Personally, it really depends on what you’d be comfortable with. Sammy Deortha at Ezine Articles did a research comparing die cutting machines.

If you are considering buying a cutting machine to enhance your crafting projects, you have probably noticed there are a wide variety of machines from which to choose. How do you decide which machine will be the best for you? Price, of course, is the biggest determining factor, but where do you go after that? Do you want a manual machine or an electronic system? Do you want to purchase individual dies, cartridges with multiple images, or do you want the extreme versatility of a computer based machine? Here are a few facts about the types of cutting machines available.

Manual Die Cutting Machines

Manual cutting machines require no electricity and are operated by hand. They are the least pricey of your options. Some of the manual cutters include the Cuttlebug, the Sizzix, and the Quickut Squeeze or the Quickut Revolution. You will need to buy individual dies for these machines, one for each shape you want to cut. The Cuttlebug, one of the newest models of manual cutters, will use dies from most manufactures and has a nice embossing feature. Both the Cuttlebug and the Sizzix will cut fairly thick materials like chipboard, fun foam and felt. The Sizzix, however, is one of the oldest die cutting machines available and is limited to one or two fonts. All of these units are portable for taking along to crops or vacations.

Electronic Cutting Machines

You can choose electronic cutting machines that stand alone or ones that require the use of a computer. The Cricut and the Cricut Expression do not need to be plugged in to the computer. These machines use cartridges designed specifically for these machines. Each cartridge much be purchased separately but contains multiple images. There is optional software available for the Cricut if you want to supplement the versatility of these systems.

There are several computer-based models available for home use, including the Quickutz Silhouette, <a href=”http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-1699675-10273743?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.joann.com%2Fjoann%2Fcatalog.jsp%3FCATID%3Dcat2061%26PRODID%3Dxprd346798&cm_mmc=CJ-_-1563501-_-1699675-_-Product%20Catalog%201&cjsku=DBG+I+48387″ target=”_top”>Xyron Wishblade</a><img src=”http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-1699675-10273743″ width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″/>, and Craft Robo. All three of these machines are basically the same, allowing you to cut any true type font you have on your computer. The Wishbone is the most expensive of the three, but it does come with extra designs and software. Your design possibilities are wide open with any of these machines. If you have trouble learning exactly how to operate the system, there are support groups online where you can find experienced crafters willing to help. You can also store your designs online or e-mail them to friends. Of course, these machines are more expensive than stand alone or manual machines.

Which cutting machine is best for you?

Now you must decide which cutting machine is the best match for your requirements. Do your research and be honest with yourself. How much are you willing to invest? How much time do you have to use your machine? Will it be too difficult for you to learn the techniques of the more sophisticated models? Will buying individual dies or cartridges restrict your creativity and cost more in the long run than a bigger up front investment? Once you answer these questions, you will be better prepared to choose a cutting machine that will best suit your personal needs.

Post from: Blisstree

Die-Cutting Machine Comparison

Halloween is just around the corner and are you keen to add something special to your halloween decor? I picked up this idea from Making Memories from the Spellbound Collection and using Slice Cordless Design Digital Cutter. Happy decor making!

To create this project, do the following:
1. Cut a 8.5” x 8.5” piece of Making Memories’ Spellbound glitter dot black paper and use the Slice to cut a 3-inch pumpkin (from the Spellbound Design Card) on the bottom right corner. Fold the paper in half.

2. Cut a 4.25” x 8.5” piece of Making Memories’ Spellbound orange brocade paper and adhere it to the inside of your place card, allowing the orange paper to show through the negative pumpkin cut-out.

3. Cut a 3.5” x 4.25” piece of green cardstock and mat it with green dot pattern paper. Round the top corners and glue it to the left side of your card.

4. Adhere a strip of Spellbound trim across the front of the card and tuck it around the negative pumpkin cut-out.

5. Add Spellbound chipboard alphabet stickers for your name. Decorate the card with thread and buttons from the Spellbound embellishment box.

6. Add Spellbound foam stickers or Spellbound line art stickers to the inside of the place card. They should show through the negative pumpkin cut-out.

Image credit: Making Memories

Post from: Blisstree

Halloween Table Decor Idea from Making

The Pioneer Scrapbook Binding System is a cool product. It doesn’t look much but based on the reviews I read in Scrapbook.com, I think it’s a must have rather than a ‘nice to have’. I have post-bound scrapbooks and they can be a pain sometimes if my layouts are bulky because of the embellishments.

Here’s an example of a customer raving about this product:

These little peices of plastic are absolutely the best! No more messing with screwdrivers and adding extension posts with the Snap Load bindings. Once you replace your posts with this product, your pages will lay better, turn better and you can easily add in more pages anywhere you want. Double page layouts look better together, too, with no gaps between the pages! The instructions that come with the set are not very easy to follow so I’m going to help you out.

Just take out the posts and throw them away. Don’t bother with the instructions on the pack for leaving the posts in place. Now take all your pages and thread the straps through them. The straps are flat and have a smooth side and a ridged side. With the pages laying on the table, the ridge side should face center of the book. I know you want to thread with the ridges faceing up or down, but the ridged straps need to face each other. Now get the mounting locks. Peel off the backing and you will see that they each have a little bumpy snap at the back on one end. Place those snaps inside the album holes where the screws were so that the long end of the lock is facing down for the top holes and up for the bottom holes. Now thread the straps through and press them into place. If you made your book too tight or loose, you can easily adjust them at any time.

