My Favorite Crafty Things 2016: Dies & Die Cutting Essentials

Welcome to Day 2 of My Favorite Crafty Things 2016! Today is all about dies and die cutting.

During this series, I will be sharing my favorite crafty products of the year. Each day will have a different topic with a video or two. If you plan to do some shopping, be sure to use this discount…

Simon Says Stamps is offering my readers $10 off purchases of $75 or more! Use the code “JENFAVES” through 11:59pmEST on 11/24/16 when shopping HERE.

Today I am focusing on dies and die cutting essentials. There are two videos.

blog-dies

Here is the first video for today. It focuses on my favorite dies…

[Warning: This video is long. You can instead just check out the stamps below. All products are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails. Affiliate links may be used. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

If you are interested in any products, click on one of the abbreviations under the product images… SSS for Simon Says Stamp, EH for Ellen Hutson or the manufacturer’s abbreviation.

WORD DIES

I use word dies quite often on cards. With stamped sentiments, you have to find a smooth place on your card to put them. With die cut sentiments, they can go anywhere and add dimension. Here are some of this year’s favorites:

BACKGROUND DIES

Background dies tend to be higher priced than most crafting products. Therefore, you want to be sure you invest in good ones! I think these all have a lot to offer for a variety of styles and fun techniques:

MUST-HAVE DIES

Here are some dies that are useful for many types of cards. They can be used in so many ways!

OTHER DIES

Here are some other fun dies that caught my eye this year:

If you are looking for the card examples I shared in this video, you can enter the product name in the “search” bar at the top of my blog and you will find them!

DIE CUTTING ESSENTIALS

Here is a video showing die cutting essentials and embossing folders…

[To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

Here are my recommended die cutting products:

EMBOSSING FOLDERS

I also wanted to include a few embossing folders on my must-have list this year…

GIFT GUIDE

Remember – My Favorite Crafty Things makes a great gift guide. Feel free to pass it along to Santa. 😉 Don’t forget the discount code above!

I’ll be back soon for more of My Favorite Crafty Things 2016. You can keep up to date on all the topics HERE… and for my lists from 2015, click HERE.

GIVEAWAYS

Time for some more prizes! Today I have giveaways for TWO more lucky winners! You could win one of these prizes:

  • $50 Gift Certificate to Simon Says Stamp (Thanks once again, Heidi!)
  • THREE of the dies mentioned above.

For your chance to win a giveaway, leave a comment below by 11:59pmEST on 12/5/16 telling me your favorite dies from above. (The winner’s name will be randomly selected, emailed and posted on my “Winners page” after the giveaway closes. International folks are eligible, too.)

See you soon!

 

[Please note that I purchased most of the products in this post personally, but not all. However, the decision to include them in this list was my own. I truly like these products and companies.]


Leave a Comment

1,195 thoughts on “My Favorite Crafty Things 2016: Dies & Die Cutting Essentials”

  1. Chris says:

    I love stitch effects on a projects and so the Memory Box Straight Stitches Dies are my favorites. Thank you!

  2. PQuirk75 says:

    I have a couple of the dies you feature, which are the Twice The Thanks and the Mini Hearts Outline but have not had a chance to use them yet. The hearts will probably be used for Valentine’s Day. I love the look of the dies from Birch Press and the Ellen Hutson Stitching Lines. Great tip about putting the words in the set on the envelope. I was working with a friend the other day with my dies and there were some words we could not figure out what they were and this tip would have been helpful that day.

  3. Branka says:

    Really tough choice to be made but so will have to mention few of them. Birch press is something sooo beautiful, I haven’t seen days so pretty, they are just amazing, unique and impressive!
    I also love sss ayou die and mft snowflakes dies a lot.

  4. Debs says:

    I like tha Avery Elle All dies which looks versatile. Thank you!

  5. Lynn B. says:

    Wow, again you showed me items I had not seen before, thank you for the great video. My favorite is most definitely the Birch Press Dazzle Layering Die Set! I have got to have this one!!

  6. Hollyk1226 says:

    so many fun dies to choose from it is hard to choose just one.

  7. Sandy Griffin says:

    The MFT peekaboo polka dot is my absolute favorite die. I used to search so often to find just the right color combo usually with no luck. With this fabulous die I just make my own. It’s so simple and easy and always just the right colors. It’s also great to make really cute patterns. Love love love this die.

  8. Francene V. Greene says:

    “Thinking of You” goes on my Christmas wish list. Love the font and the sentiment!

  9. Emma says:

    Although choosing a favourite is almost impossible its probably the border dies, I can cut a strait line with a trimmer but a consistent and non strange looking smooth curve, especially over several different layers is very difficult for me to cut without a die!

  10. Pam Goes says:

    I love hero Arts star confetti & circle confetti dies! And Reverse Confetti’s All Framed Up. Can’t pick just one! I love dies!

  11. SoniaW says:

    Love the new Birch Press Dazzle Layering Dies. They look great but unfortunately they are very expensive. My favorite…so difficult..:(:(..ok..maybe the My Favorite Things Stylish Snowflake Dies.

  12. Victoria says:

    My favorite dies are the word dies the essential shapes. I think the dies with the faux stitching would be nice to add to my collection.

  13. Terrie McCallister says:

    I love my circle and rectangle dies, they are so versatile.

  14. Sandy in Calif. says:

    Wow so many ideas and great suggestions. It may seem amazing, but I still use my Cuttlebug machine that my daughter-in-law gave me at least 10 years ago. And it still works fine. Thanks for the video.

  15. Mary O says:

    So many dies to choose from! I love many of them, but I really like the MFT snowflake dies.

