just starting card making - want opinions on die cutters please

[mysterymachine]

Hi all, I've just decided to start making my own cards and have been buying different bits n bobs to get me started. Some of the bits I've got are clearly die cuts - people, cars, boats, dinosaurs, clothing etc. So do any of you use die cutters - I've seen the sizzix and xcut brands but not sure if there are more out there and what would be best to get. Do I need one?? How much do you all use yours (if you have them)?? Are they worth having?? The ones I've seen are expensive n so are the dies so don't want to go and buy if it's not worth having iykwim

Any opinions/advice greatly appreciated

Thanks

It depends a lot on ypur brand of cardmaking TBH. I made a ltof cardsand bought a sissix then realised how little I used it-certainly not often enough when buying dies to own instead of but ready cut from ebay iyswim.

Other people love theirs of course.

Have a good look at your style. If you do alot of scrapbooking the alphabets are priceless, mind.

I have had some form of die cutter for a few years now. First I got an big old red Sizzix machine, then I updated it with a Cuttlebug.

The cuttlebug takes all (as far as I know) makes of die...as does the Sizzix Big Shot...I believe!

I use my Cuttlebug for as good as every card I make...in fact I have just cut well over 100 Nestabilities shaped for a cyber pal!

I must say I don't tend to use it for die cutting as much as I used to, instead I mainly stamp now but use my Cuttlebug for dry embossing and for cutting little accent shapes such a photo turn, corners, flowers....etc.

It does depend on not only your style of crafting but also on how many cards you intend to make. Will it be more cost effective to buy the cut shapes etc?

Hope that helps a little, you can get an idea of the little extra accents I mean from my blog

Thanks to both of you, very helpful. It has helped me to decide to wait a little while to see how I progress - Dingle your cards look fab, mine are not to that standard at all yet - I've managed to do one for mother's day that has a pop out vase inside with flowers in it but thats the most complicated to date.
Thanks again

Have you made any decisions about a die cutter yet?

Yep - decided to just hold for a little while and use what I have to get a little better at the cards and use the time to see what I prefer to use as well - my birthday in May will prob be the goal to make the decision.

Well, if you need any help in the meantime, just shout or happy for you to email me. My email addy is on my blog!

Happy crafting!

i got a big shot just before xmas and have not used it as much as would like too due to other problems going on

but have been making my own cards for nearly 18 months and i love it

like others have said it is an investment so you need to see whether you like making cards or you could expand into other areas, eg handmade gifts, scrapping etc

also you will find when you start out you make a similar style of cards and as u get more experienced you go into other things eg decoupage, stamping, embossing, parchment etc etc
ideally would like a craft robo but at £250 i cant justify that price at the moment on one item, would rather spend that on cd's and cardstock

dingle ur cards are lovely

Thank you Doormat....it's funny to look back though and see how my "style" (not really sure I have one..LOL) has changed over the 6 years I have been making them.

I can remember feeling as pleased as punch over certain cards...that I would now be embarrassed over..

I suppose as well as experience, the stash that you collect becomes better too, you start to be a bit more selective over what you like! But theres always more you want NEED!

I'm finding at the moment I like doing decoupage cards (not bad for a beginner either) as I don't have a great creative flair so to me they don't need as much thinking about(might be wrong there). I have a nice selection now to get me going - some people, dino's, cars, boats, clothing, fairy castles, etc and a lot of decoupage sheets. Bought a couple of mags and registered on do-crafts site for inspiration as well.

I have found that I am looking at mixed bundles and thinking I could use all of it - luckily dh steps in a makes me think before buying (I now have 6 mini filing drawers full of bits n bobs )

Thanks to all who reply on here, I will be coming back - hopefully couple of times a week and will keep looking at your site dingle and may be in touch there for help or even your thoughts on what I've done so far (when I'm brave enough to share)