I’ve recently “rediscovered “ my old red sidekick with tons of dies, alphabets and even those cool embosslit dies that cut and emboss all at once! I have a bunch of those small Cuttlebug dies and embossing folders too! (Great for envelope flaps). I’m glad to know I can finally use my old trusty Sidekick now with the wafer dies, as it will certainly be a lot more handy on my desk. Thanks so very much for sharing this! Can’t wait to get my new cutting pads! So glad I never parted with this! What goes around comes around! I just hope they don’t resurrect mulberry paper! 😬😜🙃
Thank you so much for this video. I have had a Sidekick for quite awhile and really didn’t know how to use it. Now I do! I have all these little thin dies, but didn’t know how to use them. I’ve tried with the texture boutique and the original Sizzix red die cutter (which I purchased all from a garage sale) and have had zero results until I watched your video. Thank you so much and thank heavens for Utube.
fyi if u have any old self healing cutting mat can cut them up like plate size n use it like cutting plate . if u in usa or canada go to dollartree to get the green healing cutting mat n cut to size to roll through red sizzix machine. can use on other cutting machine as well.
2 years later and this video is still relevant, I got an old machine and found the plates didn't work, this information is super helpful for all the different sandwiches!
I bought a big package of crafting foam for just a few pieces and it was a better deal, and had no idea what else to do with it. You suggested using it with dies and I'm gonna have so much fun now with that extra foam. So, I sometimes find wall paper sample books that stores are discarding, I guess they are like card stock in a way. I could make some nice elements with that discarded material. Thanks for your demonstration and suggestions!
Happy to hear you got some ideas from my video! The craft foam has many uses, and if it's not the right color you can paint it with acrylic paint easily. The wallpaper books are great for paper crafters! So many colors and patterns!
The cut foam is able to be used as a stamp, so I use my metal dies to cut several of each shape from foam and keep one for myself and give the others to my grandchildren to use as stamps.
Pam Loris, I posted this same comment on another "Sidekick" TH-cam where it was stated that they machines weren't the same. Please ignore the part here where it looks like I'm correcting you, because you have been clear the machines are the same. The other video said they weren'. I wanted to clarify if it's okay with you, that the new Sidekick and the old red Sidekick are actually identical. You can use the new cutting plates with the red machine, too. Originally, the sidekick was meant to use with the Sizzlits which had thin plastic plates on the dies, and the clear plates were designed to be used with them. To use the thin wafer dies, you were provided with a plastic plate called the Sizzix Adapter which you placed between the die and the top plate to cut. This adapter basically turned the wafer die into the same thickness as a Sizzlit. The ONLY reason we weren't able to use the red Sideckick with wafer thin dies was that the adapters became impossible to find. Sizzix stopped making them, and after a while, they were either impossible to find on Ebay, or cost a fortune. That's when I came up with my brilliant idea to make my own. Before the new Sidekicks came out, along with the thicker plates that were designed to use wafer thin dies without the adapter, I used to buy ugly Sizzlits from Ebay, Tuesday Morning or elsewhere and peel off the blade and foam leaving just the plate to use as adapters. We don't have to do that any longer now that the new thicker plates are available, however, if you want to use your longer dies that are too long for the standard length Sideckick plates, you can do the same exact thing. Buy an ugly one, or take one you never use, and peel the blade and foam off of it. This will then act as your adapter, and you can use that with your long clear plates to make your sandwich and put them through your Sidekick (red, white or brown, whichever, because, remember...they are identical.) I hope this helps you and your viewers!
I called Sizzix and they said that new Side Kick cutting plates would not work with old red Side Kick. 😳Frustrating to get false information from Sizzix!😳 Bless you, because you made my day! I will embossing Cuttlebug butterflies from now on in Mini red Side Kick. TIP>>> Use you mini cutting plate to flatten out you Big Shot cutting plate. I found this out die cutting Easter eggs. I noticed my cutting plate was flat again. Just move mini cutting plate all over cutting when die cutting and it flatten out you standard cutting plate. I get my mini Side Kick cutting plate on eBay pretty cheap. You save time using mini top plate when die cutting on you Big Shot machine.
