For about six months now, I have been contemplating getting a die cutter. The way I see it, I have
2. Get a manual die cutter.
3. Get both an electronic AND a manual die cutter.
This is the third part in a series of posts regarding electronic cutters and manual die cutters. In Part One, I gave my general opinions about cutter and explored electronic cutters more specifically. In Part Two, I explored my interest in manual cutters.
Option Three: Get both an electronic AND a manual cutter.
I think that if I were set on following this course of action, I would start with a manual cutter and then add an electronic cutter into the mix at a later date. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's what I'm going to do!
Option Four: Do nothing.
It seems as though I can create just fine without a diecutter, so why mess with perfection? :D In all seriousness, though, is it worth it to get something that may make my scrapbooking easier/faster but will it also provide an endless variety of ways to drain my bank account?
It was tough to decide, but I have asked for a Big Shot {manual, not the express} for my birthday {coming up at the beginning of July}! This will allow me to ut all the dies that I want {the nestabilities, the cookie cutters, the border dies} and doesn't break the bank too much at first. If I really dig this die cutting thing, I will think about asking for a Cricut Expression as a Christmas present.
Thanks so much for all your recommendations, advice and information! It has been SO helpful! I loved it!
Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.
Hi Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteJust a reader here who came across your blog. I just spent 2 hrs viewing your videos and I've picked up so many different techniques that I'm eager to try out. Thanks a bunch for all the time and effort you put into these. I'll make sure to visit your blog often from now on.
I'm a fairly new scrapper -- just began to scrap in earnest in 2008 and I love every aspect of it. I do have very little time, though, being that I work outside the home and am usually exhausted by the end of the day.
BTW, I can't believe that paper bag album you made. Who'd ever think one could turn out such a beautiful end product with just paper bags!
Just a suggestion, if you don't mind. There are some tools/items that you use that I sometimes do not recognize (for example the dot stamp that you used for an all-over page). I wonder if you could add a list of the supplies when you have a video? Would be much appreciated.
Well, thanks again, Kathryn, for inspiring me--I'm off to do some pages. Can't wait what other mini albums you've got up your sleeve. I'm on a mini album kick myself (just now on my 2nd one) after having completed about a dozen albums of 12x12s. I find the smaller size to be tremendous fun to create.
Good luck with the blog and your creative endeavors. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
--Liz
I think that is a great choice.You can use cuttlebug embossing folders but now sizzix is also making some cute embossing folders. Since Staminup started selling the sizzix and dies etc I have purchased some of thei used them in my cuttlebug since I already have that and really can't see spending more money when my cuttlebug works just find.But the big shot is a great choice...
ReplyDeleteHi, Liz! Thanks so much for stopping by! I really appreciate all the nice things you said about my videos and blog ~ thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed the videos and the projects!
ReplyDeleteI understand the feeling of being exhausted from work and having no time to scrap. Until recently I worked a more than full time job with an hour commute {each way} and that really drained me. I didn't create nearly as much then as I do now.
I am bad about posting suppy lists & I will try to do better! You are not the first person to mention that, I'm embarassed to say! The particular stamp set you mentioned is from Hot Off the Press and is their "Bold Patterns" set {HOTP-CS-1010}. I got it at a convention, I believe. I don't now where you would get it now, but Papertrey Ink has a similar stamp in their "Polka Dot Basics" set. I have heard nothing but good things about their stamps.
Again, thanks so much for watching & commenting! I have two more videos that are not related to mini albums coming up this week & then I have another mini album series after that.
Erin, actually the Cuttlebug embossing folders were one of the things that drew me to a manual die cut machine. I am glad I will be able to use them in the Big Shot. It looks like it will do pretty much everything I want, so I'm happy about that. I do agree with you about switching from a Cuttlebug to a Big Shot ~ if I already had a Cuttlebug, I really can't see upgrading to a Big Shot since the Cuttlebug does so much. Thanks for commenting and helping me out with this decision!
Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.
