This video is about choosing the right Sizzix machine for you to do scrapbooking and cardmaking or even quilting. Each one is unique, but all do very similar things. Let me go through them with you. We have the texture boutique embossing machine, the sizzix big kick vintaj,the big shot PRO,the vagabond, the big shot, the eclips, and the big kick machine. Each machine is a bit different. All machines except the texture boutique will CUT materials.
A question that is often asked by many is “What is the favorite machine?” Stephanie explains that this is a very LOADED QUESTION! It really depends on what you are working on and trying to accomplish with your crafting needs. If you like to quilt or are in a school room setting and need to do big projects such as 12×12 or 12×24 inches then the Big Shot PRO would be exceptionally well and suit your needs. Or lets say you want to emboss a 12×12 sheet of paper and emboss the whole sheet, then the Sizzix Big Shot PRO would also be your best bet. But what if you are into cutting and embossing smaller items. One of the other machines like the Vagabond which is electronic push of a button die cutting machine or the big shot which is a turn of the handle or even the big kick. The Eclips is an electronic cutter with a remote that can do those as well. Getting back to the Vagabond, many like this machine because it will cut through very thick grungeboard and is an inspired design by Tim Holtz. The Big Shot will do the same with the grungeboardd, but you will have to hand crank it. So it is matter of preference between those two machines.
On to the Eclips electronic die cutting machine by Sizzix. It is perfect for one that wants to do their own designing. Or lets say you want to do a small one inch shape or all the way to a 12×24 inch shape. This is all completely doable with the Eclips ecal software and this machine along with their Eclips cartridges.
REALLY the choice is yours. Do you want to emboss? Do you want cut AND emboss? Do you want an electronic or a hand crank? Do you want to use software and do your own designing? I guess that depends on you!
We hope this post and video tutuorial done by education director of Sizzix Ellison has helped you know a little more of why CutAtHome.com carries Sizzix machines and dies! They are high quality and there is something GREAT for every crafter,scrapbooker,cardmaker on the planet!
Here we are going to do an embossing folders comparison for scrapbooking! “Where Can I Find Embossing Folders? and… What are the Differences? Have you ever asked yourself those questions before? Are you looking for a particular brand? Do you know where to find it in our store? How many different sizes and styles are there?
Well, I am going to do my best to help out with these questions and show you comparisons! I am including two videos; one that will hopefully help you identify the different manufactures that make embossing folders, names, sizes, styles, and even Cut@Home pricing, which will enable you to choose which folders you want. We carry embossing folders from Cuttlebug, Quickutz, Sizzix, Spellbinders, and Tim Holtz!
The second will show you how to navigate our site directly to the different manufacturer’s embossing folders. A brand new feature that was added after taping this video is our Embossing Folder Theme which will take you to view ALL embossing folders in our store, including some Bigz dies that come with a coordinating Textured Impressions embossing folder which were not included in our video.
Before I do that just what to clarify real quick what embossing is:
Embossing is a technique that makes a raised image on cardstock or other materials. By having an embossing tool and dies that have an edge one can simply run the die or also known as an embossing folder through the emboss machine with your desired paper or card.
Hopefully these videos will be informative for you!
Here is the second video on navigating the site to find them. You may also look under THEME if you are into scrapbooking by theme and will find “embossing folders” there as well. Another hint as well is if you see in this image to the right under every folder and product we carry will list the brand, type of die and die name to which you can click on any if you want to see ALL. Very useful!
We have found that the majority of these embossing folders will work in most machines! The sandwich formulas are pretty much the same for Cuttlebug, Quickutz, Textured Impressions, Texture Fades and Texture Fades, so if you have used one of those in your particular machine, you already know how to use the rest.
Spellbinders M-Bossabilities will use a different sandwich formula as they are thicker due to embossing images on both sides of the folder. We have videos showing the M-Bossabilities sandwich formula that you will use with most of the die cutting machines we carry that will be well worth looking at HERE!
I hope this will make shopping for embossing folders a breeze!
In this post we have taken the time to show you ALL die cutting and embossing machines or tools out there on the market in a basic review. If you want to read about any of these in more depth you may CLICK HERE and click on which machine you would like to know more about! If you have any questions about compatibility,price,features,etc. please leave a comment below.
