Craft Forum

I HAVE JUST PURCHASED THE X-CUT SHAPE CUTTER SET, AT THE MO IN CRAFT CENTRAL £24.99 INSTEAD OF £39. IT IS FANTASTIC, I HAVE THE FISKARS SHAPE CUTTER & LOADS OF TEMPLATES AND CANNOT GET ON WITH IT, AS YOU HAVE TO GO INSIDE THE TEMPLATE, WHETHER IT IS BECAUSE I’M LEFT HANDED,ONLY THING IS FISKARS AT THE MOMENT HAVE MORE DESIGN TEMPLATES.
 
  ANYWAY THE X-CUT GOES OVER THE RIM OF THE TEMPLATE, WITH THE GUIDE ONESIDE & THE BLADE THE OTHER SO YOU CAN’T SLIP OFF ACROSS YOUR BELOVED PAPER OR CARD, I HAVE JUST USED THE OVAL ONE & IT CUT THROUGH TWO PIECES OF QUITE THICK CARD, NO PROBLEM, UNLIKE AGAIN FISKARS, WHICH YOU HAVE TO ADJUST THE LENGTH OF THE BLADE.

  A SLIGHT NEGATIVE SIDE IS,IN THE SET THEY DIDNT ENCLOSE A CUTTING MAT, WHICH ISNT A PROBLEM FOR ME AS HAD ONE, BUT WOULD BE DISAPPOINTING IF SOMEONE WAS BOUGHT ONE AND HADNT GOT A CUTTING MAT.

  ON THE PLUS SIDE THEY HAVE RUBBER FEET ON THE BASE OF THE TEMPLATES, WHICH GRIPS REALLY REALLY FIRMLY. HOPE THIS IS OF USE TO SOMEBODY.XX

Yes it is!!! Thanks nicola.

I have had my eye on the fiskars one for a while as they sell them in tescos, but I wasn’t inspired by the templates they have on offer.

Think I’ll give that one a miss until I find something more suitable.

I’ve bought them when they came for the 1st time in last year promotion. I think they’re great and easy to use. I haven’t tried the fiskars one.

Ana

I think the Fiskars does take practice. I have had mine for a few years now.

My OH discovered by accident what I was doing wrong. Mine kept on sliding accross the paper like yours Nicola.

You have to make sure that the cutting edge (the sharp pointy bit) of the blade is pointing in the direction which you are cutting when you start, otherwise it doesnt dig into the paper properly to begin with and either tears or slides accross the page.

Ickle Pickle, you’re the first person that I’ve met that actually likes the Fiskars Shape Cutter!  Most people seem to struggle with it.  I haven’t got one so can’t really comment for myself.

Ickle pickle,
I think I must go and try your idea about the Fiskars shape cutter. I’ve got one but suffer the little oops   that makes the shapes unusable. I thought it was just me but maybe you’ve cracked it…. Or I will have to go for the X cut shape cutter as it sounds like everyone gets on much better with it
I do like the idea that you can get different shapes and in different sizes. I feel a stint of crafting coming on….................
paperkate

I have had great fun with the X cut set, if you go round the inside & the outside of the shape it gives a great frame!! Im still not sure its because Im left handed & thats why I have trouble with the Fiskars cutter.xx

I had the Fiskars one, couldn’t get on with it so sold it on!  What clinched it for me was when I watched a demo on a craft site and the demonstrator slipped the blade when cutting a complex shape - if she couldn’t do it how could normal mortals be expected to do it!  (ps I am left handed too Nicola!)

Haven’t tried the Xcut but I think I saw Michelle demoing it at the Craft Exhibition in Exeter.

I’ve got the Fiskars shape cutter and don’t use it often enough. I think it really needs a lot of practice. Often enough my circles are not 100% round, and I have to adjust them with my scissors or revert to drawing them using the template and cutting them out. And that’s not really how it should be.

It might try the X-Cut one. I’m at a docrafts demo on 2 February anyway and will then have a closer look at it. Perhaps I’m even lucky and the demonstrator will have her’s there and let me have a shot at it.

I have the fiskars one and have the same little start and finish tags. It does take practice to remember to start with the blade facing the right direction when you start, and also cutting slower is better. I have not tried the other one yet. I have used my templates for everything from card making to drawing, and making sewing projects.

I have a fiskers one and I am left handed, I get on with it great, you have to turn the blade around the other direction for left handed, I just starting to collect all the templates now, keeping a close eye on ebay for bargains lol, xx

I have the Fiskars cutter and a couple of the templates, but I rarely use it, I have no preference whether I like it or not, just not really used it enough - if you know what I mean, but I do use the templates as normal ones and just draw around the shapes on to card or paper and use a craft knife or scissors, depending on the shape, to cut it out.

I am another that just could not get the hang of the fiskars shape cutter, but I do know loads of people that love it..so I guess its down to what works for you really.
I have the X cut circle cutter and really get on well with it. I have to say though, that with any cutting whether its with shape cutters or a craft knife and ruler, you will get a much crisper finish if you use a glass cutting mat.
Jx

I’ve got both but have a nightmare with the X-cut one .... I find I have to press down really hard to get it to cut and then change my grip on the template whilst being very careful it doesn’t move so that I can complete the rest of the cut. Fiskars is so simple - one whiz round and no change of grip and you’ve got a great shape!!!

Horses for courses no doubt!

I have the x-cut set too. I know what you mean Eve, I have runied a few pieces of nice card with that happening. I find the outside of the shape much easier than the inside for some reason. I did wonder if changing to a glass mat would solve the problem? I hope so as it is a great set really.

I have the X-cut and also a CM one, which use similar systems.

I bought the rectangle X-cut and can’t get on with it at all. The corners don’t come out right!

I haven’t tried a glass cutting mat though - anyone know where to buy one?

I sold my Fiskars shapecutter ages ago, I just couldn’t get on with it at all!