Die Cut Machines or Personal Cutters?
Hi, I have no knowledge with either of these. My husband was looking for something to help me cut projects out and saw die cutting machines, but before I plunk down $ I wanted to know if it would work for me.
I host a playgroup weekly (2-5yrs) and I’m always cutting templates for different crafts for the kids, ( most often from dltk kids.com,6 sets of each craft every week)
This is hard for me since I have a mild form of Cerebral Palsy.
When I saw the Crayola Cutter I purchased that, but my hands are to shakey for it to be helpful. So I’m back to scissors, takes me forever to cut things out.
Any advice? Is there a product that would help me?
There are two basic types of cutting machines…one that is electric and one that is powered by you. (I am talking about machines for making shapes..cats, flowers, frames, numbers, letters, etc…)
The electric ones do the cutting for you. They either hook up to your computer or stand alone and you purchase more CD’s or cartridges to add “dies.”
The non-electric ones have handles that you push down to get the machine to cut the die. You purchase all the dies that you want/need.
It really depends on how much you want to spend and how your hands stand up well to the turning and pulling on handles. If that is hard or getting hard for you, you may just want to invest in an electric one.
Here is a link to a helpful article:
http://scrapbooking-paper-crafts.suite101.com/article.cfm/digital_paper_cutting_systems
Here are some machines:
Xyron Wishblade http://www.xyron.com/enUS/Categories/Xyr…
Graphitec Craft Robo: http://www.craftrobostore.com/
Pazzles Creative Cutter: http://www.pazzles.com/
Quick Kuts: http://www.quickutz.com/qk2/
Hope this helps you out some. There are more out there, but here are just a few to get you looking. Good luck! 
Here’s some info. I posted for someone else helping explain the machines:
A Sizzix is a personal die-cutting machine. You purchase the machine and any dies that you want and cut as you wish. You have to purchase all the dies that you want. So if you want a car, you get a car. If you want a fish, you get a fish…. This is like the die-cutting machine you borrow at the scrapbooking store. It has the same great quality, just not as expensive as the store one. It is expensive to get all the dies, but you have great quality dies when you make them. I think you can get certain dies that will emboss too. It’s not electric or anything, you just load the die and paper and push down on the handle to cut the paper.
http://www.sizzix.com/categories/Machine…
A Cuttlebug is a personal die-cutting machine and embosser. I believe the you can use dies that you already have and you crank the handle to get the machine to cut (again not an electric machine).
http://www.provocraft.com/products/index…
The Cricut (also made by ProvoCraft) is an electronic personal cutting system. You purchase additional cartridges for additional dies. http://www.provocraft.com/products/index…
The Xyron has a few machines and they have many uses. The ones you think of most can create things into stickers, laminate things, turn things into magnets and labels. These do not use heat and are not electric. They also have other products that cut and print. They have an electric personal cutting system called the Wishblade that makes die-cuts too. I believe you buy new disks for updates on the available dies. http://www.xyron.com/enUS/Products/defau…
Handprint Chick Craft
