Hi Friends. As I mentioned recently I bought some new thin dies. I never had very many but the sets I had were getting quite a workout so I bought some when Consumer Crafts had the Darice nesting dies on sale for $6. I was really happy with them and I did a review of the product and as a thank you Consumer Crafts sent me the Sizzix Magnetic Platform. The Sizzix magnetic platform has been around for a year or two but it never caught my interest before for 2 reasons: 1. I did not have many dies and 2. It was expensive retailing at $39. Also I am not a fussy precise person so slapping down the dies and cranking them through was just fine for me ALTHOUGH I had a few frustrating episodes where I spent time coloring an image only to have the die slip when I went to cut it so I would tape the die to the paper and get on with life. The way you use the platform (which has many strong magnets embedded in it in a grid) is to place a flat cutting plate on top, then paper to cut, then the die cutter side down which holds the paper down because of the magnets and then the top plate and you crank it through. I will demonstrate this process in this video:
I think that if you only have a few thin dies then you probably do not need this. You can use tape to keep your dies in place if you need to. If you have a lot of thin dies and use your die cutter a lot I would recommend it especially if you like the stamp-and-die sets. Also if you are a teacher who needs to die cut a lot of things for students it will save time and waste of materials because you can fit dies on the paper close together and crank them through all at once. I have to die cut loads of stuff for my craft classes so this will be a time saver. Also be aware that you need to have a completely flat plate on the bottom for this to work so it might mean you have to replace the bottom pad more often or be sure to flip the plates frequently to avoid warping. Please be aware that the strong magnets MAY interfere with pacemakers, memory cards, computers and other data storage devices so don’t lay this on your computer. Consumer Crafts sells the magnetic platform for $29.97. What do you think? Do you have one? Is it useful or not? Let me know in the comments and til next time happy crafting!
The Frugal Crafter Blog 
I do not have one yet, but am interested in getting one. I’ve been slowly investing into dies, especially the Spellbinder dies. I like the idea of not wasting paper and getting the cut done right the first time.
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I use mine everyday. It is a very Nice addition to my big shot
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I love my magnetic pad; would not cut anything without it. I flip my “B” plates often to keep the bottom one flat. One of the best purchases I have made in several years.
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I finally sprung for one when they were half-price at JoAnn.com. I, too, have found it most useful when I am doing a bunch of cuts at once….like at Christmas.
I noticed that it slightly magnetized my dies, sometimes, causing them to play a little bit of their “repel” trick with each other and with parts of the platform. This wasn’t too inconvenient most of the time……just a little annoying when I had a tight fit. The induced magnetism didn’t last long.
I, also, found my “warped” pads interfered, so most of the time I don’t bother using it when I am only making one of two cuts….and pull out a flatter pad when I need it. This magnetic platform definitely is the right tool for some jobs, though, and I am glad I bought it.
❤ J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
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I do have a magnetic platform and love it if my die is flat and the plates are in great shape. But a few of my dies have warped and won’t work on the magnetic platform. They still work and cut just fine, but won’t stick to the magnetic. So it’s great when everything is perfect but otherwise, the old way works just as good. And I do a lot of die cutting. Edna B.
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I use mine all the time. It isn’t always perfect because of the “amazing magnetized dies” but it has saved me a bunch in time and tape overall.
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I never have much luck with this because the pads don’t stay perfectly flat. It is frustrating to have the dies pulled in all different directions as tho they are dancing on the pad. Am I doing something wrong?
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I just had this happen to me today for the first time. I had to tape dies in place. It was like the magnets were pulling the dies out of position. Next time I will be super cautious about the cutting plate being flat and see if that helps.
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Your cutting plate has to be flat for the magnetic plate to work and if you use the precision base plate on the magnetic plate the magnet doesn’t work.
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I have one of these magnetic platforms, and it works very well when I’m looking to “fussy” cut sometime on patterned paper. It does save time, but I have to watch where I place the dies, as the magnets can pull a die and place it where it wants instead of where you want it. I’m glad I have it.
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I use mine and like it. I ALWAYS keep a clean unwarped pad on the bottom – when the top pad gets too bad (and after cleaning and straightening like you shared previously), I replace it with the bottom pad and get out a new one for the bottom. Makes for a better cut.
Jan
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I couldn’t quite hear the name of the manufacturer of the train die. Would you please advise? Thanks so much.
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Local King Rubber Stamps: http://www.localkingrubberstamp.com/
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I do like Jan Castle does and keep a clean flat plate on the bottom at all times. it requires that you place your dies cut side up but I don’t mind. if I have to cut something that is already stamped I will still tape it down, but the plus side is that the replacement plates life is doubled as I only replace 1 at a time. when the top gets too bad it can mark the paper and if that was on the bottom then the front of my paper would be all marked up and that would and did drive me nuts, lol. so when the top gets really bad, and I have to replace it , I put the new one on the bottom and the bottom one becomes the top and I only have to replace 1 at a time.