  16. Donna Nuce says:

    The Birch Defina die is so beautiful! I also like the stitched one from Ellen. Thanks so much for showing these. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with the latest trends!

  17. Mutzy Mia says:

    I just love these videos that you do…thanks for taking the time to put them together! My favorite dies were first the Birch Press dies. I have never seen them before and thought the dimension was beautiful. Another favorite die was the Memory Box Countryside circle die…so very unique. I also like the 9th and Concord “thanks” and “hugs” dies. I’ve seen those before and have contemplated adding those to my collection. The last die style that I like is the rectangles, circles and squares with the stitching or dots along the edge. I love how that finishes the edge but have not purchased any yet. Thanks for the chance to win!

  18. Jayne says:

    I’ve been considering the Stylish snowflakes, and now they’re sold out! The Birch Press dies are so geometric–what I love most! I’d never seen them prior to this video, thank you for sharing.

  19. Tigerberry says:

    I love the idea of layering the Birch Press dies. Like the Dazzle one the best but like them all. I also like the Alphabet dies (Neat & Tangled).

  20. Krista D says:

    I have the Ebosser. It’s an amazing machine & I love it.

  21. Saybrahwal says:

    There are so many awesome choices! I think the Reverse Confetti All Framed Up Die! There are so many ways this could be used!

  22. Zehra says:

    I loved the birch press dies, they look cool

  23. scraplea says:

    Those Birch Press dies are amazing! I’ve never seen those and love how they layer with all 3. Gorgeous!

  24. Brooke Rector says:

    I love all of these, especially the Birch Press layering dies!

  25. Tricia Ann says:

    I have never seen anything like the Birch Press Dazzle Layering Die Set. It looks fabulous! It is my favorite.

  26. Jeanne j. says:

    Love love love the Birch Press dies!!!

  27. Maggie C. says:

    My favorite die would have to be Lawn Fawn Slide On Over.

  28. Ellen says:

    So hard to pick a favorite, but I’m loving anything snowflake! ❄️

  29. Jen Hayes says:

    The Birch Press Dies are intriguing. Overall I think I would like to experiment more with using more background dies. Thanks for another informative video and chance at such a generous giveaway!

  30. Bharati Nayudu (India) says:

    hi,
    loved the video… thanks to introducing the Birch Press Dies. Those are absolute fab. Essentials by Ellen Stitches Cover Plate Die tool are cool. My fav from the above dies have to be Birch Press Dazzle Layering Die Set
    Lil Inker Diamond Lace Die and Reverse Confetti All Framed Up Dies

  31. Joy says:

    I love Impression Obsession dies, Memory Box and Simon Says Stamp!

  32. Rinda Kaing says:

    Hi Jen! You’re so amazing and I love watching your videos. One of my favorite die sets has to be the MFT Stylish Snowflakes dies…they’re so intricate and beautiful. Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 🙂

  33. Melissa says:

    Hands down favorite was the Birch Press Dazzle layering dies. I want them! But the must-have purchase for me will be the Hero Arts infinity circle dies. I love my circle punches but they take up so much room. These dies would be a great space saver.

  34. Anastasia says:

    Wow! I am in love with the Lil Inker Diamond Lace Die!! <3

  35. Anastasia says:

    Wow! I am in love with the Lil Inker Diamond Lace Die!! 😀

  36. Jeanne mason says:

    Ny favorite is the birch press layering background dies. They a just beautiful

  37. Rbkhood says:

    What a great presentation of some great dies (& tools & embossing folders too, oh my)! The Birch Press Delphina dies are the most spectacular in my book though! Thanks for sharing :o)

  38. The Lil Inker Diamond Lace die, and the Birch Press ones have been on my wishlist for a very long time now, but for now I am mostly just window shopping for these! One day I will win the lotto, and then the fun of shopping will start! 😉

  39. Janey Y says:

    My favorite dies would be all the Birch Press Layering Die Sets! They are so beautiful!

  40. Sarah Mulholland says:

    The stacking dies, for sure!

  41. Erin M says:

    That Stiches cover plate by Ellen Hutson and the Lil Inker Diamond are both on my wish list!

  42. Cynni says:

    Love the basic shape dies. I do not own them yet but definitely going to buy them! Always try to cut the shapes myself with a precise cutting tool but I don’t get great results :’)

  43. I love the Neat and Tangled Star cover plate, the Birch Press Delfina Layering Die set and the celebrate word die

  44. Ali Moore says:

    Neat and Tangled starburst is amazing! Plus, I love everything in the Essentials by Ellen line.

  45. Lissette says:

    The birch press dies and background dies caught my eye. It’s hard to pick a favorite.

  46. Monika/buzsy says:

    I love dies Jennifer. I used them all the time and I have a good collections… I am in love with the Birch Press dies! This is the first time I’ve seen them. Oh, my… lovely! I also love the flower plush from SSS… and all the others. 🙂 Thanks for the great video!

  47. Roxana says:

    I am very thankful for you and the time you take to put this super informative videos. As usual is hard to pick one favorite however the dies that have been in my wish list are the SSS plush dies. 🙂

  48. ejnov says:

    My favorite dies are the Hero Arts Nesting CIRCLE DIES for sure! I use them to crop pictures since us that are not to talented have a hard time cutting circles and circle cutters are hard to work for clumsy crafters! LOL

  49. Kristina Beagle says:

    I’m loving the Hero Arts Infinity dies!! Happy Holidays!

  50. Norma says:

    Love the Sugar Pea thanks and celebrate dies. Beautiful lettering.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *