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Every The Dies Have It guide in one place, grouped by topic.
Best Machines by Project
Roundups for card makers, quilters, T-shirt makers, teachers and anyone who wants a small machine, from Sizzix, Spellbinders, Cricut, Silhouette and Brother.
- Best Cricut Alternatives for Cards, Vinyl and Fabric
- Best Cricut and Silhouette Machines for T-Shirts
- Best Cricut for Teachers
- Best Die Cutting Machines for Card Making
- Best Electronic Die Cutting Machines for Paper Crafts
- Best Fabric Cutting Machines for Quilters
- Best Manual Die Cutting Machines
- Best Portable Cutting Machines for Small Craft Spaces
Hand-Crank Die Cutters
How Big Shot and Platinum style machines work, which plates and pads go with them, and how the popular models compare.
- How to Use a Sizzix Big Shot: The Basic Sandwich
- Sizzix Big Shot Plates: Which Pads Does Yours Need?
- Sizzix Big Shot vs Big Shot Plus: 6 or 9 Inches?
- Sizzix Big Shot vs Spellbinders Platinum 6
- Sizzix Big Shot Machine Review
Electronic Cutters
Cricut, Silhouette and Brother machines: model reviews, head-to-head matchups and what dies can and cannot do on them.
- Can You Use Metal Dies in a Cricut Machine?
- Cricut Joy Xtra vs Explore 5: Small or Full Size?
- Silhouette Cameo 5 vs Cricut Maker 4
- Silhouette Cameo vs Portrait: Which Size Do You Need?
- Cricut Joy 2 Review
- Silhouette Portrait 4 Review
Materials, Mats and Blades
What a machine can cut, from cardstock and chipboard to thin metal and fabric, with the right mat and blade for each.
- Can a Cricut Cut Cardboard and Chipboard?
- Can a Cricut Cut Cardstock?
- Can a Cricut Cut Metal? Thin Sheets and Limits
- Can a Die Cutting Machine Cut Fabric and Felt?
- Cricut Blade Types and What Each One Cuts
- Cricut Mat Sizes: Which Mat Fits Which Machine?
- How Thick Can a Cricut Cut? Limits by Machine
Buying Basics
What a cutting machine is, manual versus electronic, and a plain checklist for picking one.
- Craft Cutting Machine: Which Type Fits Your Projects?
- Which Cutting Machine Is Best? A Buying Checklist
- What Is a Die Cutting Machine and What Does It Do?
- Manual vs Electronic Die Cutting Machines