Cuttlekids Machine by Provo Craft contents. Click for larger view.
I am about to give is my personal opinion. If you have a question or need more specific information you may want to contact the creators here: Provo Craft
So I guess the main question is “Is it really kid friendly?” and ” Is it really JUST for kids?”
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SO I got my daughter Alexa the Cuttlekids machine and several dies for her 8th birthday.The dies I purchased were-Fairy and Tadpole alphabet, Flowers, and Flying bugs 4 set of dies. As you can see by the photo, it comes with everything you need to get started-including 2 die cuts.
I did NOT see a recommended age for this machine, but figured 8 would be appropriate. And in all honesty-I HAD TO HAVE IT, for me too! LOL! All three of my children have used this machine- ages Alexa 8, Noah 4 1/2 and Amber just turned 3. So here is my opinion based on watching my children use it-as well as several un-craft related adults.
First the Pro’s
This machine is really cute. Its lightweight, and the base is really sturdy. My 3 year old can pick it up NO PROBLEM! Easy to store.
It has little suction cups on the bottom to help it STICK to the surface! TRUST ME you will need them! And they really do stick well. Dont let them try it on the carpet like I did! I will rock side to side as they try to feed the dies through.
It measures 6 inches across, and 4 1/2 inches high.
It doesn’t have the fold out panels like the Cuttlebug does-which for kids is great! Nothing to break OFF! Has the feed opening and thats it! Pretty straight forward.
Its affordable-in my opinion, for a die cut machine-even if its listed for kids. It lists for $32 retail. Cuttlebug machine lists for $69.99. Both a great value.Its cuts very well. An adult could use this for their own machine. I know I am trying to not sneak it down to my craft room, cause they will NEVER see it again! LOL! Plus you can most likely get it with a coupon!The dies are also affordable. Compared to the cost of regular machine dies-primarily the alphabet sets, the dies are reasonably priced-see comparison below:
Cuttlekids price is to the LEFT / Cuttlebug price is to the RIGHT * 4 pack dies $10.50/ 2×2 4 pack in Cuttlebug $15.99
*Alphabets/numbers from $18 to $50 (large set ONE letter per square)/ Cuttlebug alaphabets $79.99
* 2 Step Dies-really cute assortments for only $5.50 / they are $6.50 for Cuttlebug 2 step
The dies are the same size, as far as the finished image, as the regular dies you would purchase. So they are a great deal.
I assumed the dies for the kids machine would be chincy and the finished die cut would be tiny. NOPE-great size! No tiny shapes here.
Another PRO-you can use the Cuttlekids dies in the Cuttlebug! WAHOOOO!!!!
***But you may need this little Sizzix Sidekick adapter biscut to give the right thickness for a crisp clean die cut in the Cuttlebug depending on what you use for cardstock/patterned paper. ***
Another PRO- after a few times demonstrating the SANDWICH needed to use the machine, even my 3 year old was able to do it-independently!
CONS
This is the description for Cuttlekids- copy/pasted from their website —————————————————————————————————-
*Meet the Cuttlekids™ Shape Maker, a fun way for parents to help get kids excited about crafting!
This colorful mini die cutter easily cuts adorable Cuttlekids dies in seconds, providing fun paper and craft foam shapes and letters to make toys, gifts, and decorations. School lockers, bedroom doors, and birthday invitations – just to name a few – will never be the same!
Check out this exciting new line, you’ll see there’s so much you can do with Cuttlekids*
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The MAJOR thing I found to be difficult was the fact that my children had a hard time getting the handle to turn, as the die cut/cardstock passed through the center. They often got frustrated and needed me to jump in and help.
Unlike the advertisment states “This colorful mini die cutter easily cuts ”
Well , it does cut NICELY, but not EASILY. Even ‘I” had a hard time cranking it through the machine at times. I had some other adults at Alexa’s party try it, and while it was a hit, that was the big complaint. And we are talking a SINGLE layer of cardstock.
You cannot use your Cuttlebug dies/embossing folders in the CuttleKids machine! The Cuttlekids opening is sized ONLY for the Cuttlekids dies.
