SIZZIX - Did I make a mistake?
 

About a year ago now, I guess, my Dear Hubby bought me a Sizzix Big Shot...the new one in teal and blue. At the time I thought I would be able to use it for paper and material. It seems to work well, but I am having a horrible time finding the quilting dies in my local stores. And, while Sizzix does sell online and I have bought online, some of their designs say to see my local store. Well, they just aren't there! Is it possible to use AccuQuilt dies in a Big Shot? Any help you can give would be sincerely appreciated!

The AccuQuilts dies are thinner than the Sizzix, so you can use them with a shim. A shim is something that takes up the extra thickness. You will need to figure out what works best for this. I used to use several magazine pages. I'm sure someone will pop in with other suggestions. You can't go the other way, however. Sizzix dies can't be used in an Accuquilt GO! (but you can use them in a Studio). Get one Accuquilt Go die and experiment.

I have the Sizzix Big Shot Pro and use my Accuquilt dies in it all the time. I did order the adapter from Accuquilt, but you can made do as PaperPrincess said by using magazines or something to raise the die to the same thickness of the Sizzix dies. I also use the Accucut Studio dies in my BSP and don't have to use a shim or adapter with them.

I don't know where you are located, but there is a listing on the Houston Craigslist for a TON of Sizzix dies. The owner lives in Tomball, which is a suburb on the northeast corner of Houston. I am posting a link to that page. (I hope this isn't against the rules...if it is, let me know and I will delete this post!)

http://houston.craigslist.org/art/4398495722.html

Hobby lobby sells quilting dies

No, I do not think you made a mistake. You need to either buy the adapter as mentioned or buy the Accuquilt studio dies. You can use the Accuquilt dies in the Sissix but not Sissix dies in the Accuquilt. Sissix does not seem to have as many dies as Accuquilt for quilting but Sissix is more versatile and I feel stronger.

A priority envelope or two works great as a shim. You can use your coupon at Hobby Lobby for the dies.

Missouri Star Quilt Co sells Sizzix dies on their website and may have some you are looking for:

http://www.missouriquiltco.com/shop/browse?q=sizzix

I have a big shot and big shot pro. I have not used my old go dies in the regular big shot but like a pp mentioned, a shim is all that is needed. Also like another pp mentioned, I use priority envelopes for shims but you could use any cardboard or layers of card stock (you'd have to cut up the envelope to use in a regular big shot-I have only used them in my big shot pro).

I believe the 6" accuquilt dies are actually a bit wider than 6" and will not fit width-wise in your Big Shot. I think you will be restricted to the Go dies that are labelled as 5" wide.

Are you on the Sizzix email list? They have some sort of special every week.