Hi there. I am Carmel, the Crazy Cricut Lady. Let me tell you a little about myself and my journey to Cricut Design Space.
I am a stay at home disabled mom and I have a beautiful 15 year old daughter named Cordelia. She looks more like 22 which keeps me up nights. But she is the best thing that ever happened to me. I recently lost my husband Ken, who encouraged me to create The Crazy Cricut Lady and was my biggest supporter. I love you honey.
My Inspiration
Crafting has always been part of my life. I did cross stitch, woodworking or whatever I could get my hands on for as long as I can remember. I started working with my Cricut about 14 years ago after I had my first stroke. Back then I was still working but I couldn’t do cross stitch or almost anything else anymore because I had lost that fine motor control in my hands. There had to be another outlet for my creativity. So I started scrap booking.
It was disgusting how much stickers and embellishments cost and they were never the right size or color and knew there had to be a better way. Then I found my Cricut Expression. It was used and came with a couple cartridges but it was heaven. I could finally design and cut my own stuff. And I made it in whatever color or size I needed. It took forever to cut and design but at least I could.
Finding Design Space
Then I got a hold of Cricut Design Space. All my cartridges were now on my computer. By now I had almost 30. And I upgraded to my Air machine. I followed all the instruction I could find and learned as fast as I could. It was difficult and everyone wanted money to teach me. Finding the Jennifer Maker’s site was sheer inspiration. She was willing to share her creations for free. Soon I crafted so much that I needed a room just for my paper stuff.
Design Space made it easy to create my own embellishments and crafts. I could size them how I wanted and in whatever color I needed. And everything was on my computer whenever I had time to work on it. It was so friendly and easy to use compared to the old way with the Expression machine.
Birth of The Crazy Cricut Lady
Later, I had my 2nd and 3rd stroke and my heart attack. Well that was the end of my career! So I started making cards and crafts and more scrapbooks almost full time. Along with Cordelia and Ken, I thank my crafts and my Cricut for keeping me sane and for giving me a reason to go on fighting. I have never been happier. And that’s when The Crazy Cricut Lady was born.
Now I want to share all I have learned and all I make with you, like my hero Jennifer Maker does. Welcome to my site, The Crazy Cricut Lady.
What you will find here
We have projects for beginners and advanced users alike and everything in between. The video section “Design Space – There is Nothing to be Scared of” teaches the basics and more advanced tricks that I have figured out. There is basic machine and equipment info like blade information and mat care. And I review all the other equipment that I use, like the Gemini and the Xyron. Check out the page with links as to where to buy the stuff I use.
My tutorials can be accessed through the drop down menu at the top of every page. And my Downloads can be reached by anyone. And they are both free for personal use.
Remember the theme of my site:
There is Nothing to be Scared of.
Yay! Your blog is a hit! I enjoyed reading your blog and you kept my attention. I have a Cricut Expression, but can’t wait until I am able to get an Explore Air 2! I am a fan of Jennifer Maker’s too. Keep it up!
Very inspiring story! Just discovered your blog and love your style and ideas so much! Keep cricuting! I have a maker and now a joy. They have been lifesavers during the Covid19 stay at home orders for the last three months. I have been out of a job that long too and have learned to much about my cricut machine. Looking forward to making those balls you just posted about! So cool.
I am a new owner of a cricut Air2 and am just trying to navigate through the process I look forward to receiving your newsletter and listening to your tutorials.
You are truly an inspiration and I thank you for creating this site for us all to use.
Many Thanks
Anne
I just wanted to say thank you so much. Your site and videos have helped me more than any I’ve looked at. The way you explain things slowly going through each step is amazing. I am new to all this and just got a maker for Christmas but have been doing crafts forever. Your tutorials on Inkscape have been a lifesaver for me as I’m trying to learn to design my own things. Just wanted to say thanks!!
Thank you so much for accepting me. I have just purchased my cricut joy. I haven’t used it yet. Don’t fully understand it yet but am really looking forward to trying it out. Hoping to pick up a lot from everyone.
Hello! I am a new cricuter! I just ordered my machine. You are very inspiring to me. I am disabled. Can’t wait to learn and thanks for sharing your story
Hello – new to the group and thinking of ordering the Cricut Joy – saw it has dropped in price. I like the idea of a small machine – I did order the Cricut Maker and am scared of that one. So looking forward to inspiration and tutorials.
Enjoyed reading your story. I bought my cricut air 2 two years ago. I was retiring and figured I could do a lot of things with it. I’ve made some simple cards, but that’s it. I want to to t-shirts using infusible vinyl and wood projects. I will need a lot of help along the way. Looking forward to inspirations, also, along with tutorials!