Sizzix Bigz A2 Envelope Die

[scraplady]

I am wondering if anyone has any feedback on the new Sizzix A2 Envelope die....I just got it and I HATE it!!! There is way too much prep work and then you have to glue it together...not at all what I thought it would be.

I contacted Sizzix and they have had complaints but no suggestions from them. Also contacted the supplier I purchased mine from and he has had complaints also.

I can make an envelope faster with my Scor-Pal!

Appreciate any feedback.....I don't think it is a user problem....definitely a design problem.

Thanks,

Joanne

[Springpatchlady]

I have been wanting this die to make matching envelopes for my cards. What is wrong with it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by scraplady

I am wondering if anyone has any feedback on the new Sizzix A2 Envelope die....I just got it and I HATE it!!! There is way too much prep work and then you have to glue it together...not at all what I thought it would be.

I contacted Sizzix and they have had complaints but no suggestions from them. Also contacted the supplier I purchased mine from and he has had complaints also.

I can make an envelope faster with my Scor-Pal!

Appreciate any feedback.....I don't think it is a user problem....definitely a design problem.

Thanks,

Joanne

[pjw2855]

Disregard

Patti

[Joan B]

yikes, I just ordered this baby yesterday! If it cuts and scores, I think I'll be ok, not sure what you mean by prep work? Can you clarify??

what do you mean by glue it together? this doesn't sound good at all!

[scraplady]

Hi there....

Well first off there are two side pieces, the top of the envelope and then the body of the envelope.

You fold your designer paper and you place the fold just a bit below the actual cut line of the body part of the die. Then run that through your machine.

Then you will need your crease pad for the two side pieces and the top flap of the envelope and then you run those three through the machine.

Then you fold the two side pieces and the flap on the crease lines....then you glue the side pieces down first and I found they were too long on the sides so I trimmed maybe an 1/8 or so and then glue the top flap on.

Then you put your glue on the other ends of the side pieces and put the other end of the body on top of those two side pieces.

So your body is actually a card only you use designer paper instead.

I am not really good at instructions at all.

Now if you are wanting to make an A2 in a flash with your scor-pal...here is the recipe.
Here is the youtube video on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_K-qYOARv8

No time at all....what a waste of money this was.

Hope I have helped explain it somewhat.

Joanne

[scraplady]

I will try to take picture of the die tomorrow and see if I can upload it to maybe explain it better.

Joanne

[Joan B]

oh for goodness sakes. this does sound crummy. I assumed that it was one piece of paper that got cut and scored and voila an envelope! well, maybe I can learn to like it! thanks for heads up.

[babydal57]

Wow! Thanks, you just saved me the money. This was high on my to buy list, but now it's certainly not. I really don't like too much fuss and muss for something as simple and an envie.

And thanks for the scorpal directions. I have to book mark that so that I can refer back to it when I need it.

[babydal57]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scraplady

Hi there....

Well first off there are two side pieces, the top of the envelope and then the body of the envelope.

You fold your designer paper and you place the fold just a bit below the actual cut line of the body part of the die. Then run that through your machine.

Then you will need your crease pad for the two side pieces and the top flap of the envelope and then you run those three through the machine.

Then you fold the two side pieces and the flap on the crease lines....then you glue the side pieces down first and I found they were too long on the sides so I trimmed maybe an 1/8 or so and then glue the top flap on.

Then you put your glue on the other ends of the side pieces and put the other end of the body on top of those two side pieces.

So your body is actually a card only you use designer paper instead.

I am not really good at instructions at all.

Now if you are wanting to make an A2 in a flash with your scor-pal...here is the recipe.
Here is the youtube video on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_K-qYOARv8

No time at all....what a waste of money this was.

Hope I have helped explain it somewhat.

Joanne

Okay, I just watched the video and I have to ask what is "3 and cheese"???? I know that's a measurement as to where to score, but I have no earthly idea what that is. LOL~ Can anyone help? I've watched it 4 times but my old ears just don't get it. TIA!

