Even when the weather was hot, Emma wore long-sleeved shirts. She had become secretive, too, like something was bothering her.
But Emma couldn't seem to find the words to tell her mom or her friends that the marks on her arms were from something that she had done. She was cutting herself with a razor when she felt sad or upset. Injuring yourself on purpose by making scratches or cuts on your body with a sharp object — enough to break the skin and make it bleed — is called cutting. Cutting is a type of self-injury , or SI.
People who cut often start cutting in their young teens. Some continue to cut into adulthood. People may cut themselves on their wrists, arms, legs, or bellies. Some people self-injure by burning their skin with the end of a cigarette or lighted match.
When cuts or burns heal, they often leave scars or marks. People who injure themselves usually hide the cuts and marks and sometimes no one else knows. It can be hard to understand why people cut themselves on purpose. Cutting is a way some people try to cope with the pain of strong emotions, intense pressure , or upsetting relationship problems. They may be dealing with feelings that seem too difficult to bear or bad situations they think can't change. Some people cut because they feel desperate for relief from bad feelings.
People who cut may not know better ways to get relief from emotional pain or pressure. Some people cut to express strong feelings of rage, sorrow, rejection, desperation, longing, or emptiness. There are other ways to cope with difficulties, even big problems and terrible emotional pain. The help of a mental health professional might be needed for major life troubles or overwhelming emotions.
For other tough situations or strong emotions, it can help put things in perspective to talk problems over with parents, other adults, or friends. Getting plenty of exercise also can help put problems in perspective and help balance emotions. But people who cut may not have developed ways to cope. Or their coping skills may be overpowered by emotions that are too intense. When emotions don't get expressed in a healthy way, tension can build up — sometimes to a point where it seems almost unbearable.
Cutting may be an attempt to relieve that extreme tension. For some, it seems like a way of feeling in control. The urge to cut might be triggered by strong feelings the person can't express — such as anger, hurt, shame, frustration, or alienation.
People who cut sometimes say they feel they don't fit in or that no one understands them. A person might cut because of losing someone close or to escape a sense of emptiness. Cutting might seem like the only way to find relief or express personal pain over relationships or rejection. People who cut or self-injure sometimes have other mental health problems that contribute to their emotional tension. Cutting is sometimes but not always associated with depression, bipolar disorder , eating disorders, obsessive thinking, or compulsive behaviors.
It can also be a sign of mental health problems that cause people to have trouble controlling their impulses or to take unnecessary risks. Some people who cut themselves have problems with drug or alcohol abuse. Some people who cut have had a traumatic experience, such as living through abuse , violence, or a disaster. Self-injury may feel like a way of "waking up" from a sense of numbness after a traumatic experience.
Or it may be a way of reliving the pain they went through, expressing anger over it, or trying to get control of it. Although cutting may provide some temporary relief from a terrible feeling, even people who cut agree that it isn't a good way to get that relief. For one thing, the relief doesn't last.
The troubles that triggered the cutting remain — they're just masked over. People don't usually intend to hurt themselves permanently when they cut. Second, there are flatbed plotters, which keep paper on a flat surface while a pen draws your desired image. With this option, you have a variety of colors to choose from so that your designs stand out. Finally, there are inkjet plotters, which use beads of ink to create designs.
These plotters three to four-color palettes that mix to create black and other darker shades. Drum plotters are the way to go if you are working with different lengths and widths, while flatbed plotters are best suited for larger sizes. Inkjet plotters are the best option for people looking to save money. Among the most important parts of a vinyl cutter is the drive motor, which is the engine of the machine.
There are two options you have if you want the best cutter for your needs. The first type is the stepper motor, which comes in a mechanical form.
This option uses physical gears to create your dream sign, moving in small increments for preciseness. The second type is the servo motor, which comes in a digital form. This device takes the form of a digital encoder and follows commands from the software that become ones and zeroes to create the final product. Stepper motors are the way to go if you are working on large images.
These motors are also the best option if you are used to older technology and want to save money. Servo motors will work if you are working with smaller images and need to be extra precise. These motors are also quieter compared to their mechanical counterparts, which is helpful if you are working around other people.
Whether or not you have the best vinyl machine may depend on how well it functions on its own. It may help to include accessories in your purchase so that you ensure your signs look how you want. One of the benefits of vinyl cutters compared to other versions is that they tend to have more accessories included.
Most of them come with user manuals in the box so that you know how to attach each part. Some accessories focus more on the cutting process and ensure that length and widths requirements are met. They include vinyl trimmers, hooks, spatulas, and pickup tools. Other accessories allow you to show off your creative skills and add color and life to your signs.
Again, there are lots of videos available online to help you learn the features. Start with a simple first project and build from there. My Cricut Aire 2 cuts faux leather really well, too….. The new cutting features helped out a ton….. Also, the program is slow and always dependent on my internet connection….
