Sketchy Saturday on 2 Peas Refugees

Happy Saturday, everyone!  Today I'm hosting Sketchy Saturday on 2 Peas Refugees.  Here is my spin on a Page Maps sketch from August of 2019, by Becky Fleck.  I hope it inspires you!

Here's the sketch:

And here's what I did with it:

I moved a few things around, and I changed the size of the photos.  I also added some embellishments (enamel dots, die cuts, and stickers).  The patterned papers are from Doodlebug.  I stamped some pawprints on the brown cardstock base to make my own patterned paper.  I cut the dinosaur, balloons, party hat, and title using my Cricut Maker machine. (* Amazon Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you.  Thank you so much for your support!)

Please leave a comment if you'd like to see me create a video showing these techniques for my YouTube channel.  Thanks for visiting My Crafty Life!

Shop your stash!

I'm a firm believer in using what you have and shopping your stash.  Today I completed a layout for another challenge on a private board I belong to.  Everything in this layout is an old product from my stash.  Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE to shop!  But so much of the new scrapbooking stuff I'm seeing looks like products that I already have in my stash.  So here is my new layout made with old supplies.  Thanks for looking!

Friday Fun Post 7/9/16

Happy Friday, Everyone!


Who is your favorite scrapbooking manufacturer, and why?

For me, it's a tie between Echo Park and Doodlebug Design. I love Echo Park's patterns, especially their B-Sides. I find their designs very versatile and of excellent quality.

And because I love cute, and all of their designs coordinate, I love Doodlebug Design. Their color palette has remained the same over the years, and that makes all of their collections match.

Have a great weekend!

Journaling on Your Layouts

Here is my most recent article for Scrap Your Scraps.  Thanks for reading!

How I Put Together a Page Kit

Hi there!  Today I thought I'd share a list of the things I include in my page kits.  It makes gathering my supplies for a scrapbook layout much easier if I follow a checklist.  I hope it helps you too.  Have fun, and remember to be your crafty self!

Creating Page Kits

o   Photos

o   Sketch

o   Patterned paper and cardstock  (3-5 patterned papers and 3 - 4 sheets of cardstock)

o   Specialty papers/transparencies

o   Journaling cards or blocks.

o   Washi tape, ribbon, or twine

o   Embellishments (die cuts, veneer, acetate, chipboard, etc.)

o   Small embellishments (brads, enamel dots, rhinestones, buttons, etc.)

o   Die-cut shapes and/or letters with machine(s).

o   Punch shapes and/or borders.

o   Letter stickers or rub-on letters

Making the Most of Double-Sided Paper

Patterned paper has gotten very expensive.  I frequently pay over a dollar for a sheet of patterned paper.  The upside of that is that most of the patterned papers I buy are double-sided.  The downside is that I want to use both sides, and I can't afford to buy 2 sheets of every double-sided patterned paper I like.  I came across this video on My Craft Channel that's all about conserving your paper so that you can use both sides - even on the same layout.  I hope you enjoy it!

Until next time:  Remember to be your crafty self!

Make a Card from Scraps!

Happy New Year, everyone - even though I'm a little late!  :)  I hope this month is going well for you, and that you are dealing with this severe weather we've been having without too much trouble.  Since one of my goals for 2014 is to use more of what I have, I thought I'd kick things off with an article about how to make a card using your scraps.  I hope you like it! And please check out my friend Margareta's new site,  Use Your Stash, where you'll find lots of ideas for using what you already have.

How to Make a Card from Scraps

by Jeanette Giancaspro

You know you have them.  I have them too.  We all have them.  They seem to mock us from our scrapbook drawers, bins, baskets, and paper holders.   I’m talking, of course, about paper scraps.  Yes, those leftovers from scrapbook pages, cards, and other paper projects that we just can’t bear to throw away.  We have to keep them because that sheet of paper cost money, or because we don’t like to waste things, or because of a dozen other reasons.  In any case, let’s just put those little bits of loveliness to use, shall we?

