Review on 🔪 Spellbinders S4-110 Nestabilities Classic Ovals (Large) Etched/Wafer Thin Dies: Precision Cutting for Crafters by Julie Johnson

If you're looking for a versatile and useful set of dies, these are just the thing. Although it took me a while to get the hang of using the nesting skills on my squids and purchasing additional spellbinders for embossing, I now use them regularly for both scrapbooking and postcards. The instructions, while adequate, were fairly brief, so I turned to YouTube to find out how to use them. After learning to cut, change plates, flip the die, add mattes and embossing with these dies the results were pretty good...nice clean cuts with a nice embossed edge. I also bought a set of "Large Classic Ovals" for a smaller frosted border between several layers of cardboard. The large set starts with a slightly larger oval than the small set, and each oval in the large set gets SMALLER. Yes, the sets overlap, but neither stamp is exactly alike. This system was confusing at first so I had to go online to understand it. If you want to make sure you get the correct matching stamps, you can purchase a set of 4 stamps as a group. Finally, I wouldn't recommend painting the stamp yourself to get an ink border like some on YouTube suggest. After cutting, I prefer to draw with ink or paint on paper. Here are my pros and cons: Cons: Expensive! The price is high and you also need to buy embossing mats. It takes some time to learn how to use the system. For the best effect you need several sets. It's confusing when you start. Pros: Makes a good cut and a clear embossed edge. Can be used with both Cuttlebug and other die cutting systems. You can buy many stamps and expand your collection. Some of the dies work together to make awesome lace edges. Useful! I now have smooth mats for cards and tags without messing around with cropping. Lots of information on YouTube and the web to explore. Overall, I'm very glad I bought it and invested the time and money.