Embarrassing Question re Cuttlebug Dies

[dglong]

I just bought my CB (thanks guys!), and I love the embossing results. I bought some cutting dies but I don't know how to use them!! I understand how to position them/sandwich them, but I don't get the foam on them???? Bear in mind I've never ever even used or observed a die cutting machine before... Do I leave the foam on there?? (I assume so...) Please, someone enlighten me using words of one syllabul!! :rolleyes:

[Heather_M]

DON'T TOUCH THE FOAM!! And be careful that you don't press too hard because there are blades in the foam that cut the paper!! For the cuttle bug just put your plate A down...then one plate B...put your die foam up! and then paper on that...then put your other plate B over that. When you run it through the machine it will probably make cracking sounds...don't be afraid just keep rolling. The die will cut into your plate B...that's normal. They're good for aprox 500 cuts.
Hope the helps!

[jpmayo]

Yes you leave the foam. This is the side that you put the cardstock or chipboard that you want to cut into that shape

[mlehmer]

Yes, leave the foam on the die. Just place the die on top of the paper and sandwich whatever else you are supposed to and run it through the machine. I don't have a cuttlebug but have a Big Shot and they work perfectly with it, just don't know what kind of plates you'd use with your cuttlebug. The foam is hiding the blades that will cut through your paper. Have fun, it'll cut like butter!!!

[Heather_M]

oops I was reading too quick and didn't see you understood the sandwich part...the foam is basicly there for safety (and it protects the blade and your fingers handleing the dies). You need to squish or compress (by putting through the CB) the foam for the blades to be exposed and cut your paper!

[Jeanne S]

The foam also helps to eject the paper after it's cut.

[dglong]

I knew I could count on you guys!!! I also knew better than to touch a thing without checking here first! Now I understand why the foam is there and it makes perfect sense. Thanks so much for saving me from myself.

Denise

[Softangelkisses]

Glad you found all your answers! I'm gonna keep up with this thread for if I ever get a bug!

[cathystamps]

I just ran my first dies through my new Cuttlebug, and the outline of the sliders is etched into the plastic sandwich piece. Is this wrong? . . . a problem?

[ljwil]

Nope it's normal to have the designs etched. That's why they sell replacement mats - when your dies stop cutting cleanly, it's time to buy a new mat (if you've already used all surfaces (make sure you don't always cut in the middle of the mat, you need to use it all up!!!) of both sides of BOTH of the existing mats that is). Someone explained it that in order to cut clear through the medium, it needs to go into the acrylic on the other side (kind of like when your craft knife cuts into your self healing mat).

[birdbathlady]

There is a video for the Cuttlebug on the My Minds Eye site. I am looking for a video on the Big Shot. (The teeny instruction booklet is ridiculous!) Maybe we could get JulieHRR to make one!:p

[beckydory]

They had a Scrapbook fest at my local ACMoore a week or so ago and the woman demonstrating the Cuttlebug had never used one before - she ran the dies through with the foam side down against the paper (like it showed on the back of the die package instead of foam side up like the user manual says) and it didn't cut anywhere near as good.

There were 2 of us watching who have them at home and it was hard to not interrupt and say 'you're doing it wrong' but we behaved ourselves