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It took me a while to jump on the die-cutting bandwagon, but now I am completely in love with my machine. I'm slowly collecting dies, and I'm wondering who makes your favorites? Which dies do you reach for again and again?
I have a few Sizzix, and a small collection of Papertrey Ink dies. What is the verdict on dies from My Favorite Things? They have some really cute ones, and the prices seem really reasonable!
I really like my PTI dies. I hoped I would like Nesties, but I just don't. I stopped after two sets of those and am not even inspired to get those any more. But those PTI dies....love 'em!
I really like my PTI dies. I hoped I would like Nesties, but I just don't. I stopped after two sets of those and am not even inspired to get those any more. But those PTI dies....love 'em!
Just curious, what is it about the nesties that puts you off? I wish I didn't like them.
My pocketbook would be a lot larger,KWIM?!:rolleyes:
2 sets of Nesties. For me, I find that of the two sets I own, I only use 2 of the sizes, so 3 of them never get used and to me that is a waste. However, there are so many that do love them and use all sizes, so it just depends on your own needs/style. That being said, I would like to get 2 or three more to complement the ones I do have already (have petite scalloped ovals, would like the other size of them, would like a set of banners)
7 individual Quick Kuts ones (a palm tree, a small daisy, a label similar to a nesties label, but one size only, 3 or 4 random words)
1 Cuttlebug single musical note
1 Cuttlebug alphabet.
Of all of them, my favourite hands down are the Memory Box dies. They are so delicate and intricate, so beautiful and so versatile. In fact, I have a wish list to get about 6 more of them. The Memory Box ones are closed dies.
I don't have a preference for open versus closed as they are often for two different types of uses.
__________________ Elizabeth
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Hand over the chocolate, and no one will get hurt!
Juble....for me, the reason I don't care for my Nesties is pure and unadulterated laziness. I dislike running them through my Cuttlebug twice, finding that tan mat, shimming it, etc. If I owned the machine that "goes with" the Nesties perhaps my opinion would be different, but for me, they're just too much hassle.
The MFT ones cut beautifully - even something with fine detail like the Dizzy Borders. The low-profile Sizzix are the ones I personally have most trouble getting a clean cut from.
I have the raspberry Wizard.
I have Spellbinders, Lifestyle Crafts (Quikutz), Memory Box, MFT, PTI, and Verve dies. All of them work well in my Cuttlebug no problems.
I find myself using the Spellbinders the most because they are so easy use. Since they are open in the middle, centering them over my image is so easy. I am one of those folks that likes to stamp, pick the best one, and then cut. I use a Cuttlebug and have no problems getting clean cuts in one swipe with my nesties.
Memory Box is another favorite. They have the most beautiful designs and cut like a dream.
PTI has a bunch of die options, but their dies are closed and they do not offer a die alignment tool which makes using them with stamped images a pain. And I've noticed you have to do some experimenting with shims to get the best cuts. Some of my PTI dies I use a cardboard shim. Some I use the metal shim I bought from PTI. Some I have to lay the die a certain way in the sandwich to get the best cut. PTI is the only brand that I have to use shims with. On the upside, PTI dies are cheaper, so maybe that's the tradeoff.
I mostly use my Cuttlebug, but I do have a Grand Calibur for my Grand Nestabilities. I love those huge dies but they don't fit through my Cbug.
Great thread! I hope to read more about why people like or dislike their dies.
I have one Spellbinders nestabilities die set (labels four) that I got off eBay for $5. Haven't used it yet. But in looking at it, I don't understand why they normally sell for $25 in stores. There's not much to them. I'm afraid they'll get all bent once I take them out of the package.
I have several of the Sizzix dies that I had during my old style (red) Sizzix days. And I bought a Tim Holtz Sizzix die when I got my Big Shot. I LOVE the clean cuts and I LOVE that I don't have to think about "sandwiches" with these dies. On the down side, they are darn heavy for lugging to a crop or retreat.
