Discover all the die-cutting machines in the market

Sizzix is one of the leading brands when it comes to die-cutting machines, but it is not the only brand with this type of machine. There are currently a large number of models from different brands, which makes it difficult to choose one.

These machines have become one of the must-haves in scrapbooking. With them we can make die cuts, textured backgrounds, beautiful borders for our pages... they are very versatile and easy to use, that's why we like them so much. Thanks to their great popularity there are many models on the market from different brands. This can be a bit overwhelming and surely some of you are asking yourselves questions like what are the differences between them?, are they all good for the same thing?, which one is the best?, which one should I buy? To help you a little, we are going to analyse the machines currently available on the market.

Sizzix

Sizzix is probably the best-known brand in the die-cutting machines business. The quality and the wide range of their machines have made them a benchmark in the die-cutting machines sector. Sizzix offers different options so that we can choose the type of machine that best suits us:

Sizzix Big Shot

The Big Shot is arguably the most popular die-cutting machine. It is the perfect size to make almost any die-cut while still being practical. This tool allows you to emboss and cut all kinds of materials: paper, cardboard, fabric, felt, leather, vellum, EVA rubber, acetate...

It has a handle that makes it easy to turn and a practical handle to carry it easily. All you have to do is place the die or texture folder between the short bases and insert it into the machine, turn the handle until the die goes completely through the rollers of the machine and you will have your retouching or embossing ready to use.

It also includes drawings and illustrations on the platform to show you how to make the perfect sandwich with the different types of dies.

Approximate size of the machine: 36 x 31 x 17 cm.
Working surface size: 15.88 cm.

The other die-cutting machines will have the same operating mechanism and will not differ much from each other. Only the cutting surface size will be the most significant difference between them.

Sizzix Big Shot Switch

The difference between this version and the Big Shot relies on being automatic and electric, so it is much faster and requires absolutely no effort from us. The machine applies the necessary pressure for each type of die and material. Best of all, it is a compact tool that can be closed when you stop using it - a real space saver!

Approx. machine size: 38.1 x 14.92 x 16.51 cm (38.1 x 14.92 x 16.51 cm)
Work surface size: 22 cm (A4)

Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway

The Sizzix Foldaway has the same functionality as the Big Shot, but with one difference, as its name suggests, it's foldable! You can make it smaller when you're not using it and it also has built-in storage space for storing dies and tools. Perfect if we don't have much room or if we want to take it to a workshop or on holiday.

Approximate size of the machine closed: 15,87 x 26,67 x 20,32 cm
Approximate size of machine open: 34.92 x 33 x 33 x 20.32 cm (15.87 x 26.67 x 20.32 in.)
Work surface size: 15,24 cm

Sizzix Big Shot Sidekick

The little sister of the family, it's the smallest and lightest of them all; perfect for travelling, taking to workshops, or having it at hand to make those small dies when we are too tired to take the Big Shot out. In addition, to die-cutting, we can also do embossing, it's like a Big Shot but in the mini version.

Being smaller and, therefore, not weighing so much, the Sizzix Sidekick is more likely for the machine to move when we move the handle to make a die, so it includes a suction pad on the bottom that allows its complete adherence to our working surface, thus preventing it from moving.

Another thing we love about this version is the four models to choose from: white, pastel blue, or two models designed by Tim Holtz, in black or brown.

Approximate machine size: 19,68 x 12,06 x 8,89 cm
Work surface size: 12,38 x 6,25 cm

Other brands

Although, as mentioned above, Sizzix is the best-known brand when it comes to die-cutting and embossing machines, other brands offer machines with similar features.

We R Memory Keepers

The American brand offers two versions, the Revolution and the Mini Evolution. Both allow us to easily cut, emboss, and letterpress. The first one is the most similar to the Sizzix Big Shot and the Mini Evolution is easily comparable to the Sidekick. Now, we can find this model in two different colours, white and turquoise; and pink.

Revolution work surface size: 15,24 cm
Mini Evolution work surface size: 7.8 cm.

Artemio

The Happy Cut and the Mini Happy Cut are the two models in Artemio's catalog. These tools allow us to cut and emboss materials such as paper, cardboard, fabric, felt, leather, cork, EVA rubber, etc. As with the Sidekick or the Mini Evolution, the Mini Happy Cut has a suction cup on the bottom to prevent it from moving while working.

Happy Cut work surface size: 22,86 cm
Mini Happy Cut work surface size: 7.6 cm.

Spellbinder

There are up to four different models from this brand: the Platinum Spellbinder, the Platinum 6.0, the Deep-Sea Die-Cutting & Embossing, designed by Jane Davenport, and the Spellbinder Prizm Machine.

These machines, made of solid steel, are a durable and powerful tool that can easily cut all kinds of thin materials, from paper or cotton fabric to metal foil, acetate, or balsa wood. If you want to cut these thicker materials, you will need to use the multilateral dies for this purpose (such as the Contour Steel Rule Dies from Spellbinders or the BIGZ from Sizzix).

All Spellbinders machines can be used to make dies and textures, so we will just point out some of the most striking features of these machines. The Platinum 6.0 is a folding machine, as we have seen with the Sizzix Foldaway. It also comes with different coloured cutting bases for easy organisation.

The Deep-Sea Die-Cutting & Embossing is also foldable and has a beautiful design, it is turquoise and includes mermaid illustrations. Its cutting bases are also coloured.

The Spellbinder Prizm Machine is the smallest of the die-cutting machines, at least in terms of cutting surface. It is very small and light, perfect for transporting. Like the other smaller machines, it has a suction cup on its base.