Crafts Beautiful - Quick & Crafty - Let's Make Cards Magazine

Cool! I get it now. So I can print my own designs and cut them out. I was worried that I would never be able to get it to line up precisely, but those markers are clever! Makes sense now thanks

I guess you can always use design software anyway as you do templates - so should be a doddle I really have never tried the printing and cutting thingy but I am sure it must work.

It mightbe worth checking out what the expression/cricut can do now that it connects to a PC, also I do wonder if that cuts a bit better - but have never compared.

Don’t you wish sometimes there was only 1 of everything

yes - cos as soon as you have bought something you wish you had something else!  I love the embossing that the cuttlebug does, but just don’t want another machine tbh.  Perhaps I should just buy some embossed paper!

I got my craft robo last year, I’m still learning, but I have used it a lot for scrapbooking, so easy to just type your word/sentence, the press cut!  I’ve also cut decoupage sheets, and aperture cards.

Not yet got to grips with it fully, something I intend to do this year. 

I had bought myself a Bigshot, but found the cost of dies prohibitive, and then sometimes you only want to use the die once (maybe someone should start a library of dies - you can borrow and then return them!) I had balked at buying a robo at first purely for the cost, but when I worked out what I’d have to spend on alphabet sets etc then the robo seemed like a bargain.

There is now some new software for it called Design Master, that allows you to cut welded text, and do all sorts of other things. There are also lots of free templates for it, ukscrappers is a good place to start as they have a craft robo forum.

I think you have to have a serious think about how much you’d use it, it is an expensive piece of kit, but if you are a serious card maker then it will help make your life easier.

Hi Hope I am doing this the right way I am new to the site and have only used a forum once !!!  I have a robo but have had some problems using it ( computers don’t like me!!) Then I used a friends cricut well It is brilliant. you don’t have to be Einstein to work it, there is supposed to be new software coming out this year for it as well.  The robo is great if you are good with computers, the possibility’s are endless.

I have one too but don’t use it as much as I should (or anything else come to that!)

I would post some pics but I have to upload them and the software again after PC probs where everything has gone and has to be put back!

There are some pics on my blog though!

I also have to consider this subject...where to go from here?  I have a hand-held & dies, but want the flexibilty and ability to do more.

I think that in the end, if you can do something that you think up rather than only rely on pre-designed dies, cards,templates or what-ever.[then you are limited by what is offered], then that would be great. Also, relying on pre-designed, you will have to work harder to be original - that might be a serious consideration if you want to design for commercial purposes.  So I would lean towards a machine that allows me to be the designer first, then when I have more money I would invest in another system.

In short, I guess I want my cake and eat it too!

Hope this made some sort of sense! LOL!

I have a Craft Robo - Christmas pressie 2006 and like the other ladies haven’t really got to grips with it. I can do welded (joined up ) words - just using the software that comes with it plus a freebie called King Kong capture.
You can do loads with it if you have the time and you don’t have to be able to draw or be very arty.
I have just managed to design my own flower template and its on this card.

Wow. Thats a beautiful flower you’ve designed.
I love it.

hi, i have the robo and find it is fantastic, not only can i do templates but i can cut decoupage from my grandchildrens drawings.  it does take a little time to plot, but i think it well worth the effort.

it draws tooooo.  it comes with a pen holder which you insert your pens or securor pens, you can also get lots of free templates from the craftroco website.

i have made models, decoupage, boxes, bags and a whole host of things, i cannot live without this machine now.  PLUS the added bonus is NO EXTRA DESIGN thingys to buy.

one other thing, the robo has a outliner included so if you only want to draw around something then it will do it for you.

HOW COOL IS THAT

from pauline

Mmmmm! i don’t have one, sounds interesting though. x

Hmm - I want a cuttle bug and a cricut and a craftrobo now!!!

I have put some free files on my web site - nothing too amazing - but will give you an idea of what you can do

I just had a look at your site - I see you are another crafty Carolyn from Bedfordshire. I’m from Biggleswade, small world! There are some nice files there, thanks for sharing the link.