Of all the gadgets I’ve had on my wish lists over the years, the Epson Printable Ribbon Kit is at the top of the list when it comes to fun, ease of use and satisfaction.
Let me start with how easy this machine is to use. The ink and the ribbon come in a pre-set cartridge, so all you have to do is pick your color combination, snap it in and you are good to go. Want to change colors - pop one out, put the next in and go!
You can write whatever you need, in 14 fonts, in 5 sizes, add over 300 symbols, and it works in 7 different languages (English, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, German). AND if you do the same sort of project repeatedly, you can save up to 30 projects to use again.
I tried some of the more basic designs to get a feel for what to do. The font variety helps make every project your own. You can get even more creative with italics, bold, shadows and outlines. (My daughter absconded with the ribbon that said "Let It Go" with a snowflake!)
Don’t think it’s just straight lettering, you can create up to 3 lines of text or make the letters vertical!
You can do simple projects like labels to organize your home, quick ribbons for party favors or you can get into more complicated things like hair ribbons and greeting cards. Epson provides detailed instructions for those who haven’t created things like these before.
My only concern was the limited number of ribbon colors, but there are more now than even a couple weeks ago when I first checked out the product and more in production.
You also aren’t confined to just ribbons. This machine is compatible with other Epson Label Maker products so you can use Standard, Iron-on, Metallic, Reflective, Strong Adhesive, Glow-in-the-Dark, Pearlized and Clear options. Each tape pack is about 30 feet of ribbon, so don’t let the cost of the refills be a concern, they will go a long way.
The starter kit retails for $69.99 and comes with 2 ribbon cartidges. Additional ribbon are $19.99.