I originally bought my Expression for scrapbooking and making favor boxes. I did try cutting gumpaste/fondant, but it just wasn't working for me. So, I bought the cake cricut and the few cuts I've made just "playing around" I'm glad I did. Also, I had some reservations about mixing paper and food in the same machine. Not judging anyone who does, but for me, I didn't feel comfortable. So, when there is a project that requires me to use both machines, I can have someone running the expression and me the cake cricut.

Personally, I'm waiting for the generic knock-off to hit the markets

I am planning to have a play with my cricut tomorrow. Will let you know how I get on.

I have to agree with others it is a tool, we use cutters etc surely it is doing the same thing only better. I am also looking forward to using it for writing as I cannot pipe anywhere decent enough for writing on a cake and it takes me forever to make Happy Birthday whoever with stencils.

Am hoping it works for me but am only planning on using the basic cartridge for now and seeing how that goes before I go for SCAL as thats a whole other ball game lol

WalMart has what looks like a knock off...called a cuttle? Or cuttlebug? Something like that. Has anyone here tried it?

The Cuttlebug is a totally different animal from a Cricut. The Cuttlebug is an embossing system, not a cutting system. It's a fixed size that you can emboss. I've seen that used for cakes too though. like emboss your material, then cut it.

I am not sure why you can't use it on cookies. It made me sad. Lol! I did make some for my family (I figured it was ok to use us as guinea pigs) and it worked fine and none of us got sick of any kind. However they recommend not to use it for public sell. I will eventually break down and get the cake but I can't do that right now. Here is the link to that site for anyone who wants to see the comparisons. Also CMC is just tylose. I can't find it so I only use tylose. They test different thicknesses and materials. HTH.

www.cuttingedgecakeart.com

Still working... still hating.

I'm not totally in love with my cricut cake - but I do see it's potential. The first few days the only thing preventing me from throwing it out the window was purely the cost of the item - and even then I was close. Once I figured out what worked for me, I started having more luck getting good cuts. This isn't a take it out of the box - lock and load type product. The demo was pretty deceptive IMO. I'm sure they had a bunch of returns from that HSN world launch. Most people don't have the patience to deal with spending that much for something that was made to look simple but really requires extensive practice.

I've never used a cricut before - this is my first experience with one. The fact that it cuts paper too was a big selling point for me. I'm really interested in learning about the alternate programs like SCAL and MTC - still haven't found an explanation of what the difference is between the two.

I hear a lot of people talking about the art of cake making being lost - but I fail to see the difference between cutting out a template by hand with an exacto vs cutting out the exact same design on the cricut. It's not mass, impersonal production - it's just faster production - there is a difference. And with use of the programs like SCAL and MTC you can design your own patterns - or petal templates - whatever you want. The possibilities are only limited by the one who owns the machine him/herself. If one feels every cake that comes out of the cricut cake will look like a cookie cutter of the last - perhaps they don't have enough creativity to get much more out of it than that.

I'm a graphic designer. Some of my older colleagues sometimes reminisce about typesetting and how they had to hand draw everything before it was all basically turned over to the computer age. Why was it turned over? Because it's faster and more efficient - it saves time and money - and quality is not sacrified - in fact it's better. I'm not saying the circut cake is a better way of doing things - but I think people are kind of jumping on the dissinb band wagon just because it's a new, different "techie" way to do things - techie doesn't seem to be something you run into much in the cake world. I just get sick of people dissing it simply because they lack enough imagination to see its potential.

OMG i know how to finally use my cricut cake and i used it with mmf i didnt event put it in the freezer the trick is to roll it out super see through thin.
im hooked!!!

we love our cricut! I'm also a teacher and I'm a firm believer in "don't reinvent the wheel"!!! It took some trial and error on how to get it right but once we figured it out the possibilities are endless!!! We still do a lot by hand but this machine makes many many many things sooooo much easier!
Crisco your mat.
Roll it thin.
Freeze it at least 10-15 minutes.
Put on HIgh and MEd.
IT WILL WORK! WELL!
As for those who doubt it....they just didn't give it a chance!
I also recommend getting the Make The Cut software. You can buy it and download it. With that you can hook your computer to your cricut and download ANY (and I mean anything) off the internet and the cricut will cut it! We just did a Jeff Gordon race car last night.....added some details and POOF! Instant perfection!

Don't give up! Keep trying!

So just for clarification...Are the cake cricut and the original cricut the same machines, just different colors? I've read on here that people are using the original to cut fondant and saying it's a waste of money to buy the cake if you have the original.

I ask because a friend has an original that's never been used and offered it to me for cheap! I don't scrapbook, so turned it down. But if it works as well as the cake cricut on fondant and is food safe, I'm on it!

Oh, and can you buy the cake cricut cartridges separately from the machine?

ALL of these techniques were developed and demonstrated originally on the Expressions.

