Spellbinders/Nestabilities/Wizard FAQ

[Wendybell]

Okay, friends . . . you asked for it, you got it!! I have tried my best to compile a list of answers to the most frequently-asked-about things regarding Spellbinders dies (which include Nestabiltiies). First, I have a bunch of links to some great videos on YouTube that were produced by Spellbinders:

What are Nestabilities?

Nestabilities by Spellbinders Paper Arts

Can I use my Nestabilites in other machines?

The answer is YES!! (See links below!) All dies made by Spellbinders are universal � meaning they can be used in any other machines. Also, the Wizard itself is universal � meaning that all dies/embossing folders made by other companies can work in it as well.

How do I use my Nestabilities in other machines (i.e. Cuttlebug, Big Shot, etc.)?


Spellbinders Dies in the Big Shot

Spellbinders Dies in the Cuttlebug


Spellbinders Dies with the Double Doo

How do I use dies/templates made by other companies in the Wizard?

Wizard with Fiskars Texture Plates

Wizard with Sizzlets Dies


Wizard with Quickutz Dies

Wizard with Cuttlebug Dies/Embossing Folders


Wizard with Sizzix Dies

How do I use the Wizard?

Cut and Emboss with the Spellbinders Wizard

Other Wizard Tips/Tricks:

Wizard Tips

Cleaning Mats/Die Templates

Technique Tips

Working with Heavy Weight Cardstock

Pendants by Spellbinders

Impressabilities by Spellbinders

Shapeabilities by Spellbinders

Nestabilities Projects

Framabilities

Edgeabilities

Petitie Borderabilities

12� Grand Borderabilities
Sanding

Reverse Stenciling

Stenciling and Inking

Using Grunge Paper

Chipboard

Acetate and Transparencies
Cutting Fabric
Making Partial Cuts
Making Stamps

Creating Reflections
Creating Shaped Cards

Creating Window Cards

Using Foil

Flatten Bottlecaps
Settling Eyelets
Embossing with Brass Stencils

Letterpress

For those of you who would rather not spend the time to watch the videos linked above, there is a pdf file you can download and read:

SpellbindersCompatibilityGuide.pdf

This basically is a list of stacking sandwiches you can use in the Wizard and in all other machines in which you may want to use your Spellbinders dies/Nestabilities

Next, we get to the all-important �How do I store my Nestabilities?� question. Here are several links to blogs of those who have come up with a variety of ways to store your Spellbinders dies (and I have to admit, one of the links is to my blog!!):

Here is the carrying case offered by Spellbinders:
http://spellbinderspaperarts.com/die-carry-case.html

From my blog (note that you can buy the magnetic vent covers at Home Depot for really cheap!):
http://wickedlywonderfulcreations.bl...-now-what.html

From Heidi Blankenship:
http://embellished-dreams.blogspot.c...organzied.html

From a thread here on SCS:
Forums at Splitcoaststampers

From Patter Cross:
http://triplethescraps.blogspot.com/...y-storing.html

This thread here on SCS has a variety of different ideas (some of which have been shown above):
Forums at Splitcoaststampers

And if I haven�t already given you enough information, here is a link to the Product Focus article done here on SCS featuring the Spellbinders Impressabilities (and YES, friends, that�s ME talking in the video at CHA Winter 2009):
Product Focus Impressabilities Tutorials at Splitcoaststampers

Had enough yet??? The last question I wanted to address (which also gets asked quite often), is �Which Nestabilites should I buy first??�
That is the most difficult question to answer of all, as it is based totally on personal preference. Look through your creations and decide which shapes you use the most, and start basic (circles, squares, oval, or rectangles). Work from there. If there is a set of shaped Nesties that you are just DYING over, go ahead and get �em! Otherwise, I would advise to start with the basics and go from there. You�ll have fun with �em no matter which ones you choose!

[Dendrobium]

Thank YOU. Now I can look here for all the cool ideas. THANKS!!

[LoveIndigo]

This is a great list! Thanks for all your work!

[cardsbynikki]

YAY! Thank you so much!

