Today I took the time to review the compatibility sandwiches that I had posted back in July and I have updated the information to include the new Magnetic Placement Mat in the machines that I own to let you know how it will affect the sandwiches. I am happy to tell you that it will work in the Cuttlebug, but you will need an additional white spacer plate to accomodate for the added thickness. It will also work in the Big Shot with only slight modifications needed. I would like to suggest that you find your machine below and then copy and paste your needs to a Word document and print them out to reference when you use your new dies.
The Magnetic Placement Mat is an ultra-thin layer, much thinner than the xyron magnetic pads I made to store my Spellbinders dies in. See this post for my storage examples. It is important to me that I always research any idea that hits my brain and so I did try those mats in my Wizard and found that they did indeed hold the dies in place. But after several uses the die shapes were "embedded" in the magnetic pad I had made. I don't know what the outcome of this will be after repeated use, but I wanted to let you know that initially this does work. Unfortunately the depth of my magnetic "creation" is too deep to use in other machines without creating significant snapping and popping. In comparison the Spellbinders Magnetic Placement Mat retains its original shape much better than my homemade version.
One thing I did notice is that the Magnetic Placement Mat is larger in size than the White Spacer Plates. Therefore where the Magnetic Mat extends over the edge of the White Spacer Plate I made quit an indentation in my Mat right at the edge where it extended over the Plate. So I trimmed my Magnetic Placement Mat using my Carl Cutter to be the exact same size as my Spacer Plate - problem solved.
In the following Compatibility Sandwiches the products listed below are referred to repeatedly - I thought I would link you to these items to help you gain a better understanding of what they are.
Most directions below recommend that the Spellbinder™ dies be placed on your work surface blade side up. Be certain to check your machine sandwich before cutting to ensure correct usage.
All recipes are placed in stacking order starting at the bottom moving upwards. After cutting do not remove paper from die to emboss, proceed with paper remaining in die.
Cuttlebug™
This machine is capable of cutting and embossing any Spellbinders™ die. I can not guarantee that the B plates will not break in the Cuttlebug, but when testing my B plates were fine. They did make that ever present cracking noise though and therefore my hesitancy to say that they will never break being I have broken many B plates over the last few months. I do plan on testing the Spellbinders Thick White Mats and the Blue Mats included in the Wizard Charm Embossing Kits to see whether I can find an alternative to the acrylic plates. The white and blue mats provided by Spellbinders are so much sturdier.
How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in the Cuttlebug™:
Cutting Sandwich
1. A plate
2. C plate
3. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
4. Paper or cardstock
5. B plate
6. Roll through Cuttlebug™
Cutting Sandwich with Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
1. A plate
2. B plate
3. Spellbinders™ White Spacer plate
4. Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
5. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
6. Paper or cardstock
7. B plate
8. Roll through Cuttlebug™
Embossing Sandwich
1. A plate
2. 2 sheets cardstock to act as shim. Add extra pieces if needed.
3. B plate
4. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
5. Paper or cardstock
6. Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Mat
7. B plate
7. Roll through Cuttlebug™
Embossing Sandwich with Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
1. A plate
2. B plate
3. Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
4. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
5. Paper or cardstock
6. Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Pad
7. B plate
8. Roll through Cuttlebug™
*Shim with extra pieces of cardstock if needed.
Big Shot by Ellison Design™
This machine is capable of cutting and embossing any Spellbinders™ die.
How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in Big Shot™:
Cutting Sandwich
1. Multipurpose Platform
2. Acrylic mat
3. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
4. Paper or cardstock
5. Acrylic mat
6. Roll through Big Shot
Cutting Sandwich with Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
1. Multipurpose Platform
2. Acrylic mat
3. Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
4. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
5. Paper or cardstock
6. Acrylic mat
7. Roll through Big Shot
Embossing Sandwich
1. Multipurpose Platform, Tab1
2. Acrylic mat
3. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
4. Paper or cardstock
5. Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Pad
6. Acrylic mat
7. Roll through Big Shot
Or Embossing Sandwich 2
1. Big Shot Impressions Starter Kit White and Black Mat
2. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
3. Paper or cardstock
4. Big Shot Impressions Starter Kit Black Impression Mat
6. Acrylic mat
7. Roll through Big Shot
Embossing Sandwich with Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
1. Multipurpose Platform, Tab1
2. Acrylic mat
3. Spellbinders™ Magnetic Placement Mat
4. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
5. Paper or cardstock
6. Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Pad
7. Acrylic mat
8. Roll through Big Shot
*Shim with extra pieces of cardstock if needed.
