| Scrapbooking die cuts and machines make | | | | that are made for them. Dies can be bought individually |
| scrapbooking, cardmaking and other paper crafting fun | | | | or in packs. It's best to consider what sort of |
| and efficient. The cost upfront may seem daunting, but | | | | scrapbooking layouts you intend to make and buy |
| if you really like to scrapbook and find yourself doing it | | | | accordingly. |
| a lot it is worth investing in this sort of scrapbooking | | | | If you've been scrapbooking long you've probably been |
| equipment. | | | | bit by the "I might use that gotta have it" bug, much like |
| So what exactly is a die cut? | | | | a fisherman with countless lures. If you are wise and |
| Die cuts are sort of like cookie cutters. It presses into | | | | only buy what you will use, the investment is well |
| various kinds of scrapbook paper and and with the | | | | worth the time you save and the enjoyment of being |
| help of a machine cuts perfect shapes out every time. | | | | able to crank out pages at lightening speed! |
| The difference is cutting small intricate pieces out by | | | | Using various colors or different materials for your |
| hand repeatedly, or cutting them out in a second or | | | | embellishments can make unlimited combination's for |
| two. They are a great time saver. | | | | your pages with just a few die cuts at your disposal. |
| As one of scrapbooking's original embellishment | | | | There are many machines on the market, but one I |
| options, die cuts can support any layout theme with | | | | suggest highly is the Cricut Expression electronic |
| shapes that celebrate most holidays, seasons and | | | | machine. They sell what they call cartridges, which are |
| occasions. With a little creativity and some basic | | | | their die cuts, and they have so many to choose from |
| supplies, they evolve from simple shapes to | | | | you will be astonished at the possibilities. They have |
| embellished masterpieces. Whether you're creating die | | | | Disney characters, cool font packs for intriguing |
| cuts from card stock, patterned or specialty paper, it's | | | | lettering for your scrapbook pages and all kinds of |
| as easy as 1-2-3. | | | | other themed dies. |
| Most machines work similar to this: you place | | | | If you choose to invest you'll be able to instantly |
| cardstock or other material into a cutting pad. You | | | | produce precision shapes out of cardstock, patterned |
| place the die, face down, over the cardstock. Then | | | | paper, specialty paper and even thin metal sheets. |
| you slide the pad under the press and push the lever | | | | You'll find yourself adorning mats, journaling and title |
| or button to make the machine cut through the paper. | | | | blocks, while even their negative spaces made by |
| There are also hand-held die cuts that operate much | | | | placing cut outs on top of larger cut outs can serve as |
| like a hole punch. Both come in various styles and | | | | quick, custom stencils or shaker frames. |
| shapes. | | | | You can coat those same cut outs with leafing pens |
| Dies and their machines do require an investment, so | | | | as faux metallic charms, recolor them with paint or ink, |
| spend some time thinking about the features of the | | | | string them together or use them in shaker boxes - |
| machine you want before investing. Once you've | | | | above all, give scrapbooking die cuts and machines a |
| purchased a machine they typically only use the dies | | | | try! |