Best Die-cutting/embossing machine?

Hello all,

I'm new to scrapbooking, and I'm thinking about getting a die-cutting machine. Problem is, I don't know where to start. I'm a college student, so I'd like one that is wallet friendly.

Any recommendations would be appreciated!

I think something like the Cuttlebug or Sizzix would work well for you. You can get them cheaper with coupons. I think I paid around 40 for mine. If you want an electronic machine, the baby bug usually can be found from between 70-100 bucks if you can find the right deal.

I love my Sizzix & still use it, even with having a baby bug. With a good coupon, you can probably get it for a good deal. Then just watch out for hot deals on dies. I once walked into JoAnn and right smack dab at the entrance was a table with clearanced Sizzix dies. Managed to get a punctuation set for $4.97, and even the Window & Frame Making set (my go to set!!) for dirt cheap!

If you can swing a baby bug, it would be a great investment, too. Like Afilatreau said, you can nab it on a good sale for close to $100 - maybe less. There are always great ways to buy carts cheap (ebay or Scrapbook Gadgets & More, where I just bought some for cheap).

Good luck & let us know what you do!

If you can afford it, you might consider a creatopia. Unlike the other machines out there, it can actually emboss an entire 12 inch by 12 inch page!

If you want die cutting I suggest a baby bug. Then instead of paying for a bunch of carts purchase SCAL or Make the Cut (very, very new software). With these you can design your own embellies or download lots of free files. With Sizzix, cuttlebug etc. you have to purchase the dies and I think they are, in general, way too expensive. Yes, you can get deals. Also you have to have room to store the dies. With baby bug and SCAL all you need is a computer (which you obviously already have), no storage. But if you want to emboss you'll need something else because as far as I know Cricuts do not emboss.
:(, wish they did.

I'll second the baby bug and SCAL..I;m sure your space is at a premium in college, and its an easy and cheap way to have lots of possibilities.

How do you find the baby bug? I did a search and can't find it.

I went with a sizzix because when I bought my die cutter/dies that was pretty much the only machine out there.

If I were starting out right now, I'd get an electronic cutter. Basically, if you get a manual machine you are going to find yourself spending LOTS AND LOTS of $$ on dies. If you get a cricut, you will find yourself buying cartridges (or SCAL, or the other program I haven't heard of). I would bite the bullet and get a computer based cutter- you only have the cost of the cutter, replacement blades, and mats. In the long run it comes out to be MUCH cheaper. Do your research tho!

When they talk about the baby bug, they are talking about the personal Cricut.

baby bug and scal all the way

Huh, didn't know baby bug was the personal cricut...Cute nickname!lol Ok, what is scal???

sure cuts a lot

It's a program you can buy so you can hook the bug to your computer and cut other fonts but I think it voids your warranty? Not sure- someone else on here will chime in I'm sure.

when I started scrapping the sizzix was the only things available too. nice thing about it though is as more people are switching to cricut, i can get my dies cheaper on ebay and craigs list.

also, I am not sure if the cricut embosses or not. i have only used one occassionally at my friends house.

angi

I still love my Sizzix machines, because they don't use electricity. I also like my Cricut Babybug, because it doesn't require a computer.

I love my cuttlebug

I just bought an Epic 6 and I really like it. What I like most about it is that you can use any brand die/embosser with it.

I don't own any. I think if I bought one it would be the sillouette (sorry I think I spelled it wrong) it is not wallet friendly. It looks so cool and you don't have to buy(and store) cartridges.

Hi,

I have a baby bug, but I don't have many carts. I have read SCAL and Make the Cut in some posts. What are those?

I did some research on the SCAL and the Make the Cut. Which one is better? I am very excited about these.

I'm still new to scrapping and very new to this forum, but I have a Sizzix Sidekick and a Cricut and love them both, for different reasons. I found that Sizzix machines and cuttlebug machines can use each other's dies, so you can buy what you like in either line. (Not recommended by makers, of course) I have the little sizzix that only uses sizzlets dies, but recommend the regular size or the Big. They use embossing folders which are great and larger dies and you can still use the sizzlets dies in the larger machines. It is easy to use, crank instead of electric, has some really great dies and you can use coupons to buy them, which you can't usually do with Cricut.

My Cricut is the "Create" model. Same size as the personal but from what I have read on this forum, I guess it has a few software upgrades that allow it to cut in 1/4 inch increments and use more space on the paper. Only have 2 carts so far but with the rewards program, I will be buying more. It is taking me a while to get used to it and have made lots of errors on finding the right size, etc. It takes a few errors and practice but is very versatile.