Self Healing Mats in Place of Cutting Plates in Your Die Cutting Machines 

I know this video is a few years old but I still wanted to pop in and say for anyone that is using the self healing cutting mats? You can extend the life by soaking them in lukewarm water for about an hour once a month or so. Basically when you notice that the cuts aren't healing as quickly... The reason they stopped healing is because they get dehydrated and soaking takes care of that problem. They don't last forever but it definitely extends the life.

I’ve used Score-Pals self healing mats with my big shot for several years. I too got tired of replacing warped acrylic plates. In fact I shared this idea with my Stampin’ Up demonstrator, she has workshops 2 weekends a month & was needing to replace plates every month. The paper-crafting industry needs to realize the need for this and manufacture them for the die cutting machines❣️

I remember watching this vide a couple of years ago and it has made a big difference in my success with cutting. Since not all of my dies are from the company that my press is from, sometimes it won't cut well. You taught me about adjusting the "sandwich" to get a better cut permormance. I still struggle with getting what I need but it is a bit less frustrating knowing that I can do something about it. Also, I've been able to get self healing cutting mats in small sizes from the dollar tree and I cut it down to fit my small sissex machine. thanks.

I’m thinking the people who gave this a thumbs down, are the people who will lose money from selling those awful clear acrylic plates that need to be replaced often.

I've been doing this for about 6 months, so far I've tried it in every brand machine I own and I love it. I'm glad people are catching on to this.

I’ve just bought a second-hand cuttlebug & was worried when I found out that the plates won’t be being made any more. This is a brilliant idea to preserve the plates you have. Feeling happier now & will definitely try this. Thank you!

I have tried this and it works perfectly with the Big Shot too, even using with the magnetic plate. Thanks for sharing this super money saving tip.👏🏽 🙌🏽 🤸‍♀️

I've had a Cuttlebug for a few years and am just now getting into die cuts so this info is a godsend. I live in Europe and find brand names hard to find. Plus, I love DIY instead of spending money on all the extras one seems to need after the initial buy. Thanks so much for sharing.

I used a box cutter we had around the house. I just kept slicing until I went through the mat. I got a nice clean cut using a metal ruler to guide my cut. I loved this idea the first time I saw your video introducing this idea to me for the first time. I have shared the idea with any of my friends who use a die cutter.

Thankyou for the share .It's 5 years later but I will try it. Im replacement mats alot and I'm rotating. Not to mention I hate that cracking sound and I do cut my large dies at a angle.

Hi when i first bought a gemini junior about 4 years ago, I was finding my acrylic mats were shot very quickly and I used this idea. It did work very well but the mat that cut up to use did eventually warp and made a lot of mess on card - I had cut up an expensive mat which I did rotate etc and found it lasted just about the same time as the gemini acrylic plates so I reverted back to acrylic. By then I had found on ebay lots of companies selling the same thickness acrylic already cut to size for most machines (or they will cut to size if you contact them). I’ve bought for the gemini and gemini junior electric machines also the really large long plates for the Big Shot Plus. I’ve bought all three sizes for the Big Shot so dependent on what I’m cutting I can use my Big Shot Plus but don’t have to use the largest plates every tine for smaller dies. These equivalent plates are generally sold as pairs at less than half the cost of brand names with free p&p and I’ve found they do as good a job and last equally well. Notably I am based in the UK but you must have similar companies who sell acrylic cut to size in other countries… worth checking it out if you prefer to stick with acrylic. Both self heal and alternative acrylic have been used by me to good effect. They’re all consumables at the end if the day and will always need replacing sooner or later but either can make a good saving as an alternative. HELP please… whilst I am here… I recently bought the gemini midi (same size as gemini junior only manual) and it’s good but it has a plastic wallet instead of cutting plates which feeds in hinged side first. The hinge came apart in a couple of weeks and it doesn’t always feed in as two separate plates one will often slide and being manual you only have one hand to feed it whilst the other cranks. I’ve got replacements on order but I wonder if any of you know of alternatives for the midi that I can try? The folders are very slim and the hinges a bit flimsy. Thank you❣️

Hi, I have been using a self healing mat in my Epic machine for a few years now, they do start to curl and bend, but I put them into very hot water and put a heavy weight on it until it cools, I also scrub it to get the small bits of paper out of it and then use then again and again, and it is cheap to replace them, Cheers Anna.

I'm so glad you shared this!! when I stared paper crafting, I always wondered why they didn't use self healing products. Such waste! Thank you so much!!