I live in a rural area so, its slow to pop up when needed even after the offline feature was added. If I would change one thing about the CA2 it would be the programming…. Cricut is too simple minded for me. I need one that will scan then, cut in vinyl instead of scan then print. I think the program needs an upgrade to layering capabilities…..
Cricut is for the person who buys their images and not for a true artist…. My opinion. I am on a slow burn with them mainly over not having phone support. They will spend an hour typing when a two minute phone call would suffice. I have written the powers that be with this…. Why would you include an outdated article in this post?
I know — really stupid, right? For a very simple project I had to create a 12 minute video showing my customers how to resize the image, how to tell the machine which pieces to cut and which pieces to draw, and more.
It was ridiculous. On the files that they make available in their shop not SVG files, but files already formatted specifically for the Cricut all that is done so customers really just need to open it and go. But that option is NOT available for individual designers. If I were selling pre-cut kits, a Cricut might have been a good choice. But I wanted to sell digital files and for that it was a big waste of money.
I used to have the same problem when Cricut first came out with their Explore series, but I thought that problem has been fixed for some time now. How recently have you had this issue? That is probably necessary to avoid legal liability because Cricut has no way of knowing whether the person uploading has the authority to share that file publicly or not.
After all, the vast majority of people are certainly people uploading files they bought, not people uploading things they designed themselves. I have used these for many years and have have always been successful in what i have made with them!!!! I agree, with those who said they wish more machines were included. I was surprised the Brother Scan n Cut was not included. Unfortunately it leaves me feeling that this was not helpful because only the 2 brands were discussed.
If you, or a reader, has experience with this machine please reach out and we will add it! There are now newer versions on the market that are even more capable — well worth a thorough review! Oh, definitely. Each machine is worth a thorough review I think. I hope that makes sense! I have been looking at Brother Scan N Cut 2 online; like the digital features of it but uncertain so heading to a dealer to get more info and see it in use.
I have heard it is a favorite for cutting original applique designs. Full disclosure, I am a quilt shop owner with a Brother machine dealership. I have invested much! That being said, I use each for different purposes. Manual- The Accuquilt Studio is an excellent industrial machine for creating multiple cuts with up to 8 layers of fabric.
An example would be cutting 2. I can cut strips with just 5 passes thru the machine. The dies are expensive but worthwhile if you know you are going to cut a lot of the same shape. Expenses are dies, acrylic sheets and trays infrequent.
Electronic- The Cricut Is my least favorite, but I use the cartridges I purchased to cut lettering in different fonts. It will cut cardstock, fabric with some finagling, foil… basically thin materials. It feels to be the most fragile of the cutters. Expenses are dies, mats and blades. Manual- I use the Sizzix for fabric applique pieces or cardstock shapes for the dies I have.
I can do multiple layers of cuts like with the Accuquilt. Expenses are dies and plastic bases to cut against. I can scan anything to cut! My own handwriting, a coloring book picture, an applique pattern, silhouettes, etc. The online software, Canvas, is free where you can edit and manipulate images. It comes with numerous built-in designs and can cut everything from paper to fabric to balsa wood!
The ongoing costs are for the consumables like mats, blades and pens. It will also transfer images wirelessly to a high-end Brother machine to stitch out in embroidery! Also, Brother is the only manufacturer licensed to carry Disney designs… which are loaded on certain models. You can get mass market models online, but the dealer models have more designs and tools included. This is tremendously helpful, Tiffany. Thank you so much for adding to our body of knowledge about these machines.
We truly appreciate it! Saving my pennies. What model machine are you talking about? Not true that Brother is the only company licensed for Disney designs.
Cricut also has Disney licensed designs. The new generation of machines runs on computer software and with the introduction of the Cricut Maker and its knife tool has the capability to cut much thicker materials than the previous generation of machines.
It has to be since the review is so skewed!! You left off quite a few other cutters. And, apparently I and my quilting buddy, plus those above, are SNC owners. This review is written by Alison Lee. Perhaps you will find input from others useful to add to the knowledge of the article writer. Sometimes it takes a village. And still, not everyone will be satisfied.
Terrific article, thanks Alison! Finally, I broke down and bought a new laptop with Microsoft on it Well, actually, the hubby gave it to me for Christmas …. Mac users are the minority so, you get the minimum in software updates.. I was frustrated and had a business to run so, I went over to the dark side…. Thanks Abby and Alison, Tiffany and other commenters. It is a truly a big, exciting, confusing world out there and I am rapidly falling behind with all the computer info. That being said, I have been eager for a cutter to cut out my designed appliques in fabric for many years so this whole article has been helpful to me and I will be keeping in touch with this article to see what other commenters have to say.
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