Paper cutting has been around for a long time, it’s a simple and inexpensive but lovely art form. All you really need is some paper, scissors or craft knife and some glue to get started. The new book “Paper Cuts
” from Lark Books has detailed instructions and wonderful patterns for beginners and advanced. The first section of the book talks about getting started with information about different types of papers, when to use scissors or a knife, an overview of adhesives and even a little history about paper cutting. The rest of the book is filled with projects and ideas from cards, shadow boxes, altered books, lamp shades, place cards, luminaries and many more. In the back of the book you’ll find all the patterns for all the projects in the book which can be traced, photocopied or scanned and printed.
I personally love to cut paper, I love cutting out my stamped images for cards so I was excited to try out one of the projects in the book that really appealed to me, a squirrel card with a forest envelope, so cute! Following the instructions I used my scanner/printer to enlarge the pattern from the book and printed it onto regular computer paper which I then adhered to my card stock with removable tape. Since I’m more comfortable with scissors than a craft knife I also chose a pattern easily cut mostly with scissors. After cutting the edge of the envelope I used my bone folder and a ruler to score the envelope and then cut the trees out, I cut out my card and put it inside, didn’t it turn out adorable!? It was really easy and pretty quick to make.
Be on the look out for more book reviews for other Lark books from me and other editors and even a giveaway or two !!
-Heather
My entire family, especially my kids, would love to see me actually get some use out of all of the scrapbooking paper,embellishments, tools, and the various odds and ends that range from broken jewelry (not just beads either, I even keep the necklace fasteners)so for the sake of my children, please pick me to win the books so I can get some fresh ideas. Thank You for all of the great ideas on your site.
Karrie
Paper! Don’t you just love it? I do and would love to learn more about how to use paper to bless others. I think it would also be great to know the basics and teach children here at our village achool and local church. In these times of low income, what better way to bless someone with a unique paper gift?