Is anyone on Orchid an avid scrap booker? I am looking for one of
those systems that allows you to punch letters out of any kind of
paper or paper-like material to use in my enamel work. I would prefer
a sturdy one that allows you to get different fonts.
Every review I have found on-line always has a few good reviews and
a few bad…some sound like the sales reps pitching the product.
Any firsthand advice?
Karen in Chicagoland (where we had fantastic show weather this
weekend but there are now so many shows on the same weekend they are
all mediocre)
I have both a sizzix full sized machine and a sizzix side kick. I
love the side kick because it’s small and portable. You can only use
the sizzlit dies with it though, but they have some great fonts. I
would totally reccommend any of the sizzix products.
Your best bet is to go to one of your local scrapbook stores and use
their workshop. They usually have different kinds of die-cutters
that you can use if you pay a small fee to use their workshop. Some
offer free use if you buy your paper there. All of the die cutters
out there have different fonts available but it would be expensive to
collect them all (most run in the neighborhood of about $150 per font
for a complete set). There are MANY different kinds out there right
now and chances are they will be your best resource to tell you what
they think. They might even demo it for you if they don’t already
have it in their workshop. The newest on the market is the Cricut
system which allows you to cut out the fonts in any size you want.
Most are set at the size their dies come in but since this is a small
computer, you can tell it what size to cut. It has separate
cartridges for each font. It’s pricey ($250-300) but you could buy
one at any Michaels store (watch for their 40% off coupons), if you
find that you like it enough to buy one. To find the local stores
near you that carry that machine (and probably others) try http://www.provocraft.com. This is the manufacturer of the Cricut
machine.
You can use their store locator to find the ones nearest you.
Others on the market:
Sissix (Ellison) Big Shot $150, uses a roller system to save your arm
strength, each alphabet $150-200. Tons of additional dies. Accucut
Zip-eMate $89 uses the roller system also Many additional
dies, alphabets $90-250 Quickutz $70 for the handle. You use your
hand strength here-- they’ve improved their handle but if you are
doing a ton of cuts it might prove exhausting. Alphabets are in the
range of $90-160. Tons of additional dies. Wizard (Spellbinders) $130
This tool will let you use any of the above dies. Leverage handle
based but not strength dependent.
You might also consider craft punches–there’s a gazillion out there
in every shape and size.
Good Luck!
Michele
Thank you, Bill, Deborah, Michele & Sarah
Reactive Metals Studio, Inc.
The newest on the market is the Cricut system which allows you to
cut out the fonts in any size you want. Most are set at the size
their dies come in but since this is a small computer, you can tell
it what size to cut. It has separate cartridges for each font. It's
pricey ($250-300) but you could buy one at any Michaels store
(watch for their 40% off coupons), if you find that you like it
enough to buy one.
You cannot use the 40% off coupon at Michael’s on the new Cricut
machine!