Provocraft gave me good customer service

Yesterday, I had a great experience with customer service at Provocraft for my Imagine.  I decided to share it here with you.

I have owned the Cricut Imagine for almost 1 1/2 years.  I was really used to using the Cricut Design Studio to create projects then cut them with my Expression.  I love CDS.  Being able to see my projects on the computers big screen vs the small screen my Expression or my Gypsy (told you I loved Provocraft) was such a blessing for my eyes.  Imagine doesn't work with CDS but they were promising the launch of Cricut Craft Room which would replace CDS and work with the Imagine.  So I succumbed to the print and cut features offered by the Imagine and purchased it.  Technically I purchased it but my husband said it was my Christmas present.  He isn't good at going out to buy me items but he lets me pick them out and I am (mostly) okay with it.  LOL!

My Imagine has given me some issues since I purchased it.  Nothing major but just enough to frustrate me.  Upgrades have helped but they do not always fix my problem.  Sometimes they even make a new problem.  I would have complained more but I have the Cricut Expression.  I have owned it since the Expression first came out.  I use it a lot for home, work, school, and church projects.  Whenever I was having a problem with the Imagine, I always had a fall back so I didn't push Provocraft for a solution.  I just used the Expression waiting for the next Imagine upgrade to come out.  Well, in December 2011, I took an upgrade to the Imagine that gave me a bug I couldn't accept.  The machine wouldn't pull the mat all the way in so that the mat could fit under the roller bar for cutting.  The blade housing would come out and ram into the side of the mat and make a horrible noise until I physically pulled the mat out the back side.  I couldn't use it at all.  It was the middle of the holidays and I had too many irons in the fire to fiddle with my Imagine so I powered it off and used my Expression again.

I found time to call Provocraft Friday 3/16/12.  The representative, Michelle, was most helpful.  She had me upgrade the Imagine to the latest version of firmware that had come out 2012.  She didn't stay on the line with me as upgrades take a lot of time.  I completed it Friday night but the problem didn't go away.

I looked at the Provocraft knowledge base and found some information on the firmware that was showing on my Imagine.
0123:0035:0239:201C
It said the 201C meant the machine had to be replaced.  Replaced!  Oh my!  Whoa!  I was having a hard time understanding what would cause the firmware to say it needed replaced.  I decided that I had nothing to loose so I reformatted and reloaded all of the Imagine software.  I ended up with the same firmware code.

Monday 3/19/12 I called Provocraft again.  The representative, Tory, agreed that the unit needed replaced.  She was very kind and helpful.  She took my information and sent me a FedEx warranty replacement return label.  She is having the unit shipped to her so she can set it up then she will ship it to me.  I was very moved by her kind manner and helpfulness.  Thank you Tory!

I have received the FedEx return label.  I am packing my unit up to be shipped out this week.  I wanted to thank Provocraft for the way they are standing behind their product and the high customer service level that I received.

<^..^> Lori

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

I read on Melissa's blog about a crock pot recipe she was making that day.  I followed her link to the recipe for this



I made it and it was delicious.  Just spicy enough to satisfy.  My husband and daughter loved it.  My son was eating pizza with his band friends after a concert so he didn't try it.  He likes his food to stay separate anyway.  You know...not have the veggies touch each other.  LOL!  So this type of food doesn't look good to him.  He would prefer a plain bowl of the rice instead. 

<^..^> Lori

Can you help me Jessica Sprague?

Well, I have decided to try my hand at some digital scrapbooking.  I was going to start with the CTMH digital scrapbooking program.  It has some hefty yearly subscription fees.  I am so behind on any scrapbooking that I may need the quick approach.  But for now I decided to purchase Adobe Photoshop.  I am using a Jessica Sprague tutorial class called Up and Running to get started.  Here is my first page.

I see the flaws but I did get a page completed.  The photos need tweaking for light and dark contrast.   I used a quick flat file that came in the tutorial so the colors are not what I would have chosen for these photos.  But it is done.  Sigh.

<^..^> Lori

cased a card from Lime Doodle

Loved this card from Lime Doodle so I cased it using some of the Background Basics Retro PTI stamps and Hurray Bouquet CTMH stamps that I have on hand.  The flower is from Michaels and so is the bling.

Then I also made this card.

I decided to add something to the inside of the card.  I don't do much of that normally.

All supplies for this card were from SU! that I got on clearance in 2011.

<^..^> Lori

Valentine Favors 2012

I love to package up holiday treats that I collect through the year and give them to friends or workers at my church.  I don't physically live close to my family or my husband's family.  I don't like to pay the postage to send items that I got so frugally in the first place. The postage can easily double or triple the price of the gift.  When we visit family, we try to take them out to eat or I bring a gift that I can hand deliver.  Much better for our budget.  Not as much fun though!

Here is some packaging for Valentine magnets I got on clearance at the local gift shop, some Hallmark Valentine pins I got at the same shop, and some candy I found last week in the $1 bin at Target.

The pink bags came from www.clearbags.com.  The doilies were from...I don't remember but I got them off the web.  The stickers are K&C Stitched Adornments.  The Valentine Ribbon came from Michael's.

The coasters came from a clearance sale somewhere last year, possibly Michael's.  I used some Michael's clothespin hearts, jute, and SU! Chocolate Ribbon to decorate them.  The paper wrap around the candy boxes is SU! that I got on clearance. 

<^..^> Lori

Awana Christmas Treats for the leaders

So many chose to participate in the Awana Club program at our church.  It is a blessing to work with children and teach them to serve Christ.  It is not for everyone because it is hard work.  It takes time and effort for the leaders and those who help to substitute.  This year we have nearly 30 adults leaders functioning in a variety of roles to make our program work smoothly.  Jim is the Awana Commander again this year.  I decided we should give the leaders some small notes of encouragement or treats through the year.  We gave them each a candy bar with a note in October.  So I thought it was a good time to do it again.

I stamped a quote from Charles Dickens on glassine bags.  I love using glassine bags in projects.  I know that I am not the only one as I look around blog land.  We put some candy coated and some plain pretzels in the bags. 

I sewed the top of the bags shut.  I stamped some tags from my office with PTI Daily Design Sentiments to say "Thanks" on one side and "Joy to the world" on the other side with CTMH inks (holiday red and black).  I attached the tags with my Tim Holtz tiny attacher. 

Jim will give each leader one of these bags and thank them for their efforts in our Awana Club program.

I would encourage you to take time out and thank some of the workers in your church for their dedication.  We are the arms of Christ when we reach out to them.  You don't need to give them anything but your handshake and a positive word of affirmation and appreciation.

<^..^> Lori

Christmas Dessert Theatre 2011

Such a wonderful presentation!  E and A are so talented!  They wrote the entire drama and all of the music for our Christmas Dessert Theatre again this year.

One of my jobs is table settings.  Here are some pictures of this year's tables, some of the delicious desserts, and some other shots of areas in the church. 

I don't want to put up pictures of people as I don't know if they would like you to see them on my blog. 

Guests had a choice of Reese's PB cheesecake, turtle cheesecake, triple chocolate cake, carrot cake, or Italian creme cake.  Children who didn't like those desserts could have a white cupcake with lots of icing and fun toppings. 

<^..^> Lori