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Hello Ladies! I just bought an Ellison Big Shot Machine online. I read that this machine is better then the Cuttlebug. Do you all agree? I bought some of the cuttlebug embossing folders though to use. What is your opinion on this machine?! I got it from www.joann.com & got the starter kit with machine for $89.00. Thanks for the help! Sincerely, Ashley
I looked at the cricuts, but I thought a simpler version would be great to start with... then once I master it... if I need something more I will get a cricut. The cricuts look super nice! Thanks for your help!
I have the Big Shot and I love it! It works with all dies and embossing folders out there and it's pretty big so there isn't very much that won't fit in it. But I do admit, that Cuttlebug is just so cute!
Gina K.
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Owner- Gina K. Designs
Love my BS. I can't speak for the Cuttlebug because I have never used one. I do think they are awfully cute and compact. I have carpal tunnel and upper back problems so I wanted the weighty sturdiness of the BS. I like that it has a wide base which keeps it more stable.
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After reading JulieHRR's description of both, I ordered the Big Shot. (It shipped yesterday!) I like that the base was sturdier and that I could use my plastic Fiskars embossing plates with it. They have some great textures and I want to use them, but get so tired with that stupid hand tool! I figure, if it's good enough for Her Royal Rubberness, it MUST be good enough for me!
thanks for this thread, I have been debating what to get or if to get any. I have not done any dry embossing before so have no plates, but have looked time and again at the Fiskars plates. Still not sure if this is something I am going to get, but will keep reading more about this!
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I received a big shot for christmas. I love it, it is so easy to use and works with so many other brands of dies and embossing folders. Hope you enjoy yours.
Ladies-- I'm getting excited!! I can't wait for it to get here now! hehehehe!! It sounds like it should be fun and exciting to use. I went to Ben Franklin's today and they had one there for $120.00 and it seemed really sturdy. It made me want to buy it again! Lol!! ;)
If I buy a Big Shot, can I use both the larger and the smaller size Sizzix dies with it as well as the cuttlebug dies? That would be my dream come true if it really does all of this.
Hello Ladies! I just bought an Ellison Big Shot Machine online. I read that this machine is better then the Cuttlebug. Do you all agree? I bought some of the cuttlebug embossing folders though to use. What is your opinion on this machine?! I got it from www.joann.com & got the starter kit with machine for $89.00. Thanks for the help! Sincerely, Ashley
I don't know if BS is better, but I think it might be a bit more stable than CB. At least that's what I gathered from reading Julie HRR's post on her blog, comparing the two machines. She wrote on her blog that she had both machines for a time trying to decide which she would keep. She finally settled on BS, and sold her CB. I'm sorry I don't have a link to her blog... it's down at the bottom of her posts, though.
As for the BS, I love it! I'd buy it again in a NY minute! I bought mine about this time last year just for die-cutting. Someone on another site recommended it b/k it would cut the different mfgrs. dies that I have, which are: Sizzix, Sizzlits, Quickutz, and BossKut. However, it was not until after stumbling upon this site in Oct. that I realized the BS embossing potential. That was about the same time CB was releasing its machine, dies, and embossing folders, and all the chatter started on SCS about CB. :-)
If I buy a Big Shot, can I use both the larger and the smaller size Sizzix dies with it as well as the cuttlebug dies? That would be my dream come true if it really does all of this.
Yes, all of those dies will work with the Big Shot.:mrgreen:
Love my Big Shot. I have used the Cuttlebug too and basically it is all down to price and stability. CB base platform is higher and machine is lighter...more apt to tip if it loses suction. Big Shot base platform sits lower and is heavier...no chance of not being stable. Big Shot can do anything that CB can do. I have used all dies with mine...Sizzix, Sixxlits, Big Shot, Cuttlebug, Quickutz....they all work...in both machines.
I am so glad to see Big Shot threads instead of Cuttlebug. My DH bought me the Big Shot and it took me a week or so to even open it. With all the Cuttlebug threads I thought I was making a mistake. Thanks to Julie HHH and now all of you, I have opened it and plan on a day of playing tomorrow. Please keep up the info - anyone that has info on how to use other templates, (both embossing and dies) other than Big Shots would be greatly appreciated.
Oh Ashley,
You are going to LOVE your new Big Shot!!! It's AWESOME!!! I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful this baby is!! I simply ADORE mine!!
Hi Waldsb651 - some info on the BS for you as requested. It will cut other manufacturers dies, you can use texture plates and emboss with brass stencils. But that may mean you have to purchase 2 more products - a Multi Surface Platform and a Big Impressions Starter Kit.
I have just bought the Big Kick (I chose that rather than the BS 'cos the BK comes packaged with a Multi Surface Platform, but they are the same machines essentially).
The MSP is available for purchase separately and this enables you to cut other manufacturers dies (Cuttlebug and QuicKutz for example - and also the Sizzlits dies). It is like a book that flips open with 2 platforms of differing heights. It has clear instructions printed on it so you get the right "sandwich" for what you want to achieve.