[scraplady]

Morning!

Glad I could help out....now I took a photo of the directions but how do I attach it to a letter in the forums?

Joanne

[scraplady]

It should be 3" and 7.5 inches I believe.

Ahhh found the URL for this technique...

http://www.scor-pal.com/basics/index_files/Page358.htm

Joanne

[scraplady]

Oh LOL that is just her accent....it is three inches she is saying...oh and if you are using designer paper with a pattern make sure the design is face up.

Hope this helps.

Joanne

[scraplady]

Okay I hope this link will work for the pic of the directions.

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m...a/DSCN1521.jpg

Joanne

[scraplady]

Here is a bit better pic...sorry for the glare on the other one.

http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m...a/Envelope.jpg

Joanne

[dfaust]

That doesn't look like very much fun to put together!

[babydal57]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scraplady

Oh LOL that is just her accent....it is three inches she is saying...oh and if you are using designer paper with a pattern make sure the design is face up.

Hope this helps.

Joanne

:oops: Okay, now I'm really embarrassed!!! LOL~ 3 and cheese is 3 incheese (inches). I honestly listed 4 times and didn't get that. Doh!

I think I need more sleep. :rolleyes:

[Joan B]

oh don't worry about the cheese thing. it is cracking me up!!!!

[scraplady]

Quote:

Originally Posted by babydal57

:oops: Okay, now I'm really embarrassed!!! LOL~ 3 and cheese is 3 incheese (inches). I honestly listed 4 times and didn't get that. Doh!

I think I need more sleep. :rolleyes:

No problem...great way to start out the day...glad we could fix this one anyway.....hehe!!

Joanne

[3 Little Love Bugs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by babydal57

:oops: Okay, now I'm really embarrassed!!! LOL~ 3 and cheese is 3 incheese (inches). I honestly listed 4 times and didn't get that. Doh!

I think I need more sleep. :rolleyes:

Sorry to hijack, but this cracked me up. I think we've all needed more sleep from time to time (I know I have!). Thanks for the Friday laugh! :-D

[stampermomof2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scraplady

Hi there....

Well first off there are two side pieces, the top of the envelope and then the body of the envelope.

You fold your designer paper and you place the fold just a bit below the actual cut line of the body part of the die. Then run that through your machine.

Then you will need your crease pad for the two side pieces and the top flap of the envelope and then you run those three through the machine.

Then you fold the two side pieces and the flap on the crease lines....then you glue the side pieces down first and I found they were too long on the sides so I trimmed maybe an 1/8 or so and then glue the top flap on.

Then you put your glue on the other ends of the side pieces and put the other end of the body on top of those two side pieces.

So your body is actually a card only you use designer paper instead.

I am not really good at instructions at all.

Now if you are wanting to make an A2 in a flash with your scor-pal...here is the recipe.
Here is the youtube video on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_K-qYOARv8

No time at all....what a waste of money this was.

Hope I have helped explain it somewhat.

Joanne

Great video!!! Thank you for sharing!

[Joan B]

I have to say, after looking at the video on how easy it is to make an envelope, I feel like a complete idiot buying this die....oh well. at least I have the scor pal!!

[3 Little Love Bugs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joan B

I have to say, after looking at the video on how easy it is to make an envelope, I feel like a complete idiot buying this die....oh well. at least I have the scor pal!!

Don't feel bad, I probably would have bought it too. I love the thought of being able to make envies (the easier the better) and never would have thought the Sizzix die would be so much work. Who doesn't love a cute envie? :-D

[eured99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joan B

I have to say, after looking at the video on how easy it is to make an envelope, I feel like a complete idiot buying this die....oh well. at least I have the scor pal!!

Hey, I almost bought it too! I love that video....I'm gonna make some envies tonight for my club! ;)

[Joan B]

well, I ordered the die from www.scrapyland.com on Wed and it arrived TODAY! wow, what incredibly fast service. I'll use it over the weekend and let you know what I think.

