A Sampling of CHA

Reported by Donna Lannerd

One of the things about loving crafts so much and going to CHA is total visual overload but I've found a few things that really stood out to me. I hope that you will be just as excited.

First I would like to show you what I loved at Sizzix. They have Hello Kitty! I love this version of the Big Kick and they have several dies of the adorable feline and some of her friends.

This tank top shows how the dies can be used with fabrics to embellish clothing.


Duncan Enterprises has a new line from the Crafty Chica. The line is full of several items but I have my eye on these fabric markers and after crafting with the Chica herself at CHA I'm in love with her glitter.


I'm always looking for items to embellish clothes and other craft projects. I found this cute trim from Expo International. It's one of their newest items and I got to embellish my name tag with it (the first one) and everyone was always commenting on it.

I found a couple of brand new companies offering unique products. The first one is Fancy That who brings us decorative packing tape. What a cool idea! The tape with the exception of the Christmas line is designed to allow the color of your package or project to show through so you can get several different looks.



Another new company is World Piece. You may know about Fair Trade Coffee where the coffee is purchased with a fair price. Now we have Fair Trade Batiks. The designs are by Amanda L. Sage and hand batiked in Cape Coast, Ghana. Batiks are one of my fabric fabrics and I can't wait to get my hands on some. These are the first such batiks that are offered by the bolt to retail stores. Her first orders from her first show have just been sent so you won't find them out there yet and once she shows at Houston in the fall I expect this to be a big hit.

Sound Off: Cuttlebug vs. Sizzix

It's time for our next Sound Off.

Our next Sound Off is all about those ever popular die cutting systems, Cuttlebug vs. Sizzix. While these 2 machines are in many homes, we know that there are a few other machines out there, so if you own one of those, let us know about them too.

Here's a little bit of information about both products.

Cuttlebug:
Cuttlebug starter kit retails for $69.99
Plates can be sandwiched to accept a variety of dies

Sizzix:
BigKick and Big Shot starter kits retail for $129.99
SideKick starter kit retails for $49.99
Accepts the entire Sizzix library

So now here's your chance. Let us know what you think. Please use the following format so everyone can easily see which product you have and what you think. Please be as constructive as possible and note that posts that are overtly derogatory or inflammatory will be deleted by our editors. You are encouraged to use your name... but anonymous posts will be accepted.

For example:
Product Name
# of Stars (out of 5)
Your comments

We will also post a poll on the sidebar. The poll will ask you about if you own Sizzix, Cuttlebug, both, or another die cutter. This is your chance to help us provide the Craft Critique readers with the most comprehensive information possible.

So, get to Sounding Off...we can't wait to hear what you think! We will also post a link to this post on the sidebar for easy access later... feel free to add your critique to this post at anytime. Thank you for helping our readers!

Thank you for participating in our latest Sound Off. Here are the results of the poll.

Cuttlebug : 421 (60%)
Sizzix : 254 (36%)
Another Die Cutter : 221 (31%)
None : 51 (7%)
Not Interested : 11 (1%)

Votes : 693 Poll closed

Cutting Fabric with the Big Kick by Sizzix

Reported by Donna Lannerd

Okay, I finally broke down and purchased a die-cut gadget. I swore this would never happen (but I swore that about paper-crafting as well). I mean it would just give me more excuses to buy more paper. Then I read on the Ellison company's website that their die-cutters including Sizzix cut fabric. "Wow", I thought. I could really use one that does that, really, I could. So for several months I sat on this idea and contemplated whether or not to purchase one and then I got one of those retailer's 50% off coupons, so I finally took the plunge.

What I found is that it does work for fabric for the regular Sizzix dies but not the thinner dies such as the Sizzlets. For me I found that felt cuts really well. I actually was able to cut 2 layers of acrylic felt although when the felt was a little thicker it was more comfortable to cut just one layer. I was just a little scared as the tension became harder rolling the die through the machine with the 2 layers of thicker felt.

I also tried cutting cotton fabric applied to paper-backed fusible web, fleece and denim which are shown in the photo below. These all cut just fine. I was a little concerned with the fusible web but the Heat and Bond Lite cut just fine and didn't seem to leave any residue on the die which was my biggest fear. Some fusible webs may leave a residue but if you completely cool it this should reduce the risk. I've never had it stick to scissors unless the web was still warm. Fleece cut more smoothly than the felt did. Denim also easily cut very smoothly. If you have a thin fabric you can iron on freezer paper to one side of the fabric to make it more stable. Freezer paper simply peels off when you are ready to use your shape.


Overall, I was very satisfied with the results. I am disappointed that I couldn't use the thinner dies even for the thinnest cotton. As you can see below I was able to complete a small penny rug using my circle die. It was great to have all the same size circles that I didn't have to cut out each one by hand and hope they were all the same. It was definitely speedier and now I have an excuse to not only have fabric embellishments quicker but I can buy more of that paper!

