It's Hard To Say Good-bye...

I know I said I had a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT that I would post on Monday but have decided to do it today.  There were many guesses about what the announcement would be and I will answer some of these...

NO, I am not pregnant...it's not physically possible.
NO, I am not going to be a grandma...ya'll don't play like that!
NO, my daughter isn't getting married...at least that I know of.
HELL NO, I'm not getting married...remember I am a hopeless romantic with a huge fear of commitment *okie thinks she is possibly one huge, walking, breathing oxymoron*.

NOW BACK TO THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

I am not sure saying good-bye is ever easy. Well I take that back I can think of at least 5 instances it was really easy for me *okie rolls her eyes thinking about THOSE exes*, and when I say real easy I mean really, really, really easy! But when it's something you love it makes it much more difficult. Sometimes the good-byes come as a mutual need for termination, most times it is one sided. There are good-byes that are just temporary, then good-byes that are meant to be permanent. Certain times we are almost driven to say good-bye, as it is in this instance.

For a long time I have been a Cricut fan. I have defended them in many cases where others only had complaint. During those times I believed in the brand and felt they were trying to go into a good direction for their consumers while still building their brand. I have praised their products and used their products. I have also been honest with my feelings when I felt I didn't like something and let that be known as well. I was glad they won their lawsuit because I felt it was the right thing in the court system to happen. If they wanted to protect their products and have them used as they intended then I felt our justice system made the correct choice.

My Cricut brought me into a new world of my hobby of scrapbooking. It evolved me into a true PAPERCRAFTER. Paper went from a "oh that is nice" to "OMG! what can I make with that". It allowed me to meet some of my best friends I have in this later stage of my life and for that, I will ever be grateful. It lead me to have this website and end up having all of you wonderful people go from being able to get my cut files to reading the daily drivel of my life, the ups and downs I experience, the joys and pains. I have found that I am not alone in anything I experience. Many of you comment on much of my mindless drivel and that truly means so much to me.


I am going to be honest and say I have lost my faith in the Cricut brand. It started to wan when they didn't update Design Studio for over two months and there were a lot of new cartridges that couldn't be used, at least by me since I am DS dependent, for a period of time. Many asked for the update and of course the responses from ProvoCraft were noncommittal. We were being pushed by ProvoCraft people to use Cricut Craftroom, which I totally despise for various reasons. I even told one person "if I am going to have to learn a new software I want to learn one that works, isn't tied to the internet and isn't so damn glitchy". 

Now there have been several issues occur that have now made this happy Cricut user and promoter to lose faith and start looking for a new force in my papercrafting hobby...

1. Design Studio was not updated in a timely manner. 

It is not acceptable in my book to have to wait for two months for an update in the cartridge list and being told it wasn't a priority.

2. Cricut Craftroom being crammed down your throat 
(they actually own the files you make with CCR, read the small print). There are so many problems with this program that I just can't stand it. I know there are a lot of happy users out there and good for them. I am not one of them and therefore will not use the dang thing.

3. Mixed messages about selling a gypsy and linked carts 
(still no official word, just the standard they haven't determined if it is illegal or not). Being told "check the EULA" and then when people call being told "well it's not illegal we just prefer you don't do it". REALLY??

4. Targeting auctions on eBay. 
Some auctions of Gypsy machines and linked cartridges were allowed to sell while others were pulled. First time I listed mine it was pulled, however 3 others that didn't include the carts were allowed to finish the sale. I clearly wrote in my description how if it died and had to be reset all the cartridges would be lost. I listed my Hello Kitty cartridges on eBay and they were pulled. Once again other linked cartridges were allowed to sell just fine. I was even told that ProvoCraft "heard through the grapevine" about my auctions. I always thought it was stupid not to be able to sell something you owned. I know some folks thought I was against this but what I was against was people selling the SVG files of the Cricut cartridges, not against using them mind you, but selling - YES *okie has since changed her mind and will explain further down*. With the help of a friend I did finally get my Gypsy sold on eBay for a decent price. I had to list it where my name was not associated with the auction in any means.

5. People who have used the Cricut name in their websites/blogs for years now getting Cease and Desist letters. 
These people promote more than just Cricut but have still influenced thousands of people in the sales of Cricut products but now they have to change their whole website because they used the Cricut name.  