[simplyscrappin16]

I was thinking about getting this die, maybe I will stick with my Crafty Companion Enveloper... This thing is great and you can get a combined set that comes with the card maker.. It's kind of like a Scor Pal but made just for envelopes/cards..

Here's the link to it and I think they sell it at HSN or QVC

http://www.crafterscompanion.com/ind...WPROD&ProdID=2

[scraplady]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joan B

I have to say, after looking at the video on how easy it is to make an envelope, I feel like a complete idiot buying this die....oh well. at least I have the scor pal!!

Hi Joan....me too!!! Oh well I guess they depend on people like us...hehe!!

Joanne

[hooked_on_stampin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by babydal57

Okay, I just watched the video and I have to ask what is "3 and cheese"???? I know that's a measurement as to where to score, but I have no earthly idea what that is. LOL~ Can anyone help? I've watched it 4 times but my old ears just don't get it. TIA!

OK, I have found a lot of comments humorous, but this just made me laugh out loud. I was so curious I had to watch the video myself. I think her accent is cute, but I can see where you might have thought she was saying 3 and cheese.

Don't slam me, I'm not trying to make fun of anybody, I just love different accents. I went to San Diego CA once to visit and everyone there was teasing me about my "southern accent". I live in central Illinois, so my accent is really more just "small town hick" than it is "southern belle".

[EmptyNestMom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joan B

well, I ordered the die from www.scrapyland.com on Wed and it arrived TODAY! wow, what incredibly fast service. I'll use it over the weekend and let you know what I think.

I'm so glad I found this thread. I was actually just ready to buy this die myself. WHO doesn't want a quick and easy way to make a custom envelope??

So, dear Joan???? How'd this die work out for ya??

Ms. Curious over here <----- is very interested in any available feedback!

Thanks in advance.

[thechecker]

Thanks so much!!! Is this the Bigz XL die? I was going to buy it, but if it is in parts,
no thanks.

I appreciate the info!
Anne

[Beaglelover]

..... to take the cardboard off the back of the 12x12 DCWV pads and make templates.

Just took apart a store bought envelope and traced it onto the cardboard and cut it out.

Maybe I am just too old school!

HTH!

Teresa

[TheOtherMeg]

I have it but haven't used it yet. The directions do make it look like a hassle, but I think having the pieces cut and scored will be nice. I'm hoping that once I've made a couple, it'll go quickly.

[mcdenmark]

You all CRACK ME UP! I was planning on buy the sizzix today. Glad I found this post first. I have been hand measuring envelopes for a while and pretty disappointed by the unevenness of my 'creations.' After this post, I know a few things... don't by the sizzix a2 envelope, there is more than one way to count cheese =), I found a wonderful website never knew about (scorpal) and glad I found this group!

Best of all, I can just create a template from the back of a paper pad and save me loads of migraines =) =) =)

From Central Illinois - MC

[TheOtherMeg]

Okay, I gave this a try.

I like it. It's very easy to use and putting the 3 pieces together is simple because they're cut & scored perfectly.

The only thing that hung me up the first time was using a paper with a vertical pattern. I wasn't paying attention and cut the body going vertical and the flaps going horizontal.

I could have lived a long, happy life without this, but I'm glad I don't feel like I wasted my money. I will use it.

[Huntwoman]

Thanks so much for posting the video, I wish I'd seen it before I got my die. Meg, glad you like it, I'm still going to try it but ended up here because for the life of me I couldn't figure out how to use the die. The Scorpal envelope is so easy I will probably default to that. Heaven forbid I would use one of the envelope templates I have stored away. Very disappointed that the Sizzix envelope starts in so many pieces. Live and learn, go to SCS first for reviews!

[TheOtherMeg]

I found another way to use the die. It doesn't really make sense financially, but it's easy.

