Scrapbooking Die Cuts – Let Me Count the Ways

Scrapbooking die cuts bring the scrapbooker into a twin world of cutting materials. On a smaller level, it has been said that punches are the smaller version of scrapbooking die cuts. Many times I have heard the term but really didn’t know what it was all about. So, I did my homework. When someone speaks of scrapbooking die cuts, then, not only are we speaking of the different types and sizes and brands of scrapbooking die cuts, but also of the different machines or systems built to work with them.

You have heard terms like “Cricut” and “Cuddlebug” and others. This article will address what scrapbooking die cuts are, as well as the different types of equipment used to achieve different shapes and font sizes for pages and projects. This is also to help the scrapbook die cutter to figure out what type he or she is and so to choose the right scrapbooking die cuts system from the beginning.

Some questions to consider as you read through this article in regard to yourself are the following:

• Will you be going over to your friend’s home frequently for scrapbooking die cuts parties or will you mostly stay at home?

• Do you have a craft room dedicated for scrapbooking die cuts?

• Will you be scrapbooking 12 x 12 and making memory scrapbooks?

• Will you be making decorative cards?

• Will you be cutting other materials other than paper with your die cut machine such as cork, vellum, felt, chip board, magnet or certain metals?

• Would you rather have a computer die-cutting system so you don’t use your hands other than for pointing, clicking, and printing?

Scrapbooking die cuts come in a variety of shapes and sizes for your scrapbook needs. Sizes are usually 1 inch to 4 inches in ½ inch increments, but this can vary from each supplier. Quickutz Lifestyle Crafts tends to provide a wide range of 2x2 inch dies, whereas Spellbinders Paper Arts sells slightly larger templates for scrapbooking die cuts.

A good thing about scrapbooking die cuts is that they can be used again and again, making them more economical than consumables such as stickers or rub-ons. They can support any layout theme with shapes that celebrate most holidays, seasons, and occasions. With the Creative and a few supplies, they evolve from simple shapes to embellished one of kind items.

A machine for scrapbooking die cuts falls in one of two camps. That is either the manual or the electronic. Some are electronic but can be picked up and moved to wherever the scrapbooking die cutter wants to work. One portable machine like this is Sizzix Vagabond die cutting and embossing machine inspired by Tim Holtz. Others must be used in conjunction with a computer. Some use rollers and others use buttons. Regardless, there are three basic steps involved in using a scrapbooking die cutting machine. 1. Place cardstock or other material onto the cutting pad. 2. Place a die, face down, over the cardstock. 3. Slide the pad under the press and push the lever down firmly two or three times ensuring a crisp cut.

Project Ideas for Scrapbooking die cuts

So, what are some project ideas requiring the use of scrapbooking die cuts, regardless of the type of machine to accomplish the job?

One day a coworker inquired of me as to what I knew about Cricut and other machines. It seems she was working on a project with her little girl and needed to make a whale shape for school. Not having a machine herself, she visited a shop where they were able to create the shape she wanted but at a cost.

As I picked up just today, sets of pre-made die-cut papers can be used on projects such as a Christmas card. They can be useful in a child’s school project, and someone has even found a way to make sets of ladies business stationary, such as the A2 box of cards and envelopes by Die Cuts With a View. Various projects that can be done include bulletin boards, cards and envelopes, scrapbook layouts, party decorations or making craft kits. It all depends on what you want to do and your imagination.

Scrapbooking die cuts can also be used again and again, making them more economical than consumables such as stickers or rub-ons. The use of die-cutting machines is especially good if you are not ready for going digital yet.

Scrapbooking Die-Cut Machines:

Depending on what you want to do with them, there are several die-cutting machines to use with your scrapbooking die cuts. In fact, the type of scrapbooking die cuts you use may very well depend on the machine you choose.

Not all die-cutting machines are the same. All of them have different functions. As said before, some are manual, some electronic, some can be moved to wherever you want to use it and others require knowledge of the Internet and computer.

Following is a list of machines used with scrapbooking die cuts and their manufacturers and the functions of each one.

Sizzix (Trademark) is a company known for it’s manual die cut machines. The Original Sizzix machine is the first die cut machine produced by this company. You place one of your scrapbooking die cuts into the machine, then push it through by rolling the handle. The die cut that is pushed through cuts out the design on the paper or makes an impression if an embossing die is used.

The BigKick Machine makes larger scrapbooking die cuts, and the Big Shot machine is known for being the biggest of all Sizzix machines. The Big Shot is able to use all scrapbooking die cuts made by this company. Sizzix machines can cut a variety of materials such a paper, fabric, felt, rubber and foam.

Xyron ® is known for its Personal Cutting System . This system is small and requires the purchase of different books for the machine to cut. Each book shows the user how to program the Personal Cutting System to get the desired scrapbooking die-cut shape. The system has its limitations, though. It only makes scrapbooking die cuts in three sizes. The Xyro ® Wishblade ® is computerized and requires using a computer. Whatever you have already downloaded onto the computer is available as well for using with Wishblade ®, allowing limitless fonts to be cut.

Provo Craft (Trademark) has several different machines for using with scrapbooking die- cuts. The Cricut can be used without a computer. It is an electronic die-cut machine that plugs into an outlet for power. With this machine, you buy cartridges with fonts and shapes and are plugged into The Cricut ® for doing your scrapbooking die cuts. The Cricut Expression is a larger version of The Cricut ®, able to cut larger sizes with more functions. The same scrapbooking die-cut cartridges purchased for The Cricut ® can be used as well in The Cricut Expression. The Cuttlebug (Trademark) is a manual machine for working with scrapbooking die cuts and also embosses by using different scrapbooking dies similar to the Sizzix machines. The Cuttlekids Shape Maker is a mini version of a scrapbooking die cut machine and was expressly designed to be used by children. It’s easy use allows children to cut out letters and images to use on school projects, bedroom doors, school lockers and so on.

VariQuest CutOut Maker is another scrapbooking die-cut system designed specifically for schools but useful for businesses too. It automatically cut out letters and numbers, manipulatives, curriculum in rich shapes and bulletin board collections from construction paper. It has over 4400 shapes, 22 fonts, and 230 collections available in the form of intricate, scalable VariQuest eDies (electronic dies) ranging from 1” to 17 ½" in size. Many teachers are happy with this particular system.

Quickutz ® is known for the Squeeze Personal Die-Cutting System. This system is portable but the scrapbooker is limited to only one size of scrapbooking die cut. The Revolution machine is a large die cut machine made by Quickutz ® that is manual but allows for large scrapbooking die cuts.

Finally, there is the Silhouette (Trademark) considered the most recent machine on the market also by Quickutz®. This one is a digital die-cut machine and must be used with computer and Internet access. All downloadable fonts and designs can be used with the Silhouette, giving someone the freedom to cut any design in any size.

The evolution of die-cutting machines in the world of scrapbooking die cuts continues to evolve. Anyone interested in further research can do so online or in a scrapbook store itself. Some stores even hold classes that allow the scrapbooker a hands-on demonstration. This gives the person an idea of how the machine works and this method of research comes highly recommended as scrapbooking die cut machines can be expensive.

Scrapbooking Die Cuts – Let Me Count the Ways

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