Thursday, January 6, 2011

SURE CUTS A LOT REVIEW & GIVEAWAY




** PLEASE NOTE SOME INFO I REC'D FROM CRAFT EDGE TODAY LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MAY 27TH IS PROBABLY THE LAST DAY YOU'LL BE ABLE TO BUY THE VERSION THAT WORKS WITH THE CRICUT MACHINE ANYWHERE!  SO IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE SURE CUTS A LOT FOR YOUR CRICUT MACHINE - READ MY SURE CUTS A LOT REVIEW (in black below) AND YOU CAN BUY IT HERE FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS!
 UPDATE:  If you are looking to buy a copy of Sure Cuts A Lot you can get Version 3 at the links in the review below!  Version 3 is not compatible with Cricut.  You can no longer buy it for the Cricut.  I would highly recommned going to the links below and checking out the Sure Cuts A Lot package deals with machines.  They have one at $279 and one at $429 depending on what machine you want.  I have not tried either of these machines but am looking into doing a review on them. If you don't already own a Cricut I would recommend going with another machine (partially because I am so upset they won't let their customers use Sure Cuts A Lot) and mainly because you will save a ton using sure cuts a lot instead of buying cartridges!

It's here - the review AND GIVEAWAY you've been waiting for.  Really, if you use a Cricut Machine then you are going to want to read this!  I know long reviews can be a pain to read through & seem to ramble on and on....  however, I am so excited about this product I want to tell you so much, and know you will be happy you read it!

If you do NOT own a Cricut make sure you read the previous post so you know my review on the Cricut....  or if you want it summarized - I Love it but don't want to spend a fortune to get the fonts/design cartridges I want!  The Solution???  Sure Cuts A Lot (I got version 2).





This software is AMAZING.  It takes the Cricut Machine to a whole new level.  You will no longer need to go spend a ton of money getting additional Cricut Cartridges!  It is really simple what this software does and I am thrilled someone was smart enough to do it because with out this software my Cricut Expression would probably sit unused in the corner of the office!

Originally I was told I should get Cricut Design Studio as it makes using your Cricut so much easier to use.  Well, I returned my design studio and got Sure Cuts A Lot to review and am so happy I did. 

Not only does this software enable you to design things on your computer before you cut them, use your mat space more efficiently, and customize so many other aspects, but it will save you a fortune!

Let me explain.  Cricut Cartridges usually cost $20-60 (so I am told) and finding them for $20 I hear is not as likely as finding one you like for $50 or $60!  So instead of buying one $60 cartridge that you like you could purchase Sure Cuts A Lot Software and have any True Type Font on your computer become usable to cut on your Cricut Expression Machine.  Also, any SVG format image or clip art can also now be cut using the Cricut.  I even found a website "OpenClipArt.Org" that has an area you can click on Silhouettes (on the right hand side under browse clip art) and download free Clip art in SVG format which you can then use!  There are also a lot of other sites that offer free clip art!

You all know how much I love Vinyl Wall Quotes!  That is the main reason I even wanted the Cricut Expression Machine was so I could make my own.  Well, I have not even looked online to find additional fonts that I can download and use because as soon as I installed Sure Cuts A Lot 2 and looked at how many fonts I had I knew it was enough!  Honestly - I was going to count them for you all to have more info but it would take to long to count.  I would guess there are hundreds that the software automatically found on my computer to use!  How awesome is that?  Most Cricut Cartridges come with 1 font and we'll say if you find it on sale it will cost you $30 - well that means just in fonts alone I have enough that it would have cost me THOUSANDS of dollars in Cartridges! 

Another one of my favorite features is the tracing feature.  You can take any picture of any item you have and this program will trace it.  For example I tried it with my picture of the Kidorable Umbrella and it traced the outline great!  How cool is that? 

I am seriously LOVING this software!  Returning Design Studio for the Cricut would have paid for this alone, not including the heaps of money I am saving not buying cartridges!   It is super easy to figure it out too!  Really I had a hard time figuring out some of the stuff on the actual Cricut Machine but the Sure Cuts A Lot software is so simple that I had no problem!  I honestly can say there is no downside to buying this software.  At first the only thing that kind of bugged was not being able to just type (having to click on the letter on the screen).  I found out that is not true though.  I e-mailed the customer service and asked if this was possible and they explained you just click on the mat (on your computer) and click T then it shows the cursor and you can start typing what you want cut!  The customer service there is great and responded to my question so quickly and they were very friendly!  I honestly cannot think of anything negative to say about this product! 