I knew I wanted to use my brass stencils in my BK and that I also wanted to use my Fiskars texture plates and the CB embossing folders - so I bought a Big Impressions Starter Kit too. The BISK has 3 double sided texture plates - plus a black pad and a sheet of silicone rubber. You use the black pad and silicone rubber sheet for texture plates and embossing with brass stencils.
Sorry, don't know a way of doing these things without an MSP or a BISK but I bet someone else does!
All I can say is, I LOVE my BK and I don't regret buying the extra BISK as the embossing is just so fabulous and so much easier than using a lightbox! My Fiskars texture plates hadn't seen the light of day for months either and they are so easy to use in the BK too.
All of you ladies are just awesome!! I hope you know that!! I have bought about 10 different embossing folders for the cuttlebug to use in my Big Shot. I've been working on cleaning up my stamp room so that as soon as I can rip open the box and start using my new baby! hehehehe...
The number one thing I love about Big Shot is that it can cut almost any weight/thickness of paper. I've tried cutting with vinyl, foam, cork sheets and the like without any problem. It also accepts dies from other die cutting machines. It's sturdy, and the handle is very easy to operate. The only thing I don't like about it is it's too bulky.
I LOVE the Big Shot! :-D I got mine at Costco.com, and with shipping and paying the 5% fee since I am not a member, it was around $70, and it shipped FAST! I have used it with cuttlebug embossing folders and diecuts as well as sizzix (so far only those 2!) and it has worked wonderfully!!! Love, love, love it!! :-D :-D
I adore my Big Shot and am so glad I have it!!! On Saturday I took my BISK and a few things to try with my friend's Cuttlebug. It was much harder to get things to go throught the CB than the BS! The BS is much sturdier and I really like that! I was putting a brass template through the CB and the B plate just snapped in half! I was so mortified!!! I bought her a set of new plates and told her to call Provo Craft, too.
I read Julie HHR's thoughts on a die cut machine before she purchased the CB and showed DH where it was at www.costco.com . He got it for me also with a bunch of dies & things. I know he got the dies things from www.JoAnns.com .
I also strated buying CB embossing folders from my local craft stores. I used them in My Sizzix and was really pleased with the results. He also bought me the Texture Plates #2. Well, I couldn't use them in my Big Shot until I purchased the Big Impressions Starter Kit or the BISK for short. I ordered it and a few other things the day after Christmas from www.paperdreamsstore.com . They arrived at my house on Friday. They didn't have the Big die I ordered but sent when It came in and didn't charge extra shipping.
A few days latter after reading the huge CB thread I realized I needed the Multipurpose Platform or the MPP. So I ordered it from JoAnn's. Most of the things I wanted were on sale and I had a coupon for free shipping. Of course I couldn't just get one item so I got several other goodies to go with it!.
After playing with my BS using the BISK and MPP I decided I need another set of Fiskars texture plates (I already have 2 sets!). So I ordered the one set I still didn't have from Oriental Trading along with 8 1/2" X 11" sheets of double- sided sticky tape.
I really love my Big Shot!!! One reason I choose the BS over the CB is that
Ellison makes the BS. Provo Craft & Ellison started the Sizzix. Ellison also makes the dies in the schools. I felt like Ellison had a little more experience with die cuts and machines. I also know that Ellison bought Provo Craft's interest in Sizzix. So now it is all Ellison's. I reccommend going to www.ellisondesign.com and www.sizzix.com to learn all about the products that are available for use in the Big Shot and the Bick Kick!!!
I bought the Big Shot when it was first released and I love it! I have no complaints at all except that I'm running out of room to store all of the new dies and accessories!!!!
Does the Big Shot dry emboss and cut out shapes/letters? Its so confusing trying to figure out all of these machines and figuring out which one is the best for our own specific needs.
Will I need the BISK to use the cuttlebug embossing folders with the Big Shot?
Michelle
Michelle,
No. The Big Shot comes with the spacer platform (thick white plastic) and the pair of cutting pads (thin clear plastic) and that is all you need to use the Cuttlebug embossing folders.
No. The Big Shot comes with the spacer platform (thick white plastic) and the pair of cutting pads (thin clear plastic) and that is all you need to use the Cuttlebug embossing folders.
Nancy
Thanks so much for your help. I was hoping for that answer as I would need one by this coming Sunday as that is when my cousin is bringing her Big Shot over for us to play with. I just received 2 embossing folders and 2 dies in the mail today and am anxious to try them out.
Now... what do you think? I have a cricut and just saw the special on the BigKick... do i "need" that?? my DH and I are going to talk abt it and look at it online this evening... any words of wisdom to share and pass along to make a good argument would be MOST appreciated!!! TIA!!
The Cricut will only cut cardstock, but you can change the size of the fonts. The BigKick will cut chipboard, craft foam, cork, etc., as well as dry emboss which the Cricut cannot do. You cannot change the size if tge font on the BigKick.
I have the BigShot and would love to have a Cricut as well, but I do both cards and scrapbooking and I think I would use both alot.
HTH
Nancy
Quote:
Originally Posted by yytx
Now... what do you think? I have a cricut and just saw the special on the BigKick... do i "need" that?? my DH and I are going to talk abt it and look at it online this evening... any words of wisdom to share and pass along to make a good argument would be MOST appreciated!!! TIA!!
Big Shot Machine
