Sometimes people come to me with questions regarding papercutting. I have been doing this for seven years now and am no expert, but I'll try to share what I do know.
1. What kind of paper do you use?
I use whatever I feel comfortable with that is acid-free. I used to work for a scrapbooking company so I have an abundance of scrapbooking paper and I like using that. I also recently started using a silhouette paper from Dick Blick's that I really enjoy called Hygloss Black Silhouette Paper. It is really soft and easy to cut. I originally started off using origami paper and still enjoy the crispness of the origami sheet. Really, it's up to you and what you enjoy working with.
For a more in depth discussion, click here.
2. What do you cut with?
I generally cut with an Xacto craft knife and plenty of blades. PLENTY of blades. I buy boxes of the #11 blades and am happy as a clam. I've tried scissors and I like cutting with a blade the best.
3. What do you cut on?
I like to cut on a self-healing mat. I really like the Xacto and the Martha Stewart brands. They seem to have a surface that holds the paper in place. If the surface is too slick/hard, your paper kind of slips around a bit.
4. How long does it take you to cut something?
Depends on how intricate the design is. If there are lots of thin lines and circles and leaves, let me tell you, it's going to take forever.
5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Getting out there and trying new things, breaking out of my comfort zone, travel and most importantly stepping away from the screen.
6. Do you make your own designs or do you use a template?
I draw my own designs.
7. Can I use your templates and sell them at my shop?
C'mon. Really? These templates are for personal use only. You can make them for your mom, you can make them for your aunt, you can make them for your family reunion. But if you're going to sell them, I will require a commission and I will require you to credit me somewhere on the packaging/artwork.
Here's a video of me that I did a few years ago. It's awesome.
a little off the beaten path for you but i have a little but major decorating problem...the a/c vent in living room is not centered to wall and perches 1/3 the way over our big flat screen tv. disconserting to the eye so have moved the old grill. can't extend the duct due to a waste pipe. since i love scherenschnitt, thought it would be nice to have three framed ones or a triptic in one long frame with one design covering the a/c hole and the other two left as is. if i paint the inside of the a/c duct black, so the designs themselves would be a color mounted on black. who's to know that one is an a/c grill and the other two framed pics? but i need the designs cut into something other than paper....like plastic, balsa wood or metal -anything which would act as a faux grill. any ideas who does laser cutting like that? many thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi I'm a new paper cutter & love it,
ReplyDeleteBut finding it hard to get the best card to use as a template
Also what's the best card gms to use as a template then for the finished thank you Natalie xxx
Hi I'm a new paper cutter & love it,
ReplyDeleteBut finding it hard to get the best card to use as a template
Also what's the best card gms to use as a template then for the finished thank you Natalie xxx
Hi! I was looking for a template to do as a gift for a coworker and saw your Steampunk bird. It was my first cut and it turned out pretty decent... I'll have to adjust by using paper other than printing paper and maybe a new blade. Other than patching a few minor cuts with some glue it wasn't too awful! I just wanted to thank you for making your lovely templates available for practice for newbies such as myself! :)
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