I ended up buying the Cuttlebug Die Cutter adn Embosser. It is more limiting, but you can get alot of shapes, alphabets, etc. For $500 you could get the Cuttlebug and a miriad of embsosing plates and diecutting plates. Sahre and Enjoy: ... If my husband boguht me the machine new and the acrtridges used, I woudl be very happy If she has other scrapbooking friends with the machine, they will probably end up borrowing back and forth anyway I think thats a great gift idea. ...