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Post by Skellinton on May 25, 2021 18:58:57 GMT
My aunt is a card maker and loves the look of embossed paper, for her birthday I would love to get a simple machine (keyword simple) and some folders for her. I know nothing about manual die cut machines other then the monstrosity we have at school.
Long ago I had the cuttlebug, but I think that has gone away? That was a nice size as she doesn’t have a lot of space and the folders were pretty cute. What is the best one to get nowadays?
TIA
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Post by Skellinton on May 25, 2021 19:09:47 GMT
This is what she likes to do, she sent me this photo she saw on facebook and wondered if my store carried the blue paper. I am sure that is from an embossing folder due to the marks on the side.  |
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Post by quietgirl on May 25, 2021 19:29:09 GMT
I really like my Spellbinders platinum 6. Its easy to work, its manual, a hand crank, but I don't find it too difficult. I haven't used an embossing folder yet, but it takes them, it comes with the thing (platform), for embossing folders. It folds up. Its a small-ish thing folded up. I don't really have a craft area, so I store it under an end table. Its a nice machine, I'm happy with it.
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Post by wendifful on May 25, 2021 20:26:38 GMT
If she ONLY wants to emboss, the Sizzix Texture Boutique machine is around $32 on Amazon, so it's much cheaper than a die cutting machine. It does NOT die cut though, so if you think she might want to expand into die cutting, it might not be the best choice.
I don't own this machine so I can't speak to its capabilities, I'm just aware of it as an embossing-only machine.
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scrappymum
Throbbing Member
Posts: 69 
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Post by scrappymum on May 25, 2021 21:22:16 GMT
I own the Texture Boutique machine, the original blue one that looks like a little handbag.
I also own a couple of manual die cut machines.
I love my Texture Boutique and it is so quick and easy to use when you want to emboss a card front.
One thing I have found though (and this may not apply to the newer model) is that it won't take the new 3D embossing folders as they are quite a bit thicker than regular ones. I use my Big Shot for those ones.
But I have many different brands of standard embossing folders and all have run through the Texture Boutique beautifully.
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Post by grammadee on May 26, 2021 3:14:07 GMT
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Post by Skellinton on May 26, 2021 4:00:17 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions, I will be checking all of these out. I appreciate your help.
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Post by joblackford on May 26, 2021 4:14:46 GMT
I just spotted that today too. I think it's a smaller machine (there was a testimonial about being surprised how many things would fit in it), not sure if it's a rebranding or not, but maybe there's a demo around who can enlighten us. |
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on May 26, 2021 5:33:11 GMT
I just spotted that today too. I think it's a smaller machine (there was a testimonial about being surprised how many things would fit in it), not sure if it's a rebranding or not, but maybe there's a demo around who can enlighten us. Its not a Sizzix machine, not sure who makes it. There is 2 different sizes. A large and small. |
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Post by cbet on May 26, 2021 13:49:00 GMT
I just spotted that today too. I think it's a smaller machine (there was a testimonial about being surprised how many things would fit in it), not sure if it's a rebranding or not, but maybe there's a demo around who can enlighten us. Its not a Sizzix machine, not sure who makes it. There is 2 different sizes. A large and small. Pretty sure it's a rebranded Spellbinders. My mother has the small one; the small is not big enough for embossing folders (I think it goes up to a little over 3" wide). Not mentioned here, but I would not recommend the Marquis by Diamond Press. I think it's wide enough, but it uses what look to be blank embossing folders instead of plates for diecutting and they come out of the machine all curved to heck - and the top and bottom curve in opposite directions, so they look like duckbills. I can't imagine that actual embossing folders wouldn't do the same thing. |
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Post by Skellinton on May 26, 2021 14:21:22 GMT
Good to know which ones to avoid as well.
Since my aunt is older, are there any of the electrical ones any one recommends? I worry that maybe they might be hard for her to crank? This is a gift from my mom and I so we have a larger then normal budget.
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Post by grammadee on May 26, 2021 15:52:24 GMT
Its not a Sizzix machine, not sure who makes it. There is 2 different sizes. A large and small. Pretty sure it's a rebranded Spellbinders. My mother has the small one; the small is not big enough for embossing folders (I think it goes up to a little over 3" wide). The Product info on the SU! model says, "Spend your time crafting, not cutting! The Stampin' Up! Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine makes precise cuts and detailed embossed images every time. Use with dies and embossing folders to easily create accents and elements for cards, scrapbook pages, party invitations, classroom projects, and more. * This machine has a wide 6" ( 15.2 cm) platform for larger dies and full-size embossing folders. Works with all Stampin' Up! dies and embossing folders. Includes 1 Base Plate, 1 Die Plate, 2 Cutting Plates, and 1 Specialty Plate." So it is just slightly bigger than the Cuttlebug, whose plates were just under 6", but should be able to handle the standard embossing folders and dies. Still hoping to hear from an SU! demo who would have more information. CoffeeCrafter?