I have a large collection of Spellbinders and love them. I also love PTI dies and am slowly amassing a big collection there are as well. My new favorite are the Spellbinders for Heartfelt Creations and the matching stamp sets for the flowers. LOVE these and not just because I happen to be on the DT . I also own a couple of the MFT dies and think they are great too! I cut with a cuttlebug and all of the above have worked wonderfully in it, except for a couple of the PTI dies which required a metal shim. Next on my list to try are the Cheery Lynn dies.
I have the dies from every company. I use them all and love them all for different reasons. I have every single spellbinder that there is and love them. I am used to the fact that they need to run through twice to get the embossing but I still love using them. I have MFT, Memory box (large order due any day now) Sizzix. QuickCuts, cuttlebug, Verve, PTI...wow and any more that are out there. It really doesnt matter to me that I have to change the sandwiches or run some through more than once for a clean cut...I love dies..they are so awesome and add so much to a card.
blessings.
Yikes forgot to answer the OP question...I am not sure I could pick a favorite..I dont think I have ever met a die I didnt like.
__________________ Amber Shaw
Last edited by sprtchick; 11-16-2011 at 10:47 AM..
Reason: oops,,,
Ditto on that. I love dies. Sometimes I wonder why I have so many stamps b/c dies and embellies are so easy to use!
Anyway, my faves at the moment are Memory Box. Truly unique! But, on the other hand, I have orders from PTI and Whimsy on the way. I really like all of them.
Great thread! I hope to read more about why people like or dislike their dies.
I have one Spellbinders nestabilities die set (labels four) that I got off eBay for $5. Haven't used it yet. But in looking at it, I don't understand why they normally sell for $25 in stores. There's not much to them. I'm afraid they'll get all bent once I take them out of the package.
You shouldn't have to worry about them bending when taken out of the package. I am very hard on my tools and have yet to bend any Spellbinders dies. I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for" so I don't mind that they may cost more than some. I know they will last.
I have spellbinders, sizzix, cuttlebug and just bought my first Prickly Pear and Memory Box dies the other day.
My favorite are my spellbinders, to me they are so easy to use and so versatile. Love my sizzix for cutting through chipboard and other heavy material. Cuttlebug has some cute designs and cut very well, just dont like that you can't see where your cutting. The Prickly Pear and Memory box have the same issue, can't see where i'm cutting, but they have wonderful designs and are reasonalbly priced so I'll be getting more of those.
I guess it's just like any other tool, it's usefullness depends on what you want to do with it.
Debbie
Oh my there are a few companies I hadn't heard of - I thought when I bought my Silhouette, I wouldn't buy any more dies for my big kicks Hahaha. I want to cut stuff thicker then cardstock.
__________________ 2 cats short of the Crazy Cat Lady (5 Ragdolls RIP Katie DSH, RIP little Merlot Flame Ragdoll & Sunna Torbie Ragdoll- we miss you! Damn FIP) http://rebecca-rebeccasemptynest.blogspot.com/
I have about 10 sets of Nesties, about 20 Sizzix dies, and about 12 Memory Box dies. My favorite is the Memory Box hands down, as they are such intricate designs. I absolutely love them.
I have about 10 sets of Nesties, about 20 Sizzix dies, and about 12 Memory Box dies. My favorite is the Memory Box hands down, as they are such intricate designs. I absolutely love them.
Hey jaymuxman, welcome to SCS. If you like intricate dies, have you tried Cherry Lynn dies or even Marianne?
I love the Nestabilities because they have such great classic shapes and are easy to layer. It's very hard these days for me to make a card without a Nesties shape on there somewhere!
I also have dies from the others you mentioned and one you haven't, The Cat's Pajamas CutUps dies. I'm probably biased but they are my fav - great shapes, very versatile and easy to use! ;)
I'm an equal opportunity shopper. I like Nesties for just basic shapes because I like the embossing look with them. I also like My Favorite Things Die-namics - work beautifully and it's so fun that's there a new one every month.
Lil'Inker Designs (I know, no one's heard of her) is coming out with some fun die cuts with matching stamps. Very cute.