I cut the pieces using the die and attached the sides & flap. I did NOT fold up and adhere the sides to actually make the envelope, though. I kept the whole thing open and traced it onto a piece of cereal box chipboard. Then I cut a template out of the chipboard. (I know these dies will cut chipboard, but I didn't want to hassle with the scorelines and with taping chipboard pieces.)

Now I can make an envelope from one piece of paper, and I can place the template exactly where I want in the event there's a pattern and I want only certain parts of the pattern on my envelope.

It's stupid to pay $20 to use the die once to make a chipboard template, but I had already spent the money, so no (further) loss for me. And I will still use the die at times, too, because it's just about as fast to use an ATG gun to assemble the four cut-and-scored pieces as it is to trace around a template and then cut, score, and fold.

All in all, it's not the most expensive or even the most worthless craft thing I've bought. LOL

[chmyers]

I was really disappointed about having to assemble the pieces as well --- I wanted to use my old 12 x 12 scrapbooking paper to make envelopes (white on the outside and pattern on the inside), and figured it would be quick and easy with this die. Not! Because I have to cut my paper down to fit in the Big Shot anyway, I decided it was actually an extra step to use the envelope portion of the die. (I also decided to trim one inch off of one end of the envelope portion to make it easier to insert and remove the card --it's difficult to get the card out when the envelope reaches all the way to the flap). I also found it difficult to cut more than one sheet of paper at a time, even with the crease pad, because the score lines break through on the ends of the pieces.

But if you are willing to put up with the drawbacks, it does make a nice envelope roomy enough for a card with embellishment. I decided that I preferred reversing the paper just on the flap so evelopes are white with a decorative pattern on the flap that matches my card.

[Jane S.]

I totally agree that it is a disappointment. I too thought it would make an envelope in one pass with minimal putting together...but, in making the best of a bad situation, I discovered a couple cool things about it. (Since I can't return it!)

You can cut the top flap and side pieces out of contrasting paper and put it together so they show. I sandwiched the curved edge of the side piece between the envelpe and wrapped the squared off edge towards the front of the envelope. I did this on both sides. Then, when I attached the top flap, I glued the squared off end on the front of the envelope. When you look at the front of the envelope, you see "border" on 3 sides.

I took my 1 3/4" circle punch and punched it not quite 1/2 way down to make a thumb hole on the top back of the envelope to make it easie to get the card out, and finally, you can make it open at the end of the card instead of the top. I think that's why the side pieces are curved the way they are. That's a little unique to have it open "long-ways".

If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't buy it.

[TheOtherMeg]

Jane, I've used it like you said, with different papers for the various pieces, and it's really cute. The die is growing on me. I like my chipboard template so I can cut the envelope all in one piece, and I like being able to cut various parts out of different sheets of paper.

Love your idea to use the circle punch to make a grab spot!

Having used it more and tried out some variations, I would buy it again, especially if I saw someone demoing it with all these possibilities. If someone just said, "well, you do have to put the pieces together, which is a drag... " and made it sound like a chore instead of an option to customize, then I would walk away with a negative feeling about the die.

It's all in how you spin it, baby! LOL

[mrosedawson]

You are not alone : - ( Got it yesterday and it's being returned tomorrow. What a disappointment - Not only too much to put together (and I have a scor-pal, as well (no kidding faster), but the envelope body on mine cuts when it is suppose to just score! I got mine at Joann's and they quite graciously sent me a postage paid return label : - ) It's definitely a design flaw!

Quote:

Originally Posted by scraplady

I am wondering if anyone has any feedback on the new Sizzix A2 Envelope die....I just got it and I HATE it!!! There is way too much prep work and then you have to glue it together...not at all what I thought it would be.

I contacted Sizzix and they have had complaints but no suggestions from them. Also contacted the supplier I purchased mine from and he has had complaints also.

I can make an envelope faster with my Scor-Pal!

Appreciate any feedback.....I don't think it is a user problem....definitely a design problem.

Thanks,

Joanne