Spellbinders for Holiday Crafts: An Office Manager’s FAQ

What I’ve Learned Ordering Craft Supplies for Our Office

I’m an office administrator for a mid-sized company—about 120 people. I handle all our corporate gift and promotional material ordering, which runs roughly $35,000 annually across eight or so vendors. When I took over this role in 2020, one thing became clear: the quality of a small, thoughtful gift speaks louder than a generic branded item. That’s why I started looking into tools like Spellbinders for our holiday projects. This FAQ answers the questions I had when I first started.

Why would an office need a die cutting machine?

Honest answer: most offices don’t. But if you’re responsible for corporate greeting cards, holiday gifts, or employee engagement activities, a machine like the Spellbinders Platinum can turn a generic store-bought card into something memorable. In 2022, we sent out 400 personalized Christmas cards using die-cut elements from Spellbinders. The feedback from clients was noticeably more positive than the previous year. Not ideal for every business, but for us, it made sense.

What can I actually make with a Spellbinders machine?

You can make greeting cards, gift tags, Christmas ornaments, holiday figurines, and even 3D papercraft decorations. The machine uses metal dies (shapes) to cut and emboss paper or thin materials. I’ve used the Spellbinders Platinum 6 for: custom name cards for client gift bags, layered holiday scenes for our reception desk, and delicate snowflake ornaments for our annual tree. One note: it won’t cut thick materials like wood or acrylic.

How does a plasma cutting machine work? Doesn’t that mean metal?

Good catch—and this is something I had to clarify early on. A plasma cutter is industrial equipment that cuts metal using a high-temperature ionized gas jet. It’s completely different from the die cutting machines from Spellbinders. Die cutting uses sharp, shaped metal dies that press into material—like a giant cookie cutter. No heat, no gas. If you search “how plasma cutting machine works,” you’ll see videos of steel plates and sparks. That’s not what we’re doing here. Just wanted to clear that up.

Can I make Christmas ornaments with Spellbinders?

Yes. I made about 50 Christmas ornaments for our staff last year using the Spellbinders City Holiday collection. The dies cut shapes like tiny houses, snowflakes, and holiday trees. I used cardstock and some adhesive glitter for texture. They looked professional enough that our VP asked if we’d ordered them from a boutique. Each ornament cost roughly $1.20 in materials—a fraction of what custom-ordered items would have cost. But I won’t pretend they were as durable as plastic or glass ornaments. They’re purely decorative.

What is the Spellbinders City Holiday collection?

The Spellbinders City Holiday line is a set of dies that create stylized cityscape and holiday-themed shapes. Think miniature buildings, street lamps, wreaths, and snow-covered roofs. I used it for our “office in the city” themed holiday cards. The detail is impressive for the price point. If you’re making greeting cards and want an urban holiday feel, it’s a solid choice. But if you prefer rustic or nature themes, you might want a different set.

Is it hard to make greeting cards with Spellbinders?

Not really. The learning curve is a few hours. The machine does the cutting; you just sandwich the die and paper between plastic plates and crank it through. My biggest mistake: not reading the machine’s manual first. In 2021, I tried to cut a too-thick material and jammed the roller. Lost a day waiting for a replacement. Lesson learned. For beginners: stick to 80–100 lb cardstock. Get the Spellbinders Grand Calibur if you want a larger cutting area.

Why should I choose Spellbinders over other brands?

I have mixed feelings about brand loyalty. On one hand, Spellbinders has a wide ecosystem of dies, machines, and kits that work together. On the other, competitors like Sizzix or Cricut offer similar functionality. What swung me: Spellbinders’ seasonal collections like City Holiday and Classic Mouse. I could buy one coordinated set and make an entire themed project—no guessing which dies work with which machine. That saved me about 3 hours of research per project. But if you’re committed to digital cutting, Cricut might be better. My experience is based on about 20 projects over 3 years. Not exhaustive, but it’s what I know.

How much does it cost to get started?

A Spellbinders Platinum 6 machine runs about $200–250 as of January 2025. A starter die set is $25–40. You’ll also need cardstock (around $15 for a multi-pack) and the plastic cutting plates (included with the machine). So maybe $300 total for a basic setup. That seems expensive until you figure each custom card costs maybe $0.50 instead of $4–6 if you ordered them printed. We recouped that investment on our first batch of 200 holiday cards. Prices accessed from Spellbinders.com and industry averages—verify current rates.

This pricing was accurate as of January 2025. The market changes fast, so verify current rates before budgeting. I learned these specifics in late 2024—some items may have updated since.