The Dirty Truth is - it is Amazing and a must have for anyone with a Cricut Machine!  Plus, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD IT ONTO YOUR COMPUTER INSTANTLY - you don't have to wait to get it, you can have this software up and running in a matter of minutes!  You can get the product in the Windows or Mac version!  One of you will also will a free copy of Sure Cuts A Lot 2 - so get ready this is one that you will want to win for sure!  If you want to buy the software & use it NOW go ahead.  It will give you 10 extra entries to the giveaway and you can give that to someone else who would love it, etc. if you win!! 

TO BUY:  You can buy Sure Cuts A Lot 2 at CraftEdge.com and get the download.  (Scroll towards the bottom of the page.  At the top you can buy bundles, towards the bottom you can purchase the download of Sure Cut A Lot without it being bundled and it it is currently on sale for $59.95 to download it immediately!)


TO WIN:  One lucky reader will win a Sure Cuts A Lot 2 free download - Complete ALL Mandatory entries below and any Optional/Bonus entries you want - Leave a separate comment for each and make sure your e-mail address is in each comment!!!

MANDATORY ENTRIES
  • Follow Dirty Truth Reviews on Google Friend Connect
 Optional Entries
  • Subscribe to Dirty Truth Reviews Email updates
  • Go to Craftedge.com and read about Sure Cuts A Lot 2 - tell me something you learned!
  • Friend Ashly at DirtyTruthReviews Facebook or Follow me on Twitter (AshlyDTR)
  • One Entry for every other current giveaway you enter on this blog
  • 2 entries - Blog about this giveaway, Tweet it, post on facebook, or add this giveaway to a linky (Leave a link verifying this)
  • 10 entries - Purchase SureCutsALot2 by using this link (it will track purchases via this link so that I can verify if you made a purchase).  If I cannot verify the 10 entries will not be valid.
RULES:  Giveaway ends 1/31/2011 at 11:59 pm- Winner will be chosen via Random.org.  Leave a comment for each entry you complete.  Please leave your email address in your comments so I can contact the winner.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  You must do ALL parts that are mandatory or your comments will be deleted/invalid.  
Disclosure:  I was not paid for this review or giveaway.  I was given the above product to review and all opinions are my own. I am not responsible for the prize being delivered to the winner of the giveaway - I will forward your information to the sponsor whom is responsible for supplying the winner with the prize.

172 comments:

Anonymous,  January 7, 2011 at 11:58 AM  

Newest follower from Fun Follow Friday! I hope you can stop in and see me!

Stephanie
www.hootiebee.blogspot.com

Emily January 10, 2011 at 8:59 AM  

I learned that you can Cut additional shapes from the "Sure Cuts A Lot" Library.
emilynewman79 at gmail dot com

pinklady705 January 11, 2011 at 3:33 PM  

I entered the L'BRI Body Perfect Collection giveaway

2liv2laf2luv at gmail dot com

pinklady705 January 11, 2011 at 3:36 PM  

I learned that you can save your design layouts, so you can save and share your designs.

2liv2laf2luv at gmail dot com

Debbi January 12, 2011 at 6:16 PM  

I learned that you can download shapes from the CutsALot library.

hockman1(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Debbi January 12, 2011 at 6:29 PM  

I linked your giveaway to my sidebar #1

http://diamondgrove.blogspot.com/

hockman1(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Debbi January 12, 2011 at 6:29 PM  

I linked your giveaway to my sidebar #2

http://diamondgrove.blogspot.com/

hockman1(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Unknown January 12, 2011 at 6:49 PM  

Sounds like a great giveaway. Now following your blog through the blog hop. Come visit me at:
http://tvstake.blogspot.com

Turnedgypsy January 13, 2011 at 8:12 PM  

Yay thanks for the chance. I have given this away before. You know they do not let us enter though. I am so glad to have found you. I have been wanting to try this out.

chris
http://turnedgypsy.blogspot.com

Unknown January 14, 2011 at 12:51 PM  

I signed up to follow you with google friend. My email is dldest@comcast.net

Thanks for sharing this info. I just purchased the Cricut Expression so this is just what i need.

Unknown January 14, 2011 at 12:52 PM  

shared about this post and giveaway on my facebook page.

e-mail is dldest@comcast.net
Dana

Unknown January 14, 2011 at 12:56 PM  

went to Craft Edge website and read all about the program. My friend told me about it but i wanted to see what it was for myself. I learned that you can use any font on your own computer and cut with the Cricut. I learned the price for this AWESOME product too. I think i want the program with the disc so i would be paying $75.00. I hope i win. Otherwise i'll have to save my money up for this.

