Cuttlebug

You didn't do anything wrong. I panicked the first time I used mine and it did the same thing. I called the company and they said that's normal. It does the same thing on the Wizard and the Big Shot as well. Just use the same plate for cutting all the time and buy a new plastic plate when it gets real bad. Don't use the cutting side of the plate for your embossing folders as the imprint may transfer to the paper. Why they don't tell us this in the instructions I don't know. Enjoy, I love mine.

SAD

Thanks so much!! I feel better already! LOL. I know, the instructions are poor but so glad we didn't do anything wrong!

My sizzix does the same thing. It is all cut up. Wait until you've used it a lot.

Oh my! You think they could invent something to prevent this but maybe it's more of a money racket this way? Lol Thanks all for comments. It helped!

It does that because the cutting part of the die has to be long enough to cut through different thicknesses of paper, cardstock and chipboard. The cutting pads last a long time. I've had my SIzzix Sidekick for several years and am still using the same cutting pads that came with it. They are just now getting to the point where I'm thinking about replacing them.

I have the Ellison version of the sidekick, the Tagalong, and I broke one of my cutting pads! Has this ever happened to anyone else? It was barely even used or marked up. I was using a Sizzlit in it, and was cranking it through, and then heard it creak, and then the SNAP! I have since purchased a replacement, but dang....I hope it doesn't happen often! Linda

Ok Thanks. I hate using them now that I know they are going to be marked up but what the hey! That's what they're for I guess. Lol.

I'm not an expert but thinking the cranking handle was too tight? Sometimes I think I am going to break mine too. Maybe a flawed plate?

i just got my cuttlebug yesterday. I have used it soooo much already. DH has took apart and fixed my sidekick for me. Well, for DD to play with to act like momma. Aparently the bearings section came off the shaft part andthe PLASTIC gears were a little stripped in a few sections. He said stupid to have PLASTIC gears. but that is what makes it lightweight.

cowchipper

I'm not an expert but thinking the cranking handle was too tight? Sometimes I think I am going to break mine too. Maybe a flawed plate?