Cricut’s Mother’s Day Sale Has Some Mega Deals

If You’re Cutting It Close…

If you’re cutting it close (pardon the pun) to finding a gift in time for Mother’s Day in the UK, then look no further than Cricut’s mega Mother’s Day sale, with up to 70% off materials and accessories, plus up to 50% off machines and bundles. These craft machines make excellent Mother’s Day gift ideas, and you can even use the devices yourself to create some truly unique and personalized gifts.

Top Deal: CricutEasy Press 2

The top deal I’ve picked out is on the CricutEasy Press 2 heat press machine, which is now only £99.99 down from £213.99 (that’s an impressive £114 saving!). There are plenty of other deals to be had on some of the best Cricut machines on the market too, but the biggest deals seem to be on material + machine bundles.

Best Cricut Deals

I’ve rounded up all of the best Cricut deals for you below. If you haven’t already, take a look at the new Cricut Maker 4 and Explore 4 series which offers some serious upgrades for pro crafters, or see our best Cricut alternatives guide for other options.

Cricut’s Mother’s Day Sale Has Some Mega Deals

UK Cricut Deals

• CricutEasy Press 2 heat press machine: £99.99 (was £213.99)
• Material + machine bundles: up to 70% off
• Machines: up to 50% off
• Accessories: up to 70% off

US Cricut Deals

• Cricut Maker 4: $299.99 (was $399.99)
• Cricut Explore 4: $199.99 (was $299.99)
• Material + machine bundles: up to 70% off
• Machines: up to 50% off
• Accessories: up to 70% off

Conclusion

If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, Cricut’s mega sale is the perfect solution. With up to 70% off materials and accessories, and up to 50% off machines and bundles, you’re sure to find something that will delight any crafty mom.

FAQs

Q: What is Cricut’s Mother’s Day sale?
A: Cricut’s Mother’s Day sale is a limited-time offer with up to 70% off materials and accessories, and up to 50% off machines and bundles.

Q: What is the top deal on the CricutEasy Press 2?
A: The top deal on the CricutEasy Press 2 is now only £99.99 down from £213.99 (that’s an impressive £114 saving!).

Q: Are there any deals for US customers?
A: Yes, there are some excellent deals over at Cricut’s US store too, and other retailers, that you won’t want to miss.

A World Build on Strong Artistic Foundations

One of the defining aspects of Guild Wars’ art direction is its emphasis on strong foundational art skills and techniques rather than purely technological advancements – it would be too easy to focus on the digital nature of the art team’s work using the best digital art software. Aaron highlights how the team’s traditional art background has played a crucial role in defining the game’s look.

"We had a staff of people with a lot of traditional art training who were passionate about the process," reflects Aaron. "It was less about what technology could do for us and more about how we could use technology as a language to create what we wanted to create."

The Impact of Colour

One of the most critical aspects of Guild Wars’ visual storytelling is its use of colour. "Colour is a language in itself," Aaron says. "It helps set the mood, guide the player’s eye, and reinforce the story we’re telling."

For example, different zones in Guild Wars 2 use distinct colour palettes to evoke specific emotions. "If we want a place to feel serene, we use soft greens and golds. If we want something foreboding, we lean into deep purples and cold blues. Even on a micro level, understanding how colour interacts within an asset brings it to life."

Guild Wars Unique Longterm Vision

Creating art for a game that has been running for two decades comes with unique challenges. The art must evolve, but it can’t break the established identity set out by those original artists.

"Our art direction needs to be strong because Guild Wars 2 has to iterate gradually while maintaining consistency," Aaron explains. "We’ve seen games where a singular vision is too narrow, making any deviation feel out of place. On the other hand, we’ve aimed to have a broad enough North Star so that artists can put their own stamp on things while keeping it cohesive."

The Art of Guild Wars 2

The Guild Wars art team was known for using Photoshop in ways that many digital artists were experimenting with at the time. Guild Wars 2 artists like Ruan Jia and Thomas Scholes found new ways to use the software, pioneering techniques like photo-bashing (read Thomas Scholes’ modular concept art tutorial for an insight).

"That style, particularly in the early days, was very much influenced by Daniel Dociu, who shared a lot of his techniques and processes with the team," Aaron notes. "It seeped into different areas and became a recognisable aesthetic, not just in Guild Wars but in the digital art world at large."

Conclusion

Through strong artist foundations, thoughtful storytelling, and a commitment to craft, Guild Wars has cemented itself as one of the most visually distinct games still worth playing. Its world grows with each new release – the colourful Janthir Wilds – Repentance expansion is a testament to this – but remains true to the original vision released twenty years ago.

FAQs

Q: What is the key to longevity in the game industry?
A: Understanding visual storytelling and mastering artistic principles, such as composition, value, shape, and storytelling.

Q: How does the Guild Wars art team approach art direction?
A: The team focuses on strong foundational art skills and techniques, using technology as a language to create what they want to create, rather than chasing the latest digital art trends.

Q: What is the importance of colour in Guild Wars’ art direction?
A: Colour is a language in itself, helping to set the mood, guide the player’s eye, and reinforce the story being told. Different zones in Guild Wars 2 use distinct colour palettes to evoke specific emotions.

Nintendo Virtual Cards: A New Way to Share and Own Digital Games

Nintendo has a history of tackling problems in ways other game developers and console manufacturers wouldn’t consider, and the reveal of Virtual Cards at this week’s Nintendo Direct are another sign its thinking differently to other brands, one that could see Switch and Switch 2 becoming a 2025 success story.

Nintendo Virtual Cards Solve an Ownership Problem

If, like me, you have family who all have Switch consoles and love sharing games, Virtual Cards will make this much easier. The days of frustratingly de-registering games from one console, and making another the ‘primary’ and needing to keep track of all this faff are over.

