WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK

"Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday"...this is not a quote from "The Godfather". These are, in fact, the days that our fabulous Cricut Support Team members are available to answer your questions and concerns regarding your Cricut machines. Tech support, policy, warrantees, web orders, random questions and facts...they'll have an answer for you and will assist you with courtesy and kindness.

So don't take your Cricut problems "to the mattresses". Let our Support Team take a shot at it. Please feel free to call or email our qualified customer support team when you have a question or need assistance with a Cricut issue that is "bugging" you. Just call 1-877-727-4288, Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (MST), or email support@cricut.com. Don't worry about bothering anyone because what bugs you bugs us, and we want to help! Click here to learn more about Cricut support contact information.

Please enjoy this week's Chirp. Be sure to read Crafty Kimber's cartridge exploration of the Designer's Calender cartridges. As always, we wish you well in your crafting adventures.

Happy Crafting!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hello Thursday - April 2010!

Say hello to our new Cuttlebug Companions to select Cricut cartridges:

Robotz Cuttlebug Companion
Create a Critter Cuttlebug Companion
Preserves Cuttlebug Companion
Once Upon a Princess Cuttlebug Companion
Sentimentals Collection Cuttlebug Companion
Heritage Cuttlebug Companion

Look for them in stores in mid July!

Also, say goodbye to:

Printing Press
Paper Pups

They?re retiring, but you can still get yours before they?re gone!

Also, you want to follow this link to see the email announcement, because there?s a sneak peek at upcoming cartridge content you?ll find nowhere else!

SWARM WINNER

Thank you so much for picking our Swarm! I recently started referring to this great group of ladies (who have been scrapbooking with me for years) as the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Scraps", as we have held weekend retreats at numerous locations around Central Florida and are always searching for another getaway location. We had 17 ladies at this Swarm, the majority of which caught the "bug" at my workshops and are now proud owners of their own Cricut. These ladies are lots of fun and are so kind to share cartridges and ideas with one another. I hold weekend retreats twice a year and several of these girls are really adventurous and attend my Cricut project classes like glass etching and fabric cutting! Hopefully our prizes will arrive before our May weekend swarm and we can add them to the prize loot! I can't wait to tell the girls!

FEATURED PROJECTS

MESSAGE BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

This week's highlighted threads are:

• Birds of A Feather Layout
• Layout Using Robotz Cartridge
• Create A Critter Layout
• Prince and Princess Together!!!
• Door Sign Using Serenade
• Family Album

CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT

Name: Lisa Ivy Zographos
About: I'm a wife and new mom, and although I've been crafting for years, I'm now learning to do it with a baby in my arms! I love using my Cricut, and since I'm legally blind, I think I'm proof that anyone can use one!

Lisa's Project: Blue Jeans Patch

YOUR NOTABLE TIP

Today's tip comes from helpful message board member SCan. Thanks for sharing Stepanie!

Q. "I think that I may be missing something here. What is the significance of the blade number that I was asked to set at '3 facing me' when I set up my Cricut?"

A. "That number controls the depth of the blade for cutting your material. Three works on most paper, but if you wanted to cut vellum, you would need less depth than you use on paper (I cut my vellum on 2). On thicker card stock, etc., you'd probably need to go higher - 4 or 5. I hope that makes sense and helps."

CARTRIDGE EXPLORATION

This last week I went on vacation and thought I would take a break from the creative world. Well, that was my intention. For the next four days, I sat out in the sun and tried to relax. In the end, I wound up thinking about the next cartridge that I would be exploring--so much for relaxing! This exploration will discuss the Designer's Calendar cartridge.

Designer's Calendar is a wonderful accessory to creating personal calendars, but this cartridge can also be used to create scrapbook pages, projects, and cards. The creative features are: Script, Script Shadow, Boxed, Rounded, Shadow, and Events. I wanted to show some other things that you can create with this cartridge besides the obvious. A few notes on the Events feature: on the April button, you can cut out "President's Day", on the June button you can cut out "Chinese New Year", on the August button you can cut out "St. Patrick's Day", etc. So, it doesn't necessarily match holidays with the correct months. Some images that can be used for cards are: sunshine, top hat, dragon, heart, tulip, Easter egg, Star of David, Christmas tree, Mexican hat, flag, tie, spider, menorah, and wedding rings. Since this cartridge comes with numbers and the months, you can be sure to add that special date to your scrapbook page.

The message board is just loaded with great projects made with this cartridge!

- SharonS created a memory book that I thought was adorable (see picture above or click here).

-Sherylgreene created a birthday card. This is a great card that you can recreate.

-Luveveryone also created a birthday card (see picture or click here) and she added some personal touches that really made the card pop.

-AmandaAllender from the message board created a chore chart. I thought this was a great idea!

-Kreimers created a unique wreath using this cartridge's four leaf clover. I love this project and the creativity that was involved (see picture or click here).

These are some ideas to get you going with this cartridge. As always, if you have a project that you have created, you can upload your pictures to the message board on www.cricut.com. Check back next week to see what I explore next!

Crafty Kimber

HELP FROM THE EXPERTS

Here are the top questions in Customer Support this week.

From Becky:

There's a board for you!

New to Cricut?

There is a brand new message board just for newbies. There is nothing wrong about asking questions. The Bug Guides, admins, and especially your fellow Cricuteers will help you along the way. Most of all, have fun!

Educators speak up!

The Cricut is not just for crafters. So many of our members are teachers. Check out what they are doing!

Time for baking!

Cricut Cake Message Boards are buzzing with recipes and ideas. Stop by and turn on your creative best.


Have a great week!

From your Customer Support Sweeps:
Mark, Brightly, Brittany, and Becky, "The Floor Sweeps"

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual."
~ Arthur Koestler