Comparing Crafter's Companion Gemini, Gemini Junior, and AG Empress Die Cutting Machines!

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[@divadollflawless]

Love the review! I love my Empress! I was going back and forth on maybe trying the CC machines but this definitely helped me decide my Empress and additional larger plates I have are all I need. 🥰

[@VianneyCreates]

I agree, I think that's the best machine and even better with the larger plate option. How have you been?!

[@GigiFratus]

I got a small turntable on Amazon it can hold 65 lbs and it's 10 inches $9 . for my Gemini Jr awesome I don't even have to get up. I searched under lazy Susan to find it.

[@cmcqueen2371]

Thanks for sharing I was trying to decide which one I want

[@crizzyjj]

Thanks for doing this. I've been thinking about upgrading and this helps.

[@VianneyCreates]

Happy to help! I'm playing a bit more with them today in my craft room...and I think Empress has my heart! LOL!

[@kathypontin827]

This was very informative, thank you. I am wondering if the Empress plates can be used in the standard Gemini machine. Any thoughts?

[@luv2craftcards]

Put some washi tape around the rim of the metal shim. It will help to prevent to slice your hand or fingers. I sliced my inner thumb yesterday.

[@nancern53]

Sliced myself too

[@VianneyCreates]

Ah, man! You just reminded me...as I was opening the CC metal shim packaging, I noticed how sharp the edges were. I meant to mention that! Oops. Thanks for the tip!

[@donnaphelps572]

Thank you very much for that video. I have all three also. Just bought the empress mini to take to crops. Your videos are very informative.

[@VianneyCreates]

Glad to help! TYSM!!

[@elizabethcabrera4650]

OMG I've been wanting to get one of these but not sure which one. I like the gemini but I think its louder then the empress. Which one do you usually gravitate or use more?

[@poppy2122]

Hi, its been a while that you been using the machines. Im planning to upgrade my sizzix. I was wondering which one do you love the most? Thanks for your help

[@sarasiqueira1]

Could you answer a question? The Gemini Foil can be used in the Anna Griffin Empress?

[@TheGrandmashand]

Thanks for sharing! I have the Empress, The Big Gemini, and the Gemini Mini and I prefer the Gemini machines, because AG clear plates and magnetic plate are cheaply made and too expensive to replace! I watch your videos and tutorials. Please continue to post, you’re awesome 👏

[@VianneyCreates]

Thank you so much, Rosemary! Thanks for posting your experience with your machines, too!!

[@rosedemarest9561]

I really need to get a Gemini. My Sizzix takes up so much space and with chronic pain and arthritis I can’t always crank it. My mother also had a stroke and cannot use her left hand very well so this would also be great for her

[@barbarahairston65]

Great tutorial, I’m on the market for a large electric die cutting machine for very large purse or box dies! Which machine reviewed has a larger opening? Thanks for sharing, blessings 🌟

[@VianneyCreates]

I don't know specifics of all the machines out there, but the Gemini is the biggest of what I have. Thank you!!

[@TheOneWins]

Don't worry about us viewers you have a family it's understandable sending my love long time fan

[@VianneyCreates]

I appreciate that, thank you! I think that one girl even called me the b-word! LOL!!

[@TheOneWins]

@@VianneyCreates That is crazy she's hating ignore that jazz

[@karenmenard5633]

I tried to leave a comment on your other die machine comparisons but it wouldn't let me. I really enjoy your style, your voice, your topic and going off-topic during the vids! Don't let those people get you down ! New subbie, notice and LIKEd you!!!!

[@VianneyCreates]

That is so very kind! I wonder what the issue was as far as comments on the other video. I've had issues where I see a person's comment and when I go back later to respond...it's gone. Harmless comments, nice comments. Weird.

[@BerniBernsify]

So KZbin suggested older videos and I said why not and how did I miss them or did I forget to like them 2 years ago. Gosh there's a big difference between the Empress and the Empress mini. I have the mini and my 1 gripe is that the pieces don't fall out of it like they do with my Gemini 😆 but it's a little machine and easy to use sitting around or whatever. I used to cut into the magnetic shim like AG but I noticed little black tiny bits on my paper. The magnetic shim has stretched out and the sandwich doesn't fully cut dies now. I have to use the metal shim and cardstock shims every time. I bought the extended plates (slimline). Even with the new plates & shims I have to end up running the sandwich twice. I wonder if it can be fine tuned 🤔 I'll check with AG customer service ☺️

[@SH125]

THANK YOU FOR THE COMPARISON...I LOVE THE FIRST ONE FOR THE SMALLNESS IF THAT MAKES SENSE, HOWEVER I LOVE THAT SECOND ONE AS WELL....CHOICES CHOICES LOL. GREAT VIDEO AS USUAL!!!! BLESSINGS FOR YOUR DAY MY FRIEND!!!

