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I'm using Lawn Fawn Circle Stackables and every time I cut out a frame, this keeps happening... It looks like I tried to emboss it & only half of it went thru... I just want a smooth circle. Can it be my cutting plates? I've only had my Big Shot for 3 months so I can't imagine they need to be replaced already.. I just don't know what else it can be.. Anyone have any ideas? I Also attached a pic of my cutting plates so you can tell me if they are the culprit. If so, do I need to replace them already?? TIA
It's not your plates - mine look FAAAAAAAAR worse than yours. It almost looks like it's shifting or scrunching somehow, though I'm not sure how that would be possible. Are you taping the dies in place?
Hmmm. Yeah, I'm taping them down... Most of the time.. Definitely with frames like this though. I didn't think it could be the plates since I've only been doing this for a few months but I'm clueless as to what could be causing it. I'm using good paper. I'm using Neenah 110 lb. Ok, well thank you for replying. I appreciate it. If you have any other thoughts, would you let me know please? This is gonna drive me bananas. Not to mention I'm not wanting to use my circle dies and I LOVE my circle dies... When they have crisp, clean lines..
To flatten it out, run it through the Big Shot again between plates but without anything else. It may flatten it out so you can use it.
I'm working on my Christmas cards and sponged the bottom with paint. After letting them dry I'm running them through the BS as if it was an embossing folder without the folder. It flattens them beautifully.
Here is a thought: when you put your sandwich of die, paper and plates together, slip in a piece of chip board (talkin about thin cereal box material) as a little shim. I might be all wet, but it looks to me as if you do not have consistent pressure all the way around the piece to get a good embossing. You think too much pressure is flattening out the embossing - I think the opposite. Put more pressure for a better embossing result.
Does this set of dies emboss as well? If so, I agree with Janet1000 – it looks like there was uneven pressure. But if you want a smooth surface with dies that emboss, you would need less pressure I would think, but it's hard to control that on the Big Shot. I just let mine emboss and work it into the design, even if it's uneven!
Here is a thought: when you put your sandwich of die, paper and plates together, slip in a piece of chip board (talkin about thin cereal box material) as a little shim. I might be all wet, but it looks to me as if you do not have consistent pressure all the way around the piece to get a good embossing. You think too much pressure is flattening out the embossing - I think the opposite. Put more pressure for a better embossing result.
Sorry, I meant to tell you to slip the chip board next to the paper. So on top of your platform, lay your plate one down, die down with cutting blade facing up, paper down, then chip board, then 2nd plate. You want that shim to be behind the paper forcing it against your die to get the embossing as well as the cut.
Secondly, just a heads up if no one has mentioned it. Try to use one of your plates as the cutting plate that the die always cuts into. Leave the second plate as non-scared as possible. That way you buy one replacement plate once in a while instead of both plates - know what I mean?
If the die isn't supposed to emboss, but you get that faint outline of the die edge it usually means the sandwich is too tight.
Using 65 lbs card instead of 110 lbs might fix this.
I had a few dies that did this as well and it doesn't seem to happen on lighter cardstock.
I also agree with Janet1000 in regards to the cutting plates.
I find using only one to cut has benefits. IE if the plate my cardstock is on is nice and smooth no marks will show. if it's on a plate that's cut up sometimes the cuts will imprint on the paper.
I don't think it's supposed to emboss. I'm using the Lawn Fawn circle stackables...
Originally Posted by poppydarling
Does this set of dies emboss as well? If so, I agree with Janet1000 � it looks like there was uneven pressure. But if you want a smooth surface with dies that emboss, you would need less pressure I would think, but it's hard to control that on the Big Shot. I just let mine emboss and work it into the design, even if it's uneven!
Ooooohh.. Never thought about that. Thank you for the tip!! And I will try what you're suggesting. Thank you!!
Originally Posted by Janet1000
Sorry, I meant to tell you to slip the chip board next to the paper. So on top of your platform, lay your plate one down, die down with cutting blade facing up, paper down, then chip board, then 2nd plate. You want that shim to be behind the paper forcing it against your die to get the embossing as well as the cut.
Secondly, just a heads up if no one has mentioned it. Try to use one of your plates as the cutting plate that the die always cuts into. Leave the second plate as non-scared as possible. That way you buy one replacement plate once in a while instead of both plates - know what I mean?
I only use 110lb. for card bases...everything else is 65lb....easier to work with and thinner for layering cards. I agree with "punch-crazy"...looks like too tight if you are getting embossing without trying.
Cathy
__________________ I stand alone without beliefs...the only truth I know is you
Secondly, just a heads up if no one has mentioned it. Try to use one of your plates as the cutting plate that the die always cuts into. Leave the second plate as non-scared as possible. That way you buy one replacement plate once in a while instead of both plates - know what I mean?
I learned this the hard way with my Cuttlebug and plates. I was cutting into the C plate, with the B plate on top. It is much harder to find the C plates, and they cost more, and you only get one in a package. You get 2 B plates.
Now I have a B plate that I use exclusively for cutting into, and have a spare when I need it.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
Well crap.. Of course I don't have any 65 lb. All I have is 110. Ok, I'm going to start doing it that way. Oh wait, will copics and spectrum noirs work well on 65 lb.? It's a hour and a half drive to the closest Michael's but I'm going there this Friday. Is Michael's a good place to get white card stock? Where do y'all get your white card stock? I just got my Neenah from Amazon. Maybe that's where I should get the 65 lb. too....?
You can get "recollections" brand 65lb cardstock at Michael's. I also use the 100lb for all my cardbases. I LOVE it. And it is quite reasonable. Both of these Copic perfectly. Happy Stamping...Bobbi
Is it possible that if your cutting plates are not both flat, that they don't give the same pressure to all areas of the die so the embossing/cutting is not consistent for entire diecut?
My circles look like yours, but mine are nestabilities. I've tried 85 lb. and 110 lb.. I think Stampin' Up might be 65 lb. I tried foil, which made the scrunching worse, even though I think it is thinner than the other papers.
Replacing the cutting plates has become less expensive lately, so since you will eventually need them anyway, you might get smooth circles if both your bottom and top plates are brand new. I haven't tried that.
A few times when I was desperate to get a circle, I cut the Nestability circle out of 110 lb. Nennah paper and then used my ball-bearing burnisher to smooth the scrunching out. I also use that burnisher when the die cuts turn out with little balls on them from the holes in the die that are meant to be a help and emboss instead, like on Happy Holiday dies.
By the way, Copics and Spectrum Noir bleed through lightweight ( 65 or 85 lb.) cardstock.
Is there a way to avoid this from happening?
