mints
New Member
Posts: 5 
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Post by mints on Dec 9, 2015 15:54:51 GMT
Good Morning everyone! So here is the deal, my fiancee is a huge planner fanatic and I am a lost man trying to figure out a christmas gift for her! She mentioned a couple months ago about getting a machine that she can make her own stickers on, and wow where do I begin?! Talk about overwhelming!! Now I know what its like when I start to talk about cars & motorcycles to her haha. Anyways I have been doing some searching and came across the 'Silhouette Portrait'. I was wondering if anyone here can give some recommendations/insight on some machines that she can use to make her own stickers for her planners. I want to keep it below $200.00 if thats a possibility. So can any help this man out?! I appreciate all your time and look forward to all the responses  All the best, Erik |
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Post by rainangel on Dec 9, 2015 16:22:42 GMT
I don't have a Silhouette myself, but I have to say I am impressed with the level of research, effort and planning you are putting into this  It will make your planner-fiancee proud to know how much you planned her planner-gift! Also, did you know there are kitclubs you can subscribe to and receive planner-stash every month? I know Scraptasticclub.com is starting up with a planner kit in January. Please avoid Studio Calico planner club, their customer service is not worth it. Good luck Erik! |
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mints
New Member
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Post by mints on Dec 9, 2015 16:39:45 GMT
Well thank you! I see how happy she gets when she talks about it. She spends hours and hours updating her planning, half to drag her to bed with and pry her death grip from her planners at times haha. So I just want to be sure I get her a quality machine that she doesnt have issues with.
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Post by alissa103 on Dec 9, 2015 19:49:52 GMT
You rock, Erik! I'm not a planner gal, but I have a Silhouette Cameo (the bigger version of Portrait) and I really like it. It is for cutting out stuff, so like little bitty hearts for her planner or stars or whatever. She could print her "stickers" on sticker paper and then cut them out with the Portrait. That would work great. You should also get her the pixscan mat that goes with the machine, because it will allow her to take a photo of the mat with her sticker sheet on it, and that will help tell the machine where to cut. I hope that makes sense. www.silhouetteamerica.com/shop/blades-and-mats/CUT-MAT-PIX8-3TI'd also buy her a few packs of sticker paper to get started. I know Silhouette makes it in printable white, kraft and even foil (which would be cool). www.silhouetteamerica.com/shop/MEDIA-CLR-ADH-3TDoes she have access to a good color printer? Because she will need one. I also like the suggestion above to gift her a planner kit club, even if it's just for a short time. The Planner Society is one I hear about a lot. It looks like they even have a sticker-only club. Make sure you read the fine print on any club you sign up for and check out the cancellation fees (if any). www.scarletlime.com/plannersociety15.html |
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Post by alissa103 on Dec 9, 2015 19:54:27 GMT
I also want to add that the company that makes the Portrait machine is EXCELLENT and has a fantastic reputation in the industry. Customer service and support is excellent as well. She can call them with any questions or issues too.
Let us know what you end up getting her!
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mints
New Member
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Post by mints on Dec 9, 2015 19:57:53 GMT
Thank you for all the awesome feedback but wow I thought buying car parts was difficult haha I am totally out of my realm here. We do have a great color printer, I am a photographer so I made it a point to get a high quality printer. So were in luck there! I also came across the Cricut, does anyone have any experience with that? I cam across that one on amazon for $149.99 which seems like a great deal! Also comes with some mats and some tools. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Dec 9, 2015 20:40:07 GMT
For a casual user, either the Portrait or Cameo would be good a choice. I don't think the Cricut is as versatile. She should keep in mind that there is a pretty good learning curve with any of the electronic cutting machines, so she should be prepared to spend some time going through the tutorials and learn the basics before trying print and cut which is a more advanced technique.  The suggestion to get some blank sticker paper to go with it was a good one, and someone on another thread here suggested this DigiOrange which seems to be a good price. I'm going to give it a try for my mailing labels since it's a lot cheaper than Avery or even store brands like Office Depot or Staples. I would watch Amazon and also the craft stores like Michael's or JoAnn's, you might find a good deal still on a machine before Christmas. Also check Costco if you're a member there or know someone who is, they had a nice bundle for a great price online last week in one of their emails for around $200 if I remember correctly. It's still listed on their website for that price but only through 12/12 or while supplies last. Good luck! I'm sure she'll love it! |
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JustTricia
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,825 
Location: Indianapolis
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Post by JustTricia on Dec 9, 2015 21:05:30 GMT
I second the Portrait and not Cricut. With the Portrait (and especially the Design Studio software, I found it for $25), you can cut almost anything you can find.