[@VianneyCreates]

I do like the junior, too. What I do like about the Anna Griffin Empress is that it has larger plates available. So, I don't have to buy two machines (gemini and junior) to make lots of dies work. I guess you could just go with Gemini, but I like the Empress better.

[@GigiFratus]

Try changing the direction on the magnetic shims I don't have those issues the pieces should pop right out

[@sharonharrington321]

Does it cut fabric

[@elsabarkhuizen7872]

From were can I but these please

[@49lucky]

I have all the toys but my favorite is still the expression 1and 2.

[@VianneyCreates]

Me, too!! Love my Expressions!

[@alicemel7074]

Have you found anything of crafter's companion items that you cant put through the empress?

[@joaniegreen2184]

Love my Empress too!

[@luv2craftcards]

Happy to see you've upgraded, lol. I have all three machines too.

[@tami1796]

Thank you for sharing your videos

[@deniselothrop70]

Very useful since I was thinking about buying the Anna Griffin machine

[@VianneyCreates]

Happy to help! TY!!

[@annettefertitta6868]

Family is everything! Don’t worry about grumpy people... I love her voice!

[@VianneyCreates]

Awww, thank you! I appreciate that!

[@annettefertitta6868]

And I appreciate you!

[@lorena617]

I have a 11 year old cuttlebug 😂😂 and a black Gemini is so elegant but I'm thinking of getting the large empress because my big dies wont go thru the jr or cuttlebug. but if the plates are like gemini jr then I wont cuttlebug plates are so good i wont settle for less 😜. Thanks for video it really will help to make the decision.

[@VianneyCreates]

I hear ya!! Happy to help!

[@michelegourd5742]

I am thinking about buying this instead of gemini jr. Do you still like the Anna Griffin empress?

[@VianneyCreates]

All things being equal, and seeing as how I bought them both around the same time..I prefer the Empress. The one machine can cut large and small, and still is relatively quiet. Those would be my reasons. 9:

[@michelegourd5742]

@@VianneyCreates thank you so much! I am buying the empress. The video was very helpful. Thanks again 💕

[@elainepulliam1976]

Please help me! Bought new Gemini. Watched yours & prob 4 more videos BEFORE using it. First time thru, with plates & shims & die cuts & blades EXACTLY as instructed - it did nothing, even with just cutting dies onto plain piece of bond paper. Ran thru again adding metal shim, still nothing. Then, paused & reversed - still nothing on piece of bond, but with severe damage to all shims. So, I decided to flip dies over thinking maybe I misunderstood which was "blade side up", even tho I had used side shown in videos. It then cut dies in bond paper, all but one, but with large holes in shims! All of them! Thank goodness Amazon is always there for you & asked if I wanted to try another Gemini machine. It came in today (in one day). I am afraid to even TAKE IT OUT OF THE BOX! NEED HELP! ~ EP

[@VianneyCreates]

Wow, I have no idea what could have happened. Your description sounded like you had the cutting blades facing he shims...not the paper. I have tons of videos, maybe watch some of them. Your sandwich with a thin metal die should be cutting plate, paper, die with cutting edges face down (touching the paper), magnetic shim, plastic shim, cutting plate. Try that. That is the usual, if it doesn't cut you can add in the metal shim between the magnetic mat and the plastic shim. Don't ever use the embossing mat and magnetic shim at the same time.

[@TheOneWins]

She's adorable

[@VianneyCreates]

Thank you!!

[@elizabethm4618]

Vianney, which had the largest cutting area, Gemini or Empress? I really don't want a big machine, (tight space), but I don't want to spend the money on a smaller one only to find out I have dies that won't fit. Got my Lucky dips and Lucky dip dies today. Finally! Still waiting on the others. Got a message from Yodel that they tried to deliver a package and missed me, and spent an hour in chat trying to find out who local delivery was so I could reschedule...only to find out after getting DHL ecommerce, that they had not even gone to local delivery yet. LOL What a merry go round! And so close... I almost bought more today! Haha! SMH

[@SoulfulXprssion]

This was a very informative video

[@VianneyCreates]

Happy to help! TY!