Here is what you will need to make a card from scraps:

·         Cardstock cut to desired size  (I used a piece that is 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inches when folded in half.)

·         Sheet of printer paper or other scrap paper cut to the same dimensions as your card base  (In my case, it was 4 ¼ x 5 ½ inches.)  We will trim this to a smaller size later.

·         Scraps of paper or cardstock that can be cut into strips

·         Adhesive (Dry works best.)

·         Paper trimmer

·         Sharp scissors

·         Stamped image or other focal image

·         Greeting (optional)

·         Assorted embellishments

1.      Trim your scraps into strips of varying lengths.  You will want some wider than others to    create interest.  You will want them a little bit longer than your scrap of printer paper. 

2.      Generously apply adhesive to your computer paper.

3.      Beginning at the top, place your strips of paper on top of the adhesive, butting them up against each other to make sure that they are straight.  The strips should overhang on each of the side edges of the paper.

4.      With scissors, trim the strips flush with the paper base.

5.      Using your paper trimmer, trim the background piece that you have created to ¼” smaller than your folded card base.

6.      Adhere the background piece to the card base.

7.      Add your focal image, greeting, and embellishments.

This is a great project to use up all those extra “things” that you have in your stash.  You can also mix in some of your new supplies to jazz things up a little.  I used up some strips of paper left over from the past few layouts I made, along with a card base that was in a color that I wasn’t crazy about.  But it worked!  Although I used a printed picture of a Minion from Despicable me, and I printed the greeting, I added Glossy Accents that I’ve had for years and glitter that I’ve had for almost 2 years.   It felt so good to use up my stash and make something I love for someone I love.  (I did flatten out the greeting after I took the photo, because it was really annoying me.)

I hope this has inspired you to grab some of those leftover scraps and supplies and make a card for someone who is special to you.

6 Handy Programs/Apps for Scrapbookers

How often do you use your computer for your scrapbooking?  Did you know that there are some very useful programs for scrapbookers that are easy to acquire and cost little to no money?  Here are six of my favorites that I use almost every time I scrapbook.

1.  Microsoft Word:  While the full version of Word isn’t free, most computers come with Microsoft Word Starter already installed.  This free version is more than adequate for basic word processing jobs.  I use it for journaling, titles, labels, lists, and some printable embellishments.  It is even possible to arrange a full sheet of photos in a Word document and print them out without using a graphics program.

2.  Photo Sheet (Photility):  Another free program that I find very useful is Photo Sheet.  This is a small but very helpful little program.  With it I can print two 3” x 4” photos on a 4” x 6” sheet with hardly any effort at all.  I use this option quite often for Project Life, as well as when I just want some smaller photos for my other layouts.  Photo Sheet also offers a number of other handy page and grid designs.  You can find out more about this program, as well as download it, at http://www.photility.com/photosheet/.

 3.  Picasa:  This free program is owned by Google and offers quite a bit for traditional scrapbookers, digital scrapbookers, and anyone who wants to share his/her photos online.  It is a photo organizer, image viewer, and image editor.   I frequently use it to create photo collages for my scrapbooks like the ones below.  You can read more about Picasa and download it here:  http://picasa.google.com/. 

    

4.  Photoshop Elements (Adobe):  This versatile photo editing program costs around $119.99 ($79.99 to upgrade from an earlier version), and I use it several times a week.  Not only do I edit my photos with it, but it also helps me get the most out of digital scrapbooking elements, create digital photo collages, and print my photos at home.  I can get near-professional results when I use PSE to adjust the lighting, sharpness, and brightness of my photos.  I also crop, enlarge, and print my photos in non-standard sizes.  You can purchase and download PSE atwww.adobe.com. 

5.  Day One Journaling App (Bloom Built):  I Love this app!!  As a Project Lifer, this handy little journaling app is invaluable to me.  I can take a picture on my iPhone, add some journaling, and have everything backed up on Dropbox.  Then I can print everything from my phone using my wireless printer.  This app works with the iPhone and iPad, and it costs $4.99.  It’s the best $4.99 I’ve ever spent on an app.  You can purchase and download Day One from the iTunes store.