Lending Feature: A Sense of True Ownership

Then we have the lending feature, which brings in parity to the physical world. The big advantage of owning a physical copy of a game is you can share it with friends and family, with a sense of true ownership of a game. We’ve all lent games to friends, which in turn generates a sense of a shared experience, it’s why nostalgia is such a big thing for gamers, because often it’s not the game we remember fondly but how we played it and who with; Virtual Cards will enable those of us who like the ease of buying digital games to rekindle this sense of a shared moment.

The Impact on Physical Game Sales

Ultimately, Nintendo is giving us greater control over our digital games collection in the most inventive way I’ve seen in quite some time, and for a company renowned for control over IP and ownership, it’s a big move.

The Hidden Issue: The Impact on Physical Game Sales

The hidden issue? The thing some may find worrisome? That’s the impact this could have on physical game sales and the idea of ‘ownership’. It’s been an issue ten years, and I remember the debate when PS3 games began releasing digitally, as it threatens game preservation and ultimately brings into question your ownership of a game. If a publisher revokes access, loses a license or a platform shuts down you lose that digital game. It’s a reason the best retro games consoles have become so popular, and in fact why Switch and Nintendo Online is successful.

Conclusion

Virtual Cards is a new system designed for Switch 2 and, I’d wager, an acknowledgment from Nintendo that people ‘hand down’ old consoles to family. If I get a Switch 2 at launch my old Switch will go to a family member, but now all my digital games can also be shared. Nintendo has a huge back catalogue of digital games – the support of indies and cheaper games and bundles as been a big reason Switch is popular – and now Virtual Cards unlock those games for friends and family.

FAQs

Q: What are Virtual Cards?
A: Virtual Cards are a new system that allows users to share and own digital games on their Switch consoles.

Q: How do Virtual Cards work?
A: Virtual Cards work by allowing users to purchase and download digital games, and then share them with friends and family for up to two weeks at a time.

Q: Is there a physical game problem?
A: Yes, there is a physical game problem. The rise of digital games has led to a decline in physical game sales, and some people are worried about the impact this could have on game preservation and ownership.

Q: How will Virtual Cards affect physical game sales?
A: Virtual Cards could put pressure on publishers to release fewer physical editions, as people may prefer to buy digital games and share them with friends and family. However, Nintendo has been a good platform for physical game releases and special editions, and may continue to support physical game sales in the future.

Rumors of a New 3D Printer: xTool and Snapmaker Join Forces?

A New Collaboration in the Making?

Rumour has it that xTool, a major laser engraver manufacturer, is working on its very first 3D printer in collaboration with 3D manufacturer, Snapmaker. These two brands making a co-branded printer was certainly not on my 2025 bingo card, though it seems that this is the year that the best 3D printers and pro crafting machines are levelling up, while entering new territories.

xTool and Snapmaker: A Match Made in Heaven?

xTool is a big player in the digital crafting space and manufactures some of the best laser cutters and engravers on the market today. Snapmaker on the other hand is known for its innovative and best-selling Artisan 3-in-1 3D printer that combines printing, laser engraving, and CNC carving into one machine using a modular quick-swap design – so it makes sense that xTool would partner with this company.

The Leak: A Photo of the Alleged xTool X Snapmaker 3D Printer

The leak has come from Reddit, and there’s even a photo of this alleged xTool X Snapmaker 3D printer too, which if authentic, certainly looks exciting. We can see what appears to be an enclosed-style machine (though it doesn’t look like a Core XY construction, which seems to be all the rave right now), with multicolour compatibility including four supported spools, and a touchscreen LCD in the top right corner of the printer.

A Response to Bambu Lab?

Given the recent announcement that Bambu Lab has created a premium H2D 3D printer that can also draw, cut, and engrave, could this new product from xTool and Snapmaker be a direct retaliation? Or perhaps the timing of this leaked image of an xTool 3D printer is purely coincidental. The Bambu Lab H2D has a lot of creatives excited, though the model specifically with the laser was met with some criticism and concern regarding potential mess, maintenance, and safety involved with combining such machines.

xTool’s Strengths in 3D Printing

Perhaps consumers might have a little more faith in a multi-functional 3D printer if it’s being created by xTool, which seems to have a pretty good grasp on how laser engravers operate. As one Redditor has pointed out ‘if xTool had been really involved in the development, it could lead to interesting improvements and new a good machine’.

A New Battle in the Making?

Another user adds, ‘First Bambu steps into laser cutting, now xTool & Snapmaker respond with a multi-colour 3D printer? We will see.’ Maybe 2025 could be the battle of the craft companies. If you’re someone who likes to keep your craft machines separate (and I don’t blame you), then take a look at our guides to the best Cricut machines, as well as the best xTool machines for digital crafting.

Conclusion

The news of xTool and Snapmaker’s potential collaboration on a new 3D printer has sparked a lot of excitement in the crafting community. With the recent announcement of Bambu Lab’s H2D 3D printer, it’s possible that this new product could be a response to the growing competition in the market. However, only time will tell if this new printer will live up to the hype.

FAQs

Q: What is the rumored 3D printer from xTool and Snapmaker?
A: The rumored 3D printer is a co-branded product that combines the expertise of both xTool and Snapmaker.

Q: Is this a response to Bambu Lab’s H2D 3D printer?
A: It’s possible that this new product could be a response to the growing competition in the market, but the exact timing is unknown.

Q: What are the features of the rumored 3D printer?
A: The features of the rumored 3D printer include multicolour compatibility, four supported spools, and a touchscreen LCD in the top right corner of the printer.

Q: Is xTool experienced in 3D printing?
A: No, xTool is a major laser engraver manufacturer, but it’s been rumored that they are working on their first 3D printer in collaboration with Snapmaker.