Amdemel's Reviews

These aren’t really good for cutting apart dies. The first time I used them I could tell the jaws were giving too much against the steel of the connection in the die. The jaws also got marked up with dents. I kept using them to see how long they’d last. Today I had a die with a tight space where my heavier-duty cutter can’t reach. I tried these, and the tips of the jaws deformed and weren’t strong enough to cut.

I got this to work well with Graphic 45 card stock and mylar. If I didn’t use the mylar over the card stock, the metal button shredded the paper on the “A” step. I like a matte finish on buttons sometimes, so this was a little disappointing.

Carta Bella paper was too thick. With mylar, it just would not press into the button back.

I looked up a YouTube video on button maker maintenance and it suggested an automotive/household lube would help with shredding and such. I used a door-ease stick-type lube on the metal parts and the edges of the button form itself. It helped some I think—the paper didn’t shred as badly without the mylar.

I think most people will be frustrated my the waste of materials from trying to make this work.

Update:
I tested a bunch of paper by die cutting it and then pressing it at the “A” step without the metal form or mylar. There wasn’t much of a difference between thicknesses—all of them tore at the corners, and it seemed like there was excess paper at the corners. So I tried cutting straight across the corners to remove material, and this helped a lot. Again, I didn’t use the mylar. It’s not perfect, but the chances of pressing a button successfully increases by a lot.

I trimmed diagonally over the corners at about 3mm to 3/16 of an inch from the corner. That seems to leave enough paper to tuck in without having excess that causes more friction and tearing. I think that’s the biggest problem with this—paper doesn’t always stand up to the friction of the press in step “A”. The mylar can help, but only if the paper is thin enough.

I tried this when I first got it, but nothing but the compressed air ever came out. I tried clearing the nozzle as instructed but nothing ever came out but air. I didn't have time to mess withit, so I set it aside to try again later. Still no luck, though. Can't figure out what's wrong.

I own the original Take a Bough set and debated a long time about getting this set. This set seems easier and faster to put together. It still takes a bit of time, but given the end result, it’s so worth it. I used the Tim Holtz starburst embossing folder and die combo as a topper abs it’s perfect.

I also got the accessory set with the bead garland die. I haven’t used the ornaments it star, but the garland is really handy to have.

I don’t normally buy this style of stamp, but I’m so glad I did. The flowers have beautiful details and are easy to color with Copics. I also used these with a masking technique with label dies from Elle’s Studio and Stamp Market, and the engraving detail looks great on the labels (see Frugal Crafter YouTube video on DIY vintage label stickers).

I like the insert that holds the bottles in place. I’m storing my Memento and Stampin Up reinkers in these and they don’t jostle around at all. The inset is in the shallow “lid” part so you can store bottles upside down if you want, but I like that when I open it, I can see all the bottles and their labels more easily than in they were in the deeper part.

Very pleased with these.

I cut these from foil cardstock and the results are like the embossed foil stickers you can buy. I wasn’t sure about the deer but he looks good!

I cut these from foil cardstock and the results are like the embossed foil stickers you can buy. I’m especially pleased with the house, butterfly, and leaf branch with veins.

Die works well. I cut using the magic mat and spellbinders metal shim. Looks great.

I made several buttons in different sizes with different types of paper.

Best paper: My best pieces came from the coated cover of a DCWV paper stack and Dress My Craft 6x6 paper pad which also has a satin coating. I also liked the matte finish of some sentiments I cut from some Prima 3x4 journaling cards. I was also surprised that some 80lb Neenah cardstock wrapped around the button fine.

Worst paper: Where I had problem was with images from magazines and then some deli paper that I’d lightly printed on with acrylic paint and a gel press. When i tried to press the back on, the metal edge of the button cut through the paper. The magazine and deli paper paper just wasn’t sturdy enough. It did work ok with deli paper id printed with several layers of acrylic paint.

Different sizes: For medium and small buttons, you just have to apply firm pressure to press on the back. Nothing excessive. It does take more effort to press the back on to the large button.

The only downside is the need to turn and press the die 4-5 times to get the image cut out of the paper. The press doesn’t apply even enough pressure to get a clean cut in one press. It’s not a big deal if you’re just doing a few. If you’re doing large batches, you might want to use your digital cutting machine.

Glad I got it.

This out-performed the Sizzix precision base plate *IF* I also used the metal shim I have from spellbinders. I tested it using several of the Paper Rose floral dies like Ella’s Garden, Baby Blue Medium Outline, and Simple Leaf Duo. I also tried the Pinkfresh Leafy Branch. I like than many of the pieces cling to the magic mat when I picked the paper up. It just helps separate the pieces.

It also performed well without the shim, but I’d say it was just comparable to the precision base plate for intricate dies. I cut out several intricate dies at once and didn’t get full cuts in some places the first time, probably due to uneven pressure from my machine across a large area. The metal shim solved that completely, though. Several intricate dies at once and no problem. The more I use it with just one or two dies at a time, with the shim, the more I love it.

I’ll probably still reach for my precision base plate, too, but I’m glad I got this mat as another option for intricate dies.

I'm impressed. I watched several videos reviewing this to make sure it could fit my stuff the way I wanted. I thought I had it estimated pretty well, but it fit even more than I expected.

You have to offset shelves to fit things; so, for example, I've got 4 shelves for distress sprays, but they're on opposite sides of the tower.

