Posted in Uncategorized

Cutting Paper to Make Cards

Sunny Snowy Arizona!!

Good Morning!! Well the snow melted completely and is now back. Its very peaceful outside. Inside it is cozy and warm, just the right feeling to be making cards. Check out my facebook page to see some of the cards I have recently made.

So once you get some good quality paper, you’ll want to have the right tools to cut it. It is important to invest in a paper-cutter that makes good clean cuts without snagging your paper. What do you need?

Guillotine style paper-cutter

I am partial to the guillotine style paper-cutter. Mine is an old one from my college days, but I have recently purchased a new, lighter weight one from a hobby store. I like it because I can cut two or more pages at once and still get a clean cut. I also feel I can see the measurements better.

Stampin’ Up!  Stampin’ Trimmer

I also have a Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Trimmer (item #126889), which some prefer for all their paper cutting. This one cuts with a blade that you move down from top to bottom. It is important to keep your blade sharp. I only cut one paper at a time. There is also a scoring function. This is a good cutter to have when making fun-fold cards or 3-D projects. 


You also need several types of scissors. A larger pair of scissors is helpful at times, but I more often use the smaller scissors. You will need 2 pair, one to cut paper and one for cutting ribbon. The paper dulls the scissors over time. This makes cutting ribbon difficult, so it is helpful to have a pair dedicated to ribbon. The paper scissors are useful for “fussy” cutting, which means to cut out a stamped image.  Stampin’ Up! Paper Snips (the black handled scissors pictured above) are item # 103579.

So that is the scoop on cutting paper.  The next post will discuss measurements for cards, so gather up all your cutting tools. Soon we will start making cards. Again, visit my Facebook page to see cards I have made recently and visit my store today!

Posted in New Year

Starting out to make your first card

Hello! It’s a snowy day here in Bisbee, Arizona! Didn’t expect snow in Arizona? Well, it doesn’t happen often, but we are in the mountains at a mile high. It’s a great day to stay warm inside and make cards!

Where to start? First, you need good quality paper. I have tried many types and have found Stampin’ Up! cardstock to be superior. Why? It is just the right thickness and the colors all coordinate with the Stampin’ Up! inks! Also, the color goes all the way through- no white in the middle, and the color does not easily fade. I have had some of my colored cardstock for 5 years without seeing it fade. Lastly, one ream of a color matches the next ream.

Here is a simple card I made using Night of Navy (item #100867) and Whisper White (#100730) Stampin’ Up! cardstock. I also used Twinkle Twinkle Designer Series paper (#146284), Night of Navy ink (#147110), Silver edged ribbon (#144213) and the Warm Hearted Stamp set (#147777)

In future posts I will address what you need to cut the cardstock, adhesives and other accessories. So hop on over to my store and start to gather the supplies needed to make your first card!