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Just curious about this. I don't see any info yet on the Vagabond. My girlfriend just got her's, and I'm curious about it. Any info would be helpful. Thanx!!
I just got mine and I love it!!! I ordered it from scrapbookingalley.com and it was here in just a couple of days - $199 free shipping.
I have been using Spellbinder's dies (Nestabilities), Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies, embossing folders (TH, SU, CB), PTI dies & plates. . . no trouble with any of it. I even got Nestabilities to cut Tim Holtz grunge paper (not grunge board!).
I made little "luggage tag" cheat sheets for the sandwiches, and I'll take a photo of them to share.
It works beautifully and looks darn good, too. I used to have to put my Big Shot on the floor a lot to use it -- it didn't have a permanent spot "out" and would end up in the way. My daughter and I have tripped over too many times.
The Vagabond takes up less space even when it's open because the fold down tray extends off my work surface.
I have a lot more Nestabilities than Sizzix dies right now, and I know they can't cut the same thicker materials, but usually I am cutting cardstock or paper so this is great. And I use my embossing folders a LOT more.
I know this probably isn't something most of you need. . . and after awhile, I won't either (I hope!), but I wanted to have a handy reference for the non-standard sandwich recipes for my Vagabond. And the machine itself inspired the design. I put them on the luggage tag chain that came with it.
I hope to have more details up on my blog/gallery soon about these but here are the basics:
- PTI tag die
- Cardstock is SU (I had some small pieces laying out) but should've used my thicker PTI
- Covered with clear cardstock attached with mini glue dots & added SU brads
- Back is grunge paper embossed with Tim Holtz Texture Fades and sponged with Distress Ink
- Antique eyelet, SU
It was fun to make them and I referred to them several times this evening.
At first, I had just written the info on pieces of cardstock and set them on the shelves with their respective dies/folders. Now that I have these tags, I put a 1/2" circle of coordinating color cardstock covered with clear cardstock onto the front of the shelves for quick reference.
Looking forward to any info you all have to share on the Vagabond!
(Pssssttt.... I do have one teeny tiny complaint :^( . One of my "travel" stickers fell off.)
Wow Nancy!! I'm very impressed with those tags!! When you don't need them any longer..can you pass them my way??? LOL...I was thinking as I looked at them, that you might have also been able to use the ATC cards. Oriental trading and those types of places sell them. That would have been easier, but not as pretty as yours!! Yours Rock!! Nice job!!
Love your tags!!!!
I've had my Vagabond a couple of months, but with the holidays, travel and being sick, I haven't had much of a chance to play with it. I sure plan to start putting it to good use real soon. Love how quiet it is and how easy it is to operate though.....what a great machine! Glad I got it, that's for sure.
I never have checked out the Big Shot Pro - at first when you mentioned it I thought maybe it was the electric version. . . but now I see it is still crank and handles thicker materials, too. And apparently one feature is that it is extra wide?
I went from CB to BS and was thrilled -- BS, just so much more sturdy, not tippy, and was for some reason more fun to use.
But I have a really small stamping area and storage space for my supplies. My Big Shot was on a box under my clothes hanging in the closet and honestly it was a pain to get in and out. And it has too big of a footprint to leave it out all the time.
Being a fan of Tim Holtz products, when I first saw the Vagabond, I was intrigued. Besides that it looks SO cool, I trust his products, and it's electric ~ it is compact.
I have it set out on a bookcase that my craft table is right up against. The height works out just right, because when I set the V. on my craft table, right at the edge, the trays fold out so that one overhangs the bookcase, and even though the other is in my space, I can still slide papers, plates, etc. right under it. So I really feel like I'm giving up very little space. I don't have to maneuver it this way or that to crank either -- just press the button!
Really when I mention not cranking I feel like I must sound so lazy, LOL!!! But it's truly effortless. And if I had to stash it in the closet, it's simple box shape makes it very doable.
I'm attaching a picture so you can see why it's the perfect fit for me. And I have used it more in the last week than I used the BS in a month, and I don't think it's simply the novelty of a new tool.
Also, being a fan of TH products, I know that it will be compatible with his future products, and works well with my PTI plates & dies, Spellbinder's Nestabilities dies, SU and other embossing folders, etc. And the TH/Sizzix products.
HTH!! I know the V. isn't the best solution for everyone but I have been really happy with my choice :^).
Thank you Nancy for your detailed reply. Actually I would like both of them! Yes, the BS Pro has a 12" mouth. so it would be great for scrapbooking the 12" papers. However, you would then need all the big dies! More money....... I watched TH demoing a tray kind of thing he has that he wrapped paper around and cut where he wanted to. It didn't crease the paper and was a way to get wider stuff into the vagabond. Have you seen this?
Looks like you have a lot of snow!
I like your set up. I don't have much space either.
