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Nanna2Five
BucketHead
PeaNut 542,105
February 2012
Posts: 802
Layouts: 4
 |  Posted: 2/8/2013 7:11:33 AM
I love cameo and am not getting rid of it, but I realised that I scrap less because of my titles! I have a stack of 12 layouts that are done except I need to cut out titles, and I get stuck when I am not sure what title I want.
No I won't use thickers... Can't go there lol So i am going to splurge and get a grand caliber machine, I debated between that and the big shot, but watching a bunch of videos the "sandwich" seems much easier on the GC plus I can get grand nesties if I want 
For now am going to get 3 or 4 alphas and a few sets of nesties, especially that pinked circle set that Shimelle made me want. HEY I can just blaim this on her lol
I won a quickuts "calvin" set on that site last nght for under $10.00 ! So yea thats a win! What I am looking for are a few sets that will kind of go along with the sizes of thickers. If I want a huge one or a welded title I will go to the Cameo.
Ok all this LONG post is to ask for suggestions on alphas, even on companies, I am seeing that it is not just quikutz and sizzix anymore! what die companies do you all love? |
Layout pages done 2012 - 30
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identicaltriplets
To God be the Glory!
PeaNut 221,552
September 2005
Posts: 6,219
Layouts: 435
Loc: Glad to be back in the Carolinas!
 | Posted: 2/8/2013 7:53:13 AM
Memory Box Typewriter is VERY nice. I use it all of the time, and Dave just came out with a Large Typewriter font too! |
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Nanna2Five
BucketHead
PeaNut 542,105
February 2012
Posts: 802
Layouts: 4
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Basket1lady
PeaAddict
PeaNut 465,906
April 2010
Posts: 1,902
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern Virginia
 | Posted: 2/8/2013 8:26:04 AM
Realize that you can't cut anything but wafer thin dies on the GC. I know there is a way to cut steel rule dies, but it only works with the smooth backed dies, not ones like the old Ellison. And I'd worry about cracking the plastic back of the Sizzix dies. Also, I'm not aware of a sandwich that works for the Sizzix alphas, but I could be mistaken there.
Honestly? I'd go with a Big Shot. Yes, there are a ton of sandwiches, but the instructions are right on the plates/platform that you use. It will cut every thickness of die on the market, it's sturdy, easy to use and smaller than the GC.
The downside is that you can't use any dies wider than 6". But there aren't a ton of those--just the Pro dies and the largest of the GC dies. And you have your Cameo for those larger cuts. |
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GeorgiaMolly
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 120,025
December 2003
Posts: 6,912
Layouts: 144
 | Posted: 2/8/2013 8:35:58 AM
I so agree with Basket1lady....I have both the Grand Calibur and the Big Shot. The Big Shot is much more versatile. I have to admit I've only used my GC to cut the largest of the SPB Grand dies (mostly for mini albums). The GC will only do so much for you, but with add-ons to the Big Shot (long platforms, etc.) and the ability to cut the Sizzlits alphas and all of the Sizzix Bigz Dies, you will have a world of die cutting possibilities.
Molly | |
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Nanna2Five
BucketHead
PeaNut 542,105
February 2012
Posts: 802
Layouts: 4
| Posted: 2/8/2013 9:04:55 AM
Hmmmmmm i dont care about the bigz dies I wont be using those
I guess i just feel the sandwich thing with the big shot looks really cheesy on the videos?
Lifestyle/quikutz has a new machine that looks a lot like the big shot but uses flat plates not pre sandwichednes
I wish I could try these machines before I buy  |
Layout pages done 2012 - 30
Pin Interest Board http://pinterest.com/ddaly60/
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dictionary
To err is human to pea is divine
PeaNut 100,403
August 2003
Posts: 7,542
Layouts: 270
Loc: San Jose, Calif
| Posted: 2/8/2013 9:43:26 AM
I would go with either the Cuttlebug or the Big Shot. I have the Big Shot Pro so can do the huge dies but I love to use my Cuttlebug for all my QK and Die Version Dies. Larger nesties go in the BSP.
I had the Grand Calibur and broke it within 6 months of use. I was trying to cut one of their dies but had the wrong mat..and the gears broke, plus I didn't like that there is no platform..you have to slide the plates in and then crank. |
Scrappin my family's life one layout at a time!
Visit my blog http://dictionarysdoings.blogspot.com/
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garagesaler
PeaNut
PeaNut 516,416
August 2011
Posts: 289
Layouts: 0
Loc: Florida
| Posted: 2/8/2013 9:48:14 AM
Do you have any local scrapbook stores where you could try the Big Shot or Grand Caliber? I have a Big Kick (same as a Big Shot) and love it. It is really easy to use. No big deal at all to run it through. It comes with a multi surface platform. Very simple, and the instructions are right on the platform. You can cut alphabets, or any other dies, and it is great at embossing. | |
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CreativeEngineer
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 134,808
March 2004
Posts: 6,138
Layouts: 4
Loc: East Coast
| Posted: 2/8/2013 9:49:02 AM
I didn't like that there is no platform..you have to slide the plates in and then crank.
And crank and crank and crank. The gearing seems to be very small so the plates only move a TEENY, TINY bit for each revolution of the handle.
I also have both and like my Big Shot much better! |
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luv my son
PeaAddict
PeaNut 95,467
July 2003
Posts: 1,262
Layouts: 0
Loc: N. Cal
| Posted: 2/8/2013 9:53:05 AM
I agree. The big shot is a more versatile machine and VERY easy to use. | |
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revirdsuba
Wise~old Pea
PeaNut 17,460
June 2001
Posts: 22,100
Layouts: 94
Loc: Central NJ
 | Posted: 2/8/2013 10:16:32 AM
I bought my Bigshot when they first came out. It does it all, except for the largest Nesties. The Sizzlits alphas are going for $10-$15 on the FSOT board here at 2Peas. | |
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StreetScrapper
AncestralPea
PeaNut 251,919
March 2006
Posts: 4,838
Layouts: 18
Loc: Toronto, Ontario
| Posted: 2/8/2013 10:25:01 AM
I seriously love my Big Shot. It gets as much use as my Cameo! |
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GwynnAsbury
50 Peas in a pod.
PeaNut 578,564
January 2013
Posts: 71
Layouts: 0
| Posted: 2/8/2013 11:13:19 AM
I have a GC and I love my George (I named my GC). But I will say that you are making a LARGE investment, and in this case I would strongly suggest the Cuttelbug or the Big Shot - primarily because it will open up your options when it comes to alpha dies. Unless you are okay with cutting out several letters to create more dimension (like chipboard letters) by layering several of the same cut of cardstock. If that is the case, I have run the sizzlits through my calibur with no problems. There are places on the web that you can get the sandwich for this from. The embosslits will crack, but not the sizzlits. | |
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Basket1lady
PeaAddict
PeaNut 465,906
April 2010
Posts: 1,902
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern Virginia
| Posted: 2/8/2013 11:23:28 AM
The new LC/QK Evolution is basically the same as the BS. The footprint is basically the same. I can't speak for the gears, as I don't have it. I had the Epic and hated it and replaced it with my BS.
I hated that flex mat and was constantly baking in the oven it to get it to flatten out. The shim on the platform was coming unglued from the platform and QK wouldn't replace it. One day, it just stopped--the gears froze. I bought a BS the next day.
But they way they are shimmed is the same. Different cutting plates to change the thickness of the sandwich. The difference is that the evolution uses separate cutting plates of various thicknesses while the BS uses the multipurpose platform and the thicknesses are together in the sandwich. But you can separate them if you want to.
Also, the magnetic platform (the Genius) for the Evolution is sold separately from the Ev. You can use that platform in the BS and LC/QK does say this in their marketing material.
I use wafer thin dies almost exclusively. I think they are easier to store than the steel cut dies, so that's what I buy. I haven't had any problems at all with using the multipurpose platform. I really like the system and regret not getting the BS sooner.
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Nanna2Five
BucketHead
PeaNut 542,105
February 2012
Posts: 802
Layouts: 4
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Nanna2Five
BucketHead
PeaNut 542,105
February 2012
Posts: 802
Layouts: 4
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CreativeEngineer
Ancient Ancestor of Pea
PeaNut 134,808
March 2004
Posts: 6,138
Layouts: 4
Loc: East Coast
| Posted: 2/8/2013 11:31:37 AM
QK will cut the thin fun foam, particularly if you take the white ejection foam off of the dies.
Generally, steel rule dies are the ones that will cut chipboard. But I think some people have had luck cutting cereal box thickness "chipboard" with wafer thin dies like QK. |
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leisa77
PeaNut
PeaNut 555,886
May 2012
Posts: 317
Layouts: 5
Loc: England
| Posted: 2/8/2013 11:46:17 AM
I have one of the really tiny quickutz alphas and it will quite happily cut fun foam even with the white ejection foam on the letters
I'm another one in favour of the Big Shot btw - I've had mine for *years* and I've never had one single problem with it.
For dies- first I would check ebay for cheap quickutz/old sizzix alphas. Otherwise, I'd second the recommendation for Memory Box - they have several really lovely basic alphabet sets which would work with pretty much anything and they are not too expensive. I have a couple of Cuttlebug alphabets too, not sure if they still make them, but they would also be worth checking for on ebay!
I also *love* the sizzix thin dies which come with matching stamps. They're not alphas but they have some great ones and they are amazing for cards too. |
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Nanna2Five
BucketHead
PeaNut 542,105
February 2012
Posts: 802
Layouts: 4
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Basket1lady
PeaAddict
PeaNut 465,906
April 2010
Posts: 1,902
Layouts: 0
Loc: Northern Virginia
| Posted: 2/8/2013 1:23:23 PM
This site has tons of wafer thin dies. Spellbinders, Memory Box, Cherry Lynn, QK, Die-Versions, etc.
http://www.scrapyland.com/Fonts_c_1227.html
Yes, you can cut fun foam and cereal box weight chipboard with WT dies. Both cut beautifully. The only drawback that I have with WT dies is that you can only cut 1-2 layers of CS. That's why I have a few basic steel cut dies that I can use to cut multiple layers.
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simplycheri
PeaNut
PeaNut 376,897
May 2008
Posts: 126
Layouts: 0
 | Posted: 2/8/2013 1:52:51 PM
Where are you getting the pinked circle set that Glitter Girl made you want? I have a Bigshot and would like to pick up that set too
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tiffanyo
BucketHead
PeaNut 556,456
June 2012
Posts: 918
Layouts: 2
| Posted: 2/8/2013 1:55:01 PM
I agree that the Big Shot is more versatile. Love mine!
Memory Box dies are great and Lawn Fawn is coming out with one to match their Quinn's ABCs stamps (you could totally use them separately).
One more thought, if you are planning to use these like Thickers you could also just cut out some alphas in a few colors with your Sillhouette. I run paper through my Xyron then cut out a whole alphabet plus extras of letters I use often. I use coin size page protectors to separate them out.
You could do that with the manual machine too of course. | |
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