Big Kick™
This machine is capable of cutting and embossing any Spellbinders™ die.
How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in the Big Kick:
Cutting Sandwich
1. Universal platform (thick white mat from Sizzix)
2. Clear acrylic mat
3. Spellbinders™ White Spacer plate
4. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
5. Paper or cardstock
6. Clear acrylic cutting mat
7. Roll through the Big Kick™
Embossing Sandwich
1. Universal platform (thick white mat from Sizzix)
2. Clear acrylic mat
3. Spellbinders™ die, blade side up
4. Paper or cardstock
5. Two (2) Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Pad
6. Clear acrylic cutting mat
7. Roll through the Big Kick™
*Shim with extra pieces of cardstock if needed.
Magnetic placement pad not yet tested.
Zip’e Mate™ by Accucut® (ZEM)
This machine is capable of cutting and embossing any Spellbinders™ die.
How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in the ZEM:
1. Place Spellbinders™ die on ZEM's platform, blade side up.
2. Place paper over die and cut in the same manner as with Zip’e Cuts™.
3. After cut, do not remove the die or the paper from the platform, place ZEM's Embossing Foam over paper and with the ZEM's Embossing Mat, roll through again to emboss the die-cut.
ZAZ™ by Accucut®
This machine is capable of cutting and embossing any Spellbinders™ die, except the larger, Size Four Spellbinders™ dies.
How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in the ZAZ™:
1. Place Spellbinders™ die on ZAZ™'s platform, blade side up.
2. Place paper over die and cut in the same manner as with Zip’e Cuts™.
3. After cut, do not remove the die or the paper from the platform, place ZAZ's Embossing Foam over paper and with the ZAZ's Embossing Mat, roll through again to emboss the die-cut.
Sizzix®
Sizzix® manufactures the Sizzix® Adapter™ and the Sizzix® System Converter™ which, together, allow the cutting of Spellbinders™ dies that are smaller than the Sizzix® Adapter, which measures 2 3/8” by 2 5/8.” This includes most Spellbinders™ Fonts and Mystery Dies. The Sizzix® Adapters are sold in packages of ten and several can be used side by side to allow for the cutting of larger Spellbinders™ dies.
How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in the Sizzix® Machine:
1. Place the Sizzix® System Converter into the Sizzix® Machine.
2. On the Cutting Pad, place paper to be cut, then the Spellbinders™ die, blade side down.
3. Place a Sizzix® Adapter over the Spellbinders™ die, then cut as normal.
4. Leave the cut paper in the die. Turn the die over so that the blades are facing up, place back on the cutting pad – without the Sizzix® Adapter.
5. Layer a Spellbinders™ Tan Emboss Mat over the die.
6. Press in the Sizzix® Machine.
*Shim with extra pieces of cardstock if needed.
Magnetic placement pad not yet tested.
Sidekick™ & Tag-a-Long™
The Sizzix® Adapter does allow the cutting of Spellbinders™ dies with the Sidekick™ & Tag-a-Long™, but this is limited to most Spellbinders™ Fonts or Mystery Dies, due to the limiting size of the Sizzix® Adapter.
The Sidekick™ & Tag-a-Long™ do not allow for the embossing of Spellbinders™ dies.
How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in the Sidekick™ Machine or the Tag-a-Long™:
1. Place die, blade side up, onto a Sizzix® Adapter.
2. Place paper over die, roll through the Sidekick™ or Tag-a-Long™.
QuicKutz®
The QuicKutz® hand tool is capable of cutting only the smaller Spellbinders™ dies, such as the Spellbinders™ Fonts and the Mystery Dies.
It is not capable of embossing Spellbinders™ dies.
How to Use a Spellbinders™ Die in the QuicKutz®:
1. Place a Spellbinders™ die and paper into the hand tool.
2. Squeeze to cut as normal.
Note: The QuicKutz® tool has a “sweet spot” of cutting area in the center of the cutting platform. When cutting with a Spellbinders™ die, it may be necessary to center the desired portion of the die inside the hand tool’s cutting platform. If a good cut is not obtained with the first squeeze, the die may be moved and squeezed again. Taping the paper to the die can be helpful in this process.
