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OH NO my sizzix broke !!! I went to use my sizzix today and the handle turns but then jams and gets stuck noooo..... I looked to see if something was stuck in the rollers but I couldn't find anything, so I thought I better pull it apart and see what the problem is. So this is a tutorial on how to safely pull apart your sizzix and fix it. Tools Allen key Phillips head screwdriver Sewing machine oil Small brush Step 1 Remove the black cap off the handle end Step 2 Using the right size allen key undo the screw and slide the handle off Step 3 Using the Phillips head screwdriver undo the screw shown by the arrows Step 4 Once all the screw are taken off you will need to use some force to take off the black sides. They are clipped in but with some patience they will come apart. Step 5 Next is to take off the middle handle and then the plates either side these will come apart easy. All the parts should ow be off the main metal rollers. Step 6 Next is to brush out any fluff in the rollers mine had a bit because it gets a workout with felt... Take off the top small cog by pulling off the plastic stopper and then the cog. Step 7 Now this is where my skateboarding days come in handy....underneath the cogs there are bearings very similar to the ones used in skateboarding wheels and if the get dirt and dust in them they tend not to move or get stuck. So to fix this put some sewing machine oil or any machine oil you have and put it on the bearings. Step 8 Put the small cog and stopper back on... next slide the cranking handle on and give it a few turns all the cogs should move and this will send the oil into the bearings to lubricate them...After a few turns everything should be moving smoothly Now to put it all back together Just go backwards on the way you pulled it apart Plates on first Top carrying handle Clip on sides and screw back in Put cranking handle on Use allen key to put back screw for cranking handle Then place the black cap back You should now have a fully serviced and function sizzix again I hope this has helped anyone who has a broken sizzix and need to fix it Happy crafting!!!!

Sometimes the technique in creating a project is what really catches my eye. This is the case today. Bottle caps are a great recycled element to craft with and the way that Sara figured out ho…

I want to address a few things that have come up in comments and make some observations. One question had to do with the Double Cuttle and how I get the different colors between the designs of the two folders. I run my cardstock through inside the first folder, usually the busier pattern. I accent that embossing either direct to paper using Cats-eye inkpads or a dauber. I then put that through my second embossing folder. The new image is embossed and the "background" embossing is flattened somewhat, but not lost entirely. I then accent that second, more prominent embossing by inking it in a different color or colors. That's it! Another comment had to do with Bigz dies and the Cuttlebug. I know there's an renewed interest in Sizzix dies, particularly the bigger dies, because of the recently announced association between Stampin' Up and Sizzix. There's a misconception out there about which Sizzix dies can be used in the Cuttlebug. They ALL can. They all fit through the machine. It's the Sizzix plates that won't fit through the slot of the Cuttlebug. They're too wide. You can put the dies through between the C'bug plates though. Need proof? I took pics, 'cuz why should you believe me over someone else who says that they won't fit, eh? But hey, if you trusted me already, then cool. :-) Here's my Cuttlebug. The opening is 6" wide. This is a Bigz die, which measures 5 1/2" by 6". It'll definitely fit through... even sideways, though it's a tight fit. Hey, you never know when someone might need to put the die through sideways, eh? But it'd work. This is one of the XL dies. Though according to the Sizzix site info it's 6" wide, it isn't quite, and as you may have seen in some of my other posts, these dies will easily fit through the Cuttlebug. The issue is not having plates long enough to cut these dies in one pass. I showed how the B plates can be used with the scalloped card die without getting a crease where the plate ends. You can cut the XL card dies that use the Movers & Shapers, too. Here's the horizontal card die with the opening for the Movers & Shapers dies. I'm pointing out the scoring bar in the blurry photo above. Sorry 'bout that. Put the folded edge of a piece of 4 1/2"by 12" piece of cardstock that's been scored and folded in half next to that scoring bar. You're just going to use this half of the die to cut out your card. Half of the die fits nicely between the B plates. That's how it looks after you've made the first pass. And now as I look at this, it looks like you could maybe get away with using an 11" length of cardstock.... Nifty! This is the other end of the die, the side where the metal "floor" holds the magnetic Mover & Shaper in place to cut out windows in your card. This is the end you'll use this time. Place the open card so that it's aligned inside the cutting blades and over the Mover & Shaper die and run this half of the die through between your B plates. In the photo above I wanted to point out that you'll want to align the card's fold with the edge of the top plate so that it won't leave a noticeable crease in your card as it passes through the machine. But wait! Even if you don't have one of these card dies, you can still use the Sizzix Movers & Shapers dies. I've posted about this before, but I'd like to repeat myself here since Amy made a comment that reminded me about magnetic paper as a useful tool. Pictured above are 2 B plates, a sheet of magnetic paper and a Movers & Shapers die. The die tends to slip without metal to grab onto, so to make using this die more foolproof and less frustrating, use a sheet of magnetic paper to help hold it in place. You can see how I've marked mine so that I can place my dies fairly accurately. That's just the outline of an A2 card. The dotted lines help me with placement and making sure the die is straight or centered etc. This is my sheet of magnetic paper. It doesn't add much thickness to the sandwich at all. This is that same stack with the card and another cutting plate on top. If you have an extra B plate you can use that. This is one from my Sizzix supplies because I don't have a spare B plate. This stack worked fine for me, but you may need to shim. And this is the card with the window cut out--all done with the Cuttlebug. While we're on the subject of magnetic paper (Thanks so much for the reminder, Amy!), I thought I'd show how I sometimes use this with my Nestabilities dies. Here you see plate A, plate C, sheet of magnetic paper, card open and face down on top of die with cutting side up, plate B. Again, I have some lines drawn to help me make sure that I can place the die right where I want it. There's just enough pull to the magnet to hold the die in place. I prefer this to using tape to keep things from moving. Here I've run that stack through the machine. This is the way the card looks from the front once it's been folded. It's a nice easy way to add a window to a card front. Sorry about the length of this post and the number of photos. I try to keep things short and not have too many pics to load at once, but so much of this was inter-related that I hated to break things up. Hopefully there was enough useful info up there to make the loading time worthwhile. :-)

I was sad when my Big Shot broke after 10 years of using it almost daily! After a little reconstruction, it is like new again and I'm so excited!