And the tool holder on top could be a bit deeper--the long items flop a bit. My pen nib holder and some brush pens are kind of wonky in there. But the fuller you have them, the less the items flop.

I’m very pleased overall. It's made a big difference on my desk.

Here's what I have in mine:
- 23 distress stain and oxide sprays
- 12 Liquitex acrylic ink bottles
- 12 Bombay India ink bottles
- 1 Amsterdam acrylic ink bottle
- 1 large jar of black India ink
- 1 small jar white deleter ink
- Small tin of pen nibs
- 10 Marabu alcohol ink bottles
- 3 Brea Reese alcohol ink bottles
- 3 alcohol ink blender solution bottles
- 1 alcohol ink lift pad
- tools on top: washi tape roll, cutting knives, rotary cutter (barely fits), pick tool, pick-me-up tool, bone folder, tweezers, pen nib holder, pencil sharpener, various erasers, various pens and pencils, and small bottle of glue.

And I’m happy to report the bearings in the base support all this liquid and the tools. It’s very stable and easy to turn.

I bought this a long time ago, before I started doing gel press and using deli paper with that. I ran across the collage paper in my stash and decided to try it. The Dixie food wrap I get at Sam’s is slightly better about disappearing when applied. Not by much, but enough that I’ll definitely stick with it, as it’s less expensive. The roll is convenient, though.

I also get much better results with clear matte gesso than I do with satin modge podge. For both types of paper.

I use these with stencils, and the foam is holding up really well. I also like that I get a softer blend because these have a rounded edge. They seem well made.

I did not expect to love this as much as I do. I have a pretty great system in place to organize my dies at home, but I needed something to help keep things secure when traveling. This thing is perfect. The pockets accommodate the 5.5 inch x 7 3/8 inch Avery Elle sleeves, so I don't even have to take the magnetic sheets out of what I store them in every day. The new, slimmer Stampin Up plastic die pockets fit in them, too. When traveling, I think it'll be much better to flip through my dies this way to find what I need.

Overall it doesn't take up that much more space than just the stack of dies in their sleeves would, and the extra space lost due to the binder and space for the zipper are well worth it to make sure everything stays secure.

I got this to replace a basket the wasn’t hefty enough to hold a bunch of dies on 5x7 magnetic sheets. It works really well, even with the lid tucked on the bottom.

I had to work a bit to snap the lid on the top, but it wasn’t bad and it’s fairly secure that way. But that’s not how I’ll be using them so I’m happy stowing the lid on the bottom, where it snaps nicely and even reinforces the bottom a bit.

I had hoped the large interior pocket would be a bit wider. I absolutely love that it divides into two sections (top and bottom) but from front to back that pocket is only 4 to 4.5 Inches. I had hoped I could get a 6x6x7 box of dies in there. I can cram it, but it squished the large pockets where you can put 12x12 paper. Just another inch or so probably would’ve made the difference.

Overall I’m still glad I got it. I can still make it Into a good travel kit.

These tins are nicer than the packaging I was storing my gel presses in, and they’re easier to open. I can store my gel presses vertically and they look great on the shelf.

I use these tools with acrylic matte medium, which is rather thick. The spatulas spread a nice even coat over deli paper that I’ve printed with a gel press. It works much, much better than a paint brush. Great results every time.

The lids fit on more tightly than expected, and the stacking fit is also tighter than expected. As others have said, you can’t just pick up a stack willy-nilly and expect it to stay together, but I’m surprised at how stable they are just sitting on the desk. It’s not rickety at all. Very pleased.

Note: Avery Elle reinkers are the only bottles so far that don’t fit this. I may get the 1 oz for Nuvo Drops and see if they fit in that size.

Also, they come in nice reuseable boxes of thin cereal-box-like chipboard. Plain white. And thin bubble wrap that could be used on dimensional/heavily embellished cards in the mail.

This is one of the most versatile, beautiful sets I’ve bought, and considering how many great products there are available, that’s saying a lot. If you like plaid or fabric textures in general, you *must* get this.

I used both the Misti and the Stamparatus with these with beautiful results. The design is a little forgiving, too. Even though you can get precise results with a stamping tool, being a little off doesn’t diminish the look. Wonderful, wonderful set.

I feel like I have my own embellishment factory with these cut and emboss folders. I can’t wait to see more in different styles.

This one will be great for Christmas cards and ornaments.

This makes a beautiful embellishment. I watched Tim Holtz use these in a video and learned spritzing your paper with water and then running the folder through a few times was key to getting the full depth of the emboss. I’ll be using these as envelope seals and as parts of rosette ornaments.

I’m very pleased with the ability to make different colored backgrounds with this. I love patterned paper and now it’s like i can make my own. It’s good for many seasons, too

I decided it looked like branches scattered on the forest floor and paired it with a fox.

I highly recommend using the precision base plate if you use this adhesive with intricate dies. I didn’t do that the first time and the little bits stuck all over the place and the delicate die cut sometimes got misshapen from me trying to pull it off the backing and away from the card stock. It’s just that gooey and sticky. Which is great once you know how to deal with it.

I used the Neat and Tangled oak leaf and the Concord and 9th double cut alphabet to cut Neenah 80lb cover. With the precision base plate, I was able to cut all the way through the backing sheet, and this eliminated the stickiness problem I initially had.

Once I got the hang of using it I liked it a lot. The half price sale is a great way to stock up. Glad i did.