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.