Embossing Folder Tips: What plate to use with which folder

I've some exciting news to share!  Stampin' Up!® is coming out with not one but TWO new die cutting machines.  I can't share them yet, but they will be available later on in June.  But you are going to love, love, love them!

In the meantime, I wanted to give you a couple tips on using your embossing folders with your die cutting machine.  Now I use a Big Shot, which is no longer available from Stampin' Up! So you may need to use a shim or two if you have a different machine.

The standard embossing folders have been around for a long time.  It may look something like this:

This embossing folder is a typical thickness and for this type of folder you would use your platform plate with one clear plate below the folder and one above.  So your sandwich would be, from bottom to top:

1. Platform plate
2. Clear plate
3. Embossing Folder
4. Clear plate.

This 3D embossing folder is one that you may have, it is retired, but was sold by Stampin' Up! and manufactured by Sizzix.  It is a little thicker than the other two.

Stampin' Up!/Sizzix 3D embossing folder

You can see the name Sizzix printed on the folder in the upper left hand corner.  If you have 3D folders that look like this you will need to use just one clear plate on top. So your sandwich will be:

1. Platform plate
2. Embossing Folder
3. Clear plate

This last 3D embossing folder is what you will be getting from Stampin' Up! currently.  

It will say Stampin' Cut and Emboss on the insert and will only have Stampin' Up!® printed on the folder itself.  If you have this embossing folder you will need the blue 3D Embossing Folder Plate, hopefully you have purchased it.  Unfortunately it is no longer available.  If you have the blue 3D Embossing Folder Plate your sandwich will be

1. Platform
2. 3D Embossing Folder
3. Blue Plate

If you do not have the Blue 3D Embossing Folder plate, you will need to use a shim or two, maybe some chip board and/or some of the paper backing that comes with your DSP.

Here are the plates that I mentioned:

Two Clear Plates on left and
3D Embossing Folder blue Plate from Stampin' Up!® on the right.

Platform Plate

Now here's a couple tips that you may have already discovered or know.

  

Tip 1: See the little crack in the upper left hand corner of the folder with the green insert?  When this was run through the machine it was not square with the plates and machine, hence it got cracked.  😓 Very sad. 

Tip 2: Always make sure that the fold of the embossing folder goes in first, otherwise if the open end goes in first it puts presser on the fold as it is run through and eventually the fold will crack.

Tip 3:  Before you put your cardstock in the 3D folder spritz it a little with water or alcohol (rubbing not drinking) and you will get a deeper impression on your cardstock. 

Now a couple things about the plates that will be coming with the NEW Stampin' Cut & Embossing machines that will be coming out shortly. You are going to love this!

1. The platform plate has instructions on what plates to use for what type of embossing folder!  How awesome is that!
2. All the plates will be numbered!  So you know what plate the instructions are talking about!  LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THAT!

I can't show photos of the new machines, until the new 2020 - 2021 Annual catalog debuts on June 3,  but you will love them!  

As soon as I get one of the new machines I will be sharing that with you. So check back often!

I hope you found these tips and information helpful.  If you have any other tips, please leave a comment here or on my Facebook Group page: Cottage Lane Stamper & Friends.

UPDATE:

This is what the new machines look like! The larger one is available on August 4, 2020 and the mini will be released a little later this year.