Cuttlekids dies are made with like a sturdy thin cardboard top. The foam layer also appears thinner than the cuttlebug dies. The Cuttlebug one’s are made with a metal top, and thicker layer of foam, simply would not fit.
Another CON-and not a biggie-but there are NO embossing floders for the kids to use! That is a bummer. Especially with all the Disney stuff coming out soon. I know I dont want my kids thouching MY Cuttlebug.
SOOOO-Overall I would totally recommend this product. I actually LOVE the dies, and think the alphabets are a phenomenal value, as they are quite similar to the larger/more expensive ones offered for the Cuttlebug. And since I can use the Cuttlekids in my Cuttlebug that ROCKS!!!
I also think if you are just getting into papercrafting and are working on building your supplies-this would be a great starting place.
I found it to be a great tool to help kids make their own paper crafted creations! Its also safe, and there is nothing visibly potentially harmful. I even crammed my own fingers in there and CRANKED the handle! No problems-no squeezing or squishing motions.
Another PRO-kids can crank through (even if its hard to-LOL) paper without supervision, and worry of them coloring themselves in ink!
My children had a great sense of accomplishment after cranking though some images. A great activity.
They got use to the difficulty they often faced trying to crank through cardstock, and found patterned paper and old scrap wrapping paper to work much easier for them! So that would be my fix for the con of cranking through cardstock!
So now I would love to hear YOUR opinion, or any questions you may have that I hope to be able to answer!
46 Responses for "Product Review-Cuttlekids Machine"
Yah! Thanks for the info Lauren! I haven’t seen it here in Canada yet. I’ll be on the lookout. I know it won’t be THAT cheap here though. My Cuttlebug cost me 110 bucks from Michaels!! If it is that light maybe I should wait til our holidays and buy it in the States?! That might be an option….hmmmmm
Thanks for doing the review! It’s always nice to hear some info before purchasing something like this! Fantastic!
Very cool. My twins are still young but that’s something to keep in mind. Did you ever write up any reviews for the ‘real’ cuttlebug? The only “die cut” machine I have is Sizzix Sidekick and I hardly use it.
Maria
Hey Lauren! I used the Cuttlekids at CHA and also noticed that it was a bit hard to crank but I do remember we were using scrapping paper, not cardstock so I’m sure it’s pretty difficult with cardstock. I think I remember them saying at CHA that to use the dies with the regular cuttlebug you had to use a different plate. I can’t remember which one at the moment but I’m guessing it was the thicker one. And they’re also coming out with storage for the dies for it and the regular cuttlebug. Not sure if they’ve come out yet but they should be soon.
~Melissa
Yes you need your thicker plates like the combination they give you for use with the Sizzlets by Sizzix-but also the biscut I have mentioned above helps ALOT!
Dawn-you may wnat to order from ATS-they have it in stock!!
Lauren – thanks SO much for the review! I’ve been eyeing this, but haven’t gone ahead and purchased it…it may be coming from Santa this year, we’ll see. I’m really attraced to the the more inexpensive alphas, THAT’s for sure!
Thanks for the review… I have a couple of the 2-step CuttleKids dies and have been using them in my old-school Sizzix (with a couple of those adapter thingies), and found it frustrating when using SU cardstock… that stuff is just too thick for these skinny dies. When I tried it with just paper, it worked like a dream… maybe paper would work better in the CuttleKids machine too?
Great info – too bad I didn’t have someone to buy the cuttlekid for! Glad to know their dies work in the big people bug.
Awesome review, thank you. I just got some and haven’t taken it out of the box yet to try. On my to do list today. Thanks again!
Thanks a lot for the review Lauren!! 🙂
My daughter would probably love this, but after reading your pros and cons I’m actually considering more getting the grown-up version for myself (meaning getting someone to buy it for me for the holidays….:-)) and using it with Naomi (she’s 6 1/2).
I honestly don’t think I “need” a die-cut machine, but I am really interested in the embossing folders (I have some Fiskars plates but this just takes forever!!) and since you said the kids version doesn’t emboss I feel like it would be a loss of money, even though I admit the price is quite attractive.
But since you said you can use the kids plates in the adult machine…. 🙂
It’s great to hear what someone who used it and knows what she’s talking about thinks!! 🙂
Glad I read your info before I bought. I have a Sizzix and also the Sidekick and I am wondering what to buy so that I can do more embossing. I see there is a Big Shot by Sizzix or the Cuttlebug machine. It would be nice to have one that you could use dies and embossing dies from either company in the one you get. I have dies from both companies cause I liked them so well but now I have to pick a machine.
Can anyone recommend. Thanks.
I bought the Cuttlekid machine for my daughter’s 8th birthday as well along with the Fairy alphabet, the girly girl dies and the flower dies. She absolutely loves it. She made a card for a birthday party the next day for a friend by cutting all the letters and accessories herself. My daughter has been scrapbooking with me for the last two years and for her to have her own die cutting machine and dies is something she absolutely loves. My 9-year-old son said he wanted one of his own and I just might get him one because they are so inexpensive and there are so many dies that boys would like. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a die cutting machine for their kids.
Sandy,
I have a Cuttlebug that my husband bought me for our anniversary and I love it. I had the original Sizzix but it would not cut the Bigz dies that I purchased after I received them. I was so disappointed. The cost of the Cuttlebug is much less than a Big Shot, and he got mine at Hobby Lobby with their 40% coupon and it cost only about $50.00. It cuts the Sizzix original and Sizzlits dies better than my original Sizzix machine as well. There are instructions inside the box showing you which pads to use with the steel frame dies from Sizzix and everything is included in the box that you need. It is a great deal I think. I have never had a Big Shot but after checking the costs I went with the Cuttlebug and have not been disappointed at all.
Can anyone share the exact ‘sandwich recipe’ for using CuttleKid dies with the Cuttlebug machine. Does anyone know if you use the large Spacer plate A, then one B plate and a C plate (for that little added thickness ?
[…] you, don’t know anyone who has tried or bought the thing. Here is a nice review I found online: Cuttlekids Hope this helps you out a little __________________ [PassPorter Co-Guide for the Planning Your […]
I just bought the Cuttlekids for my 8 year old daughter. The sales person at Michael’s told me that you can use the smaller Cuttlebug die’s on the Cuttlekids. Does anyone know if this is true?
Thanks!
My boyfriend bought me the Ellison Big Shot machine after I drooled over the original Sizzix machine for several years. I absolutely love it!! You can use any brand of die in it, it cuts beautifully and it is so easy to use. Plus the Ellison/Sizzix website has regular sales where you pick up the machines and dies very very cheap – I just bought the tag-a-long machine (same thing as the sidekick) for less than £9/$18. However, I am very interested in buying the Cuttlekids machine for my little girl (aged 4) who is itching for a go on my Big Shot! I do like the designs you can get for the cuttlebug/cuttlekids although I prefer the quality of the Sizzix!
Just thought I’d give my opinion!
I also purchased a cuttlekid recently because Joannes had them marked down to $8.00. I also bought an extra set of cuttlekid plates and found out the cutlekid can use cuttlebug and sizzlet dies. Two plates that come with the cuttlekid — one thick and one thin so to use the other dies simply use 2 of the thinner plates and no problem
I am new to card making and I love it!! I bought a cuttle kid for my self at wall mart for twenty dollars.. I am just begining and oh oh I love this little thing!!! I am making truly sweet things. I use to do so many crafts.. now this has my heart.. bookmarks for the Library and sets of note cards for the nursing home nurses this year!!
You can also use the plates for the sidekick in the cuttlekid Using the sidekick plates you can use you sizzlets If you use your cuttlekid deis with the sizzlet plates you need an adapter dies. Also you can use the small cuttlbug embossinfolder with the sidekick plates and the cuttlekid machine
I just picked up one of these for my 6 year-old at Wal-Mart. When she spotted it, she just had to use her birthday money on it.
