Piano Guidance
Piano Guidance
Photo: Tim Douglas
If you're new to craft cutting machines, and have the budget, the Brother ScanNCut SDX1200 is a great place to start, and our preferred Cricut alternative.
G major (or the key of G) is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F♯. Its key signature has one sharp. Its relative...
Read More »
Plugging hard plastic earbuds, like AirPods®, in your ear may not be terrible in the short-term, but falling asleep with them could add discomfort....
Read More »If you're looking for the best Cricut alternatives then the choice is even more varied than it was this time last year. While Brother and Silhouette of America offer similar approaches, new brands xTools and Glowforge have brought laser cutters into the mix. These alternatives to the best Cricut machines, along with those of Cricut, can cut paper, card, vinyl, fabric and do much more. But for every Cricut machine there's a good alternative. While rival Silhouette aims to go head-to-head with Cricut in terms of features and approach, Brother goes a step further and includes a built-in scanner with its machines, and xTools mixes blade and laser cutting in one machine – but these are more expensive than Cricut. In this article, we'll look at the best Cricut alternatives and how they do everything a Cricut can, and in some ways a little more. If you like the sound of the Silhouette brand, we have a full guide to the best Silhouette machines available now. We also pit Cricut versus Silhouette to really see how they match up. We also have a guide to the best best Brother ScanNCut machines. But take a look below for the best Cricut alternatives, especially now that the excellent Silhouette machines are more widely available outside of America and Brother has expanded its ScanNCut machine supply in the UK to match the US.
But there's more to Jazz than just improvisation. Composers such as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus wrote occasional Jazz compositions...
Read More »
The question is not how you teach, but where - in a school, or as a private tutor from home. But be aware that private piano lessons (similar to...
Read More »Note: there are three models of the Cameo 4, which includes this base model and the Cameo 4 Plus and the Cameo 4 Pro (see below), each goes up in size. Read our guide to the best Silhouette machines for more details. 04. Glowforge Pro The best high-spec laser cutter Cricut alternative Specifications Function: Laser cutter Suitable for: Over 100 materials up to 2 inches thick Maximum cutting area: 20 inches x endless Dimensions: 38 x 20.75 x 8.25 inches Weight: 32 kg Today's Best Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Visit Site (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Powerful 45 watt, Class 4 laser + Can handle very large materials + Excellent app and versatility + Superb design Reasons to avoid - Too powerful for some hobbyists The Glowforge Pro is a powerful and unique Cricut alternative that adapts Cricut's clever approachability and design ideals into the laser cutter sector. The Glowforge Pro looks like a high-end printer, and has been nicknamed a laser printer, but inside is the tech that can cut, engrave and score over 100 hundred materials. You can use everything from wood and plastic to metal and fabrics, and even marble, with the Glowforge Plus. What sets this aside from other laser cutters is the design – it's elegant and simple. Like Cricut the Glowforge Pro is simple to use too, just drag and drop your design files into the Glowforge app, align the material in the machine, and press 'Print'. The Glowforge app also contains thousands of pre-made designs. Some of these can be used commercially as well as adjusted to make them unique to you. What can you make? Everything from board games and toys to jewellery and even furniture. Glowforge Pro is expensive, and possibly too powerful for some, but the brand also makes two other models – the Glowforge Plus and Glowforge Basic. Read our guide to the best Glowforge machines for more on this exciting brand. 