Briefly before we begin the review we do not necessarily favor one machine over another. All are very unique and made by different manufacturers. So here are some questions you need to answer before you decide which one is right for you.
1. What will you be using the die cutting machine for? (i.e. school projects,work,scrapbooking hobby,parties, your own vinyl lettering business) 2. Do you have arthritis in the hands or other disability? 3. Will you only be cutting or do you want to emboss as well? 4. Up to what size of scrapbook paper do you want to cut and/or emboss? (i.e. 12×12,8×8,6×6,4.5×6) 5. Will you be cutting other materials? 6. Do you want to scrapbook or make cards from a computer,electronic machine, or manual? 7. Does it need to be portable to go to scrapbook home parties or friends house? 8. Does it need to cut all materials like paper,vinyl,fabric,plastic,cork,vellum, etc?.
These are obviously not all the questions you could ask yourself, but should give you an idea if you are ready to start scrapbooking,doing invitations, or making cards of what you should be looking for.
ALSO here below is for our visual learners a video of this post if you would rather watch and listen as we go through the different tools.
=============================================================== Sizzix Big Shot Review
The Big Shot Machine measures approximately 14 1/4″ x 8 1/2″ x 6 1/2″. It has a stylish black and pink colors giving it a feminine touch! It will cut and emboss and is very versatile in cutting fabric,cardstock,paper, and mostly anything in between. It has been around a while now and is always a best seller at a price point of $69.00. It will take all Sizzix dies and other leading brand dies with the proper plates and mats. The only dies it won’t take obviously are those that are 12×12,which would be for the next machine big shot PRO! See VIDEO
Sizzix Big Shot PRO Review
This die cutting and embossing tool is just like the big shot, however it has an opening for using 12 inch paper w/out having to trim. It will take ALL sizzix dies and anything within its huge width opening. Constructed from industrial-strength materials, the Big Shot Pro Machine features a 13 inch opening to cut hundreds of materials. This machine also embosses using the Solo Platform Shim & Wafer Thin Die Adaptor. It price has gone up from what you might have seen it as due to Sizzix Ellison guidelines, however we still have priced at $349.99, which is a steal of a deal. This tool is designed to last forever and could be great for those that want to do school projects or for a teacher. See VIDEO
Sizzix Eclips Shape Cutting Machine Review
The only die cutting machine out that there has a handheld remote and some pretty robust technology. But don’t let that scare you. Their customer support and video tuturials that we have HERE will help you transition smoothly. It can cut all shapes and letters up to 12 inches and even has the ability to let you design your own. It is electronic and is 22 1/2 inches x 5 inches x 7 1/2 inches. It is very fast and accurate and for those who do take the plunge of paying for this machine absolutely LOVE it! We are yet to meet someone that regretted their purchase. The price is steep at $499, but we do have it at $399. Tim Holtz has also done some cartridges for Eclips that actually match with his line of stamps called stamp2cut. Just click on the links if you want to see those. It weights 16.5 lbs, but can be taken anywhere as it is similar like the cricut taking cartridges and is not attached to any computer! You can also do up to 24 inch boarders in length. Here is more to learn about it as there is a lot that this tool has. Click Here. See VIDEO
Sizzix Vagabond inspired by Tim Holtz Review
This tool is an electronic die cutting & embossing machine with a vintage look to it because it is Tim Holtz who designed it along with Sizzix! It resembles a suitcase and opens up from both sides plugs in and you push the button and send your paper with the die through. The Construction of the Vagabond has solid core steel rollers, unibody cast roller housing, solid steel gears, high torque motor and ABS plastic exterior making it a heavy machine, but will last a long time and makes cutting and embossing pretty much effortless. It does have stickers so you can even decorate it as well. Our Price is around $209. See VIDEO
Sizzix Textured Boutique Embossing Machine Review
I like this little machine. It is absolutely priced perfectly for the one that ONLY wants to do embossing cards or A2 size paper. This sells on our site for $26.00. It is a GREAT way to get your feet wet into scrapbooking by starting out with simply embossing cards for a low investment. It takes the textured impressions embossing folders and those by Tim Holtz as well. I’ve heard that you can use the A2 Quickutz and Cuttlebug embossing folders as well, but don’t quote me on that. See VIDEO
Sizzix Vintaj Big Kick Review
