| Scrapbooking is the form of art of some would | | | | the toughest fabrics. The best of the manual |
| say therapy!! Of preserving memories for the | | | | cutting machines range available right now, would |
| generations to come, by collating photographs and | | | | have to be the Sizzix BIGkick/ Big Shot (the |
| memorabilia and placing them together with their | | | | same machine, just a different design). It is a |
| story in an album. Each page of an album can be | | | | fabulous machine that has come a long way since |
| simple, or these days many keen scrapbookers | | | | the Original Sizzix Machine came out many years |
| like to embellish their pages and each page | | | | ago and led the market to where it is today. |
| becomes a piece of art. | | | | The Sizzix BigKick and Big Shot machines operate |
| One of scrapbookers favourite ways to embellish | | | | with a platform on which the die and paper is laid |
| a scrapbook page is by adding creative titles and | | | | and when pressure is applied, the die with its |
| images. Since the invention of scrapbooking die | | | | sharp, pre cast design, cuts out paper or other |
| cutting machines, scrapbook pages have taken on | | | | types of materials. The new platform and various |
| a new dimensions as die cuts can be now made | | | | adaptors that are available, means that any die on |
| from various forms of material and in an endless | | | | the market can be used with the BigKick. This |
| supply of wonderful designs. | | | | includes other brands, as well as the smaller |
| There are two types of die cut machines on the | | | | Sidekick Sizzlits dies. All of the Sizzix range of dies |
| market. The electronic versions like the Making | | | | ever made, can be used in this machine. |
| Memories Slice, Provo Craft Cricut, Xyron | | | | The BigKick and Big Shot die cutters also have a |
| Wishblade and the Pazzles. Then there are the | | | | larger base than the original machine. This means |
| manual versions, ie no electronics involved at all | | | | you can put the larger dies in sideways to make |
| like the Sizzix BigKick/Big Shot, Provo Crafts | | | | cuts quicker. It also fits in larger sheets of paper |
| Cuttlebug and Spellbinders Wizard. | | | | and basically cut more out at once. A new range |
| The advantages of a manual die cutting machine, | | | | of larger dies, which make fantastic backgrounds, |
| is that they are no where near the price of | | | | has also been created for the machine. Also, if |
| electronic die cutters, they are also more portable | | | | you own a lot of smaller dies, you can now cut |
| and more robust. Their biggest advantage though | | | | out multiple smaller die cuts at once. |
| is the types of materials they will cut. They can | | | | One of the best new features of the Big Shot is |
| cut much thicker materials compared to electronic | | | | the rolling mechanism. This is absolutely the best |
| cutters, like fabric, think sheet metal, cork etc, | | | | feature compared to the original machine. It |
| which is only a dream for owners of an electronic | | | | means no more having to slide the large dies |
| cutter. Their main disadvantages are that they | | | | through in multiple sections, like the original Sizzix, |
| have to be operated manually of course and you | | | | to get the shape cut out. No slippages, or having |
| can only cut the one size of the cartridge | | | | part of the die cut but part not, due to not |
| available. | | | | enough pressure. Also, it saves a lot of the |
| Although the electronic cutters sound fantastic, | | | | muscle work that was required by the press |
| manual die cutters are still very popular and still | | | | down handle of the old machine. I just love the |
| have a place in today's scrapbooking die cutting | | | | crunching sound it makes as it cuts! |
| machine market due to their ability to cut through | | | | |