6.  Die-Cutting Software:  There are several different programs available right now that work with electronic die-cutting machines.  Some work only with a particular machine, while others are compatible with more than one machine.  I use Sure Cuts A Lot (Craft Edge), and I use my die-cutting machine on almost every layout that I make.  I cut titles from my computer’s fonts, shapes, journaling boxes, and other digital elements.  I never have to worry about running out of letters, and I can cut them in almost any size I want.  Other die-cutting programs include Make the Cut and Silhouette Studio (Silhouette America).  They all accomplish basically the same tasks, and they are relatively inexpensive (approximately $49.99-$59.99).  You can find electronic die-cutting machines in theScrapbook.com store.

These are only a few of the many software programs/apps that can be used in scrapbooking.   While not all of them are free, many are inexpensive and all are well worth their cost.  Since this is Computer Learning Month, why not give some of these handy apps a try when you create your next layout?  “Appy” scrapping!

10 Summer Photos

Here's a short video I did for my pals over at Scrap 'n Yap.  They were talking about a free class at Big Picture Classes called 10 Summer Photos.  It's a short video, and it isn't the best quality, but you'll get the idea.  I hope to record a better video soon; but until then, I hope you like this one.

My First Layout for Scrapper's Playground

Hi everyone!  Here is my first layout for the Scrapper's Playground Design Team.  

 

Supplies:

·         Stars & Stripes patterned paper by Doodlebug Design

·         Bazzill cardstock in blue, light blue, and white

·         Stars & Stripes Fancy Frills stickers by Doodlebug Design

·         Stars & Stripes Mini Doodle Pops by Doodlebug Design

·         Stars & Stripes Doodle Seals by Doodlebug Design

·         Star Spangled washi tape by Doodlebug Design

·         Baker’s Twine by Doodlebug Design

·         Candy Shoppe Ice Accents by Queen & Company

·         Wink of Stella clear glitter marker

·         Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz/Ranger

·         White gel pen

·         Embossing folder with dots*

To put this layout together, I first arranged my photos into collages and adhered them to the layout.  Then I cut out my title with my die cut machine.  A comparable font for the Eclips would be Valentine’s Day & Happy Heart.  For added dimension, I used an embossing folder on the “Smiles” letters.  After adhering the title, I added my journaling strips and border strips/paper. 

Next I added foam adhesive to the backs of the banner sticker pieces and adhered them to a length of baker’s twine.  After stapling the ends of the baker’s twine to the layout with my Tiny Attacher, I tied two bows and glued them to the ends of the banner.  As a finishing touch on the banner pieces, I added dots of white gel pen.

The final step in assembling the layout was to add the embellishments.  I added the stickers, pinwheel, and washi tape; and then I made a medallion/rosette with some of the patterned paper.  First I scored a strip of 1 ¼” x 12” patterned paper at ¼” measurements.  Then I accordion-folded the strip and glued the ends together.  Using a generous amount of hot glue, I glued the medallion in the center, attaching a cardstock circle on the back for stability.  I then added some Wink of Stella glitter marker to the edges of the medallion and the circles in the embossed title. 

The last step was to add the cardstock sticker and Ice Accent to the center of the medallion.  Because this is a heavy embellishment, I attached it to the layout with hot glue.  (I believe acid-free white glue would work also, but I didn’t want it to fall off the layout while hanging on the wall).

I hope you like the layout and that you get a chance to stop by Scrapper's Playground to see them in person, and to check out the cool stuff in the store.

Happy scrapping!

Project Life: Incorporating the Holidays

Hi everyone!  Do you do Project Life?  Do you wonder how to include the holidays in your layouts?  I have some ideas for you in my latest article for Scrapjazz.

*********************************************************************************

One of the things I like the most about Project Life is that it frees me to document the common, everyday happenings in our lives.  Since I started Project Life, I've been able to capture moments like my son helping his sister with her homework, my children playing a video game without arguing, and seeing a package of cookies that took me back 40 years to when I was a little girl in my grandmother's store.  These are the things that I want to remember, and that I want my family to remember as well.  But what about the big events, such as birthdays, weddings, and holidays?