This is a Sizzix machine but partnered with Vintaj to create a special edition cut amd emboss tool. This Bigkick sizzix tool will cut,emboss, and etch different designs. Using the vintaj dies you can now make jewelry as well with this. The Vintaj line of DecoEtch dies and DecoEmboss dies HERE go with this machine! Priced at $79.99 on our site from the retail of $99.99. See VIDEO
Spellbinders Grand Calibur Review
The Grand Calibur is Spellbinders Paper Arts latest tool that replaced the Wizard. However, this new design makes rolling dies through a breeze! It will accept 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper if you remove the cutting tray. With a turn of the handle and only weighing 10 lbs it becomes now portable. It will cut,emboss, AND stencil if using Spellbinders Dies! It takes all the Grand Nestabilities. The base keeps it sturdy and has color coded plates for stacking. It will also take all other leading brand dies with the right compatibility. Go HERE to see compatibility. It retails for $139.99, but Cut@Home’s price here is only $119.99. This along with the Big Shot is a BEST seller on our site and seems that Spellbinders can’t keep them in stock! See VIDEO
Spellbinders Presto Punch Review[UPDATE: This machine is NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION]
The Presto Punch was a machine the can cut and emboss with the push of a button for those that have arthritis, however it hasn’t really taken off and the Grand Calibur seems to still be the preferred with its ease of the handle. However, I have included it in the review so you can see its features. It sells for around $55.00. It works like a scrapbook punches system, but with the feature of being automatic. It will eliminate the need for all those paper punches and can store up to 30 designs. It is very simple to use, but kind of lound. It is battery operated taking AA batteries. Size? Well it is 5 1/4 x 4 1/2 x 7 inches. There is nothing really like it out there and the only one of its kind. With 7 free die cut templates that come with the machine makes for a good deal. Perhaps it will catch on! See VIDEO
Quickutz/Lifestyle Crafts Epic Six Review[UPDATE: This machine is NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION]
The Epic Six cutting and embossing tool is very much like the Cuttlebug I think in size and scope. It will accept all Quickutz dies and other leading brand dies. It is very lightweight making it portable. It does have a 6 inch wide opening and built to last with high quality metal insides. Quickutz also provides a lifetime warranty service commitment to all their customers. It is priced at $79.99 on our site and a very versatile tool. It could be a nice option if you have limited crafting space. See VIDEO
UPDATE:
The Evolution is the new 6-inch wide Die cutting, Embossing & Letterpress tool from Quickutz and Lifestyle Crafts which has REPLACED the Epic Six. The Evolution universal craft tool allows you to die cut, emboss, and letterpress! It’s lightweight, portable, and compatible with all leading brand dies and embossing folders. This tool is built not only for scrapbooking and card making, but targeted to do home decor, and all craft types of craft projects as well! Some improvements are the following: sturdy metal handl, a 6×13 inch cutting/embossing platform,Mat A for cutting thin dies,Mat B for cutting thick dies and embossing.
Provo Craft Cricut Expression Review
The Cricut Expression was is the MOST popular of the Cricut line of machines even surpassing the cricut 2. It has the 24 inch long ability to cut even a longer shape. The settings on the lcd screen will give you a nice customization for different units of measurements. This will accept existing cartridges you may already have and compares similar to a Cameo except it does NOT connect to a computer and works soley with cartridges. Pricing is around $249.99 online and we sell it for $199.
Provo Craft Cricut Expression 2 Review
There is not much to say about the Expression 2 except that it is very similar to the one mentioned above. It does have a more sleek design with new colors and cuts with al lthe cricut and cricut imagine cartridges,wireless compatibility,color lcd screen with a stylus, no keypad overlay required, and a cutting area light priced at $259.99 and can be seen at $299.99 elsewhere.
Provo Craft Cricut Mini Personal Electronic Cutter Review
This is definitely the electronic cutting space saving design Provo Craft was looking to provide to scrapbookers. It works with Windows or Mac and connects right to the computer similar to the cameo except this is designed to cut shapes from 1/4 inch up to 11 1/4 inch on a 8 1/2 x 12 inch cutting mat. It is for the smaller projects with paper,vinyl, & fabric. Very nice option if you still like the Provo Craft brand, but don’t want the cartridges and need something nice and easy scrapbook tool right from the computer. Sells for $129.99 and we offer it at $115.99.
