If you aren’t familiar with Joy from Obsessed with Scrapbooking, you need to be! I was so excited to see she has added a gallery to her site. You can see her awesome work HERE.

A recent post from Scrapbook Update: (click through to see pictures as well)

Cricut Competitor Black Cat Lynx Announced
By Betsy Burnett on April 11, 2011

World Innovations Ltd. has announced the addition of a new machine to their line-up, the Lynx. This machine is a version of their popular Black Cat Cougar electronic cutter model designed for the craft market. The Lynx is intended to be capable of cutting a wide variety (such as cardstock, vinyl, cereal weight chipboard) of crafting materials up to 12? in width, and will work with the full line of Cougar accessories already on the market. In addition, the Lynx is reportedly compatible with many of the software programs already on the market that are designed to work with electronic cutters (such as Makes the Cut and Sure Cuts Alot), and it will also be fully compatible with the company’s upcoming “Black Cat Cutting Studio.”

The Black Cat Cougar Line of die-cutting machines was launched in December of 2008 as a collaboration between Colin Russon and craft industry designer and teacher Dawn Grantham. Russon is the partnership’s technical expert, while Grantham has knowledge of the craft market. The Cougar is based on a machine originally designed for the sign making industry, but is modified to appeal to crafters. The Cougar machines vary in size depending on the maximum width needed to cut various materials. Machines range from a 13? cutting width to a 24? cutting width. They are designed to cut everything from paper and cardstock to vinyl and heavy chipboard. There are even cutting tips designed to etch (toughened) glass, emboss metal, cut stencils and do intricate cutting work. For more examples, visit Grantham’s website Thyme Graphics.

The Lynx is priced at $499 retail. The Cougar starts at $689, and increases in price based on the cutting width desired. Additional accessories available (for additional cost) include specialty blades/blade holders, cutting trays and more. For more information on the Black Cat line of cutters, visit the company’s website.

I saw this new storage container for Cricut cartridges on Facebook. I can’t remember who posted the picture (sorry!), but they got it at JoAnn’s for about $20. I think it is a great new option for storing all of those cartridges in a small space. From what I understand the trays that are inside are removable.

This is quoted from Scrappy Zeni:

I’m just passing the info along. I don’t personally know Aidan or Scrappy Zeni, but that doesn’t really matter, does it?! (Click through to see Aidan’s picture in the hospital. What a trooper!)

My friend Tanya from Scrappin KY Momma needs help from all of us crafters. She knows this little boy and his family and would like to send him cards. Here’s his story…

Aidan is a sweet lil 2 year old who was recently diagnosed with T Cell Leukemia. On Wednesday, he had a port installed in his chest, spinal tap, bone marrow, and chemo in his spine. He did GREAT! This lil guy is such a trooper. His parents have accepted that their BABY has Leukemia.. NOT the easiest thing to accept, but their faith in God and their support system have kept them going. T-Cell Leukemia has a high cure rate although chemo will be continued for quite a while. Lil Aidan LOVES mail, like any 2 year old does. So….

Let’s get our crafting supplies out and send this lil guy some LOVE!!! Pass this on to all your crafty friends. I think we can all take a couple minutes and make something special for him that will bring LOTS of smiles and he can look at over and over. We all know how laughing and smiling can be good for the soul. Let’s give him this much for him to enjoy while he’s battling this horrible disease. I have no doubt in my mind that God can perform a miracle in this beautiful child. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

You can mail your cards to:
AIDAN
c/o Tanya Stilwell
P.O. Box 143
Cecilia, KY 42724

I have had a top-secret project in the works with some of the Cricut world’s favorite designers…but I wanted to invite you as well. Without giving away all the details (yet), I am doing a Cricut Project call…

If you are interested in sharing/publishing some of your creations in a new and big way, I’d love to hear from you.

Email me at brandigore (AT) hotmail (DOT) com with the subject CRICUT PROJECT. (I’m using my personal email for this because it is easier, but you can always reach me at “info (AT) LearningTheCricut (DOT) com” as well) If you have a blog where I can see your work, please include that info. If not, please send me some pictures of your work.

I know many of you would love more followers for your blogs, or have a product that you would like to get more exposure for. This is a great way to get your work and your site/blog out there.

Please let me know if you are interested by the end of February and we will go from there.

Check out the newest release from ProvoCraft! The Cricut is 5 years old and ProvoCraft is celebrating in a big way! They have recently announced the release of the Cricut Expression 2 to celebrate their anniversary.

This limited edition model has a lot of new features, including a LCD touch screen, mat preview to see and arrange the set-up of your cut, and a cutting light to enhance the view of the mat while cutting. This model will be compatible with the Gypsy, as well as uses all of the Cricut cartridges including Cricut Imagine carts.

Check out the new design:

You can check out the Expression 2 video HERE.

The Cricut Expression 2 will make its debut on HSN in April.

ProvoCraft has also announced the new Cricut CraftRoom, which will be a FREE web based program, compatible with any Cricut machine, as well as with PC and Mac computers. The program will allow you to use on-screen editing for any cartridge you own and allows you to preview all other cartridges.

Check out the Craftroom video HERE.

The release date for the Cricut CraftRoom hasn’t been announced yet.

A look back at some past cricut projects…