Big Shot vs the Silhouette SD

Firstly, thank you Rebecca W for your excellent question.

I have a Big Shot and a Silhouette SD. And I love them both!

I bought my Big Shot through Stampin' Up! when they first brought the Big Shot to Australia, I'd been using a Cuttlebug for a couple of years but wanted something that cut everything. SU! are probably one of the best places to purchase your machine as you get the 'try-before-you-buy' option, and if your demonstrator is awesome they should be just a phone call or email away if you have any questions while you're still on your L-plates.

Big Shot purchase and essential ongoing costs:
Around $150 to your door (correct me if I'm wrong?) for the machine and 'sandwich' plates. From there you'll need to buy the dies or embossing folders you want and you're ready to go - dies can range from $10 a set to upwards of $40 so... pick carefully. They last forever, and like a new car, lose half their value if you want to re-sell. And you will probably want more than one set of dies. So it adds up quickly.

One of the great things about it is you can take the Big Shot to crops - you don't need a computer and cables to operate it like you do with the Silhouette SD. Then again, you can always prepare for your crop ahead of time with either machine, right?

You can also cut just about anything with the 'Bigz' dies - chipboard, cork, cardstock, tin, felt, material, you get the idea. But you also need to understand what dies can cut through which materials - a little research goes a long way.

A big plus to getting a Big Shot as your die-cutting machine is you can use any brand of die (to my knowledge) with the machine with basic cardstock.  SU! (Australia) haven't followed through with all the wonderful die options you can get for the Big Shot - unless you are content with buttons, trees, leaves, birds and butterflies.  The good news is, is that there are plenty of places on the web that let you shop in your pj's for that wonderful die to finish your layout, card or make your own embellishments.

You'll find me wandering the virtual isles of these shops for awesome dies that are compatible with my Big Shot - and I don't buy a die unless I know I will use it to death on both my cards and scrapbooking.  Here's some great stores I couldn't craft without:

• Papertrey Ink (they have stamps to match their dies too, and gorgeous, subtle impression plates)
• Nestabilities (lots of retailers all over Australia, not many have a fantastic one-stop range)
• My Favorite Things Die-Namics (postage from America is just as quick as the average postage service within Australia - and the exchange rate at the moment is awesome!)

The Big Shot also cuts differently to the Silhouette. And this is pedantic little me talking here, but you get this very (very) subtle curve to your cut image - if that makes sense? Check out how the clouds are 'curved' and the date tag is 'cut'. Minor detail to some...







When I make an investment as big as this it usually comes down to money, and what I intend to use 'the machine of choice' for?

Could you use it for almost EVERYTHING you create? Is it for layouts and cards, or do you want to eventually branch out to headbands, rhinestone patterns on t-shirts and wall decor? Are you prepared to invest more into the accessories after the initial big purchase? Or do you just want a few things here and there (a good border die, a  couple of flower sets?). There's a lot to consider and prepare for. And with both machines, there's a lot more to purchase after the machine.

You can get a Silhouette SD (or the new 'Cameo') and accessories from Scrapbook Boutique but if you're a big fan of bad customer service I would also recommend Skat Katz. Now that the Cameo is out and about you might be able to pick up the Silhouette SD cheaper on ebay or in your local paper.

Silhouette SD purchase and essential ongoing costs:
$350 to your door (on average) plus 'essentials' like at least one green mat for cutting your average cardstock (comes with one white mat, for what I like to call 'printer paper').

• You do need to regularly replace your Silhouette blade if you give your machine a half-decent workout, which will set you back about $24.95 every 4-6 months. *Silhouette has a new design of blade out for all their machines - there's a really good discussion on it here at twopeasinabucket.com for the Silhouette users out there.
• The green 'sticky' mats that you stick your medium to - $40 for 2 mats (2-3 months per mat, if used and cared for properly)
• Subscription to the Silhouette store ($30 per month, 150 images of your choice to download FREE each month), or 99c per image.

Optional Silhouette items you can purchase:
Vinyl, totes, fabric interfacing, fabric ink, rhinestone kit, pens, cardstock, etching cream, additional software if you want to start making YOUR OWN designs all available from the Silhouette America store - the sky is the limit in purchasing extras, same as with the Big Shot.

SD Overall Verdict: You need one of these if you plan to embellish everything in your sight from glass, to walls, to your crafts to your kids upper arm (it makes temporary tattoo's too!).

The Silhouette is a very clever little machine for those of us that can get into the guts of the Silhouette SD software (it's easy!), those of us with a little time to spare, or those of us with a good imagination.
And for 99c a pattern, you'll soon have more images than you will ever use if you opt for the subscription. Worth it's weight.

And to prove my point, look at what these clever people did...







CUTTING MATERIAL
Picture Source: The Silhouette Blog 

CUTTING VINYL
Picture Source: Making It Lovely

(Great review there too!)

CUTTING CARDSTOCK
Picture Source: baking = love


CUTTING VINYL 
 Picture Source: Little Birdie Secrets

ETCHING GLASS

Picture Source: Portfoli

TEMPORARY TATTOO

Picture Source: Room To Inspire

Big Shot Overall Verdict: You need one of these if you are going to stick with cards and/or layouts and the occasional off-the-page project.  While the machine cost is smaller than the SD outlay, you will pay big bucks for your (eventual) collection of dies, accessories and replacement parts (the clear plates are the only bits you need to replace - mine have lasted 2 years so far!), and the dies will last forever if you look after them right.





Picture Source: Stamping with Donna


Picture Source: Stamping with Donna 

Overall verdict? It's up to you. Flip a coin for your purchase, then ask Santa for the other one. :)

Have a goodie,