Tuesday 20 October 2009

These cards, beautifully photographed as usual *smirk*, serve to prove nothing except that I've discovered a file of previously unpublished photos! At least the fault of pointing the camera toward the light is obvious. Because there was light. Today has been wet and gloomy and dark since the get-go and I find it very uninspiring.

Yesterday's article about the Epic Six prompted some confession type revelations about your Cuttlebugs. Oh my. Couple of you haven't exactly used them to capacity and back, huh? Oh I have. I don't use it every day, but I do use it every time I make cards. Not necessarily as a die cutter - it's the embossing facility that I use the most, love it. With vague and not many exceptions, I have most of the the C6 size folders. I can't help it. At least I use them! There was originally, a lot of debate about the plates (shims); I was actually a demonstrator for the wholesaler that brought Cuttlebug to the UK at the time and I met a fair number of people who were horrified by the cracking noise the plates made, and worse, stopped using the thing because they thought the 'scarring' and 'bending' of the plates was a sign of something going wrong. I was able to reassure them with mine:
Ya see, there were (and still are actually) round-the-workshop table discussions about these plates. Lots and lots of us use the same B plate on the top all the time, so that only one of the pair bears the scarring and pitting of die cut use. Many, many - most- wiser people than I turn the 'top plate' each time they use it, so that it hasn't succumbed to continual heavy roller pressure and become a banana plate. I didn't do this, as you can see! For two reasons: I wanted to see how well it would perform at it's most abused - for the want of a better word (remember, as a demonstrator, you need to know all the strengths of your product); it quickly became obvious that turning it over would cause it to snap, so I didn't. The second reason is the revealing one really - I don't consider myself tightly wound about much, and certainly not borderline OCD (you've seen WOYWW, right?!), but I just knew that if I started the plate turn and turn about thing, I'd end up stressing over a system - do I turn it before I use it each time, once at the beginning of a session or once at the end of the session, ready for next time. Aaaghh. I might experience a night terror - waking up in a panic because I did (or didn't) turn it! So off I go with the line of least resistance again. Do nothing. That banana shaped plate is 3 years old, so it was for me, the right choice. I've just retired it from workshop use, but I'm keeping it as a back up!

14 comments:

Anne said...

OMG! I've never seen anything like it! After I commented on your last post, I was thinking about my lack of Cuttlebug use, and I think I'm going to do my very own little blog post about it :0)

Carmen said...

Your banana plate amuses me no end! :D I remember the first time I cut on mine I thought I'd broke it. Craig saw me stop. And hesitate. And move to block view of said Cuttlebug from his line of vision. He knew I was up to something shifty. It was him that pointed out dies are actually sharp and that of course they would cut into the mats and no I hadn't broke it. He also added a 'moron' on the end. Nice eh?

Paige said...

I too chuckled at the banana plate :) I am to be honest a plate turned but then i suppose you had already guessed that! right? ;)

Emilie said...

Your cards are gorgeous! I too started my xmas ones...
I am looking at getting my hands on one of those wonderfull machines for the embossing properties! just saving now...

airing cupboard crafts said...

Love the card julia. My plate is no where like yours I really should use it more... I remeber seeing Jays and hers was really bent has she still got it?

Oh I'm just sat here looking at the workshop list trying to decide which one to do..... decisions decisions

speak soon xx

voodoo vixen said...

OMGoodness me!! Would you look at that plate!! Mine is a wee bit warped and it worries me... I also nearly cried the first time I cut something and it scratched into the plate... thought I had ruined it!! Obviously I need to get out more and use my bug more...

Ann said...

Love the cards and the cute stamps thereon!
I laughed out loud at your 'banana' plate. I too have a cuttlebug and love the embossing folders and the fact it can take any manufacturer's dies. The problem is I could spend a King's Ransom buying all the ones I like!
And no, I don't obsessively turn the plates.

Anne said...

Oh, and I meant to say - the "How Are You?" sentiment is sadly not a stamp (otherwise I would buy one, too) - it's a rub on - American Crafts Mini Marks.

And I turn my cuttlebug plates, too!

Angie said...

Love your cards ...especially the tree one.

Did you watch QVC today? They had the machine on there to day ...love the extra bits like width but was interested to hear that they do not recomend the use of other brand dies or embossing plates?????


Had to laugh at your banana plate!!!!!

Christine said...

I've never seen one that like that, too funny!!! I don't have to stress. If I see it curving one way, they I start using it the other way. That seems to keep everything straight.

Blessings,
Christine

Anonymous said...

love the abused plate jules! it's quite impressive! i haven't had an issue with mine since i don't use it, poor thing

CoventryAnn said...

Both my Big Shot cutting plates are banana shaped too, and i'm another one who uses their machine regularly, love the embossing folders for cards, but use them less for scrapbooking, a 12"length embossing folder to use as a border would be nice though!!

Kathy said...

Great cards Julia - and so nice to see someone who has an even curlier CBug plate than I do! lol

I came over to link my WOYWW but your's isn't up yet - maybe I've finally lost my marbles and it's not Wednesday at all.............

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