Big Shot basics

Neat! I just realized that this is my 300th post. Woo hoo! Seems right that I should be making a post about the Big Shot. I wanted to hit the basics because there are a number of new users out there and many of the same questions keep coming up in discussion forums.


That is my Big Shot. Also pictured are the multipurpose platform and two clear cutting plates (pads). These are the basics that will get you started. Most of the time you'll be using the multipurpose platform (MPP) as your base with your die sandwiched between the two cutting pads on top of it. The die is usually placed with the cutting side facing up and your cardstock or paper on top of it. Sometimes you'll see folks use their dies with the cutting side down. I'm not sure how big a difference it makes, but I know that the thinner dies can bend if used that way. They tend not to bend if used blade up. Makes sense to me to just use them face up, eh?

But before I get too far, let me show you what one of these cutting pads looks like after it's been used a few times. I know this takes some people by surprise.


Don't worry. This is normal. It's a cutting surface that the blade of the die cuts against. It's gonna get marked up.


Here's what mine looks like after years of use. Looks like that on both sides. And yeah, it's cracked in a couple of places, but it still works. I'll probably retire it soon though. :-)

Let me talk about the multipurpose platform. I love this! I like easy and foolproof and this platform helps accomplish that.


It's hinged and tabbed, and it has diagrams and instructions printed right on it! You flip the tabs open or closed to change the thickness of the platform so that it can accommodate the different dies, folders, texture plates etc. You don't cut directly on the platform. It's there only in a supporting role. Most of the time you'll have a clear cutting pad on top of it. You use this tab (Tab 2) for wafer-thin dies. I'll summarize just which ones at the end.


Here is the MPP open to Tab 1. Tab 2 is off to the left and I've already passed that 'page' through the opening of the Big Shot to the other side. Now some folks have supposedly unscrewed the hinges so that they don't have to bother with open 'pages'. Yikes. I'm sure it works, but to me it sort of defeats the purpose. I find this set-up to be very convenient as is and not a problem to handle. This is the Tab setting that you'd use for slightly thicker dies, for texture plates*, for brass stencils*, and for embossing Spellbinders die cuts* like Nestabilities. Note the asterisks--these are cases where you don't use two clear pads; for these items you'll need a silicone pad and the Impressions pad. More on what these do later. But in short, here they take the place of the clear cutting pad that would usually go on top of the stack.


Here is the platform with No Tabs selected. It's supposed to be used with narrower embossing folders. I use this one with the Cuttlebug embossing folders of all sizes. I've used Tab 1 for these in the past, but I get good crisp embossing without my cardstock tearing as often when I go with no tabs. Try it both ways and see which you like better.



I wanted to show that there are times when you won't use a platform at all. This is when you use the Thick Cut, Bigz, XL Bigz, or Original Sizzix dies. You just pass the die through between the two clear cutting pads. No platform needed. No room for one!


And these are some of the accessories than can be useful when using the Big Shot.

The blue pad on the bottom is the Premium Crease Pad. It's made for use with the Cut 'n' Fold dies--these dies have lines that are meant to be scored in addition to lines that are supposed to be cut. Think of box templates as an example. This pad helps assure that the score lines turn out to be scored and not cut. If you use the clear cutting pads, often they'll end up cut. Not good. This pad can also be used to cut and emboss Nestabilities dies in one pass. You may see these around in red and black, too.

The black pad is the Impressions pad. It comes in the Texturz Starter Kit or can be purchased individually. This used to come in the Big Impressions Starter Kit, too. If you've seen references to the BISK, that's what people are talking about. It's slightly thicker and narrower than a clear cutting plate.

The very pliable black mat that you see is the silicone embossing mat. It works the same way as the tan Spellbinder embossing mat, also pictured above, developed for use with Wizard dies. These are both very soft and are easily forced into the sometimes intricate designs of metal dies or stencils to create crisp, detailed embossed images. I included a smaller piece of the tan mat to show that it can be cut down to allow embossing of a stencil image without embossing the edges of the stencil. I think it's great to have smaller pieces as well as the larger ones that can be used for big texture plates. These silicone mats can be bought separately. The kits that I mentioned above include this, the Impressions pad, and three texture plates (six designs).

