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Metal cutting die

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:50:10 GMT

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	A metal cutting die is a piece of metal with a sharp edge on one ~~end~~ that can be used in a [[Die-cutting and embossing machine\|die-cutting and embossing machine]] to either cut out a shape or make an impression.		A metal cutting die is a piece of metal with a sharp edge on one side that can be used in a [[Die-cutting and embossing machine\|die-cutting and embossing machine]] to either cut out a shape or make an impression.

			Aside from the standard thin metal dies (or wafer-thin dies), some companies make thicker dies (more than 1,5 cm or half an inch thick), but those don't fit in all [[Die-cutting and embossing machine\|machines]].

			== Storage ==
			=== Storing your dies ===
			Since dies are made from metal, they can be stored on magnetic sheets. This is useful to keep track of which dies you have in a set, especially with alphabet dies or dies that match a stamp set.

			Note that a "magnetic whiteboard" is magnetic in the sense that magnets stick to it. You will not be able to store metal dies directly on a whiteboard.

			A good alternative for storage is zip-top (Ziploc) bags. These resealable bags are available in 90 micron, which is sturdy enough not to get damaged by any sharp corners or edges of the dies.

			=== Marking dies ===
			You can scratch with a needle, pushpin, or pokey tool into the non-cutting side of the die to mark where the die belongs; what letter it is (d or p, q or b, …), what stamp it goes with, …

			You can also use a permanent marker, but those might fade over time or leave ink on your cutting plates due to the pressure of the machine.

			=== Swatching ===
			To keep an overview of what you have, and because looking at a die doesn't always clearly show what the die is used for or what the die cut will look like, you can swatch your dies. Use printable sticker sheets and give them a color wash with some watercolors or some light ink blending. Then make a cutout of all of your dies and stick them in a book or binder. This will also allow you to make notes on what set the dies belong to, or to stamp the matching stamp on the swatch.

			== Colors ==
			Most dies are not painted and have a gray color. However, some dies have a coat of paint on them. This paint might flake off or give off a bit of color, which will be visible on white paper.

			== Cutting apart attached dies ==
			Some die sets contain multiple dies. A lot of brands sell their dies as one piece of metal that you can or have to break apart.

			Breaking apart a set of dies will always give you more options. You can always arrange the dies in their original design if you want a different effect. To make sure they don't shift during cutting, you can use low-tack tape.

			=== Wire cutters ===
			[[File:Flush-cutters.jpg\|thumb\|right\|Flush wire cutters]]
			Flush wire cutters come in different sizes. Especially those marketed for jewelers will have a very fine tip. This is useful if you need to snip apart dies where there's only a little bit of room between them.

			When snipping off a small die or the end of a piece of the connecting metal, be cautious. The metal you cut off might jump away. To prevent this, push the part you're snipping off into a towel, cloth, baby wipe …

			=== Bending ===
			If your dies are only connected in one or two spots, you might be able to break them apart by bending. However, the connecting bit of metal might stick out and either cause wounds on your hands or push through your paper or into your cutting plates. Try to remove as much of the connecting bits as possible with wire cutters.

			=== Rotary (multi) tool ===
			[[File:Dremel-rotary-tool.jpg\|thumb\|Dremel rotary tool]]
			You can file off the sharp edges of your dies with a rotary tool. This makes the die safer to handle, and you won't get any indentations in your paper or cutting plates from the extra bits sticking out.

			A rotary tool can also be used to file down the cutting lines you want to '''remove permanently''' if the design of the die is not fully to your liking.

File:Dremel-rotary-tool.jpg

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:43:04 GMT

Ellen Govaerts uploaded File:Dremel-rotary-tool.jpg

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Dremel rotary tool

Die cutting

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:38:38 GMT

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	Cutting out a shape from a piece of paper (or other material) with a [[Metal cutting die\|metal cutting die]] (or simply "die") with the help of a [[Die-cutting and embossing machine\|die-cutting and embossing machine]] is called '''die cutting'''. The result, a cut-out piece of (generally) cardstock, is called a '''die-cut'''.		Cutting out a shape from a piece of paper (or other material) with a [[Metal cutting die\|metal cutting die]] (or simply "die") with the help of a [[Die-cutting and embossing machine\|die-cutting and embossing machine]] is called '''die cutting'''. The result, a cut-out piece of (generally) cardstock, is called a '''die cut'''.