Like many other scrapbookers who are doing Project Life, I still scrapbook single events and holidays in separate albums; however, I do want to include some photos in my monthly Project Life layouts as well.  That can present a challenge for some of us, and here is how I've decided to handle this challenge.

 

The first thing I did was decide which pictures I would include.  Since I had already made the Christmas layout in our holiday album, I wanted to use some of the ones that I didn't use for that layout.  Then I chose some of the everyday photos that I had taken during December.  After trimming them down to (or printing them in) the sizes that I wanted to use in my layout, I moved on to selecting my papers. 

I decided on the Season's Greetings collection by Echo Park, and I added cardstock in matching colors.  Although the turquoise cardstock isn't in the patterned papers, I thought that adding a pop of blue would add a wintry touch to the layout without it being overwhelmingly "Christmas."  I love the contrast that it adds.

For my title, I used white cardstock and stamped "December" in a matching blue ink.  I used the same white cardstock, plus a scrap of vellum, for my journaling.  I added some of the stickers from the Season's Greetings collection, a few flowers from my stash, and a couple of strips of washi tape.

So there you have it:  my solution to the challenge of how to include the holidays in your Project Life layouts.  Combining both seasonal and non-seasonal supplies makes it easy to mix holiday and everyday photos smoothly, so that they complement each other and result in a balanced spread that is fun to look at.

A Splash of Fruit: Summer Color Combo

Hi everyone!  I hope you are enjoying the warmer weather, despite the "rain, rain" that doesn't want to "go away."  Well, scrapbooking is a great indoor activity for those rainy days, and my latest article is up on the Scrapjazz website.  I've posted it below also.
Please leave some feedback here on my blog about this article, as well as article topics you'd like to see in the future.  Are you interested in videos?  Are there specific products you'd like more information about?  Let me know, and I'll do my best to cover those topics/products.
Enjoy the article, and remember to be your crafty self!

A Splash of Fruit:  Summer Color Combo

by Jeanette Giancaspro

Fruit is a hot trend in the scrapbooking industry right now.  Several manufacturers are featuring both a fruit theme and fruity colors in their summer lines this year.  Although I’m not a trendy scrapbooker, I’ve always liked bright, fresh, fun colors. 

This layout is from a few years ago, but you can see how I used paper with strawberries and cherries, as well as fruit-colored papers.  I wrote the journaling on a strawberry die cut, and the flowers were part of the paper’s design.  I cut the title with my Big Kick (Big Shot), using a QuicKutz alphabet. The sunglasses, pail and shovel, and flip-flops are Sizzlit dies, and I cut them out of foam.

                   

                                                

This layout is more recent, but the color palette is basically the same.  There is more orange and blue, and a little less green and pink, but the colors are still bright and “fruity.”  Instead of die-cutting the title, I painted chipboard letters to match my papers.  This time I used my Cricut machine to cut the embellishments, and I stamped the fish and the smaller words in the title. 

As you can see in the second layout, these freshly-picked colors aren’t only for “girly” layouts. They work just as well with pictures of the men in our lives.  And they aren’t just for summer either.  The colors in this palette are perfect for birthdays, travel, celebrations, children, and many other themes.

There is an old saying:  “Everything old is new again.”  It certainly applies to the scrapbook industry.  Although the papers that I used are no longer available, the new lines of products have a very similar look and feel to them.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Fruit Stand, by Doodlebug Design

Happy Go Lucky, by Echo Park

Barefoot and Bliss, by Bo Bunny

Feelin’ Groovy, by We R Memory Keepers

Knee Highs and Bow Ties (Bow Ties), by Basic Grey

Now that the warm weather is finally here, I’m sure that many of you will be out and about taking pictures of the fun you’re having outdoors.  I hope you’ll try using some of these fresh and fruity colors on the layouts that you make with those pictures.  

