Sizzix machines

I have been scrapbooking for 17 years, so I am very practical with my supplies. I invested in a Sizzix machine ten years ago and have one font and several other dies for it. I don't use it much since I got a Cricut Exp. I have been wondering about embossing techniques and have considered getting a Big Shot and some embossing templates, but I have no idea what goes with which machine! There are several kinds of machines that emboss. I am looking for some advise about what to buy. Anyone out there that can help?

I own the Cricut Expression, the Original Wizard Spellbinder, and the Big Shot (Well, actually, I just bought the SLICE today, but that's another story!) I really like the Big Shot for my card making because it doesn't just make die-cuts, it embosses them, too. It can use all the Spell binders (Except for the Grand ones) and the Nesties, Cuttlebug and Sizzix. There is a chart somewhere on this this site comparing them all. That's what I used before making my decision.
Have fun shopping!

So, let me make sure I've got this right. You still have the original "big red"? That is, the original sizzix with the handle that you push down? No need to buy a new machine for embossing!!! The embossing folders fit just fine in that one. I emboss with mine all of the time. I also use spellbinders in mine. The only spellbinders I can't use are the Grand Nesties, and you need a Grand Calibur for those, anyway.

If you want some of the Bigz dies or the Tim Holtz dies, not all of them will fit, but for embossing, it works like a charm. I love mine!

You can find how to videos on youtube. It's easy peasy to emboss or use spellbinders in the big red.

I have the Big Shot and the Grand Calibur. I love them both. The Big Shot handles all the Bigz dies and Tim Holtz dies perfectly and embosses everything except the Grand Nestabilities. Good luck with your decision

I had the Big Red too. I also had the sidekick which cut the sizzlets & quickutz. I have lots of sizzlet alphabets. I got a Big Shot last May. I am in love!! I love that I do not have to move the die around the old big red to get it to cut the whole die. I also love that it will hold 6 sizzlets at a time. When I cut titles, it is so much easier than doing them one at a time. I also started an addiction to Spellbinders, Bigz dies, reg sizzix dies. Of course I love that it embosses too.

I am with Gina {siameseplease}...the original sizzix will work with folder embossing...I did, however, get the big shot for Christmas and it fits everything BIGZ Dies, etc... {although the original sizzix owes me nothing}.

A friend just gave me her big red Sizzix and a ton of dies and some embossing folders Friday and I am learning about it. I know it is old and outdated but I have no other machine so it is better than nothing to me.

"Old" doesn't have to mean "outdated." "No longer in production" doesn't have to mean "useless." In an industry where great products are discontinued after less than six months because it's time to move on to the next trend or product line, it's a point of pride for me to actively use Sizzix dies almost ten years old and to be able to buy the same patterned papers I was buying back in college. Don't you ever let anyone make you feel ashamed of Big Red.

True words, Aquabunny! I love my Big Red. I cut felt, chipboard, and other unconventional materials, and so far, there hasn't been a "must have" die for me that doesn't fit. I even found a doily die that will fit in it. I also like the lever action better than turning a handle. I know that the newer machine is electric or something, but I don't want to plug in yet another thing.

I can't say it enough: I LOVE MY BIG RED!

I should add that I have the Slice and use my Sizzix Big Red much more than I use it. Although I like the Slice, I use the Big Red more.

I have Big Red and a Cricut Create (is that what its called, the little one?) My go to almost every time is my Big Red. I love that thing...I have looked at buying newer products but really other than the Create only using 6x12 papers, I see no reason to go with anything newer. Dont feel because it isn't the newest thing out there, its not as good. I dont really have a need for anything bigger, granted Cricut has some cartridges that I cant use in my machine but I find that saves me on scrapping expenses. lol

I would get a Big Shot only if you want to use the Bigz Dies and the XL (6x12) dies. If you want to do all the dies, including the 12x12, then I would get a Pro machine.

I would not get the Grand Calibur because I personally do not like the way to gears are set and it only takes the thin metal dies. I got rid of mine. Like Alton Brown from Food Network says, no uni-taskers in his kitchen, I don't like uni-takers in my scraproom

If your red machine is working fine for you, no need to replace it unless you just want to hth

I have the cricut and cuttlebug. I love the cuttlebug and use it more than the cricut.

if you are interested in a different machine - Then I would wait to get a bargain price. What you have will work just fine!! Check out videos on you tube for how to demos!!!

• siameseplease Said:

so if the spellbinders work with it, shouldn't the new sizzix ones that just came out to match the hero art stamps work too? has anyone tried those or the papertray ink dies in it?
i still use big red with my dies i purchased over 10 years ago because i love to use them on foam sheets, felt, fabric, etc.

Only if they aren't of the "Bigz" size of dies - those are too big for Big Red.

I have the E and the cuttlebug ... I'm tempted by the Grand Calibur, but don't really have the space for another machine, and I use the ones I have all the time

I acquired the original Sizzix machine a few months ago, and I'm finally getting around to looking for dies. I'd like an alphabet, and I'm wondering if I can use the Sizzlets in the orginal machine. Does anyone here know?

Thanks in advance!
Cathy

• calbano Said:

I do believe you can, but you would need an adapter.
I think!
I remember seeing black adapter thingys (?) that was used for this purpose.
I am trying to remember, it has been so long since I've used "big red" , but it comes with a white platform(?) then I think the adapter goes next and the die on top.
This is how I am remembering it,hopefully someone who is still using this system will come on with more accurate info.

Thank you so much for responding. Are these the adapters you mean?
http://www.sizzix.com/product/654449/sizzix-accessory-adapter-10-pack

Cathy

I also have questions for anyone that can answer. I have a cricut expression that hubby bought me 2 xmases ago, and I love the things that I have been able to do with it, but I am on a very limited budget and only have about 10 carts so far. But I also want to be be able to do embossing, well long story short, I went to a salvation army this past xmas season and found an old big red for $3.00, but it has no instruction book, no dies, nothing just the machine in the box. Can anyone tell me how to get an instruction manual and what do I look for in "dies", I am not sure what I am looking for I don;t know the language here for this or what things do what, Can anyone help/ I feel kind dumb here, being a scrapper for 15 years I feel I should know this stuff.
Thanks!

Yes, those are the adapters I was thinking of. Still, not sure about the process of how it all works tho.
My big red is packed away to where I can't get to it, and I can't remember what the layering steps would be to make this work! I'm thinking there is a white platform, but then is it 2 acrylic pieces next, like with the BigKick/Big Shot ? This is where my memory fails me!!

I haven't used old red in a very long time but from what I can remember, the white platform with it is the cutting pad. The paper goes face down on the white thing, die goes cutting side down and slide into the machine, pull lever down. If you have sizzlits, the adapter attaches to he underside of the smasher thing with a magnet to take up the exta space.

To use embossing folders, i think you might need some shims to take up the extra space. I haven't ever used mine with folders, I have a big kick.

I want the Grand Calibur,,,,,

I wish that it took the fatter dies,,,,,but I so rarely use them and the Grand Calibur is so much BETTER at cutting and embossing what I DO cut (nesties), that I'll buy it,,,,,which means storing my big shot that DOES cut the fatter dies, because, yes,,,,,,I'll occasionally use them!

go figure. But to me it's worth it,,,,,,the embossing is far superior in the Grand Calibur, IMHO.

Actually, I think you need only the magnetic adapter to use Sizzlits - the smaller black adapters are for using "wafer-thin" dies (like QuicKutz).

Thanks everyone. I think I understand now. I found the following page that explains the process and gave the official name for the adapter. http://www.karlum.com/Sizzix%20Instructions.pdf

Cathy