How much do you use...

[WDWannabe]

Ok, how much and how often do you all really use those die cut machines?

I'm really wondering if I need it. I love the look of the die cut and using what you want in paper and such. But, looking at the price of any of them, the least expencive I've found in a side kick, sizzix for about $40 at Michaels, and then all the die cuts frames! I'm mainly intrested in lettering and at those prices, yikes!

So I guess what I'm really asking is it worth it?

Thanks,
Sharon

 

[PrincessNancy96]

I use mine alot .. I have a sizzix, 2 sizzix sidekicks and mom just bought a cricut I have access to.. or I call and tell her what I want and she mails it to me! I have several dies and wouldn't give them up for anything!!! But, that is just me!!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I use mine quite a bit. I have a sizzix and a sidekick. Now that I have grasped to concept of the layering on the diecuts I like it even more.

 

[Caitsmama]

I think if you watch a sale - you can get the bigger Sizzix at 50% off.. so it would be about $40 for the big machine..
And, i think if you can find other ways to use the diecuts, then it doubles.. like i have a quickutz and my dd has used it for school projects..

Hmmmm.. wonder if i could use a cricut for my business -- tax write-off anyone? LOL

 

[pjlla]

I bought my Sizzix machine in early 2004. I started out buying lots of shaped dies (pawprints, birthday cake, flowers, leaves, etc), but I don't use them much. I finally decided to break down and spend some money and bought a couple of Sizzlets alphabets. And I LOVE THEM! So far I own 5 different fonts and have my eye on another at the moment. Yes, it is very low tech compared to the newer stuff out there like Cricut and CraftRobo... but I am kind of a low-tech gal! Plus I don't have several hundred dollars laying around at the moment! I have bought ALL Of my Sizzlets alphabets on sale for 50% off, (so around $60 each). And I have gotten a lot of use out of them. (Not to mention using them on the kids school projects, etc). I use them many different ways so that they don't start looking repetetive on my pages. Different color papers, different ways of layering, chalking, inking, using the negative, etc, etc.

I think the major drawbacks to the Sizzix are ....#1 the price of the dies (although at 50% off it isn't too bad), #2, how slow it is to use.... (if I am doing a big title with the Sizzlets, it does take a long time to cut out all of the letters and adhere them... but a Xyron does make it faster.)

Someday I hope to go more high-tech and get one of those newer computer connected systems.... but for now I am very happy with my Sizzix.

One other word... if you buy dies other than alphabet, try to think of multiple uses for them. They are kind of pricey for one-time use. And see if you can share with a friend. I don't mind paying the price so much if I know that I am going to be helping another scrapper. Good luck with your decision.......P

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

I have 10 or 11 sizzix alphabets, maybe 3 yellow originals, 3 or 4 green originals, 4 of the sizzlets long bars and about 15 red originals ( about half of those just ordered a few weeks ago during a 60% off sale on originals ).

I use the alphabets and tags the most. I have sand (or clouds - but i mostly use it for sand), waves, palm tree (been scrapping vacation stuff with tropical theme lately), and a few others.

 

[loopner67]

I have a Sizzix with three different fonts, but I really don't use it as much as I should.

If you are interested in Sizzix, you definitely should be able to get good deals on them now. I think they are on sale in AC Moore for 50% off quite often.

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

I have Quickutz. I have 12 alphas and use them for everything. I have tons of shapes. I use them for cards, scrapbooks and decorations (tins, etc.) My kids have 4 A's in their names, so stickers are out of the question. I know QK can get expensive, but my friend has a store with layaway and I can even put sale items on layaway.

When I am doing the same embellishment several times, it is just cheaper to pay $12 for the die ($7 for the singles) and have it exactly in the colors I need. If I need 20 3-D snowflakes, it could get pricey.

We also have Sizzix which we rarely use.

Oh, before I forget, I use my QK everytime I scrapbook. DH got me the new machine for Xmas so that I could work more quickly.

 

[ScrapperKimmyD]

I started out with Sizzix - got the big machine for $30.00 with a sale and a gift card. What I really wanted was the alphas - didn't care much about anything else.

I was able to get good prices on those by either using the 50% off coupon at Michaels, Sizzix site sales or ebay.

then I learned about the Wishblade. it's a lot more to start off with, but I had several reasons to make the switch.

I had a lot of money invested in dies.
My Sizzix started taking over my scrapping room.
Wishblade would take up a lot less space.
Wishblade would be much easier to take to retreats - as long as I had a lap top to use with it.
DH is a techno geek and loved the idea of a computer-driven tool and had an extra laptop for me to use.

I'm in the process of selling my dies - sold enough so far to pay for the Wishblade, but have a bit more to sell. I'm going on a scrapping retreat in Feb, so I'll probably take it all up there and see what I can get rid of.

I'm really looking forward to learning more about my Wishblade - and I can't wait for the upgrade to come out! That will make things so much better!!!

 

[hopemax]

I use my Sizzix all the time. I bought it the day after Thanksgiving so it was like 50% off and then there was a coupon off your total purchase. I actually bought two alphas before I had the machine. I got those off the Sizzix website's sale page. I bought all of my dies when they were on sale of owith a coupon (40% or 50% off) and I bought a bunch at Michaels when they were clearancing out old styles so they had them for $3 each.

I use my tag set the most (swaps), but I also use the circle one and the mini file folder a lot.

I really want another alphabet. It's Tuesday, so I should go check out Sizzix's website.

 

[piratesmate]

I got my Sizzix during a 50% sale at Mike's and use it frequently. I have a bunch of shapes (another "collector" here Kimmy ) as well as a couple alphas. It was worth what I spent on it - although I did agonize over that quite a bit.

Now that they're considered somewhat "obsolete" (with the new electronic ones like Circut etc & the new Ellison thing) there are deals to be had. Most of you are probably tired of me saying this, but CreativeXpress.com has both the Sizzix & Sidekick at less than half of the original pricing & they've had an additional 20% off for some time now. I don't know how long that's going to continue, but it's still posted today.
Original Sizzix $39.68 less 20%
Sidekick $24.75 less 20%
a bunch of alphas for $59.48 less 20%

I couldn't get those prices even with 50% off and Turkey Bucks on Black Friday at Mikes! Of course, they've recently increased their shipping, so I no longer order just a few items. I guess that's a good thing. LOL

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

sadly, I use mine almost every day.

NO -- I should rephrase that -- mine gets used almost every day!

If it's not for scrapping, it's for making signs for the kids' school (book fairs etc) and for greeting cards. We don't buy any greeting cards anymore. We make them all. The kids love it.

And I just got done this morning cutting the hearts so they can make valentines for school.

I have a big shot and I use it all the time. Sometimes when my scrap friends come over, they bring paper and just use it while they are here.

 

[hopemax]

How long do Creative Xpress' offers last? This 20% off, do you think they will have it, say after the 10th of February?

 

[bits-n-pieces]

I just got the cuttlebug by Provo crafts and LOVE it! I used my micheals coupon and got it at 40%off. The great thing about it is it can be used with cuttlebug dies, Sizzix dies and Quickutz. The cuttlebug dies are a little less expensive but, I just look to see whose are on sale. I have only had mine for about 3 weeks and have used it a lot more then I thought I would.

Angie

 

[piratesmate]

How long do Creative Xpress' offers last? This 20% off, do you think they will have it, say after the 10th of February?

That's hard to say. Their special offers tend to last only a week...but it seems to me that they've had the 20% off since well before Christmas. I don't know if it has been withdrawn for a week here & there, but seriously it's been at least most of the time. (Just note that it doesn't include Sizzix items in their extra reduced things...like "Sizzix Surprises" or "Warehouse Sale" etc.)

 

[party of 3]

I use mine quite a bit. I have a sizzix and a sidekick. Now that I have grasped to concept of the layering on the diecuts I like it even more.

buffy, i would love to learn how to layer my diecuts. i have just not grasped that yet. i have loads of them, but i'm sure they would look a lot better.do you have any pics you would like to share to give me an idea?????

That's hard to say. Their special offers tend to last only a week...but it seems to me that they've had the 20% off since well before Christmas. I don't know if it has been withdrawn for a week here & there, but seriously it's been at least most of the time. (Just note that it doesn't include Sizzix items in their extra reduced things...like "Sizzix Surprises" or "Warehouse Sale" etc.)

very true deb. i have bought most of mine from creative express. i have checked both them and the sizzix site and 9 x's out of 10 creative was cheaper. i also think it's been this way since before christmas.



i also love the look of the quickutz. everytime i look at them, i say i would love to start them. but really how much stuff can i collect!!!!????

 

[PrincessNancy96]

buffy, i would love to learn how to layer my diecuts. i have just not grasped that yet. i have loads of them, but i'm sure they would look a lot better.do you have any pics you would like to share to give me an idea?????

I started a new thread so Buffy could teach us.. I've been wanting to know too.. She sent me some pumpkins to layer..but I couldn't figure it out.. so the LO is awaiting her class!!!!

 

[party of 3]

I started a new thread so Buffy could teach us.. I've bene wanting to know too.. She sent me some pumpkins to layer..but I couldn't figure it out.. so the LO is awaiting her class!!!!

sign me up for that class!

 

[laura&fam]

I have a Quickcuts and a Sizzix Sidekick. I use them both almost exclusively for fonts. I like the Quickcuts better, it is faster and the letters are bigger and easier to work with, but because of price I bought the Sidekick. The quickcuts alphabets are just too expensive and you have to buy them seperately (upper case, then lower case, then shadow, etc.)

My sidekick was definately worth the money to me, but I paid about $80 for the machine, an alphabet set, and several embossing dies (I love that the sidekick can emboss). I now have 3 alphabet sets and bought them all on sale, full price is unbelivable

 

[PoohBearLovinMama]

I had the Sizzix machine and rarely used it. When I say rare, I mean really rare! I had one alpha (used it twice) and 4 sets of sizzlet sets (used one set once, the other three I never used!) I hated to use them. To me they were such a pain and so time consuming.

When I found out about the wishblade, I knew that was the machine for me! I use it at least once every 2 to 3 LO's. Plus I use it alot for swaps and other projects. I also use Diana Lyn's cricut machine alot too. I guess what it boils down to is that I'm just too lazy to use a die cut system that I have to work!