A couple weeks ago I’d get the creeps whenever I entered my scrapbooking space. From experience I knew that whenever I actually try to do serious work, something goes wrong. Most of the time I couldn’t find a tool or I ruined a cut as I tried to lift it off the cutting mat.

I know, these all are but little annoyances but they add up quickly and snowball into one big frustration. And when you’re frustrated your creativity goes down the drain and you have no chance of getting into the Zone.

Then I decided to sit down and really think about how this stuff comes to happen anyway. I got to work on my process before I did the actual work – and now I look forward to my scrapbooking every time!

Here are my three very best tips for a productive scrapbooking session:

Tip #1 – Design Your Workplace With Intention

Take a blank piece of paper and divide it into two sections for two lists. On the first list write down everything you use and in which frequency you need it. On the second list write down the different techniques and methods you use and which tools you need for them.

Then consciously design your space kind of like an office. Put everything in place so you can sit down and get right to work!

Tip #2 – Use Good Tools

Words cannot describe how much help a good set of tools is.

I recommend the Cricut essentials tool kit even if you don’t own a pricey Cricut cutting machine.

Tip #3 – Have A Finishing Routine

Write down a little routine you might use for wrapping up a session. As you put your stuff away, write down any materials that you have to buy. If you don’t do it now, you will surely forget!

If you use just these three tips from now on, your projects will be much more enjoyable. Especially the first one has done it for me.

How many Cricut cartridges do you have for your Cricut machine?  Whatever the answer, you probably don’t have all of them!  Using a Cricut machine is one of the best ways to update your scrapbook pages and because of that, the manufacturer is almost always offering new Cricut cartridges.They offer many licensed characters like Big Bird from Sesame Street, Cinderella from Disney or Hello Kitty, as well as holiday cartridges like Christmas and Halloween in addition to many different fonts for lettering.

One of the best features about Cricut cartridges is that they come in so many fonts for letters and so many shapes.This is a key feature that sets them apart from other die cut machine manufacturers.  Imagine being able to create vacation scrapbooks using shapes from the beach – beach balls, seashells, sailboats – or being able to create sports scrapbooks using shapes from your favorite sports, including footballs, basketballs, baseball bats, and so on.  This means that with Cricut cartridges you don’t need to fumble with awkward and difficult to use stencils, cutting your paper by hand and coming up with imperfect shapes and papers.  You can even find “indie art” cartridges that offer shapes of guitars, skulls, hand grenades, and all those other difficult to find shapes that are perfect for your particular scrapbooks. You’ll also be able to cut out a variety of letters in creative fonts for all of your scrapbook phrases.

There is such a wide variety of Cricut cartridges that you might be surprised at the variety and the new ones they offer every time you shop.Whether you are designing scrapbook albums for yourself or with your children, you are sure to find something that is just perfect for your project and create more scrapbooking crafts.

Creating a scrapbook the old fashioned way, that is, using stencils and cutouts and just hunting down the right shapes for you is of course okay, but typically the more options you have the better your scrapbooks are and the more enjoyable the hobby becomes.  Using a variety of Cricut cartridges with your cricut cutting machine will enable you to find just the right embellishment for your pages, no matter what the theme of your book.You will also be more efficient and save time by no longer having to cut every shape and letter out by hand.This allows you to get more page layouts done in the same amount of time so now you are spending more time being creative with your scrapbooking.So do you have enough Cricut cartridges?  Whatever your answer, chances are you could easily find many more that would work perfectly for your hobby.

Do you have a Cricut machine yet? If you answered no, then you really should consider why not? For scrappers, crafters, anyone planning parties or gatherings or if you just want scrapbooking ideas tips, these little devices are the perfect die cut machine for creating amazing letters, shapes, and so many other embellishments. The Cricut machine comes in a few different models, and some of them are perfect for hobby crafters while others rival a commercial-grade die cut machine.

The smaller Cricut machine, the Personal Electronic Cutter machine, works well for hobbyists. It can create hundreds of letters and designs that come in sizes from one inch to over five inches! Of course any crafter or scrapbooker would love to have this machine, and it makes a great gift for those you love to do crafts. Larger Cricut machines, like the Expression or the Create machine, are great for those more serious about their die cut projects whether they be for scrapbook albums or party decorations. They are also great for teachers to use for classroom decorations, as well as being perfect for parents who homeschool their children! The 12×24 inch mat can be used to make shapes and letters up to 2 feet large! Imagine the beautiful letters, banners, decorations, centerpieces, and other items you could get with a Cricut machine like that.

Of course there is a wide variety of die cuts available with any Cricut machine with the additional cartridges you can purchase. You can even purchase licensed characters and cartridges such as Sesame Street, Hello Kitty, and Disney. Your kids will really have fun creating their own Disney characters or shapes or cutting out their favorite Hello Kitty or Pixar characters as well! And for the grownups, they offer home decor shapes available for a Cricut machine, in addition to many shapes just right for scrapbook page layouts. These include sports, holidays, wedding themes, beach scenes, and even indie art like guitars, flames and much more. Whatever your scrapbook or craft project, you’re sure to find something perfect for you with cricut machine!

Once you have designed your pages with your Cricut machine, you can also use covers and binders that will be perfect for your scrapbook albums. Your provo cricut machine couldn’t be more versatile.

If you can get a Cricut machine, consider it an investment for your hobby that will last a lifetime. There is virtually no end to the variety of die cuts and shapes available and you’re sure to enjoy using it for years to come!

One of the latest releases from Provo Craft is the amazing new Cricut Expression. Most who have one would never go back to the old way of doing things. The Expression really offers so much more when it comes to features and power. You won’t regret looking into this either: where to get cheap Cricut cartridges .

Why are we crazy for our Expression Machine? The multiple cut feature lets you slice through chip board and vinyl and other thick materials to make very robust shapes and designs. As mentioned above, the machine also allows you to cut either very small, intricate designs or large impressive artworks.

If you look on Ebay, there are machines that come with a few freebies such as free cartridges, so it will be good to read the product description thoroughly before making a bid. In case of free cartridges, look for the cartridge description as well so that you will know whether you can use the cartridge being offered or not. And be careful not to overlook the shipping cost. Some items may have a lower auction price than others, but you may be charged extra to this item shipped. Just check below the auction price and if shipping is not free, there should be a space for you to enter your zip code. You will then be shown the shipping cost and by adding that cost to the maximum amount that you are willing to bid you will get your total cost. Save a ton by buying a Sales on Cricut Machines on Ebay!