10 Quick Photography Tips for Amateurs

I'm not a professional photographer. I'm an avid amateur. I don't own an expensive DSLR camera. I have a point-and-shoot that cost just over $200. I've never taken a photography class, but I've learned a lot through trial and error.  I won't be using a lot of technical jargon in this article. I'll leave the f-stops and aperture settings to the pros. What I am going to do is share 10 things that you can do right now, with just about any camera that you have, to improve your picture-taking skills.

1.  Get the best camera that you can afford.  If you're just starting out, you don't need all the bells and whistles of the higher-end cameras on the market.  All those features can be overwhelming, so keep it simple.

2.  Use natural light whenever possible.  If you're inside, try to position your subject near a window or other natural light source.  If you aren't sure whether or not you have enough natural light, take one photo with the flash and another without it. 

3.  Get in close.  If you want a close-up shot, the best thing to do is get as close to your subject as possible.  If you can't get close, you can use the zoom function on your camera, if it has one.  I know I said that I wouldn't get technical, but I'm going to make this exception.  (This is as technical as I'm going to get.  I promise.)  An optical zoom will give better results than a digital zoom.  A word of warning, though.  You need to have a steady hand when using the zoom function, because any movement will result in a blurry photo.  Here is where the next tip comes in handy.

4.  Hold your breath. Seriously. Try it. You can breathe out after you've snapped the photo.  It works for me almost every time.  It helps you to keep the camera steady.

5.  Take more than one picture of the shot.  If I know that I want a really good photo of someone/something, then I take four or five of the same shot.  Now that most of us use digital cameras, we don't have to worry about "wasting the film."  We can print only the pictures that we want.

6.  Be aware of your background.  You know those photos of Uncle Joe that look as if he has a plant growing out of his head?  We all have them, don't we?  When you're taking a picture, take a quick look around to make sure that there isn't anything in the background that will make your photo appear strange.

7.  Smile - you're on Candid Camera!  (OK, I might be giving away my age here.)  Honestly, though, the best photos I've ever taken are candid shots.  Sure, you want to snap those family photos of the whole gang together; and they do have their place, of course.  However, try taking some photos when your subject isn't aware that you've got a camera pointed at him/her.  You'll be able to capture expressions and moments that just can't be posed.

8.  "Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be JPEGs."  Don't keep your photos trapped on your camera and other devices.  Print them on a regular basis.  Even if you pick only a few each month, get them printed.  Then they will be all set to go when you're ready to scrapbook, and you will have a "hard copy" of your photos, just in case something happens to the disk or camera.

9.  Back up your photos on a regular basis.  You don't want to lose all those photos if something does happen to your equipment.  Although you will have printed the best, it's still a devastating experience to lose hundreds of photos because of an accident or a lost disk or camera.  What I do is create a back-up file on my laptop at the end of each month, and I put all of my photos in a monthly folder.  Every few months, I burn them onto a disk.  Plus I have them stored on "the Cloud."  (More on that, as well as cell phone cameras, in a future article.)

10.  Take it off "Autopilot."  I use the Auto setting on my camera for most of my shots, but I do like to experiment with other settings as well.  I'm getting pretty good at using the Portrait and Action settings.  I'm still having a little bit of shake with the Macro setting, but it's all about practicing.  Try taking the same shot using the Auto setting and another special setting that your camera has.  This is where reading the manual that came with your camera will be useful.

I hope that these simple tips will help you take better photos.  Remember that you don't have to have professional quality photos to have good photos.  Try to take the best photos that you can, and keep experimenting.  Oh, and here are two simple bonus tips that I learned the hard way:  1.) Always carry an extra set of batteries with you.  2.) Make sure that you have a memory card in your camera before you leave home.  Happy snapping!

Autism Awareness: Finding Your Voice in Journaling

Autism Awareness Day: Finding Your Voice in Journaling

Autism spectrum disorders affect approximately 1 out of 88 children, according to statistics from the Center for Disease Control.  They are more likely to affect boys (1 out of 54) than girls (1 out of 252), and these disorders are found in all racial and ethnic groups.  Our son, David, has Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction. 

