How Do I Get Cricut To Cut With This Blade They Sent In Box?

Decorating By debster Updated 12 May 2010 , 2:52pm by Melvira

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debster Posted 7 May 2010 , 11:15pm
post #1 of 39

Ok so I got my cricut cake today thinking ok this will be a breeze since I use my small one to scrapbook and make some gumpaste stuff. I go to set this new one up and there is a blade in a white cartridge thing and in the picture it shows the regular metal holder. Do they expect me to go buy another thing for the new needle that came with this machine?

I have the deep cut blade due to the fact I got it to try gumpaste, I just find it weird they didn't give me one after paying 300.00 for the machine. I got one with the 99.00 one??????? Strange.....................

38 replies
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peg818 Posted 7 May 2010 , 11:18pm
post #2 of 39

The white thingy is the new housing. I think i read somewhere where the picture on the box or the directions weren't up dated.

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debster Posted 7 May 2010 , 11:50pm
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Mine says leave it set on number 4 and I don't see any numbers on mine. So you just put it in and go?

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ptanyer Posted 8 May 2010 , 12:08am
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The cricut cake does NOT come with an adjustable housing for the blade that comes with it. The instruction manual isn't correct. You put the blade that came with it into the white housing and place it in it's place in the cricut. The housing from the other Cricuts will not work in the Cake and vice versa. Only the cartridges can be used in all Cricuts, cake included. And the new cake mats can be used in the Expression only because of their size.

Hope that helps!

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debster Posted 8 May 2010 , 1:29am
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Thanks yes I'm not crazy that's good to know........hahahahaha

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Melvira Posted 8 May 2010 , 1:50am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by debster

Thanks yes I'm not crazy that's good to know........hahahahaha




Oh, hon, there are a thousand other things that prove you're crazy! icon_lol.gificon_surprised.gif Oh no she didn't just say that!!! Hahaha!

Please let us know how you like the machine. I have not heard any good reviews yet and I'm kind of sad. I hope it works out for you!

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scWMI Posted 8 May 2010 , 2:03am
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Melvira- I will say I like mine. It just has a pretty big learning curve. It's not as simple as they make it look, and it does take some experimenting to get things to come out the way you want them to. I'm doing a display for a cake show next weekend. I'll post pics when I get it done.

Chris

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Montrealconfections Posted 8 May 2010 , 2:37am
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I have had mine for a week now and I am far from impressed they claim it cuts the images from 1" to 12", not so I tried to decorate some cupcakes tonight set it to the simplest images at 2" and it made a mess. It cuts pretty good over 3" detailed stuff needs like 5" they really exaggerated it's capabilities some of the images on the elegant cake cartridge are so intricate I can't image this images be achieved on a smaller scale.

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debster Posted 8 May 2010 , 2:52am
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I'm wondering about what's going to happen when the unsuspecting public that hasn't been prewarned like us freak out when they buy it and whammo it doesn't just do the work for you? Funny kinda. It has to be difficult if they are doing classes on it .

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Ivy383 Posted 8 May 2010 , 3:12am
post #10 of 39

I love my cricut cake. I was not happy with the first couple of tries, but I have it figured out now. I cut 1" inch crown cupcake toppers last weekend and it worked great. I actually cut them smaller than one inch and they were cute little crowns, but they were too small for my cupcakes. You can see the cupcakes in my gallery. icon_smile.gif

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cookieswithdots Posted 8 May 2010 , 3:15am
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Debster-

Looks like we posted the same questions on different places! Ha! Seems like we're not nuts after all. So-- mine is just white like you explained, no nunbers, etc. Man- I am not very happy at this point.

Let me know what you think but I guess this is how it comes, it's just that the manual was not updated.

Melissa

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Melvira Posted 8 May 2010 , 3:15am
post #12 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by debster

I'm wondering about what's going to happen when the unsuspecting public that hasn't been prewarned like us freak out when they buy it and whammo it doesn't just do the work for you? Funny kinda. It has to be difficult if they are doing classes on it .