	== How to die cut ==		== How to die cut ==

File:Flush-cutters.jpg

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:33:50 GMT

Ellen Govaerts uploaded File:Flush-cutters.jpg

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Flush wire cutters

Die cutting

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 15:56:03 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:56, 21 July 2026
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	Cutting out a shape from a piece of paper (or other material) with a [[Metal cutting die\|metal cutting die]] with the help of a [[Die-cutting and embossing machine\|die-cutting and embossing machine]] is called die cutting.		Cutting out a shape from a piece of paper (or other material) with a [[Metal cutting die\|metal cutting die]] (or simply "die") with the help of a [[Die-cutting and embossing machine\|die-cutting and embossing machine]] is called '''die cutting'''. The result, a cut-out piece of (generally) cardstock, is called a '''die-cut'''.

			== How to die cut ==
			Most importantly, '''check the exact settings''' of your [[Die-cutting and embossing machine\|machine]]. Those instructions will indicate what order and combination of plates you will need.

			Just make sure you place the '''sharp edge''' of the die '''towards the material''' you want to cut.

			You can '''tape the die in place''' with some [[Low-tack tape\|low-tack tape]].

			If you're using a thick material, you might want to go '''back and forth''' a few times. But keep in mind that this might make your material shift, resulting in a misshapen die cut. If you are cutting craft foam, going back and forth is also not ideal because the pressure will make the foam deform a little bit, and going back and forth will cut off more than you intend to.

			== Tips ==
			To make it easier on your machine, angle any straight dies you have. This prevents your machine from having to go over the edge of a die with a bump.

			== How-to's ==
			* Partial die-cutting: only cut a part of your die
			* Extending dies: cut out a larger frame or shape than the size of your die
			* Positioning a closed die exactly

Die-cutting and embossing machine

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 09:01:41 GMT

Self-healing cutting mats

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:01, 21 July 2026
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	A [[Die-cutting\|die-cutting]] and [[Dry embossing\|embossing]] machine is a tool that allows you to cut out shapes ([[Die cutting\|die cutting]]) and add relief to paper ([[Dry embossing\|dry embossing]]) by applying pressure to different layers of materials.		A [[Die cutting\|die-cutting]] and [[Dry embossing\|embossing]] machine is a tool that allows you to cut out shapes ([[Die cutting\|die cutting]]) and add relief to paper ([[Dry embossing\|dry embossing]]) by applying pressure to different layers of materials.

	== Sandwiches ==		== Sandwiches ==
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	==== Self-healing cutting mats ====		==== Self-healing cutting mats ====
	Instead of hard plates, it's possible to use self-healing cutting mats. Despite the name, they're not indestructible, but they might last ~~you~~ longer than a standard acrylic cutting plate. They also tend to warp less, or they're easier to straighten by carefully applying a little bit of heat from a heat tool.		Instead of hard plates, it's possible to use self-healing cutting mats. Despite the name, they're not indestructible, but they might last longer than a standard acrylic cutting plate. They also tend to warp less, or they're easier to straighten by carefully applying a little bit of heat from a heat tool.

	=== Embossing mat ===		=== Embossing mat ===

Die-cutting

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:59:51 GMT

Ellen Govaerts deleted page Die-cutting renamed

Die cutting

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:59:26 GMT

Created page with "Cutting out a shape from a piece of paper (or other material) with a metal cutting die with the help of a die-cutting and embossing machine is called die cutting."

New page

Cutting out a shape from a piece of paper (or other material) with a [[Metal cutting die|metal cutting die]] with the help of a [[Die-cutting and embossing machine|die-cutting and embossing machine]] is called die cutting.

