As teachers we have probably all used a daicut machine and were very happy with the effective way it cut letters and shapes. In my previous school we had what was considered a vast library of dais we had both upper case and lower case letters, and an additional stylized uppercase alphabet. In addition to the alphabets we had almost 50 shapes. This vast collection cost the school thousands of dollars, but it was a solid investment in a machine that will last years of heavy use.
I have discovered a machine that is truely an amazing that provides you with so much more power than a traditional daicut machine. It is the Cricut Daicut Machine from Provo Craft. This machine was designed for scrap bookers, but can be of great benefit to teachers as well.
Get one through Cricut Direct And save over other retail stores.
The Cricut machine offers portability. Just plug it in and turn it on, no computer or software required! Lightweight and compact with a comfortable handle that makes it easy to take to crops and parties. The Cricut machine can cut images up to 5.5″ tall and up to 11.5″ long. The cartridge-based system allows you to cut thousands of shapes, letters, and phrases in a variety of sizes and styles with the ease of a touch of a button. Package includes George and Basic Shapes Cartridge with Keypad overlay and manual, power adapter, cutting mat and quick start guide.
Cartridges can be purchased for around $65 that add a great deal of capability. The Machine retails for almost $300 but most craft stores are selling them for $250 Through Cricut Direct you can get a machine for just over $200.
The down side is that this is a consumer level product. It would not be adequate for a whole school to use, but would be perfect for 1-3 teachers to share. The versatility of this machine is well worth the cost and makes bulletin boards a breeze.
