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Do I really NEED the magnetic platform for the Big Shot?
I'll be placing a rather LARGE order at the end of the month and I'm debating whether or not to throw the magnetic platform into the order.
I have the Big Shot and I have a handful of the framelits. I haven't used any of them yet so I'm just wondering if this is something that I need or can I get by without using it? I'm assuming it'll be easier to use WITH it, that way everything isn't sliding all around?
Thanks!
__________________
Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely BUT...to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand and screamingWOOHOO-WHAT A RIDE!
It makes a BIG difference. I didn't want to think that I needed one, but I caved - I think that you'll ultimately be glad that you invested in it. I'm not a demo, so I used a 50% off coupon and got mine at Michael's? Joann's? somewhere like that...
I use my magnetic platform all of the time. I taught a class at our LSS and used the platform when we were cutting and had to layer the dies. The ladies liked it so well that a couple bought the platform.
__________________ Mary Jo
prairiepapercrafter.blogspot.com
Do you NEED it? Your Big Shot will work fine without it. You can use removable tape to hold your framelit in place with the regular platform and it will stay lined up and cut just fine. Then again, I don't NEED my Big Shot - I could cut those things by hand if I had unlimited time and unlimited skill with a scissors / craft knife.
But, like Sue, once I tried the platform, it moved to the top of my wish list (I also bought mine at a big-box store with a coupon). I love it and haven't regretted that purchase for a minute.
I've never had a need for it. When I need things to stay in place, I use a little removable tape. You can also buy sheet magnets in the craft stores and use a coupon. I have one of those that I've used to cut and emboss at the same time.
I bought a small one for use with my Cuttlebug, and often use that in my Big Shot pro. I found it helps a lot with intricate dies that do not want to cut fully. As others say, you can hold stuff in place with low tack tape, which is how I usually do mine, as the magnetic sheet does not stop the paper/ cardstock from moving about.
Well, I don't need one, but I sure want one! I saw the Sizzex one at Michaels (I think), and I'm planning to get one with a coupon next time I'm there. To me, it's not worth $47 from SU (by the time I pay shipping and tax, but I think $26 at Michaels (or HL or JA) will be money well spent. A friend has one, and I really like it - it just simplifies things and prevents the problem of tape (that I use to hold a die where I want it) sticking to my cardstock.
not really. it does work as advertised, but like most tools has its pros and cons.
If your cutting plates are warped, the magnet doesn't work as well. Also, it's a magnet and not to the edge, so sometimes the die will NOT stay where I put it. It moves to its magnetic spot. So I end up using my regular big shot stuff with a bit of washi tape for some of my dies.
I think it is a fun addition but if I had to do it over again, I probably wouldn't get it.
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
I love the Magnetic Platform and would buy it again. I have had a problem with some small dies not staying in place but all you have to do is a little readjustment and you are in business again.
__________________ Barbara SU! Demo with a Blog
Procrastinators of the world unite... tomorrow!
I really love my magnetic platform. I sat on the fence for ages when it was released but bought it on the recommendation of a friend. I don't regret buying it as it is just so handy esp. for creating a frame. But like Joan said, if your plate is warped, the magnet doesn't hold as well. If I diecut something but then want to emboss with the silicone mat, I find it a bit annoying to have to remove the magnetic platform and put the original Big Shot platform back in with the plates and mat (unless someone can suggest a way of doing it with the magnetic platform :confused. In that case, then I use the original platform for diecutting and embossing instead of fiddling around with the magnetic platform. I don't often emboss after diecutting so it isn't a problem.
tweedcurtain, my bad! My plate isn't magnetic, its a metal shim plate. You can get it here.
I nearly always use some low tack tape to hold my die and card together, so it hadn't actually registered with me that its not magnetic, sorry. While trying to find a link to it, I did come across a number of threads online about using magnetic sheets like you use to store dies on, cut to size, if it helps. Here is onebog post about it.
I leave my magnetic platform on my Big Shot. Seems I use my thin dies on most projects. I just switch out the platform if I will be using a long die or embossing folder.
It's like a lot of things, I didn't NEED the magnetic platform but I was tired of using tape that sometimes stuck to the cardstock and pulled away some of the paper when I was removing it, even removeable tape. Now if the die size causes it to wiggle out of the position I place, i.e. fussy cutting, I use a piece of tape on a place where it doesn't matter if it stays stuck to the 'waste'.
I had read/heard about it being released. Thought about the Genius Platform but glad I waited. A friend bought one and was sorry she did. Would I buy it again, 'YES!'.
