Thursday, July 31, 2008

Preventing folder lines - Cuttlebug Users

Yesterday I experimented with eliminating border folder lines using my Big Shot. I thought that the same thing could be done using the Cuttlebug. Here's what worked for me and my machine. Keep in mind that machines can vary and some rollers are "tighter" than others, so if a "sandwich" is not rolling through easily, don't force it. You don't want to end up with a broken Cuttlebug. Just try a thinner sandwich.

The usual combo for using embossing folders is: plate A, plate B, cardstock inside the embossing folder, plate B. Since I'm using craft sticks which are fairly thick, I eliminated one of the B plates. Here's how I set things up.


I didn't use the bottom B plate. I put the folder and cardstock directly on top of plate A. I placed the craft stick on top of the border and topped that off with plate B.


Here's a closer look at how I placed the craft sticks. They're covering the design, but are well inside the edges of the folders. That's the important part. No pressure on the edges means no folder lines. I also want to point out how the two standard sizes of craft sticks work quite nicely with the sizes of these new embossing borders.


This shows how it turned out. Well, at least how it turned out after three passes. As I've said before, it's best to start thin, so since I didn't get a good impression the first time, I added a Cuttlebug packaging shim (It was handy. Go figure. LOL!). I ended up adding a second shim to get the result that is pictured above--a nice crisp emboss with no lines.

By the way, I tried using plate A with plate C (Plate C is thicker than plate B and I thought it might eliminate having to use the shims.), but this combo was too thick to put through easily.

So, I offer this up as an option for Cuttlebug users who are noticing those bothersome border folder lines and don't want to have to cover them, cut them off, or hide them with a score line. Just eliminate them from the start. :-)

Addendum (since there seems to be renewed interest in this post): You might be interested in peeking at a post that I made more recently which recaps many of the items that I've used for both eliminating folder lines and for selective embossing: About all of this Cuttling. Just FYI. :-)

18 comments:

  1. Thanks SO much for all of the fantastic information and photos!

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  2. Jay, you are amazing!! I need to look through your blog and find what other amazing tricks you've come up with that I can use! Of course, I'll be admiring the beautiful art along the way:) Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Glad you're finding some useful info here. Thanks for stopping by! Appreciate the kind words. :-)

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  4. I am so happy I found your blog. You have done so much to help me use my cuttlebug in ways I never would have dreamed of. Thank you for sharing so freely too. I'm glad you post the things that don't work too so we can see the whole process of perfecting your techniques. Provo Craft should hire you as a R&D Specialist.

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  5. Heidi, I'm glad that you mentioned liking to see and/or hear what didn't work. Just the other night I was thinking about my Look Ma! No lines! post--that I maybe should have cut to the chase instead of leaving the whole thought process in there. On the other hand, I have fun telling how it all came about, and since it was already all written out.... :-)

    Thanks for visiting, and for commenting!

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  6. BRILLIANT! You're a star.

    xxxxxxxx

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  7. You are one clever lady. I've lost count of the number of times I've come on here after pulling my hair out and thought 'Doh!! Why didn't I think of that?'

    ProvoCraft should give you recognition of all your hard work to eliminate their problems. :o)

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  8. Aww, thanks so much for the kind words. :-)

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  9. This is simply wonderful. I hope you don't mind if I link it to my blog. If you do, let me know and I will remove it.

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  10. No problem, Donna. I'm all for sharing. Glad you're finding information that you can use. :-)

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  11. Very useful info. Thanks for sharing the details.

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  12. Thank you so much for that information - that is such a great help!!

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  13. Thank you for the useful information.
    Sylv xx

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  14. What a great idea. Thank you for sharing this.

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  15. Great tip! I'm glad I stumbled upon you. I live in Missouri also, Springfield to be exact.

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  16. thanks for the tip! i'm gonna try this. :)

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  17. this is sooo amazing! thanks for sharing!

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  18. THANK YOU!!! I have fabulous border folders I've wanted to use more frequently, but those unappealing lines. Glad I found you!

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