Let me summarize which MPP settings you'd use with various dies, plates, folders....

Tab 2 for wafer-thin dies:

• Nestabilities and other Wizard dies
• Quickutz dies and GooseBumpz embossing dies
• Bosskut dies
• Cuttlekids dies
  

Tab 1:

• Sizzix Cut 'n' Emboss dies/Embosslits
• Sizzix Window Cut dies/Clearlits
• Thin Cut dies/Sizzlits
• Cuttlebug dies
• 4" Sizzix embossing folders (Easy Emboss or Simple Impressions)
• Ellison/Sizzix/Fiskars texture plates*
• metal stencils*
• embossing Nestabilities and other Wizard dies* (same set-up as with metal stencils, leave die cut inside die to emboss)
  

No Tabs:

• 2 1/2" Sizzix embossing folders
• Cuttlebug embossing folders of all sizes

No multipurpose platform at all:

• Sizzix Original or Thick Cuts dies
• Bigz dies
• XL Bigz dies (does require XL cutting plates)
• Sizzix alphabars
• Sizzix long decorative strips dies (require extended spacer platform and 13" decorative strip cutting pads)
  

I think that should cover most of the items that you'd think of putting through the Big Shot. These are the basics for getting started. For more info, tips, and tricks, please feel free to check out the Tutorials for the Big Shot and Cuttlebug menu in my sidebar. You can also find info there about what materials you can cut using the various dies.

Edited to add: I've compiled the above information into a chart. The post with the link to that chart can be found HERE.

s'more please

This was such a fun card to make. The s'more is a die cut by Boss Kut. The stamped image is by Darcie and hand cut. The background was made using the Swiss Dots A2 Cuttlebug embossing folder and creative Cuttling to leave that unembossed space for the s'more.

Simple but fun is a great combo, isn't it?

diagonally Cuttled cards, part two

Diagonal Cuttling can look good on cardfronts with color and texture, too. I also played around a bit more. There are a number of ways to use diagonal designs.


I used the Script embossing folder on the above card and distressed the embossing with a sanding block. The score lines were made using my Scor-It. The stamped image and sentiment are by Hero Arts and stamped in white craft ink.

This next background was made using the Birds & Swirls embossing folder. The stamps are by Inkadinkado. Again, the score lines were made using my Scor-It.

I used the Distressed Stripes embossing folder for this card and distressed it with a sanding block. The hedgehog is a die made by Bosskut. The sentiment is by Hero Arts.


This last card was made using the Textile Texture Cuttlebug embossing folder. The stamped image is by Rosebud Stamps. The sentiment is by Inkadinkado.

I had a lot of fun with these cards. I particularly like the very different looks that you can get, and the fact that having some unembossed areas leaves room for images and sentiments to be stamped or otherwise added directly to the cardfront.

Comparing manual die cutters

There are lots of die cutters available for personal use these days. It can be tough to know which ones will cut which dies, which can use what folders, and that sort of thing. I have three machines. I've had a red Sizzix for years. I've had the Sidekick for a little less than that. I've had my Big Shot for at least a couple of years now and it's the most versatile of the three.

But everyday I see lots of folks with questions about die cutter compatibility, so I compiled a chart of what works with what. Now I tried not to include erroneous information, but that means that I may have left something out if I couldn't find enough info about it. This is not meant to be all-inclusive in any sense, and I expect, and hope, that if there are errors they'll be pointed out, and that if there are additions that need to be made, they'll be sent or posted so that I can add them.

Okay, so with that disclaimer out of the way, here's a link to a file where I've compiled my information in chart form.

http://www.indigojay.com/crafting/diecutter_compatibilitychart.pdf

Hopefully this is viewable by most folks. You do have to have Adobe Acrobat Reader which is free and can be downloaded here.