Provo Craft Cuttlebug Machine v2 Review
Lastly, from ProvoCraft is their manual die cutting and embossing machine. This v2 of cuttlebug replaced the old one bringing it a newer lightweight design, however the great components inside that everyone loves have stayed the same making this such a durable tool. Very much like the Epic Six, but has fold up base,more durable and stronger outer casing with a metal handle that can be pushed into the side. It does have the handle at the top making it portable and a breeze to carry. Retails for around $89.99 and we sell it for $69.95, which is the best price we can do!
Silhouette Cameo Review
Made by Silhouette America, which branched off of Quickutz awhile ago and went more towards the computer electronic tool for home use. This machine plugs into your PC or MAC with a USB cable and instead of a printer it will actually cut paper with a blade or draw with pen. It is loved by those that do vinyl lettering for their home decor or even small home business! One of the distinguishing features from the cricut is that it doesn’t take cartridges. Everything is in the software including the designs! It will cut up to 12 inches wide and 10 feet long. It boasts a quiet motor. See Cameo and Cricut comparison! See VIDEO
Slice ELITE Cordless Digital Design Cutter Review
Like the big shot, the Slice Elite by Making Memories has the right color: PINK! Sells for $139.00 and is a cordless paper cutter. It will cut between 1 inch and 4 inch designs. The Elite compared to the original slice cutter is that the “elite” now cuts 40% faster and twice as deep. it will cut vellum,vinyl,acetate,foam sheets,thin metal sheets, and of course paper! With the LCD 2 monitor makes selecting your designs from the digital design cards easy to see and now has a plate that will hold the tool in place if you do not want to hold it. The Slice Elite works with batteries or a cord. This and the Fabrique would have to be the MOST PORTABLE and smallest die cutting machine out there. With 100′s of design cards that are the size of an SD camera card you can store them very easily. See VIDEO
Slice Fabrique Cordless Fabric Cutter Review
Now this digital cutter takes us out of the scrapbooking realm a bit and into the sewing by Making Memories as well. This revolutionary tool makes fabric cutting FUN that only helps with quilting. It takes digital cards with tons of designs on each. It is cordless like the Slice Elite, the only differences really are that it has some specific design cards that can only be used with cutting Fabric. It prices as $129.99. See VIDEO
I hope this along with the videos and pictures gives you a better idea on how and where to buy a die cutting machine. However WARNING once you start die cutting & embossing your pages or cards, it then becomes an addiction! But a great one at that.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WITH A COMMENT BELOW ON WHICH MACHINE YOU LIKE AND WHY.
Which One Is Right for You? The Provo Craft Cricut OR the Silhouette Cameo. Here is some info that might help you out! Lets start the battle Cricut versus Cameo round ONE!
You might have noticed in our online store that we are now carrying Cricut machines and Cartridges. We have always carried Provo Craft’s line of Cuttlebug embossing folders and their version 2 of the cuttlebug, but held off for years on carrying the cricut line due to unfair competition. However, things have changed over at Provo Craft and we are pleased to be working more closely with them than ever. We will leave it at that & simply say that we are excited to carry Provo craft’s most popular machine the Cricut Expression and all their cartridges at unbelievable prices.
The purpose of this blog post however, is to compare some of the differences between the Cricut and the Silhouette Cameo that perhaps you the crafter may not have thought of. Let me start out by saying that both of these die cutting machines are “hot” on the market and both are a scrapbookers dream come true for those that like a little software hands off approach per se.
Let’s start talking about the Cricut first & then finish with the Cameo:
Cricut Expression made and designed by Provo Craft is an electronic cutter with two cutting measurements offered which are 12×12 inch and 12×24 inch. You can cut out dies from .25 inch up to 23.5 inches. Which is absolutely huge! This machine accepts all cricut cartridges, which can be benefical if you don’t want to be collection hundreds of scrapbook dies. It’s space saving design is very much similar to small deskjet printer. It comes with different customization of cutting and settings to permit different languages & units of measurements. When you flip the lid open on the cricut expression you will see a very NICE LCD screen for easy viewing and all your keyboard options. Now here is probably the major difference from the Silhouette Cameo is that there is NO computer necessary. This is a stand alone and functioning craft machine! Click here to see these tools. PRICE: $199.99 on CutAtHome.com
Next we have the all NEW Silhouette Cameo designed by Silhouette America. This is a redesign from the first release of the Silhouette SD digital craft cutter. This redesign initiated the new company and branched from Quickutz. There are some big updates that were made to improve this die cutting tool. Lets go through them. First off it is an electronic cutting tool as well meaning no roller mechanism and needs to obviously be plugged in as with the Expression. It is similar to a home printer in that the Cameo plugs directly into your PC or Mac computer with the use of a USB cable. Using a small blade or pen (if you want to draw the design. See pens here) to cut paper cardstock, vinyl, fabric, and more. It will cut up to 12 inches wide and 10 FEET long. The motor is impressively quiet. There are no cartridges used with this machine. The designs are ALL downloadable! so you are neither collection die cuts nor cartridges. Click Here to see the Cameo. PRICE: $269.99 on CutAtHome.com.
So as you can see their are some very OBVIOUS differences between these two die cutting tools. Here is my one thought I leave with you and the question you need to ponder if you are deciding between the two:
DO YOU WANT TO SCRAPBOOK VIA COMPUTER OR NOT?
The reason I pose this question is the Cricut was designed around the working woman. One that is on a computer all day at work and the last thing she wants to do is sit at home & get back on that computer. On the contrary the Silhouette Cameo was made in mind with the crafter that does not really want the hands on experience and would rather have a tool that allows one to do their owny vinyl lettering easily or paper projects through a computer that is a stay at home mom or their job does not require 9-5 computer all day. They BOTH are different in purpose and why I posed the question as such.
See ALL die cutting & embossing machines! You will then be able to see pricing,more details, and most importanly make the best decision possible of which die cutting machine is right for you. YOu may also be interested in watching these videos below as it goes through a few that are out there on the market! Simply click on the link and you will be taken to our youtube channel.
What is the difference between the Making Memories Slice and Slice Elite Cordless Digital Design Cutters, you ask? Well, lets start with the basics!
Both are comparable as far as looks; size is less than 5″, weight-2 pounds, and both have a 2″ preview window. Both run either on rechargeable batteries or can be plugged in with the power cord, which allows total flexibility for taking it to crops, vacation, etc.! Both take the same design cards and are offered in blue or pink!
With the Slice, you can select from thousands of high-style images and instantly convert them into die-cuts up to 8 sizes ranging between 1/2 inch and 4 inch tall.
The Slice Elite has a hardware upgrade which allows the ELITE to cut more precise, 40% faster and twice as deep. Cut textured cardstock, vellum, vinyl, acetate, foam sheets, thin metal sheets and photos up to 1mm thick. Cut 1 inch to 4 inch designs in 1/2 inch increments anywhere on any size media.
WHY CHOOSE THE SLICE OR SLICE ELITE, you might ask?
1. Because it’s on-the-go just like you. Weighing less than two pounds, this 5″ square wonder goes everywhere you go. And because it’s cordless you can cut anywhere on any size media.
2. Because you can easily do it all at the touch of a button. Just insert a design card, select a shape from the friendly graphic interface and watch it work its magic.
3. Because the designs you desire come from one place. Enjoy Making Memories’ top-notch designs including the popular styles of the Noteworthy and Animal Crackers programs. Cut your favorite designs in one-to four-inch increments to compliment projects both large and small.
SLICE CUTTING CAPABILITIES:
The Slice is designed to cut through media in varying thicknesses including:
- Textured paper
- Cardstock
- Vellum
- Textured cardstock
- Photos (up to .5mm thick)
- Vinyl
- And Acetate
SLICE DESIGN CARD FEATURES:
- Design cards expand the Slice shape offerings many times over, and are currently available in four themes including Basic Shapes I, Basic Shapes II, Basic Shapes III, Noteworthy and Animal Crackers.
- Includes equivalent of thousands of design cuts including: Upper & lower case alphabets
Monograms
Numbers
Scrolls
Flourishes
Photo Corners
Journaling Spots
Frames
Flowers
…..and much much more! All in our store!
I hope that you will also watch the video on the Slice Elite! Just click on the “More Details” button of the Slice Elite Cordless Digital Design Cutter and scroll down to the video!