Thank you Nancy for your detailed reply. Actually I would like both of them! Yes, the BS Pro has a 12" mouth. so it would be great for scrapbooking the 12" papers. However, you would then need all the big dies! More money....... I watched TH demoing a tray kind of thing he has that he wrapped paper around and cut where he wanted to. It didn't crease the paper and was a way to get wider stuff into the vagabond. Have you seen this?
Looks like you have a lot of snow!
I like your set up. I don't have much space either.
No I haven't seen that!! I'll look for it -- thanks! Even though I don't scrapbook, it is always good to have options.
Yes... we keep getting snow!! It has been very pretty lately after a few more inches over the weekend.
Sometimes I think we're better off with less space .... it's easier to get around and clean up, and harder to end up with too much stuff, ;^) !!
I went with the Vagabond primarily after watching Tim Holtz demo videos. I started with the CB, last year upgraded to the Big Kick (which I LOVE), but when the V came out...had to go with it! I use grunge board quite often and was really concerned everytime i tried to cut or emboss it with other machines...the snapping/popping/cracking sound (which I know is somewhat normal) freaked me out! LOL! That, and to be perfectly honest, I am a bit "lazy." I get tired of hauling the Kick out, getting everything set up, crank...etc. With the V I have it in standby at all times because the size (as mentioned previously) in not intrusive. Very streamlined machine, fits nicely in many areas because the sides fold in.
Since I store all my stuff in the garage and bring it in, weight was an issue with me. 40-44 lbs. vs 14-15 lbs. was a world of difference. As you get older and you clean up the mess, that makes a difference. I also liked the stronger motor on the Vagabond and Tim's concerns to get that part right before it was released. If it was going to have his name, it was going to be a quality product, and if I'm going to pay that much, I want it to last!!!
Thanks for all of the compliments on the tags, ladies!!! (I missed a couple the other day.)
And. . . just so you know. . . the price went down on ScrapbookingAlley.com to $189.94.
No word yet on a price adjustment policy with them, but I'm not really worried -- I feel I got a deal at $199.94 with free shipping anyway! And I was glad to have it when I did.
Now the only problem is that I did find that TH video with the larger paper wrapped around the die. . . and many other videos. . . and many other products!! Which I can't wait to become available!!
Nancy, I just checked the scrabbook alley website, and the price is back up to $199.99. It does say it's 20% off, but the sale price is reflected in the price shown....very weird...
Nancy, I just checked the scrabbook alley website, and the price is back up to $199.99. It does say it's 20% off, but the sale price is reflected in the price shown....very weird...
Good golly that is weird!!!
I hope asking for a price adjustment didn't call someone's attention to a mistake -- next time I'll tell you all here first before I talk to anyone, LOL!!
Still a pretty good price, considering. But if you have the patience, so many of these things drop in price after awhile. Patience is not my strong suit ;^) .
My LSS store does sell the Vaga for $199. I would probably get it from them, as I like to support our local business' but if it drops below that, I'm willing to get it where ever I can find it for the cheapest price. (Yep...I'm cheap!!) LOL
Nancy, can you also post your list here of the sandwiches for it? I know we can read your cards, but in case someone can't, or doesn't understand them, would you be kind enough to post it here? thank you!!
I bought my V from the LSS.........owner friend told me that she had to sign an agreement NOT to sell the V's below $199. It should be interesting to see how long that lasts
I would love to purchase from a local store - we support our small town's independent businesses whenever possible. But we don't have an LSS :^( . Unless you consider local as more than an hour away! Bummer.
Here are the sandwich recipes I have on the luggage tags - it's stuff I have and use frequently. Of course, the V's solo plate (the primary thicker one) has instructions on it, as do the shim and adapter plate.
As with anything else, you might do your own experimenting - just don't force anything that's being resisted (it's a miracle I never broke a plate or the BS!).
I found the Spellbinder info online and it was from someone who emailed TH and it was his reply.
Spellbinder (Nestabilities) & PTI dies:
Solo w/ Shim
Extended Adapter
Clear Plate
Die (up)
Paper/cs
Clear Plate
Emboss Spellbinders:
Solo w/ Shim
Impression pad #655120
Thin die with cs/paper
Silicone pad #655121
Clear Plate
(I have these #'d items on order - the numbers were provided by TH. You do get a degree of embossing with the cutting of the dies ... this would be more pronounced. These items are available all over.)
Embossing Folders:
Solo w/ Shim
Clear plate
folder w/ paper/cs
Clear plate
{no shim w/ thick or folded material}
PTI Impression Plate:
Solo w/ Shim
Clear plate
Impression Plate
Paper/cs
vanilla and tan mats (PTI)
Clear plate
I've used all of these and have had no problems. But there are variations -- especially if you are using unusual thicknesses. Nestabilities are obviously nothing like the TH/Sizzix type of die and are not meant to cut thick materials even if the V. can do it. I was able to use the Nestabilities with grunge paper. It basically "perforated" the grunge paper *almost* through, and so the shape was easily peeled out.