OMG, good point. People will think this is the answer to having to pay "expensive bakery prices", they can just buy one of these and in minutes be cranking out amazing professional looking cakes. There could be a potential for backlash there for certain!

I really ADORE some of the looks I've seen people do with the 'regular' Cricut, so I have high hopes for this baby. Don't know if I'll buy one... will wait and see what people think about it after using it a while and the 'learning curve' has been met.

Chris, thank you for your feedback on it. I will look forward to seeing your pix!

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glendaleAZ Posted 8 May 2010 , 5:11am
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I just opened my box and smiled when I saw my pretty new cake tool.

I watched the video (somewhat LOL and then got out my box of fondant (Wilton) and rolled it out on the mat, didn't even wait for 15 minutes, but just put it in the machine and look what I was able to do. I'm so happy that I got this machine.

I know that Ill have to practice more, a lot more, but I can already see how wonderful it will be after a few months of practicing. I just think of the cake machines like I do for any other cake process. Everything takes time Fondant, took me like 15 cakes to get it right . After a year, Im still learning to pipe RI . And getting a smooth cake, about another year of doing that, so I dont care if it takes me a few months to get the machine to work like I want I think its worth the time invested to be able to offer something different to my friends / co-workers that get my cakes.

And Ill be saving money on cutters and stencils once I get SCAL, because Ill be able to make my own.


med speed and med presure
LL
LL

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debster Posted 8 May 2010 , 1:52pm
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I want to work my ideas with this I don't want my cakes to look like cookie cutters of someone elses for sure. I do wonder if non cake people our customers will try this and then no business for us?????????? It seems year after year something hurts me more than helps me.

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dalis4joe Posted 10 May 2010 , 1:25am
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I just got mine today... can't wait to use it... do u have to let the fondant/gumpaste sit for a few before you load it and start cutting?

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Melvira Posted 10 May 2010 , 1:31am
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glendaleAZ, I believe you just 'sold' me on the Cricut. Your enthusiasm is infectious and your attitude it admirable. thumbs_up.gif

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scWMI Posted 10 May 2010 , 1:49am
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I would say the best brand I have found so far is Wilton Fondant or Satin Ice fondant. Roll it out paper thin (yes it takes a while). You need to be able to see the circles through the mat. Let the fondant sit for about 15 or 20 minutes before you cut it. I have used Satin Ice gum paste as well, but it has to sit for about an hour and a half before you can run it through the machine, so that makes working with it a little more time consuming. A pasta machine also helps with the gum paste as well. Just take your time, and be prepared to make lots of mistakes. I know I have. Also - the icing sheets - forget them - they are crap.

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GRAMSB123 Posted 10 May 2010 , 1:59am
post #18 of 39

I have been using the Cricut Cake for the past week and found it does not cut the icing sheets very well, in fact I was able to cut Happy Birthday once and every thing else just rips apart the icing sheet. I will say it does work really good with gumpaste and soso with fondant. It cut the fondant and then I couldn't get it off the cutting mat without ripping the fondant cut piece. But it does work well with gumpaste. Has anyone used the icing sheets with it? I would love to know what I am doing wrong.....

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dalis4joe Posted 10 May 2010 , 11:18am
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doesn't the gumpaste/fondant dry after sitting for the 15-20 minutes? or do u cover it? how does it come off still soft and pliable if it sits for so long?

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GRAMSB123 Posted 10 May 2010 , 1:11pm
post #20 of 39

Surprisingly it doesn't dry out that much so you can keep using the left over gumpaste and cut more from it. However it does get pretty firm after about three or four cuttings and you need to add fresh gumpaste to it. It is unfortunate I can't get the icing sheets to cut properly.

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cakemakerandbaker Posted 10 May 2010 , 1:39pm
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Has anyone tried wafer paper?

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leah_s Posted 10 May 2010 , 1:47pm
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I used wafer paper with my Expressions. Easy.