[nottoocreative]

Thanks for this!
My only question that I haven't been able to find the answer to, is how to cut & emboss in one pass (in the Cuttlebug)...from what I HAVE been able to find, the answer is "you can't." You need a different sandwich for cutting than for embossing, right? I do get some slight embossing at times, but not real visible.
Oh, and whether any of the scallop circles works with the SU scallop punch...in my experiments, none of them are really the correct size (either a tad too much showing, or not enough) but I don't have all of the sets. I got the EK Success 2" punch from JoAnn, as someone had suggested that; but to me it's a tad too small. It works but I'd prefer a little more showing.
If you have a way of doing these, do share! TIA!

[Wendybell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nottoocreative

Thanks for this!
My only question that I haven't been able to find the answer to, is how to cut & emboss in one pass (in the Cuttlebug)...from what I HAVE been able to find, the answer is "you can't." You need a different sandwich for cutting than for embossing, right? I do get some slight embossing at times, but not real visible.
Oh, and whether any of the scallop circles works with the SU scallop punch...in my experiments, none of them are really the correct size (either a tad too much showing, or not enough) but I don't have all of the sets. I got the EK Success 2" punch from JoAnn, as someone had suggested that; but to me it's a tad too small. It works but I'd prefer a little more showing.
If you have a way of doing these, do share! TIA!

The answer to that is that you can . . . sort of! Depending on the cardstock you use (thickness DOES affect how it works), you can sometimes see a little bit of the embossing on the edges with one pass. The whole beauty of these dies, though, is that you can choose to either just cut, just emboss, or do them both!! If it cut AND embossed every single time you ran it through with one pass, you would be eliminating the option to either just cut, or just emboss . . .

You could try adding a cardstock "shim" in the CB embossing sandwich . . . that might add just enough pressure to give you a little more of an emboss . . .

[Uneeke1]

Thank you for taking the time to put this together for us. You have saved me oodles of time looking through all the threads. You are appreciated!!!

[nancystamps]

Thank you! It's so great to be able to find all that info in one place!

[jkstieber]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nottoocreative

Thanks for this!
My only question that I haven't been able to find the answer to, is how to cut & emboss in one pass (in the Cuttlebug)...from what I HAVE been able to find, the answer is "you can't." You need a different sandwich for cutting than for embossing, right? I do get some slight embossing at times, but not real visible.
Oh, and whether any of the scallop circles works with the SU scallop punch...in my experiments, none of them are really the correct size (either a tad too much showing, or not enough) but I don't have all of the sets. I got the EK Success 2" punch from JoAnn, as someone had suggested that; but to me it's a tad too small. It works but I'd prefer a little more showing.
If you have a way of doing these, do share! TIA!

This is a sandwich I use and it's worked every time.

C plate
A plate
dye (face up)
cardstock
a piece of cardboard (I use a piece of cereal box)
B plate

[mamahowe]

Julie, when you say face up, do you mean the cut edge up? I just purchased the Fluer de lis pendant. So I was wondering if it would work the same as the other Nestibilities. I do have the Cuttlebug.

Thanks for your input.

Estelle

[tinahale38]

I have the original Wizard machine and just bought a Sizzix envelope die. I use the recommended sandwich but the score lines are cut instead of scored. Help!

[jkstieber]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mamahowe

Julie, when you say face up, do you mean the cut edge up? I just purchased the Fluer de lis pendant. So I was wondering if it would work the same as the other Nestibilities. I do have the Cuttlebug.

Thanks for your input.

Estelle

Yes, I meant the cutting edge up.

[Biko8666]

Wow, thanks for the work you put into this. I love the clips. I'm more of a show me person.

[emarj]

Does anyone know...when placing a Nestibilities through the Big Shot, do you have to use the Wizard tan embossing pads or do any of the Big Shot pieces work...like the texturz pad or the crease pad?

[cardsbynikki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by emarj

Does anyone know...when placing a Nestibilities through the Big Shot, do you have to use the Wizard tan embossing pads or do any of the Big Shot pieces work...like the texturz pad or the crease pad?

