Die cutting hack!!! – A tip that works and is cheap as chips!!!!

Hey everyone, happy Sunday morning to you!
I've been busy beavering away, making samples for my next demo which involved using some really intricate dies. To tell the truth, my die cutting machine was really struggling and although it did eventually manage to cut them it was only after lots of rotating of the die and positioning on different parts of the base plate. The whole process was beginning to be a real chore. That was until I tried this amazingly simple tip. Now, I can't take credit for this because it was actually shared by a demonstrating colleague, Lyn Marlow, who made the suggestion in the first place but it does work a treat and means that tricky ornate dies will cut a whole lot easier with only one or two passes. So drum roll please....
   Ok, the secret weapon I have been using is – poly pockets or punch pockets as some call them! Wow! Yep, that's it! Simply, place your die and card stock inside the poly pocket (I always tape intricate dies down on to the card stock to prevent them from sliding about), sandwich between your cutting plates and roll that baby through your machine. You can check without taking the die and card stock out of the pocket whether one pass through has done the job  – I have needed two passes at the most! If you don't have poly pockets in your home somewhere, Lyn suggested using freezer bags in the same way. I'm sticking with the poly pockets though as I have tons of those - the kids are always using them to display pieces of school work etc but they are so cheap anyway - you can buy 100 for a couple of quid and you will get multiple uses from each one. Don't think that because they look all cut up they won't work as they do!

A poly pocket waiting to be utilised for die cutting...

Poly pocket results!

I have taken the die cut out of the bag to show it's all done but if you give the whole thing a shake while still in the bag you'll find most of the bits fall out of the die and into the bag which is great for keeping things clean and tidy and is a bonus of using this method. Boom! Double whammy!!! Lol!


If environmental issues with these are on your conscience, which obviously they should be, dispose of thoughtfully and in an environmentally friendly manner. I'm lucky to have various different recycling methods that we adhere to when it comes to refuse collection and my used plastics all go in a separate crate for collection by our local council who take it away for recycling. Please use them responsibly is all!
So there's your top crafty tip for a Sunday morning. Enjoy!!!!
Stay tuned for cards using the latest products from DoCrafts and the results of those die cuts...
Thanks for popping by!!!!
Love Jak x