Hi , I’m so glad that I found you😃I was wandering if the new plates work I have a red sidekick too this was so helpful thank you so much for your demonstration 👍🏼🙌🏼👏🏼
Thank you for this informational video! I also have the original red side kick. I thought I needed to buy the new machine....now I just need the plates.
Thanks so much! I was searching everywhere to figure out why the newer Sidekick machine would cut thinlits but the old one would not. Off to get some coloured plates! :D
@@georgiawebb4838 they aren’t sold anymore, you may want to check Amazon for reproduction ones. Amazon did have cutting plates for the cuttlebug, so it’s worth trying there. You could try sizzix website clearance section also. I haven’t looked for the old plates for quite awhile
@@georgiawebb4838 found some at staples for $3.00! That's cheap! Amazon is $7.00 www.staples.com/Sizzix-4-7-8-x-2-1-2-x-1-8-Sidekick-Standard-Cutting-Pad/product_224062
I Just Tried Using My Narrow Border Embossing Folder Which is 6 and a1/4 inches or 16 centre meters long in My New Tim Holtz Sidekick And Ran It thru The a Turned It Around And Run It thru Again and it worked perfectly ...
I have the new Sidekick, BUT... can't get many small die cuts I purchase to work. I'm wondering if it's because of the green plates being thicker? I purchased a die cut (black kind with softer top, that has several diecuts in one) and the package says it works with the sidekick and it doesn't!!!! Your video has given me the idea that it might be because of the thicker plates. It will not go through the new white Sidekick. Thanks!
Any die that has a foam top and a plastic back requires the clear plates to use on the sidekick. They are thinner than the green ones. You can still purchase the clear sidekick plates, I know they are on the Sizzix website, but not sure if local craft stores sell them.
Thanks for posting this Pam! Question, can I use the original quikutz dies (square metal with foam) with the new brown plates in the original sidekick?
The plates get worn and warped over time. The dies leave small cut lines in them also and eventually all those cut marks will show up on the card stock
I just bought the clear plates last night at hobby lobby, I was going to buy the brown one but I thought I like the clear one so I can see the dies better. When I got home I tried my red sidekick and it wasn’t cutting because the plates were too thin and I tried to put a cardboard and it was thick. I’m wondering if the white plates are thinner than the brown ones?
Yes, the clear plates are thinner than the brown ones. The brown ones are the same as the turquoise ones in my video and you need either of those to cut framelit type dies that I show.
Warning**** Stephanie Barnard says that you cannot use the new version Side Kick cutting plates in your Big Shot because they are too thick! I just buy the original mini cutting plates for Big Shot.
@@yLezAma-Art-sm7vh the clear plates aren’t thick enough. If you don’t have the green plates, I would suggest using multiple layers of paper to use as a shim to get it to cut. Hope that helps!
I’ve recently “rediscovered “ my old red sidekick with tons of dies, alphabets and even those cool embosslit dies that cut and emboss all at once! I have a bunch of those small Cuttlebug dies and embossing folders too! (Great for envelope flaps). I’m glad to know I can finally use my old trusty Sidekick now with the wafer dies, as it will certainly be a lot more handy on my desk. Thanks so very much for sharing this! Can’t wait to get my new cutting pads! So glad I never parted with this! What goes around comes around! I just hope they don’t resurrect mulberry paper! 😬😜🙃
Your very welcome! Glad you found this video helpful! I have a few of those embosslit dies as well, need to get them out now!
Thank you so much for this video. I have had a Sidekick for quite awhile and really didn’t know how to use it. Now I do! I have all these little thin dies, but didn’t know how to use them. I’ve tried with the texture boutique and the original Sizzix red die cutter (which I purchased all from a garage sale) and have had zero results until I watched your video. Thank you so much and thank heavens for Utube.