Sizing up the Sizzix BIGkick

Reported by Lexi Daly

Although I am mainly a simple stamper, I have come to realize that I'm also a tool junkie! I'm such a sucker for the "enabling" posts and articles here and there about this tool or that, accompanied by beautiful samples and details of what it can do for you. (That's how I ended up here!) I may not always buy it the day it comes out or even the same month, but eventually I do.

So that's exactly what happened when the original Sizzix (featured in Heidi's recent article) was introduced. I immediately started collecting dies--shapes, frames, and tags at first, and then the dolls and their clothes, both sizes! Not only did I use it on cards and invitations, but with two daughters, it quickly became a fun art activity that we'd spend hours doing together. It's such a great way to play paper dolls!

By the time die cutting machines decided to change to the rolling style we see now, I had a large collection of original Sizzix dies, plus quite a few Sizzlits, the skinny dies. Again, I watched and waited, read a few enabling posts and by the time I decided to "roll the die," Sizzix came out with the BIGkick. The Cuttlebug looked cute and the Big Shot was also by Ellison, but for me, it really all came down to brand loyalty and adding to my "Sizzix" collection. The few other criteria were really less important, but here they are. I had enough room on my counter and I liked that the BIGkick doesn't have fold down parts and is quite heavy. Since my kids use it too, I thought having less moving parts would be less for them to break. Plus I really liked the white and red color scheme.

Not having used the other options, I really can't compare the BIGkick to them specifically. But I can say that it does what all of the other machines are reported to do and works with other brand dies, too. My girls and I use it for our paper doll fun and I continue to use it with my original die collection. I have continued to add Sizzix dies and Texturz plates to my collection, as well as several Cuttlebug dies and embossing folders and most recently, Spellbinders Nestabilities. No matter what die cutting machine you choose, you just have to choose one--it really is a must-have tool!

How I love my Sizzix!

Reported By Heidi Kingery

In a world of new fangled equipment and high tech gadgets, it’s nice to be able to rely on my always faithful Sizzix machine. Years ago, when die cut machines started to drift outside the realms of Local Scrapbook Stores the first company heard was Sizzix. If you didn’t run out and get one, then you quietly (or possibly not so quietly) yearned for one. How cool would it be to be able to die cut your very own shapes and letters in whatever color you wanted!?

Well, I put one off and put one off until almost 2 years ago I finally gave in. When I checked into purchasing one though, what disturbed me the most was the shipping cost. This 12 pound beauty was a pretty penny to arrive at my door. Although times have changed some since then and you can now find Sizzix machines at Michael’s and JoAnn stores. The suggested retail price is $79.99 but with a 40% or half off coupon it would be very affordable.

Now for a quick rundown of the machine. It is a push handle machine with a very sturdy base. Sizzix also makes a machine called the Big Kick if you are more interested in the rotating handle instead of the push lever kind. The base has rubber on the bottom so it will stay in place on the surface of your stamp or scrap area. And unlike the Cuttlebug, there are no A plates and B plates to sandwich in between get confused by. Simply place your cardstock into the cutting pad (replacements are sold for $3.99), place your die on top of your paper face down, slide into the machine and push the lever down. Some dies or embossing folders that are long will need to have pressure put on them in several places instead of just one. It’s as simple as that.

Let’s move on to why I love my Sizzix so much. I know that one of the big drawbacks of why people don’t enjoy it’s charm is because of the weight. I understand their point and how it can be very difficult for those with arthritis or carpal tunnel to use. I definitely would not suggest this particular machine for anyone with hand, wrist, or arm problems as you have to put heavy pressure onto the handle for the dies to work their best. This might not be the best machine for those who travel scrap a lot or who don’t have a space to be able to leave it to sit out. But, I gladly welcome the heavyweight style. I really feel confident that there is no way I will damage my machine no matter what I put through it. And trust me, I have tried just about everything I could get my hands on. I have cut through paper, thin metal sheets, fabric, foam, felt, and chipboard with my Sizzix, Cuttlebug, and Spellbinders (excluding the heavy chipboard) dies.

Have I mentioned how far the Sizzix dies have come? In the beginning there were cute ones. Very plain, but cute. They have come a long way though! Now there are so many cute designs that I find it extremely hard to choose only a few to buy. Plus, several other die manufacturers such as Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, and Quickutz are compatible with the Sizzix as long as you have the correct adapters. For all of those you will need the Sizzix converter plate which retails for about $15. They also say for the Spellbinders and the Quickutz you will need the adapters which come in a 10 pack for $4.99 and can be found on the Sizzix website. Although, I have cut pieces of thin cardboard and used in place of the adapters which worked perfectly for me. It’s something that each person would have to try for themselves and see if it would be something they were happy with.

So, have I convinced you yet? Chances are most of you reading this already own a die cut machine and are perfectly happy with what you have. However, for those who don’t, be sure to check the reviews on all of the machine’s out there to find which one is right for you. If you have any more questions please leave a comment and I will do my best to answer!

Happy shopping!