Post from: Blisstree

Innovative Scrapbook Product: Pioneer Scrapbook Binding System – Snap Load

cae
Jul 10, 2008 at 4:41 pm

I need some instruction in how to use my silent setter. It came with no instructions. I’ve figured out how to make a hole punch but I can’t make the eyelets work. Help!!

I’ve found instructions from About.com, hope this helps!

Step 1) Place the item you wish to apply an eyelet to on the cutting mat provided in the tool kit.

Step 2) Insert the size hole tip that matches your eyelet size into the tool (three tips are provided).

Step 3) Using firm pressure press the tip of the tool onto the cardstock. You may wish to rock the tip slightly as you press.

Step 4) Insert eyelet into the hole and flip the cardstock with eyelet in it over on the mat.

Step 5) Insert the eyelet setting tip that matches the size of the eyelet into the tool (three tips are provided).

Step 6) Once again, use firm pressure to press the tool into the eyelet to set it in place.

Post from: Blisstree

How to use Provo Craft’s Silent Setter

If you want to promote your design team calls, contest, challenges or anything scrapbook-related, drop me a line at christine@b5media.com

I was browsing through my favourite scrapbooking sites and found this portable scrapbooking table by Scrap-N-Stow.

It retails for $189.95 but looks oh so good to have! This is especially good for croppers out there that do not have a dedicated scrapbook space in your home. This might be the answer to your prayers!

According to the site,

Table Top Compartments are sized specifically to hold your scrapbooking tools and materials.

Spacious work area (52″ x 26″) — this heavy duty table is sturdy enough to handle all kinds of craft projects.

Eliminate setup time ! Eliminate cleanup time ! Store your work in progress.

Just fold it up ! Everything is right where you left it when you return.

Luggage Wheels & Drag Handle make it easy to move around.

What do you think about this new product? Do you think it’s a good investment?

Post from: Blisstree

Featured Scrapbook Product of the Week: Scrap-n-Stow Portable Scrapbooking Table

One of our Mad Cropper readers emailed me asking where she can buy a Quickutz Die Cutter. You can buy it at Camera World. Just click on the image above and it should take you directly to the site.

Product Description:

The sleek Revolution tool creates cutting edge QuicKutz designs in a snap! Larger 4″ dies snap into place on a magnetic platform and spin through the Revolution to create BIG die cut letters, shapes, and ShortKutz phrases! Revolution dies are durable, lightweight, and thinner than a credit card. The Revolution tool is also durable and compact with a footprint of only 5″ x 7″! The Revolution Tool is compatible with all other QuicKutz dies, including Cookie Cutters!

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Buying a Quickutz Die Cutter

Still looking for that craft cutter that you can invest in? Do you think it’s the Quickutz Silhouette?

The Quickutz Silhouette Digital Craft Cutter is designed for crafters who:

*Have a PC with Windows 2000 or XP
*Have an internet connection
*Want to cut out Quickutz designs and computer fonts in multiple sizes
*Don’t want to worry about cartridges or CDs
*Want to explore advanced features of digital craft cutting

Have you got a Quickutz Silhouette? Do you like it? How do you find it?

Post from: Blisstree

Quickutz Silhouette: Digital Craft Cutter

Looking for a machine that not only cuts but shapes and embosses as well! Wow!

Product description after the jump:

Product Description:

Expressing creativity has never been easier! Cut shapes emboss shapes or-cut then emboss shapes. The machine and inspired die designs exclusive to the Cuttlebug system are as fun as they are simple to use. Just lower the platforms; a powerful gripping mechanism holds the machine in place. Then place cutting material and die (face up) between cutting mats and turn the handle to move the die through the machine. Remove the die cut shape and start crafting! Cuttlebug is user friendly with any die and cuts a variety of materials. It’s fold-n-store profile allows storage in a small amount of space and the built-in pop-up handle allows for quick transport. Expressing creativity has never been easier! Cut shapes emboss shapes or-cut then emboss shapes. The machine and inspired die designs exclusive to the Cuttlebug system are as fun as they are simple to use. Just lower the platforms; a powerful gripping mechanism holds the machine in place. Then place cutting material and die (face up) between cutting mats and turn the handle to move the die through the machine. Remove the die cut shape and start crafting! Cuttlebug is user friendly with any die and cuts a variety of materials. It’s fold-n-store profile allows storage in a small amount of space and the built-in pop-up handle allows for quick transport.

Post from: Blisstree

Provo Craft Cuttlebug Machine

Here’s EK Success new release: Cutterpede Straight Edge Trimmer. The only difference that I could see with this trimmer is its rotary blade shuttle (click on 2nd image) that could be swung.

For instructions on how to use the trimmer, click HERE.

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Cutterpede Straight Edge Trimmer

Becky Higgins has a video of her favorite tools. I can’t embed the video here but you can go to the Creating Keepsakes’ site HERE. Just go to the right hand bar and click on ‘Becky Higgins Favorite Tools.’

Some of Becky Higgins’ favorite tools include:

EK Success Circle Punch

See Through Ruler

Heidi Swapp’s petite paper piercer

Post from: Blisstree

Becky Higgins’ Favorite Tools – A Video