Sizzix Big Shot question - what's a shim?

[FaintingGoat]

Hi folks,

Have only recently really got started using my Big Shot and am getting on ok with it, but I keep seeing references to a shim, and I'm not sure what it does. I looked at a Cheery Lynn die which said in the item info that it may require a shim. I looked it up but all I can find out is that it makes some dies compatible with the Big Shot. Can anyone just tell me what is is please?

It is a thin piece of card/plastic/foam which you use on top of your die sandwich of cutting mats, die and paper to form a thicker stack. So when you roll though the Sizzix you get a cleaner better die cut.

You don't have to buy a shim but have a look around what you have in your house. Children fun foam, cardboard from cereal packets and even an old mouse mats can work as good shims.

HTH

Thanks so much Babies, why couldn't the website just say that? Makes so much more sense your way!

just to add you can also buy proper metal shims, which really help if a die has a very intricate pattern (a lot of the Cheery Lynndies do). Card etc doesn't always work so well.

I have one similar to this

Thanks Betsy. I do like the Cheery Lynn dies, and yes, they are quite intricate, aren't they? I will bear that in mind if I don't get a decent cut, have only tried it a couple of times so far.