Well I tried mine out today and it certainly isnt as easy as they make it look in the video!!!!
First attempt just made a mess lol. 2nd was a bit better and 3rd a lot better but still a bit rough.
Still need to practise a bit on getting it right, rolling out that thin is hard work but then realised I dont actually need to fill the whole mat if I am only doing a little cut doh!

Also struggled a bit getting them off the mat, do you do it straight away or let them rest for a while, had trouble getting them off and then them braking.

Think it will be great once I have practised a bit more and then when I get the internet bit sorted I am sure it will be amazing

It's not made of food safe materials - is the difference. In addition some protective measures have been put in place to protect the cake version from kitchen specific problems - like the protective overlay over the keyboard, silicon cap to prevent the blade housing from clogging with food materials - eh not sure what else. The blade is different. But some, including the lady who invented the method, use the original cricut just as easily. I say if you get it offered to you for cheap - it's a good way to try it out at least.

I just got mine a couple of hours ago and I love it! I used premade Wilton gumpaste. I find that rolling directly on the mat is easier. I have never used a cutting machine in my life, this is gonna work out great! One thing though, is the cutting mat supposed to get all cut up by the blade? I did butterflies, cupcakes and a couple of swags and they are all cut into the surface of the mat, but not all the way through. I tried using less pressure but the gumpaste was not cutting cleanly. I guess thats why you can buy extra mats?

My sister and I recently had an online discussion about creativity and hand made art. Here is what I say: My heavenly father gave me certain gifts. I didn't know I had ANY until I was over 40 years old. Now I can truly say that, "Yes! I am creative!" A machine cannot 'create', it can only mimick or copy a 'creators' ideas and work. It's like artificial intelligence, if that makes any sense. When a gift from within comes outside of ourselves into an art piece, there is NO comparison. I don't even think they should be used in cake competitions either. This is just my opinion.

Now here is what my sister says:
The world will never understand Art, or the process of creation. It is our ' 'joi de vive.' On computers anything can be digitally created with what we used to do with our hands and eyes. I say carry on anyway! There is something inately fundamental about being able to complete a process of creation and making something beautiful, interesting. And if you can do it with passion, even better. Someday the rest will catch up.
Look at 'The Cupcake Girls' and Giada - simple everyday stuff , but they do it with passion and flair.
Feel free to PM me for further discussion.

They are different because the cake cricut is food handler safe? Whatever that means? The mat is different that you use. Any of the cartridges that work for the original work on the cake cricut! BUT if you download MTC or SCAL you don't even need to buy any cartridges....you can download ANYTHING from the internet! It's great!

It has done that to our mat too..... so far it hasn't effected it....we havn't even needed to buy extra...YET!

True artist.....can carry right on with their "true art". Those of us who just want to have fun and make cakes....find the cricut to be a great tool to help us out! It still takes creativity!

Soooo neecerator get off the cake high horse....... If that's your opinion so be it.....but OBVIOUSLY..... not everyone shares the same view or they wouldn't have bought the machine! Furthermore this isn't a forum to slam those who want to try something new!
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I looked at neecerator's photos expecting to see extravagent artwork and all I saw was Wilton. Where is all the creativity there? I don't claim to be super creative or artistic and since I do this as a hobby I will continue to use "artificial inteligence" or whatever else makes life easier. I don't see the difference between the cricut or any other cutters someone may choose to use. Unless you're doing everything completely "freehand" you're using some kind of tool or artifical inteligence. Is anyone making realistic gumpaste flowers without some kind of cutter?

I don't have a circuit. Might get one might not, It is in my opinion a tool and nothing more. We use different piping tips, cutters, stencils ect.... It is our mind that puts them together and creates. I have to say I like the idea of using scal and making my own designs more effeciently. It will just free up my time to create more. New technology is not bad in and of it self it is how you put it to use.

I went to art school and got my BFA in art and design - but I guess I'm not a "true artist" since I'm a graphic designer and sit behind a computer all day long which is what I use to create my "art". Sorry - that makes no sense.

I could sit about anyone down in front of a computer with all of the programs I use loaded and tell them to lay out this or that magazine ad - and depending on their own individual knowledge, skill, education and ability they will either produce something awful, boring, ho-hum or amazing.

Similarly, I could give any person off the street a cricut cake and receive the same results. Art does come from within. Your ideas and how you translate them into reality *is* the art. Not what tools you use to create them. That kind of thinking is pretty closed minded.

Well put ctinaw

Ditto - well put ctinaw. You put my scrambled thoughts succinctly into words.

Sorry, I don't have a high horse (or a low one for that matter) tee hee. It was my opinion, and that's why I stated it as such. I was not intending to slam anyone or any product, just adding my two cents. I do not claim to be an expert in anything, especially cakes. I have since taken 3 days of classes from Carrie Biggers herself, and now make my own fondant and have a great respect for freehand and/or cricut cake users. Create on!, whether it be digital or graphic or freehand, it's all good! Please don't take me so seriously. I'm a very happy-go-lucky person. Have a great day creating anything, anyhow you do it.