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I have a cuttlebug, so I don’t have one, but I do intend getting one when I get a big shot. Yet another on my looong list of “I want, I must have… eventually” s hehe
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Well I have a magnetic plate but have never used it, at least not yet. I have a Grand Calibur and didnt know it wouldnt work in this machine. I also have an Ebosser but cant seem to find someone to help me with what plate sandwich to use in it, I dont want to break the machine so I havent tried. If anyone has the magnetic platform and knows what sandwich with plates to use it with the Ebosser, please post. I truly would appreciate it. I love die cutting and do have a lot of dies to use this with. 😦
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Hi
Did you ever find out the combination of the plates to use the Magnetic platform in the ebosser ?
I really like my ebosser but the magnetic plate would make such a difference to cutting.
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I do not know since I don’t have one, I don’t want to tell you wrong and hurt your maching. On the big shot all you use is magnetic platform and both cutting pads.
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No, sadly I couldnt get an answer to this from anyone, no matter where I asked. Still have the plate but never used.
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I LOVE my magnetic platform. What a great addition to my tools . Takes a lot of frustration out of what could happen during die cutting, Dies and paper slipping. Wouldn’t cut without it!
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Love mine and would not be without it — even if you have only a few dies it is great to hold thin dies in place. Aim for the middle of the plate and the dies tend NOT to move around on the magnetized plate!
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Yes, I love mine and couldn’t do without it!! I bought mine several years ago…..before you tube was so popular…..I didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to lay the paper down, then my dies on top of that and a plate. Of course my dies cut into the surface of my magnetic platform! Then, I realized my error and put them thru correctly. Then, I found that the surface was disintegrating!! And it was from years of my dies cutting into the platform and not the plate! So, I just recently bought a new one! Oh, I forgot to tell you…..the frugal artist in my decided to cover the platform with duct tape. No, it doesn’t work!! When I put the dies in, the duct tape got all deformed. So, I decided it was time. If you do get one, make sure your dies have the cutting part UP…..cheaper to replace the pads!!
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I use the cutting part down in my big shot, I have a cutting pad on the platform, then the paper, then the die cutting side down so the die will hold the paper still and I can see that it is lined up where I want it through the hole then another pad on top and I crank it though. the die is down but there is a cutting pad over the platform. I think that is the correct way to do it. I am not cutting on the cutting platform surface.
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Wow Lindsay,cuts like butter! Local King has some great stuff thanks for enabling me LOL!
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This magnetic plate is the bomb! I have always used tape and after going through my big shot the tape would get squished and pull off some of the paper. It can be frustrating. Really glad for this product to come along.
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I love mine and I use it constantly because I do a lot of precision cutting. If you don’t do a lot of precision cutting then it’s rather pointless.
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I use mine all the time and put a bottom plate on with DO NOT Cut written on it as I use it in class. Students are rough on equipment . LOL Cut with dies cutting surface up. Plates warp eventually and I use your method of cleaning them but haven’t had much luck in straightening them. I have the Ebossser too but wasn’t aware you could use the magnetic platform in it. I use the magnetic sheets that come from the register department at Lowes in it because I very wisely cut through the E plate with dies . ( E being the magnetic sheet for the Ebosser)
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Hi Emilie: I called Craftwell about the sandwich but they said they had not figured it out yet. I know the thick steel rule dies work in the Ebosser so figured if the plates are in the right order the magnetic platform should work too. I just dont know which plates and in what order. I thought by now someone would have tried it. Im still hoping.
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Emilie, if you use it cutting side up it does not hold the paper in place, that is my favorite part:) Are you using a big shot or cuttlebug? It works so much better cutting side down because it hold the paper still and you can see where it will cut.
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My steel rule die is pretty bent. I still use it but haven’t tried in the ebosser . Sizzix is supposed to be coming out with a plate that doesn’t bend. For Lindsey I’m using a Big Shot.
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I have had mine for quite some time, bought it with a 40% off coupon….and I LOVE it. Use it all the time!
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Just watched your AAC. Love it every week! Comic Sans is my go to font for all my correspondence . I didn’t know it was hated on…lol Its so easy to read . I wonder why people hate it?
I’m so glad you touched on how to create a digi stamp from your artwork… Is there anyway you can do a video showing you doing it step by step on the computer…? I’m a visual kinda gal… 🙂 Hugs! deb
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So funny you should ask this because this morning I was rushing out the door but wanted to shoot a quick video demonstrating how to make a QR code for product packaging because I was going to put the bow-making jigs hat my hubby makes in my craft booth but I figured peple would not know what to do with them so I wanted people to be able to scan the price tag and see my video on their phone, well it worked and I was so excited so I shot the screen with my camcorder and it left something to be desired. I would need to get some software to be able to record my screen from within the computer for this I think.
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I realize my comment/question is off-topic and comes several years later, but don’t tell me in 2015 your smartphone camera didn’t have a video-recording function?? Yes, it would’ve been more “ghetto” than recording videos from the computer, but it works and would’ve been less hassle than figuring out how to get the computer to record what you were doing on the screen (nor having to buy software!
