Hand cutting swirls and flourishes

Mar '08 Sjhill

This is a technique that I still haven't tried and I've been at this since November. I love the way swirls and flourishes look on a page, and would love to start adding them, but I am very intimidated by this and have tried using simple templates that I got out of a mag. I just couldn't get it to the size I wanted, and cutting in the little creases and crevices was a huge challenge so I just gave up!! Any tips on what I should use to cut them with, or which templates I should use... or basically just any tips to make this a "not so frustrating task" would be greatly appreciated.
Mar '08 ScrappinMom4

RE: Sjhill: This is a technique that I still haven't tried and I've been at this since November. I love the way swirls and flourishes look on a page, and would love to start adding them, but I am very intimidated by this and have tried using simple templates that I got out of a mag. I just couldn't get it to the size I wanted, and cutting in the little creases and crevices was a huge challenge so I just gave ...

I have cut them out of pp...and used an exacto knife with a mat beneath it. I just take my time and always cut away from myself. Find a pp you like with swirls you want to try and go for it. Maybe having the pp already in the pattern you want will help. Good luck!
Mar '08 Bellanca

RE: ScrappinMom4: I have cut them out of pp...and used an exacto knife with a mat beneath it. I just take my time and always cut away from myself. Find a pp you like with swirls you want to try and go for it. Maybe having the pp already in the pattern you want will help. Good luck!

I think having a craft knife with a glass mat is key, although if it is a large, more open flourish (as opposed to tightly or frequently curled) a good pair of precision scissors might also help.

I use a piece of glass from a photo frame.

I also have the precisions file tool set from Basic Gray - between the files and some distress ink I've had a fair amount of luck cutting designs out of paper.
Mar '08 ~Chere~

RE: Bellanca: I think having a craft knife with a glass mat is key, although if it is a large, more open flourish (as opposed to tightly or frequently curled) a good pair of precision scissors might also help. I use a piece of glass from a photo frame. I also have the precisions file tool set from Basic Gray - between the files and some distress ink I've had a fair amount of luck cutting designs out of ...

I've been an x-acto knife & glass mat user for a while now but my friend just bought me the Fiskars Ultra ShapeXpress. This thing cuts out flourishes and letters in a lot less time than scissors or a craft knife can. I was a skeptic until I tried one out at CHA last year, I highly recommend it! We both sat there the other day and got out our Basic Grey papers and started cutting out flourishes and it was amazingly addicting! LOL

http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_ultra-shapexpress.aspx
Mar '08 Unknown

RE: ~Chere~: I've been an x-acto knife & glass mat user for a while now but my friend just bought me the Fiskars Ultra ShapeXpress. This thing cuts out flourishes and letters in a lot less time than scissors or a craft knife can. I was a skeptic until I tried one out at CHA last year, I highly recommend it! We both sat there the other day and got out our Basic Grey papers and started cutting out flour...

Good to know about that tool from someone who has used it... thanks for the info Chere!
Mar '08 Spacy Tracy

RE: Unknown: Good to know about that tool from someone who has used it... thanks for the info Chere!

Glass Mat?? What are the pro's to a glass mat?

***Sorry to post in your comment sjhill***
Mar '08 Scrappymomof4

RE: Spacy Tracy: Glass Mat?? What are the pro's to a glass mat? ***Sorry to post in your comment sjhill***

I think the biggest pro to a glass mat is that the blade slides over hit easier than a self-healing mat. I have used the EK tool and scissors. Glad to know about the Fiskars tool. I am going to check it out for sure!
Mar '08 Gemini Twins

RE: Scrappymomof4: I think the biggest pro to a glass mat is that the blade slides over hit easier than a self-healing mat. I have used the EK tool and scissors. Glad to know about the Fiskars tool. I am going to check it out for sure!

For the most part, I use die cut flourishes by Sizzix. They have a few really nice one. If you use clipboard, go through it twice to get a clean cut.
Mar '08 ChansGram

RE: Gemini Twins: For the most part, I use die cut flourishes by Sizzix. They have a few really nice one. If you use clipboard, go through it twice to get a clean cut.

