ALL AROUND NEW PUNCH STYLE, Corners & Borders Punch Tutorial...

Well, the third time is the charm!  After weather-related delays, I was finally able to hold my New Punch Class today that was originally scheduled in January.  Originally I had designed a Valentine card for the final project, but had to switch since it is now the end of February.  I decide to use this week's Mojo Monday sketch and make it an Easter card.

My FREE tutorials follow the card recipe.  I started out coming up with my own beginning squares for my tutorial with much frustration.  After figuring out a few, Gretchen Barron came out with hers, so I was able to use a few of hers to fill in with mine.  The Pinking Hearts tutorial has all my own measurements as I did my tutorial before Gretchen posted hers - some are different than Gretchen's, but I find that these are the ones that work well for me.

THIS BUNNY HAS MOJO! SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – Chocolate Bunny (#116980, $7.95)
• Card stock – Orchid Opulence, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Close to Cocoa, Shades of Spring DSP 
• Ink – Chocolate Chip Craft
• Ribbon – Certainly Celery 1/4" Grosgrain (#109031), Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin (#117289)
• Punches – Scallop Edge (#112091, $15.95), Scallop Trim Border (#118402, FREE with $50 purchase), Scallop Trim Corner (#118870, $9.95)
• Accessories – Stampin' Dimensionals 

SCALLOP TRIM PUNCHES TUTORIAL

 

The Scallop Trim punches are a fabulous new addition to our punch line! Using this guide, you will be able to make wonderful squares and rectangles. There are 7 sizes included in this tutorial as those would be the sizes for using on cards. Of course, you can cut larger pieces for scrapbooking, framed art and other projects using these same principals.

 

There are a few differences in working with these punches versus our older corner and border punches. They will take some practice to become proficient, but you can do it!

 

On the corner punches, it is important to realize that there is not a corner guide where you push the paper all the way in to a V-guide that goes beyond visible area. Holding the Scallop Trim Punch upside down, you will instead line up the corner of your cardstock with the visible corner of the punch. Do not go beyond the visible corner.

CUTTING GUIDE for SQUARES:

• 4 ¾" = Square with 10 scallops on each side
• 4 ¼" = Square with 9 scallops on each side
• 3 13/16" = Square with 8 scallops along each side. (Great size to practice with as it fits perfectly into the guide printed on the Scallop Trim Border Punch)
• 3 ¼" = Square with 7 scallops along each side.
• 2 ⅞" = Square with 6 scallops on each side
• 2 ⅜" = Square with 5 scallops on each side
• 1 15/16" = Square with 4 scallops on each side. Uses only the corner punch.

DIRECTIONS:

The first and smallest square begins with a square of cardstock that is 1 15/16" square. For this square, you only need the corner punch. Because of this, after the first corner is punched, you will need to line up the next corner with the previous corner. This is a neat square when finished as you can add a 1 ⅜" and 1 ¼" square punch for layering.

For all the rest of the scallop squares and rectangles, you will need to use both the Border and the Corner Punches.

“ALL AROUND” PUNCH DIRECTIONS:

1. First, punch all four corners, as described above. Be sure to stop your cardstock right at the edge of the cutting blade or the border punch will not line up and your piece will be lop-sided!

2. For the next three sizes 2 ⅜", 2 ⅞" and 3 ¼": it is easier to turn the border punch upside down, so that you can line-up your scallops properly. Once the four corners are punched, turn the border upside down and line up the scallops with the punched corners. Repeat for each of the four sides until your square is complete.

3. With the 3 13/16” square only, once the four corners have been punched, both corners of the square will line up perfectly with the printed guide of the Scallop Trim Border punch to punch the sides! Lay the punch on the table, line the square up with the guide and punch down, using the ball of your hand!

4. With larger squares, after punching the four corners, you will need to make two punches for each of the four sides. Line up one corner with the guide and punch. Then slide your square down and line up the opposite corner with the guide and punch again. If you experience difficulty with this method, try punching with your punch upside down and matching up the scallops as with the smaller squares.

Prefer rectangles? No problem! Use any combination of two dimensions given above to arrive at the perfect rectangle. For example, use 3 13/16" x 4 ¾" to get an 8 scallop by 10 scallop rectangle. Any combination will work, as long as you use the measurements given above.

Once you're practiced these techniques, you will be amazed at how quickly you can punch out squares and rectangles!

PINKING HEARTS PUNCHES TUTORIAL

Please read my Scallop Trim Punches Tutorial above first, as it gives information that is the similar for the Pinking Hearts Punches.

Tips to Keep in Mind:

• I find them more difficult to work with than the Scallop Trim Punches and harder to get to come out perfectly. Practice, practice, practice is the KEY to making this punch work for you!
• Line up the points of the Pinking edge rather than the hearts or you will drive yourself crazy.
• Accurate measuring is very important. The pinking points are very small and you need to be both accurate and consistent in your measurements. Try adjusting your beginning measurements by 1/16” at a time to find the best one for you if mine are not working for you.

CUTTING GUIDE for SQUARES:

• 2 13/16"
• 3 3/16"
• 3 5/8"
• 4"
• 4 5/16"
• 4 3/4"

If you wish to make rectangles, simply combine two of the measurements.

DIRECTIONS:
1. Holding the Corner Punch upside down, punch the corners first.  Be sure to stop your cardstock right at the edge of the cutting blade or the border punch will not line up and your piece will be lop-sided!

2. Using the guide on the top of the Border Punch line up the pinking points perfectly to cut the sides. If you have difficulty getting them to come out correctly, try using the punch upside down so you can see from the bottom how the paper and metal line up. You may find it better one way or the other for you and you may switch back and forth depending on which size square you are working on.

I put my templates in the one of the 6” x 6” page protectors in the back of my Technique Album that my Technique Thursday class is working on. It is great to have them handy for deciding which one will work best on your project.

Here is a video from Stampin' Up for another perspective on these fabulous punches!