Boy Graduate metal cutting die Measures Approx 5 1/4" Compatible to use with the following machines sizzix, big shot, big kick, wizard, cuttlebug, vagabond and many more. Brand new. Items shipped within 24-48 hours of payment received. Many more Metal cutting dies available. Follow my store. Scrapbuck Deals Thank you for looking

Getting rid of those Cuttlebug folder lines has been a popular topic. Jackie wrote to me a while back, telling me about another way that she'd found for avoiding those lines. I wanted to mention it here because I tried it today and think it's another good alternative. At the far right is a border embossed the regular way. It shows that line that can be so irritating. The embossing in the center is the one I embossed using a craft stick. The one on the left is one that I did by using the following sandwich in my Big Shot: multipurpose platform open to Tab 2, border folder with cardstock inside, silicone embossing mat, clear plate. The beauty of this last method is that you probably already have everything you need. If I looked VERY closely, I could see a very faint line made by each edge. I don't think that you could see them in the photo. The embossing is also just a bit less crisp. I think that the differences are small though, and the ease of using just a silicone mat makes up for them. So add that in as yet another way to emboss with these folders and avoid the annoying lines. Thanks, Jackie! Now this is a tip that is probably useful only for Big Shot/Big Kick users, but I thought this was a neat time-saver. I'd read somewhere about being able to cut and emboss Nestabilities dies in one pass by using the Sizzix crease pad. I wish I could remember where I'd seen it, but it was a while back and I didn't get a chance to try it until this afternoon. Just know that this is not an idea that I'm claiming to have come up with myself--I wanted to share it though. What I did was use the following stack: my multipurpose platform on Tab 2, clear cutting plate, oval scalloped Nestabilities die with cutting side up, cardstock, blue Sizzix crease pad. So in short, I substituted the crease pad for the clear cutting plate that would normally be at the top of my stack. One pass through the machine, and you can see in the photo that the die did indeed both cut and emboss my scalloped oval shape. I love this because it's so quick and easy. No changing stacks. Just one pass. Very cool. Hope that Big Shot/Big Kick users find these tips helpful. :-) Edited to add: I've posted about cutting and embossing Nestabilities in one pass using the Cuttlebug, too. You can read that post by clicking HERE.

I'm playing catch up with my Indigo Inklings inbox and I wanted to address a couple of questions that I've received in the last week or so. The first question has to do with using the Fiskars texture plates in the Cuttlebug. I usually use texture plates with my Big Shot. Here's what I found worked with my Cuttlebug. Pictured above are my Cuttlebug, my Sizzix silicone embossing pad (the black pad--same as the Spellbinders tan pad), white cardstock, the A plate, the spiderweb Fiskars texture plate (might as well be seasonal, eh?), and the B plate. This was one of the suggested "recipes" that I'd seen. So here's my stack, from the bottom up: plate A, texture plate with desired texture face up, cardstock, silicone pad, plate B. I rolled it through and found that there was little pressure applied. It just plain rolled through too easily. There was no way that the cardstock would have been embossed. I needed a thicker stack. Here you can see my modification. I substituted my C plate for the B plate. Everything else was the same. And above you can see the result when I rolled that stack through. It's a very nice crisp emboss. I didn't mist my cardstock. I did feel a fair amount of pressure as I rolled the stack through, but not enough to make me think that I'd break the machine if I kept going. My suggestion would be to add shims to the stack using the B plate if you're worried that your stack using the C plate is too thick. Add the shims gradually, too. You might have to roll your combo through several times before you hit on just the right amount of pressure, but once you find that combo you'll be all set. Just make a note of it so that you don't forget the next time. The next question has to do with the crease pad and cutting/embossing Nestabilities dies in one pass. Now I know that some folks have been having some trouble getting this to work for them. I wasn't sure why because it's fairly straightforward when I use my crease pad in my Big Shot. Just as a refresher, here's what I do: Pictured above are my Big Shot, the multipurpose platform on Tab 2, one clear plate, a scalloped heart Nestabilities die, white cardstock, and my Sizzix premium crease pad. This is the order in which I put this combo through the machine, by the way. The die is cutting side up (the side with the ridge), and the paper or cardstock should be face down on top of it. This is how it looks after I roll it through. There are a couple of places where the cutting looks a little questionable, but the die cut popped right out. Here is how it looked once it was out of the die. I think you can see that it was both cut and embossed nicely. So, I got to thinking that maybe the thickness of the newer premium crease pads must be the problem. I tried this again with the red one that I bought recently. This time there were areas that clearly were not completely cut through. You could see where the cut would have been though, so it wasn't going to take much more pressure to get that complete cut. If you've been following my blog for a while, you might have guessed what shim I decided to add to the stack. Yes, it was the backing to one of those Cuttlebug folders. :-) I put it right on top of the crease pad and rolled the stack through again. This time I got a more complete cut, even at that lower left edge that looks a little iffy. It popped right out. And here is the heart that I simultaneously cut and embossed. I was going to say that it was done in one pass, but that wasn't really true, eh? It would be next time though since I now know to use a shim with this red crease pad. :-) The bottom line is that if you're getting an incomplete cut, try shimming. If your embossing isn't crisp enough, try adding a shim for that, too. Add your shims gradually though so you don't break anything, but don't be afraid to experiment a little bit to see what works best for your particular machine and your accessories. As you can see, sometimes items can vary and make a significant difference in the results that you get, or don't get. :-)