I do this one of two ways

If I am wanting to cut and emboss in one pass with the Nesties, I use the following sandwich from bottom to top

Multi Purpose Platform (MPP) tab 2
clear cutting plate
Nestie blade UP
Cardstock/paper face DOWN
Blue Crease Pad

run through Big Shot/BIGkick

If you have the black crease pad instead then you need to shim it just a bit.

If you are wanting to emboss only I use this sandwich

MPP tab 2
2 cardstock shims (110lb Georgia Pacific is what I use but you may need a different amount depending on the pressure in your machine)
Nestie blade UP
Cardstock/paper face down
Silicone rubber
Impressions pad

Run through Big Shot/BIGkick

Some people use other sandwiches, if you visit the Big Shot FAQ there is a lot more info on the first few pages about sandwiches for different kinds of dies in the Big Shot.

Clear as mud? Sorry my brain is foggy today. If you have any questions just holler and I'll see what I can do to help you, ok?

Happy Crafting!
~Nikki

[emarj]

Thanks so much! This worked perfectly for what I wanted. I love how people answer so fast on here!

[cardsbynikki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by emarj

Thanks so much! This worked perfectly for what I wanted. I love how people answer so fast on here!

You're welcome! I'm glad it helped

[missiowa81]

Has anyone tried the new Impressabilities in the Cuttlebug? I don't have a Wizard, and I'm wondering whether I'd be able to use the Impressabilities in the Cuttlebug. I'm used some Nestabilities in it without any problems.

[sahmlee]

Thanks for all the great info!


Lee Anne

[Debra Hogg]

Marking this for future instructions, thanks so much

Debra

[Sansuesha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by missiowa81

Has anyone tried the new Impressabilities in the Cuttlebug? I don't have a Wizard, and I'm wondering whether I'd be able to use the Impressabilities in the Cuttlebug. I'm used some Nestabilities in it without any problems.

I bought one Impressabilities pattern but have had limited luck with it in my Bigshot. I think for the time being I will ink it up and use it that way to make a pattern on my CS. I might try several colors in waves across the design, etc. I'll be sure to post when and if I can figure out how to use it in my Bigshot.

[Shopping Diva]

I'm trying to figure out how to cut and emboss the spellbinders pendant dies in the Bigshot. I didn't see a video up above for the bigshot.

Thanks!

[debbiemom23cs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shopping Diva

I'm trying to figure out how to cut and emboss the spellbinders pendant dies in the Bigshot. I didn't see a video up above for the bigshot.

Thanks!

The sandwich for the Pendant dies is the same as Nestabilities when using the Big Shot. The thing you have to remember is after you cut once, turn your die 90 degrees and cut again. Because of the intricacy of the die, the second cut is sometimes needed. Every machine is different.

HTH:-D

[Wendybell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by debbiemom23cs

The sandwich for the Pendant dies is the same as Nestabilities when using the Big Shot. The thing you have to remember is after you cut once, turn your die 90 degrees and cut again. Because of the intricacy of the die, the second cut is sometimes needed. Every machine is different.

HTH:-D

Thanks for jumping in, Debbie!! I have been out of the country (literally!) since the 1st and haven't had internet . . . glad you were here to help!

[GenerousLife]

I used some Bazill cardstock in my new Pendant Die and had to run it through twice to cut (added an extra shim on the second pass). Did just fine, but then I couldn't get my cut and embossed shape out! Ended up tearing the cardstock. How do you avoid that?

[twinmummy]

Wow, thanks for answering all my questions.

[debbiemom23cs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GenerousLife

I used some Bazill cardstock in my new Pendant Die and had to run it through twice to cut (added an extra shim on the second pass). Did just fine, but then I couldn't get my cut and embossed shape out! Ended up tearing the cardstock. How do you avoid that?

I know this will sound silly, but put a piece of waxed paper on the die and then your cardstock. Cut/emboss as you normally would and your pendant will come out so good. Try it and tell us how it worked!!