Hi Kathryn
ReplyDeleteI have just found your blog and love it. I am a bit of a die cutting fan and I have or have had most of the die cutting machines in the market. Personally, If I was given an ultimatum and only could keep two machines, I would choose the Big Shot and The Expressions. With both of them you got everthing covered!
Hi, Paula! Welcome! I'm glad you're enjoying the blog. Thank you for posting about which die cutters you would choose if you were forced to keep only two. It's a big releif that they're the same as the two I picked! Whew! It definitely helps me feel like I am making the right decision here. I am feeling pretty good about getting the Big Shot now and the Expression later. Thanks so much for posting & I'm glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteKathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.
Hi Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations with your dessision about the big shot! I think you make a great choise. I think I would choose the big shot too now I know the things it can do. I know you need to wait before you have the big shot but I wish you all the plesure and fun times with it!
Greetings, Nanda
I too just discovered your wonderful blog. I started to watch your videos Friday night and finished late yesterday and I'm going through withdrawals. I have learned so much. Thank you for your time and for sharing your awesome talent.
ReplyDeleteI have a Cuttlebug. So far so good. I like how compact it is. I was drawn to it because of the embossing folders. I'm not big on die cuts but maybe that will change when you start to demonstrate your Big Shot. :)
Nanda, thanks so much! I am very happy with the decision. Now I am really looking forward to my birthday! :D
ReplyDeleteMaritza, wow! I am so sorry you're having withdrawls! :D I will have to get on the ball and post some new videos soon, I guess! Thanks so much for watching ~ I'm so glad you found them interesting!
Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.
Just Liz again...thanks, Kathryn, for the Polka Dot stamp info. It's on my shopping list now for when I put in my monthly order for scrapping goodies.
ReplyDeleteI was just having coffee, watching your five-part Princess mini album video. My son is graduating next month and I hadn't decided on what type of album I would create for that event. That mini album you did appealed to me immediately and so, there you have it. That's what I'm doing, except of course, more masculine using the blues, greens and browns of the LYB Vita Bella stuff I bought for this express purpose. Also, I'm thinking I have to double (maybe even triple) the number of pages 'cuz I know I'll take a ton of photos. I'm assuming one can buy much bigger rings (?). I very much like the acrylic cover as well, but unless it comes already punched, I haven't got a crop-a-dile and not sure how I can incorporate that. Any suggestions?
Thanks for the fantastic video. Thought I'd drop a note to just let you know how inspiring and helpful that was.
Hi, Liz! Thanks so much for commenting ~ I'm glad you found the video inspiring!
ReplyDeleteYes, you can buy much bigger rings. I often replace the rings that come with an album with larger rings. In fact, I have a mini album video series starting next week where I added so many pages and goodies to a mini album that I had to replace the rings that came with the album with 3" rings. I get my large rings from office supply stores ~ they have a large variety of sizes and they're relatively inexpensive. They mostly come in just silver, but you can change their color with alcohol inks, if you like. I normally leave them alone, though.
Albums that come with an acrylic cover usually have the hols punched already. If you want to add an acrylic cover to one that doesn't already have one & you don't have a Crop-A-Dile, I think there is a way to do that. I haven't tried this myself, but I did read on Two Peas that you can punch and cut acrylic with a standard punch or paper trimmer if you lightly heat the acrylic first with a heat gun to soften it. You could probably find a tutorial online for that.
Thanks again for watching & I'm glad to have been of some help!
Kathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapook it.
Hi Kathryn, I was away for the weekend and just quickly read about your dilema on die cutters. As you know, I have not been doing this for that long... I have the cuttlebug and the Cricut expression. I use and LOVE both. I don't know if you have ever checked out crop stop videos on youtube?? They have all kinds of videos on how to use competitors dies in different machines. (Really good). They have alot for the cuttlebug with all the other dies. Brenda
ReplyDeleteHi, Brenda! Thanks for letting me know! I know I will want to see some videos on how to use competitor dies in my machine one I {hopefully!} get it for my birthday. I will definitely go and check those out!
ReplyDeleteKathryn
Life's a beach. Scrapbook it.