The Big Shot. Indispensable. Truly. When it was first introduced to the Stampin' Up! product line, many demonstrators balked at the $99 initial price and then adding all the fantastic dies and embossing folders. Could our stamp budget accommodate that? Oh yea! And now, I can't make a card without it. I love it! I can't live without it. Order yours by clicking right here! The ladies in my last class saw me freak out when it stopped working. It had been making a squeaky squeaky noise for a while, but everyone gets a little stiff when they age, right? I just gave it a little WD40 in the crank screw and hoped for the best. But suddenly it was unable to crank, and in the middle of a class! So I was all over the internet, youtube, Stampin Connection (demonstrator website). Very little help, one person said her crank shaft broke and her husband fixed it. So I obtained a new crank shaft from Sizzix and started to disassemble my Big Shot. Really freaking out at how deep into the machine I had to go to get to the crank shaft. Then I couldn't get the E clamp off the crank shaft. I had to take it to (my really good friend Tom) my computer repair specialist. He cheerfully removed the E clamp, cleaned out the RUST and installed the new crank shaft. Rust was actually the problem and some mineral oil was the solution, I didn't really need the new part. Tom offered to reassemble the whole machine, but I had only brought him the heavy skeleton of the Big Shot, so I had to come back home and do all the assembly myself. But it is back in action and ready to roll. Update: November 2016 -- the BigShot is still working like a champ, never another squeak or stiff turn! No computer program to learn, no electronics to update, nothing has become obsolete and Sizzix and Stampin' Up! continue to produce outstanding dies and embossing folders every day! Click here to get yours today! Thank you Tom. So now I have dried my tears and I am happily stamping! Dee Tollaksen

Now don't pass out on me, but... It's a dude card! (They scare me & I usually get stuck being girly by default. How about you?) The l...

Yesterday I experimented with eliminating border folder lines using my Big Shot. I thought that the same thing could be done using the Cuttlebug. Here's what worked for me and my machine. Keep in mind that machines can vary and some rollers are "tighter" than others, so if a "sandwich" is not rolling through easily, don't force it. You don't want to end up with a broken Cuttlebug. Just try a thinner sandwich. The usual combo for using embossing folders is: plate A, plate B, cardstock inside the embossing folder, plate B. Since I'm using craft sticks which are fairly thick, I eliminated one of the B plates. Here's how I set things up. I didn't use the bottom B plate. I put the folder and cardstock directly on top of plate A. I placed the craft stick on top of the border and topped that off with plate B. Here's a closer look at how I placed the craft sticks. They're covering the design, but are well inside the edges of the folders. That's the important part. No pressure on the edges means no folder lines. I also want to point out how the two standard sizes of craft sticks work quite nicely with the sizes of these new embossing borders. This shows how it turned out. Well, at least how it turned out after three passes. As I've said before, it's best to start thin, so since I didn't get a good impression the first time, I added a Cuttlebug packaging shim (It was handy. Go figure. LOL!). I ended up adding a second shim to get the result that is pictured above--a nice crisp emboss with no lines. By the way, I tried using plate A with plate C (Plate C is thicker than plate B and I thought it might eliminate having to use the shims.), but this combo was too thick to put through easily. So, I offer this up as an option for Cuttlebug users who are noticing those bothersome border folder lines and don't want to have to cover them, cut them off, or hide them with a score line. Just eliminate them from the start. :-) Addendum (since there seems to be renewed interest in this post): You might be interested in peeking at a post that I made more recently which recaps many of the items that I've used for both eliminating folder lines and for selective embossing: About all of this Cuttling. Just FYI. :-)

Sizzix Big Shot Bearing Replacement: This Sizzix Big Shot was not cutting out the paper properly on both sides. The right side, closest to the crank handle, was not applying enough pressure to the cutting die. This suggested to me that the rollers had become misaligned and most likely …

Neat! I just realized that this is my 300th post. Woo hoo! Seems right that I should be making a post about the Big Shot. I wanted to hit the basics because there are a number of new users out there and many of the same questions keep coming up in discussion forums. That is my Big Shot. Also pictured are the multipurpose platform and two clear cutting plates (pads). These are the basics that will get you started. Most of the time you'll be using the multipurpose platform (MPP) as your base with your die sandwiched between the two cutting pads on top of it. The die is usually placed with the cutting side facing up and your cardstock or paper on top of it. Sometimes you'll see folks use their dies with the cutting side down. I'm not sure how big a difference it makes, but I know that the thinner dies can bend if used that way. They tend not to bend if used blade up. Makes sense to me to just use them face up, eh? But before I get too far, let me show you what one of these cutting pads looks like after it's been used a few times. I know this takes some people by surprise. Don't worry. This is normal. It's a cutting surface that the blade of the die cuts against. It's gonna get marked up. Here's what mine looks like after years of use. Looks like that on both sides. And yeah, it's cracked in a couple of places, but it still works. I'll probably retire it soon though. :-) Let me talk about the multipurpose platform. I love this! I like easy and foolproof and this platform helps accomplish that. It's hinged and tabbed, and it has diagrams and instructions printed right on it! You flip the tabs open or closed to change the thickness of the platform so that it can accommodate the different dies, folders, texture plates etc. You don't cut directly on the platform. It's there only in a supporting role. Most of the time you'll have a clear cutting pad on top of it. You use this tab (Tab 2) for wafer-thin dies. I'll summarize just which ones at the end. Here is the MPP open to Tab 1. Tab 2 is off to the left and I've already passed that 'page' through the opening of the Big Shot to the other side. Now some folks have supposedly unscrewed the hinges so that they don't have to bother with open 'pages'. Yikes. I'm sure it works, but to me it sort of defeats the purpose. I find this set-up to be very convenient as is and not a problem to handle. This is the Tab setting that you'd use for slightly thicker dies, for texture plates*, for brass stencils*, and for embossing Spellbinders die cuts* like Nestabilities. Note the asterisks--these are cases where you don't use two clear pads; for these items you'll need a silicone pad and the Impressions pad. More on what these do later. But in short, here they take the place of the clear cutting pad that would usually go on top of the stack. Here is the platform with No Tabs selected. It's supposed to be used with narrower embossing folders. I use this one with the Cuttlebug embossing folders of all sizes. I've used Tab 1 for these in the past, but I get good crisp embossing without my cardstock tearing as often when I go with no tabs. Try it both ways and see which you like better. I wanted to show that there are times when you won't use a platform at all. This is when you use the Thick Cut, Bigz, XL Bigz, or Original Sizzix dies. You just pass the die through between the two clear cutting pads. No platform needed. No room for one! And these are some of the accessories than can be useful when using the Big Shot. The blue pad on the bottom is the Premium Crease Pad. It's made for use with the Cut 'n' Fold dies--these dies have lines that are meant to be scored in addition to lines that are supposed to be cut. Think of box templates as an example. This pad helps assure that the score lines turn out to be scored and not cut. If you use the clear cutting pads, often they'll end up cut. Not good. This pad can also be used to cut and emboss Nestabilities dies in one pass. You may see these around in red and black, too. The black pad is the Impressions pad. It comes in the Texturz Starter Kit or can be purchased individually. This used to come in the Big Impressions Starter Kit, too. If you've seen references to the BISK, that's what people are talking about. It's slightly thicker and narrower than a clear cutting plate. The very pliable black mat that you see is the silicone embossing mat. It works the same way as the tan Spellbinder embossing mat, also pictured above, developed for use with Wizard dies. These are both very soft and are easily forced into the sometimes intricate designs of metal dies or stencils to create crisp, detailed embossed images. I included a smaller piece of the tan mat to show that it can be cut down to allow embossing of a stencil image without embossing the edges of the stencil. I think it's great to have smaller pieces as well as the larger ones that can be used for big texture plates. These silicone mats can be bought separately. The kits that I mentioned above include this, the Impressions pad, and three texture plates (six designs). Let me summarize which MPP settings you'd use with various dies, plates, folders.... Tab 2 for wafer-thin dies: Nestabilities and other Wizard dies Quickutz dies and GooseBumpz embossing dies Bosskut dies Cuttlekids dies Tab 1: Sizzix Cut 'n' Emboss dies/Embosslits Sizzix Window Cut dies/Clearlits Thin Cut dies/Sizzlits Cuttlebug dies 4" Sizzix embossing folders (Easy Emboss or Simple Impressions) Ellison/Sizzix/Fiskars texture plates* metal stencils* embossing Nestabilities and other Wizard dies* (same set-up as with metal stencils, leave die cut inside die to emboss) No Tabs: 2 1/2" Sizzix embossing folders Cuttlebug embossing folders of all sizesNo multipurpose platform at all: Sizzix Original or Thick Cuts dies Bigz dies XL Bigz dies (does require XL cutting plates) Sizzix alphabars Sizzix long decorative strips dies (require extended spacer platform and 13" decorative strip cutting pads) I think that should cover most of the items that you'd think of putting through the Big Shot. These are the basics for getting started. For more info, tips, and tricks, please feel free to check out the Tutorials for the Big Shot and Cuttlebug menu in my sidebar. You can also find info there about what materials you can cut using the various dies. Edited to add: I've compiled the above information into a chart. The post with the link to that chart can be found HERE.