Here's a card and I made with Lil' Inker Designs die-cuts - so fun!
I have tons of dies form every Co. I probably use the Cuttlebug dies the least.
Recently I discovered these Framelits from Sizzix, and I'm pretty excited about these. They come with the matching stamp set or without. I like the PTI dies, but I never seem to stamp the image on the diecut exactly where I want it. These Framelits will put an end to that! The dies are open, so you can perfectly cut out the stamped image. The stamp sets are really cute too. I ordered the Reindeer set.
I like my amuse dies and of course the spellbinders. I have never tried any of the MFT or Verve but have heard good things about them as well. I have a couple of the PTI dies and they cut nicely also
I started with Spellbinders, but I hardly reach for them anymore and just sold a bunch of them. I like PTI dies, but my faves are the MFT and Verve dies because they have tiny holes in them where you can poke the paper out, so it doesn't get stuck! Paper gets stuck in my PTI dies all the time, so I appreciate the MFT/Verve design feature!
I love my Spellbinders dies! I use them all the time and they are wonderful. I don't mind having to run it through twice if I want something embossed, just because the embossing is an optional second step. Sometimes I want it embossed and sometimes I don't.
I also have some Cuttlebug dies, a bunch of Sizzix dies, and I like them all just fine.
You are going to be fine with most dies, unless there is some major quality issue.
I prefer open dies, hands down. They make lining things up a breeze!
I use a variety of adhesives on them--here's a video where I did a transparency card with my new favorite, the Country Landscape, if that helps: Red & White Transparent Holiday Card - YouTube
The reed bird is also one of my favorites! He also makes a darling snow globe in 3 different sizes, and the smaller window one is on my wish list--there are window sill details on that die that I just love!
Dave makes some truly lovely dies! I hope he keeps coming out with more!
HTH!
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
It took me a while to jump on the die-cutting bandwagon, but now I am completely in love with my machine. I'm slowly collecting dies, and I'm wondering who makes your favorites? Which dies do you reach for again and again?
LOL! I remember when just before the original Big Shot was released--I was so NOT going to get into dies and all that.
What was I thinking?! I have so much fun with them now, I can't imagine not having them. *chuckle*
Quote:
I have a few Sizzix, and a small collection of Papertrey Ink dies. What is the verdict on dies from My Favorite Things? They have some really cute ones, and the prices seem really reasonable!
Do you like open dies or closed dies better?
Thanks in advance!
I can't say I like open over closed or vice versa--a lot just depends on what I'm using them for.
I have mostly Memory Box, Lifestyle Crafts, Hero Arts/Sizzix stamp & die combo sets, & Sizzix Bigz dies.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Hands down- Spellbinders. The eaiest dies in the world to use. Lots of stamp companies make stamps that coordinate with their dies so you are not limited to one or two images that work AND, of course, you can see through them which makes it so easy to position your image or greeting.
__________________ Be polite to those who are rude to you. Not because they are nice, but because you are.
Owner- Gina K. Designs
I use a variety of adhesives on them--here's a video where I did a transparency card with my new favorite, the Country Landscape, if that helps: Red & White Transparent Holiday Card - YouTube
The reed bird is also one of my favorites! He also makes a darling snow globe in 3 different sizes, and the smaller window one is on my wish list--there are window sill details on that die that I just love!
Dave makes some truly lovely dies! I hope he keeps coming out with more!
HTH!
Julie, thanks for the link to the dies, as well as your beautiful card!
My current favorite die is the Top Note die from Stampin Up (it's a Sizzix BigZ die made exclusively for SU). Some wonderful enablers on the SCS boards told me about this one, and I use it all the time now!!
Does anyone know if the Memory Box Die Cuts are compatible with the Original Sizzix. I've seen how you can use the Spellbinder Nestablities with it. Are these dies similar?
I use Spellbinders, Memory box, Papertrey ink, Sizzix, Accucut, MFT dies. Pretty much any of them! It doesn't matter if they are open or closed dies to me.
Who makes your favorite dies?