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hsmomma Posted 10 May 2010 , 3:01pm
post #23 of 39

I was a little disappointed to see the Cake Cricut at two of my local craft stores this weekend...
only because the way it was displayed and it's box shows how "easy" it is. I'm afraid brides seeing this will assume it's no big deal to decorate an intricate cake. I'm all for tools that make things easier for us and increase our possibilities...I wish it was advertised more as a professional tool not a "anybody can do it, it's so EASY tool". Brides not buying it can get the impression that cake decorating is easy...

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debster Posted 10 May 2010 , 6:46pm
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IT has to be THIN and best if it sits for about 15 minutes that's if you have thick gummy gumpaste. For me anyway.

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aprilblack Posted 10 May 2010 , 7:17pm
post #25 of 39

ok, so I have had mine almost a week and have been so busy, havent had the chance to even turn it on. I have a quick question, if I roll out fondant or GP on the whole mat, can I make multiple cuts or do I have to reroll the fondant again after every single cut?

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sherri530 Posted 10 May 2010 , 7:43pm
post #26 of 39

Hi, Just wanted to let you know that you can indeed put the expression blade housing in the cake machine. I test some of my cuts on paper before I cut them in gumpaste or fondant and I use the expression housing in the cake machine. I too was leery of this machine and ready to send it back when I first got it and I do have the expression that I was using for cake, but now that I have the hang of it, I love it! I cuts so much better than the expression for cake! I don't think it is anywhere near as easy as provo craft led people to believe it was and they are going to have alot of problems with non cake decorator customers, but if you have a basic knowledge of gumpaste and fondant you will get it. My 9yr old son has even decorated a cake with it. It just take lots of time and practice!

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glendaleAZ Posted 11 May 2010 , 12:16am
post #27 of 39

Melvira Thats the nicest thing anyones ever said to me on this website. Youre too sweet. Thank you. : O ).

GRAMSB123 I let mine sit for around ½ hour. Then I use a small icing spatula or knife to go under the fondant piece to loosen it from the mat. And, for the more detailed designs Ill then slide it onto a cake board to dry more.

Aprilblack yes, you can set the machine to cut multiple designs to better utilize the fondant/gum paste on the mat. The video really helped me on this one.

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Melvira Posted 11 May 2010 , 2:03am
post #28 of 39
Quote:
Originally Posted by glendaleAZ

Melvira Thats the nicest thing anyones ever said to me on this website. Youre too sweet. Thank you. : O ).




Aw shucks... icon_redface.gif Well, I meant it. And I got an email today about them being on sale right now. I'm hard pressed to find a reason NOT to get it now that people are saying they love it once they get past the learning curve. icon_cry.gif It was supposed to be junk so that I wouldn't spend a fortune on it. Oh well. I ADORE the things I've seen people do with the non-cake Cricut, so I've been considering getting one for a while. I'm a sucker for new cake toys, especially when they use that magical word, "SALE". icon_rolleyes.gif

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akgirl10 Posted 11 May 2010 , 2:33am
post #29 of 39

I did a cake for my future SIL last week with my new cricut cake. DH and I spent a couple of hours fiddling with it before I got anything worth using. I found that if I rolled the fondant and let it dry, the blade would get little dry chunks stuck on it and tear the design.

What worked better for me was to mix fondant with a little tylose, then freeze it on the mat for about 15 minutes. I also had to up the pressure to get the cuts clean.

So far I'm pleased with the results, and I'm happy that I won't have to buy more cutters. It does take time and patience, but doesn't everything cake related?

I don't have a pic of the cake yet but will post when I get it.

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glendaleAZ Posted 11 May 2010 , 5:40am
post #30 of 39

Melvira,

I just figured it this way .... I didn't purchase myself a Birthday or Christmas present last year, so Im making this my Mother's day present to me. icon_lol.gif

If you haven't already, be sure to read as many of the post for the Cricut Cake and the Expression (and how they got that one to work with fondant / gum paste) as you can. I believe that's what helped me be so successful with my first try on the machine.

If you get one, be sure to let me know how you liked it.

T.

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