Have you tried it - friend/relative let you use it, workshop? It us up to you whether you will use it enough to rationale spending the $$.
I resisted because i didn't think I needed it. Post it notes were working, right? True but --- boy, am I glad I bought it. I haven't had any of the issues listed above - even works with my warped plates. I've never had the magnet move - but now that I've typed this, I'm sure both issues will happen LOL!
It is way easier than using tape for me - money well spent.
Okay, you convinced me. I'm going to get it. But instead of putting it on my order this month, I'm going to see if Michael's has it today. I'm assuming it's either the same $40 or cheaper than SU has it in their catalog, but I have a 50% off coupon. :cool: Good time to use it, I say.
__________________
Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely BUT...to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand and screamingWOOHOO-WHAT A RIDE!
tweedcurtain, my bad! My plate isn't magnetic, its a metal shim plate. While trying to find a link to it, I did come across a number of threads online about using magnetic sheets like you use to store dies on, cut to size, if it helps. Here is onebog post about it.
Thanks so much for this link. I went to the blog, wrote down the product info and went to Michael's with a half price coupon and got the Pro-Mag sheet. Came home, put it on the backside of my C plate, and it works brilliantly in my Cuttlebug!
How funny this should come up now. I was using mine this weekend and wondering how I ever coped without it! My cutting plates are a little warped but I have never had any issues with the dies moving. I love it!
Well, I finally had a chance to use my magnetic platform today. LOVE IT!!!
I'm starting on my son's high school graduation and I have a TON of photos. It's also the first time I'm scrapbooking using photo pockets. So I had a lot of 3x4 pockets that I had to fill and didn't want to use all "cards" for those slots. So I took out my Stampin Up's Project Life Cards & Labels Framelits and banged out a ton of 3x4 photos. Such a breeze.
__________________
Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely BUT...to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand and screamingWOOHOO-WHAT A RIDE!
Well, you know I started making cards to save all this money, because all I NEEDED to make a card was a scissors, some cardstock and maybe a stamp or two
tweedcurtain, my bad! My plate isn't magnetic, its a metal shim plate. You can get it here.
I nearly always use some low tack tape to hold my die and card together, so it hadn't actually registered with me that its not magnetic, sorry. While trying to find a link to it, I did come across a number of threads online about using magnetic sheets like you use to store dies on, cut to size, if it helps. Here is onebog post about it.
Thanks for linking that. I just improvised a magnetic sheet yesterday from my vent covers but shimmed with about 7 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 cut down cereal box fronts... I may have to try this.
Before SU ever Thought of a magnetic platform I had the idea that a magnet sheet would be great to keep framelits in place. HOWEVER, because I had to see the image and place the die in the right place, that means I had to place it with blade down...down towards my magnet sheet...that means I cut right into the magnet sheet, which I had already glued to the plastic cutting plate...that means it became immediately useless....Don't try this at home!
Now I have the SU magnetic platform and use it all the time.
I use a lot of Tattered Lace dies which are quite intricate and at times difficult to cut....with my SU magnetic platform I can run the die through, then back, then through again and don't have the frustration of parts not cutting. I also put the paper on first and put the die with the cutting surface down on the paper and have not had a problem with the paper sliding. Well worth the cost.
I have the Big Kick and I used a coupon and I love the magnetic platform. I like using it with my Spellbinders dies too. Yes you can use tape but this is so much faster.
For my fellow Cuttlebug gals, has anyone tried the Genius Ultimate Platform?? I keep seeing it in Jo-Ann and wondering how it performs. I haven't seen a ton of rave reviews, but I'd like to hear from someone on the boards here who tried it firsthand! It wouldn't be a wallet-killer with a 40% off coupon.
I have been looking for a magnetic plate for my cuttlebug for months. I have heard that the ones on the market do not fit in the older CB. Has anyone tried one and found that it was a tad to wide to use in the old CB?
Adding in my yes vote for the Magnetic Platform. Way easier than tape or post-its to hold your thin dies, once you try it you'll never want to go back. Lots more room to do many die cuts in one pass, and way more efficient. The magnets are circular shaped inside, not a solid sheet, so small framelits may shift a bit if you place them between the magnets. I just tell my stamp class to move the paper and die a bit until it sits still, then cut. Warped cutting boards do not allow the magnet to cling, you'll need a flat area where the plate is in contact with the platform to work. I love using it so much, I unscrewed the top tab from the Multipurpose Platform to remove it since there is no need to fuss with it anymore.
Do I really NEED the magnetic platform for the Big Shot?
