Craft Edge

I would like to make stencils for my cricut expression but what I want us not available thru cricut. I have heard I can use sure cuts a lot to save any jpeg as an svg and then it can be cut by my cricut. I also heard cricut made sure cuts a lot ban the compatibility for cricut. Can anyone help me with this. I just want to be able to make my own stencil or take a picture and cut it with my cricut Ecen if it's not cricut brand stencils...if that makes sense.