Review on The Works Make and Create Mini Die Cutting Machine - UPDATED

Hello crafty peeps and welcome to my crafty nook! I hope you've all had a good week and if you haven't *huge hug better* and just think it's nearly the weekend!! This review is a little bit later than planned because I've been waiting for Customer Care from The Works to get back to me - it's now nearly 10 days since I emailed them but they've not responded so I shall review the machine accordingly.

SOME INFO AND A HOW TO USE GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS

The Make & Create Mini Die cutting machine is available at The Works priced at £30 and because it's over £20 you get free delivery plus 450 rewards together points if you've registered your card and remember to log into your account before buying! https://www.theworks.co.uk/p/craft-essentials/mini-die-cutting-machine/5052089215177?cm_mmc=GooglePPC&gclid=CjwKEAjw6ZLOBRCLyNXAwfCPmlQSJADHPIJb9-wLEhIKkwFaIKJwXtf9NvZnCACrNlh26rUr-1933hoCqTnw_wcB please click the link if you are interested in purchasing the machine though I'd wait until the end of the review before buying if I was you! For £30 you get the machine and one set of plates but no dies or extras. There is no assembly required (unlike the Big Shot for example which requires it's handle being screwed on before first use) and it doesn't really have any instructions apart from three photos on the packaging but it's extremely easy to use so doesn't really need any. Once the machine is removed from the box it looks like the first photo below. To use it you just need to pull each side down where the carrying handle is to form the platform, the handle can be used either side, just turn the machine so the handle is on your desired side (I'm actually left handed but use the machine with the handle on the right).

The mini machine with the cutting area folded for storage

When the platform is in the correct position, it looks like the photo below.

Once open, the machine is around 30cm or so long

Now all you need to do is add one cutting plate to the platform, then add your card and die to it facing down. Add the second plate so it covers the first and crank the handle - make sure the cutting plates are in far enough or the rollers can't grab them and move them through the machine. Crank the handle until the die has gone completely through the machine, it's quite common to hear a cracking noise - don't panic it's just the metal die crunching into the cutting plate. WARNING IF YOU HAVE ANY RESISTANCE DO NOT TRY TO FORCE YOUR PLATES THROUGH BECAUSE THIS MAY DAMAGE YOUR MACHINE. Your die should have cut it's way through the card but if it hasn't just run it through again and if necessary add a small piece of copy paper over the parts that haven't cut through to act as a shim. Remove the cutting plates from the machine and use a pokey tool or a pin to push the die cut out of the die. I would recommend using one plate to cut into and leave the other pristine so that it doesn't mark your card stock as you die cut. As you cut your dies it also cuts into your cutting plate leaving an impression and sometimes thin slivers of card embedded into your cutting plate and after time the plate will warp and bend, this will make your machine less effective. The life of your cutting plates can be extended if you flip them over for each use and as stated earlier if you keep one exclusively for cutting. You might also run the plate you use to cut into under a hot tap and scrub it with an old toothbrush to dislodge the card slivers from time to time but that's not a necessity. The cut marks will emboss onto any card run through the machine which is the main reason I suggest keeping the top plate pristine because it is frustrating to spend the time die cutting a shape only for it to be ruined by having marks embossed into it.

MY REVIEW

This is actually a great machine with a generous cutting area of 3" wide by 6", it compares favourably with other machines and in fact is superior to the Diamond Press machine that's available from Crafter's Companion. I bought it to replace my much loved and now sadly kaput Sizzix Sidekick and it's the perfect size to go on my very cluttered desk to cut mini (and not really that mini) thin dies. I've only tried unbranded dies in it so far and for the most part they've cut beautifully - for those that haven't I've just added a small piece of paper and run it through again and that's usually solved the problem. One thing I did notice is if you don't line the plates up perfectly before running them through the machine, it can result in one of the sides of the machine (the one opposite to the handle) popping out slightly but once your plates have run through it pops right back into place if you push on it. I'll add a couple of photos beneath the review to show what it looks like popped out and closed. I think this is an actual design feature which is brilliant because I will admit to having damaged my plates in the past by not lining them up correctly. These extra few millimetres means your plates run through without damaged themselves or the machine.

The machine is very sturdy and feels well made - if you read the reviews on The Works website (see above for the link), a few people mention the fact that the Tattered Lace mini machine "The Baby Blue" feels a lot flimsier compared to this machine (which is priced anywhere from £30 up to £50). I've not used the TT machine so I can't really comment, but I do prefer a die cutting machine that has a solid platform base like the Make & Create machine rather than a machine without a platform like the Baby Blue or the Diamond Press machines. Once you factor in the plates that most machines use (the Diamond Press has flimsy folders that I hate!) the Make and Create machine doesn't actually take up that much more room than a non platform machine but feels a lot sturdier and doesn't require suction to hold it down (none of the three machines that use suction that I personally own actually stick to my desk which is very frustrating!) and once it's closed the machine is probably a little smaller than the Baby Blue.

As much as I love this machine it does have a major flaw - it's cutting plates. As you'll be aware either by reading the how to use instructions above or through experience, cutting plates warp and crack after repeated use. That normally wouldn't be a problem but The Works doesn't sell replacement plates and though I've emailed the customer care team to find out where replacement plates can be purchased, I've not been able to find out where to purchase them from (customer care haven't bothered to get back to me and it's been nearly ten days since I emailed them!) I've had my machine less than two weeks and because I do a lot of die cutting, my bottom plate is already badly etched - far too scratched to return to The Works as I'm rather inclined to do due to the fact that once the plates are too warped to use I'm going to be left with a useless machine (at the rate I'm die cutting that could be in 6 months time!) and I can't afford to fork out another £30 a few months down the line just so I can die cut at my desk. If replacement plate were readily available I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this machine for both beginners and the more experienced crafter but as things stand in all conscience I can't.

This happens if the cutting plates aren't aligned properly

But it clicks back into place if you push on the side

I hope you've found my review useful, if the cutting plate become available then I will update this blog with the relevant information. All products have been purchased by me personally and I have not been paid to write this review (as you can probably tell, though even if I had my review would remain the same). I hope you've enjoyed the review and it's been useful. If you have and would like more reviews (I am on a very limited budget so I can't buy considered purchases such as this very often) please let me know in the comments section or via the comments form in the sidebar. I hope you all have a brilliant weekend and until next time - keep crafting!

Love and crafty hugs,

Sarah

*UPDATED INFORMATION*

Not sure how long it's going to be at this amazing price but the mini diecutting machine is only £20 and you'll still get free shipping!!! Here's the link https://www.theworks.co.uk/p/craft-essentials/mini-die-cutting-machine/5052089215177 - they have also included a link to replacement plates from Amazon which I've subsequently bought and they work with the machine. Enjoy!