[@ThisIsMeTinnaMarie]

Have you found yourself using the gemini more?

[@VianneyCreates]

Yes! LOL!

[@luv2craftcards]

For both machines my plates Warp so fast.

[@VianneyCreates]

They didn't warp yet, but the new magnetic mat from CC totally took on the impression of the die. Really badly, it looks like it will tear through the top plastic layer. We will see.

[@luv2craftcards]

@@VianneyCreates it does that. The metal shim for the CC machine warp so bad and my plate that I had to throw it away. I kept the metal shim even though it looks like a U.

[@silverdawnintx]

@@VianneyCreates MY GEMINI MAGNETIC PLATE STARTED TO TEAR FAIRLY QUICKLY. I HAVE HAD TO USE CLEAR TAPE OVER THE CUTS IN THE PAD SO I COULD CONTINUE TO USE IT. THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER THAN THIS ONE. THEY ALSO NEED TO MAKE BETTER CUTTING PLATES SO THEY STOP WARPING.

[@VianneyCreates]

Isn't that bad, the magnetic plate especially. I was surprised how badly it digs in.

[@debbiemartelli6106]

VianneyCreates a

[@elainepulliam1976]

Thank you VianneyCreates. That was the problem at first. The trouble I had was not being able to see at a distance in the videos I watched, which side (call me stupid) was called the blade side. So, I could swear that the smooth side in one video at least was blade side. Wrong! That might or prob does sound pretty ridiculous to all of you out there knowing which side was the "blade" side, but I did not. The book that comes with Gemini also does not show you clearly which side is blade side. Just, plain silly/stupid to some ofCVyou, I'm sure, but I wasn't sure which side actually did cutting. And I have been accused of taking things too technically, looking for harder answers, when a simple one awaited. So, yes - first few tries were sent thru incorrectly. BUT, it was when I sent them thru correctly, that it tore all the big holes in shims. That's why I became so confused. One way didn't work, one cut holes in shims - I'm sure now because the shims were partially damaged to sending them thru wrong the first few times.?? Thank you for your video. It helped clear everything up. ~ EP

[@VianneyCreates]

The shims can take damage from the pressure, but they should never be used on the blade side. Only the rubber embossing mat and maybe the metal shim can go on the cutting side. The others should never face the cutting edge. I hope you have better luck this time around!

[@luv2craftcards]

June 11 is when Anna Griffin is on with the today special.

[@VianneyCreates]

I thought so, but in one of her latest preview videos she said the first. Thanks for the heads up. I did see that they are already selling some of the stuff that she previewed, I may have to start buying it all up!

[@luv2craftcards]

@@VianneyCreates I think she made a mistake with the date. It throw me off too. I purchased the big set of nesting die this Monday. HSN had a 20percent of coupon for memorial so I took the offer. Well worth it.

[@VianneyCreates]

Girl! I saw the coupon Tuesday morning and I totally was bummed out because I wanted to use it on the nesting dies compendium, too! How funny. I have a $10 off coupon, but that's not good enough! LOL!

[@TheOneWins]

I never knew how those work

[@VianneyCreates]

Happy to help!

[@Louisianagirl_1126]

I keep boxes until the warranty runs out then I toss. I’m so sorry that people are so rude, that is what keeps me from having a KZbin channel because I’m Cajun French and it’s very hard for me to hold my tongue to rude people. TYFS. Love your reviews. Take Care. Stay Safe. ~Barbara

[@cindythompson6640]

H

[@elainepulliam1976]

Do me a HUGE FAVOR. Let's call it like this - the dies have a "Front" side (with all its' detail) and a "Back" side (plain, flat, smooth). Now tell me how to load dies. I just watched your video again & one other & it looks exactly like you're "doing" the opposite of you're "saying". Please forgive my ignorance & humor me. Thank you.

[@VianneyCreates]

I'm not sure what you mean, but however you lay the die...the paper should be touching the "front" side (using your terminology). Sometimes I face it up with the paper on top, sometimes I lie it face down with the paper underneath. It's still the same! Just always have a cutting plate under the paper, the rest of the "sandwich" goes on top of the die (the "back" side of the die). I don't work for these companies, so if I am not super clear...oh, well!! (; Their booklets are sometimes confusing, and most people like the way I explain things.