I just set my phone onto a little stand or tripod so that it’s positioned correctly to show whatever it is that I’m wanting to record (me doing a demo of something usually). Then afterwards you’d only have to transfer it to the computer the same way you would with photos… by syncing through online storage account… or a data transfer cable plugged into the computer, memory card reader, etc.!
C’mon, you’re the “Frugal Crafter”! I would’ve expected you to have figured the “cheap n easy” way of doing it straight off the bat!! lol 😉
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haha, I don’t think I even had a smartphone in 2015 LOL!
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Lindsay, just ordered the magnetic platform from Amazon . With prime it was $22.84 plus tax. I love Amazon. We are supposed to get rain, ice, and snow in Tennessee tonight. Gee this is March!!! Have a good week.
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I do have one and use it all the time. It keeps the paper from moving at the wrong time. Worth the money for me.
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Lindsay,
I don’t have a magnetic platform, but bought a magnetic sheet from Sizzix to use when cutting with thin dies on my Cuddlebug, However, I seldom used the magnetic sheet, since I found a better, more frugal way to keep thinner Sizzix and Spellbinders dies from slipping during their run through the machine.
Semi-hoarder that I am, over the years I saved the colorful magnetized advertisements that businesses send out, hoping you will put them on your refrigerator and be reminded to call them whenever you need whatever they sell. The printed ads on the negative side don’t detract at all from the positive magnetic side’s ability to attract and keep multi-part dies all together so you won’t lose any of the pieces. The ads come in various sizes, so just fit the die pieces onto an ad that is large enough to accommodate all the pieces and slip it into a plastic bag or sleeve for storage.
In addition, the magnetized ad with dies still attached can go right into the cutting sandwich (Base; shims; B plate;Die with cutting side up on magnetic sheet; Card stock; B plate) and will keep the dies in place without slipping during cutting. Just add the number of cereal box shims to the sandwich (between the base and first B plate) that are needed to so that they, plus the thickness of the magnetized ad, will give you a good cutting result.
If your die pieces don’t cover all the surface of the magnetized ad and you want them in the same color, you can arrange die pieces from other sets onto any unused spaces and run them through the machine, getting the maximum number of items without wasting cardstock.
I am still learning lots from you and look forward to each of your posts.Thank you.
JoAnn Huskey
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wonderful tips JaAnn, this will surely help folks who just need to hold the dies in place or have a machine that is not compatible with the magnetic plate! I use a magnet sheet and metal shims to make flip-it cards with any frame die, the magnet sheet hold my cards so it will only apply pressure to the die as needed. Tutorial here is interested: http://youtu.be/7i_-MATSfzw
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Lindsay, Thank you so much for the info. I will make use of my unused magnet sheet to make a flip-it card. I am trying to go back and view ALL your past posts, but as you can see from my comment addressing something you had already posted, I had not yet viewed that one.
JoAnn
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Love my magnetic plate!! I have a lot of Sizzix stuff,so that being said here is what I have learned about the plate. It is made-up of a bunch of smaller magnets so this is the main cause of smaller dies ‘jumping’ around, best bet for smaller dies is let the die choose the spot it wants then place paper under it. Yes Lindsay is correct you should put a cutting plate on top of magnetic plate then paper then die cut side down then another cutting plate. You can cut with die up but you do not get placement if our are cutting an image out, but I do cut with die up when I am trying to get the last little bit out a a piece of paper. As for warped cutting plates, Sizzix recommends that you cut into the cupped area to straight plates. I know sounds wrong but it works! I have done this and had good results, I also flip the plate I am cutting into often and try to cut all over the plate. Magnetic plate will work on slightly warped plates, just not as well. Lastly check out Sizzix.com & stephaniebarnardstamps.com (Stephanie works for Sizzix) both sites have lots of videos on Sizzix products and Sizzix just came out with a longer magnetic plate for those longer dies. Hope this helps.
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thanks for the great tips!
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I couldn’t live without my magnetic plate. I’m not even sure where the original plate.
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I have it and I love it! I do have to turn the cutting plate from one side to another because I am frugal that way and don’t want to get a new plate until it’s absolutely necessary. I still have to use tape from time to time, but that extra grab is a big help. Oh, I use dies all the time.
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I enjoy having the magnetic plate available, especially when using several dies at one, and this way, I don’t have to spend taping the dies down and using up my washi tape.
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My husband bought me one for xmas last year and I love it! I definitely need new citting plates which are on order and should be here soon.
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Lindsay, I have to tell you that when I saw this train die and stamp set I knew I had to order it. I picked out a bunch of them that I couldn’t live without, but when I tried to order and use PayPal my computer kept locking up with a blank screen. I sent them an e-mail and within a half hour they got back to me with instructions! This was a Sunday night about 10 PM. Fabulous service!
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But it’s costly all can’t afford. Even I am interested to have wit me.
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Try JoAnns or Michaels you can use a coupon and the brick & morter store does not have (or you don’t have one near you) try the online versions.
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