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How do you cut neat banner points
Okay, I'm not sure if you will understand my question....how do you cut the end of the paper to have nice neat banner points? For example, a card I picked at random from the gallery
I want to know how to make nice even cuts where the sentiment is placed. I haven't had much luck with centering it while cutting with my paper cutter or scissors. So if you have a technique that works, I would appreciate the help.
Thank you!!!
EDIT: on this card I followed the blog post which stated she used a die but I'm guessing not everyone uses a die. I don't want to have to buy a die but I want the look.
Last edited by bound4london; 06-17-2013 at 12:10 AM..
Reason: More info to share
I sometimes just eyeball it but if you're not comfortable doing that, an acrylic block and a pencil are really helpful! Make a very light pencil line at the halfway point of the width of your strip. Place the acrylic block so that the point is on that center line and the sides go through the edges of your strip at the same point each side. You could also use your stamp positioning sheet, you just want something with a right angle that's fairly sturdy but you can see through. Use a pencil to draw down the sides of the block and then snip along the lines with scissors. Erase any pencil lines still showing.
Once you get confident doing it, you'll probably find you can skip that initial pencil mark down the centre, you'll just be able to line up the block so it "looks right".
It's quite hard to describe although very easy to do so I've just sketched it in case that helps you visualise it.
Square punch is the way to go! Buy a large one- as in bigger than 1" square if you can find it. I use mine all the time and it's much cheaper than buying dies.
Great ideas. Keep them coming. But call me stupid, how do you use a punch to make the points?
Slide the strip in cornerwise and just punch (so the corner of the punch area is lined up with the middle of your strip - imagine what I labeled on my diagram as an acrylic block is the square area of a punch).
I own zero square punches and do it the way I do it because those supplies are on my desk anyway!
[QUOTE=bound4london;20207452]Okay, I'm not sure if you will understand my question....how do you cut the end of the paper to have nice neat banner points?
So glad you asked this question--now I have several techniques to try! I usually just wing it and then the results aren't pretty.
I don't know what my problem is, but I cannot get a square punch to work. I use the method mentioned above, I use the corner of my Stamp-a-ma-jig mat and draw lines. Works well every time.
Oh, and to avoid pencil lines showing, I usually draw them on the back side of the paper, then just flip the strip of paper over.
__________________ Julie my gallery
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phillippians 4:13
I don't know what my problem is, but I cannot get a square punch to work. I use the method mentioned above, I use the corner of my Stamp-a-ma-jig mat and draw lines. Works well every time.
Oh, and to avoid pencil lines showing, I usually draw them on the back side of the paper, then just flip the strip of paper over.
I am square punch challenged too! I just eyeball it and go with it. But I find I work my way up and up the paper with trying to correct my mistakes!
Can you explain this again? How do you cut in from the points to the notch if the notch is down at the end?
I guess I should have said "slit" instead of "notch." I snip a little slit in the center of the edge, and then I cut in from the point of each corner (at the same edge). Does that make more sense? If you watch any of Jen Gallacher's videos, she does that in almost all of them. I'll try to post some pictures of what I mean later this afternoon.
I stamp the sentiment first to know where to start. Then I put a dot midway vertically and at my desired distance from the sentiment. Then I just use my snips and cut from one corner to that dot, and then again on the other side.
This is a more time-consuming method, but all it requires is a pencil, ruler and scissors.
To get consistent shapes, regardless of the size of ribbon or paper, just measure the width of the ribbon or paper strip. For example, if the width is 1/2", the center point would be 1/4". Take that measurement and measure 1/4" in on the top and bottom edges. Now draw a line from the top to the bottom (1/4" from the edge) and mark the center point. You could draw lines diagonally from the top and bottom corner points in to the center point. You'll cut diagonally from the top corner point to the center point inside the ribbon or paper. Do the same for the bottom corner point.
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Thank you for all the input. I finally got to play for an hour tonight. First, I tried Angelnorth's idea and it came out pretty good. Then I tried the square punch. I need to practice more on where you put the punch. The picture did help. I also tried the post it note and it was pretty good. I will keep on playing with it until I find a way that works the best for me. More suggestions to play. Hope to try some more soon.
I guess I should have said "slit" instead of "notch." I snip a little slit in the center of the edge, and then I cut in from the point of each corner (at the same edge). Does that make more sense? If you watch any of Jen Gallacher's videos, she does that in almost all of them. I'll try to post some pictures of what I mean later this afternoon.
I was having trouble with using a square punch too until I started marking a center line in pencil on the back then using that to line up the point of the square punch. I also use different sized square punches depending on the size of the strip I'm punching.
How do you cut neat banner points
