Scrapbooking is a wonderful therapeutic hobby, that many have taken to a new level, so that each of their pages, becomes a project and challenge to make into a form of artwork, demonstrating their skill and craftiness.  One of the best ways to achieve the best quality and unique pages is by cutting titles using a Scrapbooking die cutting machines. They have been a revolution in the scrapbooking world, enabling their uses to cut titles and die cuts from various materials and in every font and shape imaginable.

There are two general types of die cut machines including the electronic version and the manual versions. The Cricut range of cutting machines from Provo Craft, are the most popular and well known in the electronic cutting machine range.  Cricut innovated a lot of the electronic machines market by introducing a machine that could cut automatically and also not needing to be attached to a computer.

Of  Provocrafts Cricut range, the Cricut Expression is the top of the range of scrapbooking die cutters. With the original Cricut Personal Cutter, you were only able to cut a sheet half of 12x12inches. For scrapbookers with lots to do, this was somewhat of a pain always having to cut or having half sheets of paper around. So to meet the needs of the ever growing market for demanding scrapbookers, Provo Craft introduced the new Expression Die Cutting machine, which can now cut both 12x12 and 12x24 inch sheets.

Do to this new increase in mat size and cutting ability, the Cricut Expression Die Cutting Machine, is also a lot larger than the Cricut Personal or Cricut Create machines. So it loses some of its portability. It was really designed to be left in the home office, scrapbooking room or for Cricuts new market, the school media room.

Just like the first Cricut Machine, the Expression has all the same loved features. It cuts shapes from cartridges, which means no computer connection required. All of the Cricut cartridge range, also works across the whole Cricut Machine range, so there are no worries with compatibility and there are sooo many designs to choose from. And of course its main feature is that it can cut varying sizes automatically of any of the shapes and fonts on the cartridges.

Given that the Expression has the same basic design and functionality as the original, it also has its annoying sticky mat. However after having reviewed some of the other die cutting machines, like the Making Memories SLICE, I see that this is a slight advantage, as the Making Memories SLICE has to be babysat while cutting, as it doesn't have this sticky sheet.

One day, we are all hoping that the makers of Cricut, or perhaps a competitor!! Will design a machine that has the ability to cut sheets without a sticky mat and without having to babysat. It is a real shame that some of the most delicate papers, which would make wonderful cut outs, arent able to be used with the sticky mat, as they will just get destroyed.

So if you are a die hard scrapper with money to burn!!! or you have just been frugle with your scrapbooking so you could save up for the Expression (well done!) then it is truely one of the best on the market at the moment.

The 5 main categories of Cricut Cartridges include:

• The font collection.  A wonderful collection of fonts from calligraphy to script, to licensed characters like Sesame Street, Hello Kity, Disney and much more
• Shape Cartridges. Shapes for every scrapbooking page you can image. Includes a wide range of licensed shapes like Disney.
• Licensed Cartridges. A whole range of well known brands everyone will recognise including Hello Kity, Disney, Sesame Street and more
• Classroom/Classmate Cartridges. Not just for teachers, but for anyone who wants to add some educational die cuts to your scrapbook pages.
• Solutions Cartridges. Cartridges for any problem! Home decor, street signs, christmas and much more

The Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine

Now isn't this little machine just so adorable.

It is full of features, that you just can't go past. No it isn't electronic, like the Cricut Machines, but it is no where near the price either!

The Provo Craft Cuttlebug is a wonderful portable die cutting machine. It only weighs 7 pounds (about 3.2kg) and the base and handles fold in, so it is easy to take to your friends house to share around.

The best part is, it accepts all the die cutters that you already own, from all major brands.

You can use the Cuttlebug for cardmaking, scrapbooking and many other home crafts. The great little machine even enables you to emboss the images that you have cut out adding a wonderful, original dimension to any scrapbooking project.

Also, it accepts a wide range of materials that many other machines don't. You can feed it foam, vinyl, chipboard, light metals and much more for that added texture to your projects.

It also features an easy crank handle, so no more back breaking pressing down to get a die to cut the shape and the great suction base means no slip ups either.

And would you believe the dies that are made for the Cuttlebug are soooo cheap!

Wow die cutting machines really have come a long way!

You can now buy discounted Cuttlebug Machines, Cuttlebug Dies and Cuttlebug Accessories from eBay.

Welcome to my first blog post on my new website. I am a die hard scrapbooker and just love die cutting machines. Today I am going to be talking about my my first true love. The original sizzix die cutting machine.

The Original Sizzix Die Cutting Machine

The Original Sizzix Die Cutting Machine. Wow, when I bought my first Sizzix machine.. what was it now… 5 odd years ago, my scrapbooking life changed forever! I use to use stickers and die cuts from packs that would run out all too soon and then I laid eyes on the Sizzix machine one day in a scrapbooking class and Wham Oh, I was IN LOVE.

You mean I can create multiple die cuts from lots of different materials? Sign me up!!! Die cutting became an instant addiction with my sizzix machine. It added so much dimension to my scrapbooking pages and even made card making easier.

But not just scrapbooking. I used my Sizzix machine and the dies that I use to save up to buy every few weeks, to make name tags for birthday party, baby showers, labels for jars. You name it, I cut it. I also used the sizzix, and still do today, to cut all sorts of different materials like thick card, leather, denim and much more.

I think I own something like 85 different die cutting shapes and alphabet sets. Hmm… maybe I should start renting it out to use! Now there is an idea.

In my years of owning the sizzix machine, I have had no problems at all with it. I have gone through numerous cutting pads though! I also have the Sizzlits adaptor and many of the cute sizzlit sets and a few embossing sets too.

The original sizzix machine is still a staple scrapbooking tool in any scrappers household. I have now also bought a Cricut machine, which I will discuss later, which is also just amazing, but you know, I still love the sizzix machine for being able to cut through tough layers of materials to create super die cuts.

One my favourite die cuts are the mini envelope maker. I just love how cute it is and love adding little envelopes to my pages with little messages inside.

Ok, that is it for today. I will write some more informative blogs on the difference and advantages and disadvantages of many of the die cutting machines out there that I have tried.

You can still purchase the Original Sizzix Die Cutting machine, at great discounted prices now at eBay, as well as Sizzix Original Dies and Sizzix accessories like the adaptors, cutting pads, storage and totes. ]]> http://die-cutting-machines.com/original-sizzix-machine/feed 3