I just started using self healing- great money saver- I don’t no what’s wrong with the companies…I can’t stand the warping on my new plate after one time..I try diffferent sandwiches..

Very much appreciate your posting info on self healing mats

I have bought 2 of the self healing cutting mats for my big shot. Have not used them yet.soon I hope. Still new to the big shot.Thanks for Sharing these ideas.

This is cool. I've got a self healing mat that I was going to toss because of some minor damage and replaced with a glass mat. Now I can use it for this. Thank you for this.

Such a great money saving idea! You can use a feeler gauge to determine the thickness of your existing plates.

I am one of those who spent money on replacement mats, no more, thanks for the tips great stuff!

Thank you very much for this video and especially your recipes for different machines. That's really very helpful.

This has been a very helpful video. Thank you for taking the time to make it. I bought a self healing mat just for this purpose.

OMG...just tried it...it’s awesome! I was worried that just getting into card making I was going to have to buy a new die cutting machine as I have the cuttle bug also! And I was not aware that they are discontinuing items! Definitely game changer...just made my holiday! Thanks to one one that came up with the idea and thank you for posting the video!🎆

Wonderful idea

Thank you, great information. I just found this today, went right over and found an old self healing mat by Fiskars...cut it and used it! It works amazing, the pieces just fall out! I love you and am so happy I happened across your video today! Blessings!

Thank you for your informative video. Also, I appreciate that you discussed the Gemini because the Gemini Jr. is the only machine I have. I bet the die cutting machine manufacturers will go mad as this catches on more and more. Shame on them for charging so much for replacement plates. Thanks again.

I glued a piece of cardboard to my cutting mat so that its the same thickness as a cutting plate and use it in my Big Shot instead of one plate. In this way my sandwich is the same as before.

Oh my goodness I just tried this technique with the mat and I am AMAZED!!!! I even have a precision mat with my Big Shot and this still worked worlds better!!!! Plus after shattering a warped plate last night I was ready for a less lethal technique. You are a genius :-). Thank you so much for this information.

Oooo, I never would have thought to do this. I have an A3 cutting mat that has a warp in it. I did think about cutting it up for smaller mats, but I already have a couple of A5 mats and an A4 mat. Now I know what I can use it for :)

Brilliant solution to the cutting plate replacement issue!!

I purchased the self-healing mats you recommended from Amazon and am soooo glad I did. It works wonderfully. The mat is the same thickness as my Big Shot Plus plates and I did not have to add a shim. One of my plates just broke before I watched your video so the timing was perfect. Thanks so much for taking the time to post this video. Very much appreciated!

I use the Recollections 8x11 self healing mat in my Spell Binders Platinum. It is fantastic. Cheap too.

Thank you for sharing this. I just got back to scrapbooking after many years. I stumbled upon the Cuddlebug at a yardsale and she had tons of stuff with it even 2 extra b plates. It wasn't till I got home that i found out that they didn't make anything for it any longer and I was afraid I wasted my $20. I mean it does have the extra plates but they will only last so long. Thank you!!!

I recommend inexpensive kitchen shears to cut if needed, not any scissors you’re fond of (like Tim’s). My teen son makes a lot of stuff so I got him some spare kitchen shears and it also saves his hand from struggling to cut through thick cardboard. I have a pair too. Love them! ;-)

I’d just like to say a BIG THANK YOU for sharing this fabulous money saving idea. Well done!

I’m going to try this, as now I can’t find Cuttlebug “B” plates anywhere, and Circuit has announced they have discontinued making them (and are no longer making the Cuttlebug). Can’t believe they would do this to us faithful Circuit Cuttlebug customers!!!!

I absolutely love this idea and works like a charm!! Thank YOU!!

Hi. I cut a self healing mat for my Cuttlebug yesterday after purchasing new [genuine] mats. When I tried the new self healing mat it worked PERFECTLY and I think I might try a few more designs and see if I regain my passion for paper craft. Next will be a new mat for my Big Shot too. Thank you so much for sharing. Heather [Australia]

Just had to say thank you so much for the great video which has been very useful indeed! I have a Gemini & a Gemini Junior which are now cutting even better than ever before. I have to thank one of your viewers too (Dorne Dawn) who's comment gave the sandwich information for my machines. I've just dragged out all my extremely intricate dies - which needed a few passes even on the Gemini - well haha not any longer! I'm going to stock up on self-healing mats immediately!

