Can anyone tell me if it is worth getting the Cricut cake cutter? I would especially like it for cutting out letters and numbers. I currently do everything by hand, but it almost looks too good to be true.

Iprefer the silette because you don't have to buy expensive cartridges.

I love my Cricut Cake Mini. There are a few photos of stuff I've done using mine. I know other people prefer other machines, but I think this was so easy for me to adjust to because I also have a Cricut Expression for scrapbooking. I also think having so many cartridges for that also made me like this cutter so much.

I bought this machine about 2 months ago in hopes that it would work for me. I watched the dvd & read the book.
When I went to work with it, it ripped my fondant like crazy. I remembered from previous reviews that you should freeze the fondant sheets and then use them....well, I did!! That worked for one cut out and then it began to rip again.
I know people will tell you to use gumpaste, but honestly I make my own fondant and prefer to use mine especially since the colors will match my cake perfectly.
So.....the end result for me was to return the machine to the place I bought it from and go back to doing things by hand. It takes more time to make a cake when you are using this.
I have to say though, it's a genius idea, I just wish it did better with fondant. If they improve that, I may buy it again.
Also, if you decide to get it, ebay has the cartridges for dirt cheap compared to the stores.
Good luck, I hope you find out what you need to make your final decision.

Fondant alone is too soft to work well. Try adding tylose and letting dry awhile after rolling thin before tryng to cut and you will have better luck. The key is rolling very, very thin. Check out Linda McClure's youtube videos.

I love mine but I know some people hate it. It does take time and patience to learn what works best. The best luck I have had so far was with a mix of gumpaste and fondant that was NOT freshly mixed. I used some that I had left over that was about a week old and it worked wonderfully.

I still use cutters all the time but I do love my cricut. I also use SureCutsAlot and can cut just about anything I want.

HTH

I have the cricut cake and love it. I don't use it all the time, but it is great for volume of a single shape (polka dots, loops for a bow topper, etc.) and I use it a lot for lettering. I don't have a ton of carts, but get them occasionally from ebay and some online only stores for under $30... one of the online sites has over 40 carts for $17.76 for 4th of July. It definitely takes practice and I agree with tiggy2, check out Linda MCClure's stuff.

I would like to get a silhouette also, just because I can import my own images if/when I need to...

If you get a silhouette be sure to get it from Linda as she has a special blade for fondant/gumpaste. The blades that come with the silhouette WILL NOT WORK.

I have a Cricut Cake and working with Make-the-Cut its plain awsomeness! LOL
Never freeze my media, only roll very thin fondant and let it dry under a fan... how long? it all depends in the fondant, temp and humidity it may take 1 hour or overnight, the key for me is touch it and when no longer feells sticky and soft, that's when I use it. I keep mats with "left overs" if they are big enough in a large (XXL) ziplock bag I found in the house area of some stores.

BUT... beware that Cricut doesn't work with softwares that eanble free editing any more, exclusively for use with cratridges. If you want the freedom of importing, scanning or even drawing your shapes, then you you may want to turn to the silhouette.

I am contemplating getting the silhouette from Linda at convention... at the very least I may pick up the "blade pack" and can get the machine later.

I was curious about what_a_cake's comment about some of the software not working with Cricut. I had no idea the new versions didn't work anymore. It appears Make the Cut as well as Sure Cuts a Lot new versions wont work.
But, I wonder if you can find an older version out there? I have SCL and I LOVE it!
http://www.surecutsalot.com/software/software.html

If you've updated the firmware on your cricut an older version wont work either.

Provocraft wants to make sure you have to buy their cartridges. Silhouette really is the best choice.

For the basics though, you only need a handful of carts. I just like the ease of plugging it in and going... especially since you can get the mini for $100 on sale (although I have the big one).

I just started using mine and I love it! It works well with gumpaste and I mix in CMC rolled fondant stabilizer with my fondant if I need particular colors. I've also had success using it with the new icing sheets from Wilton. As for the cartridges, I only buy them in-store when they have really good sales. I usually find the best deals online at stores like Custom Crops. When I did my sisters baby shower last month, it was easy to perfectly coordinate the cake with the other decorations that I made using my standard cricut - she loved it! I'm really happy with the purchase!!!

So many great responses!!! Thank you! Did not know about the silohoute. Will check it out first to see if that would be a better fit for me.

Thanks!!!

I was just wondering the same thing, i seen the Cricut cake on clearance at Hobby Lobby today for $120, down from the original price of $400. And all the carts were on clearance too for like $12. But I like the option of importing/doing your own designs on the Sillhouette. I dont know why there's a 70% markdown, is something wrong with it?

From what I have been hearing, a lot of folks see that it is "so easy" to decorate cakes using this machine and then they find out it isn't and return it.

Thanks for all the comments!! Still not sure, but will look into the Silo!

I had a break through today with my cricut and posted some tips that worked for me, here's the thread:

http://cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=7166589#7166589