6. Cricut Rewards rarely updated. 
Everyone was excited when this program started and it sounded like a great way to get people to really enjoy the little extra of buying Cricut products. There was a lot of excitement at first but once people started holding on to their rewards and being able to afford a lot of the good stuff then the site rarely had anything new and exciting. I just used all my reward points on blades, tacky tape and cuttlebug folders.

THIS IS WHAT SENT ME OVER THE EDGE...

7. ProvoCraft promoting and selling Cricut Circle Exclusive cartridges to the public. 
This was pulled after many Circle members complained. Those that complained publicly were contacted by phone and offered $50 free credit to use on Cricut.com, *okie wonders if that would be considered a bribe of some sort and can just see a PC mafia conspiracy and then laughs at her wild imagination*. As a Circle member the exclusive cartridges were what really interested me in the whole program. I received an email recently from someone at PC saying they wanted to talk to me, even though I have not posted anywhere about my feelings on this subject,  and didn't have a valid phone number. I emailed back and told them I don't get home until after their offices close and asked what they wanted to talk to me about and I never received a reply. We were told Circle carts were exclusive to Circle members and then the rules were changed and they are saying the carts are exclusive only for a certain period of time. Okie dokie, then I will only be a Circle member until my membership expires. Oh and about changing my mind concerning their images that can be found in SVG format...if they aren't going to maintain exclusivity in the content that we paid for, well then why should we. In the original FAQs section of the Cricut Circle ProvoCraft posted this: 

2. May Cricut Circle members sell their cartridges to members outside the Circle?

Provo Craft will not be selling the cartridges outside the Cricut Circle. We anticipate that Cricut Circle Members will know they have paid for premium content and the cartridges will uphold their value.

I can't at this time find the link to this as it might have been removed.  But if I'm lyin', I'm dyin!

These are not the only reasons for my decision, but they are the main ones. I have been carefully watching and not saying much about all these things so I could make an informed decision based on what is best for me as a papercrafter. My decision has lead to me saying good-bye to my Cricut cartridges and most of my machines. I will keep using my Expression until I can decide which machine I want to purchase. I am currently debating between the Silhouette Cameo and the KNK Zing.  I have been discussing this in my Facebook group for over a month now and they are all quite aware of my feelings and intentions. I have gotten a few comments such as "it's the end of an era" and I responded with "think of it as a new beginning"; "the day the music died" and I responded "just think of it as the music pausing so the true concert can begin!".

During the time that Design Studio wasn't updated I decided to load up the Make The Cut software that has been sitting in my computer for a long time and check it out. Years ago when I downloaded the  MTC trial version I didn't like it because you had to also use Inkscape and that was like putting in algebraic equation in front of me, which is NOT a good thing. The updated version I have now is a lot better and it is also a version that is pre-lawsuit, therefore still legal on my machine. I loved being able to cut any font I wanted that was in my computer. The shadow layering was just amazing, beyond amazing really. 

So my dear readers you now have the official announcement and reasons behind my decision of saying "GOOD-BYE CRICUT". I am not angry, have no hard feelings, not boycotting or have any other negativity toward ProvoCraft and Cricut. I am just divorcing due to irreconcilable differences *okie remembers writing about a divorce from PC not so long ago in a tongue and cheek manner and had no idea it would become a reality*. Since there was no pre-nup they owe me nothing and I owe them nothing. We both leave with what we went into the relationship with...ProvoCraft with their company and me with my creativity. It was a good relationship while it lasted and I have some wonderful memories and better yet some fantastic friends that I will carry with me.

Don't be surprised when you start seeing some heavy hitters of Cricut products switching to other brands. It is happening...everywhere. Truth be told it is moving at a rate of an avalanche on the Swiss Alps *okie pictures in her mind an avalanche and how it slowly starts and when the momentum gets going how it moves at a mind blowing rapid pace and with such force it destroys anything in it's path*, yep I would say that is a pretty accurate description. I know many others are not ready to announce their feelings and choices and like I said before, I made an informed decision based on what is best for me and I know they are doing the same.

Oh and to answer the question before it is asked...NO, I will not stop sharing my projects or my life on this website. Cricut maybe be the reason I started this thing but you guys are the reason I will continue.