Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
You did it again. You went to use your Coluzzle template and there it is for all to see. At the exact spot that your blade slipped in and gouged your template. Now whenever you use it there is a little bump in the cut out piece. Don't despair! There is no need to toss that template out. With proper care and a little maintenance work, you should be able to use that template.
The Coluzzle templates are made of a rigid plastic and if your knife slips a gouge can happen in it. That gouge then will catch on the blade guard that helps the knife move through the channel. When this happens "bumps" result in your finished piece. This can easliy be remedied.
In order to smooth out this rough spot you will need a nail file. Not a rough metal file. A sandpaper style, finer grained almost "buffing" type of file needs to be used. First find the direction of the nick. Starting at the entry point see what direction it continues in. Gently seperate the channels from each other and insert file. You will want to file in the OPPOSITE direction the nick is going ( in other words if the nick cuts off to the left, you file to the right). DO NOT FILE BACK AND FORTH! Do 3 or 4 smooth strokes over the nick in the direction and pattern of the channel. Run your finger along and see if that smoothes it, if not, repeat.
This method works well for most knife slips. If you find that after several attempts to file the nick is still there, you have one of two options. First only use that channel in the opposite direction of the nick (the direction you filed in). To remind yourself of this draw an arrow in permanent marker showing you the "way to go". Second, or if the channel gets "nicked" going in both directions making it impossible to go in either direction, you can treat that nicked area as a web. Draw a circle around the area again in permanent marker and jump over it with the knife. Cut out that area with scissors as you would any other connecting web when you are finished.
KayLynn Sims Leaving Prints Instructor
I thought this might also help other Coluzzle users.
Thanks for the info! I did not even know that I could damage my templates. I just used them again last night. I really love my coluzzle! I used it for Christmas cards that I wanted a metallic copper edge but I did not want to use or hide that much copper page. So I cut out the middle and the cards looked great.
Now I will have to be careful.
Bev
(SCS#16459)
Now how do I fix the part that holds the middle of the template to the outside of the template? It's hard to explain when I don't think it has a name. I have the tag template and almost never use it, and any of the others that I have, and when I went to show a customer how it works, I noticed the tag part was only attached at one side of the template. I might try Crystal Effects to glue it back together. If I didn't pay so much for it I would just toss it, I don't like the system at all.
Kelli
Now how do I fix the part that holds the middle of the template to the outside of the template? It's hard to explain when I don't think it has a name. I have the tag template and almost never use it, and any of the others that I have, and when I went to show a customer how it works, I noticed the tag part was only attached at one side of the template. I might try Crystal Effects to glue it back together. If I didn't pay so much for it I would just toss it, I don't like the system at all.
Kelli
Please contact ProvoCraft directly. I believe you may have a defective template. They just might replace it. It sounds like the other side of the "webbing" (the piece that holds the template channels together) is missing.
I am a tremendous fan of the Coluzzle and prefer it over all the shape cutting systems I have ever used. BUT, I must admit when I first got mine, I couldn't quite figure it out and nearly threw it away. When SU! decided to carry it, I pulled it back out and tried again. Amazing how I got great results when I re-read the directions more carefully. :oops:
Like any system, you do need to practice to get a feel for it so it works great CONSISTENTLY for you.
That said, I must say, that considering cost, ease of storage, ease of use, and ease of transport (consider lugging a die cutting machine or your collection of punches around), in my book it is hands down THE winner! At least, for me, anyway.
The one and only complaint I have: They tend to market on their main website their "coming" templates, which are awesome, but will not actually be available to the consumer for MONTHS.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Julie HHR, I too, love the coluzzle and really hate their marketing techniques.
I live close to where their main warehouse is and their own craft stores are the very last to get the product. I really want the patty wack templates but who knows when they will be available. I won't buy form the webstie because I am so close to where it is shipped from. Is practically the same thing with the Sizzix. The stores are always last to get the new products. There is one store in Idaho where my mom lives and believe it or not they are usually better stocked than the store, that is only a few miles from their main warehouse!!
Love this tip thank you!
I've made a few niks in my tag tamplate as it's the one I "abuse" the most. I've almost surrendered a few times and bought a new one but I hold back everytime.
Thanks for the tip! I have several templates that are nicked and need to be repaired. I will have to try filing them and then filling in with a little clear fingernail polish. Thanks!
Fixing Nicks In Your Coluzzle Templates
