#002

I love the Spellbinders dies

Admittedly, I am in love with dies.  But I only started using them this past year.  I didn't even know what they were when I first started making cards.  In fact, in the beginning I was using a Cameo Silhouette.  It's a electronic cutting machine, like the Cricut.  I still have it, actually.  I just don't use it as often anymore.  Between lack of space, how long it takes to get it hooked up, and design what I want, it's just easier to use dies.  So mostly it just collects dust, and pulled out when I don't have a die for what I want to make. But thankfully I've quickly amassed a large amount of dies.

My stepping stone to die-cutting was the big red Sizzex die-cutter.  If you aren't familiar with it, it's very, very heavy, has a handle to push down to make the dies cut, and is no longer sold retail.  When I purchased it, I got mine off eBay along with 15 dies made for that brand. With shipping, the total was less than $50 and I really loved it.

Part of a sale pack I purchased

But it wasn't long before I realized that the dies I wanted to buy, just weren't going to work with it unless I had all the adapters.  I had managed to find the magnetic adapter, but it was impossible to use thin dies on it.  I couldn't track down the adapter plates for thin dies (since the entire machine and its adapters are no longer sold retail).

So the next machine I bought was the Sizzex Big Shot.  I found it on Amazon with a bunch of starter items included for less the $80 and was really excited to use it.  I still love using it, although admittedly there is another machine I want.  An automatic die-cutter like the Vagabond 2 or the Sizzex Big Shot Express. Cranking can get tedious at times, especially if I have a lot to cut.

I had bought the Prizm by Spellbinders not that long ago, but I'm not particularly fond of it. Even with Spellbinders dies, it doesn't usually cut through card stock very well.  It has to be very thin paper to get it to cut the first time.  It would be nice to have a working die cutter that was small, but I'm not willing to buy the Sizzex Sidekick.  Die cutters are expensive! Even the little ones.  So, I use the Big Shot for everything.

Maybe for Christmas I'll treat myself to one of the other Sizzex machines.  But probably closer to tax return time.