subject: The Xyron Wishblade Die Cutting Machine, Compared To Other Scrapbooking Die Cutters [print this page] Since Die Cutting Machines are all the rage at the moment in scrap booking, I thought I should review the Xyron Wishblade to see how it stacks up compared to some of its other popular electronic die cut machines, like the Cricut Expressions Machine and the Making Memories Slice Machine.
It is easy to see why scrap booking die cut machines are so popular at the moment. They make a scrapbookers life so easy and can produce amazing results on your scrapbook pages.
Cricuts range of die cutting machines by Provo Craft are certainly the market leaders at the moment for computerized die cutter machines. However when considering which model you would like to buy, you need to seriously look at other brands that are available, but perhaps not as well known, like the Xyron Wishblade, which has some super features.
The Cricut range of die cutting machines, like the Cricut Create, Cricut Expression and Cricut Personal are so popular due to their effective marketing, that often many people don't consider the lessor advertised brands on the market. It is a shame as many of the lesser known brands, like the Xyron, have great sets of features to offer, just as long as you are comfortable with not having the Cricut designer brand name.
The main problem people come across with Provocraft's Cricut range of electronic die cutters is the constant ongoing expense of the wide range of Cricut cartridges available. Most people would like a range of different fonts and shapes for their various scrap booking projects. The initial purchase of a Cricut machine is not to expensive, but it is the high cost of the Cricut cartridges, which can easily add up for anyone who likes just a small variety.
Most likely you will get bored with one or two Cricut cartridges of the same shapes and fonts, so you most likely would want to own around 10 cartridges. This is unfortunately out of the budget of many scrap booking enthusiasts.
If we take a look now though at the Xyron Wishblade Cutter, you will see that the upfront cost of Xyrons computerized die cut machine is slightly more than one the Cricut Die Cutting Machines. The big advantage it has though is that you can cut the shape of any of the endless supplies of free top download, true type fonts or clip art images available on the internet. All the graphics on your computer are also able to be cut out. A massive online community of Wishblade users have also congregated, to make the most of this awesome advantage, by sharing files.
If you are the type of scrapbooker who likes a wide variety of fonts and images for your scrapbook projects, however you are working on a budget like most, then the Xyron Wishblade Machine should definitely be considered. The Xyron machine has only consumables as its ongoing cost, so it makes it a very attractive computerized die cutting machine, when compared Cricut Die Cutting Machine and the ongoing costs
However when we weigh up other features of the Xyron Wishblade, it would be prudent to also point out its one downside. Unfortunately there never is one perfect machine that does everything for everyone. Although the Xyron Wishblade is fantastic and cuts the same as the Cricut range of machines, without the massive expense, it does however have one tiny disadvantage.
If you are social scrapbooker, who meets at friends houses for scrapping days or you attend scrapathons and like to share your cool scrapbooking tools with your friends... one thing you have to take into consideration is that the Xyron Wishblade compared to the Cricut Die Cutting Machines, isn't as portable. The Wishblade needs to have access to a computer, where all the graphics and fonts are stored, as they aren't stored on the machine. So if you own a laptop, then this may not be an issue. If you don't however, it will have to stay put at home.
The Cricut computerized machines though do not need to be connected to a computer to have access to all the fonts and shapes. That is why they work on cartridges which are more portable. If having a portable die cutting machine is a major concern for you, then unfortunately the Xyron Wishblade cutter may not be for you. If portability is not a concern if you own a laptop, then seriously look at buying the Xyron Wishblade if you require a die cut machine that enables variety at a great price.
