| Whether you are just starting in rubber stamping or | | | | is designed to allow you to cut paper and even fabric |
| you're an avid hobbyist, one thing is for sure, you'll need | | | | without perceived wear. |
| an efficient way to cut and trim your paper craft | | | | Cutting a circle or oval shapes with scissors can be |
| designs. Whether your using card stock or glossy | | | | very difficult. Shape cutters have quickly become a |
| photo paper, having the right tool makes a big | | | | favorite tool for paper craft artists. Shape cutters |
| difference in the final look of the project. There are | | | | come with plastic templates that allow you to cut |
| many different cutting and trimming tools used in | | | | many different shape sizes. |
| rubber stamping and scrapbooking. We would like to | | | | Paper punches are the simplest way to insure that |
| give you a quick guide for these tools and explain the | | | | you have perfect cutout shapes on every |
| different types. Your finished paper craft project will | | | | scrapbooking layout. You can find many different |
| look wonderful! | | | | styles and shapes. The most important thing to |
| Some of the most popular trimming and cutting tools | | | | consider when purchasing a paper punch is the handle. |
| are the guillotine, personal paper, and rotary trimmer. In | | | | Getting a paper punch that is easy to press goes a |
| addition to these tools, paper punches, scoring blades, | | | | long way when you are making multiple items or many |
| T-squares, and shape cutters are also important to | | | | cards. Some of the best paper punches also have |
| have on hand before starting your next project. | | | | holding containers that will keep your work area free |
| The first paper trimmer to come to mind is the | | | | from punch scraps. |
| guillotine, which can be purchased at any office supply | | | | T-squares and the scoring blades are tools that can |
| store. A straight blade is pulled directly over the paper | | | | be very helpful while stamping and scrapbooking. |
| to make a perfectly straight cut. Get a solid, well made | | | | Durable T-squares that will last many years can be |
| trimmer with tight handle fittings. Most guillotine trimmers | | | | purchased at your local hardware store. Cheaper |
| can cut between ten to twenty pieces of paper at a | | | | styles can be purchased at a craft store. Buy a quality |
| time. The guillotine handle should be made of metal or | | | | T-square that has a tooled edge for making perfectly |
| strong fiberglass and should not flex at all. | | | | straight lines and cuts. You will be able to line up |
| Rubber stamping and scrapbooking projects often | | | | corners and make perfect mattes. Scoring blades are |
| need small, simple cuts to photos, mattes, and card | | | | used to make straight tears and folds along the corner |
| stock. The personal paper trimmer is an excellent | | | | edges of handmade greeting cards. Designer scoring |
| choice for the small routine trimming and can fit inside a | | | | blades allow you make decorative tears on |
| desk drawer. Many of the smaller paper trimmers | | | | scrapbooking paper and card stock. |
| have special safety features that make them suitable | | | | Whether you're scrapbooking, cardmaking, or rubber |
| for fast trimming of objects held by hand close to the | | | | stamp project is large or small having the proper |
| cutting blade. This allows you to crop small pieces of | | | | cutting and trimming tools is very necessary. Having |
| card stock, trim photos, and matte scrapbook pages. | | | | the right trimming and cutting tools helps make your |
| Personal paper trimmers are not suitable for large | | | | paper craft project look its best. Having these simple |
| paper trims or making long straight cuts. | | | | cutting tools on hand will allow you to dive into those |
| The rotary trimmer has many advantages for rubber | | | | projects and come out with straight edges, crops, and |
| stamping and paper craft projects. The biggest benefit | | | | trims every time. Always keep your tools sharp and |
| is the availability of many different decorative blades. If | | | | out of the reach of small children. You're going to love |
| you decide to use a handheld rotary trimmer instead | | | | each of the different cutting and trimming tools, and I |
| of a table top model, you'll need to purchase a good | | | | suggest you get one of each to see the benefits |
| self-healing cutting mat. The cutting surface of the mat | | | | clearly. |