Die-cutting and embossing machine

Ellen Govaerts — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 08:58:53 GMT

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:58, 21 July 2026
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	A [[Die-cutting\|die-cutting]] and [[Dry embossing\|embossing]] machine is a tool that allows you to cut out shapes ([[Die-cutting\|die-cutting]]) and add relief to paper ([[Dry embossing\|dry embossing]]) by applying pressure to different layers of materials.		A [[Die-cutting\|die-cutting]] and [[Dry embossing\|embossing]] machine is a tool that allows you to cut out shapes ([[Die cutting\|die cutting]]) and add relief to paper ([[Dry embossing\|dry embossing]]) by applying pressure to different layers of materials.

	== Sandwiches ==		== Sandwiches ==

Metal cutting die

Ellen Govaerts — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 19:25:17 GMT

Created page with "A metal cutting die is a piece of metal with a sharp edge on one end that can be used in a die-cutting and embossing machine to either cut out a shape or make an impression."

New page

A metal cutting die is a piece of metal with a sharp edge on one end that can be used in a [[Die-cutting and embossing machine|die-cutting and embossing machine]] to either cut out a shape or make an impression.

Die-cutting and embossing machine

Ellen Govaerts — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 15:34:52 GMT

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	If you have a machine that uses two identical acrylic plates, it is advised to always have the same plate on the top and the bottom. This is because the bottom plate will show cuts from any die-cutting you do. If you use that plate on top, your paper (especially specialty paper such as metallic cardstock) will show those lines. Once the bottom plate is too worn down, use your top plate as the new bottom plate, and use a new plate as the top plate.		If you have a machine that uses two identical acrylic plates, it is advised to always have the same plate on the top and the bottom. This is because the bottom plate will show cuts from any die-cutting you do. If you use that plate on top, your paper (especially specialty paper such as metallic cardstock) will show those lines. Once the bottom plate is too worn down, use your top plate as the new bottom plate, and use a new plate as the top plate.

	=== Self-healing cutting mats ===		==== Self-healing cutting mats ====
	Instead of hard plates, it's possible to use self-healing cutting mats. Despite the name, they're not indestructible, but they might last you longer than a standard acrylic cutting plate. They also tend to warp less, or they're easier to straighten by carefully applying a little bit of heat from a heat tool.		Instead of hard plates, it's possible to use self-healing cutting mats. Despite the name, they're not indestructible, but they might last you longer than a standard acrylic cutting plate. They also tend to warp less, or they're easier to straighten by carefully applying a little bit of heat from a heat tool.

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	== Manual vs. eletronic ==		== Manual vs. eletronic ==
	~~Electronic machines are available~~. ~~This is useful for people with limited strength and/or mobility in their hands~~. The downside is that you'll have to have your machine plugged in when you want to use it.		To move the stack of plates through your machine, you'll have to crank the handle, which might require a good amount of strength.

			Alternatively, you can use an electronic machine that pulls the plates through, similar to a laminator. The downside of an electronic machine is that you'll have to have your machine plugged in when you want to use it.

	An electronic machine is also more prone to technical difficulties and might be harder to fix or repair yourself.		An electronic machine is also more prone to technical difficulties and might be harder to fix or repair yourself.

Die-cutting and embossing machine

Ellen Govaerts — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 15:31:27 GMT

Created page with "A die-cutting and embossing machine is a tool that allows you to cut out shapes (die-cutting) and add relief to paper (dry embossing) by applying pressure to different layers of materials. == Sandwiches == Depending on the machine you have, you make a stack of materials (called a '''sandwich''') in a specific order, which usually includes: * some kind of machine-specific plastic '''plates''' * your '''m..."

New page

A [[Die-cutting|die-cutting]] and [[Dry embossing|embossing]] machine is a tool that allows you to cut out shapes ([[Die-cutting|die-cutting]]) and add relief to paper ([[Dry embossing|dry embossing]]) by applying pressure to different layers of materials.