Vera January 15, 2011 at 1:20 PM  

Now signed up to follow on Google Friend Connect. Would love to win this for my daughter. I have it and it is the best ever!
klvrjones at yahoo dot com

Vera January 15, 2011 at 1:20 PM  

I have subscribed to email updates. Thanks for the chance to win klvrjones at yahoo dot com

cmaughan January 15, 2011 at 3:03 PM  

I'm now a follower on Google Friend Connect.
cherylgrant44 at hotmail dot com

cmaughan January 15, 2011 at 3:55 PM  

After checking out craftedge.com I learned that they provide video tutorials that would help me understand and learn how to work SCAL.
cherylgrant44 at hotmail dot com

~Krista~ January 15, 2011 at 4:55 PM  

I learned that you can cut pretty much any image that you can find.
kristathompson11@gmail.com

~Krista~ January 15, 2011 at 4:59 PM  

I posted this on my blog http://itsalwayscrafttime.blogspot.com/2011/01/sure-cuts-lot.html
kristathompson11@gmail.com

cammack's January 15, 2011 at 7:06 PM  

I learned that you can use any font on your own computer and cut with the Cricut
cammackfamily@gmail.com

Gunnar and Brittney January 20, 2011 at 7:40 AM  

I learned that you can't cut use the cricut images with your design but that they have a lot of shapes and so many fonts that it would be fun!
clark.brittney@gmail.com

jcamp2020 January 21, 2011 at 12:45 PM  

I watched a video on using fonts. Whoa, Nellie. That program does a bunch of stuff in just a click that takes a dozen steps in Design Studio.

jcamp2020 January 21, 2011 at 12:53 PM  

Tweeted your giveaway..

http://twitter.com/#!/jcamp2020/status/28555483543511040

jcamp2020 at aol

jcamp2020 January 21, 2011 at 12:54 PM  

tweeted your giveaway..2nd post

http://twitter.com/#!/jcamp2020/status/28555483543511040

jcamp2020 at aol dot

jcamp2020 January 21, 2011 at 1:00 PM  

jcamp2020 said...
follow you on twitter

jcamp2020

jcamp2020 at aol dot com

January 21, 2011 12:58 PM

commented on your FreckleBox giveaway think it was comment 117

jcamp2020 January 21, 2011 at 1:03 PM  

jcamp2020 said...
Follow Dirty Truth Reviews on Google Friend Connect
and follow on Twitter @ EatSmartScales


done jcamp2020

jcamp2020 at aol

January 21, 2011 1:02 PM

entered this giveaway also

jcamp2020 January 21, 2011 at 1:16 PM  

jcamp2020 said...
I follow you on GFC jcamp2020
and actually my daughter in law has these in her son's bedroom. Blackouts for four windows. He has a whole wall of windows in his bedroom and could not take naps in there during the summer because it was so bright even with the blinds closed. So she got the blackout blinds and ta da..two hour naps. For myself, I would do the light filtering in snow in my craftroom.

jcamp2020 at aol

January 21, 2011 1:15 PM

entered this giveaway for blinds.

Anonymous,  January 21, 2011 at 5:17 PM  

Learned you can use any true type font with this software
crobinson at getjive dot com

Lyudmila January 22, 2011 at 5:55 AM  

Follow Dirty Truth Reviews on Google Friend Connect = Lyudmila
lusizova at gmail.com

Anonymous,  January 22, 2011 at 4:20 PM  

I entered the giveaway for Simple Fit Custom Shades
crobinson at getjive dot com

Kimberly January 22, 2011 at 5:04 PM  

I learned:

Works with the Cricut personal which I have and LOVE!

You can use Drawing tools to draw and edit shapes
The best part is that there are No special cartridges required
kimber_loo at yahoo dot ca

terri142 January 27, 2011 at 4:12 AM  

I am now following with google friend connect.

tderosa142 at gmail dot com

terri142 January 27, 2011 at 4:17 AM  

I learned that Sure Cuts A Lot works with thousands of free True Type fonts.

tderosa142 at gmail dot com

terri142 January 27, 2011 at 4:18 AM  

I added you as a friend on Facebook(Theresa DeRosa) and follow you on twitter(terri142).

tderosa142 at gmail dot com

Elisha January 27, 2011 at 10:07 AM  

Just bloged about your giveaway!

http://milehighstamping.blogspot.com/2011/01/scal-giveaway.html

~Elisha
elishacarter at msn dot com

Melissa January 27, 2011 at 11:02 AM  

I subscribed to your email updates!

