The company Making Memories is synonymous with scrapbooking embellishments. They have a unique collection of metal embellishments that will create a unique and artistic look to any scrapbooking page. Along with embellishments, they now also have a range of tools that are loved by scrapbookers for making life easier, like the silent eyelet setter, a tag maker and dies for stamping.

However the question here is, with the popularity of die cutting machines for scrapbooking and the massive competition in the market from the two big brands of Die Cutting Machines... the electronic Provo Craft Cricut range of machines and the manually operated Sizzix range of machines, can Making Memories make a Die Cutting Machine that is comparable with these two big brand names?

The Making Memories SLICE hasn't been around for long, but it is making its name well known in the market for die cutting machines for scrapbooking. When compared to its competitors, it is much cheaper than the basic model of Cricut machines, which is an electronic cutter, however around the same price as a manual Sizzix machine like the Big Shot.

Where the Making Memories SLICE stands out though, is that it does not require a power cord to be operated. So it markets itself as being more portable than the Provo Craft Cricut, but with the same advantages, and as equally portable as the manual version of die cutting machines like the Sizzix. However since it is an electronic die cutter, it does not really compete with the Sizzix range of manual machines.

The Making Memories SLICE has similar features to the other electronic die cutters on the market like being able to plug in cartridges (known as design cards) and cutting shapes and letters at varying sizes. It does not need to be connected to a computer to function.

When being compared to the Cricut though, the SLICE attempts to go one better by having the ability to cut thicker pieces of material. While the Cricut range of machines can only cut cardstock and the Sizzix though can pretty much cut through anything (although it is a manually operated machined), the SLICE attempts to merge the gap by allowing material up to 0.5mm thick to be cut. So you get the benefits of a manual machine, on an electronic die cutter.

Given that the SLICE is competing with the Cricut and other electronic cutters, it is very well priced. It also takes up a lot less room than the other electronic cutters. From all reports, it also cuts very well and can cut sheets up to 0.5mm thick.

One of the SLICE's disadvantages though over the Cricut range of machines, is that you have to hold the card while it is cutting, as it does not have a sticky mat or other means of automatically cutting. This makes it a little time consuming, compared to the Cricut which you can set and forget. However at half the price, with the same advantages including the added bonus of no power cord, it is a definite player in the scrapbooking die cut machine market.

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.