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Location: I now live in Flin Flon, MB Waaaaaaaaaaaaay up north.
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Fiskars Shape cutter
Does anybody have this who could tell me how to use it. I have been so frsutrated and upset. First of all there were no blades or instructions when I bought it. It took me forever to find a phone number to get then to send me sonme. I finaly did. They told me they would send me blades with instructions. they only sent blades. I tried to use it but can not get it to work very well. It's no better then just using a simple razer blade. GRRRRRR!!!! Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Are you referring to the Fiskars cutter that uses all the various templates w/it. If so, I have one and use it ocassionally. When you use it, make sure your template in right side up w/the Fiskars logo on top. Make sure you have the blade positioned toward you and follow the template around the different shapes. It takes a little practice, but after you get the hang of it, it is really kinda easy. Also, you must you a self-healing matt behind whatever you are cutting.
Pinky
__________________ Just Plain old "S/talkin' Pinky"/
I hate to say this, but someone bought one for me and I hated it. It never worked well for me. I ended up selling mine on Ebay last year just to get rid of it. Hope you have better luck with some help.
HTH! i have one and i love it. i love the coluzzle too.
does take a little bit of practice to adjust the blade to the right height especially when using cardstock. paper cuts easier.
hey i just saw you are in quebec! i guess you up in bay james, thats very far but if you ever get down to montreal where i am, i can let you know where are the good stores are!
I have this shape cutter, and it does take practice, use some scrap paper to get the feel of it. The blade can be adjusted for the thickness of the paper so a little adjustment there might help. Also the turning point for me was when I started using a glass mat rather than the self healing mat, the blade just glides much smoother. Hope this helps, I'm getting to like mine more all the time. Karen
__________________ "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." ~ G. Marx
Location: I now live in Flin Flon, MB Waaaaaaaaaaaaay up north.
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Thanks everyone!! I've been so upset and frurstrated with this silly thing because it's so darned expensive. Do you think that I could just use a piece of glass under it? We are so tight fiancially I can't afford to go out and get a mat. I have thick plastic templates/stencils that I am trying to use with it. Do you think they are OK?
I am actually in La Baie, QC It is about 5 hours from Montreal. I'm not sure what you mean by the good stores, sorry.:(
Thanks everyone!! I've been so upset and frurstrated with this silly thing because it's so darned expensive. Do you think that I could just use a piece of glass under it? We are so tight fiancially I can't afford to go out and get a mat. I have thick plastic templates/stencils that I am trying to use with it. Do you think they are OK?
I am actually in La Baie, QC It is about 5 hours from Montreal. I'm not sure what you mean by the good stores, sorry.:(
Are you using the templates that are specifically designed for use with it? Or, another manufacturer's?
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
It is a dense plastic template, with a channel designed to guide a swivel knife along the shape's outline. It's like tracing and cutting, all in one step. Many of the templates are nested, so you get various sizes of shapes all in one template. Highly cost efficient, easy to store, transport, etc.
The starter kit comes with the cutting foam, template, swivel knife and blade knife (for snipping the "webbing"; once you see how the system works, then you'll understand what the webbing is--I prefer to use a small pair of sharp detail scissors to snip the webbing, instead of the blade knife)
Visit the link above, and the entire line of this product is on display.
Helpful tips and tutorials for how to use the system are HERE (Basics), and HERE (Hints and Tips). I HIGHLY recommend, as do they, reading the instructions that come with it before you even begin fiddling with it. Had I done that, I would have saved myself a ton of frustration and poor results. I'd have nailed it right off the bat. snort! :rolleyes:
I could seriously be the poster child for the Coluzzle, I am so sold on this product. I've used it for a number of years now, and continue to add their newer templates to my collection. They are fabulous!
Ingenious tool, really, and an excellent alternative to purchasing a die cutting machine, if funds and storage space are limited.
HTH,
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
I have the Fiskars starter kit (comes with mat) and I've added several new templates. I LOVE IT! After you get the depth of your blade right and start out going couter clockwise it should be awesome. I borrowed the coluzzle from my upline and figured out that the Fiskars "Circles" template matches the coluzzle size and shapes perfectly. Plus, the coluzzle is a little bit flexable which could add problems. The Fiskars templates are solid plastic and no need for extra cutting when you are done.
Try making sure your blade is facing the right way when you start out until you get the hang of it. I'm assuming that you are using the rotating blade in the round, palm size cutter that is designed specifically for the Fiskars templates....
[quote=mustardseed]Thanks everyone!! I've been so upset and frurstrated with this silly thing because it's so darned expensive. Do you think that I could just use a piece of glass under it? We are so tight fiancially I can't afford to go out and get a mat.
You can use glass, a tempered glass would be safer. Before I got my glass mat (with a 40% off coupon ) I used my glass cutting board from the kitchen! The top side is textured, so I just turned it over and used the smooth underside! Worked fine.
Karen
__________________ "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." ~ G. Marx
I have this system, and love it. I've had mine since I started scrapbooking six years ago. I have the older style, and will say that takes some practice to get the right feel for it. You have to make sure the blade is low enough to cut, you do that by turning the dial on the top, it allows the blade to go lower onto the cardstock. Than have the blade going towards where you're cutting or you will tear up your paper. You can tell where the blade is by looking at for the angel on it, you need that going towards the area you're cutting. If the straight part is there it'll tear your papers. And do make sure you can read Friskars. That has a lip or grove on the shape that allowed the blade to move correctly and helps guide it a little. I use their self healing mat, and do make sure you have that on the right side too.
I have the fiskars system as well and love it. I never could get the hang
of the coluzzle. Make sure your templates are face up so you can read
the Fiskars lettering. I was frustrated at first also, but gave it another go
and now I won't use anything else. Everyone has to use what works for
them though. I say try a bit longer and if you're still not happy, go with
something else. Good luck!!
Well, I've been watching this thread and I have just been dismissing it as I have the fiskars system with a few templates and never could get it to work. It was sitting in a box on my office floor ready for me to get it listed on ebay - no sense having it just collect dust. Now you ladies got my curiosity up and I just had to try it one last time using your tricks and advice, and whadda ya know...it works! Now...do I keep it? I already have the CM system with most of the templates. I am a notorious hoarder and pack rat of all things stamping. I don't know what to do!!!!
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Thank you all so much for your help. I'm still kind of up in the ari about what to do about it. I don't have the fiskars templates and can't afford to get them.
:( I may just have to try to sell it if I can't get it to work with the stencils that I have.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wyabmom
I have the fiskars system as well and love it. I never could get the hang
of the coluzzle. Make sure your templates are face up so you can read
the Fiskars lettering. I was frustrated at first also, but gave it another go
and now I won't use anything else. Everyone has to use what works for
them though. I say try a bit longer and if you're still not happy, go with
something else. Good luck!!
I bought the original one and couldn't get it to work to save my life. I recently bought the new "improved" one and initially had the same problem. I finally read the instructions and learned that I hadn't taken the orange freehand adapter off! Once I popped that thing off, it worked like a charm.
__________________ The only thing better than a good friend is a good friend with a bag of M&Ms.
Fiskars Shape cutter