Melissa
www.disneydreamerdesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa January 27, 2011 at 11:03 AM  

I entered for the eat smart bathroom scale giveaway!

Melissa
www.disneydreamerdesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa January 27, 2011 at 11:05 AM  

I am following you on twitter! disdreamer98

Melissa
www.disneydreamerdesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa January 27, 2011 at 11:09 AM  

I just posted about this on my FB page!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=121888101217080&id=572787886

Melissa
www.disneydreamerdesigns.blogspot.com

Melissa January 27, 2011 at 11:11 AM  

I learned that the auto tracing feature to automatically convert images for cutting is new to this version!

Melissa
www.disneydreamerdesigns.blogspot.com

Heather January 27, 2011 at 11:18 AM  

I didnt know you could use SCAL to create custom stamps! Cant wait to try that feature out.

heather(dot)herzfeld@gmail(dot)com

normajeanr50 January 27, 2011 at 8:56 PM  

Ashley, I Googled Sure Cuts A Lot reviews and found your site. Boy, I am so glad I did! I read your reviews, signed up for updates on your blog, Friend requested you on Facebook, and Following you on twitter. I also purchased the program through your link! Please add me to your giveaway list! My daughters both have Cricut, one lives in Jersey and the other in Chicago.

Anonymous,  January 28, 2011 at 8:07 AM  

Entered Bed of Nails giveaway
crobinson at getjive dot com

Diseños de Uñas January 28, 2011 at 3:16 PM  

I shared on fb
http://www.facebook.com/admd080/posts/187697537920603
adaliadelcompar at gmail dot com

Diseños de Uñas January 28, 2011 at 3:16 PM  

I shared on fb
http://www.facebook.com/admd080/posts/187697537920603
adaliadelcompar at gmail dot com

Diseños de Uñas January 28, 2011 at 3:16 PM  

tweeted
http://twitter.com/MiDiaaDiablog/status/31128484889755648
adaliadelcompar at gmail dot com

Diseños de Uñas January 28, 2011 at 3:16 PM  

tweeted
http://twitter.com/MiDiaaDiablog/status/31128484889755648
adaliadelcompar at gmail dot com

AmyJRockstar January 29, 2011 at 6:34 PM  

I'm a new follower via GFC and would be sooooooo happy to win this software. I've been wanting it for a while!
Thanks for the chance!
XO ~ Amy Jo
amyjrockstar at gmail dot com

Kari V. January 29, 2011 at 8:17 PM  

I'd love to win this! Just got a cricut expression for Christmas...now I need to cut some vinyl!! I went to the website for SCAL and learned you can use any true type font you have on your computer!!!

Kari V. January 29, 2011 at 8:27 PM  

Also signed up for the bed of nails giveaway!

kari (dot) vannoy (at) gmail (dot) com

P.S. I think i forgot to put my email on the other entries above...I hope that does not disqualify me!! I hope you can still reach me...I REALLY want to win this!! :)

Anonymous,  January 31, 2011 at 8:48 AM  

Entered Eat Smart Scale giveaway
crobinson at getjive dot com

auntietina January 31, 2011 at 12:05 PM  

I like that it is WYSIWYG - I hate surprises when I am cutting on expensive paper.
auntietina21 AT hotmail.com

MBR January 31, 2011 at 12:26 PM  

I entered your ErgoBaby carrier giveaway. heinzmom at hotmail dot com

Kate and Wes January 31, 2011 at 2:05 PM  

You can cut almost anything with this! I would love that!!!

katrinasouthwick at gmail dot com

Unknown January 31, 2011 at 8:05 PM  

Friend Ashly at DirtyTruthReviews Facebook (smile a day giveaways) & Follow on Twitter (cthmommy)

jakellcth@msn. com

Unknown January 31, 2011 at 8:06 PM  

I learned you can save and share your designs...very cool.
Use layers to organize objects within a page and also do mulitple pages. sounds awesome

jakellcth@ msn. com

Trina January 31, 2011 at 9:42 PM  

I learned that it works with hundreds of free True Type Dingbat fonts
couponsiwant(at)frontier(dot)com

Wanda January 31, 2011 at 10:11 PM  

you are now my FB friend :-)
I just found your site tonight and would love to win this software!!!
wandagalloway@gmail.com

Crafter911 October 26, 2012 at 6:52 PM  

Hi,

I have one for sale in my etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/listing/112253267/sure-cuts-a-lot-2-program-for-cricut)

or email me at

onlycraftacct911@gmail.com

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