Pazzle vs Cricut

I am looking for a compairson between Pazzles Inspiration Electronic Cutter an Cricut. Which do you think is better?

I have both. There are pros and cons to each.

Cricut: Stand Alone operation. - Good.
Need to purchase additional carts - Bad


Pazzle: Needs Computer to operate - Not so Good
Access to Lots of fonts, and images - Good

I like the pazzle because of it can cut 12 x 12.

I have the little Cricut, and must cut paper before I can use it.

Thanks, Is the Pazzle easy to use? Can you select where you want to cut on the page? Does it have any additional cool features over the Cricut?

I dont know what a pazzle is!
I love my cricut...however if there is ever a cricut cartridge buyers anonymos....Im Amie and Im a cric-aholic!

I don't have any experience with the Pazzle, but I'm really into my Cricut. I had the little Cricut to start, and have since upgraded to the Expression. I also have the design studio, so now I can use it "stand alone" or hook up the PC and go crazy altering, adjusting and welding the images/fonts I want to use.

The carts are expensive, but after a little hunting around, I have yet to pay more than 50% of retail for one.

I'm with you Amie, maybe we should start a support thread.

I am up to 12 carts and have only started buying extra carts 3 months ago. I'm jonesin' for some more font cartridges now.

I have not yet really played with my Pazzle. I have used it a couple of times for LO's. One of the features that I like is that I can cut clip art images. The runner image in this LO was cut using the Pazzle. I want to play with the Pazzle more this month, and get to know it a little better.
Frontrunners
By Bubblegirl

• Quote:

Ok, Ive been buying for 3 months and have 13, 4 on the way.....and still want more too!!!
Darn, Cricut...now they r making more!!!

I wanted to add that the Pazzle has an embossing tool and and pen tool. I have the pen tool, have not used it. Plan to order the embossing tool when I am more comfortable with using the Pazzle.

To the Cricut users, what is your favorite cart, and why?

I use the George the most, I love the Animal kingdom, its the cutest!

• lxb34 Said:

I think it depends on how computer-savvy you are and whether you are willing to cut with a computer. If you are computer-savvy and willing to use a computer (laptop is fine) to manage your cutting, then I think a Pazzles Inspiration gives you more flexibility and is certainly cheaper in the long run. But if you are not computer-savvy, or if you prefer to cut away from your computer, then a Cricut would be a better bet.

I have a Craft Robo which is a computer-controlled cutter pretty much identical to the Wishblade . I love it, but I am pretty computer-savvy and rarely crop away from home (but when I do, it's for something like a weekend crop and I take my laptop and Craft Robo with me).

However, I am planning on upgrading to either a Pazzles Inspiration or BossKut Gazelle (shipping in July) because they can both handle 12 x 12 and cut chipboard. The BossKut Gazelle will also have an optical eye so you can do print-and-cuts which is where you get the cutter to cut on an exact outline of your image. I do this to make sillouettes of my kids pictures, where I cut them away from the background.

All of these computer-controlled cutters weld words and trace clip art, and in all of them you can decide exactly where on the mat you want it to cut, so you can use small scraps rather than having to use a whole sheet of paper each time you want to cut something small.

GooD info! I am starting to lean towards a computer based program. I find that I get most of my sb done at home, near my computer. Do you know what the price will be for the BossKut Gazelle?

• Kathy Heilmann Said:

My LSS has a Pazzles so I know what it's capable of doing (they did an intricate title for me at a crop once). As I was hand cutting titles last night I was wishing I had a Pazzles. I love that I can make a title any size and font I want with my computer. Hand cutting isn't horrible but it can get tedious. Too bad I'm not rich otherwise I'd own one. The Cricut doesn't interest me because I'd get bored really quick using the same fonts over and over.

• lxb34 Said:

MSRP is supposed to be $529 but if you google it online you will see it available for pre-order for $429 from several different vendors. This is also cheaper than the Pazzles and supposedly does more. But I want to wait until someone else has tried it before I go out and buy it. If it has problems I will buy the Pazzles Inspiration.

I did see that AC Moore has a special right now for the Pazzles for $479.99. Do you know what other features the BossKut would have.

From what I have read, the BossKut Gazelle is supposed to have all the same features as the Pazzles Inspiration, plus the optical eye. The software is virtually identical. The only other differences are cosmetic. The Gazelle has a little smaller footprint and is pink, the Pazzles is a little larger and is blue/white. The Gazelle is supposed to have a pull-out tray for storing extra blades. They both have the same cutting force and can handle the same sizs and thicknesses of paper. Oh, and the Gazelle is supposed to come with a $25 credit towards buying professionally designed images from them.

So on the one hand it seems like a no-brainer, the Gazelle is cheaper and it comes with one additional key feature and is missing none compared to the Pazzles Inspiration. On the other hand, Pazzles has a long history in the business of making electronic die-cutting machines, whereas BossKut is new to this business (although they have made manual cutters for years). So that is why I am taking a wait and see approach on the Gazelle.

Cricut user here too. I like the fact that I don't have to interface with the computer. As for buying the carts, my daughter and I buy different ones and then share.

As far as cutting scraps, I don't think I've loaded a full sheet into my Cricut since I first started. You only need to load something big enough for the cut you want.

And as far as price, I got an Expression for under 200 and my dh bought me the computer software for it at W for 65. The cartridges I usually get for around 40.

As far as font, Alphalicious has been the one I use most. And shapes is Walk in my Garden and Celebrations. I use those for cards.

I had a Cricut but then I bought a Pazzle. I love it so far. It does a lot of things I haven't tried yet, but the variations in font sizes , the outline, and the welding of fonts are what I use the most right now.

Hello,
I appreciate all the information I have read here.

I am also trying to decide on a cutting machine.
I like that the Pazzles will do so many different things. It seems it can get very costly besides buying the machine. The engraving tool, embossing tool and the needle punch tool cost $ 50.00 each, while the pen tools cost $ 40.00 each and the marker tool cost $ 27.99. Then in order to use some of these tools it looks like specific mats have to be purchased also. The blades and mats are also expensive. I wonder how often these have to be replaced? (These prices are according to http://www.PAZZLES.com)
I do like that there are no cartridges to buy, but downloads for the Pazzles are $ 1.00 to $3.00, they also sell CD'S. I'm not sure how the "design you own images" feature works.

When I look at Cricut cartridges sometimes I only see a few items I would use on each cartridge. There seem to be many whimsical pictures on the cartridges. Sometimes I would rather have real looking shapes, like for a wedding, instead of the silly ones on the wedding cartridge. I do like that the Cricut Expression will cut 12" X 24". The cartridges are costly and Michael's, Joanne Fabric and Hobby Lobby Coupons say not for use on any Cricut product. So discounts are rarely gotten unless there is a sale for Cricut products. I wonder if that is Provo Craft or the stores not allowing any coupon discounts. I was also told that if you purchase a Cricut from an unauthorized dealer (like off e-bay) Provo Craft won't honor the warranty.

I don't see much info on the BOSSKUT except it is $529.00, but the website doesn't say much about it's features.

Before I buy a Pazzles I would like to see the downloads to see what is available to cut. Does anyone know how to see those?
I understand that the Pazzles can weld together letters and images, that way you can remove one piece instead of many little pieces. What a pain to try to line up individual pieces.

I would love any more advice anyone can give about any of these machines.

*fall off chair,but is ok.* BOSSKUT is HOW MUCH!!!!!