So I need to cut out lots of felt/material hearts/stars etc...

[cartblanche]

find it quite therapeutic just pinning on a paper template and then cutting out with scissors BUT is there an economical alternative way of doing it? I know that felt is an awkward material especially when you are using felted jumpers - some can be quite thick. Is there a good "machine" I could be using that isn't too expensive - I have a complete ignorance when it comes to all these BigCut/Sissix thangs but should I be looking into them?

You also have the option of rotary cutters and a mat... if you consider that most rotary cutters will go through up to 10 layers of cotton fabric at a go, it may well be the way to go for you.

I've never used a rotary cutter - I've always looked at them and thought they can't be that sharp but obviously I'm wrong! I wonder what they're like with curvy shapes? I'll look into further - thanks LatteLady!

If you are doing lots & lots it may well be worth investing in something like a Bigshot. Any of the Bigz/Sizzix original dies (or any other steel blade dies) can be used for cutting multiple layers of felt/material. (The thinner dies such as sizzlits tend not to work so well, but you can usually cut one layer of thin felt etc)

I get all my stuff from www.cuttingedgecrafts.co.uk - very reasonably priced, free P&P and quick shipping (often same day)

If you have more questions, just shout :)

you can buy dies specifically for the big shot that are for fabric [quilting squares etc] but have found the original sizzix dies are pretty good, they go through the felt you can buy at the range, most cotton fabrics, funky foam, card, paper, tin foil etc.

MiL loves her rotary cutter, but not sure how good they'd be for intricate things like hearts and stars.

I also buy from cutting edge as well, or eBay is good if your prepared to bid and it's not urgent.

I like my rotary cutter but I have the large blad eone as I only tend to do straight lines with it. It would be do-able though for your shapes, but if you buy one go for the smaller wheel - it means you can't go through as much fabric, but it's better for intricate shapes and curves.

Thanks all! I am drawn to the Bigshot and have watched a few videos on YouTube comparing this and the Cuttlebug.

BetsyBoop - I have looked on the site you recommend and it seems to be selling the Big Shot Pro at about £220 - I guess I would then have to buy some heart-shape/star-shape cutting dies on top of that? I couldn't see a basic BigShot on that site but do you happen to know whether the non-Pro would be sufficient to my needs or would I really need the Pro?

I am basically making heart-shape decorations for Xmas decorations, door-hangers, garlands and maybe some flower shapes for felt brooches. I am going to be using re-cycled woollen jumpers so the thickness of felt is going to vary so I need a machine that could cope with this.

Another question I have - these dies, how long do they last - do they blunt after a while?

(Thinking out loud emoticon) I am seriously thinking of getting together with one or two friends who are also interested in "making stuff" and investing in machinery that we can share - I think it would work as we all live within walking distance of each other. A good bit of kit that cut out multiple shapes on a variety of materials would be a good investment I think for all sorts of things.

Am all ears for any advice or experience with these die-cutting/embossing/stamping machines

the normal bigshots are here

Basically the difference between the pro and normal is down to the size you want to cut. The pro will take dies up to 12" wide, the normal one 6". The pro will take the normal size Bigz dies, but obviously the pro size dies won't fit in the normal machine. (I have a normal one, as the pro didn't exist when I got mine!)

I guess the steel blade dies would eventually blunt, but I have some I've had for years and used loads (cutting 30+ shapes every time I use it for the kids crafts group I run) and they are still absolutely fine. (I had one heavily used die where part of the blade actually came out of the die, but sizzix customer care replaced it free of charge, which I thought was fab!)

The only difference the thickness of the felt makes is how many layers you can cut at once. With "normal" felt I can usually cut 4 layers at once, with thicker stuff you may only be able to do one or two. (You get to know the "feel" of the machine and how much you can get away with!)

I actually find it easier to search for the die I want on the sizzix uk site, so for example heart dies that will cut felt and then find the die I want on the CEC site using the item number.

Once you have the dies the other consumable is cutting pads (clear perspex sheets which sits either side of your die) which need replacing every now & then, but they are only about £7? a pair (looks like CEC are OOS of the normal ones ATM, so can't check) and mine last a year or so, even with heavy use.

Can you tell I love my big shot?!

Another sizzix fan here.
I cut felt and bondawebbed fabric on my big shot, works fine, even though sometimes it takes two goes to get through some fabrics.