Your very welcome! Happy to help! Have fun with your machine and dies!!
@@PandaLynn i am learning so much thank you!
Thank you thank you thank you. You have just saved me buying a new machine. I now have the solution to be able to use my old red sidekick.
fyi if u have any old self healing cutting mat can cut them up like plate size n use it like cutting plate . if u in usa or canada go to dollartree to get the green healing cutting mat n cut to size to roll through
red sizzix machine. can use on other cutting machine as well.
@@purplelavender3618 GENIUS!!!! Just saw the green mats at Dollar Tree!
2 years later and this video is still relevant, I got an old machine and found the plates didn't work, this information is super helpful for all the different sandwiches!
Lisa C happy you found it helpful!
Thank you for answering a question I had.
I bought a big package of crafting foam for just a few pieces and it was a better deal, and had no idea what else to do with it. You suggested using it with dies and I'm gonna have so much fun now with that extra foam. So, I sometimes find wall paper sample books that stores are discarding, I guess they are like card stock in a way. I could make some nice elements with that discarded material. Thanks for your demonstration and suggestions!
Happy to hear you got some ideas from my video! The craft foam has many uses, and if it's not the right color you can paint it with acrylic paint easily. The wallpaper books are great for paper crafters! So many colors and patterns!
The cut foam is able to be used as a stamp, so I use my metal dies to cut several of each shape from foam and keep one for myself and give the others to my grandchildren to use as stamps.
Pam Loris, I posted this same comment on another "Sidekick" TH-cam where it was stated that they machines weren't the same. Please ignore the part here where it looks like I'm correcting you, because you have been clear the machines are the same. The other video said they weren'.
I wanted to clarify if it's okay with you, that the new Sidekick and the old red Sidekick are actually identical. You can use the new cutting plates with the red machine, too. Originally, the sidekick was meant to use with the Sizzlits which had thin plastic plates on the dies, and the clear plates were designed to be used with them. To use the thin wafer dies, you were provided with a plastic plate called the Sizzix Adapter which you placed between the die and the top plate to cut. This adapter basically turned the wafer die into the same thickness as a Sizzlit. The ONLY reason we weren't able to use the red Sideckick with wafer thin dies was that the adapters became impossible to find. Sizzix stopped making them, and after a while, they were either impossible to find on Ebay, or cost a fortune. That's when I came up with my brilliant idea to make my own. Before the new Sidekicks came out, along with the thicker plates that were designed to use wafer thin dies without the adapter, I used to buy ugly Sizzlits from Ebay, Tuesday Morning or elsewhere and peel off the blade and foam leaving just the plate to use as adapters. We don't have to do that any longer now that the new thicker plates are available, however, if you want to use your longer dies that are too long for the standard length Sideckick plates, you can do the same exact thing. Buy an ugly one, or take one you never use, and peel the blade and foam off of it. This will then act as your adapter, and you can use that with your long clear plates to make your sandwich and put them through your Sidekick (red, white or brown, whichever, because, remember...they are identical.) I hope this helps you and your viewers!
You posted this 2 yrs ago but your notes are so helpful!
I called Sizzix and they said that new Side Kick cutting plates would not work with old red Side Kick.
😳Frustrating to get false information from Sizzix!😳
Bless you, because you made my day! I will embossing Cuttlebug butterflies from now on in Mini red Side Kick.
TIP>>> Use you mini cutting plate to flatten out you Big Shot cutting plate. I found this out die cutting Easter eggs. I noticed my cutting plate was flat again. Just move mini cutting plate all over cutting when die cutting and it flatten out you standard cutting plate. I get my mini Side Kick cutting plate on eBay pretty cheap.
You save time using mini top plate when die cutting on you Big Shot machine.
ltdesigns2 Hi, that’s because they want us to keep buying new machines even when our older ones are still perfectly useable. Happy crafting
Thank you for the great info. I have 2 of these and many other newer machines, would not
get rid of them.
