Today Scrapbook Update once again welcomes May Flaum as guest blogger. If you are scrapping with some holiday spirit, check out May’s previous post on Scrapbook Update about Choosing Holiday Scrapbook Supplies.
May Flaum has been published in numerous magazines and is the co-author of Paper + Pixels: Scrapbook Layouts
I have never even considered getting any kind of die cutting system for myself, and that’s the way it’s going to stay.
That’s a bold statement, I know. In fact sometimes when people find out I don’t have anything – no Cricut, no Slice, or anything else – their eyes go wide. It’s as if creating without such a device is inconceivable. Oh, they’ve tried to convert me and it just has not worked. I’m not interested.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that nobody should have them. I know teachers (craft and school), card makers, and other crafters who truly get their money’s worth out of every design and font. However, I see too many scrapbookers feeling pressured to invest in a system, to upgrade to the newest stuff, and thinking that they truly need some expensive system. I believe you can have just as much fun never having any kind of die cutting system, and today I’ll explain why I’m happily abstaining.
We could discuss the pros of owning such a system – and believe me I realize that there are good reasons to own one. Instead today I’d like to give you five reasons I am very happy living without.
1. Let’s get the money subject out of the way. If I wanted to get a healthy set of images and fonts as well as a machine of any kind $300 – 500 would be my average investment to get started. I priced out a couple of different options and no matter how you cut it, it’s quite an investment – and from what I can imagine one that continues to eat up budget as new goodies come out. When I picture the $500 worth of letter stickers, rub-ons, and other items I’d imagine replacing by using a die cut machine. I’d rather have the product.
I know for some the argument that the font will pay for itself and that you won’t run out of letters is very valid, but I don’t see buying $50-$100 worth of the same alphabet sticker font ever- so that doesn’t ring true to me.
2. I like the challenge of making the sizes and colors of what I have on hand work. Oh sure, it’d be cool to be able to have a 3″ high lilac cardstock butterfly or the perfect color and size of aqua letter stickers on command, but using my punches, hand cutting something or making an existing sticker work is fine by me.
3. Creating by hand is so satisfying. It is a huge reason I won’t go completely digital – I like creating with my hands and not just clicking buttons. I have always hand-cut titles and embellishments – first it was because nothing existed, then because it was economical, and now because I enjoy it!
4. I’m not willing to give up space in my craft area. You might laugh- but I’m very serious. I have a hard enough time allowing paper punches to hang out, but the idea of some piece of machinery and accessories coming into the mix makes me twitch. Call me silly – but I would rather have ribbons and glitter and pretty things surrounding me. The computer and printer is bad enough.
5. Digital supplies rock! I can find, alter, and print just about anything I want thanks to amazing digital scrapbook designers. So when my paper stash fails to yield what I need, I can simply create a hybrid page that gets the job done to my satisfaction. Whether I buy a kit or just print with a font I’ve already got – I’m covered.
Now that I’ve told you why I choose to create without die cut assistance, I’d like to show you two layout examples.
Supply List: American Crafts Letterbox line rub-ons, American Crafts Welcoming Card Ribbon
, American Crafts Warm Wishes Letterbox Paper, American Crafts Pastel Cardstock, Making Memories Brad, Jenni Bowlin Studios scalloped card, Maya Road Pink Pearl Flower Trinket Pins
First I have this “Carousel Bliss” layout to share. The Letterbox line from American Crafts is a current favorite, and at $2.99 the American Crafts Parcel Letterbox Accent rub-ons that go with this are too good to resist. I have seen die cut options for flowers and butterflies before – yet I find myself happy to use designs that coordinate with a line of product.
My title was created by printing on cardstock and cutting out the letters (French Script font). I keep a ruler in my scrap space so that I can approximate how high I want titles to be (printed off the computer) and that’s how I knew how big to make this title. I find cutting titles out relaxing – and often when I’m on the phone that’s what I’m doing instead of doodling or folding laundry. It’s multi-tasking at it’s finest!
Supply List: Punky Monkey Digital Kit by Brandy Buffington, assorted buttons, thread, Tsukineko Brilliance Ink (Orchid), Basic Grey Nook & Pantry Stitched Brad, Mickey font, Offray ribbon, unknown cardstock.
Next up, it’s Manny! For this I used a blockier font to show that if the thought of cutting cursive makes you woozy, you can just use letters that are more straight & easy. I think it took all of 5 minutes to cut this title out.
To make this page I printed out the papers (from Punky Monkey Digital Kit by Brandy Buffington) the sizes I wanted and added in the title over the orange strip. No Photoshop needed here – I used Microsoft Word and created a word art for the title! I then copied that word art and moved the second copy (without re-sizing it!) to the top of the page where I removed the black fill. Then I printed and cut out the title, as well as cutting out the 8×8 square of patterned paper with a deckle blade.