Hi Crafters, Dr Sonia here - I am still basking in the euphoria of having achieved something great crafty wise- I repaired my Big Shot when it had issues and now its as good as new! I have written this post with lot of input not only from the supremely knowledgeable Shalini Mittal but from experienced crafters all over the world. And there is a lovely surprise at the end of the post too......so do read on..) ENJOY THE BIGGEST CHRISTMAS OFFER EVER . Seeing the photos of the broken apart Big Shot on my blog, I got many mails and messages asking about which was a "good" die cutting machine - Well there is no ambiguity on that one- As far as Manual Die cutting Machines go the Sizzix Big Shot is the BEST die cutting machine!! And no its not just my opinion , visit craft forums all over the world and that is what you will read - The Big Shot is the most popular machine out there! And the Big Shot is available at Crafters Corner at the best prices..... Before we go to how to repair the Big Shot if anything should go wrong, Tips on Big Shot Use 1. Use the Big Shot on a hard even surface The Big Shot is a manual die cutting machine and you use your hand to roll the handle which turns "rollers" that cut your "die - paper" between the cutting plates + /- the platform. For your Big shot to exert good even pressure it should not be used on the mattress or uneven surfaces! And from a medical point of view dont sit on the ground and craft-- its bad for your back! Use the Big shot on a sturdy "non wobbly" table ! 2.Learn how to use the Platform Platforms of old style and new type Big shot If you are new to the Big Shot you may be confused about the tabs , sandwiches etc. Its actually easy and written on the platform tabs which type of dies to use on which tab of the platform! Tab 2 Tab 1 Both tabs opened Bigz dies dont need the platform- its sandwich is "cutting plate- die- paper - cutting plate"! Always take a moment to read the sandwich recommended on the die / embossing folder instruction leaflet and on the platform of your Big Shot Do not use unknown/ unbranded dies as you really dont know what sandwich is required and how it will affect your machine.....If you use non branded dies it can harm your machine to a big extent ....may be initially you wont realize it but slowly and steadily the damage can occur!You might save few pennies but will pay in dollars ....so a BIG NO TO LOCAL DIES if u want to keep your machine alive. 3. "Shims" Safety What are shims? You may have read "add shims" as an answer to a die not cutting properly. Well a shim is a piece of card added on top of the sandwich to increase the pressure on the die. The problem with "shimming" is that its all experiment- you really dont know how many pieces of card you need to cut nicely and you may add too much and damage you machine! What is the alternative ? - the Metal plate adapter. The popular brands are the wafer thin die adapter by sizzix and the metal plate adapter by Cheery Lynn . I have the one by Cheery Lynn and it makes my die cutting so much quicker- I hardly ever have to make multiple passes of my die and no I dont use shims! Apart from this very essential Metal Adapter plate, to make die cutting easier, Crafters Corner has a whole range of cutting dies accessories 4. Cutting Plate Use Cutting plates When you use the Big Shot for the first time you will be mildly stunned to hear the crackling sounds - dont worry you didnt break anything! You will be even more disheartened to see how quickly your beautiful cutting plate becomes scratched- still dont worry - you can use it!! Keep rotating the cutting plates [ ie keep changing the one which goes on top and the one which goes under the die] Now when should you get a new pair of cutting plates ? Even a little crack - get a new pair! Crack on Cutting plate Yes I had just a tiny crack on one of my cutting plates and I continued to use it and soon my Big Shot fell ill!! Dont use local acrylic plates instead of your Sizzix original cutting plates - Dont save a few pennies and damage your Machine! 5. Do Not Force anything through your machine! 6. Dont tax your Big Shot The Big Shot is actually meant for non commercial use - if you are going to be using it to churn out hundreds of die cuts a day ,you will make the poor thing fall ill! How to Repair your Big Shot Now as I already told you ,I recently had an issue with my Big Shot - shortly after its 2nd birthday and soon after I continued to use a cracked cutting plate[ I shouldn't have done that!] Problem die cutting The problem was it would only partially cut a die. Shalini came to my rescue and diagnosed the problem as a bearing problem and asked me to open up the Big Shot. So open up I had to. Do follow a wonderfully written Big Shot bearing replacement instruction by Mechanical Engineering student Leumas Yrrep. His instructions have everything you need to repair your Big Shot. I am just going to give you a simple overview of how I did it so that you can muster up courage to repair your own Big Shot too in case something goes wrong. Big Shot Put the Big Shot on its back and start removing all the screws using a standard screw driver. Keep all the screws and washers carefully as there are quite a few of them. Remove the Handle Remove Handle Use the allen key [ came with your Big Shot ] to remove the screw on the handle Allen Key If you have lost the Allen key , dont worry you can simply rotate the screw and the handle will come out! Once you have removed the handle and all the screws from the base of the Big shot things will start to fall apart. The side panels may require a bit of force to prise them apart. You will see the gears under the side panel on the handle side. Inspect to see if anything is amiss - eg dislodged gear, broken gear, falling bearing parts etc For me diagnosis was easy as bearing parts fell out as soon as my Big Shot was opened! Bearing Problem In the picture above you can see the empty bearing socket and the photo below shows the crushed and broken bearing. Broken bearing Do follow Leumas Big Shot bearing replacement instructions if you get stuck at any stage while replacing with a new bearing as you do need to do be a bit rough and do a little hammering! Now the biggest problem for me was not opening the Big shot or putting it back together, it was getting the bearing ! I visited so many auto-sparepart shops hunting for the exact bearing, tried online bearing shops and some people even suggested I get a bearing made in the local market. After Shalini came to know about my experience and read my Big Shot repair post she told me the most wonderful news for Big Shot users in India : That she will provide Big Shot spare parts free to all customers who get the Big Shot from her!! Talk about fantastic Customer Service!! I required only a small bearing but here are some of the Original Sizzix Big Shot Spare-parts Shalini has for her customers and that too for FREE !! Sizzix Original Spareparts I did an extensive online search about what all can possibly go wrong with the Big Shot and here is my Big Shot Repair Pinterest Board where I pinned and will keep pinning anything I find. I hope this post will be helpful for both newbies and experienced crafters. Do tell me how it is! Special Offer from Crafters Corner When you purchase a new Big Shot from Crafters Corner.... the spare-parts are absolutely free when required * This is the reason that when u buy craft supplies, always buy from an authorized source . And this is the reason I love shopping at Crafters Corner - you will get the right product , right service , right price, right information..... Highly recommended ! Do get in touch with Shalini Mittal for more details at [email protected] * Terms and conditions apply . Dr. Sonia.

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Ellen Hutson enjoys paper crafting, rubber stamping, and card making.

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Stampin' Up! UK Big Shot, The Showcase I've had this video in 'storage' for a fair few weeks now, waiting for the right time to publicise it. One of my

The Cuttlebug is one of my favorite tools in my craft room! You can make amazing cards and mats for your scrapbook pages. Get my favorite tips and ideas to maximize your investment. It both die cuts as well as embosses. There is a lot of use with this machine, Let us show you everything you can do.

6 Piece tools metal cutting die set All Measures apprxo 1 1/2" to 2 1/4" long Compatible to use with the following machines sizzix, big shot, big kick, wizard, cuttlebug, vagabond and many more. Brand new. Items shipped within 24-48 hours of payment received. Many more Metal cutting dies available. Follow my store. Scrapbuck Deals Thank you for looking

OH NO my sizzix broke !!! I went to use my sizzix today and the handle turns but then jams and gets stuck noooo..... I looked to see if something was stuck in the rollers but I couldn't find anything, so I thought I better pull it apart and see what the problem is. So this is a tutorial on how to safely pull apart your sizzix and fix it. Tools Allen key Phillips head screwdriver Sewing machine oil Small brush Step 1 Remove the black cap off the handle end Step 2 Using the right size allen key undo the screw and slide the handle off Step 3 Using the Phillips head screwdriver undo the screw shown by the arrows Step 4 Once all the screw are taken off you will need to use some force to take off the black sides. They are clipped in but with some patience they will come apart. Step 5 Next is to take off the middle handle and then the plates either side these will come apart easy. All the parts should ow be off the main metal rollers. Step 6 Next is to brush out any fluff in the rollers mine had a bit because it gets a workout with felt... Take off the top small cog by pulling off the plastic stopper and then the cog. Step 7 Now this is where my skateboarding days come in handy....underneath the cogs there are bearings very similar to the ones used in skateboarding wheels and if the get dirt and dust in them they tend not to move or get stuck. So to fix this put some sewing machine oil or any machine oil you have and put it on the bearings. Step 8 Put the small cog and stopper back on... next slide the cranking handle on and give it a few turns all the cogs should move and this will send the oil into the bearings to lubricate them...After a few turns everything should be moving smoothly Now to put it all back together Just go backwards on the way you pulled it apart Plates on first Top carrying handle Clip on sides and screw back in Put cranking handle on Use allen key to put back screw for cranking handle Then place the black cap back You should now have a fully serviced and function sizzix again I hope this has helped anyone who has a broken sizzix and need to fix it Happy crafting!!!!

Hi all, Ive been really enjoying experimenting with my cuttlebug and I'm so pleased i bought one. Ive been able to drag out supplies i haven...

As many of you are already aware, we are big fans of the Brother ScanNCut, however we also have a Sizzix Big Shot machine, which we love. It's an awesome machine for the price and it can cut through a lot of materials that the ScanNCut might struggle with. Watch the video tutorial below for the result With this in mind, we wanted to put the Sizzix Big Shot through its paces to see exactly what it could cut. We scoured our stash and came up with 34 different materials that we could test. See the full list below. We

{VIDEO TIP} Got warped Sizzix cutting pads? Discover this simple fix to get more life and less frustration from your cutting pads. Once you learn this tip, you won't go back to the way you were doing it before!

Recycled Soda Tin Floral Barette Above is a cool view of a recycled project made from aluminum soda cans. The flowers were cut out using the Sizzix Big Shot Machine Only (Powder Blue & Teal) by Ellison die cutting machine. The teal is the newest color in the series and works just as well as the pink and black one. Big Shot Machine Lately, it seems like every craft show I attend has someone demonstrating and/or using a Sizzix Big Shot Machine or the Sizzix BIGkick Machine Only (Vintaj Special Edition) by Ellison that is created specifically for metal at their booth. I have seen people use such a variety of materials with these machines that it never ceases to amaze me. Even beyond that, is the projects people make with their die cut pieces. This tool appears to be one of the "must haves" for an avid crafter and recycling junkie. At the "Unique LA" show I attended recently, I watched my friend Stefanie Girard (author of Sweater Surgery and reporter for Craft Gossip), demonstrate how to use the big shot to cut shapes out recycled felted wool sweaters and make fun jewelry. These were popular workshops that were sponsored by various groups and organizations, including Craftside Publishing. The folks in attendance just loved being able to use the "Big Shot" to cut up the sweaters to make cool jewelry pieces like the ring below. For more great recycled project ideas, just visit one of her many blogs (included the card album blog). Recycled Felted Wool Sweater Ring Seeing all these cool demonstrations, has made me want to own a die cutting machine of my own. I have a very limited crafting space so I had to do a little research to figure out which machine would do the most for the price, size, and cost. The "Big Shot" retails for $99.00 (plus shipping) on the Sizzix website. I did a google search and found the price on the Sizzix Big Shot Cutting-and-Embossing Roller-Style Machine varied depending on the retailers and some of the specials they were holding on machine. Amazon offers it at a great price. Also, I have seen it sold with accessories in kit form at various scrapbooking and craft shows (ex: beginners kit, advanced kit, etc.). So the price can vary. The Sizzix Big Shot Machine Only comes with: Big Shot Machine (14-1/4 by 12-3/8 by 6-5/8 ) Multi Purpose Platform Directions imprinted right on the platform so you wont lose them (unless you misplace the platform) Pair of standard Clear cutting pads Sizzix Big Shot Starter Kit The Sizzix Big Shot Starter Kit on Amazon comes with: Big Shot Machine Standard Cutting Pads One Extended Multipurpose Platform One Bigz Die Two Sizzles Dies One Textured Impressions Embossing folder (these work with thin metals too) One Framelits Seven die set Ten Cardstock Samples Instruction Booklet My first question upon opening the box, was "what is this multi purpose platform for?" It looked a bit odd so I did the smart thing and read the instructions. I love the fact that the machine is so easy to set up. The cool multi purpose platform itself has flaps called tabs. Each tab gives the directions for using various dies, embossing and texture sheets printed right on it. The multi purpose platform is important because it shows many of the Sizzix products and how they are compatible with this machine. If you shop at the Sizzix website it has a button that leads you to all of their products that are compatible with the big shot. Additionally, the platform allows you to use other company dies, embossing, and texture sheets with this machine. The base of the big shot is sturdy which is helpful when trying to use the extra long dies like the "Suitcase" die (#657124). Upon reading the directions, I realized that the Big Shot cuts and embosses a wide variety of materials. Since, I had a limited amount of dies to test out, I decided to take advantage of my local craft store sale on dies and pick up a few to help me test out the machine's capabilities. Once I was armed with enough dies, I had a field day running different materials through the machine and trying out the dies. I tested an wide assortment of materials including, acetate, card board, corrugated card board, card stock, aluminum and plastic from soda containers chipboard, papers (different weights and textures), plastic, place mats, fabric, thin leather, some hand made papers, tin, sticker paper, rubber, and more using the Sizzix Die's. Basically anything that was less the blue felt material above is 1/8" thickness than 1/8" went through the machine. I tried out some craft wood that was the thickness of wall paper and very soft. It went through without any problem. I have listed below some of the different materials and results I got from testing the Big Shot. Aluminum Cans I started with some rinsed soda and energy drink cans then using an old pair of scissors, I cut up the cans. I wore my leather gloves to protect me from the sharp edges that I was bound to encounter while cutting up the soda cans. This was a smart move, as I ended up with quite a few sharp edges. I flatten out the piece of a aluminum and then ran through the "Big Shot" using my butterfly die (#654996 ). The finished piece was very cool and since this die is a butterfly and I could fold up the wings to give it more dimension. Burlap I decided to test a nice orange burlap place mat that I had on hand. I put a small piece through the big shot and used my Flowers Layer (#654982) die cut. It did cut the burlap but the burlap started to unraveled fairly quickly. So I decided to try the old stand by "Modge Podge" on the burlap. I used the my favorite gloss-lustre because it gives everything a little bit of shine. I applied it to both sides of the burlap (allowing to dry between applications). Once the material had dried, I ran it through Big Shot machine. This time it cut the burlap without any unraveling problems. The dried Modge Podge also made it easier to shape the petals. I added a bit of glitter to the petals, then attached a pin back to make it into a flower pin. Cork Board I tried a round cork board drink coaster in the machine that was a little thicker than 1/8". I found that it was too thick to run through the machine. So I decided to try a thinner piece of cork board (less than 1/8") and then ran it through the "Big Shot" using my butterfly die (# 654996). It worked just fine. Aluminum Can and Cork Project: I combined the aluminum can pieces that I had cut earlier with the cork board pieces to make some fun butterflies. Then my girls mounted them onto some plant sticks for one of many teacher's aid gifts that we have been working on. My daughter added some sequins onto the butterflies to catch the light and make it fun. I love that my girls can join me in using the things we die cut from this machine, as well as its' applicability to kids crafts. Felt Craft Sheets - Self Adhesive I wanted to use one of my "Hello Kitty" dies that I had on hand, so I decided that one of those self adhesive felt craft sheets would be fun to test the "Big Shot" on. I tried a single thickness and it worked very well. Hello Kitty Die Cut in Felt I decided to try a double thickness and it did not cut as cleanly as the single thickness did…so I think I will stick to a single layer of the felt for future reference. Second Project - Hello Kitty Tote Since the felt is flexible, I decided it would be a great accent on a tote bag for one of my girls. Hello Kitty Tote Bag Foam Sheets I received a really cute suitcase die cut that I was curious to try out and see if it would work with the foam sheets you can find at the craft store. The suitcase die is very long and requires using longer clear extended platforms to run this particular die through the Big Shot. The felt sheets were a little less than 1/8" thickness. I cut the sheet to fit the die and ran it through the machine. Running the extended platform through the big shot takes only a bit more work than the shorter ones. You need to hold them together until the die is 1/4th of the way through, then it run slowly through to get a nice cut on your paper or material. Needless to say, it worked great and the thickness of the foam made the suitcase a little bit sturdier than if I had cut it out from card stock paper. The foam did not fold as easily as paper would have and it did need to be stitched with thread to stay in the suitcase shape. However the end result was worth that little bit of extra effort. Foam Suitcase Plastic 1 liter bottles I washed out the bottle, then using very sharp scissors I cut the top and bottom from the bottle. Then I cut down the center and laid it under some heavy books to flatten it out. Once it was flat enough, I cut the plastic to fit the die. I ran the die through the machine and it cut it out quite nicely. It was very sheer so I decided to paint the petals before I put them together to create the flower in layers. I used the Plaid Enamels to paint the plastic and they worked really well together. Once the paint dried, I shaped the petals by pinching the ends and then put the flower together. Since it was plastic, I realized it would be great to use to decorate a pin wheel for the garden. Plastic Bottle flower attached to pinwheel Plastic Place mat I had a plastic place mat made from a harder plastic than the 1 liter bottles. The