How to Use a Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine

On this page (10 sections)

1. How do you set up a Cuttlebug die cutting machine?
2. What is the correct plate sandwich for cutting?
3. Which machine should a first-time die cutter buy?
4. How do you emboss with a Cuttlebug?
5. How do you cut intricate shapes without tearing the paper?
6. How do you clear scraps from dies and keep the plates clean?
7. When should you replace Cuttlebug plates?
8. How do you keep the rollers and handle working smoothly?
9. How does a Cuttlebug compare with a digital cutting machine?
10. What should you do first with a new Cuttlebug?

To use a Cuttlebug die cutting machine, build the plate sandwich the die calls for, sandwich the paper between the die and the plates, and crank the stack through the rollers in one steady pass. You get a clean cut from steel-rule dies and a raised pattern from embossing folders, and the plate order changes between the two jobs.

The skill is in the sandwich: which plate goes where, how much material goes in, and how evenly you turn the handle. Get that right and the Cuttlebug handles cardmaking, scrapbooking and small home decor pieces without much fuss.

How do you set up a Cuttlebug die cutting machine?

Set it on a flat, stable table and keep the plates, dies and folders within reach before you start. A Cuttlebug works by turning a handle that pulls a stack of plates between two rollers, so it needs a level surface and room in front for the stack to exit.

Clear a space wider than the plates so the sandwich can pass through and land without tipping. Keep the cutting plates flat, not propped against a wall, because a warped plate changes the pressure on every cut.

Sort your dies by type first. Thin metal dies, thick steel-rule dies and embossing folders each use a different stack, so grouping them saves you rebuilding the sandwich for each one.

What is the correct plate sandwich for cutting?

For most steel-rule dies the order is a cutting plate, the die with its cutting edge up, the paper, then a second cutting plate, but the exact stack depends on the die and the machine. Always follow the instructions packed with the die rather than a general rule.

The paper sits on the die's foam side so the blade pushes through it. Place the die so the blade clears the edges of the plates; overhanging blades catch the rollers and can bend.

Feed the whole stack into the machine from one side and turn the handle at an even pace. Don't stop halfway and don't reverse the stack to force a second bite, because that can crease the paper or mark the plate.

Thin dies usually need an adapter plate in the stack. If your die came with a chart, keep it with the machine so you don't have to look it up each time.

Which machine should a first-time die cutter buy?

The Sizzix Big Shot Starter Kit is the machine to buy if you want one box that covers cutting and embossing from day one. It has a 6 in opening and arrives with the plates and dies you need to start, which saves buying each piece separately.

The machine has a 36 square inch active surface and a clip-on handle that stores under the body, so it packs away into a small craft space. The kit includes the multipurpose platform, one pair of cutting pads, 73 Thinlits dies, a 3D embossing folder and a pack of textured cardstock.

That combination matters for a beginner. You can cut a shape and emboss a background in the same session without hunting for extra plates.

The trade-off is size. A 6 in opening suits cards, tags and scrapbook pieces but limits very large dies.

If most of your projects are wide, compare the wider machines in our guide to the best manual die cutting machines.

How do you emboss with a Cuttlebug?

Embossing uses an embossing folder instead of a die, and the sandwich is built to press the paper into the folder's pattern rather than cut it. The folder is a folded plastic sleeve with a raised design on one side.

Place the paper inside the folder, close it, then stack it with the plates in the order the folder instructions give. That order is usually different from a cutting stack, and using the wrong one can crush the folder.

Turn the handle slowly so the folder passes through evenly. A steady pace gives a crisper raised image than a fast crank, and it puts less strain on the folder's hinge.

Do the embossing before you cut a shape from the same sheet, so the raised pattern stays clean.

How do you cut intricate shapes without tearing the paper?

Cut intricate shapes on a slower pass and keep the paper flat against the die. Small openings and thin bridges are where paper tears, and the cause is usually a loose sandwich or a hurried crank.

Hold the die and paper together as you slide them between the plates so nothing shifts. A shifted sheet leaves a blade cutting into blank paper beside the shape.

If a shape comes out with fuzzy edges, run the stack through again in the same direction. A second pass with the paper still in place often clears the last few fibers without adding a shim.

Thin paper tears more easily than cardstock on fine details, so move up to a heavier weight for shapes with thin arms or tiny holes.

How do you clear scraps from dies and keep the plates clean?

