The Crop-A-Dile is a crafting tool that can punch through chipboard, tin and multiple paper layers with ease. Its built-in 1/8″ and 3/16″ eyelet setters easily set Stampin’ Ups standard and jumbo eyelets.
My Crop-A-Dile is one of my favorite tools. The Crop-A-Dile is a fabulous eyelet setting tool sold by Stampin’ Up!. When I first started paper crafting a few years ago I would pull out my protective mat, grab hammer, the punch, and the setter and begin banging away. If you’ve never done it, well… its LOUD! It sounds like a your knocking your walls down and because I craft mostly at night I would retreat to the garage where I could happily hammer away.
Yay!!! You’ll will NEVER have to hammer again because a much easier alternative has arrived… its called The Crop-A-Dile!
The Stampin’ Up! The Crop-A-Dile
When I first saw the Crop-A-Dile, I wondering whether or not I should actually purchase it. After all, it does look a bit intimidating doesn’t it? And I do have many, many tools that I thought were must-haves, that now sit around gathering dust. While deliberating, I asked my upline, Esther, about the Crop-A-Dile and she began to show me the many great qualities it has and why it’s a must have tool.
The Crop-A-Dile is strong and very well made!!! I just love how it easily punches through heavy materials allowing me to take paper crafting to new levels and explore new ideas. I use it to alter tin, heavy cardboard, and chipboard as well as setting a simple Eyelet or jumbo eyelet.
Keep in mind…The Crop-a-dile is very easy to use once you understand it and it’s settings. No more banging. It comes complete with the punching mechanism on the sides in two different sizes. I feel that the Crop-A-Dile is a very good investment and that it really works well.
The Crop-A-Dile is Ideal for Punching: Paper, Tin, Leather, Plastic, Chipboard, Acrylic, Fabric, Wood and Poly
As I stated earlier, the Crop-A-Dile is really very easy to use once you understand it. I believe the part that throws most people off is the different settings. I would suggest if you are just starting out…just set it to what is standard for eyelets and brads and leave it there. I use it most often for Jumbo Grommets on 3D projects so I would recommend setting it for what you would use it most. Leave it on that setting until you become more comfortable and confident using it.
Size | Description | Top | Base |
---|---|---|---|
3/16" Eyelet Setter | For all 3/16" standard and oversided eyelets | A | 1 |
1/8" Round Snap Setter | Dish shaped for all 1/8 inch round standard snaps | B | 2 |
1/8 Inch Eyelet Setter | For all 1/8 inch standard and oversized eyelets) | C | 3 |
Flat Setter | For all oversized, miscellaneous, and square shaped metal embellishments and snaps | D | 4 |
Good To Know: If you are having trouble remembering your favorite settings, paint a little colored nail polish on the settings you use the most to make lining them up easy.
For most instances the settings line up easily…. A corresponds with 1, B with 2, C with 3 and D with 4. The setting for mini eyelets is C-3 and probably the most used setting. The thing that confuses a lot of people is the which way to hold it to see the numbers. For the C-3 setting you want to set the bits so that the C and the 3 are on the inside where your paper will be squeezed. If you are using it Press slowly & firmly but not too hard…you don’t want to split the eyelets. Make sure your eyelets are inserted correctly before crimping. The prong part of the tool is inserted into the top of the eyelet that you see in the finished product.
I hope this break down has helped you understand your Crop-A-Dile. Take it out and just start setting it as I stated above and you’ll be amazed at how graceful it is when setting Eyelets or Punching Holes. It’s a fantastic tool!!! Don’t let yours sit and collect dust… let it do the work for you!!! Feel free to post comments and questions on the Crop-A-Dile. I’ll do my best to help.
Editor Note: This tutorial was original published on Feb. 8, 2011. We have updated this post with a new video and a new easy-to-use chart as of 7/19/12.
Hi Brandy,
I never received your news letter or what ya call it. Also I was charged for the. Stamping up catalog and I had one and paid $5.00 .
Now for some good news I love your videos, keep up the good work.
Thanks again, and God Bless you and your family. Connie
I love your video on crop audibles. I was given one without directions. I have experimented with it but didn’t realize all the things it could do. Now I do thanks to you.
I will be back for other videos and ideas!
Thank You,
Katherine
I so enjoyed your explanation of the crop a dial, I have considered buying it….but, it looked so complicated so I thought, I really don’t need it. Oh my, you made it look so easy. Wow, I had an extra bonus…The flower pansy punch card you made was so lovely. I can’t wait to make a card that is kind of like yours. How fun. I loved your enthusiasm!!! Thank you so much for sharing great information that will be used in my next card project.
Thank you so much for re fresher course, I purchased one of the first to roll off the factory and
since then have had it packed away for a few years as we sold a home, move to another state, then
have taken two years getting settled again.I had lost my directions to my pink Crop-A-Dile but then found your site , YEA !!
I am going to use the Crop-A-Dile tomorrow on some greeting cards. Have a super day.Mona
Thanks so much for making the Crop-o-dile easier to understand. I’ve had mine for quite a few years now and only use it occasionally. Must get it out again and dust it down! Think I’ll need a few more eyelets now. Great tutorial – thanks again.:)
I have a crop and i love it and i did not no how to use it so i want to thank u for showing me how it us use for the grommets. I’m Pinning it so i have it.
Hello Brandy, just getting inspired by your videos lately, I’ve been in an a bicycling accident and really haven’t been myself so I order the big shot to keep my busy you explain how to’s well and look forward to create some of my own cards, but I’ve seen the catalog in another video and wonder how can I get my hands on it.
Hi Mercedes,
I’ll email you now!
Hugs, Brandy
Hi Brandy, a friend recommended me to your website and blog so here I am….I have a question for you about the crop a dile. I’m thinking of purchasing a crop a dile, but I want it for inserting snaps….like the kind that that you would use to close a coin purse, or adhere two pieces of fabric together, or to make oneies (sp)( the one piece baby undershirt that snaps at the crotch.) Do you know if the crop a dile can do this? I’ve watched many, many how to videos, and the demonstrations all mention “snaps” but I can’t find one that actually shows how to do it. Thanks for any information you might be able to give me, or if you could point me in the right direction for me to do research. Thanks in advance…
I love my crop-a-dile. I have also learned I can use it for setting snaps on sewing projects. I can’t remember offhand which settings I use, but it only works with #15 snaps (#16 are too big & get jammed in the ‘dile). It’s a great tool!
Hi, I’m thinking of purchasing a crop a dile, but I want it for inserting snaps….like the kind that that you would use to close a coin purse, or adhere two pieces of fabric together, or to make oneies (sp)( the one piece baby undershirt that snaps at the crotch.) Do you know if the crop a dile can do this? I’ve watched many, many how to videos, and the demonstrations all mention “snaps” but I can’t find one that actually shows how to do it. Thanks for any information you might be able to give me, or if you could point me in the right direction for me to do research. Thanks in advance…
thanks for sharing…not used my cropadile as much as I should!! Found this tutorial fab…hugs..Denise x
thanks for the great tips. I always have to set a practice eyelet before using it on my project because I can never remember the correct way to do so!! I have bookmarked this page and will keep it for reference!
I have had my crop a dile for years and have never been able to figure out how to use it for eyelets, but I totally use it for thick whole punches. I will try again, but I don’t think I get the eyelet setting part. I still hammer and bang.
I finally tried out my Crop-A-Dile today, so cool! Now I realize that I need to buy more eyelets, I love this thing! I really appreciate your tutorial, it made the Crop-A-Dile not so intimidating!
Pamela