Hooray! The big day has FINALLY arrived! Today is the day that we are showing you ALL of the new releases from Heartfelt Creations, Lifestyle Crafts, Spellbinders, and Quickutz! You will be inspired beyond your wildest dreams with these amazing new products!
Heartfelt Creation’s Dutch Iris and New Life Collections are perfect to celebrate the coming of spring and Easter holiday!
Quickutz’ delightful Fresh Start Collection includes an adorable 4 x 4 Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs that will definitely keep the smile on your face as you create your spring cards or layouts!
Spellbinders additional items bring their new release count to 45! Your head will spin as you make your wish list! They are absolutely incredible!
Most of the New Releases are expected to begin shipping the beginning of February! If you ask me, this is the best CHA Release ever! So many wonderful products to choose from! I want them all!!!! You can see these and much more under NEW PRODUCTS in our store!
Here are a couple layouts I did using just a few of the new Spellbinder Dies. I used pieces from the S5-043 Fleur De Lis Motifs as well as S5-042 Fleur De Lis Accent and the S5-030 Fancy Tags Two for my first layout, along with the DCWV Black Currant Paper Stack.
I promise that you will LOVE this release as much as I do, so have fun shopping! You’ll be glad that you can just sit in your chair and push a button to put items in your cart and not have to push that heavy cart around!
The Silhouette SD is flying off the shelves especially at the GREAT price we have on it right now for a limited time. We have been receiving quite a few questions about this AWESOME digital cutting tool and so thought we would blog about it and hopefully help those who are interested in answering all those questions. YES, we do NOT carry a lot of digital craft machines that connect to a computer, but we could not pass this one up. First off it connects to your computer just like a printer, but instead of printing designs it cuts them with a small blade. With the machine connected to your computer, you’ll get access to all of the fonts on your PC. Another question that is asked if it can cut vinyl? YES absolutely, in fact home decor with this machine is a breeze. We offer the adhesive vinyl too in white and black currently. Can it draw? YEP! If you purchase the sketch pens these can replace the blade and click into place and now you have a printer that is drawing for you in all types of inks! What can it Cut? Paper and Cardstock, Vinyl, Heat transfer material, Rhinestone templates, and specialty media. Who is Silhouette America? This is a great question. They branched off from Quickutz,who is now Lifestyle Crafts to exclusively offer digital die cutting to this specific market. Lastly, What else can it do? Well… I will give you some ideas: scrapbook pages, cards, custom apparel, vinyl decor as mentioned, etched glass, sketch designs, temporary tattoos even, and paper crafts of all sorts! I hope this helps a little bit.
WHAT IS SCORING:Scoring breaks down the fibers in the paper and allows it to bend and fold accurately without creasing other part of the paper, making your fold EXACT!
From Scor-Pal to Crafters Companion to Scor-It-All to Martha Stewarts Scoring Board, we have had many questions flying about what is the BEST scoring tool out there or if there is really a difference in which one you should buy.
So here at CutAtHome.com we did our own investigation visiting forums, talking to owners, designers, and of course most important YOU the PAPER CRAFTERS! Here is what we found out. Many like the Crafters Companion because of its options (i.e. envelopes),but complain that it does not have the deep channels like the Scor-pal. With deeper channels the score line makes for easier scoring and not having to press so hard. The Scor Pal is lines with a scoring tool, thus the “learning curve” is much easier. The crafters Companion is geared towards the paper crafter that is okay with complexity and a large learning curve. It is also double the price of the Scorpal because of everything it comes with and does.
Okay lets talk about the new MS scoring tool (Martha Stewart Scoring Board). This is the newest scoring tool on the market and is less in cost than all, but also has the most complaints. When scoring it tends to jump out of the tracks if you don’t push down really, really, hard. This is due to the flimsy material it is made out of. If you are planning on doing ONE project and then will never do card folding again, then this is an option. The other thing we’ve seen across the message boards is that eighth inch marks are VERY confusing. Here is another good article on Scor-Pal & Martha Stewart Scoring Board
There was NOT much talk about Scor-It-All (Scor-It) Tool that we could find other than what the owners say, which is it comes in 5 different styles ranging from 6 inches to 36 inches. It has a ruler function that seems to be useful. We also read through a bunch of reviews online and Scor-Pal still was favored by majority and that the Scor-It-All was more sturdy, but more difficult to use. If you are wanting to score chip board or other REALLY hard materials this could be an option. Here are what other people are saying that had a debate on Craft Critique: Scor-Pal vs Scor-It
Why Cut@Home chose to carry the SCOR-PAL over the others?
