Big Shot - Nestabilities questions

[moster]

Help! I openly acknowledge I'm a bit slow with new tools, but I cannot figure out how to use my Nestabilities that arrived last night. I tried following the instructions on Ellen's and Nichole's blogs, but had limited success. It seems like it kind wrinkled my cardstock. The other issue was that I have managed to cut into my acrylic mats and the images that are cut into the acrylic mat became embossed on my nestabilities scallops! Do I just need new acrylic pads? Arrgggg!!! I have SO wanted these fantastic dies and I'm DYING to use them! . . . of course I'm wondering why the HECK I didn't order the rectangle!

BTW, was anybody else surprised that NO instructions accompanied the dies?

I have all the extras (I think) -- Big Shot's multipurpose platform and the charm embossing kit.

[LisaVB]

I just used them today with my Big shot...Let's see if I can remember what I used... LOL

1) White block
2) Shim - I have this piece of chipboard that I use for my metal Lasting Impressions templates that I used for this as well and it worked great!
3) acrylic block piece that came with my Big Shot
4) Die - metal ridge facing up
5) paper
6) acrlylic Piece for the Zip-E-Mate (I bought this one after trying to emboss with my BigShot acrylic piece and broke 3 ot them. Evidently the ZEM one is a little less rigid)

That cut beautifully! Now, I have to figure out what to do to get them embossed though! That sounds cool!

[efromhawaii]

These are my recipies and I get clean cuts and nice deep impressions:

To cut:

White universal mat (on tab 2)
clear acrylic pad
die, ridge side up
cardstock
clear acrylic pad

To emboss:

White universal mat (on no tab)
clear acrylic pad
die with the cardstock still in the die (face up)
2 tan embossing pads
clear acrylic pad

HTH
Erin

[lilian]

Thanks for asking this... would love to know how to use the Nestablities with the BS too. Thanks for sharing.

[CathyC]

Hi All!

Here is some information directly from the Spellbinder's compatibility guide.

To use Spellbinders Dies in the Big Shot:
1. Layer an acrylic mat onto the white pad.
2. Place either 2 Sizzix Adapters or one Spellbinders White Spacer plate onto the acrylic mat.
3. Spellbinders Die with Cutting or rough side up.
4. Paper over die.
5. Another acrylic mat over paper.
6. Roll through machine.
7. To emboss, remove the white spacer plate.
8. Place Tan Emboss Pad (Spellbinders Product) over the paper, put acrylic mat on top again and roll through the machine again.

I was recently at a consumer show where Spellbinders had a booth. Stacey Caron, Spellbinder's President was showing off the Wizard and people were asking her how to use the dies in various machines. I really had to laugh when she reached down and produced a Big Shot and a Cuttlebug and showed them and they worked like a charm. Obviously they are going to work the best in the Wizard, but I was glad to see that you can actually get very good results using what you may already have.

Cathy

[ellepaul]

Thank y'all so much for answering this. I have been thinking about getting the rectangle Nestabilities but I had no idea if it would work on the Big Shot or not!

[moster]

Thanks so much for the info! From your posts and from discussions with missconn, I think 1) I need to purchase a new acrylic mat to keep the images that have become permanantly embossed on my current mat from becoming embossed in my nestabilities die cuts and 2) I think I must have been "over-shimming" my Big Shot.

I hope this works because I love my Big Shot and now that I've got $160 (!) invested in Nestabilities, I was REALLY not wanting to have to buy a Wizard, too!

[moster]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellepaul

Thank y'all so much for answering this. I have been thinking about getting the rectangle Nestabilities but I had no idea if it would work on the Big Shot or not!

THAT'S the set I REALLY want! I bought the petite scallop/circle set and the Scallop oval/oval set. Those are cool, but I LOVE how you can create the look of elegant, engraved stationery with the rectangles. *must exert self control and avoid buying rectangles . . . for at least a month!*

[YouInkIt]

Does anyone know if the sheet of silicone rubber and impressions pad from the Sizzix Texturz Texture Plates Starter kit (as seen here: http://www.sizzix.com/shop.cfm?funct...mNumber=654376) will work to emboss the Nestibilities? Or do I have to buy the tan ones made by Spellbinders?

[stamps&cars]

Sooooo, since you guys have been using lots of different things. I have a question that is a little off from the OP. Is there a difference between the tan sheets from Sizzix and the black rubbery sheet that I got with my Big Shot's Impressions kit?

[Granna on the Go]

Yes, the Sissix silicone and texture plate set work with the Nestabilities. You may need a layer of one or two cardstock sheets. Start low and increase as needed. Be careful...not too much pressure.

I was surprized that the Nestabilites did not come with any instructions...I even bought the plates, polymer pads and magnetic plates separately and they did not come with instructions.

I have realized that each machine works differently and you really have to experiment. I would suggest that you get an extra set of acrylic mats...you may need them. I was surprized how much better things worked with new mats.

[Granna on the Go]

I really would appreciate your suggestions of positioning the die cuts to emboss the front panel of a card. It is such a great look...but I have tried with tape and sometimes the paper shifts.

Thanks for your helpful tips.

[hooked-2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Granna on the Go

I really would appreciate your suggestions of positioning the die cuts to emboss the front panel of a card. It is such a great look...but I have tried with tape and sometimes the paper shifts.

Thanks for your helpful tips.

I usually use a repositional scotch type tape and tape the die to the paper/card in the location that I want it to be. Then place the die with the paper stuck to it onto my sandwich. If your just embossing the image into a sheet of paper or card front, then skip the cutting step and just emboss the die into the paper. Then when I'm done cutting and embossing, I remove the tape and embellish as desired.


Hope this helps.