Hi thank you so much for sharing the info about the self healing mats, I've been die cutting for quite a few years now & get through so many replacement cutting plates, so this is a brilliant idea as the origional plated get so scratched, which can get very frustrating. It will save a lot of money to. So many thanks for this great idea. From Alison.

I glued two of the healing mats together and it worked great with one clear mat for my sandwich

I did this after watching and I find it makes a big difference in the cuts I get. I've had perfect cuts since. I just happened to have an old and small cutting board that I don't use anymore because I bought a large new one. I cut the small one in half and it fit through the Big Shot perfectly. Thanks for the great tip. Everyone should try this.

This is so exciting. I can go to Michael's and use my 50% coupon and get a bigger mat that I could cut up a lot more mats. Thanks so much.

I was watching a craft video and this of yours showed up. I'm so excited to see this. I have an embosser cutting die machine. I use lots of metal die cuts for cards and scrap booking pages. I was just going to order more plates...in stead I'm getting some self healing matts, they are cheaper.

Thanks so much for this. Are going to try it in my Big Shot as I am tired of warped plates because they do warp some of my open dies as well

Iv'e finally managed it... yeah ! O.K. so ive a Gemini, full one. Got Helix A4 Cutting and Craft Mat from Amazon. I had Clear plate on the bottom, then die face up, then card, then healing mat, then clear plate on top. Not only did it cut out perfectly, better than ever but also it embossed a bit at the same time

This is great! Thanks for the share. I know this is an older video. But looks like people are still using them. It’s worth a try considering how often I have to replace my mats.

I'm using my old cricut mats but i have a pretty used up self healing mat that I'll try also. Thanks for the video.

ME ENCANTARON ESTAS MAQUINAS

I cut my self healing mats up to fit my Gemini, Gemini Jr, and Cuttlebug, and it works GREAT on all of these cutting machines!!!! Everybody should know about this... Saves you $$$ on warped B plates!!!!! Just add a cardstock shim if you need one.

Great, thanks! They're now promoting them as Magic Mats I think.

Great idea, I just bought new plates from sizzix for my vagabond and within 40-50 cuts my plate was bending, not only that I purchases a turquoise plate as my top plate and the dies are digging into that one as well! I will definately try this

I am looking forward to trying this. I hope I have success with my Gemini machine as it is expensive replacing plates and it's disappointing when you put through a brand new shiny cutting plate and after one run through it scratched already. And thanks for going to so much trouble and taking the time to share this tip and also for giving the various recommendations after your testing.

I tried it on my big shot it didn’t work I’m glad it work for you it is a money saver tfs💕

Wow! Definitely a game changer. Thanks for sharing 🎉

This is a game changer. Thanks for sharing

Thank you so much! I am brand new and just bought a used second hand cuttlebug machine. I was having issues trying to get plates This will help immensely.

Thank you, going to try this on my Gemini!!!

Amazon sells a 6x8 Olfa self healing pad for about $4.33 plus tax. It’s probably more cost effective to buy the larger mat and cut it up but this fits untie cuttlebug or big shot.

I tried to cut with tim holtz sissors and the Fiskars sissors - I could not do it. I used a pair of tin snips (large), and is easy to do.

Thank you for sharing! This is news to me. Will be buying self healing cutting mat for my die cutters!

I hope it catches on and manufacturers will provide self healing cutting plates. I see a new market.

What a fantastic idea. Thank you so much. I have a spare mat so can't wait to cut it up and try it.

I have the Big Shot Plus only (having only one machine must be an oddity in this paper world) and I found a Recollections brand mat that fits without cutting it up. Works like a charm. I made 50 Christmas cards with every card having a background that was a A2 sized die. Never had an issue cutting.

Tfs. I have gone through so many magnetic plates this is going to help me a lot. I was shocked when I had to replace magnetic plate 5 x's so this will help so much.

Ow this changes a lot! I hate the cuttingplates, bending and cracking all the time. Have 3 mats upstairs, going to cut them right away! Thanks!!!

I have been complaining about the clear plates warping so quickly for ages now. I wrote to everyone selling the plates and the answers were always the same old solution which does not work for anyone. They want us to continue to buy these plates lots so they make money. It is very frustrating to say the least. I am waiting for someone to come out with a machine that does not warp the plates to the point that they are unusable. Maybe if they see your video they will do something to correct the problem. Love my Big Shot machine but I hate the plates that we have to deal with. Thank you for your video on this subject. I will try it for sure.

I have a cuttlekids die cut machine I purchased when they first came out, and I can’t even buy replacement cutting plates for the machine. In fact the cutting plate has a crack in it. I’m just waiting for the day, it will break altogether. I’m going to try the self healing mat to see how it will work.

