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Talk to me about Die Cutting Machines ...

Sara

Sara

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Jul 9, 2009
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So I think this is the gift I'm dreaming of for Christmastime. And I'm woefully ignorant about what the best features are..what is the best brand to get, etc.

Do you have one? Do you love it? Please give me the run-down.

Thank you so much in advance!!
 
When I was a paper scrapper I owned the cricut expressions, Quickutz, and the original Sizzix die cutting machine. I had always wanted to try the Silhouette but then went digital and didn't have a need for it all anymore. I loved them all for different reasons. I mostly used them for alphabets for titles and stuff on my layouts. My favorite was the Cricut just because it was electronic and was so fun to use. I have thought about getting a small die cutting machine again for projects with my kids. Wish I could be more help. What are you looking to use it for?
 
Sara...just for clarification, do you mean a digital cutter?
 
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lmccandless said:
Sara...just for clarification, do you mean a digital cutter?
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Goodness I don't even know what I mean?

Christine (Listgirl) just shared some amazing inspiration with me using her Silhouette and that's a digital cutter (right?) and I totally *swooned*.

But I suppose there are also ones that aren't digital? That use cartridges and such? So maybe I should amend to also ask which is better? A digital cutter or non?

I just want something that cuts pretty things for my pretty papers and crafties. :giggle
 
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I REALLY want the new Silhouette Cameo. As a digi designer, it totally rocks my socks because I can create my own designs and then cut it out, versus using just the third party graphics that are available on other machines. I also love that my computer is my storage- I don't have to store dies or cartridges somewhere. I do have a cuttle bug (don't know if they even still make these!) that I picked up a long time ago, but would have to blow the dust of it to even use it these days.

I keep entering all the blog giveaways to win the Silhouette (because it's awesomeness does not come cheap), but I haven't won one yet. ;-)
 
I have a Silhouette too and I :beat it to pieces. I don't use it too often though because I'm usually in a hurry, but when I'm doing a serious hybrid project I put it to good use. :)
 
Sara you already know how much I love my Silhouette, LOL. It is a digital cutter. I do want to mention that it does "Print & Cut" with any digital scrapbooking kit elements. That means you can open up your png digi-element, have it trace the outline of that object, print it out with registration marks, and put it on that cutting mat and the machine will cut out that digi-element's shape! That to me blows away all other die-cutting machines, paper or digi.

The only thing is that the Silhouette won't cut out thicker materials like chipboard, cork, or felt. I do have a Sizzix Big Shot to cut thicker materials. But the steel dies are very expensive and are not scalable, so the size you get is what it is. I only purchase dies that I would want to cut thicker materials with. Everything else the Silhouette will do and do it in any size you want.
 
I knew I should not have come back to this thread. Christine, that sounds amazing to be able to do that with digi supplies. Do all of you do a bunch of hybrid? I have thought about dabbling but then when I go buy supplies and stuff it just all sits at my desk because after going digi I am just to lazy to mess with all the mess of paper stuff anymore LOL.
 
supertwinkle said:
Sara you already know how much I love my Silhouette, LOL. It is a digital cutter. I do want to mention that it does "Print & Cut" with any digital scrapbooking kit elements. That means you can open up your png digi-element, have it trace the outline of that object, print it out with registration marks, and put it on that cutting mat and the machine will cut out that digi-element's shape! That to me blows away all other die-cutting machines, paper or digi.

The only thing is that the Silhouette won't cut out thicker materials like chipboard, cork, or felt. I do have a Sizzix Big Shot to cut thicker materials. But the steel dies are very expensive and are not scalable, so the size you get is what it is. I only purchase dies that I would want to cut thicker materials with. Everything else the Silhouette will do and do it in any size you want.
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Oh see? This seals it for me I think. :beat I soooooo want one.

Thanks for letting me know about the difference too! Maybe one day I'll want to cut thicker materials, but mostly I'm interested in paper cutting, so this seems perfect. And it's like a beautiful blend of digi and hybridy crafty joyousness!! ♥
 
okay, i don't have a die cut machine. BUT. my friend let me borrow hers to make a few good luck tags. it's the sizzix one that is not digital. it has a lever that you press down on and punch the tags out of the paper. and it's NO GOOD. it won't seem to cut all the way through the paper all the way around. maybe it's just her die for the tag isn't good, but i'm not impressed. just tought i'd throw my 2 cents in for the very little that it's worth.
 
I have a Cricut & a Sizzix Big Shot I still use them both. The Cricut not so much just because I don't have my own craft space...just a small closet and I store it in the top...so it's a lot of work to get it down.

But I really want the Cameo...I think I have entered a million giveaways and haven't won yet so I think I may end up scoping out eBay.
 
I have a sizzix big shot. I use it fairly often, or well, I did before I packed it up. It's super easy to use. I really want the Silhouette but I know that's not gonna happen any time soon :lol:
 
I have both sizes of Cricut, and a Wishblade, and I never use any of them, and this gives me mucho guilt. lol
 
Ok back when I first started paper scrapping (2007) I got a Cuttlebug. Hated it. Sold it and got the Slice. I loved that it was electronic but I didn't like the size constraints. So I sold it and got a Cricut Expression. I love, love, loved it. I bought Sure Cuts a Lot software so I could cut files & fonts from my computer. Well then there was a huge copyright infringement lawsuit and I don't think that the software can be used any more. I really didn't want to pay high prices for cartridges with only a handful of images that I liked. Right around the time of all the copyright hoopla is when I switched to digital. I hung on to my Cricut for a while and just recently got rid of it a few months ago.

If I ever get another electronic cutter, it'll be a Silhouette. I don't think that they're as restricting on what can/can't be cut with them as Cricut is.
 
I've got the KNK Maxx and love it. It cuts chipboard, felt and other heavier things as well as papers to your own designs. I just wish there was more time to use it!
 
I really really want a Silhouette... it's been on my wishlist since last year lol... I ended up getting a Spellbinders Grand Calibur that I LOVE... I really like the metal die cuts at Papertrey Ink... but I'd love to have a digital cutter.
 
I have the Pazzles Inspiration. I did a TON of research before I bought. I know there are so many Silhouette fans out there, but IMO this is really a superior machine. It cuts up to a full 12" wide and 24" long. It does print and cut. It also cuts lots of other materials in ONE pass, including chipboard. I've cut everything on it from vinyl and felt to, of course, paper.

For those who are very budget minded, they do have a great deal where you can get the machine for $99 with a subscription to the craft room.
 
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