spellbinders tan mats????

[aussiewendy]

hi,
can anyone tell me how thick the spellbinders tan mats are that you use when sandwiching your texture plates (fiskar) thru your cuttlebug?
i am trying to find something here in australia that will do the job, i have found something that works pretty good but not all over the paper. some of the embossing is more prominent in places than others.
i am just wondering if the tan mats do a better all over job or not.
thanks
wendy

[bound4london]

I find that my cuttlebug does not emboss as well as I would like using the Spellbinders nestabilities---not as deep as I would like and not as clear as you see in some pictures. I am not sure how to get an accurate measurement of the mat. It is pretty thin--perhaps a quarter inch ---never been great at converting into metric sorry! You can use craft foam, the sheets for baking--ha ha---it is past midnight my time and I can't remember what they are called right now sorry---but they are thin rubbery. Or a mouse pad for the computer works too. But sadly I have been disappointed with the embossing ability of my Cuttlebug with the Spellbinders--perhaps it is just me---but I am thinking I might need the wizard too. But then I am always in a want mood for new toys to play with.

sorry, I doubt I answered your question at all and think I should go get some sleep! Good luck!!!

[bound4london]

oh that cooking mat is silicone---not sure if you have those in Oz either though

[aussiewendy]

yea i knew what you meant about the silicone mats, the only ones i can find here so far are the ones in kitchen supply shops and they are like 6 inch square and they have an embossed pattern on them so i dont think they will work. other than maybe give you an embossed pattern you didnt want lol!
so what was wrong exactly with the spellbinders? was it not as pronounced as the cuttlebug folders?
i tried the mouse pad but it was too thick.
i also tried the craft foam but it didnt do anything.

[MiAnCaTo]

.. a while back i bought a red silicon oven tray from Target that was too wide for the oven when I got it home. It sat in the laundry ready to either be returned or be packed up for the OpShop until I had a moment of inspiration - i ended up chopping the red silicon out of the metal frame and I use that. Works great! There was enough silicon sheeting to make 2 mats about 15x21cms.

[aussiewendy]

damn!!! i was in target today but couldnt find anything like that, looks like i will have to go a hunting lol! target here i come again lol!

[MiAnCaTo]

just did some measuring up - the tan embossing mat I have (which i ordered thinking you would only need one in my BigKick) is between 1.25 and 1.5mm thick. The red silicon mat (that I use instead of buying another tan mat or sometimes I just use both of them and no tan mat!) is ever so slighty thicker and closer to 1.5mm thick but a galloping horse would not notice and it obviously has no impact on the image/machine since I've never had any issues!

[scrappyoz]

If your mat isn't giving you a good impression, you may need to add a couple of cardstock shims into your sandwich to get a better impression.

I know with my bug when embossing some templates (not all) I need to use:
A plate
3 cardstock shims
B plate
Embossing plate
Cardstock
mat
B plate

Just a thought as each bug is different and you need to find what works for you.

[aussiewendy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiAnCaTo

just did some measuring up - the tan embossing mat I have (which i ordered thinking you would only need one in my BigKick) is between 1.25 and 1.5mm thick. The red silicon mat (that I use instead of buying another tan mat or sometimes I just use both of them and no tan mat!) is ever so slighty thicker and closer to 1.5mm thick but a galloping horse would not notice and it obviously has no impact on the image/machine since I've never had any issues!

ah that is interesting, as the piece of rubber i got today from a rubber shop lol! was 1.5mm so sounds as if the tan mat is thinner a tad.
thanks for measuring that up for me your a champ.

[aussiewendy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrappyoz

If your mat isn't giving you a good impression, you may need to add a couple of cardstock shims into your sandwich to get a better impression.

I know with my bug when embossing some templates (not all) I need to use:
A plate
3 cardstock shims
B plate
Embossing plate
Cardstock
mat
B plate

Just a thought as each bug is different and you need to find what works for you.

mmm tried it but wont go will keep trying...
wendy

[scrappyoz]

For Fiskars embossing plates only I use the following sandwich:

A plate
Fiskars embossing plate
Cardstock
Mat
C plate.

The other sandwich I posted earlier is used for Spellbinders, sizzix etc.

HTH.

[Metalcharm]

Why not just buy the tan mats? I bought some just today from an aussie seller on eBay.
It just seemed easier than trying and cutting a million different things around the house. :-D I have used the stuff from thin mouse mats but it was a bit patchy.

[aussiewendy]

yea i have thought about it metalcharm and may do eventually but i like the challenge of trying to find cheaper alterhnatives lol!
its a quirk of mine, damn annoying at times but also very satisfying other times...
lol!

[ozarkstamper]

plumbers gasket might work

[aussiewendy]

yea went looking for one today but no luck, you would think hardware places would sell them hey!

[Darlene Kinnear]

you could try the sizixs purple mat

[stamphappy1650]

I have the tan mats and am not that fond of them but they are the same weight as my microwave oven silocone mat. Mine is made by rubbermaid and does not have emobssing. My purple Fiskars mat is thicker than the tan mats. I actually have better luck just adding shims that are a combination of computer paper and carstock. Sometimes the computer paper is just the right thickness where cardstock is too thick.

[brizziegirl]

Hi Wendy

I have the tan embossing mat and love the effect. I've also bought a cheap silicon baking pan from Crazy Clark and got a great effect with it, just needed one more cardboard shim than with the tan mat. I've also seen suggested (here or elsewhere I'm not quite sure) the neoprene that you can buy from Clark Rubber.
One other great tip that was suggested at a local scrapbooking store was to use one of the green healable craft cutting mats to substitute for a B plate when cutting dies - as they're thinner than the B plate you do need to use some more shim but it saves cutting up a B plate.

Anthea
(

[RTJmom]

Does anyone know if Michael's or Hobby Lobby sells the tan mats?

[scrapinalong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RTJmom

Does anyone know if Michael's or Hobby Lobby sells the tan mats?

Yes they do.

[cat_woman]

I use a silicone baking mat (cookie sheet size) cut to the size I need. I got 2 mats the size of my plates for my cuttlebug and 1 12" long piece for the long spellbinder dies. My mat has a pattern on one side and smooth on the other. The pattern doesn't interfere with the embossing (I always put the smooth side to the die & paper). Depending on the thickness of my paper (and the humidity some days) I'll have to add cardstock shims, but it works really well. And for all the mats I got out of the sheet, it was a great bargain at $5. I got my silicone baking sheet at Canadian Tire but I'm sure there are stores where ever you are that sell them.

[cat_woman]

I just wanted to add to this thread to show the results I get using a silicone baking sheet. I know a lot of people say they don't get very good results or a very deep impression with the Fiskars texure plates, but I seem to get excellent results with them. Here is the sandwich I use:

A plate
Texture Plate
cardstock
silicone mat
C plate
cardstock shims if needed

I also mist my paper with water and that really helps.

Here's a picture of one I just did for a card: