I designed this journal spot for a heritage layout using a Spellbinder Lacy Circles Nesting die and the Tattered Angels Time Traveler stamp set that I bought at the LSS recently. I bought them because I liked them, not because I planned to use them for a Make & Take, but they came in handy when I was trying to figure out a new project for this month.The LSS now has the Tim Holtz Vagabond die cutter for classroom use, so I had a chance to try it. The cutting process was really nice. I had brought my Cuttlebug to do the die-cutting and embossing, but since they had the Vagabond, I wanted to see how it performed. They didn't have a plate the width of my Cuttlebug C plate, which was needed to cut a Spellbinder die, but the other plates and platform were the same thickness, so I just used my C plate instead of a B plate. It cut like a dream, and it was much easier on my shoulder than cranking the handle on my Cuttlebug.
Then I tried embossing. I used the same sandwich that I normally use to emboss with the same Spellbinder die, but it seemed to be more difficult for the machine. Since I worried I might break it and didn't want to have to pay to replace the machine, I didn't try to do any more embossing with the Vagabond. Instead I used my Cuttlebug to emboss with the Spellbinder die.
I'm sure the Vagabond would do fine with the embossing folders made by Tim Holtz, but I don't think I'll try embossing Spellbinder dies again on the Vagabond unless I can find out from Tim Holtz whether or not it will hold up to that extra pressure Spellbinder dies require. It probably would, but I wasn't going to risk the store's machine.
The Vagabond is a very nice machine, but it was made to cut and emboss Tim Holtz dies and embossing folders. I'm not sure it was meant to handle all the competitors' products, too. If I can find out for certain whether or not it will do it all, I'll post an update later.
Have just bought the Vagabond machine but not sure what sandwich to use for Spellbinder dies. Did experiment with 3 Sizzix cutting mats and found this did cut card but wih a lot creaking and cracking noises and worried I would break my new machine. Any further suggestions? Thanks
ReplyDeleteI used the Cuttlebug C plate and B plate with white spacer instead of using the Vagabond plates. I just used the Cuttlebug plates in the Vagabond machine. They worked fine.
ReplyDeleteEmbossing the Spellbinder die after cutting it in the Vagabond did NOT work as well. Tim Holtz was kind enough to email me with the "correct" sandwich for embossing Spellbinder dies in the Vagabond, but it did NOT work as well as embossing in the Cuttlebug.
Kaz West UK
ReplyDeleteI brought the vagabond which worked well and it was easy to use I had it to save my shoulder but the second time I came to use it my vagabond din't work I carn't take it back even though I only had it a Month because I bough from Ebay new it said, BE WARE!!!