Scrapbook Albums: Buying The Right Cutter

Today, I thought that I would bring you an article about the cutting edge of scrapbooking. Sorry about the pun hehe!


Buying The Right Cutter For Your Scrapbook Albums

Having the right cutting and trimming tools makes a big difference in the final look of your scrapbooking, rubber stamping, and cardmaking projects.

This guide helps explain the differences between tools and what they are best suited for. Your finished stamping or scrapbooking project will look superb when you use the right cutting and trimming tools.

The most popular trimming and cutting tools are the guillotine table top trimmer, mini personal paper cutter, and the rotary trimmer. Paper punches, scoring blades, T-squares, and shape cutters are important to have on hand as well before starting your project.

The guillotine trimmer is the traditional paper trimmer you can find any office supply store. A long sharp blade (often curved) is hinged at the base and is lifted above the paper and down directly on top to make a straight cut. Please keep in mind that not all guillotine trimmers are made well. You're going to need a solid, sturdy guillotine trimmer with tight fittings. Make sure the handle doesn't flex at all or you will be consistently frustrated by crooked cuts. Another great feature is a detachable blade which can be sharpened or replaced.

If your project requires you to work with small pieces of card stock, the personal trimmer is the perfect tool. Small paper trimmers usually have safety features that make them especially suitable for trimming small items, usually held by hand close to the blade. Personal paper trimmers are not suitable for long straight cuts because they are usually made of lightweight plastic.

Rotary trimmers are favorites for scrapbooking enthusiasts because you can purchase different styles of blades. Want to make a curvy edge or a perforated, stamped envelope? The rotary trimmer makes these tasks simple. Many rotary trimmer systems also come with handheld trimmers that use interchangeable blades. You'll need to purchase a good self-healing cutting mat for your handheld rotary trimmer. The self-healing cutting surface is designed to allow you to use your rotary cutter many times without perceived wear.

Shape cutting tools have come a long way and are quickly become a favorite tool for scrapbooking enthusiasts. Because they allow you to cut many different shape styles with one inexpensive tool, they are much more inexpensive than individual paper punches. One thing to look for when purchasing a shape cutter is the quality of the pivoting head. You should be able to cut in one smooth motion without the blade catching on any part of the template.

To insure that you have perfect cutout shapes on every scrapbooking layout, why not use a paper punch? The most important thing to consider when purchasing a paper punch is the punching handle. Your paper punch should be easy to press and cut through any thickness of paper up to 110 lb. card stocks. Quality paper punches also have scrap holders that keep your crafting area free from punch debris.

T-squares are a wonderful tool to have on hand but often get overlooked when you are establishing what things you need for scrapbooking and stamping. They can be purchased at your local hardware store or smaller plastic versions can be purchased at a hobby store. A quality T-square that has a tooled edge for scoring and tearing will last many years. T-squares allow you to line up the edges of paper for your scrapbooking layouts.

Scoring blades are also wonderful tools and now come in decorative or straight edges. They are used to make straight tears or decorative styles on the edges of your card stock.
You should get at least one version of each of these cutting tools to enjoy all of the benefits. Having the right trimming and cutting tools saves time and makes your finished paper craft project look much better. Buying high quality tools that will last for many years will insure inexpensive overall costs and usually a much better look. Give them a try today and see how they improve your work!

About the Author:
Kathy Williams loves working in Rubber Stamping Fun, her online stamping store, and enjoys writing informative articles about rubber stamps and scrapbooking.
Source: http://www.articletrader.com