Positive, you can purchase precut letters and shapes for all your craft tasks. However when you’re an avid crafter, likelihood is good you’ve thought-about shopping for a Cricut machine. From vinyl to cardstock to materials like leather-based and felt, Cricut machines can simply reduce any variety of supplies.
For those who’re not glad with the outcomes from reducing issues with an X-ACTO knife or a pair of scissors, the Cricut can take issues to the subsequent degree. However when you’re on a funds and know what you’re on the lookout for, then there are many nice Cricut options on the market, too. Certainly one of Cricut’s largest opponents is Silhouette, whose choices are nonetheless on the pricier aspect, however Amazon additionally has some extra reasonably priced choices.
What Is the Cricut, And Why Is It So In style?
From the $129.99 Cricut Pleasure to the $169.99 Cricut Discover Air 2 to the $249.99 Cricut Maker, Cricut has a reducing machine for each crafter’s wants. Their reliability and ease of use make Cricut the go-to model for reducing machines, whether or not you simply need to reduce supplies like vinyl and paper with the Cricut Pleasure otherwise you need to reduce materials and matboard with the Cricut Maker.
As blogger Sarah Maker explains, Cricut machines use Bluetooth know-how to chop excellent shapes each time. As soon as the machine has your design, it’s going to reduce it out with the machine’s blades. The reducing mat retains your materials in place, and the machine does the entire exhausting give you the results you want. Assume completely reduce letters, shapes and extra.
The Cricut Maker, aka the corporate’s most high-end product, boasts that it could reduce greater than 300 supplies and is appropriate with 13 completely different Cricut instruments. For those who’re making all types of monograms, personalised iron-ons or dwelling décor, it’s a godsend. However when you’re new to crafting and don’t want all of the bells and whistles, Cricut isn’t the one model with stable cutting-machine choices in the marketplace.
What Ought to You Search for in Cricut Options?
If the Cricut Pleasure remains to be out of your worth vary, you might have choices. However earlier than you commit to purchasing any of the Cricut dupes under, there are a couple of elements to remember.
- What supplies are you making an attempt to chop? For those who’re solely reducing cardstock, paper, and iron-ons, there’s no want to purchase a fancier machine that may reduce thicker materials, too. Conversely, when you’re utilizing a Cricut machine to assist with stitching tasks or costume making, you’ll need to search for Cricut options that may reduce via cloth like felt or leather-based.
- What shapes do it’s essential to reduce? Some less complicated Cricut dupes, just like the Sizzix Huge Shot, don’t use Bluetooth know-how. Which means there aren’t as many choices as you’ll discover in Cricut Design Area. However when you aren’t choosy or solely want easy designs, the lower cost level may be price it.
- What’s your ability degree? Some easy Cricut options, just like the Bira reducing machine, are aimed toward freshmen. Different Cricut dupes, just like the Silhouette Portrait, have extra options however are nonetheless extra reasonably priced than Cricut machines.
1. Sizzix Huge Shot
Description: The Sizzix Huge Shot is extra reasonably priced than the Cricut machines, nevertheless it additionally has a restricted variety of options. Not like the Cricut, it doesn’t use Bluetooth know-how to create your sample, as a substitute counting on die cuts. Nonetheless, Sizzix has loads of die-cut choices, and this machine makes embossing a breeze, too.
Why It’s a Good Cricut Different: If all you want a reducing machine for is reducing and embossing, the Sizzix Huge Shot is a stable, dependable possibility. Amazon prospects reward this machine for its dependable, clear cuts and rave about how nice it’s for cardmaking tasks. The Sizzix Huge Shot is aimed toward freshmen who may not want the entire superior features that pricier Cricut machines have to supply. And when you’re a Michaels Rewards member, you’ll be completely satisfied to know that the craft retailer has loads of Sizzix equipment, too.
Promising Evaluate: “It cuts foam, card inventory and even chipboard with ease … I’m extraordinarily pleased with this die-cutting machine and I shall be ordering many extra Sizzix merchandise and dies.” — DaniDizzle
The Value: $104.28 (reg. $137.99) at Amazon.com
2. Bira Craft Die-Chopping & Embossing Machine Combo
Description: This Bira Craft starter equipment comes with a number of plates and a reducing mat. It’s straightforward to make use of and is nice for embossing and cardmaking. Your die-cut choices are restricted, nevertheless it will get the job accomplished with ease. It’s additionally smaller in dimension than most different reducing machines.
Why It’s a Good Cricut Different: You may’t beat Bira’s worth level. At $39.99, this machine is considerably cheaper than the Sizzix Huge Shot, in addition to the present crop of Cricut fashions. It’s a stable possibility for individuals who are simply moving into crafting and don’t want fancy options or designs.
Promising Evaluate: “This little die machine works nice. I used to be fortunately shocked to see how properly it cuts! That’s the center of any die-cut machine. “— Baboonlouie
The Value: $49.99 (reg. $59.99) at Amazon.com
3. Silhouette Portrait 3 Digital Chopping Software
Description: Just like the Cricut machines, the Silhouette Portrait 3 makes use of Bluetooth know-how to enter your design to be reduce. It might probably deal with vinyl, cardstock, paper and cloth for the right reduce each time.
Why It’s a Good Cricut Different: At $199, that is hardly the most cost effective possibility on our checklist of Cricut dupes. But it surely’s nonetheless a stable $50 cheaper than the Cricut Maker, and it could do greater than lots of the different Cricut options on the market.
Promising Evaluate: “I’m now making my very own designs and reducing them on this gadget. The software program from the Silhouette firm works nice. It’s instrument for anybody working in vinyl, for each warmth urgent or adhesive vinyl.” — David Dorrell
The Value: $199 at Amazon.com
4. Spellbinders Platinum Die Chopping and Embossing Machine
Description: The Spellbinders Platinum guarantees to chop vinyl, plastic, cardstock, foil and extra with ease. The Amazon product description additionally notes that it “means that you can use virtually each product in the marketplace,” which is nice in case you have dies from different machines which are nonetheless in fine condition.
Why It’s a Good Cricut Different: At $137.69, the Spellbinders machine is considerably extra reasonably priced than a Cricut machine. Cardmaking and scrapbooking tasks are certain to be extra enjoyable with this die-cutting machine; it’s small, nevertheless it will get the job accomplished.
Promising Evaluate: “As a big format machine, the Spellbinders Platinum’s reducing energy is amazing- as much as eight layers without delay (with metal rule Contour dies), takes paper, embossing folders, and dies as much as 8.5” vast (letter sized and A4 sheets match), and, when folded up, really has a smaller footprint than the Huge Shot machine by an inch (which solely takes 6” vast dies and paper). ” — Eagle Lobes
The Value: $137.69 at Amazon.com
5. Sizzix Sidekick Starter Equipment
Description: The Sizzix Sidekick is a conveyable Cricut dupe that comes with a set of reducing pads, together with a number of stamps and dies, to get you began in your paper-crafting journey.
Why It’s a Good Cricut Different: If all you want is a no-frills reducing machine for thinner, smaller supplies, you may’t beat the value level of the Sizzix Sidekick. The Sizzix Huge Shot is nearer to being a Cricut dupe, however the Sidekick works properly with smaller dies. It cuts cardstock and paper with ease, making it an incredible possibility for scrapbooking or different paper-based craft tasks.
Promising Evaluate: “This little sidekick does all the pieces I anticipated it to do with my small reducing dies … So very handy.” — Irmy
The Value: $59.95 at Amazon.com
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