What's happening in the die world?

You know way more than I do!

I'm always three steps behind when it comes to scrapping supplies. I just bought my first ever embossing folders from the clearance section at Michaels, Lifestyles (used to be Quickqutz, I think), a two pack of folders for $3.99

Last week, or two weeks ago, I did buy six sets of Spellbinders dies in the clearance aisle at M's. I thought maybe they are just getting new packaging, but maybe there are other reasons for the clearancing?

I wonder if that is it... I never liked die cutting until they started pairing them with stamps... For me/my style, a die cut shape of paper looked unfinished, even if it was inked or distressed etc... I bought my first die cutting machine just over a year ago and with the exception of letter/word/phrase dies, they all pair up with stamps or make 3-D items... Oh, and I have a tag and tab shape...

If I wanted any other shape of use my Silhouette - much more versatile and pays itself off quickly (especially if like me you have to order any die you want online and pay shipping and duty)...

Joann just redid its spellbinders section-- everything has new packaging, which is probably why much of the old stock was clearanced.  I also noticed that the retail on things like the nestabilities now is $19.99.  They're probably just restructuring to be more competitive.  As for leadership, the lady who left is (I think) the wife of the guy who stepped down previously.  He stepped down after that disastrous patent infringement suit.  I don't think it's odd that his spouse is now taking less of a day-to-day role in the company if he isn't anymore.

I've never even heard of Tattered Lace.

And it doesn't strike me as odd for FSJ to have a non-compete clause that includes other die companies.  Without seeing the actual language, it might be just to make sure the coaches know this means more than just SU, Amuse, and CTMH.  Or it means that Richard has some intellectual property interest in the dies and the manufacturing process, and doesn't want that info to get to competing die manufacturers via coaches. Or it's just standard type language that his lawyer suggested be put in the contracts.

Thanks for the info, all. I love the ease of using my dies and live in fear that the dominance of the Silhouette will eventually cause the die co's to fail.

I don't think that dies will disappear, despite the electronic cutters. I have both a manual and an electronic cutter. Sometimes the manual dies are just faster and easier. The Spellbinder dies give a different look, with the embossing added in. Can electronic cutters emboss, too? Yes, but the impression is not as deep because of how an electronic machine embosses, and I prefer the look of the deeper embossing you get with folders or Spellbinder dies.

A lot of people got rid of their manual dies when they bought an electronic cutter. I hung on to mine, because it is easier to take dies and my Cuttlebug to a crop than lug my machine. I scrapbook away from home most of the time. If I am at home for scrapping and have a power loss during the day, I can keep on scrapping with manual dies. I love my Cameo, but lately I have been having more fun with my Heartfelt Creations stamps and Spellbinder dies. My Cameo has not been used as much as they have been (at least lately).

There is room for both cutting systems. Personally, I think that the Spellbinder dies are sturdier and give me better results than their competitors. I have some from different companies, but I like the Spellbinder dies the best.

I am not worried that the manual dies are going to disappear.

I love my dies. I bought a Cricut years ago but it's so much easier to just grab a die. I still have some old QK alphas as well as the newer Sizzix, Spellbinder, and Lawn Fawn. My J's has very few dies but it seems to be because they're slowly downsizing their papercrafting section. I hardly go there any more.

I hope dies aren't on the outs. I started my paper crafting hobby with Stampin Up! and fussy cutting (I was never good at fussy cutting!). Then when I started SBing, I loaded up on QuicKutz alphas and dies. Then I got a Cricut, then came a Cuttlebug for embossing. Now I'm back into card making and I'm buying dies and stamps that have matching dies.

When I was at JoAnn's last weekend, there weren't many dies at all. One section, where the Spellbinders dies were stocked, was almost completely empty, maybe three or four dies total hanging on the wall. The other section where the Sizzix dies were was about half empty. Yes they were running them 40 or 50% off and there was a coupon for 15% off total purchase. But I don't think that the sale would account for the stock being almost completely depleted. 

I had bought an electronic cutter finally, and then recently was able to buy a Sizzix big kick for a very good price. So I've been looking for dies on sale or clearance whenever I go to a craft store. 

Spellbinders actually makes the dies for a number of companies (like Tattered Lace) so I think they have an even larger presence than it appears. FSJ is actually using Spellbinders products in their catalogs. So again...I doubt they are going out of business.

I have multiple electronic cutters but I am a total die addict. I especially love the intricate ones by companies like Memory Box, Create and Craft Couture, and Sue Wilson

I was at michaels on the weekend and there were *2* Tim Holtz die sets. I didn't see anything else. I am thinking it's mostly online stores that are carrying dies these days and not the big box stores.

Remember the days with oodles and oodles of Sizzix dies? I don't think my Michaels even had a die cutting machine other than a Silhouette and a Cricut.

My Mikes clearanced them all out. The JoAnns that's a hour away has some in new packaging. I really hope Michaels brings some new dies in because I love them.

Darice do a range of nesting dies called embossing essentials that I have seen for around $10 and we have a company in Australia called mpress that sell nesting dies for super cheap, I managed to get a set of the mpress pinking circles for $6 or $7 Australian which is an amazing price. 
I have also seen really good prices on the non nesting dies from Cheery Lynn and impression obsession.

Check consumer crafts dot com. They have the darice dies and often on sale for $5-8 each set
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