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All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam
Easter is fast approaching. There are so many fun things to do to make Easter a special time for everyone in the family.
Let’s do one of my favorite things to do today - cut paper.
123stitch.com
Yes, it’s true. I find it very relaxing and satisfying. For Easter we must do some cut paper eggs, don’t you think?
Here are a couple of very simple patterns to get you started:
Posted on Pinterest by Patrycja Wieczorek
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For papercutting you need a sharp pair of scissors. For most things, scissors with short blades work best. My best scissors have a 1.5 inch blade.
You will also need an Xacto knife. Some people call them scalpels. My favorite is made by Fiskars and has a finger hold place as part of the handle. I also really like my Xacto knife kit with numerous interchangeable blades.
Xacto knife kit
I found this on Amazon. Check your local hobby store first.
A couple of tips and safety things first:
When cutting with a blade, always pull the blade toward you. Hold the paper with your free hand. This will help prevent the paper from tearing.
Use a self-healing cutting mat underneath to protect your surfaces.
When using scissors, turn the paper, not the scissors. Practice! This really helps.
Never snip with your scissors all the way to the end of the blades.
When your hand gets tired, STOP! This will prevent many accidents.
Posted on Pinterest by marie d.
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So now you have all these cute smallish papercuttings. What do you do with them? Here are a few ideas:
Make one of a kind cards-
Elisabeth Hogarth Designs
Posted by Kali Lake, Pinterest
Cut a paper stand and glue on your cutting for place setting markers-
Etsy
Cut these next designs to circle a special dessert or to hold a colored egg at each place at the dining table-
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Pottery Barn Kids
The next 2 patterns I think could be adapted for stand alone 3-D centerpieces-
Zsuzsa Bulint Lajosne’
Cut the egg twice. Fold in half and glue down center. To stand alone either cut a little stand or flatten out the bottom of the egg. Use this for a guide-
Posted on Pinterest by Carolina Meyer
These patterns are placed on a fold and cut out. Cut two and glue them together down the center. You could easily draw an egg shape to frame them before cutting out.
Here is another example for you to use as a guide-
Posted on Pinterest by Wolodymyr
With just a little bit of adapting you could use these patterns and glue them to bamboo skewers. This is a great way to decorate your plants, or give to a friend in a pot of flowers.
Unknown sources, Pinterest
Zsofia Olahne’ Radvanyi, Pinterest
Did you know you can decoupage napkins and paper cuttings onto eggs? Use a blown out egg, and then decoupage over the ‘blow’ hole with a glue/sealer like Mod Podge. Use lightweight papers and single ply napkins.
Make small cuts around the edges so you can smooth the cutting over the rounded egg shape easily.
Marianne Songbird*Home Decor*
Chaiv Design
If you would like to do a more complicated cutting, here is a pattern for you-
Posted by Maria Dimitrova-Georgieva, Pinterest
Wouldn’t this be pretty temporarily posted in an entry window?
Olga Belchikova, posted by Egor Borodin, Pinterest
Here is another pattern-
You can frame cut paper art between two pieces of glass and a free standing frame for a beautiful keepsake decoration-
EchosArtSpace, Etsy
Isn’t cutting up paper fun? You can take it along with you anywhere. It is easy to start and stop.
You don’t lose your ‘place’.
It is lightweight.
You can do so many different things with the finished cutting.
It is a very inexpensive hobby.
No one else will have anything exactly like yours.
It is easy to find free patterns.
It is easy to make your own patterns.
Wow!
See why I enjoy it so much?
Yes, you can find metal dies and home cutting machines that will cut multiples of the same design. You are limited to someone else’s design and size, however. You also won’t get the relaxation and satisfaction of doing something yourself with your own hands.
Not to open a can of worms here! But sometimes doing something with your hands is better than a pre-made item.
Papercutting also encourages your fine motor skills, that you use with many other activities.
Laser cut, WoodpeckersCrafts
I do want to share one more larger cutting-
By Cindy from papercutting.blogspot.com
Next I have some dimensional eggs to share with you. The company SAS (Some Assembly Required) has been around a looong time. They continue to develop fabulous patterns and designs that are available in different formats. Nope, I don’t get anything from them. I just like their products.
some-assembly-required.com
The photos on the left are just a FEW more of the many things you can make with their egg pattern.
Here are a few patterns from another company to make your own 3-D eggs-
Posted by Zsuzsa Balint Lajosne’, Pinterest
PaperCutGiftsDesign, Etsy
This paper lantern is available as an SVG file from Van3DSVG on Etsy-
Etsy
…and here is a pop-up card from Hallmark-
Another fun paper cutting activity is to cut garlands or paper chains. The first photo shows you how to accordion fold your paper. Next it shows how you must leave areas attached along the sides, so your garland holds together.
Marilyn Hofer, Pinterest
Jannette Randeberg, Pinterest
Here are a few patterns for you to try-
Creare con La carte, Pinterest
…and a finished garland-
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You can make your garland as long as you want by overlapping 2 of the images and glueing one garland to the next one.
I hope you try out some of these paper cuttings. Warning!! You just might become addicted!
Dagmar Valasikova, Pinterest
‘Til next time,
inkspired
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