New Die cutting Machine?

[Waterlily]

Thanks Borderline, tried again this morning and still no luck. I wonder if that's why it was put back in the box and I meant to return it


Anyway I've ordered some new plates for Big shot, that put me off too because they are clear - not like the old ones.

[Chalet School Fan]

I have different coloured plates for my Big Shot - smoky grey and green as well as clear! I buy a spare set when they are in sales and that sometimes means I pick up limited edition ones cheaply.

[Jacksmissis]

Oh my Goodness, that reminds me, I got my Wizard from 'Once Upon a Stamp' and I'm sure I had a nice letter or email from them, but I didn't really know of himself. Was he on TV? I'm trying to think how long ago it was. I received a couple of little dies with the Wizard and then I very bravely (for me) took myself off to the NEC Birmingham and got some of the basic Spellbinders nesting shapes. Met the Glitter Girls at the show, remember that. I hadn't seen much craft TV at that point, Alan and Barry ring a bell !!! Michele Marsden persuaded me to buy her Create and Craft 3-cd box sets and I never looked back!
The Spacer Plate was smaller than the 2 big white plates if I remember rightly, so the cutting area was quite limited which is why I later got the GC.

Yes they used to be on C&C a lot, Robert was the one with the blonde hair and did most of the dems and Gordon (his partner) used to be more into the inventing side of things. After Robert passed away (must be 6 or 7 years ago now) and time went on Justin came into the firm and then they re-named into "Be Creative".

Hope you get your plates sorted out Pam, it would be a shame to break one with the wrong sandwich, I did that with one that Hattie (HappyCut) had, and they don't half go with a bang, frightened me to bits.

[RozMinis]

I've cracked a couple of my wee bug's plates using the Tonic cracker die. Made him wait over six months (his birthday) before I let him have a new plate the first time it happened. After the second crack I now only use that particular die in mt GC. I usually buy my plates via Amazon, and they are not the branded ones either. Less than half the price of the branded ones, and have never had a problem with them.

Roz

[Julie]

Funny enough I have only ruined plates using Tonic dies, maybe they are too efficient. Had 20 special invitations to make, each requiring 5 passes, went through 3 sets of CC plates so started buying the compatible plates.

[Jacksmissis]

My goodness, it was a Tonic A4 embossing folder that did my HappyCut plate! and since I've had my Gemini I tried it again - with extreme caution - and I thought it was going to blow up, terrific noise although it did do the embossing. Shame as there are three of them and they're nice designs. I've been too frightened to try since then. Shame as A4 folders are hard to get too. Maybe someone has a better "sandwich" ? Wonder if I treat one as a 3d folder (less thickness) it would work? I'm busy today but I'll have a go next time I'm using it.

[Chalet School Fan]

I've found compatible plates work well - couldn't find any official replacement plates for my Baby Blue so looked on a well known auction site. The ones are found there are perfect and I've been using them regularly for ages. For my Big Shot so far I've just looked out for plates in sales and I've now got several in store 'just in case'. Actually I've never broken a plate, but I do sometimes put a die on the wrong way round, cut into the wrong side and find I need a new smooth top plate!

[Jacksmissis]

Yes I've made marks on mine sometimes with wrong way dies! Can I ask a stoopid question ladies, when you go for the cookey-likey plates, how do you know what thickness to buy? Way back when I broke the one for the HappyCut it was all in mm thicknesses so I ended up buying a new set of real ones as I didnt have a clue and couldnt measure so finely in mm (not to trust anyway). Wouldn't mind a spare set of Gemini plates but they were well over £40 last time I saw them.

[pyjama princess]

JM if you buy from Slipscreens on eBay they call their plates by the name of the machines. If they don't have any for your machine they say to mesage them with measurements and if there's enough demand they'll start making them. You might get lucky and find plates for another machine are the same size as what you need anyway.

[Borderline]

My old GC plates work in the tonic Tangerine.