CHA SPECIAL EDITION

This special edition of the Cricut Chirp is all about this summer's Craft and Hobby Association show in Chicago. CHA is a fun time for all of us as we get to show off some of the things we've been working on and see some of the latest and greatest the crafting industry has to offer. Best of all we get to meet some of the great Cricut fans out there.

CHA is a lot of work and the days leading up to it can get long, but being here is a perfect reminder of what a fun industry we're a part of.  We sure love all of the excitement and enthusiasm you all have and the fun, creative projects you make and share.

There are lots of exciting announcements this CHA including 2 new machines. July's new cartridges are also on display.  The official Hello Thursday announcement is coming July 28, but if you're at CHA, make sure you come by for a sneak peak.

**Header image from our booth at CHA

INTRODUCING

Cricut Mini™

Cricut Mini is a small, lightweight, ultra-portable way to make almost anything you want – out of many different types of materials, including thick and thin paper, fabric, vinyl, magnetic material, craft foil, and lots more. With Cricut Mini, it’s easier than ever to make projects and be more creative!

• Small, portable, and lightweight for ultra space savings.
• Works with any computer PC or MAC with a standard wireless or wired Internet connection.
• Simply plug it in, turn it on, connect to Cricut Craft Room – the online design tool where you can see and design with every Cricut cartridge ??? and start making projects..
• Cuts up to 8.5?=80=9D x 12?=80=9D paper and other materials. Cut small shapes and fonts from =C2=BC?=80=9D to larger cuts up to 11=C2=BD?=80=9D!

Cricut Expression^® 2

Introducing Cricut Expression 2 Personal Electronic Cutter. We've taken everything you love about Cricut Expression and made it even better. All-new machine design, bigger, full-color LCD touch screen, material setting, and a cutting-area light are just the start. Cricut Expression 2 will do everything Cricut Expression can, plus lots of exciting new features like:

• Still 12?=80=9D x 24?=80=9D cutting capability: Enables large-format cutting and creating.
• Compatible with ALL Cricut cartridges – including Cricut Imagine cartridges. (Cricut Imagine cartridges will just cut images, not print images or patterns.)
• Larger, faster, full-color LCD touch-screen display with stylus. No keypad overlay required!
• Mat Preview: See shapes you’re cutting and where they fit on the mat before you cut!
• Material Setting: Choose a default setting for materials you like to cut (cardstock, regular paper, chipboard, etc) OR customize a material setting just how you want it.
• Layer View: See all creative features and layers right on the screen, including shift layers. No need to keep referring back to the handbook!
• Wireless-compatible: Connect to Cricut Craft Room with your Cricut Expression 2 wirelessly.
• And many more!

So even if you can't be here in person, we hope you'll celebrate with us!  Lonna Joy, Crafty Kimber, and all the rest will be back next week.  Until then, stay Crafty!

--Cricut