A tip I will surly remember and use.

Hello ladies, thanks for the tips.Bought a Gemini and the plates especially milky shim are warping so much and the cracking noise is off putting as you dont know if you are damaging die, or machine. Will try the self healing mat and post my results.

Thank you!! I am new to die-cutting but I can see how this makes perfect sense!

It has worked with the ones I get from the Dollar Store for 5 dollars. Beautifully, and i get two. I only own the Cuttlebug btw.

Why on earth haven’t manufacturers told us this? Anything to make money! Thank you so much for your brilliant advice x

I've been thinking about trying this for a while now and now I know that others are doing this I've sorted out the cutting matts cut them to size and now all sorted. Thanks for the push to do it

Thanks for sharing this idea with us!

Thank you for the information with self healing mat.

After watching your video I purchased one of the Dahle cutting mats that is linked in your video. My husband easily cut it to a usable size using his bandsaw and a fine blade. I smoothed the cut edge with a sanding block. Let me tell you, it worked perfectly in my Big Shot Plus as a substitute for the top plexiglass cutting plate of course placing the die cutting side up so it cuts into the self healing mat. It is the same (or within a hair's difference) thickness as the original cutting plate and so doesn't require a shim thus I wouldn't try any of the other maybe cheaper brands. It IS helpful too that the mat is clear as it helps with the placement of materials. I can cut 3 mats out of the 24 x 18 size which I paid under $18 for from Amazon. I won't be cutting any more until I see if I even need a replacement as I can see these lasting almost indefinitely if they hold up like my other self healing mats have for rotary cutting. Why the die-cutting machine manufacturers haven't improved their products by offering these, I don't know? Thanks for suggesting this hack...it has made my die cutting experience so much more pleasant and less hair splitting. Have a great day!

Excellent idea that will save a ton of money.

Has anyone tried using one of the plastic kitchen cutting mats? They could be used in place of the file folders as a shim? They are cheap and can be easily cut to fit the size of the cutting plates.

It’s things like having to replace cutting pads that make crafting expensive. Not to mention paper trimmer blades!! I went through two last week!! I have two old self healing mats that I’m going to try this with. Thank you for the information!

Thanks for sharing this!! 💕

Thank You For Sharing This!

Thank you for this tip,I’m doing a lot of resin work with my embosser and I have been experimenting a lot with different things.It gets kind of expensive when your all over the place in your head of ideas.Im going to ware my husbands work gloves when cutting up my old mat.

Ive been doing this for a while and you get much better cuts using the self healing mat, and they are cheap to buy

Hey! I m very new to the die cutting machine and plan to buy a sizzix big shot. I dont understand how this works though. 🙈 and whts all the accessories we need for it!

I’m going to totally try this as my B&C plates have all broke from my Cuttlebug. I went to an acrylic cutting business to ask if they could replicate the B&C plates. The business replicated the B plates but they couldn’t replicate the C plate accurately. Tfs!

I am excited to try this! It would save money I could use on stamps, etc. Thanks

I tried it with my spellbinders platinum 6 which has the blue embossing plate...works great with the thin self healing mat and the blue plate! Love it!

An excellent idea that makes total sense! I have put one in my wish list at Amazon for the next time I order.

Thank you! What a fantastic tip! I even have an old cutting mat that I wouldn't mind chopping up LOL

What a great idea. It makes perfect sense. Thanks for sharing.

I have been using the spellbinders raspberry plate with my big shot for over a year and has worked great. Going to give these mats a try. TYFS

Excellent video. So much well explained and sensible info.

Hi, Has anyone used this method on the Vagabond Machine 2? If so, how did it work? Thanks, Carol-Lynn

Brilliant. I'm adding a self healing mat to my shopping list. I have some projects where l need to flip my die cut pieces which always show ugly impression from my beat up cutting plates. I'll be interested to see the result using a self healing mat. Intriguing!

I have a Vagabond machine would the same sandwhich work as on the Big Shot. I would sure love to give this a try, i go through so many cutting plates and it does cost a lot of money. Thanks for the great tips. Lil

This is very useful thanks for the great video it was very helpful

Going to give this a try. Thanks. This video came up on my recommended for you list.

i like that good work thank you

I’m confused. What am I missing? I thought the self healing mat was in place of cutting plates but you are using the B plates as well as the self healing mat

This is a game changer, OMG! Thank you for sharing😍