What Die Cut machine do you reccommend?

[Hollywood Glitter]

Hi Everyone!

I am interested in buying my first dye cut machine and don't know what I should get. I'm interested in scrapbooking and card making and especially love disney items. I am also interested in making my own designs however I'm so confused with all the machines avaliable.

Can you all give me some reccommendations ....

Obviously Cricut is a brand I hear often but I don't know what is the best option (Expressions, Espressions 2, Imagine Print and Cut, or Personal Electric Cutter)

What about Sizzix, Pazzles, Xyron® Wishblade, or anything else?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Reddy]

I have a circut & use SCAL2 but circut no longer allows this
so if making your own is important, I would check out SCAL3 & Make the Cut software & see what is working with the program that you like better. Also remember to see what mats you will need & where you can get them, my Wal-mart only carries the cricut so that is the only mat I could get unless I want to travel an hour away or wait for shipping.

 

[morgansmom2000]

I have an Expression and SCAL 2. I'm not going to ever update the firmware so I can use SCAL 2 with it until it dies. Once it does stop working, I'm leaning toward the eCraft (no mats!).

I did just recently buy an E2, because I'm really too deeply invested in Cricut cartridges to not have one. So far, I like it, but I'm very disappointed that it does not work with Design Studio (by far, it's not my favorite program, but I'm used to it), and I'm having trouble getting it to cut from the Craft Room and/or transfer to my Gypsy so I can cut. Hopefully, it will all be ironed out soon, but I'm not holding my breath.

Good luck with your choice!

 

[Iris]

I also use a Cricut Expression with both Scal2 and MTC but as Reddy said, this is no longer an option.

Importing my own images and fonts is extremely important to me so I know that I will eventually have to go to something different when my CE dies on me. I have been researching other machines and I continue to lean towards both the BK Gazelle and the Silhouette Cameo.

I will need something that will work with both SCAL and MTC as I use them both for different reasons. If I could have just one program that has the capabilities that both of these programs have, I would be a happy camper but each of them have one or two things that the other does not.

Definitely do some searches on the internet and read the reviews and get on the discussion boards. There are some really helpful people out there who will give you honest opinions of what works and what doesn't.

Price is another factor for me so when the time comes, I need a machine that will be under $300 if possible, even less if I can get a good deal.

I really love my cricut but haven't purchased a cartridge in a long time because I don't care for the new releases and can't get past the pricing either.

 

[PinballFamily]

I have an Expression and SCAL 2. I'm not going to ever update the firmware so I can use SCAL 2 with it until it dies.

Ditto here. Provocraft really stepped in the doo-doo for me when they sued the SCAL folks and stopped supporting that third-party product. I love SCAL and that is what really makes me use my Expression a lot - I do cut from carts, but prefer welding my titles (and refuse to get a Gypsy). We're Mac folks, so that affects our die-cut choice too.

I've been looking hard at the very new Silhouette Cameo and will probably make the jump there. Totally different company and business model - you buy the files for the cuts you want for 99 cents each, like iTunes, instead of buying cartridges. Hmmm...and I can use my SCAL and my Mac! (But folks report that their Cricut mats work better in the Cameo than the Cameo ones...go figure!) But, I'll continue with my E in the meantime and hope it hangs on as long as possible.

There's also some ZAP, or something like that, new die cut machine coming out. Check out the Two Peas scrapbooking site for info on that...

Good luck!

 

[dogcarbon]

The Silhouette Cameo is also compatiable with SCAL3!

I am SO asking Santa for a Cameo!

 

[Reddy]

Ditto here. Provocraft really stepped in the doo-doo for me when they sued the SCAL folks and stopped supporting that third-party product. I love SCAL and that is what really makes me use my Expression a lot - I do cut from carts, but prefer welding my titles (and refuse to get a Gypsy). We're Mac folks, so that affects our die-cut choice too.

I've been looking hard at the very new Silhouette Cameo and will probably make the jump there. Totally different company and business model - you buy the files for the cuts you want for 99 cents each, like iTunes, instead of buying cartridges. Hmmm...and I can use my SCAL and my Mac! (But folks report that their Cricut mats work better in the Cameo than the Cameo ones...go figure!) But, I'll continue with my E in the meantime and hope it hangs on as long as possible.

There's also some ZAP, or something like that, new die cut machine coming out. Check out the Two Peas scrapbooking site for info on that...

Good luck!

Thanks for that info - I can get cricut mats here in town (well for as long as Wally World keeps them) that's been my bigest fear

 

[TinaLala]

So my interest started when DD12 went to a craft meeting with her GS troop - one of the leaders was a former Stampin Up consultant so she has a Sizzix Big Shot and love it. I checked out the Big Shot, but felt limited to the dies. Then I looked at the Cricut/Slice and was happy with the purchasing one cartridge with tons of options. Then I thought about what I'd be using it for - cards, posters, crafts - I'm a GS leader and DH is the president of a PTO. So I decided on the Cricut Expression. I purchased it before the Expression 2 came out and got a pretty good deal. I haven't even looked at the Gypsy or the SCAL 2 stuff yet. I'm not excited about the price of the cartridges, but the variety is pretty good.

I love embossing folders so I've asked for a Sizzix textured boutique for Christmas which will allow me to use the smaller Cuttlebug folders also, but 1/2 the price.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

I have a Cricut Expression and a Pazzles Pro! Love the Pazzles!!! It is so easy to use and so may options! I use it daily, mostly with fonts!!!

 

[MazdaUK]

I'm torn between the big shot and texture boutique, as I want to emboss but don't want to get sucked into loads of dies But I think someone on here said there were problems and the big shot was easier to use. So I'm no help