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Paper Cutting Instructions |
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- Use small, good quality
scissors that are very sharp and pointed.
Blades should be held together with a screw
which can be loosened.
- Prepare your pattern for
cutting.
Single Fold Patterns
make cutwork that is a mirror image. Fold
the pattern along
the center line. You can cut away excess
paper around the edges being careful to
leave at least one inch of extra paper all
around so you can secure the edges with small pieces
of tape to prevent the paper from shifting while
you cut.
Whole Image Patterns can be cut as
is. Paper that is very thin & lightweight is
hard to cut. If the paper is lightweight it
should be cut with another piece of paper of
the same weight. In other words attach a
second sheet of paper with small pieces of
tape all around the perimeter to prevent the
paper from shifting. Paper Cutting
Traditions'
patterns include extra paper for this
purpose. Cutting in 2 layers makes sense
because you can make 2 paper cuttings in the
time it would have taken to make only one.
You may also use different color paper to produce
cutwork in 2 different colors.
- The arm and hand holding the scissors
should remain steady. The hand holding the
paper should manipulate the paper, gently
feeding the paper into the scissors while
cutting. Keep the cutting arm close to your
side while cutting and you will have much
more control.
- Begin your cutting in the center of the
design. Cut all of the most difficult inside
features first. Work you way to the outside
of the design. The edges of the design is
cut last. It helps to leave "strips" of
paper attached to delicate areas here and
there just to lend stability. These little
strips can be snipped of easily when you are
finished cutting.
- Resist the urge to open the pattern
before you are finished cutting. It is
difficult to refold the pattern exactly as
before.
When your cutting is finished you may
open and flatten in a heavy book or even
iron on low heat very carefully (black side
down).
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Mounting - It is never necessary to glue the entire
cutting to the background. There are several
ways to mount your cutwork without damaging
it. Glue - A tiny amount of white
glue dries clear and is suitable. Apply the
smallest amount possible to three or four
key areas. Use just enough glue to make the
paper tacky. Too much glue will damage your
cutting or make colors bleed. Tape - It is also possible to use
double sided tape to mount your cutwork. Cut
one or two tiny strips should be enough to
mount your work.
You may want to sign and date your
cutwork before mounting. You can sign the
back of the cutting, the front of the
cutting or the background.
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