1. More sturdy with two side rails, which help with stability and compatible for right and left handed people.
2. Wider Deeper Grooves so tool does NOT jump rail. And helps with scoring thicker materials. Has been tested for depth perfection over & over. (see image to the right)
3. Quick measurements at every half inch making it SIMPLE to score.
4. Easy access to the tool on top of board and Multiple scores w/o having to move the paper.
5. Many accessory items also offered like the Scor-Mat and Scor-Bug.
6. The Price is affordable for the excellent quality you receive & so much more!!!
CONCLUSIONS:
If you don’t need anything fancy and want a scoring board and tool that is EASY to use and practical, but built with quality and durable enough to score through MOST materials for an affordable price, we feel the Scor-Pal is the BEST OPTION! Read more about Scor-Pal… or see the NEW Scor-Buddy, which is portable and ideal for card making, invitations, and small gift boxes! Grooves are at every 1/4 inch. The Scor-Pal now has a unique Scor-Pal Project Book as well with 80 fun filled pages of all the crafts you can do! It is called the “Score, Fold, Create! a Scor Pal Project Book. Here is a little more about what Diane Crick has to say about this: Stunning paper crafts with unique and inspiring designs can be found in this collection of projects. Crafters can learn how to use the Scor-Pal scoring boards and tools to their full potential with the aid of easy-to-follow tutorials, detailed assembly instructions, and graphs. Lovely handmade cards, gift boxes, and decorative pieces are among the brand-new project ideas that will be treasured by friends and family for years to come.
Have you been wondering about the upcoming Quickutz Epic 12 die-cutting machine? Are you not sure whether you should buy the Epic Six now or just wait for the Epic Twelve? Are you happy with your Revolution and not sure you want another machine? If you have been asking yourself these questions, then this post is for you. Read on!
Yes, the rumors are true. I confirmed it today with a QK marketing rep that Quickutz is indeed releasing a new machine, the Epic Twelve. Quickutz is still not sure on a few things so some of the details are still a little sketchy. Here is what we know so far.
Quickutz does not have a release date yet for the Epic 12. They are projecting first or second quarter of 2010. They also have not decided on the price. My rep told me it will be priced at “well over $200.00.” And that is a direct quote from him. The Epic 12 will also weigh twice as much as the Epic 6, which will make the Epic 12 over twenty pounds. It will not be very portable.
So, you say you love your Revolution, and are not sure you need another die-cutting machine like the Epic 6? Some things to consider are the functionality of the Epic Six is much greater than the Revolution. The Rev does not cut the steel ruled dies, Cuttlebug folders or the Sizzlets. The Epic Six will cut all this and much more. The openings are different, with the Rev opening at four inches and the Epic 6 at six inches. Also, the Epic Six has the larger platform and will cut the twelve inch dies. Also, it may not look like it, but the Epic 6 actually has just as many metal moving parts as the Revolution. While it is true the first batch of Epic 6′s had problems with the pressure cutting the middle of the 4×8 alphabets, this problem has been corrected.
Die-cutting machines are all about personal preference. If you are happy with your machine, then stick with it. If you think you may like to try something a little different, then this post gives you some things to think about.
It really depends on what you are working on and trying to accomplish with your crafting needs. If you like to quilt or are in a school room setting and need to do big projects such as 12×12 or 12×24 inches then the Big Shot PRO would be exceptionally well and suit your needs. Or lets say you want to emboss a 12×12 sheet of paper and emboss the whole sheet, then the Sizzix Big Shot PRO would also be your best bet. But what if you are into cutting and embossing smaller items. One of the other machines like the Vagabond which is electronic push of a button die cutting machine or the big shot which is a turn of the handle or even the big kick. The Eclips is an electronic cutter with a remote that can do those as well. Getting back to the Vagabond, many like this machine because it will cut through very thick grungeboard and is an inspired design by Tim Holtz. The Big Shot will do the same with the grungeboardd, but you will have to hand crank it. So it is matter of preference between those two machines.
Zimbio