So far she loves it. She’s been cutting all night. We were only able to get three sets of dies (dinos, girly girl, and Emily the cat), but we’re looking to buy more.
If you are interested in purchasing one, I’d check at your Wal-Marts right now. I just found one for FIVE dollars and the dies that were sold seperatly for only ONE dollar. As I was doing a road trip I saw them on clearance in at least three different states. Just a hint. I haven’t tried it out yet, but seeing how I only spent $9 on the machine and dies, I’m already a happy camper. Good luck ladies!
I just bought this machine for my 9 year old (and also myself) on clearance at Wal-Mart for $15. The 2 part dies were $1.50 and the 4 sets were $3. I bought one of each design that they had left. I had my dad check a Wal-Mart in a town about 3 hours away for more dies, and they aren’t clearanced there at all, but it is worth a try to check it out if you are in the market for this. I have only tested this once on regular paper, but it looks like a great product!
Like a few of the others I found the cuttlekids at our local walmart for $7.50. Unfortunately there is no rhyme nor reason to how walmart discounts their stuff. Maybe it’s an individual store manager option as to what is not selling. the four pack dies were $3. but they were all duplicates so i just bought one of those. these are for my granddaughter for a Christmas present and i will be on the lookout for other dies on sale to make it a really useful gift. My granddaughter is 11 and i think she’s going to love it as much as i love my BigShot.
Hi, I was directed to this post as I asked a question about using other dies in the Cuttlekids, and I have just bought one from Ebay for my niece for Christmas but I didn’t want to spend the same again on dies and I have so many I don’t really use.
I think it is interesting that one of your commenters said that you can use Sizzlets and the small embossing folders with the Sidekick plates, and they are not expensive to get. I hope I can try it out before I wrap it to make sure.
I also have a lot of Cuttlebug die sets I bought really cheap from Ebay which came from the USA, you could get them with less postage over there. (I think I paid $54 for 12 sets of 2×2, and $12 postage).
Oh, I forgot to say thanks for posting the review!
Thanks for the info. I bought a cuttlekids today. Its was on sale for $15.00. I was hoping to use the cuttle bug dies with the kid’s cuttlebug. But I guess I can’t. Thanks for letting me know.
I thought it would be fun for my 4 year dd and I to make stuff. So if I read your story right….. the dies that go in the kid’s are big or normal…. Not to small? Unless you are making a small one?
I plan to use fabric and felt to make some hair clips and barette’s. I saw were someone had done that. So I hope I can do that with hers.
Thanks again.
Cathy
Hi,
I been looking everywhere for information about using my Cuttlebug die cuts and hopefully embossing folders in the Cuttlekids I gave my 10-year-old grandson for Christmas. And found answers to both questions tonight on this website. I think the Cuttlebug is the best machine I’ve bought. Still learning how to use my Cricut Expressions Machine.
Thanks,
joan
Hi,
I been looking everywhere for information about using my Cuttlebug die cuts and hopefully embossing folders in the Cuttlekids I gave my 10-year-old grandson for Christmas. And found answers to both questions tonight on this website. I think the Cuttlebug is the best machine I’ve bought. Still learning how to use my Cricut Expressions Machine.
Thanks,
joan
Thanks for all the info, and the replies were helpful too…
So glad to find your review. I jumped out and bought a CuttleKIDS on clearance at Michael’s for $11,( and some of the dies were .99!) before I knew anything about it. I really didn’t know if any other dies would fit in the CuttleKIDs machine, and the box didn’t say “ONLY CUTTLEKIDS DIES WILL WORK.” But, let me tell you, my 7-year-old son LOVED THIS THING right off the bat and cranked away all day yesterday. We got the pirates, and flowers on sale. I will buy more dies as I find them. I will probably have to order online, since none of the craft stores locally carry the KIDS dies.
My husband ordered me the Sizzix Big Shot Express for Mother’s Day. I have been dying to have an embossing machine. It works great. I knew my son would be wanting to play with it, so I got him the CuttleKIDS machine. He likes it better because “It’s not so loud”.
