sizzix bigshot and quickutz..need them explaining!!

[Nemo1977]

what is it with the different dies etc. I dont understand how they work or which is best!

You can get different machines such as Big shot, sizzix, sidekick and quickutz. Some, like the sidekick and quickutz only cut their own dies. The sizzix cuts their own dies but also others if you buy their attachments. The Big shot is like a new improved sizzix and cuts a lot more different cuts.

If you want to get a machine I would reccommend the sizzix or big shot for their versatility. Sizzix are about £40-£45 inc postage on ebay, think the big shot goes for £75 but there have been a few teeting problems with what seems like a faulty batch. depends on how much you want to spend really. Dies go from about £4 upwards.

thanks pootle..what are the dies? are they just like stencils? IF so why do they come in different colours. I sort of assumed that you use your own paper and the sizzix etc just cut out the shapes..is that not right?

you need it explaining????
Imagine what it has been like for the rest of us glancing over Active Convos and being too afraid to ask.

pmsl SW It is all a bit odd isnt it

the dies are like the stencils yes. You put the die and the paper/card you want to cut into the machine and out comes the cut shape and the leftovers.
The dies come in different colours according to size. Green = small, yellow = medium, red = large.

plus you can use a sizzix to cut QK dies but you can't cut sizzix dies on a quickutz. So better to get the sizzix or big shot as more versatile.

right ok...just need all the info so that when I go to see mil tonight we can decide what we are getting between us..quite like the bigshot as used one the other night but the cutting pads seemed to warp easily..dont know if that was due to misuse by lots of first time crafters or it is a common problem!

it seems to be a common problem yes. I have a sizzix and I love it. Have thought about trading up to a BS but all the teething problems have put me off.

mmm am thinking sizzix myself as there are some on ebay for £35 including pnp brand new at the min

I would say go for it. If you want to cut sizzlit dies you will need a convertor but they are about a tenner. An adaptor which is a couple of quid means you can cut QK dies.

I have the Big Shot and love it. i also have the Tagalong and that's fab as well. The perspex plates are bending a lot but they still seem to cut and i just alternate the cutting side. A lot of people on UKS have cut up the self healing cutting mats to the same size as the perspex plates and use them instead and have no problems.

I have no problems at all with the plates on the tagalong.

I had the sizzix until recently but sold it when I bought the BS. One real advantage of the BS is n0ot having to fiddle with convertors and adaptors for cutting smaller dies AND the Big Shot cuts through much thicker card than the sizzix. I cut some chipboard shapes the other day and the sizzix wouldn't have coped with that