What is the best die cutting machine?

[jader58]

Hi guys, I am new to this forum and new to scrapbooking.

I want to buy a die cutting machine but there are so many different ones on the market I am finding it difficult to decide! I have been thinking along the lines of a Sizzix Big Shot however I have come across the Sidekick is this similar to the Big Shot as it is half the price, however the dies are still quite expensive?! I have also come across the cuttlebug! Which one would you guys suggest . . . ?

Thanks for your time . . . : ) Xx

[Christa]

I am sure if you search the forum you will find loads of threads on this very topic. At the end of the day it comes down to personal preference. I did the research when i was buying mine and I opted for the big shot...I am delighted with my choice and have never regretted it for a second. It depends on what you plan to use it for too. Dies can work out expensive but the sales are great...

If you can afford it and have the space to store it the BS is a fab and versatile machine. It is robust and with the right dies can cut through (and emboss - using folders, texture plates or make your own) almost any crafting medium. (Small thin dies can only cut paper, the larger dies can cut through metal, felt, fabric, wood).

The cuttlebug is similar but has a smaller footprint and is lighter so if portability is important you may opt for a bug.

There are some great deals on either available right now and little to choose between them on price (around fifty quid)


There are a lot of electronic machines on the market too - some use cartridges or design cards (another expense) and there are others that you can use with your pc. They all have different features and vary in price but are all in the hundreds...

Best advice I could give would be to pop along to a store/craft class and see if you can try the machines before you buy... Happy hunting.

[heavenly anarchist]

I love my Big Shot, it is just the right ize for me and is great for cutting fabric appliques and craft metal and embossing - my main uses for it as I seldom papercraft. I would have found the sidekick too small for many of my dies.
Do factor in the cost of dies though, as they do add up.

[sparklyshoes]

I'm a bigshot fan too! I've on had it since October and mainly cut fabric, leather & suede and, er well thats it actually. I don't use it for papercraft so I'm spending the money on bigz dies and the originalz(?)

There have been loads of threads on this lately, so go have a rummage and see.
Krysia

[cosmic grammie]

Just FYI, ,if you scroll down towards the bottom of this page a little, you'll see a list of "similar threads" that may be of interest.

[cosmic grammie]

I'm still trying to figure out embossing on a card...have patience, I beg you!

Okay, help me out. I just don't get it. So, these are called edges, but they are a cut out scene that you then affix to your card, right? They don't cut this out on the edge of your card, right??? Or emboss it on the card.

And it says you get one or two...I wonder which it is and what the other one is? I like the little fence, but I want to understand just what I am getting...I think it's something that gets cut out and then I would tape it on with little padded thingies that would make it stand out...3D effect?

http://www.sizzix.com/product/2512

Or with this, below, I could actually just emboss the upper third of the front of a card?

http://www.sizzix.com/product/1958

[Christa]

I'm still trying to figure out embossing on a card...have patience, I beg you!

Okay, help me out. I just don't get it. So, these are called edges, but they are a cut out scene that you then affix to your card, right? They don't cut this out on the edge of your card, right??? Or emboss it on the card.

And it says you get one or two...I wonder which it is and what the other one is? I like the little fence, but I want to understand just what I am getting...I think it's something that gets cut out and then I would tape it on with little padded thingies that would make it stand out...3D effect?

http://www.sizzix.com/product/2512

Or with this, below, I could actually just emboss the upper third of the front of a card?

http://www.sizzix.com/product/1958

With the first one you can cut the edges of a card, book or other project - either all sides or just the lead edge and you can also use it to cut freestanding fences which you can attach to cards/projects with adhesive of your choice - either flat or dimensional.

With the embossing folder you can emboss any cardstock that will fit into the folder. You can emboss one half or all. You can emboss the top half, and then the bottom half leaving a plain strip between to add something (a greeting, ribbon, chain or other embllishment) or simply leave it plain for effect. You can also get frame its which can be used with embossing folders and these allow you to emboss a full folder with a shaped area left plain and you can stamp or add images or wording etc in the plain 'framed' area - these come in a range of shapes and they simply slip inside the embossing folder along with the card to be embossed. You can emboss card blanks or pieces of card...and once you have embossed it, you have a variety of options to enhance the embossed image or pattern.

Hope that has helped? If it was a clear as mud please yell...

[cosmic grammie]

Okay, this all sounds promising...I think that until I get a Big Shot and play around with it, I'm not really going to fully understand, but yes, you made sense. Especially about the fence...so, I can cut out a fence, put some of my goat pics on the card, put the fence in front, raised...

And okay, with the same embossing folder, I can do all or part of a card front...and also not do the back...I don't want the back embossed...

Frames sound good...I didn't see them...

[Christa]

Okay, this all sounds promising...I think that until I get a Big Shot and play around with it, I'm not really going to fully understand, but yes, you made sense. Especially about the fence...so, I can cut out a fence, put some of my goat pics on the card, put the fence in front, raised...

And okay, with the same embossing folder, I can do all or part of a card front...and also not do the back...I don't want the back embossed...

Frames sound good...I didn't see them...

When embossing a card blank to simply slip the card fron into the folder - the back is not embossed. Often people mount embossed card onto the front of the card simply because it is easier to ensure you get it straight and there are no lines from the edge of the folder. If you buy precut card blanks the sizes can vary slightly. Embossing folders only come in limited sizes at the mo...maybe later they will expand the ranges but for now they are small...If you are getting a big shot the sizzix embossing plates do go to approx A5 size

For fences you can also get punches. I have a fab Martha Stewart fence punch - quick and easy.

[cosmic grammie]

Well I never! I'll have to look for that fence punch - Michael's has a pretty good sized Martha Stewart section. THANKS!! =D

[Christa]

Well I never! I'll have to look for that fence punch - Michael's has a pretty good sized Martha Stewart section. THANKS!! =D

I got mine on sale when I was in the USA it was $7.99...hope you find one

[CEmberson]

I am using the new Spellbinders Grand Calibur Die Cutting machine and it is superb, the fact that it had bigger cutting plates is great for larger projects as well as for small. It is simple to use as the plates are labelled so it is pretty much impossible to get your 'sandwiches' wrong for both cutting and embossing.

[breathtakingdesigns]

Hello, I have the big shot which I find great for embossing and can be used for die cutting, however I use a Cricut machine for all my die cutting. Although you do have to buy the cartridges it's still a fantastic machine. Hope this helps.

[barbarajames80]

I have Martha Stewart and it's pretty good actually. I'm pleased.