From Coast to Coast Creations

I have decided to write this review about products that I have purchased and how I feel about them.  This will include the advantages and disadvantages of the items and whether I consider them worth the money that they cost.

Please note that the following are my honest opinions about items that I own or have owned.  Use the information as you think best, whether it means that it will help you to decide to buy an item or not!

The BigShot is as it name implies "Big", not only that it is heavy!!  Which has of course its advantages and of course its disadvantages.

Because of its weight it sits steady as you pass through the various items that you wish to cut, emboss, crease etc.  It does not tend to leap around the table as do some of the smaller and lighter weight models.  However on the downside, it is a difficult item to find a home for - its size alone means that it takes up space and is difficult to store in a box etc.  Although it does possess a carry handle it is rather unwieldly and is not the easiest of toys to carry around to various locations.

The actual Ellison or Sizzix dies differ in weight and size and functionality.  You could not own many large dies and be able to move them around without straining yourself!!  However the smaller sizzlet dies are lighter weight and more compact, but these cut out the smaller die cuts so you have to chose between whether you want large die cuts or small and then of course put up with the weight and storage issues.

The large dies are the metal shapes encased in a plastic "box" and covered with foam.  Works fine for the larger pieces but I purchased a die that cuts buttons/buckles and the foam on the smaller items has become depressed with the result that the card that I have cut has become lodged in the die.  This is now getting to the point that the die is no longer able to cut all the elements.

The smaller dies have less depth of foam and so I have not experienced the above problem with them.

With the aid of a BigShot multipurpose platform I am able to use the majority of other makes dies on it.  Previous to purchasing the platform I was unable to use wizard dies with much success, now I am able to use them with o problem.  The only disadvantage of the platform is as it is a flip book style you do have extra length to manover depending on what depth of die you are using.

All in all I do not regret buying this item.  I rarely if ever need to leave home and take it with me so I can live with the fact of its weight and the fact that it is difficult to store, plus of course I can use all the other dies that I want to with it.  One advantage of the weight of this item is that it does not bounce around when using it which leaves you a spare hand for grabbing your coffee cup if needed!!

I did have a problem that the actual spindle on the rollers bent, but a helpful hubby was able to straighten it and to date it is still working fine.

I haven't tried using the machine to do anything other than cut and emboss so can't testify as to whether I can say squash bottle tops etc.

Can be a problem for the lefties  amongst us.  My hubby got very confused when using it as he had to do everything backwards in order to be able to wind the papers through using his left hand!!  But crafters are a creative and able bunch so I am sure that this problem can easily be overcome. 

An improvement from the hammer and setter - however you need to be able to push down well with your hands, I end up twisting the gadget and then find myself unscrewing the handle!! Since I bought the crop-o-dile I haven't used this item so I guess it's about time I sold it!! One advantage is that you can use it anywhere on the page. You are able to make your holes with it as well as set your eyelets.

Oh I love this item!! for something that looks so clunky it is a surprising easy bit of kit!! I thought that maybe people with dexterity problems would struggle, but my mother has problems with her hands and is able to use this item. With a squeeze of the handles the crop-o-dile cuts thorough paper, card, acetate and even cd's like butter!! the eyelets are also easy to attach to your work with a gentle squeeze. Ok so there is a limit to how far into the page you are able to use it, but its big brother the Big Bite (I think its called) sorts that out as it has a longer reach.

There is no longer the noise of putting holes into your artwork and the table no longer suffers dents!! Oh and of course for all us girly girls - we can get it in pink!!