Hello!
This is Sam from Catfriendo with my paper cutting tutorial. I’ve included a supply list, the tutorial, and a tips section. Sorry if this is a little bare bones!
– Container to put discard paper.
– The bigger you print your template, the easier the design is to cut out! The example shown here is about 5×7 inches. I’ve mirrored the template because the side of the paper you are cutting into is the back of the piece; when you are finished and flip it over, no lines will show and the text will be in the right direction.
– I like to start by cutting out the smaller, more detailed areas of the design. For example, here I cut out the inside of the letters and the delicate parts of the border. Loops are a great place to start as they are usually the most finicky areas and when the surrounding paper is still there tears are way less likely to occur.
3. Bigger Pieces
– Once the detailed pieces are removed, move onto the bigger areas. I like to start in one area and move across the piece. Here I started in the lower left of the piece and moved across and up. I find it easier to break down the areas I remove – smaller pieces are easier and less difficult to extract and are less prone to causing the piece to tear if they get caught!
– Almost done, all that’s left is to cut out the surrounding paper. You can do it!
– Time to flip over your new piece of hand cut paper art! Thanks so much for following along with my little tutorial; I hope you had a blast!
– if you are drawing your own design and it includes text, make sure to write the text backwards to get a way cleaner design in the end. Try holding a mirror up to the backwards text to make sure that all of your letters face the right way!
Sam of Catfriendo is a hand cut paper artist based in Calgary, Alberta. Sam sells her paper creations at local markets as well as through her Etsy shop.