Your welcome, I've had my sidekick for many years, it's a great little machine!
Hi , I’m so glad that I found you😃I was wandering if the new plates work I have a red sidekick too this was so helpful thank you so much for your demonstration 👍🏼🙌🏼👏🏼
Thank you for this informational video! I also have the original red side kick. I thought I needed to buy the new machine....now I just need the plates.
Thanks so much! I was searching everywhere to figure out why the newer Sidekick machine would cut thinlits but the old one would not. Off to get some coloured plates! :D
Thank you. I am so glad to know I could use what I already have instead of buying a new machine
For smaller dies, I use the SIZZIX SIDEKICK 2.5" x 5" cutting plates in my Big Kick...the BEST $3.99 @ Hobby Lobby I have spent yet!
Thanks for the information. The thinlit dies did not work with the old cutting plates.
Your welcome
Do you know where I can get a set of the old cutting plates
@@georgiawebb4838 they aren’t sold anymore, you may want to check Amazon for reproduction ones. Amazon did have cutting plates for the cuttlebug, so it’s worth trying there. You could try sizzix website clearance section also. I haven’t looked for the old plates for quite awhile
@@PandaLynn Thanks Pam
@@georgiawebb4838 found some at staples for $3.00! That's cheap! Amazon is $7.00 www.staples.com/Sizzix-4-7-8-x-2-1-2-x-1-8-Sidekick-Standard-Cutting-Pad/product_224062
I Just Tried Using My Narrow Border Embossing Folder Which is 6 and a1/4 inches or 16 centre meters long in My New Tim Holtz Sidekick And Ran It thru The a Turned It Around And Run It thru Again and it worked perfectly ...
Thanks so much for this video.
I have the new Sidekick, BUT... can't get many small die cuts I purchase to work. I'm wondering if it's because of the green plates being thicker? I purchased a die cut (black kind with softer top, that has several diecuts in one) and the package says it works with the sidekick and it doesn't!!!! Your video has given me the idea that it might be because of the thicker plates. It will not go through the new white Sidekick. Thanks!
Any die that has a foam top and a plastic back requires the clear plates to use on the sidekick. They are thinner than the green ones. You can still purchase the clear sidekick plates, I know they are on the Sizzix website, but not sure if local craft stores sell them.
@@PandaLynn thank you!
@@laurieudall4159 your welcome!
What kind you use if you don't have the adapters or the blue plates
Thanks for posting this Pam! Question, can I use the original quikutz dies (square metal with foam) with the new brown plates in the original sidekick?
I have those quickutz dies as well, and yes, they will work with the brown or teal plates in the original sidekick
I hope you’ll see this years later but I have a question. Why do you have to keep buying plates? Thanks so much.
The plates get worn and warped over time. The dies leave small cut lines in them also and eventually all those cut marks will show up on the card stock
I just bought the clear plates last night at hobby lobby, I was going to buy the brown one but I thought I like the clear one so I can see the dies better. When I got home I tried my red sidekick and it wasn’t cutting because the plates were too thin and I tried to put a cardboard and it was thick. I’m wondering if the white plates are thinner than the brown ones?
I also bought the embossing plate.
Yes, the clear plates are thinner than the brown ones. The brown ones are the same as the turquoise ones in my video and you need either of those to cut framelit type dies that I show.
Thank you Pam. I’ll get the brown one and just keep the clear for extra plates. ❤️
Warning**** Stephanie Barnard says that you cannot use the new version Side Kick cutting plates in your Big Shot because they are too thick! I just buy the original mini cutting plates for Big Shot.
my does not work with this clear at all so what to do next. PLEASE THET just pass by straight there is not resistance to cut so then what.
@@yLezAma-Art-sm7vh the clear plates aren’t thick enough. If you don’t have the green plates, I would suggest using multiple layers of paper to use as a shim to get it to cut. Hope that helps!
This are easy to Brock because I broken my and I don't know how to fix it 😭
I haven't ever broke mine, sorry I can't be of any help!
)