My first day with a Website and a Blog - Choosing a Printer (or not)

Research for this task, once I decided to set this blog up, was a little daunting to say the least. I had an idea in mind to share information that I have done research on. It started when I thought I needed a new printer that would easily print 80lb. card stock. You see, I recently bought a Cricut Maker mainly because of its ability to cut fabric. I am in the process of making a quilt with applique shapes, and I hate cutting around the tack-down stitches. I'm kind of anal in that I want to make it perfect (I really need to get over that). I did a lot of reading and research on cutting machines and as always there are pros and cons to everything based on individual opinions. That will most likely be the topic of my next blog.

After I got the Cricut Maker I discovered a whole new world in creating cards. See, I knew it would cut designs and make cards, but I didn't want to buy a bunch of colored card stock, but rather print what I want to cut. I am cheap and figured I had already spent enough money on the machine, Access membership (bought before the Maker to save 10% on the purchase, so it paid for itself for the first couple of months), tools, pens, blades, and cutting mats. I bought a ream of fairly inexpensive 80 lb. card stock, but discovered it would not feed through my current printer....thus the search for a new printer.

Needless to say, I have come to the conclusion that it is cheaper to buy a new ream of 60 lb. card stock that will feed through my current printer, than a new $350 printer. As it turns out, the 80 lb. would have been too heavy for what I am working on anyway. As a plus I can use the 80 lb. card stock to cut and write on with the Maker directly from their Design Space Software. Whew....I now know way more than I ever wanted to about printers.