Revolution®
The Revolution® has not been tested at this time.
Your site is wonderful - very informative and helpful. I'm hoping you can help me - I need help with the various sandwiches for using other dies (unbranded) in the Grand Caliber - they go through the Cuttlebug OK. I've Googled the Grand Caliber site and I must be doing something wrong as I can't find anything.
Posted by: Patricia Steele | November 13, 2015 at 02:32 PM
Received a pair of the junior magnetic mats today and want to thank you for the info on how to use them in my bigshot.
Posted by: Dolores Johnson | February 07, 2014 at 12:27 PM
Ellen, Thank you for terrific directions on the Cuttlebug. I needed them desperatley. I came across you from Beate Johns site & happy I did. ;0)
Traci Lord
[email protected]
Posted by: [email protected] | March 10, 2011 at 04:49 PM
Excellent instructions. Thanks so much for your inspiration.
Posted by: Paula Watkins | June 21, 2009 at 05:13 AM
this is awesome, Emily shared ur site with me and I'm so happy she did tyvvm
Posted by: Audrey | March 24, 2009 at 07:05 AM
Thank you for the information...I just received a BigKick for my birthday and used cuddlebug dies on it and it cut into the plates...I hope I haven't ruined my new gift!
Posted by: jean wilson | November 13, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Hi Ellen,
I just came across your great blog. I have a question about the nestibilities. It was back in Sept of 07 that it was stated that these dies had not been tested yet on the Revolution. Is there an update about that? I understand the dies are similar in depth of the QK dies. I love these Nestabilities dies and am hopeful they can be used on my Revolution tool.
Hopeful!
-Sue
Posted by: Sue Shepherd | June 18, 2008 at 07:55 PM
Hi Ellen
I am from the uk and this site is great can you help i want to put the cuttlebug alphabets into the wizard and don't know what the sandwich is.
Thanks in advance
Posted by: Alison | February 09, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Hi Ellen: I just read the sandwich recipe for the CB for the Nestabilities Dies,
I would like to cut and Emboss with the Nestabilities, what should I buy to make that happen.
Do I need the white spacer plate and the tan emboss mat? Is there anything else I would need for the Cuttlebug?
Posted by: Carol | September 25, 2007 at 09:55 PM
Thank you so much for all that you do to make things so much easier for the rest of us. I appreciate your advice on our machine (CB and ZEM owner here) and know from my experiences that this is the perfect way t start and see what works well for my machines. I'm one of those with the tighter CBs and your suggestions from day one have been so helpful.
thanks again!
Lynn
Posted by: twinks | September 25, 2007 at 01:35 AM
Ellen,
Thanks for your info. I have a question about embossing the nestabilities in the CB. When you put that tan embossing mat, does it get cut marks in it from the dies? Do you have to replace it? Thanks
Posted by: Julie Hughes | September 24, 2007 at 06:34 PM
Ellen my dies came today!!! I have a question. Do you cut your selected shape first, then stamp the image on the cut-out shape to get it centered correctly or do you stamp on card stock first and then cut out the shape centering it on the die and if so how do you get the image to stay centered while you cut it out? Because the stamped image will be face down on the die how can you possibly center it?
Posted by: Linda | September 17, 2007 at 12:57 PM
Ellen!! I could just hug you. I got my dies on Friday and played some yesterday. They are amazing. My head is spinning with the possibilities. I had so much fun playing for the time I did (now to get all these house guests out of my house so I can concentrate LOL!) Thanks so much for sharing these. What a great product - can't wait to order the other sets.
Posted by: Cathrine | September 16, 2007 at 04:15 AM
This is super! thank you so much. I will bookmark this page for my use when I get my dies!
Posted by: tracy | September 15, 2007 at 10:59 PM
Thank you ever so much for this detail! I know this took much time to research and write. It is very appreciated!
Posted by: Mary | September 15, 2007 at 08:17 PM
Very comprehensive. Thank you for all you do.
Posted by: ~liz | September 15, 2007 at 06:45 PM