Sizzix - Convince me please

[piratesmate]

As I mentioned in another thread, I bought the Sizzix for DDIL yesterday. After reading so many good things about it on these boards, I braved the crowds on Saturday specifically to buy it.

Please convince me that I didn't make a mistake in getting this! It seemed that most of the die cuts I saw were for very specific things (babies, b'days, etc) but none for Disney. I mean really! If you want specific themes, doesn't everyone want Disney???

Seriously though, I am thinking about taking it back. DDIL already has the CM cutting system with the circle, oval, heart & border templates. She also has both CM corner rounders. For the Sizzix, I got the medium hearts border & small heart outline die cuts, the converter & a template to emboss swirls.

I got her a couple pairs of decorative edge scissors, a corner punch that puts hearts inside the corner(very cute!), some stickers & buttons, and a few other things I can't remember. If I take it back I have to start over with gift ideas for her, but I want her to be able to use it. (In addition to feeling like it's a great thing, since she's still brand specific [CM] when it comes to scrapping.)

Thanks!

 

[soccerchick]

My favorite way to use my Sizzix is for the alphabets. Considering how many CM stickers I'd have to buy, I'm sure I have already made up the difference. My DD (5) uses it too. I teach school and Sunday School and have used it many, many times for those as well.

They do not have Disney dies that I know of (saw their catalog last summer, you could double check at their website though). I do not know what goes into all the licensing agreement stuff, but doubt that a line if Disney will come out. They also do not have any religious dies, which is a bummer too.

I try to purchase dies that can have multiple uses for both my DD, DS, school and church. I do have lots of holidays, leaves, flowers, etc. purchased with discount coupons at Michaels. However, Michaels also does not carry a large line. If your DDIL likes to put titles on her pages and uses lots of letters, it is probably worth it in the long run. The down side is that the Alphabets are expensive. I have two, upper and lower case sets.

Every year or so I go in with two friends and order from the catalog so our total is high enough to get free shipping/ 10 % discount on the dies we want but Michaels doesn't carry.

I probably didn't help much -- but those are the pros and cons from my perspective. I wish we'd get an AC Moore out this way to give Michaels some competition. Good luck with your decision.

 

[piratesmate]

Thanks, soccerchick! I didn't want to have to buy the alphabets at the same time as the system due to a tight budget. That's what I really wanted though. A nice woman at the store recommended that I wait until they went on sale for half price, which she said happens fairly often, because it would be cheaper. I realized once I got home, though, that it would be the same price with the 25% coupon yesterday! Oh well.

If I don't take it back, I'll just get one of the alphabets next year I guess.

 

[Franne]

I have a Sizzix, but honestly, I don't use it that much. I have an alphabet set, but I quickly tired of the same style lettering. I have a couple of dies too, I buy it when they go on sale or with a coupon.
I keep it out at crops and my friends bring all their dies too so if anyone needs it it's there. I do like the idea of having it though, just in case
Franne

 

[bigbabyblues]

My DH got me a Sizzix for my birthday one year. I only have the alphabet set (Fun Serif, uppercase), and I use it a lot. I don't know how much I'd use it for the every day dies, but I've asked for Pumpkins, Snowman, Leaves, and another die I can't remember for Christmas. I'd really like to have the #'s and the lowercase alpha set also. My only gripe with the alpha set is that the letters are so big, but DH didn't know when he bought it, so I'm just happy to have it!

I wouldn't take it back, but tell her she can if she doesn't think she'll use it?

Steph

 

[piratesmate]

......
I wouldn't take it back, but tell her she can if she doesn't think she'll use it?
....

Thanks for your opinion. I feel like I need to make a decision, though, because I don't think she'd take it back even if I said she should. She & DS have "been together" since they were 15 so I know her pretty well - but she's still almost painfully polite if you know what I mean. I think she'd keep it for fear of hurting my feelings no matter what I said. On the other hand, neither of us is the kind to feel comfortable with "wasting" money on something that won't get used.

I thought I'd researched this enough before going to the store. I just wasn't prepared for the types of die cuts I saw. I think I'm going to keep it. I think if we eventually add the alphabets it will be a good purchase. She's been scrapping for about a year & seems to be more creative than I'm feeling just yet.

Thanks again for the help!