Die cutting alternatives

If a sandwich recipe calls for 3-4 pieces of card for a shim, try the cardboard backing from Cuttlebug folders. It is about equal to the thickness of 3-4 pieces of standard cardstock. I keep all the backings and use them for shimming.
-Robin Willis, TPE design team

A good alternative to Paper Glide (sometimes recommended to mist your cardstock to get deeper impressions from brass stencils and texture plates): fill a mister with water and add a drop of dish washing liquid.
-Robin Willis, TPE design team

When die cutting, I use the same B plate for the cutting side of the die to hit against. If you are cutting Nestabilities or other thin dies that use the C plate, always cut to the B plate. The C plates are more expensive and harder to find, so I would rather destroy a B plate over time and keep my C plate pristine.
-Robin Willis, TPE design team

If your B plate becomes warped from using it, simply flip it over so it bows upward (like a hill rather than a valley) and it will straighten out. I tend to flip mine over each time I use it to keep it somewhat flat.
-Robin Willis, TPE design team

Cuttlebug Sandwiches

I know that alot of people often ask about what plates to use with certain dies. This may not cover all of them, but it is a start!

Cuttlebug/QK/Sizzix folders: A plate, B plate, folder with card, B plate
Cuttlebug dies: A plate, B plate, die with foam cutting side up, card, B plate
Other thin dies: A plate, C plate, die with cutting side up, card, B plate
Thick steel rule dies: B plate, cardstock, die with cutting side down, B plate
Brass stencils: A plate, B plate, stencil, cardstock lightly misted with water, tan embossing mat (or thin fun foam, pliable rubber gasket), 3-4 sheets of cardstock for shim, B plate
Nestabilities (cut): A plate, C plate, die with cutting side up, cardstock, B plate
Nestabilities (emboss): A plate, B plate, die with cut card face up, tan embossing mat, 3-4 sheets of card for shim, B plate
Texture plates: A plate, texture plate with side you want face up, cardstock, tan embossing mat, C plate

-Robin Willis, TPE design team