When Stampin’ Up! first announced their partnership with Sizzix and our new product line—I thought, “hmmmm, that sounds cool, but what is the big deal about having something that cuts images?”  Die cutting never really interested me.  I had heard lot’s of talk about the cuttlebug, the wizard, and other machines—but I never really thought much about it.

But, because I am a Stampin' Up! junkie, and can't miss out on anything we offer, I decided to order the Big Shot starter kit.  I knew that once I saw what others could do with it, I would want one too, so I might just as well get it, regardless of how much I thought I'd do with it.... Well, seeing what others could do was only the half of it!!!

 

Once I got my Big Shot, and ran my first die through the machine, I was totally captivated!  It was amazing!  I absolutely fell in LOVE with die cutting, and it has opened up a whole new avenue of creativity that I never dreamed of!

As I continued to play with my new found love, I kept thinking about all the other die cutting machines that were on the market, and had to ask myself—what is different about the Big Shot?  All of the information that Stampin’ Up! has published says it is compatible with other products—but what other products?  Die cutting seems to me to be a very confusing “world all of it’s own!”

So—I decided it was time to find out more.  I am sure others would be just as confused as I was, so I wanted to find our more to help others as well.  Well, thanks to some fabulous friends I learned alot!  Beware... this is long! :)

First question—what REALLY is the difference in all the die cutting machines?  There are so many on the market!  I came to the conclusion that the most common machines out there are the Cuttlebug and the Big Shot/Big Kick.  There is also the Wizard and the original Sizzix that some people are still using.  Here is a little information about each:

ORIGINAL SIZZIX:  heavy, not very portable.  To use, you need to manually feed things through while using a pump like action on a handle.  To some, it can be pretty difficult to use.  It also has a narrower opening and a narrower platform so some of the bigger dies (and by this I mean big from the standpoint of width; thickness is not an issue) and most texture plates cannot be used with it. They just won't fit through the opening.   While this was 'the machine' in its day, it has become somewhat obsolete compared to the others.

WIZARD:  could not find much information on this one other than some people also have difficulty using as it also works with a “pump action” lever.  Others like it because it is the most “heavy duty” and you can put pretty much anything through it—even bottle caps!

BIG SHOT:  Many people find this machine much easier to use.  You simply crank a handle to roll your things through it—VERY easy to do.  It has a large platform—this means ANY non-commercial dies on the market will fit through it (it’s the largest out there!)  You can even cut multiple dies at one time.

Versatility:  You can use anything from wafer thin dies to thick dies like the Bigz.  You can emboss with it—using embossing folders, texture plates, and even brass stencils.  Any of these products, from any manufacturers will work in the Big Shot!

Multi-Purpose Platform:  Now, you may not have a clue “yet” what I am referring too—but this is what allows you to use any type of product through the machine—no matter how thick it is.  With other machines, you have to “build up” your thickness with various plates and materials, depending on what kind of die you are using—it can be somewhat complicated.  With the Big Shot, the “multi-purpose platform” makes life so simple!  One platform, hinged, with tabbed "pages" that allows you to change the thickness. The instructions and diagrams are printed right on the platform. You don't need to memorize or pull out a printout of what "sandwich" to use for which dies or folders.  It's all right there—in one piece!  (I find this a huge advantage!)

Stability:  The Big Shot has a large base, which keeps it very stable when using.  It can be used on any surface—table, counter, carpet, tablecloth, etc.  It does not “suction down,” but does NOT move when using on any surface!

CUTTLEBUG:  This seems to be the other “front runner” in the world of die cutting machines.  This machine also has a crank handle to roll things through. 

Size:  it is smaller, and folds up—so takes up less space.  This also makes it a bit more portable.

Versatility:  This machine will take all non-commercial dies, thick or thin. It can emboss with folders, brass stencils, and texture plates given the proper accessories.   However, to use some of the Bigz dies, particularly the XL dies, you can not cut out the whole die at once, only half at a time.