I use the templetes by CraftersWorkshop! They are awesome and come in so many styles! It does however take patience and time- which i am never in a hurry - i just use regular scissors or my Fiskers with the spring in the middle ( wished i knew what these were called, but i dont!! ) Using patterned pp helps to hide the imperfections, also if your using cardstock, ink the edges to mask some of the imperfections. Good luck!
Mar '08 ChansGram

RE: ChansGram: I use the templetes by CraftersWorkshop! They are awesome and come in so many styles! It does however take patience and time- which i am never in a hurry - i just use regular scissors or my Fiskers with the spring in the middle ( wished i knew what these were called, but i dont!! ) Using patterned pp helps to hide the imperfections, also if your using cardstock, ink the edges to mask some of the i...

Just thought i'd add one that i had cut using the mentioned templetes! All swirls are done by hand.

Treasured Memories
By Chan'sGram
Mar '08 Richelle

RE: ChansGram: Just thought i'd add one that i had cut using the mentioned templetes! All swirls are done by hand. Treasured Memories By Chan'sGram

I always cute my own. Once you do it a few times you will be a pro. Use and xacto knife or a razor blade for those place you can't get with scissors.
I just got a cricut so I don't have to do too much hand cutting anymore.
Good luck!
Mar '08 SQ Mandi

RE: Richelle: I always cute my own. Once you do it a few times you will be a pro. Use and xacto knife or a razor blade for those place you can't get with scissors. I just got a cricut so I don't have to do too much hand cutting anymore. Good luck!

I just use my Ek Success CutterBee Retractable Knife or hand cut with scissors. I will say on a few LO's I have just used chipboard flourishes or rub-ons.
Mar '08 Scrap4brains

RE: SQ Mandi: I just use my Ek Success CutterBee Retractable Knife or hand cut with scissors. I will say on a few LO's I have just used chipboard flourishes or rub-ons.

I have a swirl template, but mostly use stamps and/or my Cricut - Accent Essentials. The only thing I've ever used my glass mat for is to put on top of something I just glued, then I put a rock on top of that to get a nicely bonded project. I'll have to try to cut on it! LOL
Mar '08 Sjhill

RE: Scrap4brains: I have a swirl template, but mostly use stamps and/or my Cricut - Accent Essentials. The only thing I've ever used my glass mat for is to put on top of something I just glued, then I put a rock on top of that to get a nicely bonded project. I'll have to try to cut on it! LOL

I don't have accent essentials, but it is on my list.. and thanks to you.. I have just added a few more things to my list. thanks for all of the input!!
Mar '08 NoirCat

RE: Sjhill: I don't have accent essentials, but it is on my list.. and thanks to you.. I have just added a few more things to my list. thanks for all of the input!!

I have cut out flourishes that I draw with the use of some french curves. I cut slowly and on a piece of glass that I got at a thrift store from an old 70's end table. Take your time and imagination. Just have a good time.
Mar '08 Kaye222

RE: NoirCat: I have cut out flourishes that I draw with the use of some french curves. I cut slowly and on a piece of glass that I got at a thrift store from an old 70's end table. Take your time and imagination. Just have a good time.

I re-use my chipboard and trace it on the paper/pp then just cut it out. I have the cricut accent essentials but there is only so many swirls on it. I have been stamping more and more just for that swirl effect. Good luck to you!
Mar '08 Tanya71

RE: Kaye222: I re-use my chipboard and trace it on the paper/pp then just cut it out. I have the cricut accent essentials but there is only so many swirls on it. I have been stamping more and more just for that swirl effect. Good luck to you!

If your biggest issue is getting the size just right, you might want to try a swirly dingbat font - adjust to the size you want, switch to outline, print in mirror image on the back of your paper, cut out. (This is how I did titles before I got a cricut.) I don't think I can post websites here but PM me if you want a suggestion for a place to buy a swirly font (they are very inexpensive).
Mar '08 Sjhill

RE: Tanya71: If your biggest issue is getting the size just right, you might want to try a swirly dingbat font - adjust to the size you want, switch to outline, print in mirror image on the back of your paper, cut out. (This is how I did titles before I got a cricut.) I don't think I can post websites here but PM me if you want a suggestion for a place to buy a swirly font (they are very inexpensive).

I think my biggest problem is that I have been trying it with scissors only.. I think a craft knife is going to have to be a must have for me. I can actually freehand swirls and flourishes pretty good, but I always forget to measure how long or wide it should be to fit where I need it, so will have to start being more careful about my sizing. Thanks 2 all of you.. I will have to just sit down and practice on scraps until I figure out which technique works best for me.