== Sandwiches ==
Depending on the machine you have, you make a stack of materials (called a '''sandwich''') in a specific order, which usually includes:
* some kind of machine-specific plastic '''plates'''
* your '''material''' (for example, [[Paper|paper]])
* an '''item''' to apply the effect you want to achieve (such as a [[Metal cutting die|metal cutting die]] to cut out a shape, or an [[Embossing folder|embossing folder]] to imprint a relief)

You then push this stack through your machine by turning a handle, which applies pressure while rolling the stack through the machine. This pressure will then cut out the shape or impress the design.

Some machines have a dial that lets you change the pressure manually instead of relying on a stack of different plates. This takes away the process of finding the right sandwich for every application. However, these machines might wear down faster due to an extra moving part.

=== Cutting plates ===
Most machines use acrylic plates that you use to build pressure and to cut into when using metal cutting dies.

Because you exert pressure on these layers, it is normal that these plates might '''warp''', make '''cracking sounds''', get indentations and '''cuts''', and show overall wear and tear. It is expected that you buy replacement plates whenever the plates are too worn down.

You can try to reduce the warping of your plates by flipping the plates upside down every time you use them.

You can lightly flatten plates by putting them in hot water while applying pressure with a heavy object. You should not use boiling water, though.

If you have a machine that uses two identical acrylic plates, it is advised to always have the same plate on the top and the bottom. This is because the bottom plate will show cuts from any die-cutting you do. If you use that plate on top, your paper (especially specialty paper such as metallic cardstock) will show those lines. Once the bottom plate is too worn down, use your top plate as the new bottom plate, and use a new plate as the top plate.

=== Self-healing cutting mats ===
Instead of hard plates, it's possible to use self-healing cutting mats. Despite the name, they're not indestructible, but they might last you longer than a standard acrylic cutting plate. They also tend to warp less, or they're easier to straighten by carefully applying a little bit of heat from a heat tool.

=== Embossing mat ===
A rubber embossing mat can be used to make impressions with things other than embossing folders, such as metal cutting dies, die-cut shapes from (layers of) cardstock, plastic stencils, …

=== Shims ===
To increase the pressure for a specific purpose just a little bit, a shim might be useful. This is either a thin metal plate (lasts longer) or simply a (few) piece(s) of cardboard.

Make sure you don't cut into these shims with your metal dies.

=== Magnetic plates or mats ===
Because cutting dies are made of metal, they'll stick to things that are magnetic. Some machines have magnetic base plates or separate magnetic mats. This might hold your dies in place.

Note that if this magnetic element consists of small spread-out magnets, your dies might jump to these magnets instead of staying in place.

== Sizes ==
These machines come in different sizes:
* '''Small''': an opening of about 7,5 to 9 cm width (3 to 3,5 inches) - useful to use on the go or if you're cutting a lot of small images
* '''Standard''': an opening of about 15 cm width (6 inches) - about the size of half a piece of standard paper
* '''Large''': an opening of about 30 cm (8,5 inches) - about the size of a standard sheet of paper

Some machines either don't have extended sides (usually the mini machines) or have sides you can fold in. This saves a lot of room when storing the machine.

To decide which size you need, keep in mind the following:
* '''Pricing''': the machine and the plates (which you'll have to replace regularly) are cheaper with smaller machines
* '''Storage space''': how much room the machine takes up in your craft space
* '''Portable''': smaller machines are easier to transport when you craft with friends
* '''Working size''': how large the projects are that you want to make, especially the shapes you want to cut out with metal cutting dies or the embossing folders you want to use

== Manual vs. eletronic ==
Electronic machines are available. This is useful for people with limited strength and/or mobility in their hands. The downside is that you'll have to have your machine plugged in when you want to use it.

An electronic machine is also more prone to technical difficulties and might be harder to fix or repair yourself.

Main Page

Ellen Govaerts — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:21:41 GMT

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