REVIEW - CRAFTERS COMPANION DIAMOND PRESS CUTTING MACHINE

Hello everyone,

The Diamond Press is a mini (and I really mean mini!) die cutting and embossing machine. It’s so small it can practically fit into your pocket - well almost and it’s super easy to use! It doesn’t have any ‘plates’ like a regular die cutting machine does, instead you cut inside a folder (like an embossing folder) so you literally pop your card/paper over the die and into the folder and in just 3 simple turns of the handle it’s cut! The cutting size is quite small, about the size of a credit card. That said it amazed me just how many dies I own would fit through it. 

For anyone new to the world of die cutting, then this is absolutely the most affordable way to give it a go. I was quite surprised just how much I used it compared to my big die cutting machine. I don't have a dedicated craft room, so have to lug everything out onto the dining room table to craft, but I found myself batch crafting on a tray in front of the TV with a box of scrap paper and a selection of dies  

I’ve had one now for about 6 weeks and it's proved very useful and I've used it a lot more than I thought it would.

There are a couple of drawbacks. You need a very smooth surface for the suction cup to work, in mid use it has become detached on a number of occasions. Not a deal breaker, but a mild annoyance. You also have to cut all your scrap paper into credit sized bits to fit into the cutting folder, so you find yourself batch cutting, so you can do batch die cutting! The final downside is the little cutting folder, I have mine six weeks and its looking the worse for wear. The seam is a little split, and the material is so thin you can start to feel the cut marks on the outside of it, I'm not sure how long it will last before needing replacement.

6 standard and 6 long replacement folders are available from Crafters Companion  for £9:99 but seem permanently out of stock.

The most affordable option is from HobbyCraft who at the moment have it on offer with three dies for £15. It's also available as a set with 16 dies, stamp set and six embossing folders for £59:99 from Crafters Companion. To me if you already own a die cutting machine and a collection of dies then the basic version represents the best value by a long way.

To sum up I'd give it 7/10. It's not a machine that can replace your main die cutter, but as an additional machine, or low cost introduction to die cutting it is a very useful machine. It's light, portable, and would be ideal to take to a craft club or on holiday etc. However the cutting folders may have a limited life and unless replacements are more readily available then it could be collecting an awful lot of dust!