Advice needed with die cutting machines

I have a friend who has the wishblade and loves it. I think she uses it on most of her layouts.

Shannon you may find this interesting reading if you are looking at a = digital system - it is an article on Ten Reasons why not to buy a = Wishblade.

I can't talk about the Provocraft Cricut as I don't have any knowledge = of it and the Xyron Personal Die Cutter I saw sold on QVC seemed = expensive for what it was. The dies cuts were too clipart like for my = taste....but that is a personal/individual thing. LOL Recently, I toyed = with the idea of a buying a more expensive system - such as the Craft = Robo - but at =A3265+ it is a considered purchase!! I looked at it when = I went to an exhibition and had hoped to get a better insight but the = people selling it were lackadaisical/unhelpful when asked a lot of = technical questions. I guess either they couldn't answer the questions = or just liked to talk to people who were in awe of the product... as = reported in the company brurb. ROFL It has been well reported on many forums that the digital systems have a = steep learning curve....which for some....can be frustrating and = disappointing. I believe the Wishblade, Craft Robo and the new Quikutz = Silhouette all work in a similar fashion. You need to keep buying = consumables, i.e. cutting mats, cutting blades, etc. I am not sure that = for me personally...they would be good value for money. :o) I also = believe that the Wishblade requires you buy fonts to increase the = machines capability.... although that may have changed since they now = have to compete with the less expensive in the US...Craft Robo...which = will use any font on your system.

I have several die cutter machines, Create-It (like Sizzix) the Red = Sizzix, Sidekick, Quickkutz and my recent purchase.....The Wizard. Love, = love, love it......can you tell I love it? :o) I can use all my current = dies, embossing stencils and texture plates and it produces die cuts = that are a cut above (not flat) if you use the Wizard dies.....cut = them....emboss them....colour them.....bringing the normally flat = diecuts to life. I am now starting to look at buying more of their dies = if I can find them cheaply...they are expensive in the UK like = everything else!!!!=20

Take care, Marilyn

"Shannon" wrote in message = news:f1a87j$238u$ snipped-for-privacy@news.iquest.net...

I don't know much about the wishblade. I got a cricut for Christmas and I love using it. I have three font cartridges now for it. I like using it more than my sidekick for long words or sayings. I can keep working on the layout while it cuts the phrase out for me. I still use the sidekick for small things. If you don't use the sizzix at all it might be worth it to invest in another item that you would use. Hope this helps some..

Amanda

I have the silhouette and have had it for three months and I really do love it. I have used it for a major school project (it turned out awesome) and a swap and do not see the need to buy any replacement stuff anytime soon. My YDS did take the cover off the cutting mat and it looked like he brushed the dog with it. I washed it and then sprayed it with Krylon Repositionable Adhesive and it works just like new. I have had no problems finding free fonts or shapes on the net. I currently have over a thousand gsd files, these are just the shapes and not the fonts. I feel it is very economical just in that fact. Especially when you consider the cost of the Cricut cartridges. I expect I will be using it a lot this summer. Now I don't think I would get rid of my Sizzix just yet. Mainly because I just fixed mine a couple months ago, you cannot cut chipboard with these cutters as I have heard you can do with the Sizzix and I bought a big pack of chipboard, and I am abnormally attached to the Sizzix. I hope this helps! Jacqui

i'm thinking of doing the exact same thing. I'm leaning toward the wishblade because free fonts and shapes are easy to find. Now I'm pondering how much I'd miss the ability to cut felt and foam, since I'm pretty sure the wishblade (or others) won't.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions. I see that Kate also started a link on this same topic. Hopefully we can both figure out what we want from everyone's help.