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I'm researching whether to buy SCAL to go with my personal Cricut, or to sell my Cricut and get one of the other machines. Please vote! If you have one and love it, vote for it. If you've tried another machine and like it better than the one you own, vote for it.
Thanks!
Have you downloaded the trial of scal and played with it Erin? Couldnt begin to tell you how fantastic it is.
If I had to replace my expressions I might be tempted to go for the pazzles if there was a special offer bringing it nearer to the expressions price but wouldnt even consider the wishblade or silhouette. Have tried them but not impressed with either the software or the cutting. Havent seen the gazelle in the UK so can't comment on it.
I have and love a Klik N Kut XL but that's no on your poll. It cuts up to 15" wide and using vectorizing software so no need for cartridges. Anything on your computer can be used.
It will also chipboard and thicker materials with ease. It has a much higher cutting pressure than a Cricut.
I happen to own a Craft Robo (same as the Wishblade) and a Pazzles Inspiration Creative Cutter and I LOVE them both! I'm partial to my Pazzles Inspiration because it will cut 12x12 and it cuts so much different media......like chipboard, acrylic, foil, etc. I am on the Pazzles Design team this year also.
For those of you interested in buying one, I highly recommend that you join the Pazzles Inspiration group at Yahoo. The lady that owns the group is named Klo and she educates you on the machine all the time. She has a FREE online class on most Sunday nights!!!!
If you check out my gallery here at SCS, you will see that I use my Pazzles on most of my projects and prior to that I used my Craft Robo! There is a learning curve, but it is so worth it!!!!!!!!!!
I happen to own a Craft Robo (same as the Wishblade) and a Pazzles Inspiration Creative Cutter and I LOVE them both! I'm partial to my Pazzles Inspiration because it will cut 12x12 and it cuts so much different media......like chipboard, acrylic, foil, etc. I am on the Pazzles Design team this year also.
For those of you interested in buying one, I highly recommend that you join the Pazzles Inspiration group at Yahoo. The lady that owns the group is named Klo and she educates you on the machine all the time. She has a FREE online class on most Sunday nights!!!!
If you check out my gallery here at SCS, you will see that I use my Pazzles on most of my projects and prior to that I used my Craft Robo! There is a learning curve, but it is so worth it!!!!!!!!!!
Pam
How much of a learning curve are we talking with the Pazzles?
__________________ Jeanne S - Inky Paws SCS Moderator
Have you downloaded the trial of scal and played with it Erin? Couldnt begin to tell you how fantastic it is.
If I had to replace my expressions I might be tempted to go for the pazzles if there was a special offer bringing it nearer to the expressions price but wouldnt even consider the wishblade or silhouette. Have tried them but not impressed with either the software or the cutting. Havent seen the gazelle in the UK so can't comment on it.
i just bought the silhouette and LOVE it, and did you know they just came out with brand-new software that's awesome!!
i highly recommend it.
__________________
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I design for: Stampendous!, There She Goes, Technique Tuesday,
SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
I love my silhouette! BUT I don't do a whole lot with it --- I cut out titles for my pages, a few images, and occasionally a template for a box or something. I don't do a whole lot with creating my own images or anything. That's all I want it for and that's why I love it -- it's perfect for what I want.
I demoed the Silhouette. I liked it, but not sure if I really want to HAVE to use the computer just to use the machine.
I prefer my Expression with Design Studio (this choice not on your poll). Secondly I would choose my BIGkick.
I like having the use of both the electric Expression for the different sizes for cuts and Design Studio for it's features. Having the BIGkick for it's features of cutting all kinds of materials.
I have the Cricut Create. I just bought SCAL. You can DL the software for the Silhouette and can buy and DL their images. You can then print to PDF, open is Inkscape and save as a SVG file to use in SCAL. The files are around $2, but can be worth it if you don't need all the images that would be on a cartridge. (I still buy carts because I like the Cricut images better)
I haven't played with the files too much on the Silhouette, but it doesn't seem to have the various design features beyond blackout and shadow (that I have seen).
I have the cricut, the cuttlebug, the wishblade and the xyron personal cutting system and I love the wishblade the most, though the cricut is a close second. I love the embossing that can be done with the wishblade. It really makes cards look great. The cuttlebug is too small for my needs and the cricut mats have a stick problem at times. I do love it though. I'd choose the wishblade if I had to start it all again but I love my cricut expressions.
I have the Cricut Create and LOVE it! Along with the Design Studio that works fantastic and is a lot of fun to play with. I will be getting the SCAL this week, still looking for the best place to buy it online at a reasonable price.
I've alos got the Cuttlebug and Quickuts Revolution and would not trade them for anything.
I have both the Pazzles Inspiration and the Cricut Expression. Right out of the box, the better machine is the Pazzles, even with the price difference. You get so much more bang for your buck with this machine. Yes there is a learning curve and for some things it is pretty steep, but the first things you'll create are titles which are extremely simple. Welding is accomplished with the click of a button. The machine comes with tutorials in the manual and on the cd. You never have to buy an image cd, but you can if you choose. There is no need to buy a separate blade to cut felt, light chipboard, heavy cardstock, or balsa wood. It's even got a special setting for Bazzill cardstock! And when you're ready to add other tools, you can emboss up to 12x12, use almost any pen in your arsenal with the pen tool, use the engraving tool on acrylic, and so much more. But my favourite by far is the fact that I can see exactly where each image will cut and it's relation to the rest of the page before I even put paper on the cutting mat without every buying anything else. I'd need to purchase additional software to permanently have the same ability with the Expression.
I have the Cricut Create and LOVE it! Along with the Design Studio that works fantastic and is a lot of fun to play with. I will be getting the SCAL this week, still looking for the best place to buy it online at a reasonable price.
I've alos got the Cuttlebug and Quickuts Revolution and would not trade them for anything.
I got mine at Candacraft for 59.99. They sent me the serial number within 24 hours so I could download and start using it. For $2 more they shipped me the CD which I received a week later. I'm in Hawaii so things usually take a bit longer to get to me, I was very happy with their service.
I have the cricut, the cuttlebug, the wishblade and the xyron personal cutting system and I love the wishblade the most, though the cricut is a close second. I love the embossing that can be done with the wishblade. It really makes cards look great. The cuttlebug is too small for my needs and the cricut mats have a stick problem at times. I do love it though. I'd choose the wishblade if I had to start it all again but I love my cricut expressions.
This video has a demonstration for conditioning your cricut mats. It's really great. I had no idea prior to seeing this.
What is your cutting machine preference?
