Whether you're using card stock or glossy photo paper, having the right cutting and trimming tools makes a big difference in the final look of your paper craft project. There are many different tools used in scrapbooking and paper craft projects. Here is a simple guide to explain the differences and assist when making purchases. Your finished stamping or scrapbooking project will look superb!



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 first paper trimmer to come to mind is the guillotine, which can be purchased at any office supply store. A straight blade is pulled directly over the paper to make a perfectly straight cut. Get a solid, well made trimmer with tight handle fittings. Most guillotine trimmers can cut between ten to twenty pieces of paper at a time. The guillotine handle should be made of metal or strong fiberglass and should not flex at all.

Rubber stamping projects often require simple cuts to mattes and small pieces of stamped card stock. The personal trimmer is the perfect tool for the routine trimming and can fit inside your desk drawer. Small paper trimmers usually have safety features that make them especially suitable for trimming small items held by hand close to the blade. This allows you to crop small pieces of hand stamped card stock, trim tiny wallet photos, and matte stocks. Personal paper trimmers are not suitable for long straight cuts because they are usually made of lightweight plastic.

Rubber stamping and scrapbooking projects are perfect examples to explain the rotary trimmer advantages, mainly because you can purchase different decorative blades. You'll want to find a rotary trimmer that has inexpensive replacement blades. If you decide to use a handheld rotary trimmer, you'll need to purchase a good self-healing cutting mat. The self-healing cutting surface is designed to allow you to use your rotary cutter many times without perceived wear. Many cutting mats come pre-lined to assist with your cutting.

Shape cutters have quickly become a favorite tool for scrapbooking enthusiasts because they allow you to cut many different sized shapes with one inexpensive tool. The plastic shape templates allow you to cut various shape styles and sizes.

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.

Two simple tools that are often overlooked are the T-square and the scoring blade. You will find a durable, accurate T-square at your local hardware store. Smaller versions can also be purchased at your local craft or hobby store. Make sure to purchase a durable T-square that has a perfectly straight edge. A T-square allows you to perfectly line up corners and crops and also makes a perfect scoring and marking tool. The scoring blade can be used to make straight tears along the bottom of your matte paper or handmade card. Recently, decorative scoring blades have become popular. Some of them allow you make decorative tears on card stock and scrapbook paper.

Whether you're scrapbooking, cardmaking, or rubber stamp project is large or small having the proper cutting and trimming tools is very necessary. Having the right trimming and cutting tools helps make your paper craft project look its best. Having these simple cutting tools on hand will allow you to dive into those projects and come out with straight edges, crops, and trims every time. Always keep your tools sharp and out of the reach of small children. You're going to love each of the different cutting and trimming tools, and I suggest you get one of each to see the benefits clearly.