Since Autism Awareness Day is April 2, I've been thinking about how important our scrapbooks are to David.  He has always enjoyed looking at the photos, but it's the journaling that he comments on the most.  I think it's because of the way I journal in our books.  I find journaling about my photos to be easy, but that isn't the case for many scrapbookers.  In fact, there are many scrapbookers who don't do journaling at all, because it's too difficult.  I hope this article will help you to "find your voice."

I'm not talking about being more outspoken or finding the right words.  What I mean by "finding your voice" is determining who will be reading your journaling.  For whom are you creating the layout?  Is it the people in your layout?  Is it for grandparents?  Is it for you?  (That's okay, you know!)   When you know your audience, then you can determine your voice.

For example, in my children's scrapbooks, I address them in my writing.  I use first-person narration, such as "We went to our favorite park," and "You looked so cute in your Halloween costume."  If I'm creating a layout for my own personal scrapbook, I might use these words:  "My children are growing up right before my eyes," or "I married my first love."  It's still first-person, but I'm speaking about them, rather than to them.

 

Scrapbook companies have made it very easy for us to include journaling on our layouts.  Most scrapbook lines include journaling boxes or lined papers that can be cut up into any shape you like.   Here is a list of some of my favorites:

• ● Echo Park (Scoot, Photo Freedom (Vol. 1), For the Record 2)
• ● Simple Stories (SN@P, SN@P Life, Take a Hike)
• ● BoBunny (Family Is, Surprise, Surprise Banners)

That's all there is to it.  The key is consistency.  If you begin speaking TO the subject of your layout, continue to do that throughout the entire journaling section.  Try to do it throughout the entire scrapbook.  The result will be something everyone who looks at your scrapbook will want to read, because it will sound natural and genuine.  Give it a try, and let me know if it works for you.

Happy National Puppy Day!

National Puppy Day

by Jeanette Giancaspro (Mar 22, 2013)

March 23^rd is National Puppy Day, which was first established in 2006 to raise awareness about the horrors of puppy mills.  Since the motto of National Puppy Day is "Adopt Instead of Shop," I wanted to share some layouts that I've made about ourdog, Mocha, a rescue dog.

When we adopted Mocha in August of 2009, she was only eight weeks old, and she was one of only three puppies left who hadn't been adopted that morning.  It was love at first sight!  I started taking photos of her the minute we got home, and I haven't stopped taking them since.  Mocha finds her way into many of our family photos and scrapbook pages.  Here are two layouts that I made using some of her puppy pictures.

This is a very simple layout.  In fact, it's one of the layouts that I use to teach scrapbooking to beginners.  I started out with a sheet of kraft cardstock as my base.  I often use a neutral color for my base.  Then I selected a sheet of red cardstock and a sheet of patterned paper that coordinated with my photos.  I used the red cardstock as a large mat for my three photos, which I trimmed down a little bit.  I punched a border strip from the patterned paper and cut a few embellishments with my Cricut, using black and light brown cardstock.  I also die-cut my title.

My journaling took up the fourth quadrant of my photo mat, and I added the title to the top and bottom of this area.  Before layering the mat onto the base cardstock, I adhered the border strip.  Then I added my embellishments and a small strip of the patterned paper for a final detail.

 

Although this is a two-page layout, it is just as simple to put together as the previous layout.  I've laid out the photos in a similar manner, keeping them close together and touching each other.  The base paper is green instead of kraft, and the size of each page is 8 ½" x 11", as opposed to the 12" x 12" size of the "Puppy Love" layout.   Other than that, the design is very similar, and I used die-cut embellishments and pieces of patterned paper here too.  I added a chipboard title, a stamped image, and some brads to change things up a little.

These layouts are easy to replicate whether you are a beginner or have more experience.  You can add more embellishments, use smaller or larger photos, flip the layout, move the title, or whatever you need to do for your design.

