Die Cutting Tip: Align Shadow & Inlay Dies Before You Cut (Do This First!)
OK, can we talk about inlay dies for a second? You know the ones — they come with a shadow die and an inlay die which makes a lovely detailed layer, and when you're staring at both pieces trying to figure out which edge lines up where… it can make your head spin a little!
I figured out a little trick that saves me so much time and frustration, and honestly, I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner.
You will need a fine tip paint pen or permanent marker like a Sharpie. Please note the type of marker to use will depend on the metal the dies are made from. For example, a permanent marker works on Spellbinders dies but not on Hero Arts dies. For Hero Arts dies you can use a paint pen. Alcohol markers might also work since they work well with non-porous surfaces. Bonus tip; if using a paint pen with a silver/chrome colored die, you might want a black or blue paint pen, avoid silver it is hard to see the silver on the lighter colored dies.
Here's what I do. I take my two dies and line them up together exactly the way they need to sit. Then I flip them over to the flat (back) side and just touch a permanent marker to a small area where the two dies meet. That little mark becomes my visual reference every single time I go to use them. The permanent marker will wear off with use, but it comes in handy, especially when you use the two dies frequently.
That's it. Seriously, that's the whole trick!
If you realize you lined the dies up incorrectly and you added the pen, wipe off with a paper towel and rubbing alcohol. This trick works for the permanent marker, and for paint pens, once the paint is dry, you can probably scratch off the marker with a finger nail.
No more flipping dies around, second-guessing yourself, or test cutting just to figure out the alignment. A quick glance at the color mark and you know exactly where those two dies need to meet up. Want to learn a little more about die cutting? Read our post about How to Use Your Die Cutting Machine: 3 Mistakes to Avoid for Cleaner Cuts.
It saves maybe a couple of seconds, but more than that — it saves the frustration. And we all know that when we sit down to craft, we want it to be fun, not fussy!
✂️ Pro Tip: Use Repositionable Tape to Lock Your Dies in Place
Once you've got your shadow and inlay dies aligned with your marker, use a small piece of repositionable tape — like Best Ever Craft Tape — to hold them together before you run them through your machine. It holds dies in place when precision is required, and because it's low tack, it won't leave residue or tear your paper or die cuts when you remove it. Repositionable tape is one supply you didn't know you needed and will be a go to once you start using it, you'll wonder how you ever crafted without it!
I realize many people use a magnetic cutting plate, but even then, the dies can shift and skip or jump from time to time because the magnetic cutting plates are not a solid magnet. Usually they have magnets scattered around the cutting plate.
Give these two amazing tips a try the next time you pull out an inlay die set and let me know what you think!
Download infographic here. Looking for more tips? Read How to Get Started with Card Making for Under $100