Secretly, I am hoping to take his CuttleKIDS machine to some beginner card classes I am to teach soon. It will be easy to carry and not intimidate the newbies! Plus it has some TOTALLY USABLE dies for grown ups, too!
Hi everyone!
I bought the CuttleKids machine in sale at Michaels long time ago thinking on my daughter’s birthday present (B-day is today). I’m getting week by week some of the dies and embossing things 40% off but now, I realize they might not work! they are CuttleBug!
Can someone tell me if I can use them? maybe only the embossing ones will work? Which other dies can I get for the machine so I can give her a good start in the craft department?
Thank you all in advance.
Lau
I went out and bought the cuttlekids machine for myself because Ive been wanting a cuttlebug for a while and cant afford it. ***ALL OF THE 2X2 DIES FOR CUTTLEBUG WILL FIT CUTTLE KIDS…ALSO SIZZLITS SINGLES***
The embossing folders dont fit unless you get the small individual ones but even with those you have to work with it a little, they are too wide for the plates so you need to cut a semi thin peice of cardboard for it to do its job.
Hope this is helpful!
[…] okay with that. But what about the cute little dies that cut out animals, or people? I found this review about the Cuttlebug, and it sounds pretty good. Especially since the lady who did the review has a […]
[…] okay with that. But what about the cute little dies that cut out animals, or people? I found this review about the Cuttlebug, and it sounds pretty good. Especially since the lady who did the review has a […]
For the Sizzlits singles, do they have to be the small dies or can the Cuttlebug use the medium dies also?
I didn’t read all the replies so maybe someone already said this but here goes-
I bought the CuttleKids machine on clearance at WalMart for $12 a long time ago. I use the regular (adult) Cuttlebug dies and embossing plates in it. They must be 2″w or less. I have also used other brands of 2″x2″ dies and embossers. It is true that the opening is smaller on the kids machine so you cannot do it with the A & B pads set that comes with the machine. I simply bought an extra set of these pads and use (2) B’s instead of (1) A & (1) B the way they come. It works because the B’s are slightly thinner than the A’s. I have also used Sizzix cutting Sidekick cutting pads because their sets are the equivalent thickness of two Cuttlekids “B” pads. My total investment in the machine plus the extra pads was less than $20 and now I save on all the dies too because the kid dies are much cheaper. They are definitely not as durable since they are made of foam and not metal but the way crafting goes they are already obsolete anyway. Now the new machines can cut cake decorating patterns etc. My kids will outgrow this machine before they wear out all the dies anyway. We like it very well!
[…] don’t give my kids any presents | BabyCenter Apples dipped in HEAVEN : How Does She… Product Review-Cuttlekids Machine – My Time, My Creations, My Stampendence Dora the Explorer Live at Radio City Music Hall Contest and Coupon Code Discount Promotion | […]
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[…] Product Review-Cuttlekids Machine – My Time, My Creations, My … SO I got my daughter Alexa the Cuttlekids machine and several dies for her 8th birthday.The dies I purchased were-Fairy and Tadpole alphabet, Flowers, and Flying bugs 4 set of dies. As you can see by the photo, […]
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[…] Product Review-Cuttlekids Machine – My Time, My Creations, My …Oct 11, 2007 … SO I got my daughter Alexa the Cuttlekids machine and several dies for her 8th birthday.The dies I purchased were-Fairy and Tadpole alphabet … […]
Soy maestra y utilisaba mucho la maquina cricut en mi salon de clases. Mis estudiates disfrutaban muchisimo utilisarla igual y por supuesto todos los resultados probocaban sonrisas en mis estudiantes. Lamentablemente me la robaron y la perdi. Ahora espero por alguien bondadoso que pueda donar una para mis estudiantes. De lo contrario me conformaria con una de estas cuttlekids para que mis estudiantes continuen disfrutando de por lo menos continuar confeccionando sus tablones de informaciones y exhibiciones de trabajos. Chicos tranquilos ya pronto algo aparecera.
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