I hope these layouts have given you ideas for scrapbooking your four-legged family members.  If you don't have a dog (or cat) yet, why not celebrate National Puppy Day this year by visiting your local shelter or adoption agency and taking a lovable puppy or adult dog home?  Then you can start documenting the joy and fun that he or she will add to your life.

  

Facts and Feelings: The Paperclipping Roundtable

I had an awesome time on The Paperclipping Roundtable today! Noell and Izzy were just terrific, and chatting with Ali Edwards was pretty cool, too.  It was wonderful to share ideas and thoughts about scrapbooking special needs children.  Please click on the above link to listen to the podcast.  This is #151, and I highly recommend listening to the other 150.  They do a great job!  Thanks, guys!

Comparison of Cricut Expression and Cricut Mini

I've been a Cricut owner since 2007, and I currently own four machines:  the original Expression, the Mini, the Cake Mini, and the Gypsy.  My first Cricut was the original "baby Bug," and my most recent addition is the Mini.  Unfortunately, three of the machines that I have are no longer being manufactured.  The original Expression, the Cake machines, and the Gypsy have all been discontinued by ProvoCraft.  They have been replaced by the new Mini and Expression 2.  I was thinking about getting a Mini to take with me to crops and friends' houses; so when I met one of the PC representatives at Maker Faire this past September, I was thrilled when he said that he would like to send me a Mini to review for ScrapJazz!  First I'll compare the two machines, and then I'll give you my opinion on the Mini.

  

Similarities

Both machines:

• are manufactured by ProvoCraft.
• are electronic.
• cut in the same manner with a blade assembly that moves along a carriage.
• require mats to carry your cutting material through the machine.
• can use cartridges to cut shapes, letters, and numbers.

Differences

• The Expression uses 12" x 12" and 12" x 24" mats; the Mini uses 9" x 12" mats.
• The Mini (5.5 lbs.)  weighs much less than the Expression (12.6 lbs.), and it is considerably smaller than its larger predecessor.
• The dimensions of the Expression are:  21.25"W, 7"H, 7.5"D.
• The dimensions of the Mini are:   16.1" W, 7.3" D, 3.69" H.
• The Mini is portable, but the Expression was not intended to be a portable machine.
• The Expression can be used independent of a computer or other device; however, the Mini must be used in conjunction with either a computer or the Cricut Gypsy (which is no longer being manufactured).
• The speed, pressure, and blade depth can be manually adjusted on the Expression.  With the Mini, the pressure and blade depth can be manually adjusted, but the speed must be set either in Cricut Craft Room (ProvoCraft's online design program) or on the Gypsy.
• If you are using the Expression as a stand-alone machine, you need to use the keypad overlays with it.  The Mini doesn't have a place for the overlays, because they aren't used with it.
• The Expression, which is no longer being manufactured, is not compatible with Cricut Craft Room.  The Mini is not compatible with Cricut Design Studio, a program that is essentially a predecessor of Cricut Craft Room.
• The Expression has been available in other colors, but the Mini is available in only the standard "Cricut white and green."

Although the Mini is much smaller than the Expression, this little machine is a powerhouse.  I found that I was able to cut the same materials that I cut on the Expression with the same precision.  The mini is a little quieter during operation, but not much.  (I don't find the Expression that noisy either.)  It's very lightweight and easy to transport, and its design is sleek and simple.  The 8 ½" x 12" cutting mat is a good size for most projects.

There are some drawbacks to the Mini, though.  First, it doesn't seem to be as sturdy as its larger predecessor. It also squeaks sometimes when it's cutting, which made me a little nervous at first.  The Mini is a little slower than the Expression, and it sounds as if the motor is straining.  That could just be because I'm used to the sounds the Expression makes, but it did take some getting used to.  If you don't have a Gypsy, which, as I mentioned before, has been discontinued, you must use the Mini with a computer.  This could be a hindrance to its portability.

Overall, I think the Cricut Mini is well worth its cost, and I would definitely recommend purchasing it if you want a smaller, portable die-cutting machine.  It will never take the place of my Expression, but it is a welcome addition to my Cricut family.