I cut almost everything with my trusty Fiskars Micro-Tip Scissors. They are spring-loaded and so they’re good to your hands. I’ve yet to find another pair of scissors that even comes close to being as good as these are.
I put the white copy of the title that I’d cut out over the black shadowed copy using foam adhesive. I then inked with pink to add a hit of color and completed my page.
Of course the possibilities are limited only by your own imagination. Hand-drawn titles, paper piecing, and so much more can be done with a few snips of your scissors. I hope you enjoy some creative time over this winter break and have fun with whatever you do!
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About May Flaum
Great post and I agree with you completely. I also eschewed a die cutting machine for many of the same reasons as you have, especially the space issue and price.
But I have just–just!–ordered a Slice and 6 cartridges as a Christmas gift from my DH. The price isn’t astronomical (though with the six cartridges it is pricey) and the space issue is covered by the small size of the machine. I see it as an investment not only for scrapbooking but also for other craft projects and cards, and also for my children’s school & craft projects.
But it wasn’t a necessity, and I’m glad “established” scrappers like yourself are speaking up for keeping it simple.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! FINALLY someone voicing what I’ve felt since I started paper crafting a year ago. I too just love to create with my hands, and don’t see the need for all these gadgets. And the pressure to buy and use these machines is enormous, which makes me dig in my heels all the more. Wonderful article – glad to see I’m not alone in my sentiments.
My heart is beating double time!! I too after about 8 years of scrapbooking have never found the need for “the gagets”– I have been around to witness countless women jumping for joy over getting one and then 6 months later telling how they sold it only to get the latest and greatest!!
I love that my pages are created by me!! I too have found letter stickers work or cutting out letters… I thought I was the only one who found joy in figuring it all out using what I had on hand!!
Three cheers!
I enjoy making pages by myself, with my own hands, also. My hubby bought me a Wishblade a few years back because he thought it looked like the most awesome thing. Well it probably is, but I can’t wrap my head around how to use it. So, it sits. Just think, if he had bought me $300 worth of paper!!! Wow, now that would have been used!
I thought the conversation on this article on the Fiskateer’s forum was very interesting:
http://fiskateers.com/community/topic/20444
I agree. I used to own a cricut when they first came out (the very first one). I used it a little but it’s a lot of work to get it to do what you want and to get it to work right the first time. I didn’t have much space either for it to sit out and what a hassle to set it up each time …. I’d rather have my sewing machine out all the time which I love to use on my layouts. I sold my cricut this summer at a yard sale for $40. It was freeing I don’t want another system for all the same reasons you gave!
I am with you 100% about the die cut machines. However since my fingers are not quite as nimble as yours anymore so I do give my Fiskars’ USX shape cutter quite a bit but it is still “hand”made. There is a lot of personal satisfaction in making something with your hands that you just can’t get from a machine.
Of course you can create great LOs without using a die cut system. I JUST ordered my Slice and it will be the first system I have owned, I’ve been scrapbooking happily for two years with out a machine.
However, I don’t get the third argument, that creating by hand is so satisfying. How is using letter stickers or rub ons that someone else cut and put in a package for you to peel off and adhere to your LOs any more “handmade” than using your die cutting machine to cut the letters out for you to adhere to your LO?
Also, I do think it will save me money in the long run. I got my Slice on sale and plan to get design cards from Ebay or on sale. I plan to spend about $200 for the Slice, the larger cutting mat, and 3 or 4 cards, which will be more than enough to keep me happy, and it will take up less space and cost less than all the alphas I would have to buy otherwise.
Thanks to everyone for the comments – I have discovered I’m not actually the only one left who is without a system of some kind!
I do find it interesting which systems get high praise and how different people get value from them. I just love all the options today’s scrapbook industry gives us and that we can all get what works for us now.
In response to Kate – In saying “creating by hand” I literally mean it – I take paper and hand cut my own titles as shown in the layout examples in this article. Sometimes using computer fonts, but often from my own hand drawn designs. I do this with shapes as well.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts-
May
Sorry, I totally disagree. If I had to use scissors to cut out every title, I would quit scrapbooking forever! My time and sanity is far more valuable.
Long live die cutting machines
I agree with Jen, I hate having to cut images, and on top of that cutting font by hand? Not in a million years. you would have to have a heck of a lot more time to do so. A lot of extra work that would make me very frustrated. I’m glad it works for you, but count me in the:
Long Live Die-cut Machines!!! *g*
thanks for sharing your wonderful insight! I have to confess I am the proud (if broke) owner of several die cutting machines, and there truly is no end to the expense involved, however to me, it’s just as frustrating to HAVE to have the printer right next to me or even my computer. The truth is most of the time, I have to make sure I don’t have my computer on while I’m scrapbooking because I can easily get sidetracked looking for ideas or reading blogs, etc.!! I also love cutting out intricate embellishments or titles, so i do it anyway, but it’s nice to get a different point of view, and certainly something to keep in mind for those days when you’re trying to talk yourself into “needing” one more machine!!
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