I would like to hear from all of you who own either the Cricut or the Silhouette about their pros and cons to help me make up my mind on which one to buy.
I think it has been discussed here before but can't find it in the forums.
Thank you very much!

I have a cricut and I love it, however, I do wish I was able to buy the Sure cuts alot or something so that i would have access to shapes that I either create to match something ie lace, etc. or an image that is not available because cricut does not feel it will sell. That has been the only draw back for me. Since I don't own the other machine, I cannot speak to it, but at least the price the the cricut has come way down. HTH

I have a Silhouette SD, that has now been replaced by the Cameo, which cuts 12" paper and has a few other bells and whistles. There is no doubt in my mind that the Silhouette is the better buy. There are no cartridges and you can use any font that is on your computer. The software is free, if you want to take a look at it, go to the Silhouette website and download it.

In addition, the sil has the print and cut feature that allows you to print any image then cut it out. I use this feature for edible images. Yes, you can cut icing sheets and gumpaste on it. If you want to use it with gumpaste, you will need the extended blade that Linda McClure sells, the original blade does not work. Can you tell that I really like mine? HTH

I have both and if I had to choose one it would be the silhouette for the same resons linedancer mentioned. Love the print and cut feature!

Where can you buy the silhouette?

Most craft stores do not carry the Silhouette. You can buy directly from Silhouette, although they are $30 higher right now than Amazon. Google Silhouette Cameo, you can get a list of places to buy. It looks as if $269 is the going price right now. I have seen them cheaper, if you are not in a hurry, you could wait around for a better price.

Thank you all... yr comments are very helpful!

Is the Sil food grade safe ?

As far as food safe, the Silhouette does meet that requirement. If you get your machine from Linda McClure you receive the blade that can be taken apart and cleaned. Nothing touches the icing sheet or gum paste except the blade and the carrier sheet. You can get the machine cheaper at different discount places, but I suggest you get it from Linda to get the cake package. Also, you get her expertise. She is the one who first developed this technique and I believe is the best qualified to help you if you have any issues with the machine. Also, her gum paste is the best for electronic cutters.

Nothing touches food except the blade and Linda McClure has a blade and housing for that purpose.

I.sort of wished i would have read this before I purchased a cricut . But then again I m just a hobby baker and I only paid $100 for the large cricut cake machine at Big.lots Sunday .
I have 30 days to return it . Its probably good enough for me but I would like to be able to use the computer for images without buying cartridges.
I guess I still have 3 weeks to think it over and play with my cricut.

Contact Linda McClure to purchase the Silhouette. She offers the whole system (including the Make The Cut Software needed to simplify the Silhouette for cake cutting and two or three necessary DVD's to explain everything to you in minute detail), and their customer service goes above and beyond anything I've ever experienced.

Contact Linda McClure to purchase the Silhouette. She offers the whole system (including the Make The Cut Software needed to simplify the Silhouette for cake cutting and two or three necessary DVD's to explain everything to you in minute detail), and their customer service goes above and beyond anything I've ever experienced.

Just want to let everyone know that you do not have to have MTC in order for the Silhouette to work for cutting gumpaste and/or icing sheets. The the Studio software that comes with the sil is will do just about anything and is very user friendly. I really like it. This is the free software. They also offer Studio Designer Edition for $49 that has a few more features. I took Linda's class and the designs she provides are totally usable with studio. Also, if you want to use the print and cut feature, studio makes that very easy.

My hubby just bought me a Cameo for my Mother's Day present, how awesome is he? But of course he didn't know about Linda's blade. I was looking at her website, and $75 + $10 shipping seems pretty steep. Is there no way to get just the blade alone? I actually saw on some Silhouette forums where people had no problem using the included blade with icing sheets, I'm guessing in part since they are no thicker than card stock. But I haven't seen anyone say they were able to cut gumpaste or fondant without the rather expensive blade set.

I think you answered your own question.

Not particularly, I've been researching for an hour now, and I still don't know if there's anywhere you can just buy the blade and not the whole kit. Not that I'm not thrilled she came out with the produce and what not, but for a dvd (which apparently has the same info as what she has released on youtube), an instruction booket, and blade the price seems very high.

Contact Linda and ask her if you can just buy the blade?? doesn't hurt to ask.

The dvd contains much more then the youtube video as does the instruction book.

The blade that comes with the silhouette will cut the premium icing sheets without any problem. If you are planning on cutting gumpaste, I would recommend Lindas blade.

SammieB... lucky you!!!
I should have 'hinted' to my hubby that a Cameo would be a nice present
Wondering if you roll out gumpaste really thin and put it in the freezer for a minute, you might be able to use the regular blade that comes with the Cameo. I have read somewhere that it was possible.
If you do try it and it works will you please let us know. Also please feel free to share yr experience witht the Cameo, would love to hear if it is somethin you would recommend.

Thanks!

SammieB... lucky you!!!
I should have 'hinted' to my hubby that a Cameo would be a nice present
Wondering if you roll out gumpaste really thin and put it in the freezer for a minute, you might be able to use the regular blade that comes with the Cameo. I have read somewhere that it was possible.
If you do try it and it works will you please let us know. Also please feel free to share yr experience witht the Cameo, would love to hear if it is somethin you would recommend.

Thanks!

Did anyone try to roll the gumpaste very thin, freeze and cut with the regular blade? I have Linda's page open, and have clicked the Paypal for it, but I can't go through with it! TOO MUCH $$$

If I were to try it, would I try it with the blade on 10? I read somewhere, maybe the MTC forums, that the 5-10 settings were basically just for show, and that they damage the blade