There will be plenty to scrap and craft about this season! Watermelon, baseball, swimming pools, popsicles, strawberry shortcake, camping, picnics, family reunions, and any kind of fun in the sun. These are just a few subjects I think of when summer is mentioned. There are more than enough summer subjects and ideas to keep me busy and happily crafting away with my Cricut after I've spent the day enjoying my fun in the sun.


Happy Cricuting :-)

A. Dog chewed up your power chord? Need new blades or another blade housing? Looking for a lost overlay, your lost cartridge binder or the handbook to your cartridge or Cricut? No problem. Replacement parts are as easy to obtain. Simply visit our website and click on products. You will be able to purchase the replacement parts you need!

There's something about celebrating patriotism that really helps you remember special moments in your life. One of the greatest subjects that the Stand and Salute Cricut cartridge covers is tons of images and phrases that surrounds the topic of patriotism. You now have tons of options to add special touches to any scrapbook pages or even create a special card. You can even use some of these images to decorate your home or the special craft project. This cartridge offers a lot of different ideas. As a reminder, the creative features that come with this cartridge are: Note Card, Dog Tag, Frame, Border, Shadow, and Blackout.

In this exploration, I chose to discover the Note Card feature. Yes, this feature is self-explanatory, but each of the phrases and images on this cartridge come ready to use for a card. The images are placed on a corner or centered in the middle. It's easy even for those of you that feel you don't have a creative bone in your body. You can add vinyl or glitter to give your card something extra special. For example, HappyHappyJoyJoy created this great card that fits this idea.

Another creative feature that comes with this cartridge is the Dog Tag feature. You can know cut dog tags with each of the images or even phrases. This idea could be used to create a great sidebar or title for a scrapbook page. When you use the envelope card button and this creative feature, you can cut a solid dog tag or a dog tag with a square in the center. Just think, you can now cut any size you want of the dog tag! This would even be great on a card for someone special. Here's an idea for a craft project with the kids: cut out their favorite images using heavy cardstock, laminate the images, add some yarn and "BAMM" you have a bracelet or necklace. Think of the fun you can spend together as a family or with friends creating something fun to wear.

I hope you are having as much as I am in exploring this wonderful cartridge. It is such a joy to dive into all the different images and phrases that come with this collection. Happy Cricuting!

Crafty Kimber

A. 1) Make sure the blade is inserted correctly into the assembly. (The small "knife" end should be sticking out, not the cone point end.)

2) Make sure the blade depth is set at something deep enough to cut through cardstock, usually at least 4 or 5.

3) Make sure the pressure is set to high or maximum.

4) Do a visual check to see if the blade is actually extending out of the green/gold blade assembly. At blade height settings of 6, this should be about 1 mm. This may be hard to gauge, but a best guess is good enough.

5) Assembly check: If you remove and reinsert the blade can you feel it suck back inside or does it feel like the blade doesn't fit or perhaps sticks as it goes in?

6) Make sure the green/gold assembly is installed correctly into the cutting arms. (It should be inserted in the middle groove area. It can easily be inserted incorrectly at the lower groove area. When installed correctly, you will not be able to fit even you littlest finger between the blade and the bottom of the machine.)

7) Arm "Buoyancy" Test: With the power on and gently "flicking" the assembly arm, does it seem to bounce in a "boing boing" sort of way, or does it just go down and then back up? Or does it stick or rub anywhere when you push it down?

8) Once all these settings have been confirmed, try to cut a simple shape on a regular piece of paper. Not cardstock or anything thicker. Is the cut successful at all? Or does it just scratch or not leave a mark at all If so, contact Cricut Customer Service: 1-877-727-4288 or support@cricut.com.

9) Does the arm that holds the green assembly move up and down while the machine is engaged in a cut? You should be able to physically see it "pecking" at the paper.

10) If you happen to have any additional blades, try doing this cut with them as well. We may just be dealing with a dull or defective blade.