Dec 14 2007
Open Discussion/Input Welcome!
Rather than answering numerous emails and PM’s, I’ll address this here, but I’m not so sure I’m of any help. On my last Stamp Simply Challenge #13 uploaded this morning, everyone is asking about the last card with the Cuttlebug embossing and Scor-Pal score lines. The question is: How do I emboss with those tiny folders without the edges of the folder making lines on the card. It seems most of you are having that problem.
Well, my answer is — I don’t know. Last night when I made that card it was the first time I ever used those tiny folders — I opened up a new pack. The folder was inserted on the bottom open edge of the card, and it only goes up so far, YKWIM? I did the first roll through in the center of the card. Then I did each end, though only a portion of the card was actuallyin the folder on the edges. And it just came good — what can I say.
I might add, though, that when cranking it through, my machine felt *loose*. I have been playing with my Nestabilities, embossing with those, where you have many, many layers — plates, dies, numerous sheets of cardstock, rubber mats, etc. It feels really tight when I roll the Nestabilities sandwich through. It felt really loose rolling the standard embossing folder through — A plate, B plate, folder with paper, B plate.
Is it possible that since I have been rolling *fat* Nestability sandwiches through, that maybe my machine has actually loosened and, therefore, I’m not getting the folder edge marks you all are talking about — I surely don’t know. Does anyone out there have an answer, suggestion, solution for these ladies having trouble?
Sorry I have no answers, but I (we) welcome open discussion to see if others have this problem and what they are doing about it — thanks much!!!
14 responses so far
Thanks! 🙂 Will try again and see if I have the same results!
too funny, i was about to email you with a question regarding the cuttlebug..anyway, i guess my question is… did you emboss this twice and when you did it didn’t flaten the one that’s embossed already?
To answer Catherine — read above — I embossed, or ran it through, 3 times. The first time was smack in the center, so it would look centered. Then I did it twice more, once on each edge. When you do it on the edge, there is more folder than paper, follow me, so the folder is only 1/2 full. That’s OK. It will not flatten what you already embossed, or at least mine didn’t. Run it through one side, then do the other side. Then do your Scor-Pal lines, if you have a Scor-Pal, and then it’s done!!! Hope this helps!!!
I absolutely love the effect…however you got it! I have only used the large card sized embossing folders, and right this minute, I have the urge to pack up the girls and run off to Walmart on probably the busiest shopping night of the year, just to buy a small folder! LOVE, love love this! Thanks for being so open about your trial and error.
Sharon, you know I noticed that my Cuttlebug seems really loose too…like there isn’t the pressure there that there used to be. Am I making sense…lol
I made TONS of those chipboard paper clips way back when…like it was forever ago…haha! Anyway…after using the chipboard through my cuttlebug I noticed it stopped working so well. I figured it was because it was TOO thick.
Even now when I emboss something….I have to roll it through one way…flip it/turn it…and roll it back through. So that it evens out. One side presses harder than the other. That’s why if you look closely at some of my embossing(dots one for sure) it looks like you have double vision! LOL! It moves slightly when I do it.
Ok I got off topic right? haha!
I am going to try the embossing like you did today! I think it looks so pretty!
Sharon, I really admire the way you word your posts. Your honesty and attention to every detail is wonderful! I love how you admit that you don’t know the answer yet continually work at finding it! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing! Its neat to play “mechanic” or to be very lucky. 😀
I think many of us have CBs that were initially so tight we were afraid we’d break the machine. I think the problem was that the acrylic plates were just a smidge too thick and early on I mentioned this on the Provo Craft blog. To remedy the situation for me, I used my acrylic plate from my Zip-e-Mate and loved my results. Only problem is that replacement is nowhere to be found.
When your crank shaft loosens a bit – that must be a great improvement for those of us that had very tight machines. When its too loose, you’re forced to play with shims. My girlfriend and I ran thru hundreds of coasters for the clip flowers and my machine is still a bit too tight for these smaller folders but I do see a difference. I got my machine last November. At the time, there were a few people saying they had absolutely no problems with their machines while the rest of us were cracking our B plates. 😀
Its still one of the best investments in thish obby that I have made. 😀
I’m thinking that my machine was tight early on, and after embossing with Fiskars texture plates, it loosened it up a bit. I remember when I first got my little folders, I tried out each one and did get lines; however, the Cat folder I used last night didn’t leave any lines. I’ve used cutting dies a few times and they left cut marks on my plates, but now they don’t cut through the CS stock very well. I don’t like using those things. Anyway, I’m thinking that when I get replacements for my “B” plates, things might seem a bit tighter again. Maybe over time, the plates flatten just a bit, and that’s why Sharon and I don’t get the lines when we use the mini folders!
I love my cuttlebug, and sometimes I have had the same problem with the lines, but after seeing your gorgeous card last night, I decided to make one just like it. I used the same folder and ran it through 3 times just like you did. I didn’t think about the lines until I saw this post this morning, so I checked my card and I do not have any lines in my card either! I do know what everyone is talking about though! Weird!! I broke my B plate last night making my card for your challenge. I used my nestabilities die and I think I added an extra layer of cs to try and get a deeper embossing impression! Oops, I guess I should follow the directions, lol!
After seeing your card I was inspired to dig through my cuttlebug mini folders and found the one you used as well as the small Wintry ones. I do get the lines in mine but I love the way you used the Scor-Pal to get that embossed line and that’s what I’m going to do to disguise my lines.
Thanks for the idea and inspiring me to play with stuff I hadn’t used yet!
I had never thought about this, since I haven’t used the smaller folders yet. But I can certainly see how this question would come up! I’m another who uses shims to get a “tighter fee” to my cutting and/or embossing. Therefore, I’m also breaking B plates on a regular basis. (When I first bought my machine, I wondered why on earth would we need more B plates!?! hahaha)
Now you’ve definitely inspired me to try my smaller folders. I just love your style, Sharon!
~Bev
I played all day with this technique and various folders, etc today. I found 3 things contributed to success:
1. Depending on which way you have the B plate (one side is probably more warped) you face up, the tension can change. The “looser” the tension on the CB the better. It embosses, but not so much on the sides of the folder making an impression. If the tension is too tight, try turning around your B plates until you get a loose combination.
2. The folder itself. I bought 2 4-packs of little folders and I played with each one. Some have more of a “lip” if you will on the sides and therefore making an impression on the paper. I am thinking about lightly “sanding” the edges with my nail file. May help on the sharper edges.
3. The size of the embossed image. On my squares, they have different sizes of embossed squares within the same pack. This makes a difference, because on the bigger ones, one folder touches the other impression when doing the 2nd and 3rd run through and smashes the initial embossed image! I found that by using the smaller embossed image when I run the folder 3 times, it never touches each other and it worked! I made 2 successful cards this evening!
So far I can get a successful card from 1 of the 8 folders. Now to figure out how to use them all!
Hope this helps! Hugs, michelle
I’m using the Big Kick machine…I also have the multi-tab platform which I used with no tabs. Then the sandwich is made of clear cutting plate- flat card stock with embossing folder- clear cutting plate. The embossing turned out beautifully after the second attempt. When I made the first run through the machine I had the card stock folded in half which was too much pressure. It seems you just need enough pressure to make the impression which will feel loose. I guess what I’m trying to say in this rambling is to experiment but go for the loose feel in your machine.
Thanks so much for such a beautiful card. You have inspired me to use those little folders that I was beginning to wonder why I bought.
Hugs to you Sharon…
I’ll have to try again as well. Thanks for sharing the sandwich recipe!