[debbiemom23cs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendybell

Thanks for jumping in, Debbie!! I have been out of the country (literally!) since the 1st and haven't had internet . . . glad you were here to help!

You are most welcome! Hope you had a great time wherever you went! This is a great FAQ, by the way!

[Sophia_77]

I just got my first set of Nesties (Labels . I'm currently just keeping them in their original packaging, since I'll be collecting them slowly and don't know how many I'll eventually end up with.

So my question is, how delicate are these dies? When I return them to the packaging, there is something like double-sided tape in there, and I always cringe when I go to take them back out again. I'm so afraid of snapping one in half or bending it! So please tell me - are my fears unfounded, or should I continue to be very careful?

[Wendybell]

Don't panic, Sophia!! You are NOT going to snap one in half (that would be a Herculean feat!!)! You won't bend one just pulling it out of the packaging, either. They are pretty sturdy little tools. (Just don't hit 'em with a hammer or run 'em over with your car, okay?)

[Sophia_77]

Thank you!! I'm feeling better already! ;)

[thescpells]

I just bought the large scallop oval nestabilities and need to get the plain ovals to use with the scalloped dies, but I'm not sure which ones I need. Should I get the large ovals or the small ovals?

Thanks,
Julie

[cardsbynikki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thescpells

I just bought the large scallop oval nestabilities and need to get the plain ovals to use with the scalloped dies, but I'm not sure which ones I need. Should I get the large ovals or the small ovals?

Thanks,
Julie

Julie,
It depends on the look you want. If you have the large scallop ovals and buy the large plain, then layer the biggest die of the large plain on the large scallop, you will only be able to see the scallops poking out. There isn't much of a border. If that's the look you like, go for the large plain. If you use the next size down on the plain, there's a rather big border.

If you buy the small plain to go with the large scallop, then you will have about a 1/4" border around the oval.

So if you want a normal size border, get the small. If you want a smaller border, get the large. Personally, I have both so I have all the options!

And check out Scrapbooking Alley for the Nesties - awesome prices, free shipping, no sales tax.

[cardsbynikki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_77

Thank you!! I'm feeling better already! ;)

Sophia I was terrified of the same thing at first! But they really don't break!

[garkarlon]

Please, please forgive me if this has already been answered. But does anyone have the size specs for the different sets? In other words, the exact sizes of what each die set produces? Specifically, I'm looking for the sizes of each of the Classic Circles, the Scalloped Circles, and Long Classic and Scalloped Rectangles. But it would be nice to have all of the size information. Thanks in advance for your help!

[Sophia_77]

Cut at Home (http://www.ucutathome.com/) has most of the sizes in the product descriptions, if you're willing to do a tiny bit of math. They list the size of the largest, and sometimes the smallest, and usually tell you the increment of change between each die. It's pretty easy to figure out. Hope that helps!

[garkarlon]

Thank you so much, Sophia_77! I'll head over there right now and check it out!! I appreciate your help!

[Cook22]

I've always wondered why the Cuttlebug and Big Shot had their own stickies and not the Wizard. Thanks so much for this .

[debbiemom23cs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sophia_77

I just got my first set of Nesties (Labels . I'm currently just keeping them in their original packaging, since I'll be collecting them slowly and don't know how many I'll eventually end up with.

So my question is, how delicate are these dies? When I return them to the packaging, there is something like double-sided tape in there, and I always cringe when I go to take them back out again. I'm so afraid of snapping one in half or bending it! So please tell me - are my fears unfounded, or should I continue to be very careful?

Sophia,

During the summer, Spellbinders sent me some prototype dies in a bubble envelope. The envelope didn't look too good when I started opening it and then when I got one of the dies out it was alittle "wonky". When I turned the envelope over, it had been run over (tire tracks down the middle). When I ran the die thru my Wizard, it straightened the die out plus the die worked perfectly. While I wouldn't recommend running over the dies - they can take it!! LOL:mrgreen:

[eyestitch]

Can anyone tell me the difference between the classic ovals/scalloped ovals and the petite ovals/scalloped ovals? How do any of these compare to the SU oval punches and scallop oval punch?