05. Brother ScanNCut SDX125 The best Cricut alternative for sewers and quilters in the Americas Specifications Alternative for: digital scanner and cutter Suitable for: materials up to 3mm thick Work area: 30.5 x 30.5cm Dimensions: 21.3 x 53.1 x 17.2cm Weight: 6kg Today's Best Deals Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Includes a scanner + LCD panel for direct editing + Well-known brand Reasons to avoid - More expensive than Cricut Explore Air 2 Brother will be a more familiar brand name for many. It's known for its printers and sewing machines, but it also makes Cricut-like machines for cutting. Its ScanNCut SDX125 is a great alternative to Cricut for hobbyists working with paper, card vinyl and fabric, and particularly for quilters. What makes the ScanNCut SDX125 different from other alternatives is the scanning part. It features a built-in scanner so you can transfer printed pages into real projects. You can send SVG files from your computer, but you can also programme design directly on the machine using the LCD touchscreen display and its 682 built-in designs, including 100 quilting patterns and nine fonts. Like the Silhouette Cameo 4, it can handle material up to 3 mm) thick, beating the Cricut Maker 3. It has an AutoBlade that automatically detects the material thickness. However, in terms of width, The SDX125E is limited to 29.7cm (11.7in) compared to the Cricut Maker's 33cm (13in). The other downside is that it's actually more expensive than the Cricut Explore Air 2. Note that the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E is sold in the US, see below if you're in Europe. 06. Brother ScanNCut SDX900 The best Cricut alternative for sewers and quilters in Europe Specifications Alternative for: digital scanner and cutter Suitable for: materials up to 3mm thick Work area: 30.5 x 30.5cm Dimensions: 21.3 x 53.1 x 17.2cm Weight: 6kg Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) View at CraftStash (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Includes a scanner + LCD panel for direct editing + Well-known brand Reasons to avoid - Expensive If you're in Europe, you might be scratching your head wondering why you can't find the Brother ScanNCut SDX125E anywhere. Well in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, Brother has the SDX900, which is a very similar machine in terms of size and functions. Like the ScanNCut SDX125, it's a great alternative to Cricut for hobbyists working with a wide range of materials. Again, it has a built-in scanner, LCD touchscreen and 682 built-in designs, and it beats the Cricut Maker 3, handling material up to 3 mm thick. However, it is expensive. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, you may prefer the Cricut Explore Air 2 unless you really need to cut thicker material. 07. Silhouette Portrait 3 The best medium-priced Cricut alternative Specifications Function: digital cutter Suitable for: materials up to 2mm thick Maximum cutting area: 20.32 cm x 30.49 cm (with a cutting mat/feed roller 20.32 cm x 60 ft) Dimensions: 41.1 cm x 14 cm x 11.2 cm Weight: 1.6kg Today's Best Deals View at CraftStash (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Good value for money + A excellent beginner cutter + Can cut without a mat Reasons to avoid - It can't cut thick materials While the Silhouette Cameo 4 is the best alternative to Cricut Maker 3, the Silhouette Portrait 3 is comparable to Cricut Explore 3. This machine is designed as an entry level cutting machine, and in this respect it's ideal though don't expect the kind of cutting force and flexibility you'd get from the larger Silhouette cutting. The Silhouette Portrait 3 is smaller than a Silhouette Cameo 4 and has a reduced cutting power (210 grams to Silhouette Cameo 4's 5000 grams), as such it's great for card and sticker projects and can handle some materials (vinyl, heat transfer (iron-on), paper, cardstock, sticker paper, and some fabric), but if you're a serious sewer or quilter we'd recommend the Silhouette Cameo 4 or one of the Brother machines. This is a neatly priced machine that does enough for anyone new to digital cutters, and is compatible with the new Silhouette Go App for mobiles. We found most Silhouette tools and blades work with the Silhouette Portrait 3, but some do need an adaptor (sold separately). If you're new to digital cutters the Silhouette Portrait 3 is a good place to start. 08. Silhouette Cameo 4 Pro The best Cricut machine for large projects Specifications Alternative for: digital cutter Suitable for: materials up to 3mm thick Work area: 61 cm x 3 m Dimensions: 87.6 x 19.5 x 17 cm Weight: 11 kg Today's Best Deals View at CraftStash (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Extra long 24-inch cutting width + Powerful 5kg cutting pressure + LCD touchscreen Reasons to avoid - Cuts fewer materials than Maker 3 The Silhouette Cameo 4 Pro is the largest model in the Cameo 4 range. With a 24-inch cutting width and supporting three metre lengths there's not much this digital cutter can't handle. I've put it a little further down my list because the Pro is so large and specialist. For everyday crafters the Cameo 4 or Cameo 4 Plus (above) is more suitable.
Gibson ES-335 One of the most ubiquitous guitars in blues and rock is also one of the best guitars for jazz. Dec 22, 2021
Read More »
This event is typically held near the end of the school year. There may be individual junior (11th grade) and senior (12th grade) proms or they may...
Read More »Yet, of you do need a craft cutting machine that can handle large materials, particularly fabrics and heavy paper, the the Cameo 4 Pro is ideal. Other than the size this model is similar to the smaller Cameo 4 editions; meaning it can trim and cut vinyl, heat transfer material, cardstock, photo paper and fabrics. 09. Silhouette Mint The best Cricut alternative for card making and scrapbooking Specifications Function: digital heat stamps Suitable for: thermal ink stamps Maximum print area: 15mm x 15mm (smallest) to 45mm x 60mm (largest) Dimensions: 5.7 cm x 12 cm x 8.2 cm Weight: 0.31kg Today's Best Deals View at CraftStash (opens in new tab) View at CraftStash (opens in new tab) View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Creates unique stamps in minutes + Great for customising bags and ink prints for cards Reasons to avoid - It has limited uses The Silhouette Mint is designed to digitise the art of ink and paint stamping. It does it exceptionally well. The machine is neatly specced and small, large enough to hold in the hand or take to a friend's house in a bag. The advantage of creating ink stamps digitally to create patterns on bags, shirts and cards, is it creates consistency. Using the Silhouette's designed sheets you feed them into the Silhouette Mint, its thermal tech heats the design and creates raised 3D patterns. These can then be coloured using Silhouette's thermal inks and stamped onto clothes for custom designs. It's easy and approachable, and the Mint comes with over 50 free templates (naturally you can design your own). The Silhouette Mint isn't a cutting machine and so is limited in what it can do. It's more again to a heat press machine, maybe the size of a Cricut EasyPress Mini with the advantage you don't need a cutter, such as the Silhouette Portrait 3, to create the designs. 10. Sizzix Big Shot Manual Die-Cutting Machine The cheapest Cricut alternative for die-cutting Specifications Functions: manual die-cutting machine Suitable for: material up to 1.6cm thick Maximum material size: 15 x 21cm Dimensions: 42.2 x 29.5 x 23.1cm Weight: 4.8kg Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Cheap + Cuts a range of materials Reasons to avoid - Instructions aren't the clearest You can cut for a lot cheaper if you're happy to put in some arm work. Cricut's cutters are automatic, digital machines that you programme from your laptop, but there's still a lot to be said for a manual die-cutter, not least the fact that there's no need for a computer or even an electricity supply. The elegant grey-and-white Sizzix Big Shot has a 15.24 cm (A5) wide opening and can cut a wide range of materials, from paper, tissue and cardstock to felt, cork, leather, balsa wood, polyfoam, sheet magnet, static cling vinyl and more. The roller system's steel core is wrapped in a heavy-duty outer casing and it can handle material that’s up to 22.5cm wide and 1.6cm thick. For amateur crafters that are just getting started with die-cutting, we'd certainly recommend starting with this before working up to a more technologically advanced option like a Cricut machine. The assembly instructions aren't the clearest – we'd recommend watching the many tutorials on YouTube. There's also a Pro and Plus version for those that need to cut at bigger sizes. 11. Crafter's Companion Gemini The best Cricut Joy alternative Specifications Function: cutting and embossing Suitable for: paper and card up to 300gsm, acetate, vinyl, thin fabrics Maximum material size: : 22.8 x 31.8cm Dimensions: 20.32 x 9.65 x 12.7cm Weight: 1.4kg Today's Best Deals View at Ryman (opens in new tab) View at Ryman (opens in new tab) Check Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Affordable + Fully automatic + Compact and easy to store Reasons to avoid - Gemini dies warp easily If you do want an automatic cutter without the price tag of a Cricut device, in steps the Gemini. This compact, highly portable electronic cutter is most comparable to the size of the Cricut Joy but comes in a good bit cheaper. It does the work for you, with cutting plates feeding through automatically like a laminator. There's also a reverse button, which can be handy in an emergency. It's compatible with many dies and can cut through even the thickest card stock without a problem. It also offers a wider cutting width than the Sizzix Big Shot, cutting material at up to A4 width, while happily fitting in the corner of a desk. Like all die cutters, the plates will eventually need replacing, but that's fairly easy and inexpensive. 12. Fierton Heat Press Machine The best Cricut EasyPress 2 alternative Specifications Functions: heat press Suitable for: vinyl and fabric Material size: any (30 ×25cm heat plate suitable for large T-shirts) Dimensions: 45 x 35 x 20cm Weight: 5kg Today's Best Deals View at Amazon (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Light and portable + Easy to use + Safety mode Reasons to avoid - Takes a while to hear up If you're printing rather than cutting, and particularly on T-shirts, sweatshirts or other fairly large textile items, then the Cricut EasyPress 2 is a handy, portable device that works a treat. However, it is expensive, and there are cheaper options out there than can do the job. The Fierton heat press is light, portable and it's suitable for vinyl and textiles like sweatshirts, banners, and T-shirts using thermal transfer and sublimation paper. It's very easy to use. Simply set your preferred time and temperature, then watch it do its things in under sixty seconds. There's a safety mode and an insulated safety base, and you can work for a good couple of hours without it getting too hot. There's also an automatic turn-off time to help if you forget. The iron sits a little way from the surface and takes a little longer to heat up than some options, but once it's ready it does the job very well.
“The aging process comes with the playing process. [That] means the more you play it, the more it ages. The more it vibrates. That's the reason why...
Read More »
Cold weather is known to cause piano strings to contract. This means they grow slightly shorter. Since they're wound so tightly, this can place an...
Read More »
The biggest reasons pianos go out of tune are temperature and humidity fluctuations. A pianos main sound components are the strings, hammers, and...
Read More »
My Everything is written in the key of F♯ Mixolydian. According to the Theorytab database, it is the 8th most popular key among Mixolydian keys and...
Read More »
Promotion
Promotion
Promotion
Promotion
Promotion