Sizzix and Xyron and die cuts OH MY!

[stenogoddess]

Hey y'all!

I wanted to get some opinions, please. The thread below about which album to use helped me decide I need more info from my scrapping friends. I've started thinking and pricing out die cut machines and, boy, is there a world of information out there!

First off, cricket, very cool, can't afford it! Same with the Wishblade thing.

But that seems to leave Sizzix and the Xyron machine. Sizzix apparently has two sizes, one big and one little. I was wondering which size (Sizzix or Sizzlits) seems to be used more often and there seem to be a couple of machines and I was wondering which one of those were considered better. And then I also started to research the Xyron and there are very mixed reviews out there on that one, but most people did think the idea of it was neat.

So opinions anyone, please?! Because, strangely enough, my husband doesn't seem to have the inclination to debate methods of die cutting with me. Oh, but when it's which power drill to get, I'm supposed to be all over that!

 

[Jenn]

Well I have the little Sizzix (The Sidekick) and I love it. It was around $50 I think and came with 2 starter dies. Then I purchased the windows and frames set for around $80 but I use it for everything!! It has dies of circles, squares, hearts, ovals, rectangles, stars, a postage stamp, and then some funky hearts and stars (not traditional shaped ones). It completely wiped out my need for punches in these shapes. They make some really cute alphabet sets, but I haven't splurged on those yet. One tip I can give you, sometimes QVC has them and you can split the cost over a couple of months. With my $80 set, I made 4 pmts of $20 each - that was much easier to swallow!

 

[Momto3chicks]

HI I have a Sizzix ...the big one and I love it...I have quite a few fonts and other dies...I also have a lot of sizzlets too though....If you buy the big Sizzix, there is an adapter that you can get for around 20.00 at Michaels that will allow you to use all the sizzlet...with the sidekick you are only able to use the sizzlets, not the bigger one....

A great place to buy dies and fonts are off ebay...they have some really good deals...


Kelley

 

[BuzzBelleMom]

DD has the Sizzix and Sidekick which we mainly use to make paper dolls.The Sizzix is not at all portable. I know that Quickutz wasn't mentioned, but it is what I most use. The dies are mostly 2x2 and metal. I like the alphabets a lot more and the whole system is portable.

Some of my friends swear by the Bosskut. The machine is rather heavy, though. They have similar size dies to QK and they are also very detailed.

Sorry to totally throw you a curve ball!

 

[piratesmate]

If it's between the big Sizzix & the Sidekick, I vote for the big one. Although it isn't portable, I've found that the hostess of every crop I've been to brings hers...plus you have the advantage of using different dies. It's a pain to put away & get out, so it's best to find a permanent place for it.

I prefer the original over the sidekick because of the wider variety of dies available. I looked through their catalog of Sizzlit dies & really wasn't impressed. Some of them are very cute, but the selection of large dies is just more extensive....and as Momto3chicks mentioned with the adapter you can use the Slizzlits with the large machine. You can't, however, reverse that.

Michaels & ACMoore often have the machines on sale. I was able to get mine for $37 last year. Then there are those 40% (and occasionally 50%) coupons you could use.

From what I understand, the only thing you can do with the Sidekick that you can't do with the original machine is use those border dies. I can live without that.

I have to be honest...the Cricut wasn't available when I bought my Sizzix. I knew I couldn't afford a Wishblade. There was no way I'd have considered spending $250 on a die cut system. But I'd be looking into it if I didn't have the Sizzix already. The amount of money that I've spent on dies (even with sales & 40/50% coupons) is nuts! And while they're cute, those dies aren't versatile. And how many times will you use them?

Also, aren't the things you get for the Cricut able to be re-sized? Maybe I dreamed that though.

 

[tubachick]

I have the bigger sizzix machine and I love it!!! I find that I use both size dies quite often!!! the adapter is not that expensive and it opens up a ton more dies you can use.

 

[New England Eeyore]

Who says the Sizzix isn't portable? I lug that thing around when I need to!!

I bought my Sizzix at the beginning of this year. I've bought dies slowly over the months, mainly for swaps. I bought one Sizzlet alphabet set, but now I wish that I had just saved my money (or splurged) and bought a Wishblade. Every time I think about buying another alpha set, I say just wait for the Wishblade. If I get a bonus next year that's the first thing I'm doing, guilt-free!

 

[piratesmate]

Who says the Sizzix isn't portable? I lug that thing around when I need to!!

I bought my Sizzix at the beginning of this year. I've bought dies slowly over the months, mainly for swaps. I bought one Sizzlet alphabet set, but now I wish that I had just saved my money (or splurged) and bought a Wishblade. Every time I think about buying another alpha set, I say just wait for the Wishblade. If I get a bonus next year that's the first thing I'm doing, guilt-free!

You must have some awesome biceps! That sucker is so heavy that I only lift it when absolutely necessary...which isn't too often! I move everything else on my work surface before moving it!

I have 2 Sizzlit alpha sets...one I got with a 60% off coupon at Mikes & the other I got for $25 from an online site. (Sadly they don't have those kinds of deals anymore!!) I've thought the same thing about the Wishblade...but I just can't see me ever spending that much on a single scrapping tool as long as I'm not working. So I'm just waiting for another good deal on an alpha I'd really like to have! (Monkey Tails is soooooo cute!!)

 

[New England Eeyore]

You must have some awesome biceps!

Nah, it's all in the positioning.

Last week I had to work a shift that was more like baby-sitting the store i was at than actually working - I brought so much scrapping stuff with me that I had to make 2 trips to the car and back. You bet I brought my Sizzix!

 

[saschuster]

I have the big Sizzix and use it all the time, and take it with me to crops too. I have both the smaller dies and the larger and I think I like the larger letters better but the smaller ones are good if you want to spell out something long. I use the shadow box letters and the tags the most I think!

 

[stenogoddess]

It looks like the Sizzix is the far and away favorite! Thanks y'all. And no one seems to have a Xyron, interesting.

I figure what will happen is I'll finally buy one, and then Disney will come out and start making ones for whatever one I didn't buy!

 

[stenogoddess]

I went by Michael's today and they are doing a crop in the middle of August where they will have the cricket, sizzix and Xyron so I get to try them all out and then pick. Cool! Thanks for all of the imput. I really appreciate it.