ETA: Whoops. I see that Melissa has deleted herself from the board. Hoping she is okay.
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Post by quietgirl on May 26, 2021 16:17:05 GMT
Good to know which ones to avoid as well. Since my aunt is older, are there any of the electrical ones any one recommends? I worry that maybe they might be hard for her to crank? This is a gift from my mom and I so we have a larger then normal budget. Jennifer McGuire has a video about die cut machines from maybe 2 or 3 months ago, and she recommends the Anna Griffin Empress machine. Its electric. Not sure how much. Ill go look on her blog to find it and come back here. www.jennifermcguireink.com/2021/03/the-best-die-cutting-machines-of-2021.html |
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Post by Skellinton on May 26, 2021 16:29:42 GMT
Ty everyone! I'm heading out for the day but I will look at everything when I get home. I just really appreciate all your help you guys are great!
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on May 26, 2021 21:56:42 GMT
I have the Gemini original and the Junior too. I love them both, I got the junior after I messed up my hand with cranking very tight 'sandwiches ' to make a gazillion Christmas cards. I spent a lot of money on physical therapy and my hand still starts to hurt if I over use it. I wish I would have spent the money for one before messing up my hand.
It is worth it.
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Post by wendifful on May 27, 2021 0:30:00 GMT
I have the Gemini original and the Junior too. I love them both, I got the junior after I messed up my hand with cranking very tight 'sandwiches ' to make a gazillion Christmas cards. I spent a lot of money on physical therapy and my hand still starts to hurt if I over use it. I wish I would have spent the money for one before messing up my hand. It is worth it. , not to hijack this thread, but I'm curious about the noise level of the Gemini machines. I live in an apartment and my current manual electronic machine is VERY loud (WRMK Evolution Advanced), so I don't feel comfortable using it during quiet/night hours because I don't want to disturb my neighbors. If you were in my situation, do you think the Gemini is quiet enough that it wouldn't be heard by neighbors? |
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,955
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on May 27, 2021 4:51:15 GMT
I have the Gemini original and the Junior too. I love them both, I got the junior after I messed up my hand with cranking very tight 'sandwiches ' to make a gazillion Christmas cards. I spent a lot of money on physical therapy and my hand still starts to hurt if I over use it. I wish I would have spent the money for one before messing up my hand. It is worth it. , not to hijack this thread, but I'm curious about the noise level of the Gemini machines. I live in an apartment and my current manual electronic machine is VERY loud (WRMK Evolution Advanced), so I don't feel comfortable using it during quiet/night hours because I don't want to disturb my neighbors. If you were in my situation, do you think the Gemini is quiet enough that it wouldn't be heard by neighbors? No. Its quite loud, I only use it when everyone is up at home. Sometimes when the 'sandwich ' comes out it make a huge cracking sound, not sure why. But I still love my machine. |
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Post by wendifful on May 27, 2021 23:33:20 GMT
azcrafty , not to hijack this thread, but I'm curious about the noise level of the Gemini machines. I live in an apartment and my current manual electronic machine is VERY loud (WRMK Evolution Advanced), so I don't feel comfortable using it during quiet/night hours because I don't want to disturb my neighbors. If you were in my situation, do you think the Gemini is quiet enough that it wouldn't be heard by neighbors? No. Its quite loud, I only use it when everyone is up at home. Sometimes when the 'sandwich ' comes out it make a huge cracking sound, not sure why. But I still love my machine. Thanks azcrafty! Good to know. |
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Post by tealpaperowl on Jun 4, 2021 13:49:03 GMT
I have the electronic sizzix big shot. Love it, just put it in, press a button and it's done! Very easy on the hands!
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Post by CardBoxer on Jun 5, 2021 0:23:31 GMT
I have/love the Gemini Junior and use it next to the room where my husband sometimes naps. It doesn’t wake him up and I don’t think of it as very loud, but is it that I’m used to it? I don’t know, but I wouldn’t use it right at a wall with someone on the other side.
Having used a lot of machines at my LSS plus having a manual machine and a Sidekick (small), it’s by far my fave, and has saved my not good hand. But to keep plates from warping it’s important to follow the guidelines of flipping and turning with each cut - at least the top one. And also not to put dies solely in the middle, which took a while for me to stop doing.
Since there’s no standard thickness to embossing folders, different sandwiches have to be used for different companies - or regular versus 3D or Texture Fade.
It sounds like the machine that just embosses might make sense, especially at $32. Not to be penny wise and pound foolish, but if down the road she grows out of it and really expands what she wants to do, maybe look at something else then? Just a thought though.
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