Sandwiches:  This refers to how you “stack” your die with different cutting plates and accessories to make them work through the machine.  (The Big Shot used the Multi-purpose Platform.)  With the Cuttlebug, you have various different thickness of cutting pads and you have to learn how to make the different “sandwiches” depending on what kind of die you are using.  All dies will work—you just have to figure out how to stack them up.  You have several different plates:  A, B, and C—plus other accessory pieces—can be a bit confusing until you figure it all out.  There are no cutting plates available for the XL dies—so you can only cut out about half of the images on the die to make them work.

Stability:  Not nearly as stable as the Big Shot.  The base has suction cups to attach to your work surface to keep it stable.  Works great if you are on a surface it can suction to.  If the surface is not smooth, you have to stabilize yourself as you crank things through.  Somewhat awkward to hold down and crank at the same time.

HANDS-ON COMPARISON
So, after spending time playing with my new Big Shot, and researching on the internet, I decided it was time for me to use both and do a hands-on comparison.  A friend of mine has the Cuttlebug and just about every different kind of die and embossing folder you can find on the market.  I had her bring everything she had to my house so we could compare each machine.

I know you are going to think I am just trying to sell you on the Big Shot—but I truly felt the Big Shot was a much better machine when I was able to play with both side-by-side.  (Has nothing to do with the fact that the Big Shot is the one that Stampin’ Up! carries!)

Here are my personal observations:

*The Big Shot was much more stable and did not slide around at all on my table when using it.  The handle easily cranked to roll the dies through.  With the Cuttlebug—it did not suction to my table, and you had to really hold it down while cranking at the same time as it was moving all over the place—definitely a plus for the Big Shot!

CuttleBug
*I first checked to see if all the Sizzix dies that Stampin’ Up! carried would work in the Cuttlebug.  The answer was yes!  Here’s some details:
•    BigZ:  you sandwiched between 2 “B” plates
•    BigZ XL:  these were tricky.  Cuttlebug does not have extended Cutting Pads and the Sizzix ones were too wide and would not fit in the Cuttlebug.  You could however, use the Cuttlebug “B” plates and only cut part of the XL die at a time.  With the Baskets & Blooms XL Die, you could cut one piece of the basket out, then remove it all, start over and cut another piece.  I do not think you could use the Pennant XL die in the Cuttlebug, as the “B” plate is not big enough to cut a whole pennant.
•    Sizzlits:  you sandwiched first with “A” plate, then “B” plate, Sizzlit, Cardstock, “B” plate
•    Sizzlits Strips:  Cuttlebug does not carry Extended Platforms or Cutting Pads—but the “strips” worked if you used the Sizzix Platforms and Cutting Pad

Big Shot
*Next—I wanted to try all the different products on the market out in the Big Shot.  They ALL worked beautifully!  What made life so easy was the “Multi-Purpose platform.  As with the Cuttlebug, you did not have to mess with sandwiching all different plates.  You just took the platform, opened to the tab needed, added the cutting pads (or crease pad) —and bam—you were off and cutting and/or embossing!  And the platform had all the “sandwiches” pictured right on it—no guessing involved!

Here is a list of some of the products (other than then sizzix dies that Stampin’ Up! carries) I tried and what “tab” of the platform worked:

•    Tab 2:  Nestabilities, Quickutz dies
•    Tab 1:  Cuttlebug dies, Sizzix/Fiskars texture plates, Metal stencils, Embossing Nestabilities
•    No Tabs:  Cuttlebug Embossing folders

So there you have it!!!  In my personal opinion, as a customer and not a demonstrator, the Big Shot has it all, hands down!  I will continue to share tons of Big Shot ideas with you, as I can't seem to keep my hands off the thing!

I hope you find this information helpful as well.  I am 100% convinced that I love my new Big Shot and all the creative opportunities ahead with it!  If you have not yet entered this world of “die cutting,”  you will want to join in on the fun! 

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