I saw this demo'd on HSN, wanted to buy an embossing machine and thought this looked great. For me, it wasn't. The instructions were unclear, in my opinion, and it was agony trying to get the plates through the machine. I like the idea of the ratchet handle, but found the whole machine and the instructions (made in China, of course) difficult to use. Purchased a Cuttlebug and everything is blue skies!