Having trouble with Magical Font

[mulchlady]

Parts of the letters keep getting stuck in the die when I cut it out. What can I do to keep the finer parts from getting stuck and ripping?

[Susan]

are you cutting cardstock or patterned paper???

is your die foamed???

If your die is foamed - GOOD! It definitely needs to be foamed to use this font. The ends of the letters are VERY thin and VERY twirly and VERY delicate.

Here are a couple of suggestions to make it easier to use these gorgeous letters...

first, die-cut a sheet of waxed paper a couple of time. Go ahead and just lay a 4x8 piece of waxed paper down on your die, and then a piece of scrap cardstock. Die-cut...do that a couple of times. This sort of "slicks" up the surface of the foam, and helps those thin little tendrils on the letters release a bit easier.

second, make sure you are using a very sharp tool/pin/poker/etc to help remove the tendrils from the foam. When Magical came out we didn't have our new Picks-N-Pokes in stock yet, so I used one of my grandmother's big pearl-head hat pins. I'd get the pin under the main, thicker, body of the letter, and then just trace under the tendrils of the letters as I gently pulled them away from the foam.

the last suggestion I have for if you are shimming your die. I realized after a couple of test-cuts that I was actually over-shimming my die. I only needed one sheet of patterned paper to shim this delicate die, but I was using my standard shim stack that I use for Micro fonts. The paper was being forced deep into the cutting grooves with that much extra shimming. So if you are shimming, try backing off a bit and using one less sheet.

I don't have a Magical die in front of me right now, but I have one coming in a day or two. When it gets here I will try and get a quick video shot showing how I had the most luck with this lovely font!!

[Basketlady]

Good tips, Susan!

My font should be here in the next few days. I'll be sure to try it out and report back.

[mulchlady]

Thanks for the tips!! I love this font and I think that I might be over-shimming!! I will try with a little less shims!

[mulchlady]

I forgot to ask where to find the "pick & poke" on the website?

[Susan]

www.scrapyland.com/Die_Versions_Picks_N_Pokes_Tools_p/dv-tools-01.htm

over-shimming is easy to do, I do it myself all of the time when going between Whispers and fonts and micros!

I really try to remember to write on the back of each die {with a Sharpie} "1 piece PP" "2 piece PP" "1 CS" "2 CS", etc.

PP=patterned apper
CS=cardstock

it gives me a double-check

I also label my little stacks of shims {that I tape together}

"Micro shim"
"Whisper shim"
etc.

you'll get it - I know you will...it's a gorgeous font and it's worth the effort to figure out the pattern. Once you have it - you'll be SET!!

[mulchlady]

Great tip!! Thanks so much, I am going to have to try that later today.

[tristanznina]

I really like that font and it is onmy list, I look forward to seeing the video

[animal]

I ordered this font for my sister and brother who are getting married, its perfect for those special projects around the wedding. I can't wait! ;D