what is a sizzix?

[monstersmummy]

Having just ventured back into the world of card making, i decided to treat myself to a magazine and was astonished that all the things i do by hand like cutting for example is all done for you and u can get packs of pre cut things (or maybe i had not previously looked prperly and u al;ways could)

BUT what on earth is a sizzix? and what does it do?

[monstersmummy]

anyone?

[undercovermum]

It is a shape cutter. You buy the extremely expensive shapes, sandwich a bit of paper, the shape cutter and 2 flat bits of plastic and put it through a mangle, literally. and it cuts a perfect shape. You can buy hundreds of different shapes. They are extremely good, but the dies (shapes) are bloody expensive.

[monstersmummy]

oh right, tx ucm....i'll stick to doing it by hand i think lol!

[champs]

undercovermum -- you are describing a sidekick

monstersmummy -- many of us crafters have different dies that we can cut for you before you decide if you want to get one. Or there's plenty of die cuts on ebay to let you get a feel.

[Jayzmummy]

Sizzix cost £35 on ebay and you can get dies from £5...so its not that bad!
You just need to shop around.

Personally I would recomend a sizzix and then to buy one or two dies that you know you would use a lot....for me it would be the slide mount die and flower die...I use them all the time.

My DH is never stuck for christmas or birthday ideas now as he knows I have always got a die on my wish list.

If you bought a sizzix you can always cut the dies you have and sell them on ebay....I do and I soon get my money back.

[monstersmummy]

oh no someone suggested ebay....why have i got a squillion things being watched now? :-S

[Dingle]

JM, what flower die do you use please? I have the doodle die flowers and TBH, I haven't even made 1 card using it yet! I do like it, but just not had the chance to really try it out.

[undercovermum]

A Ha, that is very possibly as I have a sidekick. I assumed that the Sizzix was the same only bigger

[undercovermum]

Actually I haven't really used the sidekick yet, but before I remortgage my house on some new dies, is it worth buying the sizzix and buying dies for that or carrying on with sidekick.

[Dingle]

UCM, sidekick dies (sizzlits I think) work in the larger sizzix machine with the use of a convertor (about £10 ??) you can also cut quickutz dies using the convertor and an adaptor (x10 for £3).

As far as I know, you can't cut anything other than sizzlits on a sidekick, but not 100% sure as I don't have one.

[undercovermum]

What is the point of buying the Sidekick? I have bought one and as I mentioned on my post on the wrong thread I may have made a mistake. Am at work so excused.

[Jayzmummy]

Dingle....Ive got three flower dies that I use all the time. I have made loads of this card for a local florist shop and she seems to be selling them faster than I can make them

This one I made using a sizzlits flower head and the sizzix slide mounts

[Jayzmummy]

UCM. The sidekick is excellent for taking to crops with you but IMO a waste of time for general use....I prefer the sizzix and the convertor to use the sizzlits.
Check out ebay for your dies as you can get them cheaper there.

[undercovermum]

Going to really show my ignorance now. What is a crop. I have heard these mentioned before.

[LadyCodofCodford]

no

[scaryman]

Dunno.

[pootlepod]

I think a crop is a scrapbookers gathering- where people get together and share tools etc, swop tips, admire each other's handiwork etc. BUT I may have got this totally wrong.

Does anyone know a sizzix website where I could look at the dies- can only find quickutz through google.

[Jayzmummy]

new sizzix dies are here

Sizzix.com for the main sizzix directory BUT they do not post to the UK.
Ordering from America takes six weeks for delivery AND you can get stung by customs!

Im sourcing supplies ATM.

[Jayzmummy]

there you go.....SIZZIX

[Whizzz]

Dear Father Christmas........

[Jayzmummy]

You dont just use sizzix for cardmaking either you know!

Im pretty bored ATM and am trying to spend my days cardmaking so the evenings are free for me to play with other thigs like my jewellery and sewing.

I used my sizzix to make this

its made from irish linen and then bits of material that co-ordinate together

I made it a couple of days ago and have had two of my friends ask if I can make them one too for christmas pressies.

what do you think?

[champs]

really pretty JM

yep, pootlepod that's a crop

[champs]

musn't look!!