Addendum:
I didn't go in search of this info. It kind of dropped in my lap, so I thought I'd add it here. If you have a Cuttlebug and want to know the sandwiches for the various dies, here's a link on SplitCoastStampers that will help:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=4505306#post4505306

It has the info in doc and pdf form. Hope that makes things easier.

Die Cutter Recap

It seems like excitement about the Cuttlebug is at a peak! I don't have that machine, but I bought some of the dies and embossing folders when they first came out and I was impressed. I loved a lot of the designs, particularly the A2 size embossing folders. What crisp impressions! They're great! You can use them as is. You can distress them with sand paper or a fine grit sanding block. You can chalk them. Lots of possibilities.

I use the Cuttlebug dies and embossing folders in my Big Shot. They work great and aren't complicated at all to use. I have a multipurpose platform and use them with it the same way that I would use the Sizzix or Ellison embossing folders. The Big Kick is the similar die cut machine that's sold by Sizzix. I think it comes with the multipurpose platform. The multipurpose platform makes life a lot easier! Not only that though, it makes it easy to use all of the following types of dies, both thick and thin:

• Spellbinders Wizard dies
• BossKut dies
• Cuttlebug dies
• Quickutz dies
• Zip-e-mate dies
  
• Sizzix dies
• Ellison dies

Basically, you can use any non-commercial die in this machine. Gotta like that! The thick dies can cut through thicker materials, such as multiple layers of cardstock, chipboard, cork, felt, fun foam, fabric, thin metals.... If the die happens to be one that will also emboss, that works great, too. Now Sizzix, Ellison, and Zip-e-mate have cut 'n' emboss dies that I've used. No problems. Beautiful results in a single pass. Some of the Wizard dies will also emboss. You have to run them through twice though, once to cut and a second time to emboss. These are fabulous!

Now, as for embossing, again you can use all sorts of products in the Big Shot (or Big Kick). Here's a list:

• Cuttlebug embossing folders
• Sizzix Simple Impressions folders
• Ellison Easy Emboss folders and Big Impression texture plates
  
• Quickutz Goosebumpz embossing dies
• Fiskars texture plates--yes, those blue or pink textured plates that were awful to try to use with that little embossing tool
  
• any brass stencil!
  

Again, to make things easy, Ellison released a texture kit to use for embossing with The Big Shot, The Big Impressions Texture Kit. It comes with texture plates (6 designs), a sheet of silicone rubber, and an impression plate. You can emboss cardstock, vellum, lightweight metal, HVAC tape, foil, transparencies.... The list goes on and on. Usually I get a nice impression without much difficulty. One thing to remember is that with cardstock a light misting with water will soften it enough to give a more crisp impression. This can work well both with the texture plates and with brass stencils. Usually the embossing folders have a positive and negative side or image, so those images tend to be crisp already. One more suggestion would be to add a shim if the image still isn't deep enough. Sometimes a sheet of text weight paper is enough. Sometimes you need a sheet or two of cardstock. Just be willing to experiment.

I've tried to make this a little more all-inclusive than my other entries. I know that some of this repeats things I've said from time to time already. I just thought I'd put it all in one spot. I've also tried to update my labels. If you want to see examples of how I've used Cuttlebug folders, you should be able to click on that label and go to that post. Same with some of the other tools that I've mentioned. I'm still fine-tuning though and trying to make things as easy to find as possible. Hopefully I'm getting there. :-)

More ARCs, some seasonal

Last week, or a couple of weeks ago, I finished off the last of a series of altered rolodex card swaps. I had a week of actually being completely up to date! Of course, a few days later I signed up to do a couple of ATC swaps that I just couldn't resist, so I'll be back at it again soon. :-)

shades of blue

I think the name of the swap makes this one self-explanatory. The stamps are by Wordsworth (sentiment) and Paper Angel (image of children).

words of wisdom

This is another that I don't think needs much explanation. The die cut is by Sizzix. The flower and leaf are Primas. The sentiment is by Paula Best and the flower image is by Hampton Arts.

snowflake rolodex

For this rolodex I used a wavy square Sizzix die cut and patterned paper. The acrylic snowflake is by Heidi Swapp with a snowflake button layered on top of it. The sentiment is by Penny Black and stamped using SU white craft ink.

soda can tab challenge

Again, not a tough theme to figure out, given the title. The challenge was to use a soda can tab in some way on an altered rolodex card. They've always looked like buckles to me, so I used it as the buckle on a Santa suit and threaded a strip of black cardstock through it. Black Stickles were used to make buttons. The stocking was a premade die cut. The fa la la sentiment is by Rubber Soul.

These altered rolodex cards are a lot of fun. I use a Bosskut die to make the base so that I can use all sorts of cardstock. I keep my ARCs in a rotary card file and it's neat to see all of the images, colors, and embellishments as each card flips by. It can also be a wonderful resource of ideas for those times when the muse has gone wandering.

One more altered rolodex

snowman wishes

I am just about caught up with my altered rolodex swap items. The one for which I made the above card had a snowman theme. I love this overhead view. The stamps are all by Rubber Soul. There are snowflakes in the background, stamped in Pearlescent Sky Blue Brilliance ink, and there's pearlescent chalking of the snowman as well. Both of those may be tough to appreciate in the photo, but they're there.

More altered rolodex cards

Yes, this does seem to be my latest passion. Here are a couple more altered rolodex cards that I've made for swapping. I finished them this afternoon.

pretty in pink

For this swap, the rolodex was just supposed to be pink. It will be part of a color theme as time goes on. The dress die cut is a Cut 'n' Emboss die by Ellison. The alphas are by Heidi Swapp. The tone on tone background swirls was made using Versamark ink and Purple Onion Designs stamps. I accentuated the embossing on the dress with a Stardust pen, then added some Prima flowers and a silver Stickles center.

word up

The theme for this rolodex swap was a word, any word, used in any way. I have lots of 'art' stamps, so that's what I used. These stamps are all by Ma Vinci. The folder tag is a Sizzix die cut. Everything was stamped using chalk inks. Once again I used that address card die by Boss Kut--it makes doing these altered rolodex cards very quick and easy.

Altered rolodex cards

Wow. I can't believe that it's been so long since I last posted anything here. Okay, so it was only ten days, but I'd been better about keeping up earlier. Well, I've been working on swaps items, so I guess that's a good excuse. I've finished a number of rolodex swaps, so I'll go ahead and post those now.

70s theme

The 70s themed rolodex was made using stamps by Paper Candy. I colored the images with Glaze pens to make them pop a bit more, then I added the funky embellishments.

It's fall!

This altered rolodex was made using patterned paper, Prima leaves, and some of those small paired $1 stamps from Michael's. The ribbon was from Target's dollar spot. Yep, big spender here. ;-)

Anything goes

For this swap, there were no rules, just alter the rolodex. I used patterned paper and a postage stamp die cut to dress this one up.

All that Glitters

A glittery rolodex card was the theme for this swap. Fairies have always been glittery to me, and I accentuated that with some of Gelly Rolls' lightning gel pens, a Stardust pen for the doodles in the background, and then some rhinestones. The fairy is an Ellison thin cut die and I used it on Bazzill metallic paper.

Oriental Lady

This last rolodex was made with an oriental theme in mind. I used textured paper and all of the stamps were by Inka Stamps.

One last note--I didn't spend much time cutting these out. I used to trace and cut out each one, but recently I found out that BossKut makes an address card die. That's what I used to make all of those rolodex cards up above. It worked great in my Sidekick, though I did have to play with shimming it to get it to cut just right. I've seen that Ellison Design has come out with one for the Big Shot, too. I think that's a thick cut die. This one by Boss Kut is VERY thin, but it cuts surprisingly well. I was impressed and very happy with it. Oh, and I should have taken a pic of the back of my rolodex cards. Catslife Press makes a stamp for the back of altered rolodex cards now, just like the ones that you see for ATCs. Makes it even more fun to play with these.