Paper Cutting
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I've ruined more than my share of projects just by
cutting the pieces wrong. I've never been good
with scissors, but having good ones helps.
There's nothing like a good rotary or guillotine
cutter to make the cuts straight. Which paper
cutter works best? Let's take a look. Like
everything else, it depends on what you want to do.
First up - scissors. What an assortment of
scissors are available today! There are some really
sharp paper cutting scissors. (One thing to
mention here - you shouldn't use your paper
scissors for cloth nor should you use your cloth
scissors for paper.) These are angled so you cut
straight through the paper. Then we have teflon
coated paper scissors, and these are really great -
especially if you have children who sneak your
scissors to cut stickers! These are easily cleaned
and 'degunked'. I know of an expert wood worker,
who is a master of tool maintenance, and she says
if you can't have your tools professionally
sharpened - then it is best to learn how to sharpen
your tools correctly. This is a course all unto itself
- but something worth looking in to.
Decorative edge scissors are cool. I watched a
special where the rep from Fiskars showed how
you can make 17 different borders/trims from one
pair of scissors - based on how you hold the
scissors or the paper, and where you start the cut!
Now multiply that by how many different types of
decorative scissors are on the market - and that's a
lot of options!
I also like the new paper tearers. These have
tearing edges which you give you nice lines for
your "torn" look.
Creative Memories has a cropping system that
cuts your paper by using a template and blades.
This works incredibly well - and is the best tool I
know of for cutting circles, and measured layered
mats. There are three sizes for the blades, so you
can cut your mats or photos to these sizes, and
they are perfectly proportioned.
There are a few brands of these cutters - they have
a blade on a handle, and you slide the blade along
and it cuts the paper. The bar it slide along also
helps to hold the paper still while it cuts. One thing
I have learned. It is not good to press downward
while cutting. That will push the blade into the
plastic groove, and dull the blade. I just push the
blade gently across the paper, making sure the bar
is securely pressed on the paper. The blade will
cut the paper. The paper measurements are easy
to see on this cutter, and the replacement blades
are readily available at many stores.
cutting the pieces wrong. I've never been good
with scissors, but having good ones helps.
There's nothing like a good rotary or guillotine
cutter to make the cuts straight. Which paper
cutter works best? Let's take a look. Like
everything else, it depends on what you want to do.
First up - scissors. What an assortment of
scissors are available today! There are some really
sharp paper cutting scissors. (One thing to
mention here - you shouldn't use your paper
scissors for cloth nor should you use your cloth
scissors for paper.) These are angled so you cut
straight through the paper. Then we have teflon
coated paper scissors, and these are really great -
especially if you have children who sneak your
scissors to cut stickers! These are easily cleaned
and 'degunked'. I know of an expert wood worker,
who is a master of tool maintenance, and she says
if you can't have your tools professionally
sharpened - then it is best to learn how to sharpen
your tools correctly. This is a course all unto itself
- but something worth looking in to.
Decorative edge scissors are cool. I watched a
special where the rep from Fiskars showed how
you can make 17 different borders/trims from one
pair of scissors - based on how you hold the
scissors or the paper, and where you start the cut!
Now multiply that by how many different types of
decorative scissors are on the market - and that's a
lot of options!
I also like the new paper tearers. These have
tearing edges which you give you nice lines for
your "torn" look.
Creative Memories has a cropping system that
cuts your paper by using a template and blades.
This works incredibly well - and is the best tool I
know of for cutting circles, and measured layered
mats. There are three sizes for the blades, so you
can cut your mats or photos to these sizes, and
they are perfectly proportioned.
There are a few brands of these cutters - they have
a blade on a handle, and you slide the blade along
and it cuts the paper. The bar it slide along also
helps to hold the paper still while it cuts. One thing
I have learned. It is not good to press downward
while cutting. That will push the blade into the
plastic groove, and dull the blade. I just push the
blade gently across the paper, making sure the bar
is securely pressed on the paper. The blade will
cut the paper. The paper measurements are easy
to see on this cutter, and the replacement blades
are readily available at many stores.
