What cutting tool? Fiskars Ultra Shape Xpress?

Hi, I am new to scrapbooking and don't have any cutting tools beyond a paper trimmer, various scissors and punches and a Cropadile big bite.

I think I probably need some sort of cutter that I can use free hand or with templates. I don't know what buy. What would be most useful/most versatile? I guess I could just get a craft knife (that swivels, maybe)?

I saw some sort of Fiskars round thingy at the craft store. I'm pretty sure it was the Ultra ShapeXpress. It doesn't cut a specific shape. Rather, you use it free-hand, like a craft knife, or you can use it within/against templates. Any idea if this is a good product? The one I saw was thinking of was just the cutter itself ($19.99), not the starter kit.

Thank so much for your help. I am learning a lot on these forums.

This is the one I have and after a brief learning curve, found that I really like it and still use it even after buying a cricut. Like I stated though, you need to practice with it at first to get the hang of it.

BTW...Welcome to sb.com !!!

Welcome to the world of scrapbooking! I'm new too, coming back to it after doing a bit of it as a kid.

I just bought this tool tonight, and I really like it. It took a few practice tries to figure out how to cut with it, but it's pretty easy to learn. I haven't tried using it freehand, but have been using it with the letters template and am impressed. It cuts out the letters well, although in my limited experience they will turn out a little smaller than the actual template because no matter how close I try to get the blade to the outline, there's still a little bit of offset.

Also, J's has these on 40% off right now.

I've had this tool for about more than two years! It's a great tool to use free hand and with the stencil from Fiskars . I love mines and so does my best friend.

I love mine too!!

In fact I came across one at Tuesday Morning for like $5 to keep as a back up! I'd be broken hearted it anything happened to it, and for that price....

Have fun!!

I have as well and I am glad to have it when doing my scrapbooking its really handy and easy to use in free hand> I enjoy doing freehand cutting the precuts.

I love Fiskar's cutters too.. I've Finger Swivel Knife, ShapeCutters with different templates and scissors that make border shapes..

You know I bought this and never opened it. I sort of forgot I had it. It was during that blur of a very beginning scrapper and I was overwhelmed with everything! I nned to get it out and practice. I think I would really like it. I have just been cutting the old-fashioned way - with scissors.

Thanks so much to all of you who replied to this threat.

I've been scrapping 10 1/2 years and what I have is a paper trimmer (two, actually, but I use one a lot more than the other and could get along with just that one), various scissors and punches, a crop-a-dile (well, both of them, but I could get along fine with just the Big Bite), and an X-acto knife. If I want special shapes or letters, I trace them from a template or print them on the computer and cut them out with my trusty X-acto knife and Cutterbee scissors. Old school, I know, but it works for me. The point is, you don't have to have all the fancy stuff. It's nice, but not essential.

ETA: oh, and I do have the old Ek Success Circle Scissors. and the really old Fiskars oval cutter. Shows you how much I use them that I forgot I had them, LOL. I guess I use the Circle Scissors if I have to crank out a lot of circles, but I haven't used the oval cutter in years. I don't think anyone uses oval shapes on their layouts any more, hardly. The point here being, you can invest lots of money in fancy cutting stuff and then never use and forget you even own it! I'd rather spend the money on patterned paper and the goodies that go with it.

So true.. what we need to invest on more is patience lol!! I'm lucky because my girlfriend went to Finland and she brought me over some Fiskars goodies..

I found the xpress cutters easier to use in some ways because the outline seems smoother. For cutting intricate shapes I use surgical knives that my nurse cousin gave me. They are very sharp and easier to control than the finger swivel knife.

I'm hoping to invest on a croc-a-dile in the future because I've hit my fingers many times already using the old fashioned way of making eyelets from the haberdashery. Hammers hate me!!!!

I have it and it is my fave tool by far. The learning curve is slight but once you get the hang of it its easy!!

I like my ultra shape express. When I first got into scrapping I was obsessed with buying everything, oh who am I kidding, I'm still obsessed with buying every new item that hits the local stores in my area.