Sizzix Portable Manual Die Cutting & Embossing Machine for Arts & Crafts, Scrapbooking & Cardmaking, 2.5” Opening, One Size, Tim Holtz Sidekick Starter Kit

After nearly 15 years, my original Sidekick had to be replaced after I dropped it...twice. I don't think I could go without this little workhorse. It's the perfect size for tucking into a bag for crops, using on a tray-table while on the sofa, and for those little dies. While I have a BigShot and Cuttlebug, I mostly use this diecutting machine. It's very sturdy; the suction on this one seems to be better than the original; and the cutting plates last for years with care (I use one plate for cutting, flipping if it starts to get a warped). When one plate is completey scratched up, I switch so that a new plate is now getting hit with the metal blade. When both are really scratched up, I just keep flipping to avoid warping. I've had my current plates for 3 years now and I use this machine every single day a lot. This is the first time, though, that I've had the mini embossing plate. It's really more like a shim in that it's hard plastic but thinner than the diecutting plate. For some reason, I thought it was going to be more like the rubber mat like the one for my Big Shot. It seems to work okay nonetheless. I miss my red Sidekick but, again, I can't imagine papercrafting without this!The only weird thing with these Sidekicks is you turn the handle the opposite way you think you should (that is, toward you rather than away from you). I've turned the machine around and around and I still have to roll the handle toward me.

Did I need this? Nope! Do I love it? Yep! I have the big shot, and that is great, but sometimes I don’t want to bother with getting it out and setting it up, only to cut one small piece. That’s where this comes in. It’s small enough that I can leave it out and really weighs very little. The suction cup on the bottom works great and even attaches to a cutting mat (self-healing type) that I use when I’m working on the floor on carpet. I’m only adding that because carpet obviously doesn’t provide a hard surface, and I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to use it without a rigid surface under the mat.So absolutely unnecessary, but very nice to have:) cuts great - even though 2 pieces of card stock (90lb).

It worked great for little dies. If your die is wider than 2.5 or longer than 5 inches it will not fit on the cutting plates. I use it mainly for flowers, words and small parts of other dies.I cut 40 Christmas cards that had houses, trees, street lamps and many other pieces using this die. I ended up using sticky dots to secure the dies to the cutting plates since I cut so many of the same pieces. Using this smaller Sizzix save a lot of time.The suction really didn’t work well but holding the top helped. I just resorted to resetting it before each cut. If you can brace the machine against a stationary board the suction worked for multiple cuts.Even with it’s faults it is worth the money.I’m toying with the idea to make some new cutting plates that are longer for border dies. I think it can be done with desk cutting mats that are the healing type.

When the sidekick arrived it looked like it had been through the war. The packaging was damaged and the machine is filthy. Definitely someone else's returned item. Will be returning immediately

Overall, the Sidekick appears to work as promised. It suctions to my table really well and the handle worked without much resistance. It is even smaller than I expected, and will store nicely. Everything was in the box, and the dies and stamps appear in good order. But if you are expecting pristine, I want to warn that my box was pretty dirty, and a bit beaten up. And the plates did come pretty scuffed up - but obviously not used before or we’d see the die impressions. There is a weird impression on the embossing pad, though. It almost appears to be the top of a butterfly stamp or die. It is more odd than anything.

Not only do the dies cut perfectly, but the machine is so portable it can go anywhere. Easy to use and pocket size, yes please.

Great to put on a tray and use while watching movies or TV, also to take to craft night as it is light weight and you can make numerous greetings or small dies

love the smallness of this, however, it does not stay on the table with the suction provided. It works for one turn, then becomes dislodged from the surface. I moistened the suction, but that did not help at all. Was disappointed in that.