Pick the small pieces out of the die after each cut and wipe the plates between projects. Bits of paper pressed into a die stop the next cut from being clean, and grit on the plates marks everything you run through.

The Sizzix Die Pick has a rubber handle and a removable cap, and its point reaches into small die openings.

It's 5 3/8 in long, so it reaches into tight openings without your fingers getting in the way. Use light pressure and work the scrap out from the edge; pushing hard can scratch the foam or bend a blade.

Wipe the plates with a soft, dry cloth after a session. Polycarbonate pads scratch, and a scratched pad leaves marks on cardstock.

Hand wash only, and let the pads dry fully before stacking them.

When should you replace Cuttlebug plates?

Replace a plate when it no longer lies flat, when a sandwich needs extra shims to cut, or when deep scratches transfer onto your paper. Plates are a wear part, not a permanent piece of the machine.

Warping comes from uneven pressure: feeding material near one edge, stacking extra plates on a thin die, or forcing thick material through. Store the plates flat and rotate which side faces up to spread the wear.

The Sizzix Standard Cutting Pads are a clear pair measuring 8.74 x 6.1 x 0.12 in.

Sizzix says the pair fits the BIGkick, Big Shot and Vagabond machines. The clear plastic lets you see the die and paper line up as you build the stack.

If you use a Cuttlebug, check the pad size against your machine's opening before buying, because a pad that's too wide won't feed cleanly between the rollers.

How do you keep the rollers and handle working smoothly?

Keep the rollers clean and the handle free of paper dust, and the machine will keep feeding stacks evenly. Most feeding problems trace back to debris caught in the rollers or a plate that's no longer flat.

Brush crumbs out of the roller area with a dry brush after a long session. Don't oil the rollers unless the maker's instructions call for it, because oil can transfer onto plates and paper.

Turn the handle by hand only. Never force it when a stack feels stuck; pull the stack back out, check the plate order and try a thinner stack instead.

Forcing a jam bends the plates and strains the gears. Store the machine with the handle down and the plates flat beside it.

How does a Cuttlebug compare with a digital cutting machine?

A Cuttlebug cuts physical dies with a hand crank and needs no software, while a digital machine cuts from files on a screen. The two suit different workflows rather than one replacing the other.

A Cuttlebug is ready in seconds and works without a computer, which suits quick cards, tags and small batches. Its shapes come from the dies you own, so the design range grows only when you buy more dies.

A digital cutter can cut any shape you can draw or download, but it needs a file, a mat and a connected device.

Our explainer on what a die cutting machine is and what it does covers both types side by side. If you already own metal dies and wonder whether a digital machine can use them, the answer is in our guide to whether you can use dies in a Cricut.

To understand the pressure and roller action in more depth, read how die cutting machines work.

What should you do first with a new Cuttlebug?

Run one simple die through a scrap of cardstock before starting a real project. That first pass tells you whether the plate order is right and how much pressure your machine gives.

Cut a basic shape, then try an embossing folder on the same scrap. If both come out clean, you've learned the two stacks you'll use most, and every later project starts from a known setup.

The usual beginner mistakes show up here too: the wrong plate order, too thick a stack, and rushing the crank. Each is easy to fix once you see it on a scrap.

If you're still choosing a machine, the Big Shot Starter Kit gives you a cutter, plates, dies and a folder in one purchase. Pick it if you want to start cutting and embossing the same day.

Keep the plates flat and the dies picked clean, and the same setup will serve you for years.

Frequently asked questions

What plates do you need for a Cuttlebug die cutting machine?

A Cuttlebug runs on two cutting plates plus a spacer plate, arranged in the order the die maker states. Thin metal dies and embossing folders often call for an adapter or a different stack, so follow the instructions that come with each die or folder rather than guessing.

Can a Cuttlebug cut fabric or thicker cardstock?

Yes, a Cuttlebug can cut paper, cardstock and some fabrics, but the sandwich must be adjusted for thicker material. Add or remove shims only as the die instructions allow, and feed thick cardstock in one layer so the rollers are not forced.

Why did my Cuttlebug die not cut all the way through?

A partial cut usually means the sandwich is too loose or the die is not aligned with the paper. Check the plate order, add a shim only if the die instructions allow it, and run the stack through again in the same direction.

How do you keep Cuttlebug plates from warping?

Feed material through the center of the plates, avoid stacking extra shims beyond what a die needs, and store the plates flat when you finish. Warped plates change the pressure of every sandwich, so replace a pair that no longer lies flat.