERIAL SUCH AS VINYL OR FABRIC. iS THERE A MACHINE THAT WILL DO THAT. YOU SEEM TO BE THE MOST KNOWLEDGEABLE OF EVERYONE I HAVE READ ARTICLES FROM SO FAR. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
jEAN
Hi Jean!
You’ll like one of the Cricut machines, a Silhouette Cameo, KNK Zing or Sizzix Eclips to cut vinyl. Any of those machines are great at that. It’s tougher to find a machine that can do a good job cutting foam. I have cut foam with a Cricut but it didn’t cut with clean edges. You can cut fabric with most of the machines by using a stabilizer under your fabric and sticking it to the mat. I’ve only tried it in a Cricut but I hear Silhouette does a great job with it too. The KNK Zing has the strongest motor and can do a lot of amazing things. You might really like that one but there is a definite learning curve to using it. Here’s a post about choosing a die cut machine that might help you. I hope that helps!
Joy,
Thank you so very much for your honesty. I thought that I was the only one out here that really didn’t like this machine. You kept making the point that I truly hope people will listen to. You have to have an internet connection to use this machine. PERIOD – no internet, no Explore. It is pretty to look at, but trying getting that craft project done without internet. No can do! You cannot back up with this machine if it just happens to miss a spot, you cannot easily resize one of the ready made designs. AND something to think about – if you are designing your own projects, or have an svg design that someone shared with you – do NOT under any circumstances upload that design because it is now part of Cricut’s domain and you cannot delete it. The first day I had the machine and SINCE IT DOES NOT COME WITH A MANUAL OF ANY KIND, I was experimenting with what you could do. I uploaded a design just to see how easy/hard it would be AND THEN discovered that I could not delete it. There is a market out there for this machine. People who do not want to take the time to design their own projects, who do not want to think about what they are doing, this machine is for you. And once you upload a cartridge, just like with the gypsy, it is marked by the cricut site. I have tons and tons of cartridges loaded onto my Gypsy which of course no longer work since I have the BSD. It is out of warranty so it is useless. Cricut screwed us all when they messed up with the Gypsy. What they didn’t tell people is that they knew that the batteries in the Gypsy would one day die. Li-ion batteries only last so long-PERIOD. If you send it back to them and pay to get it fixed and then get it back, you better have all of your cartridges to load back on because you are not getting your same Gypsy back. Sorry, I digress. But I can’t use those “marked” cartridges in the explore because they are assigned to the dead Gypsy. If you want to design and do your own work and NOT HAVE TO BE LOGGED ONTO THE INTERNET to USE the Explore, DON’T buy the Explore. Get the Pazzles, or the Silhouette, or the eclips, or any of the other machines. This one is not worth the money you are paying for it to do what it does. Oh did I mention – It wastes paper and the paper setting dial is not at all accurate. Thank you for letting me add my 2 cents.
I wish I had read this before I tore off buying it with abandon. I haven’t read all the comments here, but I agree with your review wholeheartedly, and I too won’t go into their horrible search functionality. Also, I have a Gypsy (another wild purchase) that I downloaded all of my cartridges to 5+ years ago. I haven’t used Cricut’s “craft room” so my carts are not in that software program. So, when I tried to download carts to the Explore, I can’t. Just got off the phone with tech support (no one would put in writing over email that they are experiencing a design flaw), but they said it straight out on the phone. Right now, the link to Gypsy is broken, so despite the 7+ step, full page sheet of directions on how to retrieve my old carts, I can’t even attempt them yet because the link is broken. They are working on it, and will email when they fix it. Disappointed to say the least.
Oh wow am I glad I didn’t take your opinion into consideration before purchasing my Cricut Explore. You are correct, you need an internet connection in order to use the machine. I don’t think it’s such a big deal considering I have a connection most of the time.
I honestly don’t think you did your homework on the machine before trying out all the features. I found *most* of the things you complained about (ie: not being able to change the blade setting, images not having a shadow, etc) completely false! You CAN change the blade depth/setting in the custom materials section (right before you cut). Almost EVERY image has a shadow, it’s just hidden until you click the eye next to it.
I really don’t care one way or the other what machine people decide to spend their money on, but instead of taking someone’s opinion, who doesn’t quite understand the capabilities of the machine- I suggest looking up the cricut explore videos on YouTube and find out what the machine can do and HOW to do it.
I have owned the machine for less than 3 days and have educated myself about the machine (what seems like more than you did before writing the review).
So I suggest if people want an unbiased review of the machine, make sure the person actually knows how to use it.
Also, I did not find it difficult to locate my cartridges at all, as a matter of fact they have a pull down tab that will weed out all your images or cartridges, did you miss that part? I will say it would have been nice for them to use the same front cover as on the original cartridge (just for familiarity sake) but if you hover your mouse over the image set, it will tell you which cartridge you are accessing. AND you can just type in a word (ie:banner, circle, butterfly) and it will show you all the images available or you can choose only the images on cartridges you own.
I also found it extremely helpful that when using the font feature, it has a pull down tab that will let you view all fonts (including the fonts on your computer), fonts with a shadow, and fonts without a shadow.
Again, I think you should have done your homework before writing a review…