With the Cricut, at least in the past, you need cartridges with the designs on them. Over the long run I think the Portrait will be less expensive.
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mints
New Member
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Post by mints on Dec 9, 2015 21:18:03 GMT
For whatever its worth, I am looking at the cricut explore one.
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Post by mikklynn on Dec 9, 2015 23:13:47 GMT
Cricut doesn't seem to have very good customer service.
You are a sweetheart to do so much research for her gift!
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Post by alissa103 on Dec 9, 2015 23:26:16 GMT
I had a Cricut at one point and I will NEVER buy another one again. Ever. Customer service stinks, they upgrade the machines so often making the others obsolete (therefore no longer providing service for them) and the company has done some shady things in the past. I know quite a few people really love their Explore, but I just wouldn't personally mess with one.
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Post by 950nancy on Dec 9, 2015 23:30:07 GMT
I have both machines and can tell you that there are ton of planning stickers on the Silhouetteamerica.com website. If she had the machine, small or large, she could print all of her stickers there. You can get a gift card for purchasing downloads or you can buy a monthly plan. (Bam! Done with a birthday gift too.) These machines are also on sale all over right now.
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Post by LisaDV on Dec 9, 2015 23:52:02 GMT
I second the Portrait and not Cricut. With the Portrait (and especially the Design Studio software, I found it for $25), you can cut almost anything you can find. With the Cricut, at least in the past, you need cartridges with the designs on them. Over the long run I think the Portrait will be less expensive. I third the Silhouette over Cricut and second the Designer Studio software to go with it. |
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Post by streetscrapper on Dec 10, 2015 0:00:03 GMT
Another vote for the Portrait or the Cameo. Many moons ago I too had a Cricut... traded it in for a Silhouette and never looked back. You honestly cannot go wrong with a Portrait!
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mints
New Member
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Post by mints on Dec 10, 2015 19:51:16 GMT
awesome! thank you guys so much for all the info, it seems like the votes are unanimous. Either way Im going to get a gift receipt so if one doesnt work out or she has issues, we can just make the swap and go from there but it looks like the silhouette is the way to go. thank you all!!!!
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Post by Delta Dawn on Dec 11, 2015 1:43:44 GMT
Hi Erik,
I am late to the game, but here goes nothing. I am a planner and if I had room for it I would get the Cameo. I have an ancient Silhouette and while I am not a good user, I think I could figure it out. I also have a Cricut and I used to work for ProvoCraft at one time at Michaels. ProvoCraft is trying to improve their image and customer service, but they did alienate a lot of people. (Ahem, the demos they hired to work at Michaels...but that's another story).
For my money I would go with Silhouette and then have her watch YouTube classes on how to use said Silhouette to make her stickers. Then come and tell me!
You're a great guy, Erik! All the best of the season!
elannah
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LeaP
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,939
Location: Los Angeles, CA where 405 meets 101
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Post by LeaP on Dec 11, 2015 5:49:18 GMT
My husband has a Silhouette for cutting decals for scale models. The kids and I use it occasionally and it is an awesome gizmo. You can make so much cool stuff with it. We have made 3-D airplanes, boxes, pop-up cards. Go for it!
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It will make your planner-fiancee proud to know how much you planned her planner-gift!