If I discover anything else, I'm happy to pass it along!
Thought I'd pass along a tip that pertains to those tags (and some flowers I made today which made me think of it). This is probably obvious to everyone else but I hadn't really thought about it before.
If you are going to die cut and then run the pieces through your machine with an embossing folder, be sure to do the cutting first. Otherwise, you'll flatten out some of your embossing on the second pass to cut.
When I started to do this, embossing first seemed logical - then you're just running paper through with your dies. With die cutting first, you then have to rearrange the cut pieces with the folder - seemed like an extra step. Well... it is ~ but it's worth it ;^) .
Nancy, Thank you so much for sharing all the info on the sandwiches.....I really appreciate your time and knowledge. Now I get to put it to good use today!!!
Fabulous read girls thank you for ALL your details and opinions. I've been looking into the Vagabond recently myself and was looking for feedback. I currently have a cuttlebug however I have Arthritis and when I saw this i thought that's for me, however being on a low income I don't want to make an expensive mistake IYKWIM.
Thanks again for all the info and thanks Karen99 for starting the thread!
Much appreciated....I'll start putting my pennies away for one!
Ok so I wanted to get an Expression just to cut larger sizes. And I probably still will. But then I also wanted a Grand Calibur to cut more dies at once. But then I had to go and see the Vagabond. FWIW, I will admit I'm lazy. I'm tired of turning the handle on my CB (and I love my CB). Plus I am really into Tim's products because, regardless of what others might think, I have found his products fit what I want to do and they are always high quality.
I read somewhere on another forum that Tim has said the Vagabond won't be sold for less than $199.99. That's fine by me. It's certainly less expensive than a Cricut and the Calibur is $129.99 and isn't motorized.
I'm so glad someone started this FAQ thread. I want a Vagabond now. My mind is clearly made up. Now to find that money tree where all the money grows.
__________________ It always feels like somebody's watching me. Hey, is it YOU?
The Vagabond is on sale at 'Oh My Craft' for $169.00 if anyone is interested.
After seeing this I ran..yes, RAN!! over to OhMyCrafts to check this out!! I've been eyeing the Vagabond since last winter's CHA (and drooling heavily), but the price has been putting me off. Just too steep.
THEN I remembered getting a coupon code from OMC this morning, too (LUCKY10) so I tried it to see if I could use it... AND I COULD!! Wooooo!! So my total came down to $153, no tax, and no shipping! HAPPY DAYS!! I still couldn't really afford it, but for that price I would have been an IDIOT not to buy it.
I'm going to have some explaining to my sweetie, but... OH WELL!! YAY!!!
Anyone wanna buy a Big Shot? :p
__________________ Lisa papergrace designs * My SCS Gallery *Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft� DT*Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L� DT * "Creativity is intelligence having fun." - A. Einstein
You'll love it! I used mine a dozen times today and it's wonderful.
You know, it actually SAVES me space!! The one tray hangs over the edge of my work table, and the other is raised off of it, suspended.... so I tuck things under it. And sometimes I lay things across it.
Thank you!! I am thrilled!!! (and doing a serious happy dance!!) I can't believe I saved $100!! That's A LOT!!
I never use by Big Shot because of how much room it takes. It's so clunky. :( I just go back to the trusty-dusty 'ol Cuttlebug because of it's portability. But the fact that the Vagabond can cut so MUCH stuff just has me super excited, too!! Love that it can cut grungeboard and all kinds of thicker stuff. YIPPEE!!!
I know it'll take a while to ship to me (I think there are ZERO crafty places in CA), but that's okay. I'll just have to try to be patient. Kinda like watching paint dry, right?! HAHHA!!! Thanks for sharing in my excitement!
__________________ Lisa papergrace designs * My SCS Gallery *Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft� DT*Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L� DT * "Creativity is intelligence having fun." - A. Einstein
It's crazy but OhMyCrafts had the price back up to $199.99 just an hour or two after I bought my Vagabond!! So absolutely happy I got it (for the price!) when I did!
__________________ Lisa papergrace designs * My SCS Gallery *Faber-Castell Design Memory Craft� DT*Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L� DT * "Creativity is intelligence having fun." - A. Einstein
Welcome to the Vagabond world!!! You'll love the machine, I think it's just great, so quiet, yet cuts and embosses beautifully. The motor is so strong as well. Never really thought I needed an electric machine, but now that I have it, I love it!! I did my homework before I made the purchase, and glad I did......I'm sure I'll be very happy with it for a long time to come.....
VAGABOND FAQ...I don't see one started....