animal print just screamed to be used in some type of fun flower. I cut the plastic to fit the Flowers Layer die cut (#654982) and put it through the "Big Shot" using the extra long clear plastic pads. I was glad to see that it worked well cutting out the petals without leaving any sharp edges. Third Project - Animal Print Flowers Using the plastic flowers I cut out from the animal print place mat, I took the pad from my pergamano set so I could use a stylus to give the petals some shape. I glued the pieces together, added a brad in the center, and then glue them to pin backs so they could be used as a pin. The animal print flowers were so cute that I decided to add them to a gift bag to decorate it and for the receiver of the gift to be able to use the wearable pin later on. I also made some cute barrettes from some of the many flowers we had cut from the placement (which was a very large place mat). Rubber Shelf liner I picked up some the non-slip rubber shelf liner and put it through the machine using my Flowers Layer (#654982) die cut. I was able to run 2 sheets at a time with out any problems. It probably would have done 4 but I only needed a few flowers for this test. It did cut the through the rubber without any problems. I tried putting the petals together to make a flower but it was too thin to hold it's shape well. So I decided to coat the rubber with the Modge Podge and glitter to see what would happen. I let it dry overnight and it stiffened it up the petals so I could attach them to some flip flops to make them a little more decorative. They came out cute! Self Adhesive Plastic Shelf Liner This is a little thicker than most shelf liners, however, it cut without any problems. The girls used the cut outs to decorate journal pages and an old tag I had from a trade show. decorate tag Competitor Dies According to the information on the tabs, you can use the wafer thin die and other competitors dies on this machine. So I decided to give it a try. I had a set of the "Spellbinder Nestabilities" frames in my craft box to try out. These are so versatile and it would be fabulous if I could use them with the Big Shot. I placed one of the clear pads on top of Tab Number 2 (which means both tabs are under the pad). Since the Spellbinder frame die is considered to be fairly thin, I decided to see what would happen if I feed it through without the proper backing (foam pad). It went through without any problems but did leave deep marks on the clear plastic cutting pads. You can see below how clean this machine cuts through the paper. Then, I followed the actual directions on the tabs for wafer thin dies. I placed the die face up on the pad. I put a piece of paper stock on top of the die followed by a piece of foam and the second clear pad. It cut clean without any problems. Using the impression part of the die, was a little trickier. I put Tab Number 2 through the machine first to hold the platform in place. Then, I placed the Spellbinder Nestibilities die face up directly on top of Tab Number 1. Then placed the paper. I covered the die with two pieces of foam, and the clear pad I ran it through slowly. When I removed the pads, the die had left an impression perfectly, however it did leave some cuts on the piece of foam. I checked the Sizzix website and found that this problem is easily fixed by using the sizzix silicone pad and by following the directions on that packaging. However, for now at least I know it works with what I have on hand. Next I tried the Sizzix die "Shells & Starfish" (1/8" thickness). This is a fun little die with a summer beach theme. The shells and starfish on this little die are so cute! I put it through the big shot and using card stock and it cut through cleanly. I decided to try to cut another piece of soda can tin and I was surprised to see that it cut through the tin cleanly. Texture and Embossing I also read that you can use texture sheets and embossing tools with the Big Shot. I do not own any embossing tools, so testing those were out. However, I did have some texture and embossing sheets from other companies to test out. I decided to try one of the Cuttlebug embossing folders (Provo Craft) out in the Big Shot. I used a piece of aluminum can that I had cut from an energy drink. Using the enclosed platform, I made sure that tab number 2 went through the machine first. I placed the cutting pad with the "Cuttlebug Emboss Sheet" (Victoria) sandwiched between the top and bottom pad. I laid them on top of Tab number 1. I ran it through the machine. I carefully removed the aluminum from the embossing sheet. The design embossed beautifully and looked great on both sides of the aluminum piece. I then tried the "Makin's Clay Plastic Texture Sheet" and the "Shade-Tex" rubbing plates (Scratch Art) which are significantly thinner. I put a piece of foam down onto the platform, then I placed the texture sheet on it. I put a piece of parchment paper on it and then a piece of foam followed by the top pad. I ran it through the machine. The texture sheets are not made of the same material as the Cuttlebug sheet and they did not work well on this machine. Both did leave a slight impression on the paper but it was not much of one. I think the texture sheets you use on this machine need to be made of sturdy materials to work well, instead of the lighter plastic or rubber. For the money, this machine is a great investment because of its versatility and portability. My friends and I enjoy having outdoor crafting parties and often there is no electricity easily available. The Big Shot offers a tremendous potential for both my crafting needs and my upcycling projects. The fact I can use it too cut so many different types of materials is a real plus. I often switch between fabric projects and paper projects, to be able to use the machine for both is a not only a spacesaver but a money saver too! Also, having seen some my favorite recycling gurus out there utilizing this machine to create some really cool art is inspiring as well. I would highly recommend this machine, for its many great qualities and affordable price. Update August 21, 2015: Many of you have contacted me to find out when I will post a review of the newest Sizzix 660340 Big Shot Plus Cutting/Embossing Machine, White/Gray, well the current price of that machine is $143.00 with free shipping (if you are a member of Amazon Prime) so it will have to wait for a bit. My friend Stefanie purchased the Big Shot Plus Cutting/Embossing Machine, so I spent the afternoon checking it out and here are some of my preliminary thoughts about it: The Big Shot Plus Machine measures: 15 3/4 inches by 11 3/4 Inches with a height of 7 1/2 Inches. These measurements are approximate. The biggest draw of the machine is that you can feed your 8 1/2" by 11 inches papers through the machine to cut out the die shapes. I use the 12 inch by 12 inch papers a lot more, so I would still end up having to cut my paper to feed it through the machine. So I am not sure if spending an additional $75 for the machine is worth it at this time, with out knowing more about it. I not sure if you can use your collection of dies in this machine, as I did not have my collection of dies with me that day (and she lives 75 miles away from me) to test out and she only had regular 8 1/2 by 11 paper to use. The color of this machine is a simple white with grey trim look. It doesn't have the fun colorful designs that the regular big shot does but it really does not need it either. It is a nice machine to have if you have the space to store it. Because of its' size, it is not as portable as the big shot. However, it does not need to run on electricity which is always a plus when crafting on the fly. Tips for using the regular size Big Shot: Always use the right platform or cutting pad board with the appropriate die. Carefully place die or texture plate facing the correct direction (according to manufacturers directions). If you are new to using these types of machine, just know that the clear plastic pads will get scratched and cut over time. The die cutting process does leave its mark behind on those, so try to remember to rotate and flip the clear pads to get even wear on them. Local craft stores do not have a large selection of these dies in stock, they are trending towards the electric die cut machines which I think is a mistake. There is a need for both types, especially if you want to take your die cutting machine with you somewhere where there is not electricity readily available. Anyway, you can find a great selection on die's online. Check the Sizzix website to get some more project ideas to make the most of your machine. The Big Shot comes wrapped in a huge plastic container. If you cut it carefully, you can use that same plastic and run it through your big shot to die cut it and use it for craft projects or mini books. The longer dies are harder to push through the machine, but have patience and it will go through. I found that if I put a rubber anti slip mat under the big shot while using those longer dies it does help keep the machine it from moving as much. Leave me a comment, I would love to hear about your experience with this machine and hear what types of materials you have cut with this machine. The bigkick is a good deal if you like using the extended multi purpose platform. And it is cheaper than the Big Shot above. Update: June 22, 2017: I went to a class at Sizzix University where we used leather to make some fun micro travelers notebooks. The leather was pre-cut for our use, so I did not personally see them feed it through the machine to cut it. I did, however, feed the leather through using one of the embossing plates to give my leather a really pretty texture. We spritz both side of the leather and then fed it through the Sizzix Big Shot Machine. It took one person to hold the machine down (because my arms are not that strong) and I fed through the machine. So it can be done. The results are worth it.

How to emboss ribbon for crafts and crafting with a Sizzix Big Shot machine for paper crafts and scrapbooking

Girl Soccer Player Metal Cutting die Measures Approx 4" Tall Compatible to use with the following machines sizzix, big shot, big kick, wizard, cuttlebug, vagabond and many more. Brand new. Items shipped within 24-48 hours of payment received. Many more Metal cutting dies available. Follow my store. Scrapbuck Deals Thank you for looking

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I love being able to add the smallest of details, bringing a card to life! I was playing around with the MOJO sketch and came up with this little beauty: The paper daisies are fun to color and are still in the current catalog (pg. #175). They come white which is nice because there are several ways you can color them. The smaller daisy was put in a small dish, and a drop of Cherry Cobbler reinker was added to the top, giving it that deep dark color that I was after. Actually, it was a little TOO dark so I added water to it, and it softened to the color that I wanted. To the colored water that I now have, I added the large daisy painting it a pretty shade of pink! I heat dried them, because I was in a hurry to use them, and added some sponging to the edges of the large daisy. Used some Gumball Green stitched ribbon for leaves, popped it all up on the 2 1/2 inch circle punch, layered it with a larger scallop die cutting it out with the Big Shot (gosh, I love that thing!!). Paired with some textured cardstock and DSP, you have yourself a great card to give to someone special! Here's the list of supplies that you'll need: Cardstock: Chocolate chip #102128, Whisper White #100730, Daffodil delight #119683, Cherry Cobbler #119685, International Bazaar DSP #126920 Stamps: Just Believe (Clear #120453 or Wood #116948), Itty Bitty Banners (Clear #126257 or Wood #126255) Ink: Old Olive #126953 Accessories: Paper Daisies #119243, Basic Pearls #119247, Gumball Green stitched satin #126848, Bitty Banners Framelits #129267, Piercing Tool #126189 Go ahead... Don't wait - HURRY!.. get some paper daisies, and have some FUN! See how many different ways you can color them, and let me know! Also, if you place your $50 order HERE, you can STILL get the Reason to Smile stamp set for ONLY $5 Don't wait... this offer is ONLY good until July 31! Stampin'