I'm not too familiar with the Sizzix machine perhaps others can explain it to you better.
As for the CM power layouts- There is a power layout box you can buy from them. It is very sturdy and comes with 15 heavy vinyl-like dividers that are the size of CM's 12x12 pages. There are also "score" marks showing the other 2 smaller page sizes. The idea is you 1) divide you pictures by theme or page ideas 2) crop your pictures 3) use the dividers to organize your pages, adding your "embellishments" at this stage, you'll have 15 dividers in front of you representing 15 pages in an album. You can make sure you like the arrangement or change them around without changing pages in your scrapbook. At this point you can "box" it all up and it'll stay organized just the way you left it. So that 4) the next time you open the box you are ready to just put it all in your scrapbook and add journaling. It's easy this way to just take off to a "crop" with just the box, adhesive, pens and your album/pages.
I've found that using the power layout way is much easier for me having my DS3 around, messing with all the paper, etc. I can crop and organize my photos with him around no problem, but once he sees all the bright paper and stickers,etc he's all into them. This way one evening after he's in bed I can do all the actual page planning - adding papers,stickers, and what else I like and tuck it away when I'm done. I can then insert one page at a time when I have the time or take the box with me one night to put it all together. It's been a real timesaver for me, and a great motivator also. When you can sit down and in a matter of an hour or so, put together 15 pages in an album it really feels like I've accomplished something. Some people I know purchase extra dividers so they can do 30 or 45 pages at a time, they still will fit into the original box. I am contemplating getting one more set.
and also on the sizzix!
