What's Your Favorite Personal Cutting Machine??

[Stan]

Hey Everyone,

I'm Stan, the Buyer for Paper Wishes. I need your feedback......We are looking to add a personal die cutting machine and some accessories to a future catalog and I'm curious what your favorites are?

There are so many to choose from, what are the pro's and con's of the machines and accessories out there?

I'm looking forward to your comments!!

Stan :p

[Mrscleanhead]

No question for me . . . Cricut by Provo Craft!

[Cheryl]

Hi Stan,

So far as die cutting machines go, I have two -- digital and manual:


Digital die cutting -- For most things I like my Silhouette because I can use any of my fonts, or free patterns out there to cut most anything I need (there are a lot of sites with these) -- and I can make my own stuff to cut. So, I'm not spending a lot of money on new cartridges or dies to manage most of my cutting. The two drawbacks are that I can't cut a full 12 x 12 sheet (though I can cut 8 1/2 by 30-some inches long), and that I can't emboss with it. While I've considered the Cricut Expression so that I could cut larger sizes, I hate that I'd have to pay so much more for cartridges or software to allow me to use my computer fonts etc.



Manual die cutting -- I have the Big Shot. I got it specifically to do the embossing that I can't do on my Silhouette. However, since I have it, I'm sure I'll periodically pick up cutting dies for it as well if I can get an extra good price on them or they are something I think I'd use all the time. I researched a variety of machines before purchasing the Big Shot. What I was looking for was versatility and price (being able to easily use just about any brand of cutting dies, and any embossing folders, textures plates, and brass stencils to emboss things -- the multipurpose platform makes that pretty easy). I also like that it can do longer things so I can do a 12" border, for example. If it had been in my budget, however, I would have purchased the "Big Shot Pro" so that I could do full 12 x 12 stuff. I'd love, for example, to be able to emboss one corner or side of a full 12 x 12 sheet to use for my scrapbooking.

Accessories -- So far as accessories go:


I particularly like the "nestabilities" dies from Spellbinder. I like that they both cut and emboss a variety of sizes and shapes that would be especially great for cards or matting pictures for my scrapbooks.



I also like brass stencils that would make nice focals for cards, or embellishments for scrapbooks. It's nice to be able to use them to emboss as well as chalk or otherwise color these elements.



Various embossing folders & Texturz plates are fun, too. They're not that expensive and can really make a card "pop".

[craftynana]

I love the Big Shot, but mainly use it for embossing although I do have some dies that I bought before I got my Cricut machine.

I use both a lot but must say I use the cricut more.

[SamB]

For die cutting, I have the Cuttlebug and the Cricut Expression.

I love the Cricut; it can accommodate the full 12x12 size. I do have quite a few cartridges, although I would never pay the usual retail $69.99-$89.99 price for them--am usually able to find them for under $40. I do not like the tendency Provocraft has of issuing "exclusive" or "bundled" with a machine cartridges you then can't get ... unless of course you buy another machine; who is going to do that? The Cricut also has deep cutting blades, regular cutting blades, scoring blades, writing pens etc. that can be used, and you can cut not only paper but foil and vinyl and a variety of other mediums.

For embossing, one of my favorite things, I love the Cuttlebug. When I got it, it was within my price range and I was not doing any scrapbooking, and it is still my go-to- for embossing with cards. But I do wish I could emboss a full 12"x12" size sometimes now with scrapbooking! I also like that I can use it with cutting dies from other companies and that there are embossing /texture plates from other companies that will work in it as well.

I agree with Cheryl - I love Spellbinders - esp nestabilities and shapeabilities! And I love embossing folders as well.

All that being said - does anyone know much about Xyron's new Creatopia machine? I am hearing it can cut, emboss, glue - the works! Looked like you had to get a ton of different things to go with it though...anyone have one?

[Heather]

The Slice. Love the compact size and portability.

[Stan]

Thank you for the input....are there any others out there? Any more opinions and recommendations??

[fabyon]

Hi Stan nice to meet you ! :D I love my cuttlebug but the new eclips machine from Sizzix seems really good too !

[dizzy]

All I have used is the Cricut and I love it!!! I have thought about the cuttlebug for embossing, but will have to wait awhile for that.

[pennyd]

I'm usually in the minority when I say I don't use my Cricut very often at all (I'm thinking of finding it a new home). My Big Shot is my number one! I use it for cutting dies and embossing all the time! Wouldn't know what to do without it. I too would love the even bigger one, but that is definitely a very long wish list away! I really like Spellbinder's dies, you definitely get your money's worth. I have many Sizzix and Cuttlebug (Provo Craft) embossing folders and really enjoy using them.

[lpooljim]

I have the original cricut and a cuttlebug. I love the next generation cartridges will have companion cuttlebug folders with the next group of releases in June.

[fabyon]

I have the original cricut and a cuttlebug. I love the next generation cartridges will have companion cuttlebug folders with the next group of releases in June.

Hey Jim so nice to see you here ! :)

[Irishlady]

Hi, Stan! I have the Big Shot which I love. I'm thinking about getting the Slice 3-n-1 die cutting machine. I like the size of it. Also the fact the it cuts, embosses and draws. I don't have a lot of room so the Slice is the perfect size for me. Judi

[AmzdByHsGrace]

Hi Stan! I have the Cricut Expression and I really like it a lot.... I just have not mastered the Computer connection to make the cuts without the cartridge... but I like the way that you can cut different sizes for your project. It make is versatile for all kinds of things.. I just would like some Vintage themed cartridges!!!!
Thanks for checking with us!!!
God bless
Nyoka

[kasiahbug]

I know I'm late, story of my life right now-
but as a retailer, I would stay away from Provocraft. There is another called the Gazelle by Boss Kutt that is just as wonderful and much better to work with retailers and customers alike. The Cricut can do many things, I have had mine since it first came out, but I am HUGELY disappointed in their customer support as well as their retail service. This is not the place to go over all that, but if there was a way to get the word out and not cut my own throat, I would :)

[JodiSong]

I have the Cricut and would love to see the paper piecing items (especially Annie Lang designs) be converted to Cricut files. I'm a fonts fanatic, but don't have much in Cricut fonts. Costs too much.

Jodi