Cricut vs. Wafer Dies

The battle is on to figure out which is better, purchasing a Cricut machine or wafer dies. ​

In all honesty it really does depend on personal preference.  The one thing that I can say is that there are many, many pros and cons for each and based on those you can make a choice.  Lets begin...

In the Pink corner we have Circuit...

Pros

• One machine makes several different cuts and shapes.
• There are a lot of images available for Cricut
• You can make your own images and import them or make them in the designing application.
• You can cut out fonts available through Cricut or on your PC/Laptop.
• It can cut through an array of materials.
• Can be used to make Cards, Home Decorations, Party decorations, Scrapbook Pages, T-shirts, Mugs, Patterns, Writing, Printing then cutting, 
• There is a web-based design room that allows you to create and save your ideas.
• There are digital files of cartridge sets so no more storing bulky boxes.
• Can make a large quantity of cutouts in one pass.
• Has a large cutting area (12x12 or 12x24)

Cons

• The machine is bulky.
• It does not always cut fine details very well.
• You have to purchase cutting mats often.
• You have to purchase or pay a monthly fee for cutting items.
• You have to purchase cutting blades every so often.
• Fine details on certain materials does not always  work out so well.
• Cutting machines do not perforate very well.
• Cutting machines are expensive.
• Does not Emboss.

In the Purple corner we have Wafer Dies...

Pros

Cons

• Fine details are easily cut with no tugging or ruining of the project.
• Die cutting machine is smaller.
• They are perfect for cutting out stamped images. 
• For Stitched detailing this is very good because it actually perforates very well.
• The dies press costs less than the cutting machine.
• Allows for use of embossing elements.
• There are some creative dies out there. 

• Dies are costly.
• You have to have storage for all the dies.
• Many dies can get lost due to the small size.
• You are limited to whats available. 
• You can't make large quantity of cut outs.  
• You are limited to size depending on your press (usually 6" wide).
• Only good for cutting paper, fabrics, foams and possibly vinyl.
• Is not time efficient.
• Manually operated (although there is a new mechanical one).
• You have to tape down you dies or they can move if you are cutting out a stamp.

Putting together this list, I think that each has it use.  If you are the type of person to craft occasionally, then I suggest just getting  wafer dies.  If you are the type of person that likes to craft very often and have use of quantity, the the machine is for you.

If you are like me, then you have both because I like having all sorts of options available and possibly just have a crafting addiction which causes you to spend on every new tool that comes out to the market.   (Yeah I know!  I'm not alone in this though!)

Maybe I should start a support group for crafting addicts.  How do you think that would go?  The guilt of buying just one more stamp set to add to the boxes and boxes of items.  Maybe even the fact that you hide them from your significant other...  That's a story for another time though... LOL!!!!

Thanks for reading.