Paper Woods

Great idea – bad product!

I loved the idea of the Circle Scissor (by EK Success) and couldn’t wait to try it.  One simple tool that can cut over 120 different sizes of circles – sounds great!  Well, I was soon very disappointed. The circle does not turn very smoothly at all, and I was even using it with the recommended Glass Mat. Then, within the first half hour of playing with it to make it turn the tip of the blade broke off. Good thing they include two spares, right? The next day the second tip broke off! Using it to draw circles with a pen or pencil, instead of using the blade, faired much better, but it still took a while to figure out how to hold it without keeping it from turning.

I was so frustrated that I put it away in the bottom of a drawer and forgot about it for months. When I found it again I took it out and it promptly broke in my hands, the rim coming apart and spilling the tiny silver beads that allow the device to turn. I was able to recover most of the beads and awkwardly tape the thing back together, but I am definitely glad that this was given to me as a gift instead of paying for it myself!

Synopsis:

• Price: $15.99; refill blades $1.99
• Availability: the Circle Scissor, Glass Mat, and refill blades are all available through the EK Success online store, and it can also be found at Joann.com.
• Rating: Poor.  It is poorly made and difficult to use.
• Recommended?  No.  

Die-cutters everywhere!  It seems that die-cutting machines are the “accessory of the day” that every paper crafter is talking about.  There are some really amazing machines on the market right now, but how do you know which one is for you?  I was recently asked by a crafty girl-friend to explain the differences and similarities between the major die-cutting machines currently available.  So for anyone else who is curious and/or confused, read on.  I hope this helps!

This is a big topic, so to keep from overwhelming you (a “talent” I seem to posses - just ask my husband!) I think I’m going to break things up into several posts.  Feel free to comment upon anything I write and add your two cents worth of knowledge.  I’d love to hear from you!

First, I think it might help to talk about the basic design of a die-cutting machine.  Once you understand how a machine functions, you will be able to better see the benefits and detriments of each design. 

There are three ways a machine can cut shapes out of paper, two of them are manual and one is electronic.  The manual machines all use dies, which are hard plastic discs containing metal blade edges that are surrounded by foam. 

The two manual ways of depressing the foam to expose the metal blade to the material to be cut are:

(1) lever-press action –
a lever that you press down which squeezes the die and material to be cut that you place under it.

(2) rotary (rolling) action -
a handle that you turn, which engages a roller that pulls the die and material through, squeezing it along the way.  

The electronic method of cutting shapes out of paper doesn’t use dies, so it’s technically not called a die-cutting machine at all.  However, it does create the same result, namely, shapes and letters cut out  without you having to lift a pair of scissors.  So the electronic machines are usually grouped with the die-cutters, but are called “personal cutters,” or something along those lines.  These personal cutting machines have a single blade attached to an arm which is controlled electronically.  You buy special cartridges or discs which contain the electronic data that tells the blade how to cut the material placed under it.  It’s similar to how a CD or disc works in your computer.  

Okay, so now we (hopefully) understand how die-cutting machines work!  My next posts will cover the pluses and minuses of each method as I discuss some of the most popular machines on the market right now.  Stay tuned!

I don’t know how long the retractable craft knife design has been around, but I am certainly glad that it is here. It’s one of those engineering feats that just make so much sense, you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner! I believe there are a couple of different companies that make a craft knife with a retractable blade, but I own the one made by Excel Hobby Blades. It is fantastic! Its small blade allows you to make very precise cuts, and it is the ultimate in safety since you never have to worry about a lost or broken cap. I have owned and used it exclusively for almost two years and it has not needed a new blade yet!

Fantastic! Easy to use, safe, and well-made. A must buy.

Synopsis:

• Price: $8 – 9; refill blades $2 – 3

• Availability: I have not been able to find the Excel blade in stores, but it is available online at Paper Wishes and Widget Supply

• Rating: Very good

• Recommended?: Absolutely